Pregnany money saving mission!!

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE

Hi everyone :wave:

This is my very first post!!

I found out I was pregnant last year!! My baby is due in July of this year. It is a very exciting time for me and my husband.

I recently decided that once baby is born I will take a break from work for about 5 years :T (cant wait!!) but that of course means that I will only have one income (my darling husbands).

So it is now my mission to save as much as I can before baby is born, I also need to change the way we spend our money so that when the little one arrives we will already be used to living on a reduced income.

First thing I have done is join as many baby clubs as I can (see post below)

Please feel free to give me your advice and tips I would very much appreciate it!!

Here are a few bits of advice I have picked up-

Budget (start now!!)
Draw up a budget, keeping your receipts so you know how much you’re spending. Go through your bank statements and see if there are any direct debits you can cancel. Since I found out about my pregnancy each month we try and cut down more and more on luxury items (that really we dont need) so by the time baby is here we will be used to living on a reduced income.
I am also alot more aware of how much we used to waste on food items in tesco, It amazing how much you can save by home-cooking!!

Vouchers and money-off coupons
Many companies now have mother-and-baby clubs and will send you money-off vouchers if you join. Also other companies will often off money-off coupons to try to persuade you to try their wares. Keep your eyes peeled for vouchers: you may feel that the values are low, but redeem two or three vouchers everytime you shop and you will notice the difference.

Nappy offers
Look out for 'three for two' offers on nappies in the supermarkets and extra Boots advantage points on nappies. These usually require bulk purchases but it's worth it in the end. Don't forget to use your Huggies and Pampers coupons. You save lots this way!!

Essentials?
If you’re on a budget, and who isn’t, avoid being tempted by impossibly cute but unnecessary baby kit such as expensive designer buggies, baby bedroom furniture (they’ll grow out of it), baby changing tables (a changing mat can go on any sturdy flat surface) lots of baby toys (your face and voice, and, from about four weeks, a simple mobile over their changing mat is more than enough to keep a tiny baby entertained).

Save if you can!!
If you’re trying for a baby or are newly pregnant, save some money each month until you start maternity leave, to pay off credit, or help boost your maternity pay. I have a 2p jar and a pound coin jar Its amazing how it adds up!!

Claim all your benefits
Every paren’t is entitled to Child Benefit, so make sure you claim yours as soon as your baby is born. It’s worth £17.45 a week for your first child and £11.70 for other children. Also, check to see if you’re entitled to claim Child Tax Credit or Working Families Tax Credit. Nine out of ten families can claim these credits so don’t miss out. Me and my husband have decided that the extra child benefit will go on nappies , so it will be a great help!!

Invest for your child’s future
By claiming Child Benefit, you’ll be sent a voucher for £250 (£500 for low income families) to be invested for your child in their own Child Trust Fund. Anyone can contribute to the fund on their behalf, so it’s a good way for family and friends to buy a present for your child without cluttering up the house with yet another stuffed bear. There are many providers of Child Trust Funds out there, so have a look at at guide for information on where to invest.

Justie

go onto the Old Style board and look at all the cleaning and cooking money saving ideas.

register with your local Freecycle group - there are loads of baby things on offer.

jo_b_2

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE wrote: »

This is my very first post!!

I found out I was pregnant last year!! My baby is due in July of this year. It is a very exciting time for me and my husband.

Please feel free to give me your advice and tips I would very much appreciate it!!

Hi and welcome to the site.

I'm also expecting a baby in July (second child) and am also trying to budget and save for the loss in income!

Take a look at Martin's article on Nappy Moneysaving as they will be a regular expenditure once baby arrives.

There is also a pregnancy support thread over on the Families Moneysaving board where you would be made very welcome.

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE

Thanks guys I will definately check out the other boards!!

These are the clubs I have joined so far -

https://www.boots.com (mother and baby club) by far the best club I have joined so far!! free make-up ,huggies change bag, free single use camera and various other money saving vouchers and coupons!!

https://www.tesco.com (mother and baby club) free magazines ,vouchers and coupons!!

https://www.bounty.com various pregnancy packs given at different stages of pregnancy

https://www.pampers.com free book of money-off-coupons

https://www.cownandgate.co.uk book of coupons

https://www.hipp.co.uk free vouchers and weaning products sent out at various stages of pregnancy and after birth

https://www.emmasdiary.co.uk pack of small samples

https://www.mumplusone.com website which you can dowload shopping vouchers

https://www.tinytums.com/littlefeedingguide/start.asp small guide on breastfeeding and bottle feeding


I have joined a few more aswell but am waiting to recieve items so I will update this post as and when I recieve them!!

Waiting for

https://www.more4baby.co.uk/Member%20Benefits.aspx part of the bounty website you have to be more than 6 months pregnant for coupons and special offers

https://www.nct.org.uk/bumps/ free magazine on all aspects of pregnancy

https://www.huggiesclub.com/uk/ for money off vouchers

https://www.spiritofnature.co.uk type samples in the request bar and order your free nappy samples

https://www.smanutrition.co.uk/MumsNetwork/mumspack.asp baby planner

https://www.bookstart.co.uk/Parents-and-carers/Packs This should be given to you by your health visitor if you dont recieve the pack then the site tells you other ways to get one

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE

Justie wrote: »

go onto the Old Style board and look at all the cleaning and cooking money saving ideas.

register with your local Freecycle group - there are loads of baby things on offer.

I have joined freecycle and I am very impressed with it!! It is so nice to see the whole local community joining together and passing on their unwanted goods.
Also thanks for the cooking and cleaning tips!! I will definately go check them out
xxx

dianna8106

salam sis
i am also due in june (i hope lol)
welcome to the forum

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE

dianna8106 wrote: »

salam sis
i am also due in june (i hope lol)
welcome to the forum

W/Salam sister
June!! mashallah. Inshallah all will go fine. Im so excited I just wish the baby was here!! everyday seems to go on forever.
Take care
xxx

asea

i'm broody now

emma_b_4

hi im preg and due sept, im a student nurse and taking a year out. we are on low income so also need MS ideas!
congratulations on you pregnancy!

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE

emma_b wrote: »

hi im preg and due sept, im a student nurse and taking a year out. we are on low income so also need MS ideas!
congratulations on you pregnancy!

:j congrats emma!! Im really happy for you!! As a starter you should join up for all the clubs!! I am also going to the baby show to see if I can pick up any bargains xxx

Bollards

Hello and congratulations!
I'm also pregnant and due at the beginning of August. This will be my second baby and my biggest piece of advice would be to ask advice from others before making big purchases. There are a number of things that we bought which either lasted no time at all, or just weren't useful. I'm really going into it with my eyes open this time!

I'll give you an example:
We had loads of newborn clothes which lasted approximately a week, and DS didn't even get to wear some of them. It is also quite difficult to dress a small baby and I think that this time it will be living in (2nd hand from my DS) vests and babygrows. Thankfully most of them are unisex colour. I really don't think I am going to bother getting it any proper clothes until at least 3, if not 6 months. You will probably get some as presents anyway. Also as you are having a summer baby it won't need loads of clothes otherwise it will get too hot.

If you can, try to use reusable nappies. They do take a bit of work, but I have found them economical and reliable. I will be using the same ones as I had for DS. You can often get them second hand (I know it sounds horrible, but people who use reusables tend to look after them very well) and if you buy new then there is always the chance for you to sell them on afterwards. There are loads of sites which will help you through the real nappy maze, one of them is the nappy lady (google it!)

Can't think of anything else to say for now, but good luck with your pregnancy!