Seriously, I would get rid of the 951. You really can not afford it at this stage in your life. Drive the F150. Pay off your car loans. Save your money. Enjoy life, your wife and start your family. The next house is not due until your first child is 4.

all the best.

Children have a way of consuming all your (previous) free time, extra cash and social outings. Funny thing is, you will not care at all.

Once you start having children - its all about the kids. Your old life is over and the new improved one begins. All the daddy's out there know what I am talking about.

I don't think kids are very expensive in that you'll not spend nearly as much on yourself. So the "net out" doesn't change much. YMMV

Maybe if I had the means I would still be spending just as much on me and the wife......but I don't.....have the means.

I've been playing with the idea.

It really doesn't buy me much, other than making some scenarios that weren't feasible, feasible.

If you decide to stay in your current house for awhile and need additional space because you have all that furniture (I'm assuming you don't really need to use all of it), why don't you rent one of those cubicle storage containers they bring to your house to pack you junk into? That way you'd have more useable room and have your family heirlooms protected & available when you have room for them. I don't think those containers are too expensive to rent.

Saves you $5000 a year. Take $1000 of that and take your wife for a nice beach vacation every year.


That just might get the family started.

A guy with no kids needs a toy of some type, trust me. If you sell the 951 you'll end up getting something else shortly thereafter.

Yep. I bought my 951 about three weeks after my 'S' caught fire.

Those were three of the most depressing weeks of my life.

Even with a kid, I'd need a toy. I'd probably buy something more expensive and less practical on an impulse if I didn't keep my 951.

I'm going to guess that you and/or wife are actually not that motivated to have a child at this time.

Because the obstacles you've identified to having a child sound trivial.

Can't start a family because your bedrooms are small and you have too much furniture - I mean, this is almost funny.

Look, having and raising kids requires so many deeper changes and sacrifices. In comparison, having to stick some inherited furniture in off-site storage (or in the garage, or sell it) is truly nothing.

In your shoes, I would put off having a child until becoming parents is actually important to you.

Wouldn't want your kid to know it was a toss-up between him/her and a bunch of old dressers . . . :-)

We're not looking at right now.

We're looking at 1-2 years in the future.

We're trying to make preparations now.

I say +1 to jyl's posts.

Evaluate your true needs and wants.

Nevertheless, if you feel buying a larger house is the best path, I strongly urge you to wait at least 10-12 months. The housing market is in transition, and time is your best ally.

Also, if you're willing to invest some sweat, you might consider buying a home that needs work. If you can buy at a reasonable discount, you might be able to make the numbers work.