Budgeting for babies?

Alfietinker

Apprentice tycoon: That's one other thing we'd like to do. My parents couldn't afford for me to go to Uni, even though I got straight As in my GCSEs. I felt I couldn't ask them to support me, and couldn't see how I could support myself and so never went.

I've always wanted to have some kind of fund for when they grow up, for them to spend on something they need, whether that be uni, a car, :eek: house deposit etc. It won't be very much we can put aside, but we'd like to factor in something.

Good advice!

apprentice_tycoon

Alfietinker wrote:

Apprentice tycoon: That's one other thing we'd like to do. My parents couldn't afford for me to go to Uni, even though I got straight As in my GCSEs. I felt I couldn't ask them to support me, and couldn't see how I could support myself and so never went.

I've always wanted to have some kind of fund for when they grow up, for them to spend on something they need, whether that be uni, a car, :eek: house deposit etc. It won't be very much we can put aside, but we'd like to factor in something.

Good advice!

That's tough over your plans for Uni and I wish we had put somthing in place when they were little - babyhood and the early years are just about the only times that you are fully in control of their expenses and it's the only time you can cut things to the bone and the child will neither know nor care. You hear stories about dancing classes, piano lessons, gym clubs and on and on...

You just don't know what your child will want to do and if they show promise it's very hard to refuse and the money has to be found or you'll always regret not giving them the chance to see what they can do. Our regret isn't through holding them back - we haven't - our regret was not planning for it so it would have been easier. We have just a few more year to go till they are both employed adults but I doubt if that's then end of the expense :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

lilmisskitkat

When DD was born i was one of those mummies who bought EVERYTHING because i really had no idea and thought that the whole of the Mothercare catalogue was essential *duh!*

When i have another baby there are soooooooooooo many things that i wouldn't buy and would end up saving £££ compared to what i bought for DD.

My tips (based on my experience)...

* Don't bother with a moses basket, some babies are in the for only a few weeks - see if you could borrow one.
* Buy a cotbed instead of a normal cot, this will last from birth to about 6yrs when turned into a bed.
* Breastfeed if you can, if not then baby milk is available cheaper at clinics for people who claim WFTC
* Buy a buggy that is suitable from birth onwards, a proper pram/pushchair combination can cost you up to £500 (ie, M&P, Silver Cross) and only be used as an actual pram for about 6 months, after which it is converted into a pushchair for baby to sit up and see. I would say a Maclaren Tecnho XT would be the best, it is £150 but will last you from birth to 4yrs. Mothercare also do their own version cheaper. If you do want a proper pram, check out ebay or Loot for great secondhand bargains.
*Use cloth nappies (i never did but would seriously consider it next time) and maybe washable wipes? Use flannels for washing grubby hands and face rather than babywipes, you can just chuck them in the WM after use.
* Make your own babyfood when baby starts weaning, cheaper and healthier and helps baby gets used to a wide variety of foods
*Charity shops and ebay are great for baby clothes, some like new as they outgrow things so quickly.

Just a few ideas, there'll be tons more on this site, these are just things that i found out, unfortunately AFTER spending a fortune on unecessary things lol

Kate xxx

Alfietinker

Thanks - still working my way through the main OS Baby thread!

Starting to sound a little scary now, but all this is giving me a much better idea of how we'll cope!

kit

Alfietinker wrote:

We'll be relying on about £22k.

I am a stay at home mum and we have an income of about £22k. Its hard but it can be done. We dont get much spare cash to spend on ourselves but we have enough to live on as long as we keep an eye on our spending!

This site has been an amazing help. Next month we will be debt free for the first time in years. Make the most of all the forum topics - if I have to buy anything I research it and then check out this site for info and discounts. Don't ever buy in haste - you will always find a way to save money if you hold off buying and refer to the forums.

Speak to friends with children to see what they can lend you or give you. We have been given so much stuff - it has saved us loads. Car boot sales, ebay and charity shops are great for getting stuff too.

Don't worry - it can be done :beer:

squeaky

There are some useful threads to be found on the families board too:-


Families Board


A search on "baby" gives you all sorts of threads but the one in the link might give you a good start:-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=76633

Nick_C_4

My tips (based on my experience)...

* Don't bother with a moses basket, some babies are in the for only a few weeks - see if you could borrow one.
* Buy a cotbed instead of a normal cot, this will last from birth to about 6yrs when turned into a bed.
* Breastfeed if you can, if not then baby milk is available cheaper at clinics for people who claim WFTC
* Buy a buggy that is suitable from birth onwards, a proper pram/pushchair combination can cost you up to £500 (ie, M&P, Silver Cross) and only be used as an actual pram for about 6 months, after which it is converted into a pushchair for baby to sit up and see. I would say a Maclaren Tecnho XT would be the best, it is £150 but will last you from birth to 4yrs. Mothercare also do their own version cheaper. If you do want a proper pram, check out ebay or Loot for great secondhand bargains.
*Use cloth nappies (i never did but would seriously consider it next time) and maybe washable wipes? Use flannels for washing grubby hands and face rather than babywipes, you can just chuck them in the WM after use.
* Make your own babyfood when baby starts weaning, cheaper and healthier and helps baby gets used to a wide variety of foods
*Charity shops and ebay are great for baby clothes, some like new as they outgrow things so quickly.

I agree with all this - we got a Techno XT and used it from birth. It's been two years now and it's still going strong. We also bought a cotbed, made our own babyfood (make loads and freeze portions), and used cloth nappies (Cotton Bottoms, they've been pretty good).

If I were to give some general advice of my own, I would say don't buy much in advance - only get stuff when you think you need it. It's tempting to go out and get loads of stuff months in advance, and then not use most of it. Also, remember that babies don't care about fancy clothes, or see what's been put on their walls (at least for several months) - think about whether your baby really needs it, or you're just getting it because it's there. And your child doesn't need loads of fancy toys, especially if you're dedicating yourself to its care. I've read it a million times and it's true of my son - children often prefer the cardboard box a toy comes in to the toy itself....

black-saturn

It's surprising how cheap it is to have a baby. You can cut the costs by using terry nappies, breastfeeding and buying all your baby equipment second hand. It is possible to bring up a baby on a very small amount afterall, single parents manage to do it on about £90 per week and pay for all their other needs from it. The best way of saving also is to keep everything from the first baby. Then the second baby will cost you even less

lilmisskitkat

Nick_C wrote:

If I were to give some general advice of my own, I would say don't buy much in advance - only get stuff when you think you need it. It's tempting to go out and get loads of stuff months in advance, and then not use most of it. Also, remember that babies don't care about fancy clothes, or see what's been put on their walls (at least for several months) - think about whether your baby really needs it, or you're just getting it because it's there. And your child doesn't need loads of fancy toys, especially if you're dedicating yourself to its care. I've read it a million times and it's true of my son - children often prefer the cardboard box a toy comes in to the toy itself....

I suppose if i'm honest a lot of the things i bought like fancy clothes and toys were 'guilt' buys as i was in a way trying to make up to DD for her dad not being around. I soon realised that it wasn't the way to be, i didn't have the money for these things and was borrowing money from my mam to pay for them and when i'd paid her back i'd have hardly anything left *blush*

My family were very generous though, my mam and dad bought the cot and bedding, my gran bought the pram, one auntie bought a baby bath and towels, another bought the sterliser etc. And i got so many things as presents like clothes and toys.

I would say that for baby clothes, just buy the basics like vest, babygros and scratchmitts etc yourself as people like to buy the cute little outfits rather than the basics as presents.

I also have a Maclaren Techno, bought for £60 instead of £150 from a mate of my Dads, as it was an ex display model. It is the best pram i have ever owned and it still gets used for DD (now 4) when we go on days out and she gets tired. I got it when she was 18 months old but next time i'll be using one from birth (though have kept my pram to use when baby is tiny)

Kate xxx

lilmisskitkat

Oh and by the way i'm not pregnant lol - just very very broody!

Kate xxx