Money Saving Tips from Full-time Mums

merryberry_3

Hi
Just wanted to say that I have been using tesco own brand (not value) nappies on my daughter for the last year and a half and find they work better than pampers, have also tried lidl which where good, but asda own nappies kept falling off.
We also use own brand wipes, we found that pampers wipes where to wet and gave her nappy rash, but own brand work for us.
netmums.com is a great site they have different sections for the area you live in, and within the sections you can talk to local mums, and they list things and places to visit, ie mother and toddler groups, classes etc.

Hope this helps
kelly

Miss_Behaving

The netmums site is great for new mums...

http://www.netmums.com/

You'll be able to find other mums in your area as well as finding some good info on childcare.

HTH

Penelope_Penguin

Hello, and congratulations to you and OH!

You might like to just try talking to other mums with pushchairs. I was amazed - I felt isolated just like you, and thought that all the other parents I saw had loads of friends, and I was the only one who knew no-one. Once I got to know people, lots of them said that all they wanted was for someone to talk to them.

Take a look on the recipe board thread - laods of recipes, Old Style!

Penny. x

liz.._4

Congratulations on breastfeeding, not only is it the best thing for baby but its free and convenient. I fed both mine for 10 months each and so glad, even though it was hard at first.

As for nappies, I used the supermarket own brands and they were fine, in fact I found Aldi ones to be better than pampers. It might be even more old style to use cloth ones if you could put up with the laundry.

I found it hard being at home instead of work at first but I joined a toddler group and made loads of friends who have remained good friends even though my eldest is nearly a teenager.

Good luck, take each day as it comes and enjoy! Don't forget, we are here for you if you can't get out

Miss_Cinnabon

Just like to say i know how you are feeling, im a full time mum and at times it is very isolating as i live in a village where there is only one shop and not much else, local town is 12 miles away so as i dont drive i need to take the bus as i dont really do as ds1 needs me to do his insulin at lunchtime so by the time i got to town it would be time to go home again!

There is a creche that has started here and have never been before but might put lo there for couple of hours as this will be his last day at playgroup as he is now walking:T its a special needs group.

Try your local surestart, i saw my hv the other day and she had a nursery nurse from surestart with her and she is coming back to see me to have a chat, looking forward to it:j

Nappies, i buy pampers - always getting money off coupons for them.
Wipes - i buy branded, but always get the brand where it is buy 1 get 1 free.

Have just started doing menu planning, where everything is cooked from stratch, i would say invest in a slowcooker, it is a godsend for us, we are now so much cheaper with our shopping.

Kyle

freyasmum

Hi!

Congratulations to both you and your OH and welcome to the little one! My daughter is 14 weeks and I know what you feel! I'm lucky though, just now I live with my parents and my mum doesn't go out to work (she cares for my grannie) but I will be moving soon and I don't know what I'm going to do! I have lunch with OH's SiL yesterday and had a nice time. I don't know what to suggest as for company other than what has already been suggested!

For me george (@ Asda) wipes work out at 1.2p each and are cheap and nice. Poundshop ones are not my favourite but it's personal choice. I didn't get on with cloths and water! Tesco nappies are nice and far cheaper and I haven't tried the Lidl's nappies yet as DD is too small!

Linzi x

p.s. I shall be checking this thread for any advice I can glean myself.

Penny_Watcher

When DS1 was a baby I used to go to an excercise class in the local community centre. :j It was v. cheap and they had a creche.

It was good in three ways -

• I got out of the house and met other Mums
• DS1 mixed with other babys and toddlers
• I could attempt to shift some of the 'baby weight'

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: (12 years later i still have the 'baby weight and some more)

And ever so well done with the breast feeding. I know it's not for everyone, but it's lovely when it works. My poor boobs fed 3 hungry babes for about 9 months each (and boy can you tell.:o)

Do you have a slow cooker? They are a real boon because you can prepare a meal hours in advance when baby is sleeping/you have a minute to yourself.

Read all the hints and tips on Money Saving Old Style. I've saved so much by doing this (thanks guys by the way).

Anyway I'll go now because I'm beginning to waffle . Good Luck.

PW
xxx

hgbels

Hi

Sounds similar to my experiance 2 years ago when I had DS1. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did (I now have 2!!!:j )

I used to work all hours and never cook etc.

On a money saving note first
We bought second hand reuseable nappies which we used alongside Tesco's disposable. However DS was not a 'messy' baby so worked well. DD has a more active bum - so I used disposers all the time.
However we have always used fannels and kithchen roll and water to clean up - faces, hands bums, tables etc so I have saved loads on wipes.

On a cooking note I struggled as I couldn't cook a whole meal. What I tend to do is make a main dish, spag bol, lasagnge, shepards pie etc first thing in the morning, so we could reheat when DH came home
I still tend to do this.
I also find menu planning a life saver - plenty of tips on here.

On a social note - I couldn't stand being at home all the time.
I went to all and any playgroup/toddlers etc I could, and at 5 months your baby will love it.
Most mums seem to worry about mixing and love to talk to anyone with a baby.
THe local baby clinc was good where you can get your babay weighed - then I would suggest to the other mums to go for a coffee etc
The library had story time and you soon start seeing the same faces.

Hope this helps - it takes time to make new friends

Hels

Aoife's_mum

Hello twinklebev

Think everything has already been said by pp, but just wanted to let you know that there are alot of us out here in the same situation. I'm at home with a 2yr old and 7 month old - definitely finding it easier second time around but as we recently moved house I've had to make a real effort to make friends again. It is difficult - you feel a bit like the new girl in the playground - but so essential because you will go quietly mad on your own all day! And once you have met other people you can start having coffee at other people's houses which is a lovely cheap way to spend a morning. As the pp have said, try netmums 'meetamum' pages and they will list all the baby and toddler groups around, NCT will offer help - depending on the area they have coffee mornings, baby and toddler groups, buddy systems etc - and I did make some good friends by going up to other mums with babies (at baby clinc, in the street...) - takes courage this one, but once you've done it once you'll find that they are in exactly the same situation as you.

On money saving, I use washables when at home - if you are planning on more than one this will def save a load of money. lots of websites to give advice - thenappylady.co.uk has a questionnaire to help you choose, and you can buy them second hand if you want. Wipes - I use boots as they seem to be on permanent bogof, but flannels/kitchen wipes where I can. And meal planning is essential, as is cooking double or triple and freezing a few meals for the 'bad' days - I also think that online shopping saves money as you have to be more organised and get less distracted by special offers or things you fancy - has the added advantage that you don't have to go shopping with a baby! No idea about using a slow cooker - I'm just about to give it a go as so many people have raved about them. I got one for free from freecycle - another site worth a try for toys, clothes etc.

Anyway - good luck with it all - enjoy it and don't be afraid to try something that you don't normally do like baking - it won't turn you into a 50s housewife, honest!

natlie

hi
I use tesco value if I have to use disposables they are only £1.58 they do us fine even for bed, I usually use cloth, I use Fuzzy Bunz, I am a real nappy agent and these were the best I have found. But don't buy them 2nd hand Ive had some dodgy second hand ones my new ones were great

Cooking is easy if you make the right meals make sure you meal plan and it will cut out on any unnecessary food shopping, I am breast feeding too its great, my daughter is nearly 10 months now

Make sure you make your own baby food too, jar of mashed carrots will cost you 70p ish bag of carrots to make 6 portions will be about 38p

start selling on ebay I made £180 a month selling unused/unwanted whilst I was on Maternity leave.
Also buy baby clothes on there, vest and sleepsuits are really cheap I get all my daughters clothes on there or in the tesco sale now.

Buy reusable breast pads from boots much nicer and friendlier than disposable plus saves you cash, they cost £4 ish

I also use reusable wet wipes disposable ones will cost you about £8 a month loads of lovely ones on ebay

HTH
Nat
xxx