How did you handle being a teen mom financially?

Alura - posted on 06/30/2012

I just had my son and i am 19 as well. Work your butt off till the day that baby is born(my water broke at work lol) cause once the baby is born you wont have time to work as much. idk if this is too personal but is the father in the picture? if he is he needs to work just as hard if not harder. SAVE as much as possible. start buying diapers NOW.. i wish i had bought more lol. heads up, id skip the newborn size diapers because one, they dont even use nb size at the hospital and two, if you have a boy he will pee Right out of that diaper! lol. or you can go green and use cloth diapers.. save you over a grand a year.. also breastfeeding is free! if youd rather do formula apply for W.I.C. Theyll give you good deals on formula. My mom actually used to make a living off of being a waitress, single mom with 2 kids.. also if you get a night time job they usually pay more(target). Dont invest too much money in nb clothes either.. they grow right out of them and you really dont take them out that much after theyre born. 3months is a good size to start.. Consignment shops are the way to go for baby clothes man...they grow out of them soooo fast.. Idk if youll have able to have a family member watch them but apply for government assistance Now if you plan on putting your child in daycare, it takes a long time to get. Also apply for government assistance for health insurance for the baby. Very important.. im applying now and it takes FOREVER to get the insurance.. i hope this was helpful.. kids dont make life easier but they sure as hell make it better. Good luck!!

Ana - posted on 06/29/2012

Well, I first let me say that I am not a teen mom. I had my first child at 30. But let me tell you that I have tons of friends and family members that are teen parents and this is how it works:

You are gonna be working very hard if you don't have someone to care for your child for FREE or for cheap, child care is expensive. We pay almost 800.00 a month for our daughter to go full time, and if we were to get gov assistance it would be about 600.

Then you have to think about your expenses for living, rent/mortgage, electricity, food, gas, baby clothing, milk and diapers and baby equipment, and if you ever want to shop again clothing and other things for yourself, car insurance, renters insurance, cable, cell phone, and what ever other intrest you may have, you may have to do your own hair and nails...

Then you have to think about your own personal growth....at 19 I'm sure you are very smart, that is why you came here to research bringing another person into this world. But, nobody knows it all, and you definitely know more when you've lived a little longer..

It is not impossible to have a child as a teenager and raise them well, but it will be difficult, especially if you are not married to someone who can help you financially and in other ways, and if you don't have a strong family support.

I tell you, it's tough raising my daughter, I am married, was in the Navy for 8 years and now I am a stay at home mom and she is 2 and I have to manage money and this house very well in order not to have everything go to heck in a basket. I learned my management skills in life though..

Take time out to build yourself..are you intrested in doing anthing? What are your goals? Would you like to go to college? I went to college, and it was a blast. Went to University of Oregon had tons of fun, learned alot...Do you have a special talent? Do hair, like to draw? Disney is always looking for the next artist!...What about getting certified in some field of work, or attending an Art college. Have you traveled much? Been to Dubai? Very beautiful place...you gotta live...babies will come in time..

You having a child right now and wanting to know about "benefits" lets me know that you haven't made any real money yet....You really don't know that the world is at your fingertips.....I think you can do better than having a baby right now...

Being pregnant is not fun when you are broke and lonley..Don't let the TEEN MOM show fool you.. thoes chickens are getting paid to air their dirty laundry, and you are actually too old for that show now even if you were pregnant, highschool girls only...so give it up!

Get involved in Kaitlynn's life...If you build yourself up, you will have something to offer your children and your future... because if you don't build yourself...you will be doing the same thing that you are doing right now 10 years from now...I've see it happen every day....