When a puppy isn't enough
For years you may have found it an accomplishment to keep a fern alive. Now you're taking on the responsibility of children. If you can even begin to imagine how costly you were for your parents (yes, of course, you're priceless in so many ways), multiply that exponentially to account for inflation, and you know it's expensive.
What's the charge?
Your lovable dependents aren't called "charges" for nothing. Even before your baby has beamed his or her first gassy smile, you've got health insurance doctors, diaper genies and carriages to think about. Child costs are estimated at an annual $3,000-$4,500 per child (and that's not the year they'll need braces).Relax, you don't need to be Bill Gates to pull this one off, you just need to think like him. Our Cost of Raising a Child calculator will give you the info you need to begin planning this exciting new venture and utilizing our Budget Worksheet will help you figure out exactly where you can save and where you can't. For those of us with fine-tuned instincts, endless resourcefulness and the ability to get more for less, there are always ways to cut corners.
Bursting at the seams?
When it comes to your personal housing crunch, the first line of defense is adequate information. If your brood is outgrowing a starter home and expanding or buying a new home seems to be the way to go, GetApproved has information and tools to help get you into the home you want. You may want to do a quick home valuation
to get an idea on current home prices in your area and talk to a professional agent about your options.
To find out how much house you can handle, go to the What home can I afford? calculator. If you want to know what your monthly payments will be our Payment Estimator can help. One, of the worst mistakes a first-time buyer can make is ending up "house-poor." We don't want you investing in such an opulent abode that you can't get your car fixed or go out to dinner.
First a bigger house and now a bigger car?
Having even one child means having a car that can accommodate things such as a car seat,
stroller, and a giant bag of diapers ... so bigger may be better. There are a lot of questions
when it comes to choosing the right vehicle. Here are five tools to help you find some of the answers:
For other questions about buying a car and how to get the most bang for your buck, visit our section on Buying a Car.
Eventually, your nest will be empty
We all dream of the day that our firstborn will turn to us with bright, earnest eyes and say, "Of course I'll be happy at a less-expensive public university. No need to pour your hard-earned money into some overrated Ivy League institution." Just in case it doesn't happen that way,
our College Planner will help you determine what it'll cost you to create a future for your child.
The essence of parenting is expecting the unexpected. There will be times when you'll be strapped for cash. If not the braces, it'll be a new pair of shoes or an unexpected medical bill. In these moments, having a little bit of plastic can offer Herculean relief. So when you need to apply for a credit card or for info on the best kind of credit card to tide you over, go to our section on Credit Cards to have all your questions answered.
Parenting can be hard work and even the most frugal of us need to get away. Whether planning that "before the baby comes" vacation, a romantic getaway from the kids, or a family outing we can help you get the most for your money with Expedia.
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