A Frugal Maternity Leave

Laura2014

Hi Crunchy, please don't worry too much about the tips. You definitely have your hands full with two little ones and I would hate for it to become a burden on you. Xx

I do have a diary but not sure how to do a link. It's called sorting our lives out, getting organised and family adventures.

We are following you with the strict food shopping regime. Just done a big food shop - I'm going to make it last and use everything. Nothing will be wasted. The amount im spending on food is ridiculous xx

crunch_time

Morning diary!!

I've been so caught up with ds's birthday stuff this week and the celebrations still haven't finished! Got a family meal this weekend.

It's been a nice quiet week on the spending front and I have managed to keep ynab up to date!! Had a couple of nsds too and there is still petrol in the tank. I think having cash is making me far more accountable and I'm pacing myself more. We have about £10 left for the weekend which is plenty me thinks. Anything left over will go into the jug in the cupboard just in case and then another £50 will come out of an envelope for next week. It's nice not having a full fridge - I can see what I have to use up!

In other news husband decided he really wanted a windows watch and that he could t wait three weeks until pay day to buy so without even discussing it has bought one for £160. Currently sitting on his credit card. So frustrated. I definitely feel one step forward and two back!! At least it appears in finally getting the food budget under control.

I absolutely don't mind uploading the tips!! I went to do some yeaterday as I was stranded in the sofa with both kids asleep on me. I went to press post and my session timed out. Very annoying!!

Just need to buy some lunchy bits today. And will try with some tips tonight!!!

Much love fellow debt busters!
Crunchy xx

King_Slayer

Just read through your thread. Congratulations on your progress so far, well done with the eBay selling as well. I've just got into the selling but have so much more to get sorted.

Subscribed!

crunch_time

Hi King_Slayer - thank you! It definitely doesn't feel like it at the moment but hopefully over the summer we can make some real movement. I'm definitely learning how to balance life and debt pay off.


Right - Here come the tips!!


......

crunch_time

I'm coming to the end of my second maternity leave in about 3 years and I have learned so much!! We have been in different financial situations during both but during each we had debt to pay off and needed to make the most of our money. Here are some of the things I did/learned etc etc.

1) Maternity clothes - I invested in the basics (jeans, legging, vest tops) and bought a small selection of tops from ASOS/Ebay. I bought no shoes as my feet expanded loads and sold everything I could back on ebay when finished. I also bought cardigans a lot - great maternity wear!!

2) Pram - I wish I had researched prams better beforehand!! We bought a M&P 3 wheeler for about £140 new and the wheel fell off when I was pushing it with my DS.!! M&Ps replaced it but we sold it when I went back to work on gumtree and bought a Phil and teds - it was expensive but is brilliant and suits our lifestyle. It also converts to a double and has a great secondhand value on gumtree/ebay!!

4) Cot - my parents wanted to contribute £100 towards something so we decided on a cot bed. My DD is now in it and we intend it to last until she grows out of it - 5 years!! I also bought a cot top changer secondhand off ebay for £10 - best thing ever - such a back saver!!

5) Highchair - we bought new a wooden Scandinavian design one that grows with your child - I think it was from kiddicare or amazon for about £70. It doesn't take up lots of space, blends in with our existing chairs. It will last my DD until she is at least 3 as I will tke off the front and then lower the seat and foot rest as she grows. We then would have used it 3 times a day roughly for about 5-6 years!! They also have a good secondhand value.

6) I haven't bought anything else big. The only other nursery furniture in both nurseries in both houses has been a chest of drawers that I had as a child that was repainted cream. DD's dresses (x4) hang on the back of her door. She doesn't need a wardrobe yet!!

crunch_time

7) baby clothes - anything that hasn't been gifted or leant to me I have bought secondhand or from supermarkets. We have 2 or 3 good secondhand shops near me and I get good quality stuff from here e.g. Baby Boden top for DD - £5. Next hoody for DS - £5. legging for DD for £1. The good stuff I then resell on ebay at it usually goes for nearly the same. If I have boght I shirt for £1.99 and I sell it for 99p - winner!! I don't by on ebay as you cant see the quality.

8) Baby bedding - I bought cot bed size flat sheets x2 and used them on the moses basket to save buying moses basket size stuff. I also use sleeping bags of various togs for each of mine for the seaons. My current 1.5 togs x2 were on kiddicare for £10 each - 6 to 18 months. DD is currently using them when it is cooler and they will do for her all next winter even though they are blue!! I have seen them in secondhand shops too.

9) Moses basket - for DS I borrowed a basket with my own mattress which was secondhand. for DD I borrowed one that was bought from a charity shop for £3. New mattress and a wash. DS was in his for 7 weeks and DD for longer as it was longer.

10) Baby towels - I was leant 3 with hoods but found I needed 2 to cover each baby after 2-3 weeks so we just use normal towels. Baby flannels are a good buy though as they are softer.

11) car seat - We invested in a base for the Group 0 car seat as it was such a hassle having to belt it in all the time - Id say that was our only splurge bearing in mind they are in it less than a year. For the next size up seat I went by brnad name and then kicked myself when we had to chuck it recently as DS was violently ill in it and it seeped into the sponge. £120 in a skip. We bought 2 Halfords brands ones to replace it - one for each car and the next size up which DS was ready for!! (An investment as eventually we will need 2 when DD grows up) Total cost £65. I now have to buy a new seat for DD and shall be shopping around for cheap and wipe clean.

12) Equipment I wish I hadnt bought but glad I only bought secondhand or borrowed
- bumbo - not in it for very long - resold on ebay for approx. price
- baby bouncer - borrowed
- door way bouncer - borrowed - only in it a couple of times
- bath seat - I have bought 2 now secondhand and sold both of them. Wish I had just laid them down and then waited till they could sit properly on a non-slip mat!!

crunch_time

On reading that back I would definitely say I have considered how long I will be using each piece of equipment and weighed that up against cost. I'm finding that DS is becoming more expensive as he gets older and DD doesn't need a lot of 'stuff' or equipment at the moment.


Right that will do for tonight - I will do products, toys, classes and general money another day.


Hope that helps someone!! Please feel free to ask any questions!!


Crunchy xx

t2rry

Crunchy you are amazing!!


We are only just starting to look at things we will need to buy, really at this stage just to get an idea of what we will need, having never done this before and all!!


We had a scoot around a baby shop the other day and I came out just thinking it was all a big con against people who have no idea what they need or how much things should cost!!!


Unlike most shopping trips, which usually only has one of the two following dilemmas, this seems to have both:
1) What do we actually need the item to do
2) What is a reasonable price for said item!


It is, officially, a minefield!

lilmissmup

I have an Isofix base for my car seat and omg its probably the best thing I brought, found it on eBay for £100 and used nectar points too so only cost me about £70 in the end! So I second that if you can get one.

Our travel system cost £300 which is reasonable and it's done us great so far, thinking of getting a stroller for holidays but will use the pushchair for as long as possible as I can't afford to buy an expensive stroller.

Most of my daughters clothes come from supermarkets too, great quality and cheap, but downfall is the resale value, Next has much better resale value! When she is older I might spend a bit more as she will get more wear from them but then I might get cash back for them.

OrangeFairy

Out of interest (because I work for a baby changing bag manufacturer) how much would you be prepared to spend on a changing bag? How much is too much?

Though my babies are 12 and 9 now- I agree with you tips. How helpful of you to type these up for others- very thoughtful!

OF x