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Kat_Girl
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Joined: 09 December 2009
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Topic: One Wage Income Posted: 09 December 2009 at 3:08pm |
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freckle
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Joined: 03 December 2008
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Posted: 09 December 2009 at 3:19pm |
we live on one income and have two kids and TTC #3... we don't actually find it that hard and it's not like we have a huge income either, we are probably getting an average income I would guess... If we're a bit careless with money it can get a little stressful at times but generally if we budget well it's not too much of a stretch... we don't really go out much though so I guess it depends on your lifestyle and income...
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mum to 3 lovely girls :D
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newme
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Joined: 11 January 2009
Location: Christchurch
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Posted: 09 December 2009 at 3:22pm |
You will be fine. We are on one low-ish income and we get by. Kids aren't as expensive as every one makes out.
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MaeBeeBaby
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Joined: 25 March 2009
Location: South Island
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Posted: 09 December 2009 at 3:23pm |
The best way to figure out if this is working for you is to find out what costs are involved in bringing up a baby. Ask friends who have babies - consider doctors visits (not all are free, esp if they are specialist), nappies, formulas, clothing, setting up the nursery, all that stuff. And put that amount aside each week so you just cannot touch it. If you can manage this for a few months with no interference involved, then I would say yes, you will be fine!
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freckle
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Posted: 09 December 2009 at 3:35pm |
hila wrote:
Kids aren't as expensive as every one makes out. |
I so agree! with my oldest we went out and bought EVERYTHING! this time was like starting again as had an 11 year gap and we did it so much more cheaply, you really don't need much at all!
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mum to 3 lovely girls :D
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MaeBeeBaby
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Posted: 09 December 2009 at 4:34pm |
And if you are the last of your friends you should get a lot of hand-me-downs or loaned stuff!
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lilfatty
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Joined: 22 August 2007
Location: Waitakere
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Posted: 09 December 2009 at 5:20pm |
We have two and are on one income, in fact while I was on maternity leave with number two we had no income and still manage to feed, clothe and entertain them
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Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months)
I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year LFs weight blog
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Babykatnz
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Posted: 09 December 2009 at 6:39pm |
You can also go on the IRD website and see if your dp's income gives you any entitlement to working for families money when baby comes... I am the same as freckle, TTC#3 with only DP's income, but we get a little help from IRD through the WFF scheme
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Brandon - 05/12/2003
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emz
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Posted: 09 December 2009 at 9:39pm |
We were on 1 (and a bit) income as I was a student and only work 10 hours a week which I still do now.
TBH you need to be a good budgeter, we are on a soldiers incomes so not flash and our mortgage is pretty high in comparison to our income. But we get by, we manage to save for holidays away and our kids are well looked after (even if mum does give us care packages every once in a while to make sure we're eating properly - sometimes we forego good meals and let the kids eat well if we are really saving for something).
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ALittleLoopy
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Joined: 04 July 2008
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Posted: 09 December 2009 at 9:51pm |
We are TTC #1 and DH is th only income we have and I havnt worked all this year.
We believe well get by, if you worry about money or not there will always be something to "put you off" trying for a bit longer...
I say GO FOR IT hun!
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T_Rex
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Joined: 07 March 2007
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Posted: 10 December 2009 at 9:13am |
I'm confused. Don't most couples end up having a baby on one income, at least for a while? We were on two incomes whilst TTC and pregnant, but will be going down to one for the next wee while until I go back to work. Most families take maternity leave, so its very doable to have a baby on one income. You just have to adjust your lifestyle to make it fit
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kabe
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Posted: 10 December 2009 at 9:30am |
We found it a big challenge on one income as previously I earnt more than my DH. Now that we have a mortgage it's even harder, even though I'm back working 3 days a week.
If you're already only on one income, I can't see that it's going to make much difference IYKWIM. If you're worried about $ why not try and get some work before baby comes along? The more you can save, the better
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Hunnybunny
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Joined: 06 May 2009
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Posted: 10 December 2009 at 10:53am |
We are on one income! I'm not 10weeks with no.1
DF is on a good wage, for what he does. Although next year he will be taking a slight drop in hours/pay so (eventually) we will be better off, as he will be going into that business so we will be running it.
We are getting married in January, and move into our first home this weekend (we have owned it since October though)
Maybe now you are TTC you could start buying supermarket vouchers, even $10 a week can make a difference, and $10fuel vouchers? That way it all adds up, start paying a wee bit extra on power, phone and other utility bills, so you don't have to stress in those first few months, and maybe only pay half bills than what your used to when baby comes...
We've set up a lot of direct credits, so we don't have to worry. We are having boarders in for a wee while at least, we have one who is happy to stay once baby is here, as he will be a Dad at the same time, even though he isn't with his babys mum anymore...
Oh, and by the way, I'm 19, 20 in 3 days. And DF has just turned 26. There is a 5/6year age gap between us
Write budgets, STICK to them, even now, start budgeting for baby stuff. Spend time on trademe, maybe even now you could layby big things like cot, pram, carseat?? And start paying them off slowly.
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Kat_Girl
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Posted: 10 December 2009 at 11:21am |
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minik8e
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Posted: 10 December 2009 at 11:48am |
We are on 1 1/2 incomes, kind of. DH works full-time (a wee bit more than your DP, but not by much) and I am working 1-2 days a week (min wage for me). We also get some WFF. We manage, and pay just over $400 a week on our mortgage (then have rates and insurance on top of that), but it is tight at times.
We spend about $200 a week on groceries - but this includes 2 tins of formula and nappies (which takes up about $70 of it). We could cut it down quite easily if we had to. Your power is expensive though...we only pay $50 a week.
It might be worth finding a job until you get pg/closer to bubs arriving, and maybe put all of your earnings into a savings account, that way you have more to fall back on, just in case. You're already used to only having one income, so you won't miss the money, and it would build up a nice little nest egg.
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Leishamaree
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Joined: 24 September 2009
Location: Porirua, Wellington
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Posted: 10 December 2009 at 11:56am |
We are on 2 incomes but will go down to one once we have a bubba.
We have cleared all of our debt so it will only be food/power etc, from what I can see we will make it work.
Definately have a budget tho - ours is in a spreadsheet so I don't forget anything!
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FreeSpirit
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Posted: 10 December 2009 at 5:20pm |
Kat_girl, My DP gets about the same wage as yours, we manage just fine - yes we budget, I buy clothes for our girl before we need them (eg at the end of winter season clearance I buy clothing for next winter), we even get takeaways once a week. With the help the IRD give us through WFF, it's enough that I don't have to go back to work. My daughter is 17 months old now, I worked while I was pregnant so I could buy all the big nursery items and carseat etc, but stopped working at 36 weeksand haven't looked back.
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spanky77
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Location: Wellington
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Posted: 10 December 2009 at 7:15pm |
We're on one income , and have been for 2 years. I previously earnt more than DP.
we hadn't been ttc, but not preventing either. I work one day a week on low wages, and am at college, but am using up savings for that (slowly, I want to keep some for essential baby/kid stuff)
We could fixate on waiting until we buy a house etc, but I can't see that happening for at least 10 years. I figured that I'm in a good enough and unstressed space that if something decided to implant, we'd find a way round it and be happy with it. We don;t go on holidays or have flash clothes or cars etc, I'm pretty low maintenance and figure thats a good start
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Andriea
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Posted: 11 December 2009 at 8:07pm |
We are on one income to, we have been for most of our 12 years together. I was a student for 3 of those years and have had 6 successful pregnancys. DH is on round 45K and we also get working for families.
We layby a lot of things we want and plan in advance for all birthdays, christmas etc. I save money so we are able to have a decent holiday once every couple of years. We dont own our own house but now that we have completed our family when Riley is older Ill go to work as well so we can buy a home.
I hard out budget so we can have money to do the nicer things. We arent financially wealthy but the kids and us have everything we need (and I admit the kids get most of what they want to). You just seem to find the money to make things work.
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