The Checklist of Change: How to Properly Prepare For a Growing Family
Raising a family is one of the most rewarding things you can achieve in life. One of the most challenging, too. There’s a lot to learn along the way, from dealing with teething to temper tantrums. It will keep you on your toes, and you’ll upskill along the way. Yet you may be faced with a dilemma when you decide to add another member (or two!) to the family. It definitely changes the dynamic, and you’ll need to adapt to come out on top. So, let’s go through the checklist of change and learn how to properly prepare for a growing family.
Get a New Car
If you already have a mid-sized family, let’s say, a party of four, and you are welcoming another child or even two, you will likely need a new car. A 7 seater SUV is the perfect family car for this sized clan. The extra seats mean that you don’t need to become a two-car family, which would cost you thousands a year in additional expenses. You can fit all the kids in, and have heaps of storage space left over. Most 7 seaters also have towing capacity, which means you can eventually upgrade the camping kit to a caravan, or tow a trailer. Don’t forget the roof rails as well, which will mean extra storage.
Upgrade Your Home
Is your house equipped to deal with the extra member of the family? Some people find that they need to upgrade their home when they have more kids. If you have the space for this, you’re lucky, but if you don’t, you may need to consider moving to a bigger house. If this option doesn’t currently make sense financially, then your kids could always share a room until the big move can happen.
Prepare Your Children
Kids cope with change in various ways. Each of your children, no matter their age, will have their coping mechanisms for the new baby. But this doesn’t mean that you should do nothing. Sit down and have a conversation with your children about the latest member of the family who is due soon. The tone and content of the talk will vary depending on their age. There are songs, books, and other useful resources that can help your children prepare for their younger siblings.
Pay Down Debt and Save
An additional dependent child means additional spending, both for the short term and the long term. In the short term, there are expenses like nappies, childcare fees, medicine, food, and activities. In the long term, there are school fees, excursions, and other various costs. Now is a good time to knuckle down and begin paying off debt like your credit card and your mortgage. Then, once your debts are under control, you can start saving some money for their needs.
Wrapping Up
Preparing for a growing family is a big deal, but with a few hints, you’ll hopefully be able to get a few things in check. Upgrade your car to a 7 seater SUV to fit everyone comfortably. Consider upgrading your home if you need more room, or convert the kids’ room so they can share. Prepare your other children for the new arrival, making use of handy resources to assist with this. Finally, now is the time to pay down some existing debt and save for your kids’ future.
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