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So poor

Nice to meet some fellow poorpers. Im a new mum and have never been so skint. hope to find some great solutions from this site and forum so just registered. hope to chat soon :j
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Comments

  • Own_My_Own
    Own_My_Own Posts: 6,098 Forumite
    Xmas Saver!
    :j:j Hi Rosie P. Its great to have you.
    You'll find lots of help on here. We can seem a little OCD and excitable at times but don't worry you'll soon catch it :rotfl:
  • slowlyfading
    slowlyfading Posts: 13,429 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    :hello: Rosie and welcome to MSE! There's so much to read and take in on this website, so I hope you find lots of things useful :)
    Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.
    Personal Finance Blogger + YouTuber / In pursuit of FIRE
  • Stigy
    Stigy Posts: 1,581 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Welcome aboard!

    Are you claiming as much as you're entitled to in the form of child benefit, maternity allowance etc?

    If it's any consolation, I'm a new Dad and have never been better off! ;)
  • patman99
    patman99 Posts: 8,532 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Photogenic
    You are not poor. You are in possession of the most valuable thing in the world - a baby.
    I'll give you one big money-saving piece of advice, use terry nappies not 'throw-aways'. The saving over 1 year is said to be £2000 (and that includes the costs of the disposable liners and washing the nappies).

    Another tip -
    Make your own baby food. Just cook the same stuff you would eat, then shove it in a liquidizer the pot-up the end result. Saves a fortune on the shop-bought stuff and much healthier to boot.
    Never Knowingly Understood.

    Member #1 of £1,000 challenge - £13.74/ £1000 (that's 1.374%)

    3-6 month EF £0/£3600 (that's 0 days worth)

  • Hello :) Welcome were a nice bunch here. Many congratulations with your new born.

    Hope you find everything you want on here.
    Loan £7687 :( Credit Card £4630 :( Overdraft £1600 :(

    Its payback time.
  • Heffi1
    Heffi1 Posts: 1,291 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
    Hi Rosie,

    Welcome and congrats to dealing with the debt, it gets easier after a while believe me I never thought it would,but it does.
    :) Been here for a long time and don't often post
  • katy_ann
    katy_ann Posts: 1,094 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Welcome and congrats to you!

    We are all friendly here and get over excitable at the word "freebie" :D
    Debt free once - Back again | Current debt: £2479.50 - January 2025 | Make £2025 in 2025 #11 - £41/£2025
  • Hi Rosie

    just another suggestion as well with you being a new mom and all that - accept people buying you the big stuff you need (or making a contribution towards the costs) and there is good second hand stuff around for babies (and they dont know if its brand new and shiny or not).... my step-daughter insisted on everything brand new for her daughter, we forked out for a multi-way pram/ car seat/ stroller thingy and she used it about 4 times cos it was so heavy and cumbersome.... but it did look pretty :)

    congrats on your little one.
  • Another tip ebay is your friend!!

    you can get cracking bundles of baby clothes on ebay and they sell well too, everything that your little one outgrows put straight on ebay. I'm really sad and if people ask what my lo wants for bdays/xmas etc i say clothes, as soon as i open them i'm thinking how much i can get for them on ebay second hand!!

    try and buy ahead i buy summer clothes in the sales at the end of summer for the following year and the same with winter.

    nappies if you don't use reuseables then try aldi or asda little angels, tesco value baby bath is great and is normally super cheap it's gone up at the moment (to 41p) i assume because of the baby event. and so is the baby shampoo. Morrisons also do a value bath/shampoo/lotion. smartprice baby wipes are good as well but now that they have gone up to around 50p i find that the aldi ones work out more cost effective as they are thicker and a bit wetter so you use less.

    Sign up for all the baby clubs tesco/asda/sainsburys/boots and mailing lists for companies like heinz/hipp/ellas kitchen etc as you normally get freebies/vouchers same for pampers/huggies etc

    If you haven't already got one get an boots advantage card and tesco clubcard.

    use cashback sites as mothercare do a price guarantee if you are buying toys etc.

    I'm sure i'll think of more :)
    DFD September 2017
  • Congratulations! I found I spent less as I didnt go round the shops on my lunchbreak from work and stopped the gym, cinema and eating out so often so if that applies to you, try and redirect some of that cash.

    My biggest mistake looking back was clothing. Took me a while to realise that supermarket clothes are just as good and much cheaper than the highstreet stores. Also nappies. I always used papmers until one day I experimented with some from Lidl. I forget the name. Anyway I found them to be fine for during the day and used the branded ones just for night. Also as others have said, make your own baby food. I got a small han blender and just blended up vegggies and pasta and rice etc. My child is the best eater out of all her friends now - he will try anything. Also dont go out and buy expensive toys. Save that for when they are old enough to appreciate them - a baby wont know the difference. A handpuppet made from a sock will make them laugh more than an expensive shop bought toy.

    I was also on statutory pay as hadnt been with my employer long enough. I didnt have enough money to pay all the bills so I rang round everyone and explained. Most companies were really helpful and let me arrange a payment plan so when I got my benefits I could call and pay a little each week. Its easier to budget that way. I guess you have applied for your child benefit and tax credits ?
    All the best.
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