According to Dr. Tina B. Tessina, a psychotherapist and author of It Ends with You: Grow up and out of Dysfunction (New Page Books, 2003), you're way ahead of the game if you've saved and established a financial plan before your baby's arrival. But if you didn't do this, don't fret – there's still time to tighten your belt to ensure a secure future for your family.

Dr. Tessina offers these tips:

Save: Put aside 5 percent of your income for emergencies, and what you don't use can go toward a new house, education or travel.

Insure: You need life insurance, and term insurance is cheap, especially if you're under 30. September 11 taught all of us that the future can be unpredictable, and insurance will help if the worst happens. You need life, health (look for a state plan if your job doesn't provide one), car and home insurance to be safe. Often, policies you can cash in are very helpful in emergencies.

Seek Advice: If you don't have a professional financial advisor in your family, develop a relationship with your local banker. Find a small branch that will count you as important. Your bank manager can give you pretty objective advice or refer you to someone who won't be trying to make commissions on your decisions.

Unite: Work together as a couple to plan spending so that neither of you makes impulse purchases.