finances/new babies/maternity etc etc....

newcook

vroombroom wrote: »

but I will be getting 15% from my normal wages x

ah, sorry! by mistake!!! I didnt read that bit!

however, you may still be able to receive it as you will be able to claim for tax credits after baby is born.

vroombroom

how confusing! haha! xx thank for all the advice :-)

lilian1977

Hi vroombroom - congratulations! I think all of your questions have been answered but if you ever have any more or want to moan about any niggling pains (OH included ) then you'll be welcome over in the Pregnancy Club:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2857980

Hope to see you there soon!

delerium

For second hand stuff for baby try the NCT, Freecycle, preloved, and netmums...

I am 36 weeks pregnant and everything I have has been second hand. I am lucky though as a lot has come from my sil who had twins, bed and everything is from my 4 year olds stuff.

The only things I won't use second hand are bottles but as I breastfed the last one and plan to do the same with this one they are not something I use a great deal....ironically though I have used and will continue to use a second hand breast pump.

There are things that you think you need but don't, so I would only buy the essentials such as somewhere for baby to sleep (ie a moses basket £30, but then David Cameron's baby slept in a shoebox for the first week, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11409577 ), nappies, some baby grows and sleepsuits.

You can also hire certain things that you might not need for long periods of time like car seats or you can buy ones which will last longer such as the one I have which rotates but it was more expensive (and was my first little ones before this one).

Ebay is a good source of buying things reasonabley priced, my friend has the one stop baby shop on there and I know that her prices are competitive, though the only thing I have ever actually bought from her was the car seat.

Lastly watch the grabbit and freebies boards as you will always pick up something on there from the free pack of nappies, wipes and hat from Huggies at Asda, to samples of nappies, baby grows, lahnsinoh (if you're going breastfeed this imo is essential but v expensive for your nipples!!) every bit counts!!

Good luck!!

menollyke

A lot more people can get the sure start maternity grant than they think. If you apply after birth for child tax credits and update them with new info for the new year. You will probably giving birth in the new tax year, so you can update them after they instated child tax credits, that you have a drop in income that year. Just calculate how much you would be earning, when you would be going back to work and such. (for tax credits purposes you can take 100 pounds a week of your income when you are on maternity leave and receive part smp, so for 39 weeks in the year you can reduce the income you declare by 3900 pounds)

They will than update your details and probably give you an higher reward for child tax credits than the family element. (which is the 1024 pounds a year almost everyone with a child under one gets spread over the year) When you are getting a higher reward for child tax credits or even working tax credits above the family element you can claim the sure start maternity grant.

Or at least that are the rules now. I know from april it is gonna be for first child only, but not sure if they do something about the requirements. However seeing your salary's now, you might be entitled to it if you are planning on staying home for 9 months to a year.

Counting_Pennies_2

http://www.nct.org.uk/in-your-area/nearly-new-sales

NCT nearly new sales are brilliant. Do go to a variety and get there early, you will need to queue, so maybe park up get OH to queue and join him just before opening time.

People price their own things up and give them to the NCT to sell, then the NCT take 30% of the profit (that is how they used to work anyway) They are great to rummage, but when you see something grab it. Definitely need the OH to carry everything for you.

Ebay also very good. Find out what it is you want browsing through the shops then buy second hand on ebay. You will need to be prepared sometimes you will get items that don't come up to your standard, but don't be put off. Overall you will save a packet doing it this way.

Equally work out what pushchair/pram it is you want and then over a long period of time watch lots of the type you want on ebay until you find one in your area and in the condition you want. Recently I sold my Mountain Buggy for £100, it was virtually brand new. So definitely worth watching and watching, you will get your bargain.

Mention to people at work and friends, they might know someone wanting to pass on their baby things. I have a sack load of boy clothes in my loft. Not sure where you live, but happy to give it away if you are near the M4 Berkshire, PM me if you do.

In terms of what is acceptable to buy second hand. Buy the lot. Baby clothes barely get any wear out of them, the baby barely moves and grows so quickly they hardly wear them. The only thing in my opinion not to buy second hand is the mattress (any mattress replace with new, cot death research suggests a used mattress can cause it. Even between my children, I replaced the mattress.)

Also I would buy the bottles and sterilising stuff brand new.

Other than that, if you are buying a cot second hand, make sure you have the instructions and seen it erected so you know how to rebuild it your end, and that you can test it for wobbliness.

Counting_Pennies_2

PS in terms of informing work, when you get your MATB1 the form from the midwife, you then need to give the part relevant to your employer.

The form you need from your employer might be on the internal computer if you have one. Under policies and procedures. If not do you have an HR/Personnel department, they should be able to talk you through the procedure and the form.

loucam

Hi Vroombroom

With regards to the one off Health in Pregnancy Grant of £190, you are eligible for this regardless of earnings. Your midwife should give you this form once you reach 25 weeks, although I had to ask for it. My payment has just come through today and took about 4 weeks from sending the form to being paid into my bank account. Am sure this will help to buy a few things! (oh and I agree with the other posters about ebay, NCT sales, asda baby events etc - you can have a baby on a budget!) Good luck.

Lou

pinkclouds

vroombroom wrote: »

Second question - as we are not entitled to the health in pregnancy grant or the £500 surestart voucher, we are doing things on a budget. What things are acceptable to buy secondhand for a newborn? (We're not poor by any means but looking in Babies R Us/Mothercare etc etc £200 for a pram, £399 for furniture etc...!)

Congrats on your forthcoming arrival. You can buy everything second hand except mattresses and car seats. (I wouldn't buy some other things second hand but everything else is really personal choice - only those two items are the "official" don'ts.) However, it is perfectly possible to buy brand new items cheaply if you are willing to consider "budget" brands. For example, a Stokke stroller is ten times the price of an Obaby stroller. The other thing to do is delay all your purchases until you really need them. I know it's nice to have stuff sitting ready in the house but that way you end up buying things you don't really need or never use.

hngrymummy

I'm not sure she is eligable for the grant, as you need to be in your 25th week by 1st Jan. It's worth checking out the government website for their due date cut off point, as you might just squeeze in on it if you're 23 weeks now.