Your ultimate guide to having (and affording) kids

Estimated reading time
 5 min

Learn all about

• Getting on top of your finances before becoming a parent.
• Understanding the different costs involved in having a baby.
• Some common costs parents experience when raising a child.
• Teaching your child healthy money habits early – it will pay off in the future!

The path to parenthood is paved with questions. Which pram is best? Who will stay home with bub in the early days? And what will you name the little one?

While we don’t have expertise in name-choosing, we can help take some of the guesswork out of the financial side of becoming a parent. From welcoming a baby budget, to saving for the little monkeys, we’re here to guide you through the different stages (and associated costs) to get you financially fit for all things parenthood.

Pre-baby: Make a game-changing budget

There are two things that most parents would agree on: one, babies are pretty adorable (the cheeks!) and two, they’re not exactly cheap – but this is where we come in. We’re here to equip you with everything you need to budget for your baby, from facing your finances to keeping costs down in the lead-up to the big arrival.

To get started, why not make use of our budget planning tool? It only takes 10 minutes, and it might just bring you that peace of mind you need to know you’re financially ready to be a parent.

Read more on 3 ways to budget for a baby

Having a baby: Get the cost breakdown of becoming a parent

There are many ways to bring new life into the world, but of course, some come with a heftier price tag than others. Whether you’re doing it the old-fashioned way, going through IVF or looking into adoption, this guide can help you financially - from conception through to delivery.

Speaking of starting, why not take the first step and explore the various costs involved in your chosen path to parenthood? Knowing what to expect can help you budget and save, taking you from wondering about ‘if’, to planning ‘when.’

Read more on how much it costs to have a baby

Raising your child: Know the finances involved and plan

There are already enough surprises along the road to becoming a parent and beyond, you don’t need to add any financial curve balls if they can be avoided. The good news is, with some careful planning, you can dodge the financial stress and focus on those precious baby giggles (and remember to pack spare nappies). We’re going to take you through all the costs involved in raising your little ones.

And once you’re on top of things, financially speaking, what about raising savings-savvy kiddos? Teaching your children healthy money habits from a young age can set them up with a fab financial knowledge base that, with any luck, will follow them into their teens, and eventually adulthood.

Read more on the cost of raising kids