marielapin Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 (edited) [quote name='rkwright' date='16 October 2009 - 09:27 AM' timestamp='1255703277' post='1986418'] Thanks for the replys. I'm nearly 99% sure that she'll want to stay home once the baby is here. I finish in May, take the Bar in July, but we normally don't find out the results until November - which means I won't be on my full salary until then. There is some worry about a month or two with very little income (shes at home and I'm at an hourly rate). [/quote] November? Well even if you got pregnant right now the due date would be late July/early August. And you can save a lot of money going bare bones if you have to. Cable is not necessary, and you can cut out a home phone and just use cell phones if necessary. That buys you about 60-70 dollars a month right there if you have just basic cable. Plus you would be surprized at how much you save buying meat and c h ee se from Sams instead of the grocery (unless it is on a big sale). And with less communting comes less gas money. Bam! That's at least 100 bucks in your pocket right there. By the way, if you are interested in using cloth diapers, you can now get them online at Target.com, so if folks want to buy you a present from a "normal" store, you can go get them online or ask for gift certificates to Target. I've had a few friends go that route. I have a stash of 25 I think and they run at about 17-18 dollars a piece. I also forgot about Freecycle! Yes folks give away entire bags of clothes on there. It's nuts. But it is also very competetive. I also never bought baby food. My babies went straight to table food, either cereal or meat/ch ee se /fruit cut up into bite size pieces. Saved a bundle there too. If you have a food processor you can also puree your own food. PS. What is up with the word ch ee se being automatically turned into "coagulated milk"? Edited October 16, 2009 by marielapin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='rhetoricfemme' date='16 October 2009 - 01:02 PM' timestamp='1255712546' post='1986474'] Once he's old enough for solids, I plan on making my own baby food, too. I'd feel so much better knowing what I'm feeding him and leaving out all the extra stuff. And canned baby food is kind of pricey, too, IMHO. [/quote] We gave my SIL a Beaba Babycook which steams and purees in the same container, and she absolutely loves it. It was not cheap (about $150) but it does what it's designed to do extremely well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkwright Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share Posted October 16, 2009 Something on the insurance coverage... It seems my wife would have coverage till August (if we had the baby in July/August). Then the new school year starts and she would presumably be at home - I would not start till November. (Although it is possible the insurance runs Janurary to Janurary...) Health Insurance for the baby and her? I was thinking the monthly expenses were going to be in the 200-300 range, but most of you have shown it is more likely in the 100-150 range, which should we should be able to make just fine. But the "gap insurance" might be tricky... I'm feeling optimistic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XIX Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 (edited) [quote name='MIkolbe' date='15 October 2009 - 09:49 PM' timestamp='1255654193' post='1986199'] If I had to guess a #, $60/month. That is assuming she is not breastfeeding. If she is, $30ish. Those are the consumables. Not sure what you co pays are for Dr. visits, but you will probably see the Dr. btwn 6-8 times in the first year, not including vaccinations. [/quote] That's roughly what cable costs. TV is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO utterly overrated. So is "glorious high def." Like, good for me, I can see blades of grass. Yay me. Just putting some perspective into these numbers. It definitely seems like teens cost more than babies. At least more money. Sleep may be a different issue. Edited October 16, 2009 by XIX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XIX Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='Brother Adam' date='16 October 2009 - 11:32 AM' timestamp='1255703534' post='1986420'] If you are going to be a lawyer I think you are going to be just fine having lots of Catholic babies. [/quote] You'd be surprised. Being in a high-powered career with a reputation for being lucrative does not automatically eliminate one's financial worries. God has a funny way of making sure we aren't too confident in our ability to provide for ourselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 Maybe COBRA? You'd have to check into that as an option. I think the way it works is you pay the employer and employee contributions to continue coverage for a certain amount of time. It is not necessarily cheap, but cheaper than out of pocket paying for delivery, and protects you in case of complications. I think that would be your best bet, imo. Private insurers typically will not take you on when you are pregnant, or if they do it is a pre-existing condition that they will not cover. We are going with a high-risk pool established by MN state law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I'm pretty sure you have to pay for them all at once up front. Gypsies sell them for the lowest price, but there's no warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhetoricfemme Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='Terra Firma' date='16 October 2009 - 01:48 PM' timestamp='1255715303' post='1986504'] We gave my SIL a Beaba Babycook which steams and purees in the same container, and she absolutely loves it. It was not cheap (about $150) but it does what it's designed to do extremely well. [/quote] That's awesome! It'd be worth it from so many different angles. Thanks for the info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marielapin Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 (edited) [quote name='rkwright' date='16 October 2009 - 12:57 PM' timestamp='1255715849' post='1986511'] Something on the insurance coverage... It seems my wife would have coverage till August (if we had the baby in July/August). Then the new school year starts and she would presumably be at home - I would not start till November. (Although it is possible the insurance runs Janurary to Janurary...) Health Insurance for the baby and her? I was thinking the monthly expenses were going to be in the 200-300 range, but most of you have shown it is more likely in the 100-150 range, which should we should be able to make just fine. But the "gap insurance" might be tricky... I'm feeling optimistic! [/quote] 100 is still a bit much unless you are using formula and pricey diapers, unless of course you are counting in whatever medical payments you might be making. The only thing a newborn NEEDS is food (breastfeeding is free), clothes (gifts and on the cheap), diapers (prices range, but 30 dollars a month and up) and of course medical care, which is by far the largest amount. Edited October 16, 2009 by marielapin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StColette Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='rkwright' date='16 October 2009 - 01:57 PM' timestamp='1255715849' post='1986511'] Something on the insurance coverage... It seems my wife would have coverage till August (if we had the baby in July/August). Then the new school year starts and she would presumably be at home - I would not start till November. (Although it is possible the insurance runs Janurary to Janurary...) Health Insurance for the baby and her? I was thinking the monthly expenses were going to be in the 200-300 range, but most of you have shown it is more likely in the 100-150 range, which should we should be able to make just fine. But the "gap insurance" might be tricky... I'm feeling optimistic! [/quote] Even if the insurance runs January to January, once she is no longer an employee of that company or school, most insurance coverage will drop immediately. That information can be found in her teaching contract or in her health insurance contract. I know mine and my husband's says that if we are no longer employed by either the Church or School then our insurance coverage will cease immediately. So don't assume that because the insurance year runs Jan to Jan that if she quits in August that she'll be covered until that January. As I mentioned already you don't want to be caught for a year without insurance because you're in that "limbo" of that pre-existing condition waiting period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkwright Posted October 16, 2009 Author Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='StColette' date='16 October 2009 - 03:13 PM' timestamp='1255723989' post='1986559'] Even if the insurance runs January to January, once she is no longer an employee of that company or school, most insurance coverage will drop immediately. That information can be found in her teaching contract or in her health insurance contract. I know mine and my husband's says that if we are no longer employed by either the Church or School then our insurance coverage will cease immediately. So don't assume that because the insurance year runs Jan to Jan that if she quits in August that she'll be covered until that January. As I mentioned already you don't want to be caught for a year without insurance because you're in that "limbo" of that pre-existing condition waiting period. [/quote] hmmm... need to review the contracts... My thoughts were this... say shes coming back, have the insurance coverage till she has the baby, take the maternity leave (need to find out on disability insurance too) then when mine kicks in - she changes her mind as decides shes not coming back. Is it wrong to "work" the system like that? I don't feel bad - our biggest clients are all insurance carriers. We certainly try to "work" every contract we have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='rkwright' date='16 October 2009 - 05:03 PM' timestamp='1255726992' post='1986570'] hmmm... need to review the contracts... My thoughts were this... say shes coming back, have the insurance coverage till she has the baby, take the maternity leave (need to find out on disability insurance too) then when mine kicks in - she changes her mind as decides shes not coming back. Is it wrong to "work" the system like that? I don't feel bad - our biggest clients are all insurance carriers. We certainly try to "work" every contract we have. [/quote] You should read your contracts very closely before doing something like that. I know some employers have stipulations that if you don't come back like you say you're going to, you have to repay whatever benefits you receive during the maternity leave. One of my friends had to come back and give her two weeks notice. COBRA should still kick in even if your coverage terminates upon termination of employment. You should also consider that some new insurance coverage does not kick in for a certain period of time. I've had that happen at more than one job -- it doesn't come into play until after a probationary period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkwright Posted October 17, 2009 Author Share Posted October 17, 2009 I've been going over them. "Maternity" leave would be under the FMLA. The policy would require us to repay benefits during that time. Going to make some calls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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