Tips for family planning

Set aside some time to sit down with your partner and create a timeline of short, medium, and long-term goals. Plan your short-term goals to be accomplished with in the next six months to a year. Your medium goals should be something you plan on accomplishing in the next 2-5 years and long-term goals will be accomplished from 5-10 years. Each person should have his or her own list of goals. Both of you need to discuss and create another goal list incorporating each other's goals while prioritizing which comes first, second, third, etc. Take this time to discuss when you plan to start your family and what you would like to accomplish before starting a family. Try to avoid making general statements such as "when we feel we are ready" or "when we are financially stable." These kinds of remarks allow for an indefinite time to fulfill your goal, which leads to procrastination.

Now that you have decided when to start your family it's time to do some research. Take a look at where you are going to live and assess the cost of living. Then look on line about the estimated costs of the hospital bill for childbirth and check with your insurance about what is covered. Also ask your insurance how much it will be to add another family member. Then make a list of items that you will need to purchase or acquire for the first three months after the birth. The initial costs of having a baby can easily be a strain on your budget if you haven't saved for it. So after estimating these costs set up a savings account designated for birthing expenses. The account can also become the child's college account with any money that is left over from the initial baby expenses.

A major point to plan is time, which is something people forget to consider. Children take a lot of time and emotional investment. As a couple you should plan on what exactly you both agree upon for working arrangements and a babysitter. When agreeing upon what both of you want make sure to allow for changes. Sometimes at the start of your family one of you may decide to stay home with the kids. This is something you definitely want to make sure you have a choice in. If you are already living on a tight budget with both partners working then plan accordingly.

Even after starting and shaping a family plan there is a little bit of a shock when you find out your pregnant. Always remember you can't plan for everything. But having a mindset that you have made some preparations helps you to feel a little more secure. Making sure that you have allowed for flexibility within your plan and sticking with a timeline you're well on your way to being prepared for a family.