Budgeting for Baby...

Justin and I attended our first baby class today! Which was really exciting, although it was a budgeting class and we both loathe math! Anyways, I was excited so I brought my own calculator and was completely prepared for the class! (almost felt like I was in school again) haha funny side note: Justin even walked towards the back of the classroom to sit, I was like honey, it's okay, we aren't in high school anymore! LMAO Because we all know the trouble makers sit in the back (uh hum, Justin)

It was pretty much what we expected it to be, we went in and listened to the lady talk about all kinds of incomes and expenses and then baby expenses and the cost of living, all that jazz. Then we were able to budget our own living costs and 'plan' for baby expenses on a budget worksheet. Whoa! Was I shocked? Were we both shocked? Heck yes! I mean, it isn't that bad but still once you factor in what you are about to start paying out and compare to what you already pay out. It's insane. ON A MILITARY PAY GRADE! haha...I guess it could be worse, at least in the end we were in the surplus category and not the deficit! Granted with WIC and other family support things you get a TON of help with certain groceries, and formula if you choose. I absolutely believe it is great to have the advantage to those things if you must need them. It's not scamming if you 'qualify' so you might as well use whatever help you can get.

--One other thing that shocked me was that on average to raise a child from birth to eighteen costs roughly $230,000 for a middle class family. ((not including college tuition)) That's a lot of money really. I know you are taking in consideration that it is 18 years worth of raising, but think of it like this. $12,778 a year, $1,065 a month, $266 a week, $38 a day & about $1.59 an hour!!! lol....Although the benefits to spending all this money are actually priceless! ((some of the examples on the worksheet, that were a few of my faves))
: Naming rights! ;) (hey, first, middle & last!!)
: More love than your heart can hold!
: Butterfly kisses & velcro hugs!! (or spider man kisses in my family) lol
: The power to heal a booboo, scare away the monster under the bed, ground them forever and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.
The experience was great and we already have appointments made for a few more classes to attend! We learned several new things and also got a bag full of free baby stuff! Can't beat free!!


No matter what the cost of raising my child is, or even the amount that I couldn't afford to give my child, at the end of the day, as long as we both, as parents, understand and know that we tried our best to make our children happy and give them all the love we can, that's what will make it well worth it. We couldn't be more proud to do it, even if we have to make sacrifices to do so, it's what you do for your babies. (they will always be your babies)