Commoners cannot rely on silver spoon

Guest post by AMP Planner Dianne Charman*

The news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (a.k.a Will and Kate) are expecting their second baby will no doubt be a welcome profit windfall for gossip magazines over the next twelve months. And hearteningly, the happy couple seem determined to give their children as ordinary an upbringing as possible.

However, not every baby is lucky enough to be born with a silver spoon in their mouth – for most Australian parents, a new bundle of joy means tightening the purse strings.

It now costs a typical middle income family $ 406,000 to raise a child from birth to 24 years, according to new research by AMP and the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM).^

In the absence of a royal pot of gold, most parents have to embark on a realistic savings plan to cover the cost of raising a child.

Good saving habits may not be able to conjure up a royal-style booty, but it will make the financial implications of having a child easier to bear.

• Have a savings strategy – start saving as early as possible before the baby arrives to account for the future loss of one income. Forward planning will give you more peace of mind and flexibility when deciding how soon to return to work. If you have a mortgage, consider making extra repayments on your home loan to get ahead. Try to pay off other debts, such as the credit cards, to reduce the burden on the household budget. Also check your paid parental leave entitlements early in the pregnancy.  The government now has support in place but it’s important you understand the qualifying criteria.

• Budget for baby expenses – work out how much money is needed for baby essentials, such as clothes, nappies, a cot and pram. Make sure you shop around to get the best possible deal on big ticket items. You can also make savings by purchasing some items second-hand, however don’t compromise on safety with mattresses and car seats. Avoid buying too many clothes as newborns grow quickly. Differentiate between needs and wants.

• Going back to work – there are a range of factors that come into play when deciding whether to stay at home or go back to work. While this is a personal decision, knowing the financial implications will help. It’s essential to consider the cost and availability of childcare, your salary and subsequent tax bracket, and your entitlement to government benefits. Over the first 19 hours of work, for every dollar earned, 60 cents in the dollar is lost due to lower government benefits, higher personal income tax and child care.^

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  Saving for education – with an increasing number of parents choosing non-government education for their kids, the cost of schooling is becoming a major financial pressure for many families. Parents sending their children to private schools spend an average of $ 216 per week on fees, compared to $ 12 a week for public schools and $ 81 for Catholic schools.^ Therefore it’s important to research the schools you’re interested in and start saving early.

• Take out insurance to protect your family – before the baby arrives it’s vital to get your insurance sorted. You could consider income protection, life insurance, TPD and trauma insurance to protect your loved ones. It’s best to get your cover early, as many providers will not insure a woman once she has reached her third trimester of pregnancy. Also people who have insurance through their super need to make sure they have enough money in their fund to cover the monthly premiums, otherwise the policy could become void.

• Put estate planning in place – it may seem out of place at such an exciting time, but making a will is essential once children are on the scene. In the event of a parent’s untimely death, careful estate planning will make sure their money ends up in the right hands after they’re gone and will determine who will care for the children.

The best way for expectant parents to get started is to prepare a checklist and then tackle it one step at a time. Do it early in the pregnancy while you still have plenty of energy and if help is needed, don’t be afraid to get some professional advice from a financial planner.

And let’s face it – once the baby arrives, all new parents definitely have enough on their plate without having to worry about money.

Back to Budgeting…

* Dianne Charman is an Authorised Representative of AMP Financial Planning Pty Ltd, ABN 89 051 208 327, AFS Licence No. 232706.

Any advice given is general only and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs.  Because of this, before acting on any advice, you should consult a financial planner to consider how appropriate the advice is to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

^ AMP.NATSEM Income and Wealth Report, “Cost of Kids”, Issue 33, May 2013.

Commoners cannot rely on silver spoon