Comments on: Having a Second Child Does Not Cost Much http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/ This is where your finance takes place Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:27:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Elizabeth http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-851 Elizabeth Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:52:22 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-851 Enjoy the financial benefits of your second child "drafting" behind the second while it lasts. Unfortunately it's a rather short-lived benefit to having two. I've got two children -- one boy, one girl. Eventhough I dressed them both very unisexly for the first several years, they were in opposite seasons and built differently and had different preferences so only about 1/2 of the saved clothing got used by the second child. We had a long line of cousins, though, that got use out of things that the our second child didn't. Certain equipment and accessories are easily shared by second siblings -- even those of the opposite sex -- if you plan carefully. Bikes, skates, helmets, books, backpacks, toys, etc, can generally be passed down if you resist the temptation to buy trendy or colors and styles are are clearly "sexed" or dated. Still, no matter how cleverly you plan, your children will find a way to complicate things ;-) It's the nature of the beast. Enjoy the financial benefits of your second child “drafting” behind the second while it lasts. Unfortunately it’s a rather short-lived benefit to having two. I’ve got two children — one boy, one girl. Eventhough I dressed them both very unisexly for the first several years, they were in opposite seasons and built differently and had different preferences so only about 1/2 of the saved clothing got used by the second child. We had a long line of cousins, though, that got use out of things that the our second child didn’t.

Certain equipment and accessories are easily shared by second siblings — even those of the opposite sex — if you plan carefully. Bikes, skates, helmets, books, backpacks, toys, etc, can generally be passed down if you resist the temptation to buy trendy or colors and styles are are clearly “sexed” or dated.

Still, no matter how cleverly you plan, your children will find a way to complicate things ;-) It’s the nature of the beast.

]]> By: The Financial Blogger http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-833 The Financial Blogger Wed, 17 Oct 2007 01:23:39 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-833 Rocket, as I said in my post, I might change my mind in the future, but the first two months did not cost much. In fact, I kept the same budget I had previously ($350 per month) and I did not go over budget so far. In regards to the government, it's not a question of depending on its program but trying to get as much as you can from those programs. If today they are giving children allocations, take them! I also based my Smith Manoeuvre based on federal tax laws which may change next month. One thing is for sure, with the government, you are never sure of anything ;-) Rocket, as I said in my post, I might change my mind in the future, but the first two months did not cost much. In fact, I kept the same budget I had previously ($350 per month) and I did not go over budget so far.

In regards to the government, it’s not a question of depending on its program but trying to get as much as you can from those programs. If today they are giving children allocations, take them! I also based my Smith Manoeuvre based on federal tax laws which may change next month. One thing is for sure, with the government, you are never sure of anything ;-)

]]> By: rocket finance » Blog Archive » 96th Festival of Frugality http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-831 rocket finance » Blog Archive » 96th Festival of Frugality Wed, 17 Oct 2007 00:53:45 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-831 [...] post about how having a second child does not cost much from a Canadian blog. I don’t agree with the Financial Blogger, but you be the [...] [...] post about how having a second child does not cost much from a Canadian blog. I don’t agree with the Financial Blogger, but you be the [...]

]]> By: rocketc http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-816 rocketc Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:44:24 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-816 What you save in reusable items, you lose in more expensive child care when you want to go out for the night or if both spouses work. I also hate the idea of depending on a government entitlement to make having a second child "cheaper". What you save in reusable items, you lose in more expensive child care when you want to go out for the night or if both spouses work.

I also hate the idea of depending on a government entitlement to make having a second child “cheaper”.

]]> By: J at Home Finance Freedom http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-792 J at Home Finance Freedom Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:09:58 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-792 TFN, Hello. You make a good point about why the 2nd child seems low cost. I wrote how everyone's 1st child can be as cheap as your 2nd child (click name link if interested). TFN, Hello. You make a good point about why the 2nd child seems low cost. I wrote how everyone’s 1st child can be as cheap as your 2nd child (click name link if interested).

]]> By: Moolanomy weekly roundup #12: “Hello Readers” edition | Moolanomy http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-786 Moolanomy weekly roundup #12: “Hello Readers” edition | Moolanomy Sun, 14 Oct 2007 14:01:52 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-786 [...] Having a Second Child Does Not Cost Much @ The Financial Blogger — This is a reassuring post for someone who is about to have the first child and is planning to have a second. [...] [...] Having a Second Child Does Not Cost Much @ The Financial Blogger — This is a reassuring post for someone who is about to have the first child and is planning to have a second. [...]

]]> By: The Financial Blogger http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-773 The Financial Blogger Fri, 12 Oct 2007 23:05:49 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-773 Mike, they actually got everything from the mother beside their ears ;-) The tip of having 2 kids of the same sex is great but I didn't have the 10K to decide the sex ;-) CD, I hate when it stinks in my house, this is why I use this kind of trash can :-D Mike,
they actually got everything from the mother beside their ears ;-)
The tip of having 2 kids of the same sex is great but I didn’t have the 10K to decide the sex ;-)

CD, I hate when it stinks in my house, this is why I use this kind of trash can :-D

]]> By: Canadian Dream http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-772 Canadian Dream Fri, 12 Oct 2007 18:16:26 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-772 Good to know with my second on the way! Thanks for the post. By the way, on the special diaper trash can, I don't use one. How? Simple. Get a trash can that can hold a walmart or other similar bag, put in some baking soda in the bottom of the bag to absorber the smell. Then change every few days or daily if it is hot out. It's cheap and works great. Tim Good to know with my second on the way! Thanks for the post.

By the way, on the special diaper trash can, I don’t use one. How? Simple. Get a trash can that can hold a walmart or other similar bag, put in some baking soda in the bottom of the bag to absorber the smell. Then change every few days or daily if it is hot out. It’s cheap and works great.

Tim

]]> By: FourPillars http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-771 FourPillars Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:11:46 +0000 http://www.thefinancialblogger.com/having-a-second-child-does-not-cost-much/#comment-771 Beautiful kids - I'm guessing they take after the mother? :) Great post - you're right about all the savings to be had. One more tip is to try to have the second kid be the same sex as the first one...more reusability that way :) Mike Beautiful kids - I’m guessing they take after the mother? :)

Great post - you’re right about all the savings to be had. One more tip is to try to have the second kid be the same sex as the first one…more reusability that way :)

Mike

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