[tropics]

Hi

Is or has their been anyone out there who has a couple of children and would love one (or two) more but with childcare fees as high as they are along with all other expenses I am not sure we should..
Hubby would jump at it in a minute!..we have a 5yr old DD and a 2yr old DS. DD starting school in a week so nice to only be paying out daycare fees for ONE child now..

But I think, there are so many other people out there in worse financial situations than us and they get by..

Maybe I should go with my financial instincts and be thankfull for the two beautiful children we have....?

Rachael

[Bomber girl]

I'm the same but #4. Hubby and I both want to but in the end we just can't afford it. I don't think it's fair that my other children would have to go without because I want another one. Good luck with your decision

[axiomae]

Children to cost money, sigh. We're thinking we may not even be able to afford a second what with child care fees and all... how do people do it?

[mini mac]

I say go for it.

No amount of financial security can replace the magic of your own children, especially if that urge to expand your family is strong. You'd hate to look back and regret not having another. If you want the third badly enough, you'll find a way to make the money to provide for your needs.

Editted to add we will be going for no 3 within a year, despite being on a tight budget and just buying a more expensive house and starting a full reno on it... Some things aren't just about money...

This post has been edited by Mini Mac: 19/01/2013, 02:22 PM

[imamumto3]

I say go for it.

No amount of financial security can replace the magic of your own children, especially if that urge to expand your family is strong. You'd hate to look back and regret not having another. If you want the third badly enough, you'll find a way to make the money to provide for your needs.

this.

[epl0822]

I guess there will always be people in worse/better situations than you, but my personal take is I want to have the time and means to enjoy my family's company. It is not fun being on a tight budget and stressing about money!

[Roxi]

It depends on what you mean by afford - are you currently living frugally or do you take annual holidays, are paying off expensive cars, etc? Can you cut back on extravagances to afford the baby?

If you are already really struggling just to survive, maybe you can leave it for a year or two until your finances improve a bit (any possibilities of increased pay?), or maybe stagger it so that by the time baby #3 would need to be in child care, child #2 is starting school.

If you really, REALLY want a third child, I think you should go for it if you can make it work. Otherwise, it sounds like you will really regret it.

[happyapple]

We are having a third right now. It took a bit of convincing my DH but we are so rapt about another baby arriving and the thought of another child filling our lives is just so wonderful im afraid finances aren't even an issue.

There are plenty of reasons NOT to have a third if you really want to look for them - is your car/house really big enough? Added cost of course, and I'm wondering if my body is going to cope as well as it did previously...

I just wasn't ready to hang up my hat after number 2, and I don't ever want the regret of looking back and not doing it when we still could - like so many people i know.

I don't think I could afford 6 kids, but 3 is do-able.

Good luck!

[tropics]

Thanks for all the replies ladies..we will have to consider carefully...we both work full time, and my pay is taken all for the mortgage so all other bills, car payments, personal loans, food etc is to come out of DH pay. I know we could make it work, and we certainly dont take annual holidays, that's one sacrifice / luxury we dont and wont be able to do for a while!

With my first two children I was working in a Gov job too which of course made the maternity leave much easier..now Im back working in a cafe as I to a separation package from my Gov job in 2011 (which was a bad decision - not at the time though) but should have stayed in that job!

so would have even less maternity leave time as well..

thinking....

[duck-o-lah]

It's a hard choice.

We decided to TTC2 before we hit a financial sh*tstorm. However after a year of trying I was not prepared to give up. The budget is definitely a concern that is in the back of our mind and unfortunately I will have to go back to work much sooner than I would like.

I've had to work ALOT of magic to stretch our budget to accomodate our needs, but we will get by (touching wood). No fun holidays or nice clothes or nights out, but it won't be forever.

I would not consider a third as it would go beyond the point of making lifestyle sacrifices and mean we would be asking where our net mortgage payment was coming from and how we would put food on the table.