What a shame

[crystal**flake]

They're cutting the baby bonus, something that should not have been around in the first place.

Ummmm is this a political thread 😄

[crystal**flake]

I find, when I look at baby furnishings ect, its alot cheaper than when I purchased them.

[buzzlightyearsgirlfriend]

I never understood cots for babies. I thought I did. I bought one. Biggest waste of money ever. It was great for hiding the washing pile. And the cradle, chopped it up eventually and sent it to the tip.

Safe co-sleeping for the WIN and the saving money and angst option. In my opinion and experience. 

[i-need-a-martini]

oh.. so I hear that Family Tax Benefit A will go up and you will get $1000 via that method when you have a kid... 

no real change then is it? 

Except won't that mean it will be means tested?

[azureline**]

I find, when I look at baby furnishings ect, its alot cheaper than when I purchased them.

yes.... I recall so.

[cherry*135]

If you're thinking of having a baby…

… it's time to get busy. If you don't get pregnant in the next two weeks you won't get the Baby Bonus. It's being scrapped from March 1, 2014, or in nine months and two weeks, and will be replaced with an increase to the rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A. For families not claiming Paid Parental Leave, FTB-A will be increased by $2000 following the birth or adoption of a first child and by $1000 following the birth or adoption of a second or subsequent child.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/money/federal-budget/federal-budget-2013-what-it-means-for-you/story-fn84fgcm...

[lynnie3024]

I would love to see the statistics for elective caesarians in the last two weeks of February next year...lol

There are going to be a lot of people very "busy" the next two weeks.

[crystal-gems]

oh.. so I hear that Family Tax Benefit A will go up and you will get $1000 via that method when you have a kid...    no real change then is it?

Cat..... it is a tax benefit.  The claimant is not handed $1000 in cash (without any means test)..

[*crikey*mate*]

How much is the baby bonus atm?

Is it paid in a lump sum or by installments?

Could prolly google, but meh - someone will know the answer for sure.

Glad it's being abolished, I never agreed with it.

If people think/thought that $5,000 (or whatever the amount was/is) is going to help much in having and raising a child, then their pro/con list needed some serious tweaking.

Although I do see a place for it for the "surprise" baby (if it's the first one - after one, pretty sure peeps have figured out what causes it) also for the teen pregnancy, though i realize that this is open for abuse and misinformed decisions. Maybe some sort of program that keeps the teens and single parents in skill development and education could be funded, or perhaps other support (if none is available atm.

Hope the paid parental leave (especially for both partners) will one day head the same way.

It's my opinion, that the money could have been directed more to helping a single parent rather than forcing them back into the workforce whilst the child is so young.

*puts hard hat on*

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Being a parent of teenagers when it came in, it never made sense that you would get such a big bonus for babies who are cheap to run compared with the amount you get for teenagers who cost a lot more. (and I appreciated every cent anyway you lovely childless taxpayers. :-))

[daydream**believer]

crikey- the baby bonus was $5000 paid in 13 fortnightly instalments.