[Fe2002]

Sparkle, I know exactly where you're coming from. I'm 38, single and just finalized the adoption of my daughter. She came home when she was 3 wks old.

My lifestyle did change, but it wasn't painful because my priorities changed. It's not that I can't afford new clothes any longer (who knows, if I sat down and did the math... perhaps I can't) but I no longer WANT to buy new clothes for myself. My new thing is new clothes for my daughter.

I no longer want to go to the day spa 3-4 times per month... I'd rather spend the day tickling my daughter and hearing her giggle. KWIM?

Expected/unexpected expenses... well, formula is expensive and they can go through a 28 oz can (powder) in about a week. I order it online - at the very least you save on the sales tax. In fact, I order a lot of her stuff online to save money. For diapers, it pays to buy in bulk... but don't buy too many. I've had the problem of her outgrowing diapers well before they were finished. So, essentially that's a waste of money.

Don't buy size "newborn". She literally wore some of that stuff... ONCE! I've learned not to buy any of her clothes unless they are on sale. Babies simply outgrow the stuff too fast to justify the cost.

I also schedule certain things during the day (on my lunch break) so as not to take away time from my daughter. If I really need to get a mani/pedi, I now get it done on my lunch hour, instead of the weekend.

Also, another big thing.. can't believe I almost missed it. I have live-in childcare, an au pair! A complete life saver for me.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Good luck to you!