Know Your Numbers

Baby Budget Calculator

What your family needs each month, and what's left. Ten minutes, no spreadsheet.

Fill in your take-home pay and your monthly costs. The baby costs are already filled in with US averages. You'll see your comfort zone, your survival floor and how much room you have before the baby starts spending your money for you.

Your numbers stay on your device. A rough estimate to help you plan, not financial advice.

$1,192
Take-home payafter tax, per month

Total take-home pay $0

Monthly costs

Total monthly costs $0

Monthly baby costs

Total baby costs $0

Safety netmoney for surprises

Left to save $5,000

Filled in with US averages. Change anything that doesn't fit. Tick Essential for costs you'd still pay in a rough patch.

Know your numbers. Then learn the moves.

Birth funds, 529s, FSAs and the rest of the dad money moves, in the Ready Dad course. Launching early 2027.

Sources

  • Rent or mortgage: between the US median rent ($1,406) and median mortgage cost ($1,904), Census ACS 2023.
  • Groceries: roughly the USDA moderate-cost food plan for a couple.
  • Insurance: average worker share of family health cover ($525, KFF 2024), car insurance ($190, NerdWallet 2025) and home or renters cover.
  • Car: average used-car payment ($532, Experian 2025) plus gas and upkeep.
  • Childcare: full-time care averages $14,800 a year (Child Care Aware of America, 2024).
  • Diapers and formula: about $1,200 and $2,000 a year (SoFi, Monarch). Clothes: about $750 a year (Monarch).

General financial education, not personal financial advice. Costs vary a lot by state and by family.

Money stress getting heavy? Postpartum Support International runs free groups for dads: 1-800-944-4773. In a crisis, call or text 988.