Making Time to Think About Your Future
When you find out that you're pregnant, you'll be amazed, thrilled, stressed, and overwhelmed, maybe even in that order. A baby is a remarkable addition to a household, and that thought will sustain you for some time.
But before long, you may begin to sweat when you think about the medical costs of having a baby, and then the diapers, clothing, bigger house, furniture for the nursery, toys, books, stroller, car seat, and then, eventually, a car and college tuition!
Before you panic, set aside time to plan your finances around your new baby. If possible, do your planning early in the pregnancy so that you're aware of all the potential expenses as you go along and aren't stressed for nine long months.
Sit down with this section and work your way through it step by step. If you don't know the price for a particular product or service, find out, and then meet back here to complete this section.
Any time you begin to panic, think of your greatest fear in the situation: You'll spend so much money on your baby that you'll be homeless; or you'll have to work so much to pay the bills that you'll make a terrible parent. Whatever the fear, think it through, and then, if possible, get a good laugh from it. You're too far along the budgeting track to let something like that happen!
