Maternity Money Saving

Mamoflads

Hi everyone- I was an MSE member years ago but couldn’t remember my log in details!

I’m 39 and have two lovely boys aged 13 and 8 months!I am currently on maternity leave and my SMP is unfortunately due to run out on 3rd February. I’m hoping to stay off another 3 months unpaid. My partner earns a decent wage but we will be losing my wage of around 1k per month. My savings are fast dwindling after having 4.5 months of SMP.

Before I had my baby I cancelled anything we didn’t need like Netflix. Also secured a new virgin contract which was cheaper. Our food bill is quite high and we love eating out so that is one thing I’m going to try and tackle. My son takes a packed lunch as does my partner. I’m using Tesco own nappies and wipes.

I dabbled with matched betting but I felt it was taking up a lot of time. I’ve been eBaying mostly baby and maternity clothes and have had a really good week making 120 so far with more things ending today end tomorrow. I have 10 kit days which I’m spreading over the next 3 months.

I’ve so far had a good week walking into town saved me 1.50. We went for a pub lunch which was half price. I’m lucky I have Lidl and Asda in walking distance. I tend to visit Asda on an afternoon to see what whoopsies they have on offer. On Monday I managed to get mince,pork chops and sausages for 5 pound so we’ve had chilli,sausage casserole and a pork dinner.

Any tips would be gratefully received.

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary

Mamoflads

Morning everyone,it’s a chilly one here my baby slept till 8am so I’m feeling happy!

Yesterday I walked to the post office to post some eBay parcels the snow isn’t too bad here as I live on the coast. I called into my local charity shop and bought the baby a jasper conran spring coat for 2.50. I was given lots of clothes from friends but I’m now starting to need bigger sizes. I always look in charity shops and eBay. I also picked up a Lovely next top for myself for 1.00.

I called into Asda the whoopsies weren’t amazing got some mini rolls for 54p.
Also popped to Iceland and spent 5.00 on things for breakfast today.

My partner and older son are off to the football so I will make them a big breakfast which will stop them buying rubbish. The baby loves a bowl of porridge on a morning which I mix with his milk and add a little Heinz by nature apple which I found in Pound world for 19p the best before date is April!

I made 30 pound on eBay last night which I’m really chuffed with. My SMP ends tomorrow my payroll runs from the 1st to the 1st so I’m hoping I get paid 3 days SMP but I’ve heard SMP starts on a Sunday so maybe not.

I’ve got 2 keeping in touch days this week so I will get paid for those.

I’ve taken mince out of the freezer so will make spag Bol tonight. Don’t think I will venture far just the post office again to post more parcels.

I’ve got a few more things ending tonight but not many watchers so I’m not very hopeful.

Happy Saturday everyone

Mamoflads

Happy Monday!

Well I’m no longer getting paid from work it feels pretty daunting.

My eBay listings from Saturday ended badly! Some of my bundles of really good baby clothes went for 2.20. I’m not sure if maybe Saturday night isn’t the best time to have things finishing.

I’ve had a pretty good weekend spending wise. Managed a NSD yesterday and Saturday I popped into Asda and got a few things from the reduced section. A cold meat and cheese platter for 64p,a pizza for 84p and a dip for 24p. That did for mine and my oldest boys tea as my partner stayed out after the football. I also got a fish pie that I will do for tonight’s tea and some really nice ham that was reduced from 4.00 to 1.36 that has done for my sons packed lunch and sandwiches over the weekend.Yesterday was a late lunch of mince and dumplings with marmite sprouts and red cabbage that I got in the Iceland sale.

It’s quite a bit warmer here today which is a relief. The baby is down for a nap however the rag and bone man has just shouted any old iron really loudly! 😂

I’m off to post more parcels later and have a few more things ending tonight. I’m running out of stuff to list so will need to maybe look into other ways of earning while I’m off.

JohnJ76

Welcome and good luck, although in your case it sounds more like living frugally than reducing debt. If you have reduced outgoings by as much as you can there isn't much left other than sell things, - physical items or your time if you have a skill.Trouble with lots of the money making ideas though is that I don't find them worth the effort. Can you make something? teach something- musical instrument? can be done after your partner gets in/weekends etc.
I tend to try and think of things you can do yourself that will save or earn larger amounts. For example we wanted a bedroom skimming, its a small room, quotes around 350-400. How hard can this be I thought... :-) got a couple of bags of multi finish, bucket or two, couple of trowels, copious amounts of bad language and several gallons of sweat later one skimmed room total cost about £30. now I know this is an extreme example, it took me the weekend to do say 16hours (max) I look at it as an hourly rate of between £20ish/hr ok so i had to sand a few places and not everyone would be willing to tackle it, but I see that as far more productive than spending days and days of online surveys etc for a few quid, only to scrape it all together to pay a plasterer (although I would advise anyone doing this for the first time to send the kids out first!)
One thing that we stopped was the trip past the shops everyday....£5 here, £4 there, £6 here .... it's like death by 1000 cuts. Remember, it's only a bargain if you need it, want's can wait till you get back to work.
And thats a new one for me, Marmite sprouts... had to google them to make sure it wasn't a typo! :-)

Mamoflads

Hi John-

No skills unfortunately I can play colours of day on the guitar and that is pretty much it! Well done on the skimming that’s amazing.

I agree with the going to the shops everyday I will have some days where I will spend nothing by stopping in. If the worst comes to the worst and we can’t manage I will of course return to work,

Yes I’m attempting to live frugally maybe my diary is in the wrong place.