Why tracking your surrogacy expenses are of prime importance?
You cannot expect your surrogacy program to be cheaper than usual. That way, you may have to somehow compromise with the quality of the services and other related aspects. With numerous components such as medical procedures, legal fees, surrogate compensation, and potential travel expenses, the overall cost can quickly add up. This is where keeping a meticulous record of all surrogacy-related expenses is not just a prudent financial practice; it can also help save a significant amount of money. Let’s explore why tracking your surrogacy costs is essential and how it can lead to substantial financial savings.
Tracking your surrogacy costs
- Make proper planning in terms of your costs
Don’t expect magic to happen to you in terms of your financial planning until you do it yourself. That said, creating and sticking to a budget is crucial in managing any huge cost, and surrogacy is no exception. By tracking each cost as it occurs, intended parents can monitor their spending against their initial budget. This ongoing oversight allows them to see if they are on track, under, or over their estimated expenditures. If costs are higher than anticipated in certain areas, parents can adjust their spending in other categories to compensate, preventing overspending and ensuring that funds are available for all stages of the surrogacy process.
- Identifying Unexpected Costs
Do also know that there may come some costs that weren’t expected during the initial course of the surrogacy procedure. Moreover, surrogacy can involve unexpected costs, such as additional medical tests, unplanned travel, or legal consultations. Regularly updating your cost tracker helps to quickly identify these unforeseen expenses. Early detection allows intended parents to make informed decisions about how to handle these costs without derailing the financial stability of the entire process. Moreover, understanding these unexpected elements can help in better budgeting for potential future surrogacy programs or advising others who are considering the surrogacy route.
- Negotiating with the agencies
Never trust someone blindly during your surrogacy program and this goes true to the surrogacy journey as well. Also, having a detailed understanding of where the money is going can empower intended parents in negotiations with service providers. When you know exactly how much you are spending and where, you can more effectively negotiate fees and services. For instance, if legal fees are higher than anticipated, detailed cost tracking can provide a strong basis for discussing more competitive pricing or seeking alternative service providers who offer better rates.
- Avoiding Duplicate Payments
There are certain situations that may demand immediate payments to several parties at once. So, in a process involving multiple parties and stages, the risk of duplicate payments is real. Whether it’s paying twice for the same medical procedure or legal service, these mistakes can be costly. Keeping a detailed ledger of all payments made throughout the surrogacy journey helps avoid such financial mishaps. This system ensures that every payment is accounted for and that no expenses are duplicated.
- Ensuring Transparent Financial Relationships
You can never go smooth with your cost management during surrogacy if you are not keeping up healthy financial relationships during the start. Maintaining a transparent financial relationship with your surrogacy agency and surrogate is crucial for trust and clarity. By keeping track of payments and associated costs, intended parents can ensure that financial dealings are open and transparent. This transparency not only prevents misunderstandings and disputes over money but also contributes to a positive and trustful relationship with all parties involved in the surrogacy process.
- Facilitating Tax Deductions and Reimbursements
While planning for the taxation and other things, you can always look for the rebates and other discounts on your way. In some regions, parts of the surrogacy expenses, such as medical costs, might be tax-deductible or eligible for reimbursement from insurance policies. Accurate and detailed tracking of all expenses makes it easier to claim these financial benefits. Without proper records, you might miss out on substantial tax deductions or fail to claim reimbursements you’re entitled to, thus paying more than necessary.
- Long-term Financial Planning
It’s not short-term planning that will help you keep up with the surrogacy cost and this is what you got to understand while going forward. For many, surrogacy is just one part of their long-term financial planning. Accurate cost tracking allows intended parents to understand how their funds are being used and aids in planning for future financial needs, such as education and healthcare for the child. It also provides a realistic picture of the financial implications of potentially expanding the family through surrogacy again or exploring other options like adoption.
How to Effectively Track Surrogacy Costs?
Understand that tracking your surrogacy costs is highly important as you look to save some money and also manage the expenses. Also, you can look for the following:
Use a Dedicated Accounting System
Utilize software or apps specifically designed for budgeting and expense tracking. These tools often offer features such as categorization of expenses, graphical analyses, and budget alerts.
Keep All Receipts and Invoices
Maintain a file—digital or physical—of all receipts and invoices related to the surrogacy process. This organized approach not only assists in tracking but also comes in handy for tax and reimbursement purposes.
Regular Reviews
Do schedule weekly or monthly reviews of your surrogacy expenses whenever possible. This routine helps keep finances in check and allows you to adjust your budget in real-time.
Work Closely with Your Surrogacy Consultant
If you are working with a surrogacy agency or consultant, make sure they provide regular and detailed financial statements. These professionals can help manage and track expenses, offering insights into potential savings.
Final words
Surrogacy does come as a cost-effective process and every intended parent needs to understand that. That said, tracking surrogacy costs meticulously is more than just a good accounting practice—it’s a strategic approach that can save significant amounts of money. By effectively managing their budget, identifying unexpected expenses, avoiding financial errors, and ensuring transparent and efficient use of funds, intended parents can ensure that their surrogacy journey is not only successful but also financially sustainable. This prudent management allows them to focus more on the joy of welcoming a new member to their family, rather than being overwhelmed by financial stress.
The South Africa Children’s Act of 2005 which came into force in the year 2010 has authorized the “intended parents” and the surrogate mother to get their surrogacy agreement verified by the High Court before starting with the fertilization process. This would then validate the intended parents as the authorized legal parent’s right from the start of the whole process. Still the surrogate mother will be the legal mother until the next 60 days of the birth of the child and she can also change her mind in the meantime. On the other side, only the people residing in the country can opt for the surrogacy process and mostly the single parents and gay couples are allowed to pursue the surrogacy arrangement in the country. On the other side, one of the parents is required to be genetically connected with the future child and they can only opt for altruistic surrogacy and not commercial surrogacy.
