Start-up costs for new baby

tomhann187_2

Wow - thanks for all of the great replies guys.

Good tip about putting a little something in the trolley each time I go shopping. I've been looking on Gumtree and there are some real bargains to be had. Also, just watched a mamas and papas ebay listing end for £120 - cot bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers, changing table and bedding - bargain!

RoseZebra

oh yes, you definately dont need a sterilizer. If youre looking to save money MILTON TABLETS all the way! They are cheap as chips.

esio_trot

onlyroz wrote: »

Your child benefit will be enough to cover everything in your list.

since when?! My LO is on solids and even making your own baby food isn't actually all that cheap once they have a varied diet plus snacks. I probably spend close to a tenner a week more on food than I used to. I couldn't continue with BF and so formula costs me about 2 weeks CB every month. Take into account any activities you might participate in (fiver a week for the music class I take my son to), putting aside money for next stage clothes, christmas and birthday presents, other incidentals....it mounts up to far more then the CB I receive

onlyroz

esio_trot wrote: »

since when?! My LO is on solids and even making your own baby food isn't actually all that cheap once they have a varied diet plus snacks. I probably spend close to a tenner a week more on food than I used to. I couldn't continue with BF and so formula costs me about 2 weeks CB every month. Take into account any activities you might participate in (fiver a week for the music class I take my son to), putting aside money for next stage clothes, christmas and birthday presents, other incidentals....it mounts up to far more then the CB I receive

I find it hard to believe that you'd need to spend more than £80 a month on a baby even if it was formula fed.

esio_trot

onlyroz wrote: »

I find it hard to believe that you'd need to spend more than £80 a month on a baby even if it was formula fed.

I'll give you an example of a 4 week month for my 8 month old...

£30 a month on formula (just short of a tin a week at £9 a tin though I will admit this is decreasing lately)
£20 a month on activities (£5 per week)
£30 on extra groceries (only about £7.50 extra a week for additional fruit, veg, yoghurts, full fat milk bought especially for him, I do buy jars for him for puddings which adds on a couple of £s extra a week so I suppose those could be cut)

So yes, I could cut out the music class but the CB is for him and I think he's really benefits from it. There are free activities, I know, but we do those too!

£80 spent I'm afraid!

meeps

I would look for your local NCT sales and go to one in a few months with your list (plus a friend to carry stuff) as a lot of bits can be got very cheaply, I know I was selling bundles of plain babygrows for a pound or so, bouncers and bath supports etc were under a fiver and they also had nappy sets, travel cots, moses baskets etc.

laurel7172

Remember that people will buy you presents. Most shops are very helpful if you take in your five surplus packs of newborn vests and three packets of sleepsuits and ask to swap them for bigger sizes...

Also-if either you or your partner is tall, you may have a long baby and newborn clothes will be a waste of money. We had to go straight into 0-3 months-newborn clothes were too small from the start.

Newborn clothes get very little wear. Beg or borrow if you can. If you have a sicky baby, the colour doesn't matter. I supplemented DS (a vomiter) with DD's pink sleepsuits as I figured he'd only be in them for ten minutes anyway. It didn't scar him

MoneySavingMamma

onlyroz wrote: »

I find it hard to believe that you'd need to spend more than £80 a month on a baby even if it was formula fed.

You must be joking!! Look at the calculations above, & don't forget alot of extra washing powder, and I think the biggest bill is the heating! Anyone with a winter baby will have the heating on most the day, we are very tight with ours now, but when baby comes it will be cranked up!! And more electric - washing machine, dryer (if your lucky!) steriliser, night time lights, TV, microwave etc.

Babies are expensive -FACT! Best idea is to save up then have one (I said that after number 1, but here comes 2 & no savings! Oops!) And cut down as much as poss now, so you have spare cash for later.

I was a big bib user, little one had bibs on all the time so clothes stayed cleaner longer!!

MyRubyRed

My darling daughter gave birth to my first grandson 11 days ago and went through the same worries on cost as you are going through now during her pregnancy. Yes, you are going to face expense but if you have friends and family about you I suspect you may find yourself knee deep with supplies of now unwanted and quite possibly unused items and equipment. My advice as a mum of two and a new granny would be to take each stage at a time with a bit of advance planning. Also be aware that there are things you won't need. A changing mat at £6 works just as well as a changing table which costs a lot more, you don't need a sterilser ...Milton all the way. If I were you I'd stock up on a supply of disposable nappies, extra virgin oil (better than Baby oil to deal with dry skin) cotton balls, sudacrem. Get a moses basket, car seat new and a cot, from family or second hand. If second hand theN i'd probably put funds aside for a new cot mattress.
So happy for you xxxxxx

madnessandmayhem

narabanekeater wrote: »

Im expecting number 3 at the moment after my wonderful big brother threw away all of my baby bits. If your an ebay member then you can search for items within X number of miles from your house. Ive seen travel cots go for £10.
Sleepsuits ive seen 3 for £7 in Asda which is the chepest ive found them. If anyone knows anywhere else please let me know.
Asda and Sainsburys have 'baby events' where they reduce lots of bits. Ive seen Tommee Tippee closer to nature pumps and bottles very cheap in there.
I guess my best piece of advice would be to save up your pennies then if you see a bargain you can snap in up
Also never underestimate Clubcard and Boots points. My cot comes fro Tesco from the double up promotion and my pram from Boots. They didnt cost me a penny in cash

With the sleepsuits, Sainsburys do a pack of 3 sainsburys basics, white sleepsuits for £3.75, and also the vests, but can't remember how much they were. Also Their 'normal' range of sleepsuits were only £5 for a pack of 3-and if you get your first bounty pack from there with the voucher, inside is a voucher for £5 off a £10 spend on childrens clothing in sainsburys, so def worth a look!!