affording to be a stay at home mum

Counting_Pennies_2

Go onto Old Style and do their grocery challenge, also read up on the mega cheap recipes listed on the sticky threads, there are millions.

I never, ever buy full price clothes for my little one, they grow out of them so soon and really you just need to buy the classical style clothing that doesn't date. Hunt in every sale in the highstreet, generally I refuse to pay more than £5 per item even if it is wonderful. If you find yourself leaning towards paying more just remember you are likely to get cheaper in Asda or Tesco.

Go to NCT nearly new sales, but also beware not everything there is a bargain, so check the price the seller puts on their ticket.

My son is 3 but I have a wardrobe of classical clothes up to age 7 just through browsing sales, and have done so since he was 6 months old. Chinos, jeans, plain jumpers and tops, I refuse to buy beyond this age as I figure he will start laying down the law to me as to what he is willing to wear!

Apart from that you do just muddle through.

I came to a deal with my husband that the child benefit would be paid to me to take into account the increased cost of living, not only is it the nappies and increased food intake, but once they start moving you will find yourself at an assortment of toddler groups, softplay, and animal parks etc and this all adds up, so prepare ahead for this by working out how you will find the extra money.

Fizog

Good for you, I stayed at home with my boys and only went back to work at weekends when I absolutely had to...they are small for such a short time and when they start school you could look for a P/T placement in a school so you get the hols.and work school hours. Pay isn't brilliant but at least you are there for your little 'uns.

inkie

Why not take set yourself up in an ironing business? This is something that you could so on an evening whilst your lillte one is asleep , and can be quite lucrative

rls1973

have you considered selling on ebay professionally? i am a sahm and this is what i have started doing, mainly because it's the only p/t job that's totally flexible around the children. its enjoyable, simple and you decide when you do it. (plus walking down to the post office is that much needed fresh air/exercise/daylight/human contact, and you could carry the parcels in the pram basket!)

local newspapers are great for bags/bundles of childrens clothes.

black-saturn

I'm a stay at home mum and I've managed to afford it quite well. Once your little one goes to school you can work from home during school hours. You can do ebay and lots of other little on the side jobs which bring in a little extra. Also cut your food bills down by cooking everything from scratch.

ViksB

I have just quit to be a SAHM to my one year old. What I am doing is writing down every last thing I spend. It really makes you question whether you need whatever you are about to buy.
I am also working for AQA which I do in the evenings (you need a degree and broadband) but that earns about £100 a week, which has made a huge difference to us.
As already said Freecycle is great. I am also selling all my unwanted books on either amazon or Green Metropolis. (not sold any yet!!)
We grow nearly all our own veg.
A friend and I also take it turns every couple of weeks to look after the other persons kid to give each of us a break from time to time.
Good luck and its worth it.

inkie

I am also working for AQA which I do in the evenings (you need a degree and broadband) but that earns about £100 a week, which has made a huge difference to us.
As al

Whats AQA please?

tiff

I work for AQA and dont have a degree, but they do expect a high standard.

They recruit fairly often and you have to keep checking their website for UK job vacancies

www.issuebits.com

I am a SAHM although both my kids are at school, aged 9 and 6. I have done lots of things to get by, data entry, shelf stacking at Boots, deli counter at Sainsburys in the evenings etc but now I do price checking one day a week for a market research company, I do AQA and other things online to make extra money. AQA is great, you would earn a decent amount, especially if your little one sleeps and you have your evenings free.

lebly

If you dont want a lodger have you considered hosting foreign students?

Benefits include you get paid, leanr about another ulture etc etc. down side is it does inconvenience you a bit but it only goes on for a few weeks a year!

lebly

Another thing i do is surveys. I have had two lots of £10 vouchers for boots make excellent birthday presents, have tested washing powder for surveys had two big boxes given to me for this, have had a few checks in the post and also payments via paypal.

Good survey sites are ipos (wp surveys) opinion world (cheques received), survey spot (cheques received) lightspeed (money via paypal) , you gov ( not paid yet as they pay out at £50 have £20 so far on account), zoom panel (vouchers) I think I have them all right way round.

I cant remember if you said you had a partner/husband but I clean holiday cottages at w/e busy in summer have had winter cleans get £18 per house which works out roughly £12 p/h

Also look out for store wedding promotions if they are having a wedding fair some hairdreser ask for models for free hair cuts etc while they are in store had a free haircut this w/e curtesy of a wedding fair!!

Lidl also have very cheap nappies/wipes et and some of their frozen food is very cheap. Take a current shopping receipt look round and get the stuff that is cheaper alot of things are cheaper than asda!

Good luck hope it is of some help.