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Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

We’re getting ready to get pregnant. I know there are probably financial or insurance issues I should be thinking about but I’m not sure where to start.

Re: We’re getting ready to get pregnant. I know there are probably financial or insurance issues I should be thinking about but I’m not sure where to start.

The Bump Expert

As with other planned life-changing events (going off to college, getting married, etc.), it’s best to get your finances in order as early as possible. Take a look at our Money Matters Checklist, which outlines everything you'll need to take care of. Once you devise a family-focused budget in anticipation of pregnancy, try living on it to see if it’s really feasible. This way, you can fine-tune your plan without the added stress of an actual baby.

Also, if you're self-employed and don't have a private disability policy, apply for one that includes pregnancy and postpartum coverage as soon as possible. (Once pregnant, you won't be able to obtain new coverage.)

Paula Kashtan | April 30 , 2009 5:28 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

Where is the Money Matters Checklist?? I can't seem to find it.

tntnov1508 | July 26 , 2009 8:31 AM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

Is getting a private disability policy the same as putting away a certain amount of money every month, with the intention of accessing it only when you're no longer able to work (when you'd normally make the insurance claim)?

hamante | August 01 , 2009 11:13 AM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

Hi tntnov1508, The money matters checklist has been moved to the pregnancy tools subchannel. You can find it here now: http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-tools/articles/checklist-money-matters.aspx

Bump Kaitlin | August 06 , 2009 3:53 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

The Money Matters Checklist is under Tools, then All Pregnancy Tools, then scroll down to find Money Matters Checklist.

wheel1cj | August 22 , 2009 9:36 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

One thing that we did do recently before TTC this month was to get our term life insurance in place. Pregnancy can throw many of your health stats and test results off from your normal baselines (blood pressure, heart rate, weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, and more), so we wanted to get the medical exams required for our applications done before I became pregnant. I'm glad we did it in this order since my pre-PG stats qualified me for the best health category and lowest rates. Who knows if this would have stayed the same if I'd waited?

maggiewang@gmail.com | September 19 , 2009 6:35 AM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

I did the same as maggiewang. We'll wait until I'm pregnant to get my husband's life insurance in place (he does have a little through work anyway), but I wanted to get mine together before I was pregnant. I also qualified for the best rates! We're also driving older cars now and saving up for a new vehicle after we (hopefully) have a child. I'm hoping that by the time we have a baby, we'll be able to pay cash for a late-model used minivan :)

silkyhorse | November 13 , 2009 10:03 AM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

Pay off your debts.

MrsJennyCraig | January 01 , 2010 11:33 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

Make out your budget with the additional finances a baby can cost to make sure you can afford it now. For example daycare costs, increase in your health insurance, food, diapers, etc. If you can't fit it into the budget, it's time to pay off some debt before you TTC.

MrsParr2008 | January 10 , 2010 6:21 AM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

Does anyone know what companies offer Short Term Disability that will cover maternity in Pennsylvania? I met with a Mutual of Omaha agent today and he told me that they don't offer that coverage in PA.

highlandparktrish | June 11 , 2010 9:12 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

AFLAC has a great short term diability plan...pair it with the hospital plan and you will receive quite the check for having a baby. For the short term disability plan, you must have it 10 months prior to giving birth. If you can get it through your work (opposed to an individual plan) you will save a lot of money for the premiums...I just signed up for this last week! :o)

marchwed | July 15 , 2010 9:07 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

I have Aflac and I am soo glad we signed up for it. Im getting great benefits like doctor visits, hospital stay, and disibility payments! I signed up with my employeer and got a great deal.

Latina86 | July 21 , 2010 2:19 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

We tried living off of one income and saved the money and paid off my truck and student loan, as well as saved enough to pay for our 'post insurance' delivery and hospital expenses. You should consider things like if you are going back to work or not after a leave (if you work now) -- and breastfeeding/pumping versus formula and incorporate the cost of a pump or formula into your grocery budget, as well as diapers. We saved a ton by going with cloth diapers. If you can afford to eat out once a month, you can afford to buy yourself 1 or 2 cloth diapers each month you are pregnant. By the time the baby is born (and if you have a baby shower and register) -- you could have your baby diapered for very little money out of your monthly budget from birth to potty training. I know it's not for everyone, but $400 for MODERN cloth diapers versus over $2000 in disposables over the course of 2 years is a BIG difference. The great thing with cloth is that some diapers adjust to fit kids up to 35 or 40 lbs so a late potty trainer won't cost you a ton in 'big size' disposables, either and you can use them if you have another child, as well. Again, not for everyone, but we manage just great and get lots of compliments-they are so cute! We skipped baby food and gave her table food (mashed or cut in spears to gum it), too and she ate what we were eating (minus some spices at first) and saved a ton of $ that way too. We didn't have to pack anything with us when we went anywhere, because she just ate what we were eating. Those are the things that people forget to consider when taking finances into account. They just think that diapers will slide right into the budget and don't realize that they get more expensive the bigger your child gets, and so on. Hopefully that's helpful!

teamshoemaker | September 28 , 2010 10:01 AM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

this seems like great advice for the first time moms, but what about for round 2? (second child) my DD is 2 1/2 yrs and she is on the verge of being fully potty trained. (so diapers or pullups cost now will transfer to next child) she obviously eats what we eat and drinks water, juice, and milk. no baby on the way yet, but jsut getting an idea of planning this out a bit more. could anyone comment on the "upgrade" from 1 toddler to 2 children? thanks!

carcirrotti | October 23 , 2010 10:44 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

Wow teamshoemaker, great response. These are things I think about now and we are just planning on ttc. Not ttc yet. I wrote a little about cloth diapers on my BabyBound blog and plan on updating it soon. I'm trying to write other topics about "baby on a budget" because even now, we're trying to prepare as much as possible. There are so many things you can do to save that a lot of people don't realize. http://babycravings.blogspot.com/ I hope you guys can stop by!

BabyBound | March 28 , 2011 9:48 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

Basically i am making sure all debs are paid off, we are getting a second car as the first one is paid off so will still only be paying 1 car installment a month, i recently went onto great insurance and actually had to change insurance companies for better cover and hence wait long till TTC but worth it i think, spoke to my boss about returning to work as will need to, found out exact maternity pay and benefits so prepared and will start buying nappies as well as toiletries(shampoos, powders, vaseline, cotton balls, cream, baby soap etc etc as soon as I know im PG as have the space to store it and will save once baby is here(mom suggested this) GL!

Elnix | April 16 , 2011 2:58 AM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

Get this: Maternity health insurance is not available privately in Oklahoma unless you have coverage through your employer! (I don't) On the upside, Oklahoma Medicaid covers just about anyone who's pregnant...but that seems like a waste of resources when I COULD afford private, IF it were available....

kyleighsmommy | July 03 , 2011 2:07 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

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janeslot143 | August 02 , 2011 3:43 AM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

There are some instances where you really do not have time to get your finances under control. I have a 10 year old boy and my husband and I just got married in June. The ten year old is not his but he treats him like he is however, I know deep inside he wants one of our own. We have debt but we are also 35 yrs old and I have had one miscarriage before my son so its harder for me to concieve and keep and child and my age is getting up there. So we are biting the bullet and TTC. Praying that God will guide us through this process and help us get our debt under control at the same time.

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Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

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Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

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Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

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ammiller123 | January 27 , 2012 1:11 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

I'm all for taking care of finances before getting pregnant, I just wouldn't feel safe enough having a baby while having to worry about my job. It's true I'm a very independent person, I started working from an early age, I started working as a webdesigner in my teens, then I joined an affiliate marketing site, and now I'm well on my way to not having to worry too much about tomorrow.

kci15 | January 30 , 2012 5:10 AM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

I don't know if you have heard anything about mini Forex accounts, but this could help you if you are worried about your pregnancy and how to deal with your financial status.

WandaAddams | March 02 , 2012 2:53 PM

Q&A: Taking care of finances before getting pregnant?

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