Single Mom - Costs

I have just found out that I am pregnant, and am faced with the prospect of being a single mom with no financial support from the father. I know this is a broad question, but can anyone tell me what type of costs I will be looking at in order to raise a child on my own in HK?

It really varies depending upon your own desires, goals and expectations for your child, and of course your budget.


If you send me a PM with your personal email I can introduce you to a friend who was a single mum in HK (she moved away recently). I am sure she would be able to speak with you about the specific challenges she faced.


I think what she struggled most with was not cost - but support and time. She had to rely on her helper a lot and friends tried to help but it wasn't always easy. Her family was in a different country, so she didn't have them either. But of course, as a result of the costs, she always had to work (like many married mums too!).


These are really really rough estimates:


Nursery set up (crib, changing table, baby bath, pram, etc...)

Budget around 10,000 including all blankets, sheets, towels if you buy second hand furniture. Double if you buy new.


Toys

are so over-rated - baby is happy playing with keys, a plastic bucket, etc...



Pre-Natal Class

Not required, but it is a good way learn a lot and get extra support.

The package from Annerley includes home visits after the birth which are a total godsend and really worth the money. Prices on their website.


Pregnancy and Delivery -

Could be 150,000 or almost free, depending if you use public of private options.


Breast Feeding or Formula -

Breast Feeding is free, but you need the time to do it. Formula costs I cannot comment on. You also need bottles and accessories.


Nappies -

Cloth or Disposable - cloth is a one time investment, but you need extra laundry time. disposables are about HKD 120 per week (times this by 3 years and cloth are a lot cheaper!).


Domestic Help

4,000 HKD per month, necessary if you are working.


PreSchool (starting age 3 or 4)

4-7,000 per month


School

Almost Free with local schools

50,000 - 150,000 a year for some private international schools


Clothing

Actually, quite inexpensive at Stanley and second hand.


Medical for baby

Public in HK almost free, or invest in excellent medical insurance for about USD 2K per year.


Misc - about 1-2,000 per month in stuff - be it baby wipes, vegetables to puree, baby sun block, etc... this is probably too much, but good to budget for this type of misc expense.


Other:

Writing a Will

Life Insurance

Having a flat that will accomodate baby and live in helper


Good luck, and do reach out for advise and help on this forum.

I'm not a single mom, but I'm a working mom with a working husband and we encountered more or less the same thing in terms of exponential increase in costs due to our new arrival!


It was the apartment that cost us the most, to accommodate the helper, and the extra body!


WRT clothes and baby stuff its amazing how many people there are who will give away baby things because babies outgrow them so fast and we need the space for new stuff!!!!!!!!! I had friends who gave me clothes, bath tub, baby chair, high chair etc. Later on a chinese friend told me its good luck for your baby to get lots of second hand stuff - passes down the love given to the first owner...


Then the electricity - we have aircons on 24/7 and my electric bill is over 3K pm. waaaaaaaaah.


Other than that, the odd clothes. I use cloth nappies by day and huggies by night, so not huge costs for diapers.


Breastfeeding is free and more time friendly than bottles. I hired a pump from Annerley which I keep at work its not that expensive at all. totall about 3K for 6 months, including hte collection kit.


Next hit will be the schooling I guess. But if you put away a set amount in managed funds you can save for it instead of spending that money each month.


Whether single or double income family, I guess it depends on what the income is.