Motherhood is all about budgeting,finance, dipping into one's savings and weighing in the cost of not working, ie, 2 to 3 years of unemployment, not having any maternity leave ( you may need at least 12 mths working in the company before you actually get to qualify for their maternity leave package!)
This is an extremely long list of issues to consider. I am even timing two to every bill, child care times two, holiday air ticket times two, car seats times two, toys times two and the endless amount of huggies! One box of Huggies, is like 70 nappies, costing , without discount, 36 to 42 AUD.
I remember my dear friend leekah, who used to advised me to stock up on huggies when there is a sale going on, I thought to myself, " Is it really necessary?"
Now, However, I am stocking up all the huggies My hands can carry at once!
Ikea, Australia, offers up to half of one;s annual income when you have worked 2 years or more. My thought is do everyone need to work 2 years and then, try for a baby?
Isn;t it stressful enough to even try for a baby without ruining the romance of conceiving one?
Sucking all the romance of expecting a baby, I am left with bills unpaid, uncertainties of what the future holds, the rising cost of child care ( up to aud 1000 per mth for like 4 days per week! per child!), my own expenses ( shopping, allowances, beauty regimes and etc expenses).
Ad hoc expenses, like spending tickets, insurance ( car, medical and house), doggie expenses ( food, vet fees, medicine and grooming), birthdays and weekend getaways?
Both of my partners craved on weekend getaways, movies, eating out and the usual taking the kids to the zoo or just a plain train fun ride for the kids?
Ooo...new shoes? new clothes? for the kids, shoes does cost a bomb here, and I only shop for those ones in Kmart, Big W and Target!
Jackets are the worst as well. Some good ones can easily cost 100 to 300 per jacket for better cotton/wool material and we are in the four seasons zone! I assumed tropical homeland exclude this cost of buying seasonal clothing for the kids!
The little things we take for granted? Holidays? We are planning a ski trip for lya and her sibling and that would easily run a total cost of 2000, more or less. Ski Gear are extremely pricey but for the experience of a true family holiday, it is priceless!
I sound like a Mastercard ad right?
I even try and cut down expenses, like nursing the baby, formulaes are expensive ladies, aud 26 per unit and that can only last 2 weeks or so?
Using cloth nappy in spring/summer, it does make more sense. Help saving the environment with less rubbish to throw, less nappy rash and My beloved mother is here to help me hand wash the baby's poo and wee for a fraction of the cost. Water and glycerin soap are used and the grey water is used on the garden when it is needed most, SUMMER BLAZE!
I would suggest to any new mother, try and use cloth nappy. It is a tad bit more work , and help is needed, like having your beloved mother with you for the first 3 to 4 mths!
My mum gets something to do and it helps her in feeling useful?
So far, I have scout many potential part time jobs. But I still got like 1.5 years till the baby no 2 settle in and in between, placing a vacancy for them in childcare.
After all the distinctive budgeting, I still come to the conclusion that it;s worth every single penny and dime.
Isn;t it ironic?
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