Comments on: Lesbian and Gay Parents Cut Postpartum Expenses http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/ We're here, We're queer, and We're not going Shopping without Coupons Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:23:21 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Liza http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-91811 Liza Sat, 29 Dec 2007 10:11:12 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/26/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/#comment-91811 Glancing over this for the second time, I thought of another financial reason to do a 2nd parent adoption, if they're available in your state. (And quite frankly, if they're available in a state near yours, it's worth looking into a move. I'm talking to you, Virginians! And I'm sure there are others.) Uncomfortable as it is to consider, the reason is social security survivor benefits. If something were to happen to you or your partner, surviving dependents are entitled to some support from social security until they reach adulthood. Who wouldn't want to ensure that their child had that safety net?<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-91811">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Glancing over this for the second time, I thought of another financial reason to do a 2nd parent adoption, if they’re available in your state. (And quite frankly, if they’re available in a state near yours, it’s worth looking into a move. I’m talking to you, Virginians! And I’m sure there are others.)

Uncomfortable as it is to consider, the reason is social security survivor benefits. If something were to happen to you or your partner, surviving dependents are entitled to some support from social security until they reach adulthood. Who wouldn’t want to ensure that their child had that safety net?

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]]> By: Festival of Frugality #102 http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-86272 Festival of Frugality #102 Tue, 04 Dec 2007 12:59:31 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/26/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/#comment-86272 [...] QueerCents has some ideas on how to save on baby expenses [...]<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-86272">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> [...] QueerCents has some ideas on how to save on baby expenses [...]

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]]> By: Mombian » Blog Archive » Queercents Adds Lesbian Mom Writer http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-85493 Mombian » Blog Archive » Queercents Adds Lesbian Mom Writer Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:47:15 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/26/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/#comment-85493 [...] a topic I cover here on and off, but not as a sole focus. Her first post is titled “Lesbian and Gay Parents Cut Postpartum Expenses.” She offers some useful advice, like “Buy onesies and pants in a variety of [...]<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-85493">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> [...] a topic I cover here on and off, but not as a sole focus. Her first post is titled “Lesbian and Gay Parents Cut Postpartum Expenses.” She offers some useful advice, like “Buy onesies and pants in a variety of [...]

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]]> By: Jennifer http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-85370 Jennifer Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:42:29 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/26/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/#comment-85370 Thanks for the great feedback and suggestions, Liza, DivaJean, and Nina! Good luck with the IVF, Nina. DivaJean, that's a good suggestion about the onesie issue. And yes, ALL parents--adopted, birth, new, and otherwise--need as much help as they can possibly get! I haven't had a full night's sleep since my baby was born... Liza, that's a great suggestion about consignment stores--I plan to do a whole post about 'recycling' for new parents.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-85370">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Thanks for the great feedback and suggestions, Liza, DivaJean, and Nina! Good luck with the IVF, Nina.

DivaJean, that’s a good suggestion about the onesie issue. And yes, ALL parents–adopted, birth, new, and otherwise–need as much help as they can possibly get! I haven’t had a full night’s sleep since my baby was born…

Liza, that’s a great suggestion about consignment stores–I plan to do a whole post about ‘recycling’ for new parents.

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]]> By: Liza http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-85116 Liza Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:05:26 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/26/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/#comment-85116 Another way to beef up your larger-sized baby clothes collection is to ask (beg!) your families and friends to only buy baby clothes in 6-12 month sizes. That way, the people who want to give you baby clothes can still buy cute things, and it'll be there for you when you need it. Some people will still buy 0-3 month sizes -- you don't need to worry about the baby being naked. Consignment stores and childrens' consignment sales are also great sources of inexpensive baby clothes! Since infants grow so fast, the clothing is seldom particularly worn, and usually between 10-50% of the retail cost. This fall, I scored a pair of Hannah Andersson pjs for $8; new, they're on sale right now for $18 and normally cost $28.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-85116">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Another way to beef up your larger-sized baby clothes collection is to ask (beg!) your families and friends to only buy baby clothes in 6-12 month sizes.

That way, the people who want to give you baby clothes can still buy cute things, and it’ll be there for you when you need it. Some people will still buy 0-3 month sizes — you don’t need to worry about the baby being naked.

Consignment stores and childrens’ consignment sales are also great sources of inexpensive baby clothes! Since infants grow so fast, the clothing is seldom particularly worn, and usually between 10-50% of the retail cost. This fall, I scored a pair of Hannah Andersson pjs for $8; new, they’re on sale right now for $18 and normally cost $28.

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]]> By: DivaJean http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-85101 DivaJean Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:02:14 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/26/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/#comment-85101 Our five month old also wears a "uniform"- he still wears footed sleepers day and night. No need for shoes yet, no need to win a fashion show. In our cool (62 degree) home, he wears heavier footies for night and cotton or velour ones during active playtime. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. We did a lot more window dressing with the other 3 kids in putting them in outfits- but clothes only ever last part of a day anyhow, from spitups or baby cereal messes now. And amen to the doula idea- even if its not for a post partum Mom. We are still sleep challenged and don't think we will ever get more than 4 or 5 hours/night until maybe fall of 2025- when baby goes off to college. And that's without the added challenges of physical labor and hormone changes post delivery!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-85101">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Our five month old also wears a “uniform”- he still wears footed sleepers day and night. No need for shoes yet, no need to win a fashion show. In our cool (62 degree) home, he wears heavier footies for night and cotton or velour ones during active playtime. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. We did a lot more window dressing with the other 3 kids in putting them in outfits- but clothes only ever last part of a day anyhow, from spitups or baby cereal messes now.

And amen to the doula idea- even if its not for a post partum Mom. We are still sleep challenged and don’t think we will ever get more than 4 or 5 hours/night until maybe fall of 2025- when baby goes off to college. And that’s without the added challenges of physical labor and hormone changes post delivery!

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]]> By: Nina http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-85086 Nina Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:48:04 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/26/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/#comment-85086 Jennifer: I'm glad you're contributing to Queercents! With our latest round of IVF, I'm hoping the family money topics become more personal for me. This is a great list. I completely agree on the onesies... why would an infant want to wear anything else? I live by the "uniform" method when it comes to fashion so I'm sure our kid will learn this in the onesie stage. Also, excellent advice with getting the second-parent adoption paperwork queued up. California allows for second-parent adoptions and the moment Jeanine is pregnant we'll start working on it. Agree that we should be prepared as possible when the baby arrives. Hopefully, I'll be reading your posts with added interest. Thanks!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-85086">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Jennifer: I’m glad you’re contributing to Queercents! With our latest round of IVF, I’m hoping the family money topics become more personal for me.

This is a great list. I completely agree on the onesies… why would an infant want to wear anything else? I live by the “uniform” method when it comes to fashion so I’m sure our kid will learn this in the onesie stage.

Also, excellent advice with getting the second-parent adoption paperwork queued up. California allows for second-parent adoptions and the moment Jeanine is pregnant we’ll start working on it. Agree that we should be prepared as possible when the baby arrives.

Hopefully, I’ll be reading your posts with added interest. Thanks!

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]]> By: Jennifer http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-84895 Jennifer Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:44:46 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/26/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/#comment-84895 That's a great idea, Mrs. M. Midwives often do work in tandem with doulas. Thanks for your comment!<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-84895">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> That’s a great idea, Mrs. M.
Midwives often do work in tandem with doulas.
Thanks for your comment!

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]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://queercents.com/2007/11/27/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/comment-page-1/#comment-84891 Mrs. Micah Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:30:34 +0000 http://www.queercents.com/2007/11/26/lesbian-and-gay-parents-cut-postpartum-expenses/#comment-84891 When giving baby outfits, I tend to go with 6 - 12 month sizes and simple onesies. That way I can buy 3 without a pinch (normally) and it's going to be useful. I've known a lot of babies who hit 6 month size in their 3rd month and learned from that. I'd never heard of a doula before, but they sound amazing! I'm planning to go the midwife route anyway (when I'm actually pregnant...), so perhaps she'll have people to recommend.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-84891">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> When giving baby outfits, I tend to go with 6 – 12 month sizes and simple onesies. That way I can buy 3 without a pinch (normally) and it’s going to be useful. I’ve known a lot of babies who hit 6 month size in their 3rd month and learned from that.

I’d never heard of a doula before, but they sound amazing! I’m planning to go the midwife route anyway (when I’m actually pregnant…), so perhaps she’ll have people to recommend.

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