How did you manage?

[nudemetalz]

Okay let me explain...

Now that we've just been told my wife is pregnant again for the second time our budget has come under close scrutiny (namely by her )

I'm thinking, next year when she goes off work again and then no.2 sprog is born, I may have to make the ultimate sacrifice - sell the beloved Guzzi.
It's not what I want but it really isn't a cheap machine to operate.

How did you fathers manage?
Did you sell your machine to enable the lowered income sustain the tighten budget.

[wysper]

I did for a little while

I was without a bike for a couple of years after number 2.

But back on the ride again, probably on reflection, I didn't really have to sell it. It is not like we bought another vehicle, I ride my pushbike to work and stuff, trying to save money. And we did, saving on rego, gas, repairs etc.

Had another bike before number 2 turned 3 LOL

Glad I have a motorbike now again though.

[jim.cox]

How did you fathers manage?
Did you sell your machine to enable the lowered income sustain the tighten budget.

Sold the adnoH (it was well and truly worn out) but did not sell the Ducati

Pushed the bike to the back of the garage, covered her up, and sat for three or four years.

Suggest avoid selling if you can - you never get what the bike is worth to you, or what it would cost to replace - but do stop any outgoings like fuel, tyres, rego and wof.

BTW - babies are cheap - its when they become teenagers that budget really gets hit. DAMHIK

[GOONR]

Okay let me explain...

Now that we've just been told my wife is pregnant again for the second time our budget has come under close scrutiny (namely by her )

I'm thinking, next year when she goes off work again and then no.2 sprog is born, I may have to make the ultimate sacrifice - sell the beloved Guzzi.
It's not what I want but it really isn't a cheap machine to operate.

How did you fathers manage?
Did you sell your machine to enable the lowered income sustain the tighten budget.

I've got a 2.5 year old and a 3 month old .. Do not sell the bike, it's your escape to sanity. If you really have to sell it try to get a cheaper bike to replace it with.

My bike doesn't cost that much to run and I use it as my every day transport so it wouldn't be worth getting rid if it.

We have been on one income for coming up to 2 years. It's not too much more expensive if number two sprog is the same flavour as number one sprog. If our second had been a boy it would have cost us loads more in cloths etc but we had all the gear for a girl.

[AllanB]

Kept the bike, recommend you keep yours too!

No discussion at all about getting rid of it, and to be honest any injection of immediate funds from a sale are quickly spent and generally nowhere near the value of the bike.

You can always put the rego on hold and chat to the insurance company about a reduction in cost if you do not ride it (I don't know if they actually do this, yonks ago it was a 'fire or theft' policy). This will eliminate the rather pricey costs associated with the physical running of a bike until you can afford it again. The risk is of course that you then have $XXX just sitting in your shed gathering dust .....

At the end of the day it purely relates to your personal $ situation - if the bike is no longer an affordable option then it has to go and something inside you that was fun and exciting will wither up and die.

Regarding the cost of running number 2 child - we found, other than income loss, number 2 did not become expensive until he got to school and you start sports, swimming etc etc etc

[slofox]

Went without owning a bike for quite a few years...until I got rid of the kids and divorced the wife...NOW I can do what the @#%! I like. And do.

Which basically, involves fanging round the counrtyside as much as possible...

[nudemetalz]

Interesting responses. Thanks for sharing.

We do have the Kwaka EX-4 which she won't be able to ride when she gets too big (assuming all goes well to the 12 week stage of course), so I wouldn't be bikeless.
Plus the DR-250 I guess would be there for the off-road insanity escapes.

But yes, I did think about putting her (the Guzzi) on-hold and cover her up.
Insurances, fuel, oil, 120/180 tyres etc do add up. I might propose that to the boss-lady.

[mashman]

We've been on a single income for the last 8 years , should change in the next year though . I have 3 girls, 7, 5, 2.5... My wife talked me out of selling the Prila. Came pretty feckin close during that last round of ACC shit. She explained it to me in terms of false economy. Bought For - Sold For doesn't make sense if you really don't have to and if all else fails the asset is still there to be sold (if it's an asset) .

Congratumulations on the news

[Mully]

Not to try to scare you, but my brother-in-law decided (*ahem*) to sell his bike when they had their second sprog.

16 years on and he still hasn't been allowed to replace it.

Just putting that out there.

Best bit of advice I ever heard was: make sure you keep a bike - it might not be the flashest, but upgrading a cheap bike is easier to negotiate than buying a bike.

Or discuss with the missus - including a timeline for when you can get another bike (barring twins or some other horrible outcome). She might not want you to be without a bike in any case.

[tommygun]

If you cant ride the Guzzi now, store it and later when the money thing comes right bring it back to life! Selling your "passion" or "dream" is often IMO regretted later.

[XxKiTtiExX]

Can't comment because I'm a mum not a bad. But congrats!!! lol

[FROSTY:Me]

Ya might wanna concider a downvalue rather than a full on sale. Get something a bit cheaper so you still have A bike

[White trash]

We BOTH got out of bikes completely for a while and didn't miss it too much. Just starting to get bitten by the bug again but unfortunately, as a single income family earning slightly less than the average salary in NZ, I find myself riding 50 dollar bikes.

It is good fun filling the garage with cheap shit bikes that you can work on with the kids though.

[Juzz976]

Your entitlements for Working for Families Tax Credits accommodation supplement will most likely cover the cost of the new baby.

If renting you might need an extra room, sweet spend $20 more and they give you $10 of it.

Don't sell the bike until you've worked out your budget and got an estimate from IRD and WINZ for your entitlements.

Congrats BTW

I managed fine on apprentice wages and have a 4.5 y/o and a 2.8 y/o. Just upgraded to a TL1000R this week.

[aprilia_RS250]

Think of the bike as an option (in financial terms). Only sell it if you need the dough. Keep it for as long as you can.