budgeting on maternity leave

neri_2

Hi
I'm currently on maternity leave (until end of Aug 10) and am trying to sort out a budget. I'm looking for any advice on how other people do this. I'm the main wage earner and for various reasons I've had to take out a loan to help see us through the next few months. How do other people manage their money through this time? Should I be working weekly by taking money out and managing with that? I seem to be over spending every week. Got to cut this short - baby crying!

SkintGypsy

My first thought is that you may have put additional pressure on an already tight budget by committing to pay the loan, however with that in mind I would be looking to cut back any non essential spending while you find your feet. Can you cover all your bills/loan and food on what you have coming in? Is it just the overspending that's causing the problem?

Each month I do a new budget. I food shop once a week/have a weekly food budget, so depending on the number of weeks I can budget for petrol and food, and I have a list of all my bills to show what money is already accounted for. I check each one off as it goes out of the account, and if there isn't any money spare, at least I know we can eat and get to work.

Good luck, and congrats on baby!

cupcake83

neri wrote: »

Hi
I'm currently on maternity leave (until end of Aug 10) and am trying to sort out a budget. I'm looking for any advice on how other people do this. I'm the main wage earner and for various reasons I've had to take out a loan to help see us through the next through months. How do other people manage their money through this time? Should I be working weekly by taking money out and managing with that? I seem to be over spending every week. Got to cut this short - baby crying!

I have a seperate account where both me and OH put money in for the bills, any money leftover we take out in cash and leave cards at home so we can't spend any money that hasn't been budgeted for. We do one big shop once a month and shop around for deals, shopping online is meant to help as you then don't put a aload of crap in your trolley and can help to stick to a budgeted figure. We also do a 4 week meal planner so we know what we're having for dinner and what we need when shopping.

Make sure your getting all the benefits your entitled to such as tax credits, every bit helps.

Hope this helps alittle.

neri_2

Thank you both for your super quick replies! Yes the loan was the last thing I wanted to do and the only way we could manage it was to factor in the repayments from the loan until I return to work (if that makes sense). Was going to return to work as soon as maternity pay stopped but decided to find a way to stay off for my maximum entitlement. Your answers have been helpful, think hubbie and me need to come up with a better way of managing our money. We've still got our separate accounts but all the bills come out of my account which was working fine whilst I was earning. A separate account for our bills would help us see where we are going.

Think I'll start joining in with the grocery challenge - it's been a shock paying out for milk, nappies and cotton wool!
Thanks!

chickaroonee

Why not try posting a statement of affairs on the debt free wannabe section of this site? Loads of really helpful people there who can suggest where you can save money

nikki2804

I cut down my cost whilst on maternity leave by:

1. Stocking up on nappies whilst they are on offer - asda are good for this however Lidl/Aldi nappies are highly rated
2. Bulk/batch cooking - check out the old style board
3. Baby clothes wise - ebay is excellent, tonnes of NWT clothes
4. Breast feed if possible, unfortunatley 1st stage milk is never on offer
5. Ditch the luxuries, me and the OH saved a fortune by not going out

trufflebuggy

I'm on maternity leave at the moment too, second child born in Nov after a 7 year gap.

Here are some of the things I have done to save money,

Breast feeding, I BF our first child for just over a year (until he decided he didn't want it anymore) and intend to do the same with number 2.

Cloth nappies, although the initial outlay is expensive if you are thinking of having more than 1 child it can work out cheaper in the long run - my cloth nappy stash has actually been used by myself and friends for 8 children for varying lengths of time over the last 7 years (now you can't do that with disposables can you). Obviously it's not for everyone, but I have never found it to be a problem even when I returned to work fulltime. Terries squares could be a cheaper option for you try if you wanted, i've not had any knowledge of these but there are lots of websites which would show you the folds etc... and there are things called nappi nippas to hold them together some no need for nasty pins! NCT sales always have cloth nappies for sale.

Reuseable wipes, Instead of cottonwool/wet wipes I made some out of an old dressing grown and some fleece, which I just bung in the washing machine (with the nappies above). But you could easily buy a cheap fleece jumper (or have an old one lurking at the back of the cupboard) cut it up into squares and just run under the tap when you need to use it. I know you might get abit screamish about popping slightly pooey/wee cloths into the wash with other things but honestly if your washing machine washes properly there is no problem.

And for their faces and bodies, you can do similar or just a good old fashion flannel.

Make your own baby food, when the weening stage comes it's so easy to make a batch of veg//fruit puree popping it into ice cube trays/little pots and freezing it and alot cheaper. Also when introducing meats etc... I started with fish with DS1 and brought fresh macreril which is so cheap and will do a couple of meals.

I would echo other posters comments about meal planning, and I really think doing it online might actually be a good thing to do myself..... always adding little extras into the trolley!!!

Obviously look for the reduced items, especially products that can be chucked in the freezer for later on, my freezer is largely stocked up with reduced meat items!

Are you sure you are claiming for everything that you are entitled for? there are websites that you can go onto to see what you can get..... you never know there might be more you can get.

Enjoy your new baby, they will give you such joy and love as they grow.

Steph

neri_2

hi

Really useful advice, thanks. So far (baby is 5 months) I've managed on clothes given by friends and family, so doing well there. I started out breastfeeding but am now formula feeding (for reasons outside my control - won't get into the big debate here!).

Trufflebuggy (congrats on your 2nd baby)- I'm interested in the cloth nappies option. Do you use a particular make? When I've read forums on this it seems some makes have been unpopular for leaking etc. I'm not squeamish so would be fine with the reuseable wipes idea - does it cost more in increased use of washing machine? I don't use wipes unless I'm out and about - only cotton wool and water.

I need to look into tax credits but think I may be out of the bracket for entitlement. Lots to think about.
Thanks again all.

trufflebuggy

There are so many different types and styles of cloth nappies it does get a bit mind boggling! I mainly have tots bots the original type and don't have leaks, the style seems to have suited both of my kids body shape. I must admit I did try lots of different types with our first child, and its surprising how some just didn't suit at all. I would recommend people interested in cloth to try different types before buying a huge bundle that might not suit their child's shape, or you might not like how they look, or feel or work etc... I warn you that you could develop a serious nappy addiction! (there are so many different types to try :T:smileyhea:heart2:)

I would say for tots type nappies a tumble dryer would be of benefit as they would take a while to dry in air. I have about 16 size 1 tots on the go at the moment and do a washing load every other day (with the majority being washed), I have an A rated washing machine and a C rated tumbler and looking at the electricity usage it takes about 3kwh so I'm guessing washing drying cost of 45p. So maybe 4 extra loads a week from usual but then babies seems to generate a lot of washing some how anyway LOL!

Prefolds, terries squares etc.. are easier to dry if a tumbler isn't available.

There is a website called usednappies.co.uk which may be of interest if you wanted to have a go at trying different types without spending too much money and if they're not for you put them back up on the website to sell. Also it might be worth seeing if there are any nappuccino meetings in your area - coffee mornings with nappies etc!!!