Becoming a parent for the first time is one of the greatest joys in life that money cannot buy. The birth of your child is also the beginning of a multi-decade endeavour that requires you (and your spouse) to bring everything you have to bear – all your patience, wisdom, courage, and financial resources.
In order for you and your bundle of joy to have a great start, it is essential that you prepare your personal finances as best you can before the arrival of your child.
Doing so will also help you mentally adjust to the fact that you will now have a dependent whom you need to always consider when making both large and small decisions.
Here is a compilation of the best DollarsAndSense articles written over the years that will help you in this journey.
Big Picture Budgeting
As a first-time parent, there are many things that you may not realise you need to spend on. Here are articles that help you plan ahead so you can set aside the right amount when the time comes.
Pregnancy and Delivery Costs
According to the Ministry of Health, the average bill size for a normal delivery at a Class A ward in KK Hospital costs about $5,099. If you opt for a private hospital delivery, you should expect to pay much more. To help reduce the cash you need to fork out, you can tap on your Medisave monies. Alternatively, you can opt for lower class wards, which would lower your bill.
How Much Does It Cost To Deliver A Baby In Singapore
Costs Of Raising Your Newborn Baby
With the joyous arrival of your baby comes new areas of expenses each month. You should anticipate these additional costs into your monthly expenditure, and also ensure the amount in your emergency savings is adjusted accordingly.
How Much Does It Cost To Raise Your Newborn Baby In The First Year
The Cost of Raising a Child in Singapore – Explained for the Average Singaporean
Insurance Matters
Unexpected medical complications could occur during pregnancy and after delivery, requiring mother and/or child to undergo additional medical procedures or check-ups. Without insurance, you might find the funds you carefully set aside insufficient.
Maternity Insurance
Unexpected complications can occur during pregnancy. Some of these complications may lead to extra healthcare costs incurred during pregnancy.
What Is Maternity Insurance And Should Expecting Mothers Purchase Them?
Insurance For Your Child
These should include medical protection, in the event your child falls ill and require hospitalisation and possibly critical illness protection, to provide coverage for various types of critical illnesses.
Types Of Child Insurance To Buy For Your Children
Adjusting Your Own Life Insurance
For the next two decades or so, your child is going to be financially dependent on you. This means it’s timely for you to review your current insurance coverage to ensure that you have sufficient life insurance payout to cover your child’s future expenses in the event that you are no longer around.
Government Schemes
The only people who are happier than you and your family about the arrival of your child is the government. Thanks to your contributions towards nation-building, you should fully maximise your baby bonus gift and child development account benefits.
5 Ways To Maximize The Child Development Account (CDA)
Step-by-Step Guide To Opening A Child Development Account (CDA)
Bread And Butter (And Diapers)
Caring for a baby can be expensive. Formula milk, diapers, baby care products, clothes and toys are all going to be things you need to buy regularly.
You may need to prioritise how you spend and allocate your money each month and give up some personal luxuries such annual holidays, periodic staycations and perhaps cut back on entertainment and shopping expenses. Besides, your baby will probably take up much of your free time.
There’s a Good Economic Reason Why Formula Milk Powder Prices Are Soaring
Milk Powder Is Cheaper In Malaysia. Here’s Why.
Unless either you or your spouse is not working, you would need to make arrangements for infant care support once the maternity leave period is over. A few common options include sending your baby to infant care, engaging a full-time nanny, hiring a domestic helper or getting your parents to help. Regardless of your decision, all of the options will cost you additional money.
If you get your parents to help, you could give them them an allowance of a few hundred dollars each month as appreciation for their assistance. If you opt for a full-time nanny, or a domestic helper, this can easily amount to $1,000 to $2,000 each month.
Which Makes Most Financial Sense? Domestic Helper vs Nanny vs Infant Care
Are There Cheaper Alternatives To Hiring A Domestic Helper?
For the Future
It’s easy to put off planning for expenses that are only going to be required years down the road. However, given the escalating costs of tertiary education in Singapore, this is no longer an expense that you can expect to comfortably afford without prior planning.
The best way to ensure that you can afford the future education needs of your child is to start investing early and regularly. Long-term savings plan can help your savings grow through a combination of both guaranteed and non-guaranteed returns.
Want To Provide Your Child The Best Future? Here’s A Stress-Free Way To Start Investing Today
Financial Planning For Your Child: It Starts With You
A Cashless Future: Why Our Children Will Learn The Value Of Money Differently, And Why That’s Okay
Review Your Will
While Singapore has an Intestate Succession Act, you should consider adjusting your will once you have a child to ensure that they will be taken care of in the event you and/or your spouse pass on. This means you may have to review the beneficiaries on any insurance policies you own. You may also have to adjust any CPF nominations you previously made if you want to include your child.
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Bonds and Fixed Income
Singapore Treasury Bills (T-bills): What Is Cut-Off Yield, Median Yield, And Average Yield
