Too much!

Bestthingsinlifearefree

HI Naomi,

well if it is impossible for you to conduct your life with out 2 cars then 2 cars you will need .

(but with a bit of creativity / sacrifice / life style change etc most couples don't really need to cars but I can undertand that it is obviously more convenient to have 2 cars).

£60 pcm on mobiles is a crazy amount to be honest.

Do you need to have internet at home ? Can you not get access at work / at a friends /a library. Would the world come to an end if you did not have internet access ?

If you spend £600 pcm on child care and say £400 per month on your car (e.g petrol,insurance and the cost of buying a car etc etc) + work clothes etc etc

You are arguably spending £1200 to earn £1200 if you see what I mean !!!

You might be better of not working and this might increase your benefit entitlement or getting a different job near where your OH works so you can go in one car.

Maybe you could go interest only on your mortgage ( for a year or two and then switch back to a repayment mortgage) or get a payment holiday.

While you have 2.7K coming in you should pay down as many debts as possible.

Could you get a zero % interest credit card and transfer any debts where you are paying interest on them onto this new card ?? ie so you are not paying interest.


With things like the mobiles,internet,2 cars etc etc these are maybe things you WANT but not want you NEED.

There is a big difference between the two.

I hope you take the suggestions positively I am just throwing a few ideas in the pot.

I wish you well and you are doing the right thing in looking at all your financial options.

jcr16

just a little word of advice. plan your money as if you don't return to work , as after i had my daugther i was determined i would go back to work , i thought every one else does so i will. but when it came down to it i just couldn't i was a mess. i was physcially sick. ok so now we live on alot less money and don't have the luxuries but i enjoy the time i spend with my kiddies and being a full time mum is the best job in world.

then if u feel u can't go back to work you have planned for these things and if u do u shall be much better off. but having a baby is a stressful time so don't put yourself under anymore stress than needed.

u can check what tax credit u shall recive on their website. not sure what it is tho sorry.

hth

black-saturn

Get rid of the mobiles or get cheaper ones. They should only be costing you £10 a month each.

When you are on maternity leave get rid of the car you use for work. No point running it for 6 months not to be used.

Remember single parents manage to cope on £70 per week benefits so I'm sure you will be able to cope.

roversbabe

Hi there

Congratulations on your baby & you're in the right place here for advice. Have a look at this thread for useful information on keeping the baby costs down.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=71893

Good luck

rb x

HLK

naomi123 wrote:

We need 2 cars unfortuantly as we both work in different places and I will be going back to work after the baby. Also my partner is a flying instructor at weekends (he dosnt get paid for this- its volunteer work) and the drive there is about an hour each way. As we live in the middle of nowhere I need my car to get out and about at weekends eg to visit family etc.
.

I think you'll find the family will come to you once you have a baby! At first anyway.

... one car is a dream for some people.. you will manage on one.. you just have to share it.. run hubby to station or bus stop .. and pick him up again if necessary.. once you are back at work whoever does the nursey run gets the car .. or again you leave earlier and share.. it's not that bad.

Keep the one that is cheapest to run and ditch the other one and please try and enjoy your pregnancy.

You seem to have everything most people want ! Really, you'll be fine and very happy.

sans_2

Have you registered with all the baby clubs ie: Tescos baby club, pampers, huggies, Boots and Babies R Us (Toys R Us)? Often you will get mailings inc. useful money off vouchers and interesting articles to read. Saves you buying baby magazines.

naomi123

Thanks for all your comments- sometimes it just takes somebody elses eye to help you see where you can save money.
I hadnt thought of our mobiles! We are going to keep the cheapest one and share it and ditch the other for a pay as you go for emergencies. We are also changing internet service providers to one that is £10 cheaper per month and covers £10 worth of phone calls aswel so quite a substantial saving each month!
I have done a spreadsheet of our debts and by £2007 we should (hopefully) have alot of our debts paid off apart from one interest free loan from my partners parents which we are paying off steadily.

I must not get drawn into buying hundreds of unnecessary baby items though!

HLK

That's more like it!! :rudolf:

fairylights_2

I have to say we lived in the middle of nowhere when my son was born and it was a nightmare. We could only afford one car, but I would have to run my OH to the bus stop 7 miles away for 7.30am and pick him up at 7pm every night. It meant my son never got to sleep until late and was woken early too. Our solution? move house to somewhere on a bus route. My OH now walks to the bus stop and I have the car, which I use for my work.

Our solution to the can't afford childcare was that I work from home and the kids stay with me. Nurseries are HORRENDOUSly expensive too. Have you looked at childminders instead? Or thought of asking family to help out? My mother in law had my son when I went back to work initially - before I realised I too couldn't cope with leaving him all day. I was inculcated in the "I have to work to make my life complete" ethic by my family and schooling, and now I realise that going to the office all day is not as rewarding as staying home and fingerpainting.

I can't believe that you have to pay back your student loan when your income is that low - especially as it will be lower next year because you're only on mat pay.

If you're adamant you're not going to get into debt, then you should be able to stop yourself overspending on things you don't need. Ask for people to buy clothes as new baby gifts, or have a baby shower. Ignore the "must have toys" for at least the first six months. Sign up for your baby to have a library card - they love cuddling up with mum/dad and storytime is a good way to get that chance. See if you have a toy library nearby when they get bigger. Try to breastfeed (and don't beat yourself up if you don't succeed) as it's far cheaper than formula feeding. Try cloth nappies - I just spent £60 on nappies for my 11 month old and she won't need another nappy now - these will fit until potty training. Don't be conned into buying specific baby food jars when you get that far - just puree whatever veg you have for tea. Most of all, relax and enjoy the time you have with them!

skintchick

Another thought - register on your local freecycle group at https://www.freecycle.org

It's where poeple give away stuff they don't need, and mine is always full of baby stuff! You're supposed to offer stuff as well but I'm sure you have the odd thing you want to get rid of.

It's free!!