Baby On Board:Can Your Relationship Survive a Baby? Things to Consider Before You Get Pregnant!

1. Finances

They say one of the main things couples fight over is money, so if you are already at odds over finances then adding a baby to the mix will only make it worse. Before you probably fought over who spent more money on electronics or clothes, but now you’ll have to curb that appetite for new clothes and frivolity for diapers and daycare. Babies cost money. A lot of it…so if you’re already living paycheck to paycheck or lavishing yourselves with expensive vacations and material things, all of that will come to a head once a baby enters the picture. If you can’t afford to take care of yourselves, a baby will be a financial strain that will eventually turn into a strain on the relationship. If you’re thinking of having a baby, sit down a make a pre-baby budget that includes the cost of daycare, insurance policies, diapers, medical costs, etc. Also, take a look at what you’re already spending your money on and see where you can cut corners. If one of you is a saver an the other is a spender, talk about your views on money management and see if you can both learn to be more fiscally responsible. You may discover that your spending habits and attitudes towards money are so different that having a baby now – or later – may be out of the question until you both get on the same page.