💸 Balancing babies AND budgets… | 4-2-2024

This quote GOT US good… and in a really good way.

In Sweden — they’ve got almost the exact OPPOSITE problem that we have in the U.S. 😱😱😱

Studies show that nine out of ten U.S. fathers take some time off work for the birth or adoption of a child — but a whopping 70% of them take 10 days or less.

For a lot of dads — there’s a stigma of TAKING LEAVE — reason enough for them NOT to take it.

And for other dads?

They don’t take it because it isn’t paid and — much like their female counterparts struggling to piece together leave in absence of a federal paid leave policy — they simply can’t afford the financial hit.

This got us curious — if you have a partner, did they take time off when you had a baby? Was it paid or unpaid?

Tell us below.

This week in The CARRY™ ALL:

• 👶 Conquering Unpaid Maternity Leave Like a Boss 

• 💰 5 Side Gigs for Parents 

• 💼 The CARRY™ ALL Bag for, well, EVERYTHING 

THE BIG 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣

1️⃣ Conquering Unpaid Maternity Leave Like a Boss 👶

If you don’t live in one of the 13 states with mandatory paid leave, it’s important to prepare for losing a paycheck while you’re home with your newborn. The good news is that there are ways to mitigate the loss of income — at least a little bit.

Purchasing disability insurance is a great option, BUT in some cases you have to have done that prior to pregnancy. If that’s not possible, being strategic about baby registries and requests can be a HUGE help. 

Read more here.

2️⃣ Five Side Gigs for Parents 💰

If you do find yourself with an unpaid maternity leave, it could be helpful (and in some cases a lifesaver) to have a flexible side hustle lined up. Bringing in some extra dough while on maternity leave can even extend longer term and help with the cost of childcare, future school expenses, and medical bills. We love the ideas in this list. 

Our favorite? Renting out items you own for some passive income. (And if you’ve got leftover baby gear you just didn’t end up using — BabyQuip may be just the place to list it for renting!)

3️⃣ The CARRY™ ALL Bag for, well, EVERYTHING 💼

We KNOW you carry everything: snacks, extra diapers, changes of clothes, your laptop and phone, water bottles, keys, a single toddler shoe (if you know, you know), and (not to mention) the MENTAL LOAD for the entire family. That ish is heavy. While we don’t (yet) have a solution for all those lists running through your head, we DO have a sturdy, fashionable bag that can hold everything else. 

For those of you who might have missed it, here’s our Carry All Bag that we created with our friends at ABLE. 

Snag yours here.

Have a book you can’t stop talking about? Send it our way!

Giving them a little independence is a good thing, and at least they’ll be singing some 90’s music on their way. 🤷🏻‍♀️

• Witnessing your child transition from a dependent little person who relies on mommy's affection and protection, to a tween asserting independence and trying to explore the world independently can be a heartbreaking experience for unprepared parents. But this is an inevitable part of life and growing up, no matter how much we wish it weren’t. Check out this beautiful essay on the topic, written by Manndi Wilkins.

• Divorce can be a blessing for those in an unhappy marriage, but that does not change how much it can affect the children who are caught in the middle of it. While there’s no “right” way to break the news of a divorce to a child, there are definitely tactics to consider to lighten the blow. We love the approach presented in this article.

• Sure, some (ahem, many) of our favorite 90s hip hop songs may not be “appropriate” for young ears. But we listened to them, didn't we?! And we turned out just fine.😆 Here’s to the moms who refuse to give in to the music of today, and who are wholeheartedly bringing their kids along for the 90s ride. 

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