Struggling, family. Updated with SOA

AlexLK

Both of them need to be looking towards a job and career. For the meantime, do either yourself or you husband (can appreciate you need a couple of months off) do anything in your spare time? (That could earn a second income, e.g. I do music teaching).

Ladyluck1

My experience is that a baby doesn't cost much first off, and in all honesty our toddler doesn't cost much to feed still at nearly 3! Electric
and heating stays the same, water will increase a little.
So yes our expenses will go up but we are also cutting back, leaving more to pay the debts.

I could in theory get an evening job but this won't be until baby is over 6 months old as I'm planning on breast feeding. I dot know though how this would effect our tax credits and if we would really be much better off...
My husband has no qualifications so is really lucky to have a full time job on the wage he is and not minimum wage!

snookey

Hi how about training as a child minder . My cousin does this and she takes her child with her to the trainer.

HappyMJ

Ladyluck1 wrote: »

My experience is that a baby doesn't cost much first off, and in all honesty our toddler doesn't cost much to feed still at nearly 3! Electric
and heating stays the same, water will increase a little.
So yes our expenses will go up but we are also cutting back, leaving more to pay the debts.

I could in theory get an evening job but this won't be until baby is over 6 months old as I'm planning on breast feeding. I dot know though how this would effect our tax credits and if we would really be much better off...
My husband has no qualifications so is really lucky to have a full time job on the wage he is and not minimum wage!

So where is the baby going to sleep for 3 years? In your bed? Aren't you going to do the babies room up? That costs money...Nappies? Don't know about you but babies do cost quite a bit.....without your family supporting you and if they can why don't you ask them for some money to meet your budget shortfall now..

Ladyluck1

HappyMJ wrote: »

So where is the baby going to sleep for 3 years? In your bed? Aren't you going to do the babies room up? That costs money...Nappies? Don't know about you but babies do cost quite a bit.....without your family supporting you and if they can why don't you ask them for some money to meet your budget shortfall now..

I would agree that FIRST babies can cost quite bit, though they only really need somewhere to sleep, clothes, feeding and love.
Luckily we have kept everything from my son so we have a crib and cot. New mattress was purchased for us.
We bought mostly white clothes last time too and have nearly everything we need.
Apart from nappies I see no real change in our outgoings especially as the toddler is potty training so the cost of his nappies/pull ups will be 'almost' replaced with the cost of babies nappies.
Baby will sleep with us for the first year as we are in a 2 bed and our son is in the other bedroom.

Unfortunately my parents don't have the money to lend us, they aren't in the same financial situation as us but generally don't have much left each month... They do help us out in small ways though like buying some things we need or our son WANTS and we can't afford.

Ladyluck1

snookey wrote: »

Hi how about training as a child minder . My cousin does this and she takes her child with her to the trainer.

Something I shall for sure look into! Thanks

beanielou

Any chance of getting a housing association/local authority house to reduce your housing costs?

Childminding would be a good option for you.
Good idea to look into it

Keep going

snookey

Babies cost only as much as you have to spend. If you are sensible you can get most stuff for a pittance. There are car boot sales,ebay,freecycle friends whose children have outgrown stuff and failing that the local church always know of organisations who can help.
Maybe you could organise a get together with other mums in your area and do a clothes,toys swop.
Have you thought of growing your own food. My dad used to grow fruit and veg it really helped feed us five kids.

Ladyluck1

beanielou wrote: »

Any chance of getting a housing association/local authority house to reduce your housing costs?

Childminding would be a good option for you.
Good idea to look into it

Keep going

We are on the 'list' so to speak but are in a low band as we aren't priority.... There are very little housing association/council houses here and it's a real problem tbh.

Snooky - that is very true and I am trying to be really frugal with buying baby bits

I'm tying to change my outlook from being very material based (was very bad before having children!) to being more about the simple things.
I think OS is the way forward for me.
Thank you for all your replies!