Pregnant student needs to raise £400

xxvickixx

DON79 wrote: »

Hi... I would agree with your mum about wanting the bedrooms on the same floor if it was me. I have kids and I just would have nightmares about fires etc and not being able to get upstairs or downstairs to get them out if there was a fire... sorry! just a thought that went through my head.

Yes you will need two bedrooms but generally the baby stays with you until they are six months old and then into their own room. You could probably stretch it to a year in with you and then consider moving to a 2 bed. It might be best not to overstretch your finances by paying more than your housing benefit if you can help it as things are going to be expensive for the first few months up until baby is 1. I am thinking of the tins of baby milk which cost a fortune until they get onto cow's milk... My youngest is six months and I hate paying so much for baby milk but it has to be done

but saying that, if a 1 bedroom costs the same or maybe only £20 less then it won't make a difference so you might as well have the 2 bedroom place...

hope you find the perfect place soon.

You my find that co-sleeping is easier than going up and down the stairs for 12 months lol! Co-sleeping is also fab if you decide to breastfeed which will also help with your budget.
Been following this thread with interest and am glad that you are getting some good advice and support. It's not a good situation to be in but it sounds like you are determined to make a go of it and that is admirable.
I would try not to stretch yourself with the rent and go for a smaller place. Babies only take up as much room as you let them and don't need a lot of things.
Good luck with it all x

ButterPie_2

Yep, I would agree with the advice that the baby can always stay in with you - especially when you are getting up in the night to them (or co sleeping), you may well find it easier. EG, even after I had moved my youngest into the children's room, I would always end up with her in the bed with me, as it is the safest way to feed them - if you have them in the bed you can sleep and they basically feed themselves, and you will find that you change sides without even waking up after a while. If you try to feed them in a chair, you always have to be careful not to fall asleep (the statistics about babies being squashed are almost all from parents falling asleep in chairs) and I'm just too lazy to be awake for those newborn feeding marathons!

As an aside, are you on any of the parenting websites? The two big ones are netmums and mumsnet. Netmums is more huggy, lots more txt spk and sparkles, and they have swear filters etc - they also have good local sections. Mumsnet is a lot more forthright, no swear filters, no txt spk, more feminism, politics and literature, brill advice in a lot of the sections and massive rucks in AIBU. I personally prefer Mumsnet as I enjoy a good debate and to learn about feminism and so on, but it is a matter of personality really.

ButterPie_2

Also, you will get healthy start vouchers (in fact, I'm not sure, but you might be able to get them now- I got them when on a low income and pregnant with my youngest, but I already had a child so not sure if that makes a difference) that you can use for veg and milk. You get more once the baby is born, and if you breastfeed you can eat and drink it yourself (the idea is so you are strong and healthy to look after the baby) or if you formula or combination feed, you can buy formula milk with the vouchers.

abby1234519

DON79 wrote: »

Hi... I would agree with your mum about wanting the bedrooms on the same floor if it was me. I have kids and I just would have nightmares about fires etc and not being able to get upstairs or downstairs to get them out if there was a fire... sorry! just a thought that went through my head.

Yes you will need two bedrooms but generally the baby stays with you until they are six months old and then into their own room. You could probably stretch it to a year in with you and then consider moving to a 2 bed. It might be best not to overstretch your finances by paying more than your housing benefit if you can help it as things are going to be expensive for the first few months up until baby is 1. I am thinking of the tins of baby milk which cost a fortune until they get onto cow's milk... My youngest is six months and I hate paying so much for baby milk but it has to be done

but saying that, if a 1 bedroom costs the same or maybe only £20 less then it won't make a difference so you might as well have the 2 bedroom place...

hope you find the perfect place soon.

Well as I am a student I have to have a 12 month tenancy. The problem is that because I do not have a guarantor I can't rent a lot of places. This was one of the ONLY people to say I will let to you! I'd be paying £105 extra per month after HB which obviously can come out of my 10k student package. I don't think money will be tight come september, I've worked out the total income package is £19708 and I would be able to get income support over the holidays as a single student parent.Obvs don't want to incur cost randomly but I can't find a smaller place thats not going to kill me!

xxvickixx wrote: »

You my find that co-sleeping is easier than going up and down the stairs for 12 months lol! Co-sleeping is also fab if you decide to breastfeed which will also help with your budget.
Been following this thread with interest and am glad that you are getting some good advice and support. It's not a good situation to be in but it sounds like you are determined to make a go of it and that is admirable.
I would try not to stretch yourself with the rent and go for a smaller place. Babies only take up as much room as you let them and don't need a lot of things.
Good luck with it all x

Would I be stretching myself if I am technically only paying £105 per month? I agree that paying the same rate of housing benefit is ideal however there is nowhere for that price within walking distance to uni, I'd have to go 3 miles out and when it gets snowy I'd never leave the house.

ButterPie wrote: »

Yep, I would agree with the advice that the baby can always stay in with you - especially when you are getting up in the night to them (or co sleeping), you may well find it easier. EG, even after I had moved my youngest into the children's room, I would always end up with her in the bed with me, as it is the safest way to feed them - if you have them in the bed you can sleep and they basically feed themselves, and you will find that you change sides without even waking up after a while. If you try to feed them in a chair, you always have to be careful not to fall asleep (the statistics about babies being squashed are almost all from parents falling asleep in chairs) and I'm just too lazy to be awake for those newborn feeding marathons!

As an aside, are you on any of the parenting websites? The two big ones are netmums and mumsnet. Netmums is more huggy, lots more txt spk and sparkles, and they have swear filters etc - they also have good local sections. Mumsnet is a lot more forthright, no swear filters, no txt spk, more feminism, politics and literature, brill advice in a lot of the sections and massive rucks in AIBU. I personally prefer Mumsnet as I enjoy a good debate and to learn about feminism and so on, but it is a matter of personality really.

I will check those websites out thanks

I am terrified already of causing harm. Thats why I didn't like the other house, worked out it would be impossible to carry a baby and get down the stairs!

ButterPie wrote: »

Also, you will get healthy start vouchers (in fact, I'm not sure, but you might be able to get them now- I got them when on a low income and pregnant with my youngest, but I already had a child so not sure if that makes a difference) that you can use for veg and milk. You get more once the baby is born, and if you breastfeed you can eat and drink it yourself (the idea is so you are strong and healthy to look after the baby) or if you formula or combination feed, you can buy formula milk with the vouchers.

Can't get them till the baby is born as I am not on benefits as a student but will be as a student single parent.

Good news my dictaphone sold on ebay for £134, bad news I smell a rat and might have to relist.