Can anyone advise on this?

f0nz

Your present budget is huge! Hubby and I have 3 kids together and he has another from a previous relationship, we also have pretty big families to buy for. We save £80 per month and even at that I think I might try and chop it to £60.

Birthdays - we buy for all 4 kids, 2 nephews and 1 niece, both sets of parents.
Christmas - all 4 kids, 3 nephews and 2 nieces, 3 brothers, 4 sisters (inc Inlaws), both sets of parents.

Because you're setting £ aside every month you can grab things on offer when you see them. Tesco had loads of jewellery and hair accessories reduced to 5p and 10p, great for little (and not so little) girls. There is always some kind of sale/reduction on somewhere so never pay the first price you see for something, always have a hunt about!
My nieces birthday isn't until near the end of the year but I already have her present (boots 70% sale, amazing!) and I already have my sisters xmas and both mums Mother's Day gifts and bits and bobs for the kids. It becomes addictive trying to sniff out a bargain! Charity shops can be great too, brand new jigsaws etc for pennies.

The baby won't need a lot (despite our wants as mums to spoil them rotten) and won't even know if something is preloved, your other teeny won't know either! My youngest will be 4 very soon and if yours is anything like mine they'll be happy with a wooden spoon and something to bang very noisily

I think your grocery budget will surprise you and be plenty! Just takes a bit of meal planning and batch cooking. Littley could always help you do some baking which will give you some "free" entertainment too!

Great head start you're making getting everything sorted! :T

f0nz

Oh another wee tip, if you're on FB like some of the extreme couponing uk or bargains for kids etc type pages and you'll find a lot of good deals that way.

clippy_girl

regarding upping your income- have a look at online surveys and mystery shopping. surveys won't bring a fortune but many pay in vouchers which you could save for presents. mystery shopping is very flexible, most jobs you won't be able to take the LO's on but you could try and do a few on hubby's day off. again won't make you a fortune but I bring in about £100 month doing about 10 jobs. you could also try entering competitions if your new LO is a good sleeper, either for items you need, items for presents or ones for cash. theres a thread on the up your income board with lots of ideas