Maternity pay survival tips!

sunshine6650

Hello,

I follow this forum all the time..take away many money saving tips!!

What's everyone's best maternity -maternity pay tips!
Especially when on stat pay or even nill pay.

I already find it hard not to go places & spend money! How can I stop?
I've been mass buying staple bits for the kitchen as well..

Any tips?

got-it-spend-it

Not sure how long you have to go, but if you plan to use disposable nappies it's worth buying a pack a week while you are still on full pay so you don't have to buy them once you are on SMP. I did this with my first, and combined with all the freebies and glitches we had too, I didn't think I bought nappies until I went back to work.

double_mummy

baby doesnt need all these gadgets and brand new clothes - if anything like mine they will get one or two wears out of anything that isnt a babygro or sleep suit

breastfeed - absolutely free

buy muslin cloths lots of them! use them for cleaning the house putting over clothes when burping so clothes dont get sickie put them under baby when changing so baby doesnt get cold there uses are endless

use freecyle to get as much as you can

spend the couple of quid a week to go to some mum and baby groups getting out and about is really good for you

have a second purse with you (baby bag is a good place) and every time you would have spent the money then put it in there once you have say £100 use half for a treat for yourself and then the other half back into the household

remember to rotate clothing every time baby moves up a size sell the old ones and get the next size up whether buying or freecycle etc

go to your local sure start center lots of free activities a chance to have a cuppa with other mums and dads and always someone on hand to help you with any questions you have

buy stocks in sudocrem!!!! it is so useful

make sure as well as store cupboard stuff fill the freezer and kit yourself out with clothes and anything else you may need - lots of nice trackies for the first couple of weeks and then sell on afterwards

anything that is sat at the back of the cupboard sell it anything you havent used in over 6 months (except your OH) sell it list a couple of things on ebay every day and use the post office as a good excuse to get out

can you do any crafty bits that you could make and sell? coming up to xmas - cards, personalised santa sacks, homemade gifts etc

but mostly and above all enjoy your baby and take lots of photos i have well over a thousand of my daughters first 6 months but i still wish i had taken more

lushlifesaver

got-it-spend-it wrote: »

Not sure how long you have to go, but if you plan to use disposable nappies it's worth buying a pack a week while you are still on full pay so you don't have to buy them once you are on SMP. I did this with my first, and combined with all the freebies and glitches we had too, I didn't think I bought nappies until I went back to work.

Thanks for this one - definitely one to think about in the future!

nich29580

Totally agree with got it- spend it

i have 3 kids and have done this everytime, incorporated them into my weekly shop, saves a fortune, wipes too.....

i would aslo recommend signing up wo various baby clubs huggies, pampers, cow and gate....they will always be good at sending out money of coupons and sample products

hope this helps
xoxo

lucystardust

If you find it difficult to not spend money, identify your weak places and avoid them. For example for me it's spending too much in Boots, grabbing more toiletries to add to my already quite big stash just because something is slightly discounted!

Also if you find it hard not to spend on the little luxuries which maybe you used to buy the past, force yourself to think 'do I really NEED this, or do I just WANT it? Is it really worth using up this much of my budget on this' to separate out essential purchases from impulse buys.

Another thing I find useful to know what % of your weekly spending money £1, £5 and £10 is. Spending £3 on 'a little something' often doesn't sound like loads but when you visualise it as a percentage it can be more off putting!