https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 04:33:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-560078 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:06:37 +0000 kml636 560078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>you never know, and there is no perfect time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-559984 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:16:28 +0000 mlm2934 559984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted compromise. I definitely wouldn't wait too years, but even 6 months, 10 months, 1 year, whatever feels right will take you one step closer to financial confidence each day and to feeling confident about the decision to start TTC. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-559184 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 17:57:24 +0000 Mrs. Stroller 559184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted compromise. I think it depends on how many kids you'd like to have and what kind debt and how much your debt to income ratio is. If it's "good" debt like student loans, then I would start now. If you've got a whole bunch of cc debt that you racked up somehow, but have addressed the reasons you weren't paying your balance each months, then I'd wait a little bit to make sure you've got your spending under control and then ttc, but not two years. </p> <p>We've never had cc debt but we had my student loans when we were married. We were concerned about the loans, but ultimately didn't let them keep us from ttc. Thank goodness we didn't since I miscarried 4 times (no clue anything was wrong, never any explanation why despite numerous tests.) we were just as frugal as ever after lo arrived and I was able to pay off my loans within three years of getting married, the majority of which I paid in the first 6m of lo's life. </p> <p>We are in a better financial position today than we were two years ago, but it doesn't have anything to do with lo and wouldn't be much different w/out him.. We'd have $1500 more a month if lo wasn't here and we didn't have to pay for daycare, but in the grand scheme that really doesn't compare to how much joy he brings! I've found that he costs waaaaaay less than I expected. But then again, I returned 90% of the gear I bought when I realized that every penny I spend on something that isn't totally loved and used to death is another penny I don't have for the addition we want on our house, his college education or food on the table when we retire. A point DH hammered into my head like mad :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-559100 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 16:04:50 +0000 bluebelle 559100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the replies, it's really interesting to see the different points of view, though the responses are definitely trending toward trying soon rather than later. To answer the question about our finances: we are ok financially right now, we can pay all our bills each month and don't rely on credit cards or anything like that. In two years we would just be in an even better financial position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558950 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:56:24 +0000 mrsmate 558950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unless your finances are a total mess, I would start TTC immediately. I'm in good health and it took 9mo to conceive our DD naturally, at age 30. We are now experiencing unexplained secondary IF - we've been trying to conceive DC2 for over a year (started at age 32, we will both turn 34 this summer). Even if you pass a fertility checkup, that is no guarantee you will be able to get pregnant. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558949 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:56:04 +0000 PurplePumps 558949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Finances can always be dealt with. More money can be made, but time can never be recovered. I'd started now and figure the finances out later, as long as the debt is manageable and you have a solid plan in place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558936 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:47:06 +0000 anonysquire 558936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would totally start now. Like Princessbaby I figured I'd get pregnant on my first try. Nope! Now I've had way too much time to build savings and build a freaking baby wardrobe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558935 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:45:47 +0000 PrincessBaby 558935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had no reason to believe I would have problems, and in fact, I was convinced I'd be one of those First Monthers. Ummm, nope. It took 9 cycles and 2 m/cs to finally get our daughter. And I had always thought that I'd crank our kids out back to back due to age (I'm 32, will be 33 in July) but now that we have our daughter, I definitely want some time with just her before we ttc #2. I can't speak on the financial side of things, bc we're very fortunate and did not have to weigh that out, but my gut says that you can NEVER predict how difficult or easy your Ttc path will be...Nor can you rely on stats (avg majority of couple conceives w/in 6 months, or percentage of people who get pg right away, or how long it took everyone else in your family/genetics)...Your uterus really doesn't give a crap about any of that! It's going to do what it wants, which is not always what we want...I was ready to strangle my uterus by the time I got pg with my daughter!</p> <p>ETA: I got a fertility workup with an RE at 4mos of TTC just to be sure we weren't wasting needless time- the whole gamut, AMH and DH got an SA. We were both remarkably fertile ON PAPER...But TTC was still kind of a hot mess for us... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558907 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:27:24 +0000 Bao 558907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In my opinion, as long as you can pay your bills on time, put food on the table and buy baby necessities (you really don't need all those baby items people say you need), then go for it! Something will ALWAYS come up financially. Always always always. It is a never ending thing, so you may be waiting forever. Good luck :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558896 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 13:17:28 +0000 marionberry 558896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted age, but if you're truly contemplating waiting to TTC, I might have your hormones tested (especially AMH) to ensure that your doctor doesn't anticipate a problem getting pregnant. Something like low ovarian reserve wouldn't give you any symptoms but could prevent you from having kids the longer you wait. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558261 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 19:57:22 +0000 blackbird 558261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, it would depend on what your financial situation is. Are you broke? Barely making ends meet? Or would it just be easier in two years with more money? Totally depends on what financial freedom means and what it would entail. Two years wouldn't be a big deal to me if the financial gain were that drastically different or if the current situation was just too precarious </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558257 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 19:52:39 +0000 sera_87 558257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd go ahead. There will always be unexpected expenses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558115 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:45:12 +0000 MsMini 558115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In our case, we went with age over finances (we still have some debts we are working on, but we are able to pay those down while still living fairly comfortably). I am glad we didn't wait, because although we had no reason to suspect it would take a while to conceive, it did take us 13 months to get pregnant. We will still be working on paying things down when we start TTCing baby #2 likely, and I have no regrets! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558105 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:30:53 +0000 yoursilverlining 558105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What does your "financial freedom" date mean? Totally and completely debt free? Not living paycheck to paycheck? Somewhere in the middle?</p> <p>I vote for a compromise. Saving and/or paying down debts gets understandably more difficult when you have children; so if you TTC now, that might likely push back your "freedom" date more. But, if you are financially stable right now; it's not the end of the world to not be in the most ideal place financially when you have children. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558104 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:27:25 +0000 lomom 558104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would take a serious look at what costs will increase and what additional costs are involved and see where you can cut expenses to make it work. I voted age trumps, but finances are important too! Hope everything works out for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558103 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:26:23 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 558103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you can find a middle ground that doesn't involve an overly long wait. We did decide to be debt free when we started our family, but our plan was to be debt free at the time of our wedding--- which we did. (excluding student loan and home mortgage).</p> <p>I don't think you need to be in the perfect situation, just a safe one :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558094 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:14:18 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 558094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just for me, I want finances to be in order. I stress about stuff like that, which isn't good for a pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558087 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:06:35 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 558087@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us it was age first. We are in a less than ideal financial situation but it didn't seem like a good idea to wait for that to work out (might be years and years), and I wanted to be younger to have more energy as well as for the health aspects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558085 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:05:07 +0000 Foodnerd81 558085@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would factor age over finances if you finances aren't a total mess. You aren't that old either (I'm 32 and pregnant with my first) but if you want more than one, it does come into play. I said compromise-- do what you can to get your finances lined up as soon as possible, but I wouldn't hold off if you really want kids now and can make do with your finances as is. </p> <p>At least, that's how my opinion but it's a personal choice everyone has to make. I'm sure no one ever feels like they are 100% financially ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558081 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 15:01:37 +0000 sea_bass 558081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluebelle: This was a very similar (never ending) discussion me and DH had. I imagine most couples do. </p> <p>For me age was more important than finance. I felt like there were some things I wouldn't gamble with. Namely, decreasing fertility and increased abnormailities with advancing maternal age. </p> <p>I knew we would have to make cut backs to have kids now and I have happily made them. Having children young was so important to me. </p> <p>As long as you are not being crazy reckless, (Which it doesn't sound like) I would try now. But that's just me! </p> <p>Good luck whatever you choose! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/age-v-finances-and-ttc#post-558078 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:55:20 +0000 bluebelle 558078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm curious what people will think about this situation. My husband and I are talking about our TTC timeline, which we originally thought would be within the next 6 months. </p> <p>We've been looking at our finances as part of that planning and had some unexpected expenses in December and January. We've been working on paying down debt and building savings but after December and January our "financial freedom" date moved from a year out to two years. Age is a consideration for us, I'm turning 32 in the spring, my husband turns 32 in the summer. Although, I also have no reason to suspect we'll have difficulty conceiving (I realize sometimes there are no warning signs for infertility). My question is: what is your philosophy about the financial preparedness v. age conundrum? </p> <p>Is it better to try to start a family now and deal with a less than ideal financial situation or, wait for about two years and be in a much better financial situation but start trying to have our first at age 34? Thoughts? Do you feel more strongly about your finances being in order or starting to try by a certain age? </p>