Starting a family, or planning to start a family, can be a joyous and exciting time. But make no mistake, it can also be a challenging time and an emotional rollercoaster. To help smooth the journey it is important to get on top of your day-to-day finances early. Studies have shown that at a minimum it costs more than $300,000 for two parents to raise two children up to the age of 17. And if you plan ahead these costs won’t be as daunting in the longer term.
When couples or singles approach a financial adviser about starting a family, three common questions arise: Can we/I afford to have a baby? What benefits are we/am I entitled to? And what does our/my financial future look like?
Renee Tang, a Newcastle-based financial planner at First State Super, says there’s not a common answer to these questions as every person’s situation is unique. However, a good financial planner will not only answer these questions, but dig deeper to better understand where you want to be in the long term.
Can you afford it?
One of the first considerations when starting a family is the potential loss of household income and how to manage it. Two common scenarios that need to be addressed are: what if the primary carer loses some or all of their income and how long do the parents plan to be out of work?
James Gerrard, director and financial planner at financialadvisor.com.au, says a common scenario is a couple who are saving $2000-$3000 a month on two incomes before having a child. If one income is lost for 12 months, it’s likely those monthly savings will fall – even with government support.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
An outrageous, beautiful monopoly
Telstra's mobile business is a cash machine with few competitors, giving it the highest returns in the world.
Drop the anchor to judge value
Buying and selling decisions should be based on where a stock price is going, not where it has been.
Powering the AI boom
Beyond the software and chipmakers, where will the energy come from?
Get into life
Tucked inside super are products that can protect you from life's inevitable uncertainties.
Paths to home ownership
Taking the road less travelled can sometimes deliver unexpected benefits.
Sold! Quick ways to add value
Small, strategic changes can have a big impact on the look and feel of your home. And get you a better price on auction day.
Money lessons the kids need to know
Your children can learn a lot from your past money mishaps. Here are eight financial conversations I have had with mine.
Property-investing rules: are they likely to change?
The pressure for the government to curb the tax benefits of tax concessions, such as negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, is unrelenting. Most recently, independent senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie proposed five options for paring back investment property tax concessions, with savings to the Federal budget of up to $60 billion over the next decade.
What's love got to do with it?
A rollercoaster of emotions could be driving poor crypto behaviour.
Are we ready to be cash-free?
Saying goodbye to our piggy banks too soon could leave small businesses in the dark when problems arise.