From the sleep deprivation to the midnight feedings, your first child will represent a major—albeit wonderful—shift in the way you live. What’s more, your beautiful addition will also represent a shift in the ways you spend and save.
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Raising a child is expensive—the USDA’s most recent report (2013) estimates the total cost from birth to age 18 at $245,340. So planning for your first child means also examining your finances and your future financial goals.

Here are nine ways to prepare financially for baby in just nine months.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But unfortunately it’s also the most expensive.

Between overzealous gift giving and the ho-ho-holiday happy hours, December can do a real number on your wallet. Keep your checking and savings account merry, bright, and out of the red with these 25 easy ways to save money this month.

As the year draws to a close, it’s a great time to reflect on your finances—especially if you’re a recent grad who’s newly employed. You’re likely bringing home a significant paycheck for the first time in your life, but also have big-time monthly bills to pay, including student loans. Without proper planning, that debt can easily drag you down.

So how can you balance paying your bills, eliminating your debt, and saving for your future while still allowing yourself a few bucks for fun?

Start achieving your 2017-and-beyond financial goals by asking yourself these key questions:

You’ve gone beyond proving that you’re a star in your field. You survived grad school (although exams and student loans may still cause night terrors), advanced in your career and have notable achievements under your belt. You’re also responsible, trustworthy, loyal to your company, and love what you do. And it shows. Perhaps you’ve even been told that you’re a born leader, and, humility aside, you can’t find any reason to disagree with that. But how do you take that compliment and put it into action? What do you need to do to reach C-suite status or earn partnership at your firm?