Everybody knows that having children is expensive and there is plenty of guidance online and in baby books to help you budget for the cost of having children. It’s important that you add up the cost of all of the food, nappies, toys, clothes, and everything else that you need so you can make sure that you can afford it all. But what about the cost of being pregnant?
There are a lot of costs associated with pregnancy but there isn’t always as much guidance out there. The problem is, if you don’t account for the cost of pregnancy, it can make it more difficult to budget once the baby arrives. If you have recently found out that you are pregnant, these are some of the big costs that you need to be prepared for.
Maternity Clothes
Once you start showing and your body starts going through some big changes, you don’t have long before your old clothes don’t fit anymore and you need to start buying some maternity clothes. They can be more expensive than you realise, and when you need to start replacing the majority of your wardrobe, the costs can quickly add up. You can save a little bit of money if you have any friends or family members that have recently been through a pregnancy and have some second-hand maternity wear that you can have. However, it’s a cost that you will always have to be prepared for.
Baby Classes
If this is your first child, you’re probably terrified about getting it wrong when the baby arrives. You can read all of the parenting books that you like, but if you want some good practical advice, it’s best to go to some antenatal classes. You’ll learn everything about what to expect during the birth and the first weeks and months of your baby’s life. Even though every baby is different and there is no secret formula, going to baby classes can help to relax you a bit and prepare you for some of the challenges that you will face as a new parent. There are free classes available, but if you want to attend more, you may need to pay for them.
Food Costs
This is one that you may not have thought of, but it’s important to remember that you are going to be eating for two, so you will probably eat more, on average. Your eating habits are also going to change a lot because you need to make sure that you are giving your baby everything that they need. In some cases, this can actually make things cheaper because you are adding a lot more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet, which tend to be cheaper than processed food. However, you are going to get a lot of strange cravings that you can’t control, and this can play havoc with your food budget. If you suddenly start craving something that is very expensive, you’ll just have to deal with that cost.
Exercise Classes
Staying active while pregnant is very important and there are plenty of ways to do that. Taking regular walks, for example, is a cheap and easy way to get your exercise in. However, a lot of people like to go to exercise classes when they are pregnant because there are a lot of benefits. You need to make sure that you are exercising safely and you are not doing anything too strenuous that might put you or your baby at risk, so many people are cautious about working out on their own. But if you go to specific pregnancy fitness classes, you have the benefit of an experienced instructor that knows what you should and shouldn’t be doing. You also get to meet a lot of other expectant mothers and sharing the experience of pregnancy with others that know what you are going through can be very comforting. Even though your partner is trying their best to be supportive, they just don’t get it, so spending time with other pregnant women can help you through the tough times. These exercise classes aren’t too expensive, but if you are attending them on a regular basis, it can still be tough to fit into your budget.
Babymoon Trip
A lot of couples like to take one final trip together before they have kids, often called a babymoon trip. It’s a good opportunity to relax and prepare yourself for the difficult months ahead and spend some quality time together while you still have the chance. When you are budgeting for your pregnancy, it’s a good idea to set some money aside for a trip, even if it’s just a weekend away somewhere close to home.
These are all of the big costs that you will have to deal with during your pregnancy. Make sure to budget well so you can manage your money well when the baby arrives.