GainesvilleMoms.com

Here's an article entitled "8 Smart Ways to Afford a Baby" (U.S. News & World Report):

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/your-money/2008...o-afford-a-baby.html

May I also recommend enrolling in Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" course. It's $100 per couple (or single) and you cannot pay for it with a credit card. Check the www.DaveRamsey.com site to see where a local class is being offered (our church will offer one; the orientation is next January). We took the course last fall and are debt free (minus the reasonable house pmt).

Finanial problems help to end most marriages and having a baby (with the cost of diapers, formula, daycares, doctor's visits, etc) can cause stress on a relationship. Please consider the course; it was a WONDERFUL experience for us. All the facilitators are volunteers and the once weekly course (for 13 wks) is VERY interesting. You'll also meet other couples from the Gainesville area; we met doctors (in debt), welfare moms (determined to make ends meet) and many other SUPER people.

Time to go; my vaccinated boy (2001) has CHICKEN POX and not a mild case! UGH.

I haven't taken the course, but I have read Dave Ramsey's book that was lent to me after my sister-in-law completed the course. It seemed to be full of very common sense financial practices that unfortunately too few families follow -- including mine. It's very easy to turn to credit cards and other sources of debt, and very hard to get out of it once you're there. There were some very good tips in that story!

We are actually going back to Dave Ramsay's suggested envelope system. It ensures that you NEVER spend what you do not have. It's a GREAT thing to do. It's frustrating at times. But, I love feeling secure that we are not getting into debt.

I just borrowed the book from a friend and plan to read it soon. I'm interested in the envelope system. It does seem like it would be frustrating, but probably helps one to control frivolous spending. Do you adjust each month? Like say you need more for groceries, but less for something else, do you just adjust the amount the next month? I guess I'll just have to read the book

[QUOTE]Originally posted by 3monkeys:
Do you adjust each month? Like say you need more for groceries, but less for something else, do you just adjust the amount the next month?
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Yes, you can move things around whenever you need to, providing you stay within your overall budget.

We don't use credit or cash; we use our debit card; that way we know we have the money in our account. Instead of envelopes, I keep all receipts and keep a running tab of what I spend at the store (after each visit).

The "debt snowball" allows you to pay off a debt and then place that savings on your second debt. It's amazing how FAST paying off debt can be once you keep track of what you are spending and where you are wasting. I still go over my budget at Publix MONTHLY, so I then must take the amount I go over and take it away from another area (such as entertainment).

You can get all the Dave Ramsey books from the public library. We didn't buy any. If you take the course, a hardcover book comes with your workbook and other materials. You also get 6 months of direct communication with Dave Ramsey-trained financial experts AND you create your budget on-line (it works like a calculator so you never have to add or subtract any figure yourself). For someone not great in math (ME), that's a real plus. It leaves no excuse for not budgeting regularly.