I often lurk on this board and enjoy what you all have to share but I do not contribute because I don't know what to say. I used to be a frequent contributor a few years back because I was single and had 60K in debts that desperately needed support and accountability on daily basis (mostly under my old name gruntina). Now my financial life scenario is completely different. While I don't budget to the penny, I work within a reasonable guideline and am still debt free. I know this is all going to change when our little one makes his or her arrival sometimes in September.

I desire to have some sort of budget for the baby but it is really hard for me to understand what I need to do without experiences. I will be on maternity leave between 4-6 months and then I will have to return to work so daycare cost is definitely in the plan. I am just not sure how much everything cost (I know I am in for some rude awakening!) Part of it is that I am in some sort of naive denial that I am actually going to become a mom. This baby is planned but it was quite a journey to reach this point so it will still not feel real until I hold my baby in my arms.

This weekend I will start a new category on Nursery and Baby Gears to track my costs, frugal ideas and some snapshots of my progress. I think this is a baby step that will help me get blogging again and do some money minded exercises so I don't get too lazy and overspend.