How did you know the time was right?

As hokey as it seems, I think I have to agree with the "you just know" answer. If you had asked me a year ago about kids I would have told you that yes, my husband and I both wanted kids but we weren't ready yet. Last spring (just over a year ago) we bought our first house, then he decided to quite his job and was technically unemployed for almost 6 months. He ended up going back to work for the same place but in a different, and better, position and last fall, about October I believe, we just decided to go for it.

The timing maybe isn't ideal, especially from a financial standpoint, but we just felt that now was the time. We don't have much left over at the end of the month when all the bills are paid (in fact, if things stay as they are right now we will actually be in the hole once the baby comes after paying for day care and not even factoring in hospital bills) and being new home owners has it's own added stresses. It just means, as someone else has already stated, that you have to re-prioritize the budget.

When we got married, my dad gave me one good piece of advice about having kids. He told me not to wait for the "perfect time" or until I could "afford" it, because that time never really comes (now, obviously if your going into foreclosure or about to file for bankruptcy it would be a poor idea to plan a pregnancy, but barring financial duress like that...). It seems like no matter what, there is always something else that comes up and there is never quite enough money or time. But if it is something that you really want, then you will find a way to make it work.

People manage in all sorts of different ways...

They live in less expensive locations, live in smaller properties, stick to a budget, go into debt - so on the face of it it would look like everyone is managing when in fact very very few actually maintain the lifestyle they would love to have AND have children.

My parents had three kids and we lived in a two bed terrace, never went on a decent holiday and they got into a lot of debt.

Money isn't going to come from nowhere - you will have to get the money from your current budget if you want children and that will involve you getting your priorities sorted - what will you give up to be able to afford a child?

Or from the other point of view - is it worth holding onto your current lifestyle when you consider never having children, grandchildren - a family.

We knew we wanted children but my doctor told me to come of the pill as she thought i was pregnant (i knew i wasnt but she kind of scare mongered my husband into thinking that if i was it would be harmful) so i had a month with no contraception and we decided if it happened it happened if it didnt then we would wait another year or so just to get a bit more money behind us.

Well it happened! We werent on the bread line or anything but with the cut in my wages we would be. You just adapt, when my boy was first born he cost no more than the child benefit we all get because we give him what he needs and dont go too mad on stuff that he doesnt need.

You can always be more better off or more ready but I would hate for you to wait a few more years and go through a huge struggle trying to get pregnant as fertility decreases with age.

Work out a possible budget if you want to really disect whether you can afford children.

I wanted to wait 2-3 more years but apparently someone had different plans for me, lol. If you put it off over and over again then you will never give in and try for a kid. Just let things happen. You don't have to go out and splurge once you find out you're pregnant. You have 9 whole months to slowing pick up things and buy things here and there. If you do that it won't be as stressful as you think, financially that is. If you have a baby shower, which I'm sure you will be the last one, lol, you will also get tons of stuff that you won't have to buy.

My hubby and I just decided now it will be. The time is never right to have children nor are you ever prepared. We will have been married 4 years by the time the baby is born as our anniversary is 2 days before my due date.

We haven't really ever struggled with money but we are going to have to reprioritze what we spend money on since now we will have a child. On top of having a child, we already have 4 dogs and 5 cats which are just like kids.

If it is something you want, you will definitely be able to manage!

35w 4d precious baby girl!

When we decided the time was right we had been together for a few years and married for about 1.5 years. We decided it was wise to set up our lives so we could live solely on my husband's salary even though I also worked. That way we are very comfortable. If you set up your life to need both salaries just to stay afloat things are harder. We don't live as fancy as we would otherwise, but we're happy and secure... and when things are going well we can afford nice vacations on top of our necessary expenses. That also led me to be able to stay at home with my son while he is young. I couldn't bare the thought of someone else raising my boy. That's the thing about having kids... it's better to create your life with them or with them in mind and bring them into it rather then try to fit them into the life you have without them. It's much easier. If you guys could start trying to do that more now maybe you'll feel ready in you're early 30s. For us.. that meant my husband getting another graduate degree.

But really, once we were able to live on one salary, strong in our relationship together and both ready to devote ourselves to our children we knew it was time.

I think you just come to know. My husband and I have been trying for quite a few months now. Nothing yet, but I'm hoping for a big fat positive in 10 days.

I think there are many things you have to factor in before you decide wether a baby is right. Money and finances- ofcourse, I think that is one of the most obvious important ones. Making sure you and your husband are both ready for it. Healthy eating and dieting.

Good luck, hope it helped.

To be quite honest you never know when the time is right especially with the type of economy we have today. I mean I look at it as if that's what you want go for it and trust me you'll manage it some type of way. If you really look at the percentages on how many people rather wait till the time is right i'm sure it's slim to none because in all honest you never know when it's the right time. :) Good luck Lady!

I think If you have to question yourself if it's the right time or not, It's definitely not the time.

When it's time you won't have to ask yourself you will automatically know.