Advice Please....

First of all, welcome to Baby U!
I see no real issue in having a baby while living in a condo unless the condo is impossibly small and you could not fit another person in there with you. Really, I mean, if you have a bedroom for the baby, I think it would work fine.
Also, if you really believe that it's best to live in a house rather than a condo once you have a baby, could you move to a nice area that is close by but not so expensive?
You could do a lot of things to save money and cut expenses, but I am not sure about your particular situation. When my daughter was born and I stopped working, my husband and I adjusted our lifestyle quite a bit. We eliminated lots of extras such as magazine subscriptions, eating out, dry cleaning, auto club membership, etc. I started getting my hair done less and found a more affordable hair dresser. I have always shopped sales for clothes, shoes, and groceries, and I have always used coupons, which amounts to a lot of money saved. We also eventually moved into a smaller house (with a much smaller mortgage payment) because my husband's company (an airline) cut salaries across the board, and we wanted me to be able to continue to stay home with our daughter. When my daughter turned a year old, I started tutoring. I am a certified teacher, so I can make a nice salary while working very little. I currently earn $35 an hour tutoring. I also take in freelance writing work, but that comes and goes, so we don't count on that income. It also pays well, but it is not consistent. Depending on your situation and what you currently do for a living, there are many options out there for you for saving and earning money, and I am sure there are other ladies here on the boards who can offer other ideas, too.

welcome! We live in an apartment and have a baby. Like Tammy said babies don't need as much room as you think, although they do have a lot of stuff

If you don't plan to start TTCing til December you can start saving as much money as possible now for a nest egg if you haven't already. Also remember most people don't get pregnant the first month of trying so you might have more time to save money while you're trying. If you have money put aside then working only part time after the baby is born won't be such a burden.

Welcome again and good luck!

to Baby U!

i don't know about being a stay at home mom but i do know that it is almost impossible to save enough or be ready enough to have a baby. Any time is a great time for a baby. If we all waited until we knew we were financially set there would be alot less babies out there.

Tammy and Mel have some great tips for staying at home! and for living in a condo. Good luck!

we all hope to see you around here a ton!

Hi and welcome to the boards! My advice would be, start cutting back now! Figure out what you can live without and where you can save some money. Start using coupons and bargain shopping like Tammy mentioned and you may just realize that your goals aren't so impossible.
As for the condo verses house issue... what are the downsides to raising your child in a condo? Are you worried about noise & neighbors, lots of stairs, or would you just prefer to raise your child in a home with space and a yard? I can understand how that would be ideal but honestly, I am raising 3 kids in an apartment and their needs aren't any less fulfilled than if we had our own home. If you and your husband want a child, unless you are uncapable of meeting the financial demands and providing, there is no reason you shouldn't start trying when you want to. I really don't think that a baby raised with love and basic needs would complain about where it was raised.

Well said, Elaine! What a sweet way to put it.

I read ALL those books. I like What to Expect series. Save yourself the money and get the combo with the First years book too.

Remember to HAVE FUN and relax and not worry if it doesn't happen the first month or even for a few, especially if you just came off birth control.

We can't wait to get to know you more, stick around and jump right in.

i'm happy to hear you are going to start TTCing! it is such a wonderful exciting time!

Welcome and best wishes TTC!

Two other books I would recommend are: The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy (which is so funny and very informative--it truly is like having a good friend tell you all about pregnancy) and Your Pregnancy, Week by Week (I like this book because it gives you weekly pictures and details--What to Expect is good, but it is divided montly, I believe). I read What to Expect and the two above with my first pregnancy, and I felt well-informed. The Girlfriend's Guide is really good and straightforward and less clinical.