Teenage Mum first time out in the big world

bluebag

motherbear1 wrote: »

thank you all for the replies, didn't think anyone would reply.
My mother and me aren't talking, she didn't approve of my pregnancy and kicked me out, so I have been in a homeless shelter for the last 5 months, her and dad are divorced, he s helping me move and is also my guarantor. I hope we will mend things soon, just a bit anxious at the moment, I will report back on how I get on.
I am going to try and make a meal plan :-/
where to begin.....

Take a big deep breath, you are getting your feet on the ground now and you can do this.

You can make a nice home for you and your babe. Running a home takes a bit of organisation and discipline and being a mother needs love and commitment. Lots of women do it and you have been very smart in asking for advice.

Try lots of suggestions, you will soon find what does and does not work for you.

There is no guarantee your Mum will come round, she might and I hope for you and your little one she does, but you are an adult responsible for your own home now. You can make that a success on your own if you have to.

Kind wishes to you and your little one.

stefejb

Don't really have anything to add to the wonderful advice here but just wanted to give you a big cyber hug. My own dd is a young mumshe had her baby at 15 and moved into first a hostel and then a flat at 16. What she missed most was the self treats so I would often get her small things like a nice bubble bath that she would have felt guilty about buying for herself. So yeah hint to grandad

Hope you an your mum do make up if thats safe for you and baby. Dgs is 9 now and an utter credit to his mum

DigForVictory

You've come to the right place online!

Offline, I strongly recommend the library - it's warm, it'll lend you books & DVDs & CDs (although you may pay a small amount for a week's rental & the Very Latest Films won't be there.) Sign up your baby as well! (Children's library tickets do not get overdue fines, ahem.) That said, the plumbing doesn't always meet hopes - they don't all have nappy change facilities (some don't have loos for the public!) but the staff are knowledgable & there are parent & baby sessions.

"A girl called Jack" website has some stunning recipes for pennies but they may be a bit fiddly. Worth a read to get ideas & since you are cooking for yourself, if things are a bit brown in places it's only you who'll know!

All the very best & I do hope your mum realises what she's missing out on soon. I so glad your dad is on side - you can show off your cooking to him too!

sunset_gold

Hello and welcome

Many good tips already on here, just one I can add, Barnardo have just opened a charity shop in my town where everything is 99p, it's all stuff that has been in their other shops that hasn't sold, so reduced down. This particular store is quite big, on a business park and the lady in there told me today that they are only allowed to sell items at 99p. There were loads of clothes all sorted out into mens/womens/childrens/babies and everything on hangers with the right size tag on them. I got a quilt cover, two tops a skirt and a pair or Per Una black jeans for £4.95. This may help with the baby's clothes and something for you too.
Good Luck, come back and let us all know how you are getting on, plenty of support here and I am sure, given time, your family will see what a good job you are doing. SG

gayle1

hugs ull get there ure mum will realise what shes missing out on maybe shes just being cruel to be kind .
Be the bigger person once ure sorted invite her round for lunch nothing fancy a sandwich and a cuppa just show her that u can do this sweetie ull be fine honest x

meritaten

hi and welcome!

I think most of its been covered above! I would suggest you get a penny jar and a silver jar. the silver jar will mount up fast - I only save 20ps 10ps and 5ps and counting this up this morning, I have the grand total of 73. 20p! this may not seem a huge amount to some people - but, if I had left the money in my purse it would have got spent somehow! and it would nearly buy me a kindle or a tablet wouldn't it? oh and the penny jar yielded £23.46! a good amount of the both jars came from change dropped in the street which I am not to proud to pick up!

Steve059

Hello. Welcome to the madhouse. If you need any simple recipes for things, let me know.

gayle1

ure biggest challange is those heaters and ure leccy bill wrapup warm plenty of layers on u and ure little 1 make draught excluders for the bottom of ure doors put towels alonng ure window bases to stop draughts tinfoil behind radiators to deflect heat.i would say keep 15 buy for each dont put the full 15 in put 10 in on the mon then on the fri put the other 5 on so it does u over the weekend.
washing machine?
tumble?
cooker?
see ure hv ask about a sleepwelleatwell fund

kezlou

hi welcome to the forum!

I had my first child at 17, he's now 13 yrs and i wouldn't change him for anything. I also went to college at the same time so i know how hard and tired you are right now!

Just have to say your doing really well, lots of people have giving you lots of great advice regarding bills etc.
Do come on here and we will help you meal plan.

Make sure you get milk tokens, if your breastfeeding you can use these to buy milk and fruit and veg for yourself.

One thing i would advise you do is get yourself down to the sure start centre and go along to parent and toddler groups. I didn't at first and i became extremely isolated and thats the worst possible you can do.
Get yourself to the parent and toddlers and socialise honestly it will make a world of difference. There's tons to do out there and most of them are dirt cheap to attend and sure start classes / groups are 99% free.

Also don't buy tons for the baby, you honestly don't need to.
As your baby begins to wean, feed the baby the same food as you. We did this and now my children eat a variety of food.

good luck hunni

ButterflyKisses

I know it is daunting being responsible for your own home, but it is amazing how quickly you will pick things up!

I just wanted to add to the excellent advice you have already received, if you are on keys for gas/electric then make sure you have enough to last you over the xmas period in case there is nowhere open you can top up. My sister got caught out this way a few years ago. You should get a rough sense of how much you are using by then.

When my partner and I moved in together (5 years ago), we furnished our entire house using things we were given second hand. You would be surprised what people have lurking in attics and garages that is too good to throw out but taking up space. I know you said your new home is furnished already but if you are missing bits it is always worth keeping an ear out for things that need a new home. They can always be upgraded later on when you get more settled.

Good luck!