For most young couples, the decision to start a family is not a matter of “if” but “when”. Of course, it should be a joyful time for young parents. However, with the tab for raising a child to adulthood topping $300,000, on average, it does take some preparation and planning to avoid getting caught in a cash crunch that can impede a family’s ability to meet other critical goals.
Although many couples wait until they have all their financial ducks in a row before welcoming their first child into the world, it comes down to anticipating the immediate costs of starting a family and having a plan to cover them as the needs come up. Here is a list of the essential needs new parents must consider in the order they will likely arise:
Build a cash reserve fund: The moment the wheels start turning on starting a family, you should begin saving for a cash reserve fund. Every family should have at least six months’ worth of living expenses saved for the unexpected. With a new addition to the household, you might want to add another six months’ worth of savings to offset the possibility of reduced work hours.
Build a baby budget: Many new parents anticipate the cost of another mouth to feed as well as the continuous stream of diapers and other supplies. However, budget items such as the increased costs of utilities (bigger and more frequent wash loads for clothes and dishes) tend to catch many households by surprise.
Family-sized health coverage: Depending on the type of health care insurance you have, adding a newborn child is relatively simple; however, it will increase your health care costs and you need to consider the added costs of any co-pays and deductibles. Take the time well before your child is born to look into your coverage and be sure to apply the total expenses of baby healthcare to your baby budget.
Parental leave: Most employers allow for parental leave. You need to know how your employer treats it. If they don’t provide paid leave, you’ll need to offset the loss of income.
Childcare needs: If one of the parents plans on staying home with the child, there may be no immediate need to cover childcare costs. However, it’s essential to prepare for the time when the parent may return to work. Childcare costs can approach $800 a month, so having a plan is vital to keep your costs down.
Get legally fit: Some legal upgrades, such as adding beneficiaries to life insurance policies, or making guardianship arrangements in your will, can wait until just after the baby is born. Don’t have a will or the right amount of life insurance coverage? Get it now, before the baby is born.
Get tax advice: Having a baby creates a whole new tax situation that should be thoroughly incorporated into your tax plan. There are exemptions, deductions, and credits that come with a new baby, many of which can help increase your budget capacity.
House babyproofing: This need tends to catch many new parents off guard. A lack of preparation ahead of time often leads to parents scrambling later as situations dictate, increasing the costs of babyproofing. Taking the time to plan ahead can help keep your costs down.
Although not completely exhaustive, this list addresses many of the vital issues that should be addressed well before the due date, not only for your first child but for each little bundle that happens to come along. It helps to establish professional relationships with a financial advisor, a tax professional and an attorney in the run-up to starting your new family.
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