[Annie31]

May I ask how in the world a couple with average income can afford adoption? My hubby and I started to look into adopting a little girl from many different counties and with country fees and agency fees it comes to 20 to 30 dollars including airfare, etc... How do you come up with that kind of money? It seems so impossible to do? I am just so down because it seems so out of reach! Please help! Does anyone know how to make adoption a more realistic prospect? Thanks!

[sak9645]

... you have to recognize that there is a $10,000 adoption tax credit. For many people, this is a huge help. You can see how it works by going to the IRS website, but basically, in the year you finalize, you will be able to offset up to $10,000 of your total tax liability, depending on how much you earn and what your total adoption costs have been. If you don't have $10,000 in total tax liability that year, you can carry over the credit into future years.

Second, you have to realize that you don't pay all of the fees up front. Many of the fees may not be due for almost a year after you start the process. This gives you a lot of extra time to accumulate savings.

Third, many people have found creative ways to fund an adoption. People who have not used their credit cards much can put some of their fees on their cards and pay them off gradually; obviously, you pay interest if you do this, but some people find it necessary. People have taken advantage of favorable interest rates to refinance their mortgage, and have put the money that is saved into their adoption accounts. People have also taken loans, when they are not maxed out on credit.

There are some grants available to adoptive families, but you really have to look hard for them. Some people take second jobs or set up home based businesses -- for example, selling adoption related items. Some people decide to forgo certain luxuries, such as video rentals or meals in restaurants, and put the saved money in an adoption fund. Some people have also "downsized" to a less-expensive car or deferred replacing their vehicle. Some churches have held fundraisers to help families. And so on.

Fourth, some people choose to adopt children with special needs domestically. Adoptions of such children are virtually cost-free, and there are even subsidies in some cases. The international adoption of children with special needs won't be cost-free, but many agencies reduce or eliminate their part of total fees to encourage families to choose these waiting children.

Sharon

[autumny]

We taking out a small loan to help out, saving up, using tax refunds and bonuses. The fees are due a little at a time over the course of the adoption (1.5 yrs for China) so it is easier to come up with. Some peopleget a second ortgage since the interest is low. I figure I can afford a car loan for 20K then we can afford and adoption loan. Some countries are less expensive to adopt from such as China and Ethiopia. Check with agencies. The one we are thiking of using sent us a fees list with teh times the fees are due and how we can pay (credit, check). Very helpful for planning. I am having a few yard sales, plant sales and getting a part time job for a while to help with cost so we only have to borrow a little of the fees. Dont give up, people wiht a lot less money than we have have managed to do it. Even if you have to save up for a couple of years it is worth it to have a child.

Autumn

[Colorbind love]

We choose to adopt a special needs international child who had a scholarship fund to cover his adoption expenses. There are a couple of organizations which do this. And, most large adoption agencies have internal programs where they reduce the fees for special needs waiting children significantly. We went with an organization called Brittany's Hope (www.brittanyshope.org). We were able to barter about half of our homestudy and post-placement fees for some computer programming DH did. My parents gave us a gift to help (all of the fundraising sites say to ask family members which we were uncomfortable with but my parents were happy to help out). For our lawyer fees to re-adopt in the US, we've been able to pay them in increments. And, we had a couple of thousand in savings (not any longer though). All told, we'll spend about $7K of our own money, and should see all of that returned with the adoption tax credit. Other funds covered around $9K. And, we did an African adoption which are significantly less than most other international programs.

Next time, we'll have a great deal more of our own money in savings. DH took a better paying job and we reduced our cost of living. But, we're still hoping to cover a good portion of the costs with a scholarship again, since we want to adopt siblings which will mean higher fees.

Another organization to try is www.shoshannashope.org Its the organization that Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife set up to try to help other Christian families adopt children. They give out grants of varying amounts to families who are homestudy ready.

[Matt's Mom]

Don't give up hope it is all worth it in the end. My husband and I did not have the money up front we took out a home equity loan which had a low rate and the minimum payment was low. You can also look into as mentioned before a personal loans and there are evn adoption loans available. You can borrow form friends or family. There are many options so cheer up. I adopted my son from Korea almost two years ago. If you have any questions or need help just ask.



GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bratgirl]

There are several ways you can come up with the money.

My husband and I are using savings (10k), early inheritance from my grandmother (10k), various smaller payments from regular packchecks (5k) and have an equity line of credit of 50k that we are able to use.

We are adopting two children at the same timefrom Russia. We estimate our costs including travel, lodging, food, spending money, all in country fees, agency fees, and government fees to be somewhere between 50-60k. One infant or toddler would be about half.

I know of people who have held various fundraisers, such as silent auctions, dinners, and garage sales.

Also check into people who do home shows for their fundraisers. I have a friend who sells "At Home America". They sell decorative home products, and their fundraiser deals are really good. You can earn a pretty decent percentage of sales. I think their fundraiser item is candles and you can earn something like 20% of sales. Check with any friends who might be able to help you find a fundraiser product.

I also know people who have had friends, neighbors & relative donate items for the couple to auction on ebay.

People have also had people donate frequent flier miles to them so the flights are free. They can run anywhere from $700 - a few thousand $, so this is a good savings.

Also check with your employers for adoption assistance.

If there's a will, there's a way. Good luck and don't let the cost discourage you!

[Annie31]

Thank you so much for your information. All of you have been of great help to me. It seems like such a huge chunk of money, but if I can be patient and work at it I think it can come to be. I will definitely look into all of what you brought up. This is definitely a great forum! Glad to be a part of it. Thanks again, Ann

[lisah]

My friend runs a site called affordingadoption.com that has all of the grant and loan information you will need.

Try there.

Lisa

[orphanagemom]

We let everyone we knew know that we wanted to start our adoption, but that it costs around $15,000 (Philippines) so we would have to save up for a few years. We received an anonymous check in the mail for $10,000 about 2 months later! We have a few ideas on who it could be, but noone will "fess up". We're picking up our daughter soon (we are waiting for the us embassy in Manila to get busy and send on the rest of the visa approval so we can go get her)! We got another $3,000 from a reimbursement program at my husbands work. Don't give up! There's always a way!!
Jen

[NeshRoo]

I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in. My husband and I are planning to adopt Internationally, and the biggest issue has been the COST! But for those of you who are concerned about it, let me say that we barely make the income cut-off (for China), because I am still in graduate school!! BUT, I have told EVERYONE close to me how important this is, and have been asking for small "donations" at each holiday. 20 bucks here and there adds up (slowly), but my husband has been putting them into CDs so not only can we NOT spend the money before we need it, but it earns a (very very) modest interest.
Also, he has been working over-time when he can get it (his boss knows we're saving money, and always offer's the overtime to my husband first, so he can do it if he is able).
Someone earlier mentioned the "reimbursement program at my husbands work". It is amazing how many companys are willing to offer reimbursement programs, or donations to you if you work there. It is great for you, but also they get to look "good" by donating to a worthy cause! You can find a list of companies here:
http://nafadopt.org/default.asp

This link also has some financing ideas, options, and suggestiong. Even a GRANTS link!! Check this one out! And remember: it's ONLY money. The return on your investment is priceless!!!!

-Nesha

[Colorbind love]

And remember: it's ONLY money. The return on your investment is priceless!!!!

ITA. For us, the money was a scary issue. We figured we could come up with about half of the funds, but it would delay our own financial security. Ultimately, we decided a child was way more important and more valuable than a few more years until we were more financially secure.

When we started, we had no idea how we would gather all of the funds. I decided I was going to proceed until I hit a wall that I couldn't move. Funny thing was, I never hit that wall. Things fell into place in ways I never could have imagined, and now I get to hold my son in my arms each and every day. No money in the world was more valuable than the smile on that child's face to me.

Doesn't mean I hate the fact that fees for adoption are so outrageous. But, I was willing to sell my blood to bring my son home. Thankfully, that was one option I didn't have to do, though DH did talk about the possibility at the end of the process.

[akweldy]

Originally Posted by Annie31

May I ask how in the world a couple with average income can afford adoption? My hubby and I started to look into adopting a little girl from many different counties and with country fees and agency fees it comes to 20 to 30 dollars including airfare, etc... How do you come up with that kind of money? It seems so impossible to do? I am just so down because it seems so out of reach! Please help! Does anyone know how to make adoption a more realistic prospect? Thanks!

I know it seems daunting - my dh and I have adopted 2 boys from Korea within 4 years on one income and are starting for a little girl! It CAN be done but it takes some planning and sacrificing and a lot of faith and perseverance! I began a business to help families in your exact situation - you'd like to adopt but don't know how you can afford to. Please pm me if interested in more information
Angie

[jcouch]

This is also one of my concerns for hubby and me... My MIL came up with this idea of an "Adoption Boutique". In August we are having a craft/bake/garage sale. We are already getting donated items from people!

I am also looking into selling candy bars here at work to help raise the cost. I have other family members who are willing to sell also.

My company helps with $5,000 and we are pretty sure Hubs does the same amount (we are still looking into it).

We have also started putting over $500 a month into savings. We each take an amount/% out of our checks. It really is true that if you don't see it, you won't spend it.

Good luck!!!

[Jim_in_PA]

Originally Posted by jcouch

My company helps with $5,000 and we are pretty sure Hubs does the same amount (we are still looking into it).

Keep in mind that most company adoption benefits are reimbursement deals and the money is not disbursed until after the adoption is legally completed. The $3000 adoption benefit from my employer, a large international communications equipment manufacturer, is handled that way. (Same goes for the US Federal tax credit(s) if you are qualified for them) That means you need to have the funds available through other means to actually pay your costs when due. Whatever benefits you have will come to you later.

[trnews71]

Originally Posted by Annie31

May I ask how in the world a couple with average income can afford adoption? My hubby and I started to look into adopting a little girl from many different counties and with country fees and agency fees it comes to 20 to 30 dollars including airfare, etc... How do you come up with that kind of money? It seems so impossible to do? I am just so down because it seems so out of reach! Please help! Does anyone know how to make adoption a more realistic prospect? Thanks!

Annie,

How about Independent adoption. If you are thinking about Ukraine please go to His Kids, Too! (www.hiskidstoo.org) My husband and I are using their help If you are thinking about Russia (Please talk to Irina..she is a lawyer in FL...she was reffered to me by one member here on the forum) For both the cost range from 10-16 max-aprox. Don't give up!

I was going to give up until I spoke to Irina, then My husband and I decided to adopt from Ukraine so we are going with His Kids, Too.

Let me know if I you have any questions! We asked for donations but no luck on that. Started a garage sale and got a little bit of money out and from every pay checks we get we put on a side a little bit here and there and just requested a loan with MBNA America for adoption purposes. We still have a little bit (well a few little bits to be honest) to go but like I read before in someones answer it was something like " I will go forward until I can't go any further" Good luck to you!

C