Single Mum on maternity leave from uni - what would I be entitiled to?

StormyWeather_2

ABetterLife wrote: »

I don't mind using second hand at all. Most of her drawer is full of second hand stuff. I've bought her a lot of clothes too, just because it's nice to have some new stuff and some stuff are really nice but a lot of it is second hand

I don't really need anything else now, just a proper breast pump but the darn things keep going up on eBay because of all the other people bidding.

Contact your phone provider and ask for a cheaper contract. Explain your change of circumstances. It can't hurt to ask.

For baby clothes, I bought some 2nd hand bundles off ebay. We got decent quality for very cheap. Research the seller well. Look at the positive feedback % and read the comments. You want the ones that the buyers gush over their purchase, not the ones that have luke warm comments.

ABetterLife

aimeemum wrote: »

The hospital should have a hire service. I think my friend paid £2 a week for hers. Not sure what type/model. Midwife/HV should definitely be your port of call there.

You do right with going 2nd hand with most things.....I've got 3, and the 2nd hand stuff I bought for DS1 is now cladding DS2 and DS3 quite well, and still has life in it!!! only things I don't do used are shoes, socks and pants lol.

That's not too bad, I'll speak to the MW.

Yep, I've got some really cool stuff second hand! Sometimes free (oh Freecycle, I you). My Stepmum gave me £200 for my buggy so I have a travel system with a car seat, carrycot, toddler conversion and raincover I have three different carriers, a lovely stretchy wrap free from Freecycle and in good condition, and two other types of carrier from eBay which I won at a good price! I bought my changing bag from eBay and got given two different types of baby gyms from friends/freecycle. I also got a vibrating bouncer from Freecycle. I've got enough clothes for now, a lot of them free or from charity shops. Planning to use cloth nappies, and have loads free from Freecycle, plus a £54 voucher to buy some brand new as part of a reusable nappy scheme my council runs. I'm doing okay!

Not worried about her costing me much extra except from childcare. I'm dreading the cost of childcare to be honest

ABetterLife

StormyWeather wrote: »

Contact your phone provider and ask for a cheaper contract. Explain your change of circumstances. It can't hurt to ask.

For baby clothes, I bought some 2nd hand bundles off ebay. We got decent quality for very cheap. Research the seller well. Look at the positive feedback % and read the comments. You want the ones that the buyers gush over their purchase, not the ones that have luke warm comments.

Already tried, they told me no. They even tried to refuse allowing me to pay my phone bill ten days later (because my bursary doesn't come in until then) but relented when I asked to make a complaint. Tmobile won't extend my payment date further and have cut me off, but it's just data so I'm not bothered for now.

Yeah, I'm not adverse to that. I've got enough clothes for now though.

StormyWeather_2

ABetterLife wrote: »

Planning to use cloth nappies, and have loads free from Freecycle, plus a £54 voucher to buy some brand new as part of a reusable nappy scheme my council runs. I'm doing okay!

Not worried about her costing me much extra except from childcare. I'm dreading the cost of childcare to be honest

New babies don't cost that much. The cost increases as they get bigger.

Are you entitled to any help with child care costs as a student? There's a grant available for single parents.

Do you have space to deal with cloth nappies? You need a nappy bucket to do the first soak.

ABetterLife

StormyWeather wrote: »

New babies don't cost that much. The cost increases as they get bigger.

Are you entitled to any help with child care costs as a student? There's a grant available for single parents.

Do you have space to deal with cloth nappies? You need a nappy bucket to do the first soak.

Yeah, I agree with that!

Yeah, NHS should fund it when I go back but they don't fund all of it so I still need to find the money for some of it. Also, the problem is is, when I'm on placement how am I going to organise child care? It wouldn't be compatible with a nursery, as I often get up at 5am for placement and don't get home until about 9/10. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it though.

bloolagoon

ABetterLife wrote: »

Yeah, I agree with that!

Yeah, NHS should fund it when I go back but they don't fund all of it so I still need to find the money for some of it. Also, the problem is is, when I'm on placement how am I going to organise child care? It wouldn't be compatible with a nursery, as I often get up at 5am for placement and don't get home until about 9/10. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it though.

Many student nurses do - take each month as it comes

ABetterLife

bloolagoon wrote: »

Many student nurses do - take each month as it comes

Yeah. I wonder if we're better or worse off than other students. Less debt, yes but I wonder if our monthly income is less, especially as we can't work as much.

bloolagoon

ABetterLife wrote: »

Yeah. I wonder if we're better or worse off than other students. Less debt, yes but I wonder if our monthly income is less, especially as we can't work as much.

Bursary wise yes, hours no

I've often took student colleagues children for shifts (same age as mine were) they did the same for me.

Without that and a husband working mainly office hours I'd struggle.

ABetterLife

bloolagoon wrote: »

Bursary wise yes, hours no

I've often took student colleagues children for shifts (same age as mine were) they did the same for me.

Without that and a husband working mainly office hours I'd struggle.

Normal students get more maintenance loan than us though, I'm not sure how much. I always got the impression they're better off. I think it's also because a lot of student nurses and midwives are older and have a lot of responsibilities.

That's a really good idea!

bloolagoon

ABetterLife wrote: »

Normal students get more maintenance loan than us though, I'm not sure how much. I always got the impression they're better off. I think it's also because a lot of student nurses and midwives are older and have a lot of responsibilities.

That's a really good idea!

Mine was 12 years ago but I still remember how hard childcare was and pick up friends for the evening especially as I'm now part time.