Having babies to get baby bonus [Archive] - Bub Hub Pregnancy & Parenting Forum

SamanthaJane

22-06-2006, 22:40

I really dont like that "babies having babies" comment, i find it quite hurtful...

I know people in my area (one girl is 28, the other girl is 34) and had a baby because the $3000 seemed like a really "kool" bonus. Its not just the young ones who are getting pregnant, just because the money is there.

My mother's friend's second baby is due in September, she took advantage of the $3000, and knew it was going up to $4000 this year, so strategically started TTC after November last year.

Who knows what people are thinking when they do these kinds of things. Surely they must not understand the costs of having a child.

But please, lay off the "babies having babies" comments, it really isnt fair. It's not going to help this girl get through the hard road ahead of her.

brizbabe

22-06-2006, 22:50

Samantha :yelclap: well said.

People have babies for all sorts of reasons (not just out of love) but we shouldn't judge and to be honest I wouldn't trust Today Tonight (TRASH TV) to be a truthful, unbiased report on anything. It sensationalises EVERYTHING to get people to watch its'carp reporting!!!:mad:

vanillabean

22-06-2006, 22:54

I agree, it is not just younger ones that are having babies for that reason and I am sorry that the comment was hurtful to you.

Tamz

22-06-2006, 22:55

What peeves me off the most is the Junkies that get pregnant so they can get 3k to shoot up their arm!!!!!!! then there is a poor child that is brought into this world with a druggie mother.:mad: :mad:

i think the baby bonus should be somthing that is given to families where it is not likely to be used for drugs, alcohol or for their own personal use. IYKWIM

Tamz

JenNT

22-06-2006, 23:19

As far as I was aware, they introduced the payment to younger mothers as well as indigenous in instalement form rather than a lump sum.Wonder if this still applies.:confused:

PhAnToM

22-06-2006, 23:46

I was actually surprised and annoyed when we went to book our hospital last year while I was pg with DS. The midwife (who was lovely but...) made some comment about how we were soooo "lucky" because the baby bonus is now $3000. :confused:

DH actually got annoyed and said "that is less than 1 term's fees for the school this child will be going to." :rolleyes:
Yes it is nice to receive any amount of money to help contribute towards expenses etc. But please don't go trying to make out that you know, we can now go but a little island off the Carribean! This was our second child, so we knew how much everything costs too.

bigglet

22-06-2006, 23:52

while I was pg with DH.

Wow Lut.... pregnant with your DH..... that's a first! :laughing:

Mamaduke

23-06-2006, 00:00

I knew of girls in the town I grew up in that got pregnant because they wanted a steady income (single mothers' pension) and unless you moved out of town, it was probably the only steady employment there was available.
This was before any 'baby bonus' came in...they were just looking forward to getting a housing commission home, a healthcare card and a pension.
I don't think that the baby bonus has meant girls who wouldn't normally get pregnant are now getting pregnant, they'd be the same type of girls who, like the above example, think that living on welfare is 'a bit of alright'...:confused:

Ashleigh<3

23-06-2006, 00:13

I do agree with Samantha on what she posted. :yelclap:

As for waiting to catch a train down to Sydney recently, two mothers with strollers and toddlers, hurried past me and I couldn�t help but over hear one of the mother�s yelling at the other about not having enough �methadone� and that she was dying for some.

I couldn�t help but notice the excessive scars up the inside of her arms. And the colouring of her skin which I have no doubt was ruined from smoking/drugs. Her teeth were also black.:(

I would never judge a woman or man at that, by their appearance or hold something against them.
For example, something like, if I were to be working at a cashier and I chose to be blatantly rude to a mother because I didn�t like the rips or tears in her clothes and the dirt on her babies face. It doesn't change the fact that She and her baby are still human beings. They deserve to be treated with the same respect as everyone else.
But I suppose it doesn�t stop you from feeling for the junkie parents you see roaming the streets asking for money while pushing a pram, you especially feel for the child, its extremely inhumane to bring a child into the world whilst being under the influence of drugs.:no:

PhAnToM

23-06-2006, 00:17

Wow Lut.... pregnant with your DH..... that's a first! :laughing:

hahaha...
it is official all.. i have LOST THE PLOT!
Good grief. :no:

He was actually chomping away at me during a feed (cut his first tooth today and if i didn't have to stick a breast in there, i'd be soo proud!), so i was trying to type quickly. Well, that was good, wasn't it?

Thanks for picking that up Bigglet.... :devil6: :laughing:

pegasus

23-06-2006, 00:19

My DH and I discussed this tonight (as we had the TV on Today Tonight while eating dinner). He said "did we get pregnant to be due in July on purpose?". Gee - if there is a more clueless DH out there than mine, introduce him to me please:D

I guess this was in response to my statement that I could go into labour anytime after the next 8days!

Anyway, the funny thing is that our DS was due May 2004 and the $3000 was brought in while I was pregnant. When he was born, we received $874, and then got $750 last tax return, so at the end of the day (we'll continue to get money for the next 4tax returns as I'll be earning less than I was prior to having our son), we'll have received more than the bonuses, although the lump sum sounded good at the time.

This is the real kicker, as the fact is that it is the lower income earners, that do better with the bonus as it is at the moment. People just need to do their research, and the people who do their research know that babies grow into children, teenagers, and young adults while under your care, and cost more (financially) to bring up than $4000.

I have to admit, we did start TTC about 6weeks before we got pregnant, and the way I consoled myself that we hadn't got pregnant in the first month was that we'd now qualify for the $4K - it's a hollow victory, nobody could seriously think that I was serious about that!

TinyStar

23-06-2006, 01:09

As annoyed as I get when I hear stories like this you really have to think about the situation and mentality of the people who are taking advantage of the welfare system.

If you had no education, no skill, no trade and no formal qualifications, what sort of job could you get? How much would it pay?

If you had never seen anyone you know get off the couch and try and better their situation, would you be easily inspired?

Probably not, why bother working in some crappy dead end job when you can get pregnant and get money "for free".

I worked hard to get my qualifications, and I am rewarded with a job I love and an income which allows me to live a lifestyle of my choice, my DH loves his job too. At the end of the day I am very happy with my life. I can make changes and have choices when ever I want. I can live where I like, send my kids to schools that I choose, save up money for holidays, drive a decent car.......

Will these girls ever be able to do that? If they dont do anything else to change, probably not.

pegasus

23-06-2006, 01:26

I'm with you TS - I often wonder about whether we'd see more of my step children if it wouldn't mean less money for their biomum. Previously she's said she can't cope and can we have them full time, we've put up our hands and said yes, only to have her say they have to go home within a short time.

I am lucky that I have an education and could walk into a job if needed to, but I wonder what my DSK's mum will do when the children turn 18 - she's never had a job in her life - at least I have the security of knowing I can support myself and my kids and could do it without my DH (heaven forbid if I had to be in that situation).

The sad thing is (going back to the kids on TT - yes they were kids), that the one who had her bubba in 2004, said that it wasn't worth it, and that she's doing it alone...I'm pretty sure I saw this story originally when it came out 2years ago, and predicted this.

TinyStar

23-06-2006, 02:04

Pegs, we know of a lady who in her mid thirties cant get a job, has had her benfits cut off as her DD is now too old and is really doing it tough.

I think she is regretting the whole no education thing.

She has a boyfriend who loves her dearly and would love to marry her, but they have so many issues to resolve. She is scared to move in with him and risk losing her housing commission, he is scared of potentially having financial responsibility for her DD is she got pregnant the list goes on.

Life as a welfare dependant.......it's not all bourbon and KFC.

23-06-2006, 02:16

I'm no teenager (far from it!), but I have to admit, that when I was pregnant last year (baby died at 11 wks), the amount of the baby bonus was appealling! We planned our bub, wanted our bub so much and weren't having our bub for financial gain, but I really do have to admit that the though of getting a lump sum payment on bub's arrival really made an impact! Especially since we already had everything we needed for bub.

My first pg was with twins. Unfortunately, one did not survive and as a result, our dd arrived alone. We had to take into account when planning another pg, that we could end up with twins and if that happened, we would need a larger vehicle. I am ashamed to say, that the though of $6000 towards a new car was entertained whilst a smile danced on my lips!

We are a family of 4 (currently) who live on an income well under 30k and struggle at times ... I can understand how this could possibly help a person get out of debt or get a better chance at life. Of course, it would only be an incredibly short term solution, but when you are desperate often the future is the last thing on your mind.

So, in a way ... I can see how the dollar signs could mesmerise a child into thinking that they could get out of a situation that they are unhappy in and be paid to do it! Not only would they get money, but a baby that has no choice but to love them and not abandon or abuse them!

There is no way that I am saying that they are right in thinking that this is thier mealticket ... I just wanted to say that I could in some way understand a little of their thinking and how it can cloud a usually sensible person's judgement!

Yes, this young lady needs to be given a reality check ...

ButterflyKisses

23-06-2006, 08:49

So, in a way ... I can see how the dollar signs could mesmerise a child into thinking that they could get out of a situation that they are unhappy in and be paid to do it! Not only would they get money, but a baby that has no choice but to love them and not abandon or abuse them!the trouble is sooner or later (and I'd say more to the point sooner - especially with a young teenager who is only getting pregs for the $'s) the money will run out and then what??????

don't they realise that babies/toddlers/youths/teens cost $'s far beyond the initial 3 grand handout........

makes you wonder what else they will do for a quick buck???????

lexi'smum

23-06-2006, 11:26

I was very upset and angry watching this..I cant even describe it, some people are so stupid :banghead: is that really all she thinks her life is worth..obviously she is just going to live off benefits from US for the rest of her life...where is the education!!
The baby wasnt even living with her, her sister had it..the poor child!! I can only imagine what will happen to bubs when she realises she cant spend money on her as the baby needs something, if my DD was to do that, I honestly dont think I could support her..its disgusting.
Its not how life should be.

Its true though its not only the young ones doing it for the money...i just wish people would realise $3/4000 is NOTHING when it comes to raising a child.
Children should be made out of love, not for a few measly thousand dollars.

As someone said, I fear for the child when the money runs out, because who will these teenages take it out on when the noveltys worn off and the moneys run dry...like I said, the poor children. :no:

Mum&bubs

23-06-2006, 11:33

As far as I was aware, they introduced the payment to younger mothers as well as indigenous in instalement form rather than a lump sum.Wonder if this still applies.:confused:

Yep i was 16 when i gave birth & instead of giving me the $3000 in one lump payment; i got it in weekly installements. I did ask for half to be a lump payment as i needed things for the baby but the rest was installements and it was good to have that extra cash each week & i think its a good idea for alot of people :yes:

JATS

23-06-2006, 11:35

as someone who knows a 15 yr old who got pg for money, she isn't stupid enough to think 3 grand is alot of money!

BUT a single mother gets a hell of alot more from centrelink every fortnight than a 15 yr old school student, and that's what she was aiming for.

She's now 18 with a 3 yr old and while she finished school and dosen't regret her daughter, she quickly realised a few extra $$$ from centrelink dosen't make life an easy ride for a very young single mum. Thats why she now has a FT job.

Maybe talking to girls like her would be a wakeup call...?

eta back when she did it she didn't get 3 grand, she was aiming for single parent payment, but she has said not even 3 grand would make it an easy ride.

OscarTheGrouch

23-06-2006, 11:35

Does it really surprise anyone?:confused: It's kind of obvious if you serve out large sums of money to have babies that less fortunate people will take advantage of it.:banghead:

Mum&bubs

23-06-2006, 11:40

Does it really surprise anyone?:confused: It's kind of obvious if you serve out large sums of money to have babies that less fortunate people will take advantage of it.:banghead:

Very true!! Alot of them are too busy thinking about the money they are getting not the life they are bringing into the world. Once that $3000 is gone then what are they going to do? Go out and have another baby? I think people need to make wiser decisions. They are so many people out there TTC because they want a baby to love yet theres also people out there who are just having babies for money!! arraggh i dont even think i made sense then :banghead:

OscarTheGrouch

23-06-2006, 11:42

Once that $3000 is gone then what are they going to do? Go out and have another baby?
Live off the tax payer unfortunately.:thumbsdown:

mum2bubba

23-06-2006, 11:48

I didn't see it :rolleyes: but I have heard about teens doing this type of thing before, I think they are very stupid, do they not understand that $3000 isn't gonna be nearlly enough to take care of a baby??? Obviously not. I think the money comes in handy especially for bills and things like that but what are these teenagers using the money for? Drugs etc?
I hope that something is done about this because I'm scared that if this continues everyone else who has kids (and NOT for the money) would miss out iykwim. One of my "friends" actually asked me if I had Hayley for the money :eek: :mad: I just gave him a really dirty look:mad:

Angelmist♥

23-06-2006, 11:50

DH and I were talking about this the other night and we thought wouldn't it be great instead of getting $3000 payout, once you're past say 25-30wks they give you vouchers for local baby shops, BigW, K-mart and Woolworths, etc.

I just know whilst I was pregnant I had to have everything organised before they came, not a few weeks later.:o We actually put the $3000 towards air-conditioning the house and fixing our gardens, because we had everything for bubs.

I look at it as....we wanted our babies anyway so the "Baby Bonus" and Family tax Benefits are bonuses.They come in handy but :fingerscrossed: we never have to actually rely on them to live IYKWIM.

Irish Dad

23-06-2006, 11:51

You should of gave him a good old boot in the b$lls :rolleyes: Idiot :mad:

MeeG

23-06-2006, 11:59

i watched that story as well, i am a young mum to be im 18 and i fell pregnent and after alot of thinking and consideration decided to keep my baby and its people like that 14 year girl on the news who makes even harder for young people trying to raise there child, makes other people think were doing it for the money as well, not that $3000 is alot of money when u think about like cot, pram and all that no way i jus wanna say shes an idiot an a disgrace to other young mums in it for love for there child not the money,:shame: i might sound horrible but i was NOT impressed:mad:

Mum&bubs

23-06-2006, 11:59

I actually know someone who is having a baby for the $3000. She is 35 & has a 16 yr old son & 4 yr old son. The 16yr old is the one who looks after the other one though. She is a drug abuser & has said very bluntly that the only reason she is having this baby is for the $3000 which will be $4000 when her DD is born. I actually feel for her oldest son who has the responsibilty of doing his mums job!

*Chels*

23-06-2006, 12:00

How stupid must you be to have a baby for money?????3 grand wont last long,then you have the responsibilty of a child forever!!!!!!!!!
Yes,the bonus is a good incentive to have a baby,but I would never have a child for this reason alone!!!
We recieved alot of backpayment from centrelink when we moved here,but my god I dont know where it went,it does not last long!!
It makes me really angry when selfish,stupid people have babies!

Mum&bubs

23-06-2006, 12:01

EskimoMumma

23-06-2006, 12:26

I did not get p;regnant at 16 to take advantage of the welfare system or the payment. I gave birth before the lump sum payment was introduced and well guess what, i wasnt elegible for welfare here. Call me stupid or whatever, or I had my whole life ahead me, but I did what was right for me and I will never take anything back. I have a beautiful, caring, and kind DS who is now 4.5 years old and about to start prep. All i can say is that not everyone has a baby for the bonus. I also have no REAL education and I can walk into any real job I like. Its not the skills you have from learning, its the skills you have from selling yourself to get a job IMO. BUt it is true, its mothers like on TT who give other mothers a bad name and that urks me up the wall.

Blessed Mum

23-06-2006, 12:41

Unfortunately it is sad but true, there will always be people who take advantage of systems but that's not everybody. I also definately think it isn't just young mums doing this as others have said.

:shame: on anyone having babies just to get their hands on 3000 or 4000 dollars...........................I mean really :rolleyes:

SassyMummy

23-06-2006, 15:21

It's really quite pathetic that people (not just really young teenagers...but all ages) are having babies for a few thousand dollars.

I will admit, I liked the idea of the $3000 payout when I fell pregnant, because it meant that I could afford a few extra things for bub. However, it wasn't the REASON I fell pregnant (I didn't even fall pregnant on purpose...). It was a little EXTRA that helps you out...

I certainly didn't expect that it'd make much of a difference though. $3000 is a fair bit of money...but when you have a BABY, it's not really anything. It's the "Setup Costs" of having a baby, if you don't buy high-ticket items (like, by buying a 2nd-hand cot, or a Target cot or whatever...not a fancy $800 sleigh cot or anything...). In that aspect, I think it's a good idea. It could also be used to put towards a CAR or whatever, if you don't yet have one. Or air-con for the family.

It's not really something that can be wasted...because, if you're having a baby FOR money, you'll pretty much run out of it PRETTY quickly...most of it would (or at least, SHOULD), be spent on the baby anyway...and the costs involved in all of that.

Regarding the young mothers NOT getting a lump sum...maybe it changed or maybe I wasn't classed as a "young parent" by the Government (I was 19...so IMO, that's young...but maybe the government classes "young" as "under 18"...???)...I got the $3000 as a lump sum about 2 weeks after I had Chanel. I liked it in "lump sum" form because it meant I could go and get all those things I hadn't already purchased (like change-table, and extra clothes, and all the things I didn't think I'd need...like a breast-pump...lol).

jessgray

24-06-2006, 11:02

i didnt watch the today tonight coz i hate the show lol. but to have a kid for $3000 is stupid. i hadnt even heard of the baby bonus till after my son was born. lol
$3000 or $4000 (as of next month ) doesnt go far if you dont buy all the things for bub before you give birth and spending on yourself is stupid why couldnt these proud mums on TT putr it away for their kids education coz someone in the family needs to be educated lol

i got ym baby bonus as a lump sum and was 6 weeks off my 19th. i know a 16 yr old mum who got hers as lump sum to but its ina trust fund for her little girl :)

Holly_Golightly

24-06-2006, 11:25

I was so cranky when I saw this. I hate when TT do these stereotypical storylines. It just lumps everyone together and increases peoples biases. Why do I watch these shows?:banghead:

I was 19 when I fell pregnant. It was well before the baby bonus and I think I received $600. Which I handed straight to my Dad to repay him for the cot and pram.

Even as a young Mum I thought she was a twit. However, I don't know if paying the baby bonus as instalments is handy either. You can obviously achieve alot more with a lump sum (both good and bad I realise). I would have been cranky if I had to spread out buying vital things for my baby over several weeks after their birth but then again that is also why it is so important to be financially viable prior to having a baby. This payment is meant to make things easier but not to be relied on.

In reality most of us will have bought all the baby things way before their arrival and this money goes to either repay the credit card (i don't own one) or on other family needs. It is a nice 'bonus' but definately not an incentive for me. Mine will go straight into savings.

Mabe they should make education or even a young Mums programme or play group compulsory for receiving the baby bonus? I would have been happy going to a playgroup for young Mum's but probably not so keen on a young Mum's programme as I hated being labeled as clueless and as for education I was already enroled at uni and started when DD was 5 weeks.

A difficult situation that I have no answers for.

WeThree

24-06-2006, 11:28

I really dont like that "babies having babies" comment, i find it quite hurtful...

Im curious as to why you find this offensive? I know im getting off topic for a bit, but a 14 yr old is a baby I know you may not see it that way if you are only a few years off it yourself, but it is not a derogatory term, nor was it directed at you personally, so why get upset about it?

I also just wanted to add what I mentioned in another thread about this, Today Tonight is ****, dont pay attention to it, this is just one sad, silly little girl, she is hardly a representation of the majority of most teen mums.

SamanthaJane

24-06-2006, 11:33

Im curious as to why you find this offensive? I know im getting off topic for a bit, but a 14 yr old is a baby I know you may not see it that way if you are only a few years off it yourself, but it is not a derogatory term, nor was it directed at you personally, so why get upset about it?

In my opinion, babies having babies is a derogatory term. If i'm offended by it, i'm offended by it. Dont really feel the need to explain myself as to why i feel offended by a comment. I am because i am, simple as that;)

pestiferous

24-06-2006, 11:45

I don't think that the baby bonus has meant girls who wouldn't normally get pregnant are now getting pregnant, they'd be the same type of girls who, like the above example, think that living on welfare is 'a bit of alright'...:confused:

I'd have to say i think this comment would be spot on.

On a different note, what surprises me most is the number of people who say they are looking forward to the baby bonus to pay bills, or purchase basic baby items. If your in a financial position where you NEED a lousy $3000 bonus to provide these basic items, what the hell are you doing having a or another child!

Welfare recipient or working,

if you can't pay the bills you have now, you cant afford a child.
if you cant buy the basic items without this bonus, you cant afford a child.
if you cant afford to leave that money untouched, without NEEDING to use it for daily costs of living.

why the hell would you add the financial burden of another human being ! YOU CANT AFFORD A CHILD!

Close your legs, save more money, pay off all and any debts, get a better job, study for a new career. Do whatever it is you need to do, to get yourself into a financial postion where the bonus makes no real difference whatsoever.

THEN, have a child, because if you have to look forward to a once of $3000, you definately dont have the finances to cover the health, education and daily costs of another person!

WeThree

24-06-2006, 11:47

In my opinion, babies having babies is a derogatory term. If i'm offended by it, i'm offended by it. Dont really feel the need to explain myself as to why i feel offended by a comment. I am because i am, simple as that;)

Thats fine, but if you are going to ask people not to use it, then dont be suprised if people ask why.

my_lot

24-06-2006, 12:06

there was a time not so long ago when the bonus was $900ish. i was pregnant in 1996 when this came in and pregnant in 1998 then it was given as a smaller sum after the birth and the final part was given when the child was 18 months and had all their shots. this was still the same when i had DS 4 years ago it was the same..but from memory this was also the year the $3000 was given the go ahead...and as it is now it was back then the same old thing..women being shown on tv as having the babies for the money...
id like to add another view to this...
i have a friend who has three kids, the youngest is 4.5, and said she would have another to stop being "made" to go back to work when this one goes to school. (as is the new govt. thing to get SAHM back to work) yes she is a single mother on a parenting single payment and thinks the money would be better in having another child than working, as she had the first right out of school and has never worked a day...and this was all said with no mention of the $3-4000 she will get after the birth.
there will always be the women that will see this as a way to make quick cash but i believe they are the same ones that would have had a baby just to have the govt. payments anyways.

to us, this will be the first child i will get the "thousands" for, and we only realised the other night when we saw that show that it was going up to $4000! and we sat and talked about this for the first time. and i joked that is was my little thankyou gift for the hard yards of being preg and then giving birth -DH wanted to know his "cut" in it!! and as a family we can joke about this in this way, knowing the costs involved, working to provide, and bringing children into the world out of love....
i feel sorry for the kids of these "other" mothers that will be raised thinking welfare is an easy ride in life.

ButterflyKisses

24-06-2006, 12:07

spot on pestiferous :thumbsup:

Tulp

24-06-2006, 19:31

Ditto pestiferous.

annie71

24-06-2006, 20:04

On a different note, what surprises me most is the number of people who say they are looking forward to the baby bonus to pay bills, or purchase basic baby items. If your in a financial position where you NEED a lousy $3000 bonus to provide these basic items, what the hell are you doing having a or another child!

Sorry above is a quote from Pesiferous. Not sure what I did wrong:confused:

Just because your looking forward to a cash bonus to help in what ever way, doesn't mean that you can't finacially afford a child. Our baby is due in August and we would have started a family, baby bonus or not, and been able to afford it. However I am definitely looking forward to my $4000, this lousy amount of money will go towards bills and living expences allow me to stay home an extra 2 to 3 months before I have to go back to work. :smiliedance:
There are alot of working mums out there that don't get paid maternity leave and the cash bonus is a great way to make starting a familiy more affordable. :yelclap:

Mum&bubs

24-06-2006, 20:20

Pesiferous i think ur post was a bit harsh. I am looking forward to that cash bonus to HELP out with costs for the baby that is what it is there for! That certaintly does not mean i can not afford to have this second child! I am doing fine right now & the $4000 just helps alot!
Not everyone has alot of money but there is some people like me who certaintly dont have thousands lying around but can still afford to raise children. What people do with their money is their own bussiness, what people to choose to do (whether is was have a baby first, study later) is their bussiness. JMO!

Mum2AandJ

24-06-2006, 20:30

I agree with mumandbub, what people to choose to do (whether is was have a baby first, study later) is their bussiness. :thumbsup:
I you do not need the bonus, then dont accept it! But some people do need it!

OscarTheGrouch

24-06-2006, 21:50

I agree with the previous 4 people. The amount of money you have will never equate for the amount of love you can give a child.:kiss: :hugs:

julie35

24-06-2006, 23:05

maybe the government should give the money in a way that it can only be used by the mother and only on baby products and only the mother can buy them with ID....
It doesnt matter what age the person having the baby is and what she does with the money as i very much doubt that everyone who has a baby will turn around and say no i dont want it ..i dont need it...no matter how much money they earn .
their has been other insidents where the daughters boyfriend has told her to have a baby so they can use the money to go on holiday and buy a play station while her mother watches after the baby....
they only do this when their is a population slow growth as they need babies to counteract the longer living pensioners if they leave gaps they hve problems in the future like germany...
but on the other hand chances are the babies will be unwanted dragged up on benefits and go into a life of unemployment,jail or just breed more unwanted babies......with no skills and looked at as unemployable with a criminal record....

SassyMummy

24-06-2006, 23:18

I agree that pestiferous's comments were quite harsh.

Why should one woman deserve a child more than another because she earns more money? Should a struggling family abort their unborn child just because they're not wealthy enough to give that child a decent life? PUH-LEASE! Financial wealth is only one form of wealth...and it doesn't guarantee that your child will be well brought-up AT ALL.

I'm sorry, but I think that my daughter is treated well...even I'm fairly poor. She gets what she needs (in fact, she gets MORE than she needs!) to be happy and healthy. I think THAT is what matters...not how much I was earning when deciding to keep my baby or not (it's not like it was a difficult decision anyway...).

When I fell pregnant, (which was not on purpose) I was pretty much dirt-poor. I was going to TAFE part-time (studying my 2nd course) and was also working part-time. I didn't earn very much...I ended up with about $200 a week. DP and I had only been together for a short while, and he was in UNI and working part-time. Therefore, he was ALSO quite poor.

I got a few things before she was born...most of it was given as gifts and the few things that I had personally paid for, were only small items that I had to save to afford.

I must admit that my financial situation has improved since having her...mainly because the Australian Government does its best to make sure that parents have enough money to MAKE SURE that children can get what they need (though, it IS up to the parents as to how they spend that money).

Things aren't easy for me...I'm reasonably poor (it works out to $350 a week for me)...but my DD gets EVERYTHING that she needs. SHE doesn't suffer as a result of my financial situation BY ANY MEANS...if someone has to "go without," I make sure that that person is ME, because I am a good parent. Fortunately, I haven't really gone without much before...

The Baby Bonus is an EXTRA to help with the start up costs of having a baby. Looking after a baby day-to-day isn't as difficult as gathering up a few thousand to buy all of the essential items you'll need as soon as the baby is born. IMO, that's where the Baby Bonus helps...it allows you to make sure that your child HAS all that it needs in the beginning...so you don't have to somehow come up with money within 9 months.

SamanthaJane

25-06-2006, 11:13

I'd have to say i think this comment would be spot on.

On a different note, what surprises me most is the number of people who say they are looking forward to the baby bonus to pay bills, or purchase basic baby items. If your in a financial position where you NEED a lousy $3000 bonus to provide these basic items, what the hell are you doing having a or another child!

Welfare recipient or working,

if you can't pay the bills you have now, you cant afford a child.
if you cant buy the basic items without this bonus, you cant afford a child.
if you cant afford to leave that money untouched, without NEEDING to use it for daily costs of living.

why the hell would you add the financial burden of another human being ! YOU CANT AFFORD A CHILD!

Close your legs, save more money, pay off all and any debts, get a better job, study for a new career. Do whatever it is you need to do, to get yourself into a financial postion where the bonus makes no real difference whatsoever.

THEN, have a child, because if you have to look forward to a once of $3000, you definately dont have the finances to cover the health, education and daily costs of another person!

So you have / will never accept the baby bonus?? Or any payments from centrelink to cover the cost of family expenses?? Because you'd have waited / be waiting till you needed no financial help whatsoever to help with raising a child, right??

Correct me if i am wrong, but the message that i got from your post was that only "well off" families with their finances in order deserve to have a child. Just because you cant afford a child does not mean you do not deserve one.

I'd like to know how many people on bubhub grew up with their parents on some sort of a welfare payment at some point in their lives? Do they consider their parents "selfish" for having them, when, in some cases, they couldnt really "afford" them? Do they think they were disadvantaged for growing up in a family where their parents couldnt "afford" everything they needed?

I look forward to recieving the $4000, it is a "bonus", it will help my situation out in one way or another. I do not NEED the money in order for my child to survive, but its what it says it is, a "bonus". I mean, if we all waited until we were fully studied, had the car loan, house loan, education payments, credit card debts etc etc etc all paid off we'd be way past our baby making stages. Life is not that black and white.

annie71

25-06-2006, 11:34

maybe the government should give the money in a way that it can only be used by the mother and only on baby products and only the mother can buy them with ID....

This is a bit harsh and unfair to the majority of families that use this money in different ways.
We will have all the baby necessities before Molly is born which I have slowly gathererd over the last 8 months from sales and second hand. As I said before the baby bonus will be going towards maternity leave and allowing me more time at home. I think I have read somewhere else where someone bought an airconditioner which to me is a family investment for the home. There are many ways of spending the bonus other than on baby items that will befifit the family as a whole so it seems unfair to put such limitations on what it can be used for.

The people that abuse the bonus are a class of there own. With or with out the baby bonus they would still have babies that are not wanted for the pension alone and however the bonus is dished out they will abuse it. :( :banghead:

I'ts sad that teenage mums alot of the time get caterogised into this group when they should be given a pat on the back for doing a great job usually under difficult circumstances. :yelclap:

pestiferous

25-06-2006, 11:45

Firstly to save time i will reply to the comments about 'looking forward to the baby bonus' as a whole. If you READ my post, you will see it is quite obvious, my comment:

what surprises me most is the number of people who say they are looking forward to the baby bonus to pay bills, or purchase basic baby items. If your in a financial position where you NEED a lousy $3000 bonus to provide these basic items, what the hell are you doing having a or another child!

reffered to those who NEED the baby bonus to cover these basic items. I.E. those who have no other method of paying for these basics.

And i stand by my statement. If you can not support yourself properly, How the hell can you adequately support a child as well?

How much money should one have before they are entitled to have a child??

As my post clearly indicates, enough to look after themselves and a child.

EVERY CHILD is entitled to be born into a safe, stress free environment where sufficient funds are available to adequately ensure all NEEDS can be met!

This is NOT to say one must be well off and have the ability to offer the child the very best of everything, But one MUST have the financial capacity to supply the basics, without having to rely on handouts!

If you cant even afford to pay your own bills on time, how the hell do you intend to meet the financial needs of another human being, soley dependent on YOU and your ability to provide.

As for the numerous replies focused on creating a 'rich Vs poor debate.

Firstly, this is not about who 'deserves' a child, we are talking about a life here, a person! not an award to say your a decent person!

You cant EARN the RIGHT to have a child there IS NO such thing as the right to have a child, having a child is an UN SELFISH act, it is a life long responsibility NOT a god damned privilage!

as i said in my earlier post (which i believe clearly showed my comments were not about giving a child the very best, but an ability to provide the necessities)

Welfare recipient or working,

if you can't pay the bills you have now, you cant afford a child.
if you cant buy the basic items without this bonus, you cant afford a child.
if you cant afford to leave that money untouched, without NEEDING to use it for daily costs of living.

why the hell would you add the financial burden of another human being ! YOU CANT AFFORD A CHILD!

Taddy

25-06-2006, 11:58

I agree with a lot of people here. Why the hell would you have a baby at the age of 14 just for the money? Thats pretty stupid.
Oh thats right my younger sis did and she doesn't even have her son the father does and know shes 16 and preggers again to a different guy.
Pretty damn stupid if you ask me.

my_lot

25-06-2006, 11:59

Originally Posted by pestiferous
I'd have to say i think this comment would be spot on.

On a different note, what surprises me most is the number of people who say they are looking forward to the baby bonus to pay bills, or purchase basic baby items. If your in a financial position where you NEED a lousy $3000 bonus to provide these basic items, what the hell are you doing having a or another child!

Welfare recipient or working,

if you can't pay the bills you have now, you cant afford a child.
if you cant buy the basic items without this bonus, you cant afford a child.
if you cant afford to leave that money untouched, without NEEDING to use it for daily costs of living.

why the hell would you add the financial burden of another human being ! YOU CANT AFFORD A CHILD!

Close your legs, save more money, pay off all and any debts, get a better job, study for a new career. Do whatever it is you need to do, to get yourself into a financial postion where the bonus makes no real difference whatsoever.

THEN, have a child, because if you have to look forward to a once of $3000, you definately dont have the finances to cover the health, education and daily costs of another person!
this was posted just after i posted on this subject so my last post was not in reply to this.... but i thought the point she was trying to make was if you are really struggling now then you really shouldnt "plan" to have a baby to get out of that. this would be in reply to what was on Today tonight and that would be what most of us thought when watching the show..."it isnt and shouldnt be seen as an easy way out of money problems and therefor a reason to bring a child into the world"...so her points above are not so harsh when you look at it like that...

alot of people have read her post to be that you "dont deserve a child if you cant afford it" as in to everyday people not in reply to the show... if thats the case im with you ~because to me each of you who have said this are the people that DID NOT have a baby for the baby bonus and would have , planned or not planned, weighed up the costs involved..these are the people that are on here saying we will love this child even if we are not super rich, well off, have a house ect..these are what "normal" families are to most of us. they are the ones who do have struggles and are rich in love not money... the kids dont go with out, they are not starving, uneducated or poorly dressed, they are the ones with parents who are law abiding, hard working, they budget, buy wisley and give their kids everything they can and fill their lives with family fun, love, discipline, boundaries, values and morals -they are a family just as they would be if they were money rich!

so pestiferous...which way DID you mean it ???:confused:

annie71

25-06-2006, 14:11

you cant afford a child.[/B]
if you cant buy the basic items without this bonus, you cant afford a child.
if you cant afford to leave that money untouched, without NEEDING to use it for daily costs of living.

why the hell would you add the financial burden of another human being ! YOU CANT AFFORD A CHILD!

If you are talking about people planning on having children that are in this situation then it's not the smartest thing to be doing. But I still think the above is a bit harsh.

There are alot of unplanned pregancies to people who are one or all of the above statements and with a little help from welfare and handouts like the baby bonus they can create just as loving family as the mum and dad that can afford not the touch the $3000. There would be many mums on this forum who couldn't afford a child when they found out they were preggers but I bet they have done the best they could and proved everyone wrong with a little help from the goverment.:p

SamanthaJane

25-06-2006, 14:40

If you are talking about people planning on having children that are in this situation then it's not the smartest thing to be doing. But I still think the above is a bit harsh.

There are alot of unplanned pregancies to people who are one or all of the above statements and with a little help from welfare and handouts like the baby bonus they can create just as loving family as the mum and dad that can afford not the touch the $3000. There would be many mums on this forum who couldn't afford a child when they found out they were preggers but I bet they have done the best they could and proved everyone wrong with a little help from the goverment.:p

I agree with you Annie:yes:

But like pestiferous said, we are supposed to keep our legs closed, to avoid these situations occuring... ;)
Close your legs

A bit harsh... :shame:

JATS

25-06-2006, 16:08

Here here, I doubt Pestiferous will only have sex in order to produce a baby and at all other times abstain:shame:

CarolineF

25-06-2006, 16:20

I agree largely with a bit of what you are all saying.

I do think a mentality exists in some people whereby they say we can afford to have a child because:

the state is going to give us the baby bonus
the state will never let a young family go homeless
Welfare payments exist and so long as they do i will exploit them.

There is nothing wrong with claiming benefits, what is wrong is the attitude that you don't need to go out and earn a living cos some other mug will go out and do it and you will get paid out from the extortionate taxes that we all have to pay.

The baby bonus is a good thing and can provide a financial cushion for those that need extra help, but like many bonuses or benefits can be open to exploitation.
So long as there is no restriction on what the money is spent on, of course it will be open to abuse. But the point of the baby bonus is to reward families for increasing the population so that in later years we can have a increased labour force that will contribute to the economy.

1st-timer@34

25-06-2006, 16:59

Didn't the treasurer say when the bonus was introduced, "have one baby for yourself, one for your partner and one for the country" or something to that effect. I don't remember him saying anything about being rich.

If you don't have to touch the money then good on ya, but as for me, I've had to buy everything brand new, I haven't got people giving me things and by the way wasn't this money intended to help with the setup costs of having the baby.

Tulp

25-06-2006, 18:38

Personally I don't see pestiferous' post as saying you ought to be rich or in "perfect financial position" if you want to have a baby. I read it as you should be able to provide for the basic needs of the child.

To me BubbaGanoush, you pay your bills - does not matter how late. You and your partner are providing for your child's basic needs. You are doing it irregardless of the struggle. Kudos on you. :yelclap:

annie71

25-06-2006, 18:49

[text deleted by moderator]

She may lack maturity, she may have admitted to having a baby for the wrong reasons( which in my opinion means she has grown up a little) but there was no reason to think that she didn't love the child, even if she was struggling or unable to care for the bub alone.

scorpio

25-06-2006, 19:52

LOL.........and I bet the 14 year old pocketed some more "free" money by allowing her story to be used on Today Tonight!!!...........
:rolleyes:

JenNT

25-06-2006, 20:06

If my parents waited until they had finished studying for their career or waited until they were financially well off (took them until they were 50 years old) then I would not be here typing this post today.:eek:
AMEN!

SamanthaJane

25-06-2006, 20:09

YUP:yes::yes:

Percy

25-06-2006, 20:15

Pestiferous - i just totally disagree with your view point on this.

Truthfully, if me and my partner ever waited until we were in a perfect financial position to have a bub....we would have waited another 10 years.

We had not planned to have a bub - we had no savings in the bank - we paid our bills on the last day or a few days after they were due - I've never received any government handouts, neither has my partner.

What we did was change our lifestyle to suit our new family - ie cut out things we don't need -like going out for dinner or the movies etc, buying too many new clothes or items we just didn't need.

My bub is loved, he is clean, he is healthy, he has a comfortable roof over his head, he has too many clothes, he has too many toys, he is spoilt rotten....however, we still pay our bills on the last day we can, we still struggle to pay our mortgage - above all other things, our bub is our priority. We wouldn't love our bub anymore or provide any better for him even if we had saved $50,000 in the bank and paid all our bills on time.

This is exactly our situation!! well said!

Crissie

26-06-2006, 07:34

Jeeze, for someone you have never meet and only formed an opinon on from Australia's TRASHIEST TV they are very ugly words.:confused:

She may lack maturity, she may have admitted to having a baby for the wrong reasons( which in my opinion means she has grown up a little) but there was no reason to think that she didn't love the child, even if she was struggling or unable to care for the bub alone.

look yeah its alittle harsh i admit... sorry.
i know girls like her and she SAID shes spending the money on herself and not the child and she only had it 4 the money. if she didnt want to be seen as a little b***h she should not have gone on tv and said wot she did. the girls i know like that... i honestly worrie about there children they spend there centerlink money on dr*gs and there babies have never had stable homes coz theyd rather party and all the rest.
sorry if i offended ne1 but i do feel strongly about it. ppl like her mean young mums who are nothing like that girl a bad name and im sick of it

Mischief

26-06-2006, 09:14

I think that its so silly to have a baby for the baby bonus. The $3000 is a great help, but it doesnt last long! Babies are EXPENSIVE!

I guess alot of people dont realise how little $3000 really is in the scheme of things! I know that at 16 I thought $3000 was like well...a million!!! Now I realise it doesnt even pay the morgage for 3 months, it doesnt by your fuel for more than 12 weeks and if you spend it on nursery furniture you will probably not have any change!

Crissie

26-06-2006, 09:59

ok everyone im sorry about what i said. i was harsh and i dont know wot im talking about.
happy? im so sorry

Crissie

26-06-2006, 11:07

jst one more thing i promice...
you can die in child birth it may not happen all the time but it is a risk. would you risk your life 4 3000 dollars

PointyHair

26-06-2006, 11:18

that is very sad, doing it for the money. This girl needs some educating, but sadly, probably wouldnt listen, Just hope in years to come she doesnt regret the decision.

Her mother seemed to be supportive of the decision to make $3,000 buy having a child. Ignorance breeds ignorance and there was three generations as proof.

PointyHair

26-06-2006, 11:30

shed

26-06-2006, 11:53

I'm not sure what our baby bonus will be used on yet. Haven't really thought about it. Its to go into my bank account to allow me to stay at home with bubby a little bit longer than I would have otherwise, and so I don't have to tell DP every little thing I buy. I have told DP its my "labour fee". He asked if he got half and I said if he does half the labour then he can have half the labour fee. :D

We have already bought everything we need to set up and I have squirrelled away some of my wages and whacked a lot of money on my personal loan so its now on zero (finally!!). so we do have some "baby money" saved. Well I do. DP has a lot more money than me anyway.

I can tell you what the baby bonus WON'T be used for. It won't be going into an account in bubby's name to sit there until he is older. That money is for his father and I to help make his life good NOW. Some people don't need this money at all, and some people need it desperately.

We are somewhere in between, but I am very grateful for it and am very much looking forward to it!! As a taxpayer and a provider of one citizen for the next taxpaying generation I am taking it gladly.

Tulp

26-06-2006, 12:03

We pay tax but we are not entittled to the bonus. But if they offered it... no doubt, we'd accept gladly :D

shed

26-06-2006, 12:26

Oh Tulp, that doesn't seem fair AT ALL. There are people who have never worked a day in their lives who are getting it!!

Tulp

26-06-2006, 12:50

Yep but we are not PRs yet, we are here on a business visa. We can't apply for PR till after the baby comes because you'd need to go for full medical including x-rays which is a no no during pregnancy. Guess it's just one of those things.

MilkOnTap

26-06-2006, 13:37

If my hubby and I have to use IVF then our $4k will go towards that.

And I might just remind everyone to consider how old that little girl was who claimed to fall pregnant just for the $$... Very sad.

pestiferous

26-06-2006, 13:46

Firstly, i will correct the post where i stated

"having a child is not a god damned privilege"

I meant to write

"it is not a god damned RIGHT it is a privilege".

A privilege that should be allowed only to those who have the ability to provide ALL the necessities in life. No, this is not restricted only to material things, it also includes the love, education, health and general well being mentioned throughout this thread.

However, as this thread and the original post were focused mainly on the financial cost of children and those who PLAN children despite their current positions being less than adequate. This is the point that I commented on.

Perhaps one does not need to be in a position where "you can afford to leave that money in the bank untouched" to adequately provide for a child, That example may be a little exaggerated when considering the majority of incomes.

But it does not remove from the fact that MANY people who are NOT supporting themselves, many who can NOT cover the basic power, food and shelter are PLANNING children without considering the effect this kind of hardship will have on the child.

Do these people have a right or even 'deserve' to have children?

NO, In my opinion they don't. Why?

Because it is selfish and irresponsible to deliberately bring a child into the world knowing it must live in extreme hardship (especially if one makes no effort to correct the situation themselves!) and selfish irresponsible people make terrible parents!

The fact is, it is NOT just teenage girls and 'dole bludger drug addicts' that choose to ignore common sense because they know they can take advantage of the welfare systems we have in place!
I'm sure for every stereotypical 'abuser' caught there is another perfectly 'normal' looking person or couple accepting handouts and benefits to provide the basics they could otherwise not afford. These stories are only based on teens because it is more difficult to find those 'normal' families doing the same damned thing! the teens make an easy target! the majority does not!

If my comments hit a nerve, so be it.

again I stand by my belief that:

If you can not provide for yourself, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD A CHILD!

oleander

26-06-2006, 13:59

I thought 'Shed's partners comment on whether he gets half of the money was ridiculous. The money is for the baby. Just like that 14y.o. girl thought she would get the $3000 and buy things for herself - thats pretty selfish. The mother said she knew her daughters intention was to have a baby - well there you go! She should have taken the girl to the doctors and got the contraception injection for her. I would never have done that when I was 14 because I had a very strict father (I never even tried drugs in case he found out) so I think the parents are somewhat to blame.

GoneBatty

26-06-2006, 21:22

Hi everyone,

Id just like to say im a 17 year old mum to a 1 year old boy and I didnt plan to fall pregnant and i was still in grade 10 when i found out.... Yeah i decided to keep the baby but not for any money purposes (sp?) but because i felt i could give the baby all the love support and care that this baby would ever need.

I used the baby bonus to buy things like a new washing machine and to help set us up in a rental place....does this mean i dont deserve my baby?? i think not!

So i havent got any qualifications, i cant run out and get a wonderful high paying job but that doesnt mean my baby ever goes without.

I dont plan to be on centrelink for the rest of his life, or mine for that matter.
BUT....if i were to go get a job now i would have a harder time supporting us as the wage u get when ur 17 is very pityful.... i am there for torn between going out and getting a job, and staying at home on centrelink payments for longer....

I am going to be on centrelink for a while longer yes, so im going to enjoy that time with my baby.

But when the time and oppertunity arrives i will gladly and willingly work to support us but right now there is no point because we will be worse off and struggling to live if i did.

In a way i can understand why girls want to have babies and stay at home because the amount of money you get not working is more than what u get from working. So where is the incentive (sp?) to work and get off centerlink? But i do not agree with girls having babies for money and all that stuff i think its totally wrong but there are lots of us out there who do love care and support our babies.

Sorry for:ecomcity: blabbing on dont think it made any sense. i have the flu so you'll have to excuse me if i offend anyone or dont make sense.

Thanks for reading my points.

misskittyfantastico

26-06-2006, 21:34

Well said young1 :yelclap: :yelclap:

GoneBatty

26-06-2006, 21:46

Thank you Thank you:yelclap:
LOL must of made sum sense then

proud_mama

27-06-2006, 01:09

Hello all,

I am a 21yo mother happily engaged, and couldnt be more over the moon to have my spunky monkey who is 6mo. We were not even aware about the bouns until bubba was born. It was not needed indefinatly but it was a great help.

I could easily go and get a job if i wanted to, i was happily working and could go back anyday i wanted to, but this government payment i am recieving is helping me to be able to stay at home and watch my beautiful (biast:D ) son grow up in these precious 1st months and years. I choose to be a SAHM because the government allows this to happen and i don't want to accept the payment for childcare. I don't want to pay somebody else to watch my child grow up when i am perfectly capable of doing it myself and enjoy it better and once i am ready to go back to work i will most definatly be doing it. but untill then my friend....:laughing:

and as for the baby bonus, it is as it states a "bonus" to help with the set up costs. if u dont need it, simply dont accept it! but i think it's unfiar to ridicule those that need that little extra help to raise a beautiful wonderful family.:D

As long as there is love and support, and the children are getting what they need. there should be nothing wrong.:p baby bonus or not!

bigglet

27-06-2006, 01:21

Instead of getting the baby bonus maybe the government should put the money towards child care, schools, libraries, children's health etc. Since we also have a baby boom we may be looking at overcrowding in schools and waiting lists- we already have waiting lists for childcare!

That way everyone benefits not just the lucky ones who happened to have babies from 2004. Who knows when the bonus will cease anyway and then what?
A generation of a baby boom with a lack of resources due to poor forecast planning.

:(

OscarTheGrouch

27-06-2006, 09:55

But when the time and oppertunity arrives i will gladly and willingly work In a way i can understand why girls want to have babies and stay at home because the amount of money you get not working is more than what u get from working. So where is the incentive (sp?) to work and get off centerlink?
Maybe the government or the individual needs to find an incentive........

shed

27-06-2006, 10:00

My incentive is that I want us to be self sufficient.

My baby's dad will be the one supporting us until its worth it for me to go out to work.

That's precisely why I did wait until I had a career established, so when I do go back to work I am getting paid more than what the childcare will cost.

Coz I already knew that about young people getting lower wages when I was using my contraception when I was young.

SamanthaJane

27-06-2006, 10:24

This may bit a bit off course but here goes...

Well i use contraception as well, i was on the pill for the last 2 years. To me, i thought i was pretty well protected. I wasnt going to go off the pill until i was married and in a stable home environment.

Things happen, you think you can control your life but in reality you cannot.

I am struck with the whole stereotype of being a young tramp, living off welfare. Just because i am pregnant at 17. Um hello? I've been with my partner for 3 years, i've lived out of home and had to pay my own way to survive before. I've never once been on a centrelink payment. I know the types of responsibilities i have.

Just because i was using the pill to prevent my self from having a child, does not mean this child will not be wanted.

Bonus or no bonus, i was keeping this baby because i wanted her and thats all there is to it.

Cinta

27-06-2006, 12:56

Well said SJ!! :yelclap:

Cinta

27-06-2006, 12:59

Coz I already knew that about young people getting lower wages when I was using my contraception when I was young.

Are you implying that SJ, me and other young mums are careless when it comes to contraception?

I too was on the pill. I have been with my partner for quite some time. DF and I are paying off a house and he is supporting me while I am a SAHM. Even though my baby was an 'accident' it does not mean that she is not wanted :) She was a 'welcomed suprise' and I certainly did not keep her for the baby bonus.

Those girls that did have a baby to get the bonus are just bl**dy stupid. What sort of upbringing have they had to want to make a quick buck by getting knocked up. Babies cost far more than the $3000 or $4000 baby bonus. Thats exactly what it is...a bonus. I have spent far more then that amount and my daugher was only born this month.

shed

27-06-2006, 13:11

I am not implying anything. I am stating it straight out.

But for the record, I know both of your stories reasonably well and it wasn't actually directed at either of you.

Chickadee

27-06-2006, 13:17

Tulp: I was in the near the same position as you. We submitted our PR application while I was pregnant and didn't get it till after.

Everyone, this thread topic was about people (young or old) who PLAN to get pregnant only in order to get the baby bonus. It's not about failed contraception or pregnancies that were planned for other reasons. Lets keep on topic and not take personal offense.

shed

27-06-2006, 13:22

thank you MarthaM.

I still can't see anything in my post that could be taken personally by anyone who it doesn't relate to. My comment was about earnings in relation to childcare costs!

But it was getting a bit off topic...

bilbymum

27-06-2006, 14:18

Many 14yo's are immature - they are still developing physically, psychosocially etc. This is not a slur against that individual, it is just life. Teenage years are all about learning independence, making the transition from child to adult, and this takes loads of practice (and mistakes along the way).

Many 14yo's don't have the ability to see around corners yet, to expect the ramifications of actions (like you do when you have had more life experience). Of course there are always exceptions, kids who have had to grow up way too early due to circumstance.

It concerns me that maybe that this particular 14yo has no-one in her life to
- set her straight
- point out some realities
- encourage her to finish school
- educate her about life and the cold hard facts
- work out what is so missing in her self esteem that she has come to think this is her best option

Someone will have to pick up the pieces, probably the grandparents i guess.

At 14, $3000 is a fortune. People on this forum clearly know that it won't go far with a new baby anyhow.

I am not bagging out all young mums by the way. There is no 100% contraception available.

(I didn't watch the program and am only commenting based on the remarks on this thread).