This next 9 months I plan to purge our house of anything we don't want/need, sell things on FB marketplace/clothing apps, etc. I have a day job as a legal assistant, and also have two self-employed jobs (Etsy shops) that bring in roughly $400-600 monthly income on a slow month. Christmas time boasts about $2500 ish, which is good for last minute savings because I am due end of January. We definitely don't live paycheck to paycheck but I've been so gung-ho about paying out debt off in recent months, that every bit goes towards that. People are telling me now I should shift into saving most of that for baby.
Should we stockpile/ buy more of one thing in the beginning, or wait? When should we start stockpiling diapers, or should we at all? (I already coupon & do cash-back apps so I have that part of saving covered). Any tips or tricks or tools of the trade you can give? Any other advice you could give? Something non-traditional that helped you out?
SO & I both have family that will help out with clothing, gifts, furniture, etc. but I would still like to be prepared as best as we can. I am big on thrifting and plan to thrift clothes or get them from consignment. Same thing with furniture & just fix it up. Our family is very crafty and artistic :)
Also considering STD (short-term disability) as I work at a law office and don't have insurance/FMLA through them. Would this be a good idea? Have any recommendations if so? I am (about to be) on state insurance because of baby, and I believe baby will be covered at least a year or two after. But, I do not think it covers leave of absence due to pregnancy. I am hoping my job allows me to take a leave, albeit unpaid, and return still with my job/salary. But, we also live about 1.5hrs from the closest family member so even thinking about what to do with baby once it's born is a little nervewracking. I'm not sure I can quit my job, neither for my sanity or income purposes. I know I need to still plan ahead for that type of stuff, but for right now - my goal is to just have a healthy full-term baby.
TL;DR - just found out I'm pregnant, due end of January 2020. Looking for any and all tips you care to share with how to best prepare for baby.
Thank you for reading, it's much appreciated ♥
Submitted May 30, 2019 at 05:42PM by wubbalubbabubzy http://bit.ly/2KfzUYs
