money saving when expecting twins

misspenny

so we recently(4 days ago) found out our 3rd baby was not alone and we're getting a fourth!!!!

as much as i'm a fan of bogof's it all a bit scary:eek:

I'm currently 10 weeks, we already have a 4 year old and a 14 month old - I'm pretty worried at how young dd will be when the twins come along approx 21 months dependent on when they arrive.

Fortuneatly I still have quite a bit of baby kit from dd, though stupidly i've recently sold a few things on the intranet at work woops, i have used a mixture of cloth and disposables with the first two and can claim some more cloth starter kits from local council when the twin arrive to boost my collection, though i think if we continue with cloth i'll need to get a 2nd washer, one just for nappies, i'm hoping i can get dd potty trained early on so i dont have 3 in nappies. and i'm hoping to breastfeed as i did with the older ones, two babies to boobs, that dosent sound so hard, the price of formular milk for two is just too horrific to think about.

just been stuyding the sure start grants, think we're entitiled. and hoping the current government wont cut before i get to the 29 week date.

i work for the nhs and i'm planning on taking 9 months mat leave, my mother just retired in order to look after the grandchildren but that was agreed when there was two of them not four so the deal may be off.

my brain is swimming right now, do any money savers out there have any tips. I will be watching freecycle like a hawk from now on.

thank for reading my slightly panicey rambelings misspenny

narabanekeater

a massive congratulations. Im having number 3 at the moment having got rid of 90% of my baby bits. If you keep looking you may well get a washer off of freecycle. You can always pop it in a shed for now to see if you do need it. Ive only got a 5kg capacity washer so im not looking forward to it either.
Do you have any inof regrdign the grant you mentioned above? I was just wondering if maybe we can get it?

misspenny

the grant is dependent on benifits and tax credits if you dont qualify now you may well do after your baby is born but you need to be on the ball with your tax credits application as the grant must be claimed by the time baby is 3 months old.


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Expectingorbringingupchildren/DG_10018854

ladybez

Many congrats!! I know the feeling of finding out that 1 is actually 2!! One thing I found, you don't always need 2 of everything and the best thing I invested in was a changing station, rather than the mat I had for my girls. Being what was classed as an "older Mum" I didn't actually buy anything new until I was over 24 weeks, just in case. Breastfeeding is the way to go, as there is no way you can hold and bottle feed 2 at once. Just one thing, very often twins arrive early so make sure you have arrangements in place for getting your other children looked after if you need to spend any time in hospital, either before or after the birth.

misspenny

oh i should add we moved house a week ago and its a renovation job that we may have outgrown already.

dundeedoll_2

misspenny I can't give you any advice regarding expecting twins, but I can give you 1 of these

You must be feeling quite shocked and overwhelmed as well as probably a little frightened................and all you want to do is grizzle ' I want my mum!'

It probably won't always be easy, but I'm sure you will cope.

DD x

jcr16

congrats hun. very exciting being able to experiance having twin's.

you say ur youngest will be 21m when twins born. thats a great age. as they are so helpful. my dd was 19m when my ds was born.although i bought a double buggy i really didn't need it, as she was a great walker.

as for bits ebay is good ,as you can search for items closest to your home addres. with our first i managed to get a realy nice moses basket for just a few pounds.

i thought the sure start grants from goverment were stopping or have stopped? i not 100 % sure tho the budgets this yr really confused me.

Indie_Kid

jcr16 wrote: »

i thought the sure start grants from goverment were stopping or have stopped? i not 100 % sure tho the budgets this yr really confused me.

You won't get one if you already have a child from April 2011.

jcr16

ah, so it for you first child only then ?

that kinda makes sence. as £500 can buy you all you need and then just keep it for the following siblings.

Indie_Kid

Yes it will be. If you have a child and your partner doesn't, you can't get it either - it has to be the first child for both. This starts in April.

mum2twinsx2

Hiya,
firstly congratulations:T:T on twins. i have two sets of twins:D Its the best.

Afraid you wont be entitled to the grant as if your ten weeks now by april you will twenty four [ish] weeks.

Ebay is great or netmums for finding things cheap and locally. if items bulky people less likely to post so go cheap.
You dont need two of everything... i made this mistake first time round. My girls shared there cot until they were eleven months, so dont bother with mosesbaskets cribs. i used a travel cot downstairs for them to sleep in.
Baby bouncers one will do and use carseat for other.
I can recommend some great double pushchairs.

I didnt breastfeed first time, as me and girlie twins were both quite poorly. second time round i expressed for first 6 weeks and i got infection and couldnt express through so unfortunantly gave into formula. is expensive, so stick at it if you can.
I dont use cloth nappies, i buy big boxes.

Cant think of much else now, but will come back when i do