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Like MM said the biggest killer is daycare if you both choose to work FT or lost salary if one of you quits work.
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We are very blessed to have extremely flexible jobs. I will work from home several days a week and hopefully only need childcare for 1 or 2 days maximum. I'm sure that cost will be expensive because I don't believe in daycare (as an instituion) so we will have someone come to our home or take the baby to someone's home.
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Are you asking about budgeting for all of childhood, or just for the first year or so?
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I know the inital expenses will be high, but my question was more toward the everyday budget with a child. The increased costs of grocery bills, diapers, formula, etc.
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For the healthcare alone, kids cost us about $500/month.
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This seems really high! Why is it so expensive?
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There is so much stuff for sale that hasn't even been "used."
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When I adopted my puppy a few years ago, he had been abused, and they suggested that I get a playpen instead of a crate for the first several months until he was more comfortable with a crate. I went to a childrens resale shop and bought a brand new pack and play for $20! I couldn't believe it, so many things in the store still had tags on it!
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Does someone give you a list of stuff they expect to see in the baby's room when they do the home study?
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They don't give a list, but, they do want your house to be child proofed and you should have everything "necessary" for a baby. I know that word is subject to different interpretations, but at minimum we would need somewhere for the baby to safely sleep, a carseat, clothes, bottles, etc. Our house has to be properly equipped with fire, co2 detectors, fire extinguishers, etc.