broody21

Hey!

I just wondered if there's any one here who rents, what are your views on renting and a baby? Me and my bf will be moving in together summer 2009 and will have to rent-given the recent state of affairs with mortgages and housing prices in UK. Anyway, that's not a problem because buying means loving the area and I know renting is much more flexible.

How many of you rent and have a baby? Are you coping financially?

And is there any one who finished uni in the last 2-3 years? I'm in my final year and would love to have a baby in a few years, but finances worry me etc. I'm staying at home for a year to save up though.


Broody21 xxx

charlottecco2

hello, i am currently renting with my partner, I have been completeing my final year of uni whilst pregnant. My last exam is in may. I have found the whole thing a little stressful, especially as i have been able to work on top of study so i don't personally bring any money in. Luckily my OH is able to pay for most of the finances and support me and the baby until i am able to work, I would definately say its a good idea to stay at home for a year and save as much as possible before you do decide to rent. Luckily we you don't have to pay your debts off all in one go so if you get a bit of money set aside you will have no problems.
Plus families love to buy loads of the baby stuff as well. Save enough for rent etc so when you are near the end of pregnancy and have the baby in the beginning you will not struggle because you aren't working. I plan to work when my son is 7 months old so that i will be earning again.
Goodluck i hope your plans work out xxx

broody21

Hey! thanks for the reply, do you mind me asking how old are you?

Linzi

Hiya hun, my fiance and I are currently renting, and I finished a year of fulltime education about a year ago. It wasn't a degree course so I had to pay (a lot!) for it and support myself through it because I wasn't entitled to a student loan or any benefits either. We've managed to pay off all of our debts in a year, the only thing now is my OHs student loan, but that is taken from your salary I think.

I think renting is the best option for us because we live in a nice area, with a brilliant school round the corner. The rent is quite expensive (£650 a month) but there is no way we could afford to buy, because houses are averageing £230k around here. So we get a nice house in a nice area for nothing really.

Rent payments are also usually cheaper than mortgage payments. Ok, so people think it's wasted money because in the end you wont actually own the house you are living in, but at the moment we're thinking that £650 a month is better than paying £1500 a month, with the only upside being that in 30 years we would completely own the house.

I'm 21 too, and my OH is 24.

I hope this made sense lol. I think if you're a student too you'll either be exempt from council tax, or have a reduced rate. Also you might be able to claim working tax credits? Not sure though.

xxx

broody21

Thanks Yeah that made sense

I finish Uni this May, so I won't be exempt from council tax after that. Boo! haha. Did you plan for your baby?

I'd like a baby in 3 years I think, but obviously the bf has to approve hehe xxx

Linzi

We didn't plan for it, but it wasn't prevented. I was meant to get my pill prescription but I was moving house and just never got round to it lol.

I really hope we can afford to stay in our house when he arrives.

xxx

broody21

I'm sorry to be really cheeky, but I just wonder how much (roughly) your combined income is? Don't have to be specific-Just so I have an idea of what realistically we'll be able to afford. My bf will be on £20,000 to start as a secondary teacher, I certainly won't earn more than that. No idea what I'll be doing, I know it won't be well paid!

Thanks again

sweetsammi

Hey, i'm 21 and my partner is 22. We are renting and have a baby. I was at uni when i fell pregnant. We struggled finacially so i gave up uni and started working full time. I am not working now apart from the odd shift at the hospital to cover sickness and holidays (I studied nursing for a year) And OH is on a low income (12,000) we struggle if i am honest but we are gettin by. Only because we receive working tax and child tax credits, otherwise we wouldnt be able to live! Anyways if ur OH is earning 20,000 you will be fine. If we can get by on our income that you'll be ok. Babies become more expensive as they get older thats the problem!! lol.

vickilouise

im planning on going to university in march 09, ive found out the finances that are available to students with dependant children... dont know if its the same for every course im just reffering to a degree in nursing its really not half as bad as i first thought. in fact its great if they wasnt so accomadating id prob just stay in the job im in now even though i hate it.

Linzi

Our combined income is about £30k but thats only since we moved 6 months or so ago. Before that when I was at college we lived on about £11k, and then between leaving college and moving here we were on about £20k. Not an awful lot really.

xxx