Starting from the Start

StarMummy_2

Hi,

I've been lurking for a while and enjoyed all the fabulous tips so hi and thank you for everything I have learned so far.

A little background story from me. I'm 25 and mummy to a gorgeous 4 year old daughter. I split from her father 2 1/2 years ago and have since lived back with my parents. 2 1/2 years of making "contributions" to the house and doing a grocery shop here and there means i've been terrible with money, holidays when I feel like, eating out most weeks, wardrobes full of shoes and clothes etc.In a word SPOILT! My daughter is due to start school next year and it's time mummy grew up and we had a home of our own. I have a good job which i'm currently futhering my studies for so for a single mum I do ok money wise. (although working 60 hours a week and juggling a home life is pants)

what i'm really asking is any advice on starting at the bottom. We plan to move before Christmas so i'll be paying (proper) rent Council tax, electric etc for the first time in years, having to stick to a budget with groceries, starting a home with little more than a single bed, a coffee table and a few kitchen bits i've put away in my bottom drawer.

Whatever advice you guys have re, bills, budgeting, etc will be very graciously recieved

(p.s hope this is in the right place)

fiftyeighter_2

What a wise and sensible young mummy you are. You are obviously starting on the right road. Wish I had been as sensible at your age.
I just think reading these threads and getting help and support from all the lovely peeps on here will set you in good stead.
Good luck. I,ll follow your thread to see how your new steps take you.
I,m sure there will be lots of people on here soon to give you lots of good advice.

Eyeore

well done on thinking ahead, my advice would be to do the budget planner on here as a starting point, even if you have to estimate c. tax etc, it is quite an eye opener but in a good way!

meal planning, a slower cooker and a freezer will be your best friends! oh and what I do when tightening our belts is keep a separate purse with the shopping money in for the week, this way I am not tempted to overspend with the debit card

Good luck!

RAS

Join www.freegle.co.uk and check out freecycle if either operate in your area.

Take whatever you can get in the line of furniture, linens, kitchen goods, rugs, basic tools before you move in.

You can also re-gift them if you find you do not need them or can afford to buy new later on.

StarMummy_2

Thank you all
the whole process is a little daunting, My parents have been a huge support with everything my ex put us through so moving away from that is going to be scary enough without being a responsible independant adult financially ha ha

I've scoured council websites etc for ideas on Council tax and utilities and have discovered i should get 'single person' discount of 25% on the CT which will be great. also turning 25 tin the summer makes a massive difference on my car insurance renewal thats just come in.

My main issue is showering the mini me with gifts and days out to make up for the 'broken home' and me seeming to be always at work so any tips for days out with kids that don't cost a bomb will be great. (I am in Bury st Edmunds, Suffolk BTW)

-taff

You have a car so you can drive to local walking spots, and just go for short walks. Take a picnic with you....
In the winter, you can take a camping stove and make bacon sarnies etc.

lynsayjane

Welcome!
With regards the spoiling the wee one, my parents divorced when I was her age and firstly I'd say I don't remember anything about it so dont' feel you have to 'make up' for it. Just give her all your love and care for her as best you can. We didn't have much money (mum had two of us while working part time and putting herself through university) and the things I remember are days out to the beach/parks etc take a packed lunch and have a picnic. It's cheap but fun.

With furnishing the new house I'd say to make a priority list (just done the same when upgrading my house) and look at the NEEDS and WANTS. There are some things that will be essential, beds, sofa, kitchenware etc and some that are 'when I have the spare money' which I put things like tvs, pretty accessories etc under. Once all the needs are satisfied then think about the wants.

Best of luck and let us know how you get on
LJ
x

maman

What a lovely post.:)

I'd say have a chat with your mum. I'm sure she'll want to help you all she can and I'm sure all the mums of grown up DDs will agree with me. I'm not talking about financially but with any advice, favourite family recipes or bits of house stuff that she doesn't need any more.

RAS

-taff wrote: »

You have a car so you can drive to local walking spots, and just go for short walks. Take a picnic with you....
In the winter, you can take a camping stove and make bacon sarnies etc.

or a thermos full of HM soup (bulk cook and freeze) with rolls/chunks fo bread

or use the thermos for hotdogs and take rolls and suace with you.

frisbee? Kite? £1 "badminton" set.

Or one of those little beach shelters as a snuggling place with a sleeping bag or fleecy wraps?

StarMummy_2

maman wrote: »

What a lovely post.:)

I'd say have a chat with your mum. I'm sure she'll want to help you all she can and I'm sure all the mums of grown up DDs will agree with me. I'm not talking about financially but with any advice, favourite family recipes or bits of house stuff that she doesn't need any more.

my parents would honestly give me their last penny i am extremely luck that way....the cooking bit is my baby and i spent the last 2 1/2 years teaching her how to cook :rotfl:

I am overwhelmed by the responses I have got you are all so kind. I was really worried I'd come across as a spoilt out of touch princess type. which isnt the case, My ex left me totally broke, took the car and left me homeless so i've worked my way up to get myself back on the road, pay off debts and concentrate on my studies to boost our future. it's been a tough journey but I am aware that I don't want to push my luck with my parents hospitality

Willowpop

If you want to treat your daughter with not much cash, then I can thoroughly recommend 'treasure hunting' at local charity shops. Myself and my daughter go to ours quite a lot and she loves it..we never know what we will find, sometimes not a lot and other times she spots treasures..books, games, little ornaments, a new purse, clothes - all in really good condition.
For example, she had been asking for Downfall the game for ages, and I just didn't have the money so it went on the list of things for xmas, and then we saw it in the charity shop for £2, and it was brand new - the little counters hadn't even been snapped off the plastic things that holds the counters together.
Yesterday we dropped some stuff off and she found 2 beautiful jumpers for a couple of quid each.
Otherwise, walks in the park, collecting pinecones and making them into little animals with a few bits of felt and a pipecleaner or 2, painting with leaves etc etc are all just as much fun-and pretty much free- as expensive treats.