The process of building a family can lead to some of the happiest moments of your life, but doing it safely requires a good financial plan and sound advice to ensure you take every step to safeguard your future.
Renting or buying
The first thing you need is a place to live. You could rent a townhouse, apartment or full home, or you could purchase a house. The New York Times published an online calculator that shows depending on where you live and how much you want to spend, either can be right for you. In some regions rent is much higher than the cost of ownership, and in others the opposite is true. Each process has its own recurring fees and pitfalls, but they also carry exclusive benefits the other mode of living doesn't enjoy.
If you're set on owning your home, though, Business Insider says you should anticipate having at least one credit card for emergencies to ensure you're always able to pay your mortgage. Paying off cards immediately is also crucial to maintaining your financial plan, but if you're going to take on a lot of major responsibilities at once, it's also up to you to have a contingency plan.
It could be a matter of convenience as much as anything, but ask for financial advice from a realtor or banking professional if you aren't sure which works best for you.
More with less
There are a number of ways to reduce costs without skipping meals, especially if you have a baby on the way. A story in Forbes said a BabyCenter report found the price of child rearing is over $225,000 and almost two-thirds of parents are counting pennies before making way for a baby.
The Mirror pointed out that thrift stores carry clothes, books and other housewares for much less than department outlets can offer. While they may have been used by someone else in the past, most of the products are in good condition and will serve you well at a fraction of the cost. Forbes also recommended finding innovative ways to do things you'd assume required much more money. Asking around for reusable diapers, old bottles that can be sterilized and baby clothes will save a large chunk of change when it comes to regular infant upkeep.