https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 21:24:31 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22469 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 14:06:41 +0000 winniebee 22469@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I stress about it too, but usually only when I think about the big picture (ie, we have this that and the other thing coming up, plus need to save for this and that). When I think about it on a monthly basis (with our savings goals in mind), I tend to stress out less. Just try to tackle one item at a time. I also think that having specific goals and and a budget helps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22375 Sun, 27 Nov 2011 03:09:53 +0000 looch 22375@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have money stress all of the time, even when things are going well, so I can appreciate what you're going through in a tough time.</p> <p>My son will be 1 in December, and part of what has helped keep costs down is to just stay out of the stores and avoid those "ultimate registries" you find online. Really, all you need is a car seat to transport the baby home with you and some sleepers. You don't need to spend more than $100 on a crib and you can get a carrier like an Ergo or a Beco instead of a big stroller. Take what you can from the hospital in diapers, but just buy those on sale starting now, or see if you can get gently used cloth diapers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22282 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:38:02 +0000 SweetMamaM 22282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a discussion that we've been having, prior to TTC. The reality is that no one (at least in our experience) is fully ready to take on all the financial responsibilities of having a child... yet they all seem to survive. I remember a lot of spaghetti and "Want dessert? Have an apple" in my childhood, as my parents struggled with three children, one disabled, on one income. They survived, we survived. Our income will be cut almost in half when we have a child, but we'll survive then too! Some of the PPs have had some great tips about cost cutting, my advice would be to also remember that there will be parts of your life that won't cost you anywhere near as much when your LO arrives - I know for us, our fine dining bills will go WAY down :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22175 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 13:22:06 +0000 ALittleP 22175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh! Hang in there. Re: the cell phone bill. Call your provider and negotiate a new bill. If it is a rare thing they will probably let you pay less $$$. I've done it before. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22160 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:52:32 +0000 MsMamaBear 22160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow! You got a lot of diapers! I got a lot b/c we didn't find out the sex, but not that many.</p> <p>So true about shoes. Baby Bear is 3 months next Thursday and wears just socks.lmbo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22159 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:49:24 +0000 MsMamaBear 22159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's rough but everyone makes it work somehow. Most cut things out. We're trying, but we don't have unnecessary stuff.LOL Down to basics as it is! </p> <p>My SO was laid off a fews days after we found out I was pregnant. He works one that makes half of what he was making. yuck. It's been a rough yr, but I thank God the house is paid for and our cars are too. They are 2002 &amp; 2005, but oh,well. We have cut out extras, but it's ok. I'm couponing also, which helps a lot! If you are in the south, southernsavers.com is a good site. Buying food in the sale cycles helps. I cringe when I used to buy meat at the nonsale price. My SO loves it because I cook more as well.LMBO</p> <p>I make enough to help cover utilities, but saving money on food helps as well. helps to put a little away. Hopefully he gets a new job like his old one soon. It's rough, but we're making it work. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22158 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:45:27 +0000 Miss Adia 22158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You don't need to be rich for a baby. Breastfeeding is free. If you can't or won't breastfeed, there are progams to help you with formula costs.<br /> New babies don't need any of the useless cute items like newborn shoes. Um, pretty sure your newborn isn't going jogging anytime soon so you can skip the baby Jordan's. You don't need a bunch of the latest newborn fashions (unless he's a baby model) and you don't need a bunch of toys in a nursery because who is going to play with them?<br /> Are you having a baby shower? When I had my LO, I got so much diapers. Seriously I had diapers for the first 6 months because of my baby shower. My best friend went out and bought me 10 boxes of newborn diapers from Sam's Club. Then my older sister bought 20 boxes of the next size up. So on and so on. Of course there were times when I had to buy a box or two, but having all of those diapers was a great start. So maybe mention that to someone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22156 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 12:25:09 +0000 eeh 22156@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You mentioned a high cell phone bill that was unexpected..can you tweak your plan to allow for more minutes, texts, data, whatever the category where you went over? Paying a little more each month is usually still cheaper than paying the overage fees and per text/minute/whatever charges. A couple of years ago I thought I had one plan but was really signed up for the other and ending up going over my texts by like 200. I went in and talked to the phone company and since I agreed to a higher contract they agreed to take away all the overage charges because they would be making more money from me each month. Does that make sense? It might be worth checking into. </p> <p>Also, try not to stress too much about the baby. People have babies without a lot of money all the time. You don't need to have all the bells and whistles and gadgets that wipe their butt for you. You can make do without all the stuff. Hang in there. You'll come out the other end and be stronger for surviving it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22115 Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:42:32 +0000 heffalump 22115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't have bad luck, we brought it on ourselves. We bought a house when I was 7 months pregnant that of course needed some fixing up. Nothing huge, but it all adds up quick! For us we know we always have my parents if we need money, but of course I never want to do that so for a while we were doing everything to keep that from happening. If it wasn't for the baby and necessary, I wasn't allowed to buy it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22030 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:46:34 +0000 StbHisMrs 22030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband has been laid off from his job for 3 months, he's the main breadwinner, my income is barely enough to cover our bills. He cashed in his 401k for us to live off of until he goes back to work after the 1st of the year. That was hard to swallow. I'm thankful for all the diapers we received at our baby shower and that she's doing well on kirkland formula (half of the cost of similac).<br /> One of our vehicles needs new tires and it's a large suv with big tires and that will run us no less than $1100. Then our 50" tv died on Tuesday, to replace it would cost atleast $1000, ugh. Plus baby girl is out growing her clothes, I wore mine during pregnancy and now they don't fit right! I could go on and on. I shouldn't complain since we're able to pay most of our bills. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22024 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:23:05 +0000 Rosie Girl 22024@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Us! I lost my job at 3 months pregnant. We can hardly make it by on just DH's paychecks, but we make it. I have always said that you can always seem to make things work out. </p> <p>We never thought we would ever make it on just one salary. We have had to cut back on a lot of stuff, and go without things, but we are making it.</p> <p>The holidays will pass, and you don't have to spend lots on them! I am actually making some gifts. It all works out in the end :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/money-stress#post-22017 Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:14:27 +0000 Nskillet 22017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dh and I have had a horrible few months luck financially. Car accident caused by a lunatic stealing a car and totalling ours resulted in a new car and payment. Now a bizarrely enormous cell phone bill, another car suddenly on the fritz and the impending cost of day is beginning to shake my confidence. Add in the holidays, student loans, credit cards, and I might pass out......</p> <p>Should we have waited longer to get pregnant? Has anyone else had these feelings during a string of bad luck?</p> <p>How do all new parents make things work?! </p>