Baby Costs - !!!!!

[PugwasHDJ80]

MYOB said:

I think the issue here is not to do with the salary people earn. It's the adaptation required when all of a sudden you have gone from a care free existence to that of a paying for a family. It's a shock to the system regardless of how much you earn.

This 100%

Wait until you take your first proper holiday abroad- that was the biggest shock!

we knew logically that we'd still have to be parents, but emotionally we still thought that somehow we would have a relaxing 10 days in the sun, drinking til late, getting up late, no pressures etc

then you realise that your baby really doesn't care about all that crap and wants to play at 0630 in the morning like usual

there were tears from Mrs P

[walm]

PugwasHDJ80 said:

Serious question- why do you have so many prams?

Because I am a weak man in the face of the hormonal insanity that is a nesting mother.

McLarens for travel (taking a bugaboo on a plane or in a hire car is madness) - we killed one of them - so ended up with two.

First bugaboo was fine but you can't transport a new-born AND a toddler in a bugaboo - so Phil & Teds.
Phil & Teds starts getting MAJOR punctures - even when we replaced the tyre (which is special fricking order).
AND it is very heavy.
Hence - Bugaboo bee - lightweight and one piece. No blowing up tyres.

Then we moved to the countryside - tiny wheels simply don't work without pavement.
So out-n-about for walm v3.

[LimaDelta]

walm said:

PugwasHDJ80 said:

Serious question- why do you have so many prams?

Because I am a weak man in the face of the hormonal insanity that is a nesting mother.

McLarens for travel (taking a bugaboo on a plane or in a hire car is madness) - we killed one of them - so ended up with two.

First bugaboo was fine but you can't transport a new-born AND a toddler in a bugaboo - so Phil & Teds.
Phil & Teds starts getting MAJOR punctures - even when we replaced the tyre (which is special fricking order).
AND it is very heavy.
Hence - Bugaboo bee - lightweight and one piece. No blowing up tyres.

Then we moved to the countryside - tiny wheels simply don't work without pavement.
So out-n-about for walm v3.

Don't let her see this then!

Had to get one when we bought the MINI as her McLaren wouldn't fit in the boot properly. It's tiny and weighs nothing.

[WinstonWolf]

walm said:

PugwasHDJ80 said:

Serious question- why do you have so many prams?

Because I am a weak man in the face of the hormonal insanity that is a nesting mother.

McLarens for travel (taking a bugaboo on a plane or in a hire car is madness) - we killed one of them - so ended up with two.

First bugaboo was fine but you can't transport a new-born AND a toddler in a bugaboo - so Phil & Teds.
Phil & Teds starts getting MAJOR punctures - even when we replaced the tyre (which is special fricking order).
AND it is very heavy.
Hence - Bugaboo bee - lightweight and one piece. No blowing up tyres.

Then we moved to the countryside - tiny wheels simply don't work without pavement.
So out-n-about for walm v3.

We had a Silver Cross but bought a £5 buggy when we went the states in case it got lost/damaged. The cheapy was so good we ended up using it all the time...

[Issi]

[quote=blueg33]I meant its laughable that the makers can get away with those prices, how much people pay is their choice.

With both of ours, after the first 8 months the thing that was used most was a basic buggy, the equivalent of which is £30 from mothercare

I think that makers can get away with the prices, because 'keeping up with the Jones'', type people buy it.

Probably the same parents who buy 3-6 month Oshkosh designer clothes at £90.00 a pop.

[DoubleSix]

MYOB said:

I think the issue here is not to do with the salary people earn. It's the adaptation required when all of a sudden you have gone from a care free existence to that of a paying for a family. It's a shock to the system regardless of how much you earn.

Well said.

[MrJuice]

Issi]lueg33 said:

Probably the same parents who buy 3-6 month Oshkosh designer clothes at £90.00 a pop.

Why is that of any consequence to you?

I wouldn't spend that myself but if someone wants to, why does it bother you?

On hand me downs and second hand, fair enough if that's what you want to do. Don't think you are any better or worse by doing that though. If someone spends 5k, they are neither better or worse either. It is their choice. Live and let live

As someone said earlier, baby doesn't care. All baby wants is love, warmth, time of parents and comfort.

[acd80]

Issi]lueg33 said:

I meant its laughable that the makers can get away with those prices, how much people pay is their choice.

With both of ours, after the first 8 months the thing that was used most was a basic buggy, the equivalent of which is £30 from mothercare

I think that makers can get away with the prices, because 'keeping up with the Jones'', type people buy it.

Probably the same parents who buy 3-6 month Oshkosh designer clothes at £90.00 a pop.

We've got a icandy buggy that is about to get replaced by a cheaper and lighter stroller and not another bloody 'brand' - it's been used for just under a year and cost about £800. The former is too heavy / expensive to be taken on a plane and getting trashed although it has managed a couple of trips short haul to Dublin so far although that was with the car set and not the sit up part of the buggy which appears to have been a complete waste of money.

We're looking to go on a long-haul holiday in June to the States hopefully and I've already bought a suitable stroller from Aldi for £20 that will do the job.

On a separate but related note, Costco in Cardiff have got Oshkosh clothes sets (dungaree type thingy with a top underneath) for both male and female babies at £13.99 a pop!

[oyster]

Lotus82 said:

DoubleSix said:

rich12 said:

You have a joint income of £110k and you are worrying how to survive with twins???
Spend less??

ttish answer there rich12, well done.

OP I feel your pain. Despite having higher income and less kids childcare is ruinous, and I have found it difficult.

Shame your employer doesnt do tax vouchers. I only qualify for the minimum but it helps me feel less sore.

Some people are lucky enough to have family that can do one day a week, is that an option?

Ultimately we have just had to change our lifestyle a lot. The flash cars have gone, paid down debt, and hammered down the outgoings on food especially. It's not fun when you are used to lifes fineries but I derive my pleasure from other things these days and perspective has shifted as a result.

It does get gradually easier but there's no doubting the 'squeezed middle' is a tough place right now.

Kids are worth it though eh?

I'm glad there are other people in a similar position.

I feel like I am being targeted. If we both earned £49,999 a year we would get £'000's in handouts, however we don't and for a period during maternity we will go 3 months on my wage alone - that will be no fun at all.

Edited by Lotus82 on Sunday 29th March 13:30

Sorry OP. You've got it very lucky.

Not because of your salaries - you've worked hard for those.

But because of the bit in bold - you do know what most women get is 3 months at 90% and that's it?

[Sheepshanks]

oyster said:

But because of the bit in bold - you do know what most women get is 3 months at 90% and that's it?

For the public sector, teachers and NHS staff have surprisingly poor maternity pay - I think teachers is just a month at full pay then a sliding scale.

[MrJuice]

Sheepshanks said:

For the public sector, teachers and NHS staff have surprisingly poor maternity pay - I think teachers is just a month at full pay then a sliding scale.

So, what maternity pay do NHS get?

[Sheepshanks]

MrJuice said:

So, what maternity pay do NHS get?

Couple of months, then it drops away - not sure of the rate.

Banks / credit card companies employ a lot of people around here (Chester) and they pay 6 months full pay. Civil Service does too, I think. You'd think all public sector would be the same.

[blueg33]

when it gets older the baby cares more about how much you can spend

eg Play station, laptop, tablet, driving lessons, trainers, food,

[MrJuice]

Sheepshanks said:

Couple of months, then it drops away - not sure of the rate.

Banks / credit card companies employ a lot of people around here (Chester) and they pay 6 months full pay. Civil Service does too, I think. You'd think all public sector would be the same.

http://www.nhsemployers.org/your-workforce/pay-and-reward/nhs-terms-and-conditions/nhs-terms-and-conditions-of-service-handbook/parents-and-carers/maternity-leave-and-pay-section-15

It is not as bad as you think/suggest

The NHS has wonderful sick pay rules too. I used to work in the NHS and know people who would take 6months off at a time on full pay because of 'back pain'. Rinse and repeat every 12-18m

[NerveAgent]

MrJuice said:

Why is that of any consequence to you?

I wouldn't spend that myself but if someone wants to, why does it bother you?

On hand me downs and second hand, fair enough if that's what you want to do. Don't think you are any better or worse by doing that though. If someone spends 5k, they are neither better or worse either. It is their choice. Live and let live

As someone said earlier, baby doesn't care. All baby wants is love, warmth, time of parents and comfort.

Its of no consequence to anyone but in a thread started by a high earner moaning about costs (which can be cut) its kind of relevant.

[Issi]

You got there just before me.

I'm convinced that (some) people will spend £500 on a pram, just to be able to say 'I just spent £500 on a pram!'

This reminds me of a show I saw years ago, where people were moaning that they're absolutely skint but then still buying sirloin steaks for their dog.

[PugwasHDJ80]

Sheepshanks said:

oyster said:

But because of the bit in bold - you do know what most women get is 3 months at 90% and that's it?

For the public sector, teachers and NHS staff have surprisingly poor maternity pay - I think teachers is just a month at full pay then a sliding scale.

which is far better than most SMEs will pay.

My wife got statutory- that was it- nothing on full pay at all, no sliding scale, nothing.

She took 5 months off work- I didn't take any!

We're both keen to have another, but only if she can find somewhere with better maternity pay/

[Sheepshanks]

NerveAgent said:

Its of no consequence to anyone but in a thread started by a high earner moaning about costs (which can be cut) its kind of relevant.

To be fair, he's only on £65K. That's hardly "high earner".

[MrJuice]

Sheepshanks said:

To be fair, he's only on £65K. That's hardly "high earner".

That is true. 65k might be a lot to some but from what I have seen in professional services and the business world, it is okay but not a lot by any means. You can get by on a lot less. You can earn a lot more.

This thread sounds like moneysavingexpert.

[oldnbold]

MrJuice said:

That is true. 65k might be a lot to some but from what I have seen in professional services and the business world, it is okay but not a lot by any means. You can get by on a lot less. You can earn a lot more.

This thread sounds like moneysavingexpert.

The average wage in the UK is around £27k (can't remember the exact figure). So to the vast majority of the population £65k is a high earner. I'm not talking about PH la la land, but the real world, outside the M25.

And certainly a couple on £100k+ are very much a high earning couple in most peoples eyes.