starting to freak out about finances!

[fortlauderdale2]

I remember freaking out while pregnant with #1. Now, here we go with #2. Daycare for 2, healthcare for 2....wish there was help out there for the middle class....

[schenner2]

Currently trying to conceive #2 and I am already thinking about money.  I live in Canada so my healthcare is free and we get 1 year of paid maternity leave only 55% of our income but diapers wipes clothes it still all adds up!

[sasha_swtheart]

Switching to a one income family for 8 weeks scares me. Maternity leave w/o pay makes me nauaeated. I know we will be ok but I have always made my own money. Nevertheless I'm going to enjoy my bonding time and let my bf take care of the bills. Luckily I work at night so I don't have to pay for daycare unless I choose to take a day shift. I'm stocking up on diapers and wipes as well as other small necessary items ahead of time.

[Firehawk75]

I'm a little hurt by the "low class gets everything for free" comment. I used to be in the middle class, and I was the primary breadwinner. Because of a life threatening illness, I became too sick to work even part time. I never, ever thought I would see such hard times. My first husband left me a single mother, unable to work at all. On top of being chronically ill I had uterine cancer scares, pollups, etc. I didn't even think I was able to conceive because of the damage. Then surprise! I'm scared and delighted, but terrified of losing the baby, dying in childbirth, and the financial burden, especially with my two boys and my current husband's children. I'm now on disability. I would give at least one appendage to be healthy and be able to work to contribute.We are below the national poverty level for our family size and we don't get anything free BECAUSE I have disability. Sometimes you just have to give up the mani-pedis and the meaningless material possessions to make it all work. It's very very hard, but when you do struggle, I mean REALLY struggle, you find out very quickly what you can live without. I'm glad I went through this. It has taught me to be more compassionate and less entitled.

[megansmiles]

I plan on staying at home. Right now I'm working and saving as much as I can, and yes, I use wic and get free hearhcare. In my state you get these things regardless of income if you're pregnant

[Dragonwings]

I had a friend who quit to be a stay at home mom because her whole paycheck was going to daycare. They were living off her husbands checks anyways, so what was the point in working. She loves it too.  

[chloegc1023]

I'm right there with u.  My hubby and I always wanted our baby together, but we  we waited and waited for the time to be "right", yea well by the time that happens we would be old fogies no longer able to reproduce! Lol. So we decided to just go for it and now we're expecting, however our financial situation could be better and should be by the time baby arrives, we are believing that everything will be just fine.  

[fortlauderdale2]

By the time we have to actually pay for  everything, we actually  bring home less than low socioeconmic group....cause they get everything for free!  Work hard= pay more. Work less= pay less...not very motivating.. a girl I know gets free daycare, free health insurance, WIC,(free food) and has all her money to spare.  This country...

[knufrio]

I know how you feel. My hubby and I fall into the "upper middle class" category but here in NJ the cost of 1 month of daycare for a child in diapers is about $1300 .... It's absurd.