The 'Save 12k in 2013' Thread!

Lomcevak

lippy1923 wrote: »

Just read your post and wondered if you have any idea how much you have spent on your new baby so far. My first little bean is due around xmas and I have no idea how much a baby typically costs, once it arrives.

Any tips or words or wisdom you can pass on?

Congratulations

You can spend a huge amount if you get everything new at mothercare, but we ended up spending very little on our three when they were tiny, almost everything came as hand-me-downs from friends, family, colleagues, freecycle etc. - they grow so quickly that everyone with kids ends up with cupboards and sheds full of outgrown clothes and no longer needed pushchairs and car seats, and are often delighted to get rid of it, no sooner had we got the word out that we were expecting than the offers came in. Keep the network intact and you can pass it all on again too once you're done with it

Only real expenses that I remember were formula milk once they stopped breastfeeding, nappies, and the occasional odds'n'ends that we couldn't get as a hand-me-down or needed in a hurry; I remember formula as being quite expensive, but can't remember quite how much - i'd guess we probably spent £100-150 a month tops. We made our own baby food once they moved on to solids (very easy) and by the time they are getting on for two they can eat what you eat for the most part.

All in all they're pretty cheap until they get to school - they're teenagers now, and cost an absolute fortune :mad::D

lippy1923

Lomcevak wrote: »

Congratulations

You can spend a huge amount if you get everything new at mothercare, but we ended up spending very little on our three when they were tiny, almost everything came as hand-me-downs from friends, family, colleagues, freecycle etc. - they grow so quickly that everyone with kids ends up with cupboards and sheds full of outgrown clothes and no longer needed pushchairs and car seats, and are often delighted to get rid of it, no sooner had we got the word out that we were expecting than the offers came in. Keep the network intact and you can pass it all on again too once you're done with it

Only real expenses that I remember were formula milk once they stopped breastfeeding, nappies, and the occasional odds'n'ends that we couldn't get as a hand-me-down or needed in a hurry; I remember formula as being quite expensive, but can't remember quite how much - i'd guess we probably spent £100-150 a month tops. We made our own baby food once they moved on to solids (very easy) and by the time they are getting on for two they can eat what you eat for the most part.

All in all they're pretty cheap until they get to school - they're teenagers now, and cost an absolute fortune :mad::D

Thanks very much

I think we are getting most of the basic hand-me-downs from family, like pushchair, car seat, moses basket etc. I don't mind buying extra odds'n'ends now in preperation, while I still have my regular wages, it's just the rest of the bits you need to buy once bean arrives as you suggested formular, nappies etc.

Just trying to factor in a good estimated monthly spend when I start getting mat pay. £100-£150 per month sounds doable. Hopefully we find out the gender next week so can start to stock up on nappies and other suitable things. Might take a bit of pressure off the finances when the time comes.

Going to start selling stuff online soon. I have an account on ebay which I have never used. Need to figure out how it all works with paypal, posting ads etc but once I start I think it will really help with the savings. Having read how well lots of people on here do with ebaying it's inspired me to try

bod199990

lippy1923 wrote: »

Just read your post and wondered if you have any idea how much you have spent on your new baby so far. My first little bean is due around xmas and I have no idea how much a baby typically costs, once it arrives.

Any tips or words or wisdom you can pass on?

Hi,

Congratulations I agree with the other posts buying certain things second hand, we stocked up while my wife was pregnant buying nappies wipes ect there no need to buy the best brand as asdas little angels are just as good also Tesco own brand fine 2 and save a bit of money, we seen to be spending more money now on going on days out, as they don't stay little for long we try to make the most of our time off now which is great.

my advise would be to enjoy your new baby and remember they don't need everything.

good luck

SusanneCape

Hallo all,

Oh dear, had such a blow-out month in July. Went to Germany 4 times to see my brand-new twin grandchildren and decided to contribute towards their very expensive pram (€1700), opened a bank account for each and bought them loads of clothes. I don't feel bad though (at least that is what I keep telling myself!). End of August will be my "overpaying the mortgage" month so I don't anticipate adding much to savings then, but I will try and stay on track.

My second DD has also just told me that she is expecting. I'll have to use my savings at some stage to buy a people carrier !

Keep saving everyone,

slowlyfading

Susanne - aww, baby twins! I bet they're gorgeous and congrats to other DD too, you're going to be busy!

girlatplay

Congratulations Suzanne on the baby twins and on the news of the new little one on the way Glad all is good.

Twiggy_34

lippy1923 wrote: »

Going to start selling stuff online soon. I have an account on ebay which I have never used. Need to figure out how it all works with paypal, posting ads etc but once I start I think it will really help with the savings. Having read how well lots of people on here do with ebaying it's inspired me to try

Hi ya lippy, are you a facebooker? If so, have a look and see if there are any local 'Buy, sell or swap' groups. They're great for selling locally without the hassle of postage and ebay and paypal fees. They can also be great for picking up baby & toddler items locally as well.

I've no updates for this month unfortunately. I've just broken even after an expensive couple of months and am glad to have made up the shortfall already.

On the bright side though, I posted a while ago if anyone had ever tried getting a better ISA rate from their bank by asking or threatening to take the money elsewhere, I finally got around to ringing my bank to enquire and got a higher rate for 12 months. Not as high as I could get if I swapped to a new back but 1.2% higher than the measly amount I had been getting, and I was willing to sacrifice some interest by having the convenience of sticking with the same bank as my current account/mortgage etc. Definitely worth making a call to your banks if anyone else is in a similar position regarding an old ISA.

nat21luv

£300 added into my reg saver

Had a call from my sister who is planning to cancel her trip to America as my brother no longer want to see her. That means I either cancel my trip to San Fran or rebook elsewhere..... I have anther place in mind I would really really love to visit and I've been thinking about it for a few years...just need to talk it over with the sis before booking anything as she will meet me there. It'll cost me £400 extra to change the flights but I suppose that is evened out by how cheap it will be compared to America. I planned to take £500 spending money for a week but probably won't even need £200 for 10 days where I'm thinking I didn't book the SF hotel, something kept stopping me so I'm glad about that, it would of cost around £300 each so our hotel will be around £150 each now. Feeling much more positive about this new holiday, much more relaxing

Currently have a few unexpected days off as my students went home early after banging her head. She's fine but laid it on really thick and booked her own flights home. A little gutted as I lost £200 but happy as it means I can sort the house out. The kids room has been gutted as has my room, 8 bags of junk ready for the car boot Sunday

Lomcevak

Another £590 in to the ISA this morning, so up to £1248 for the month - not much to do now until waiting for the regular saver to go out at the end of the month. Also looking through statements I found an extra £140 that i'd paid in and forgotten about in June, so a small boost there too

Now need to average £1500 a month until the end of the year to make the challenge, tight, but should just about be possible

joycemh_tan

Saved some the last few months - just realised I forgot to include my share of the joint savings for the year so far of £5,000 so I'm closer to my target.

Thanks slowlyfading for all your efforts