Need to get back on budget - baby #3 on the way!!!!

loobyloo1980

Need to get some budgeting advice and some motivation to stick to it. We are expecting another baby in March and want to stay on track with debt repayments, which means a rigid budget. Baby expenses won't be high initially as we have everything we need from other 2 children, including newborn boy and girls clothes for those early weeks where they grow like mad. My main concern is sticking to the budget between now and then, so any pointers, please post here ..............

Spendless

Congratulations first of all.


Where do you need help? Any particular area or just tips on sticking to your budget?

zodiac

Well done Mr and Ms loobyloo first of all :T :T :T

What about keeping a book with all spending going into it. That way you can see what is going out, I know how little things mount up (such as that little toy or baby suit).
I know you've probley done it but what about making a list of everything that baby is going to need and giving one out to family members so if they spot something cheap / cheaper they can get it.
Get nappys when on offer, you can get more money back at boots with their treble points (which could go towards a nice bath soak for Ms loobyloo).
Gumtree.com and free cycling is a good place to get some 2nd hand stuff and e-bay is great for clothes (which by child 3 you know already).
You could have a chart with your saving on which you can make 'grow' everytime you put money away (or a debt chart than can 'shrink' in the same way)

Katgoddess

Check out the Old Style board for cheaper living tips.

E.g. getting you grocery shopping costs down.

Esp this thread on babies:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=71893

Murtle

Congratulations!!!! No help on budgets though, I make them OH breaks them....in circles we do go.......

loobyloo1980

thanks for all your replies guys. basically my problem is sticking to a budget.

I have a spreadsheet with all my monthly ins and outs and I always seem to go wrong. It's a discipline thing - I don't have any. Silly things like sausage roll from bakers for kids in town to stop them nagging, that extra something in tescos, the takeaway when I'm too tired to cook (early pregnancy is sooo very very tiring), the ice cream and treats for school holidays, colouring book to occupy daughter for 6 weeks, that kind of stuff. Stuff you would never imagine budgeting for, but I seem powerless to resist.

We sat and worked out a good debt busting plan, which I must say we are sticking to rigidly as that is one area I don't want to slip up on, but seem so unable to work to a proper budget. I never have cash - I hate taking a lump sum from the bank coz then I look poorer on paper. daft, coz I probably wouldn't spend anywhere near as much if I took out what i needed. However, then part of me thinks I would coz we only get takeaway if I have cash on me, etc.

I must try the spending diary, I really must and I will start it from this payday (tomorrow).

Spendless

loobyloo1980 wrote:

It's a discipline thing - I don't have any. Silly things like sausage roll from bakers for kids in town to stop them nagging, that extra something in tescos, the takeaway when I'm too tired to cook (early pregnancy is sooo very very tiring), the ice cream and treats for school holidays, colouring book to occupy daughter for 6 weeks, that kind of stuff. Stuff you would never imagine budgeting for, but I seem powerless to resist.

LOL- I know this problem well. Tips take the snacks from home, drinks too. If you're caught without and there's a supermarket nearby buy a pack of sausage rolls there instead if it works out cheaper.

Do a menu planner for your meals and stick to a list. Do a batch cook when you feel up to it and freeze it, but if you do find yourself having an occassional takeaway, boil up your own rice/have naan breads in freezer to reduce costs.

Find all the cheap places for the colouring books etc places like £1 shops and Wilkos

loobyloo1980

Spendless wrote:

LOL- I know this problem well. Tips take the snacks from home, drinks too. If you're caught without and there's a supermarket nearby buy a pack of sausage rolls there instead if it works out cheaper.

Do a menu planner for your meals and stick to a list. Do a batch cook when you feel up to it and freeze it, but if you do find yourself having an occassional takeaway, boil up your own rice/have naan breads in freezer to reduce costs.

Find all the cheap places for the colouring books etc places like £1 shops and Wilkos

I've been really good with meal planning for the week, and it has reduced my shopping bill considerably only buying what I need for set meals. Thing is my freezer is tiny, and is always full of bread and frozen veg, and frozen baby meals for my son. I have no where to put a chest freezer otherwise I would definitely batch cook. Good tip about the colouring books, I love Wilkos. Have just decorated my lounge from there for £20 including accessories!!!!

I always take their juice cups to town, mainly coz my son won't drink out of anything else, but they see the bakery and that is it. Even if we have had a rare visit to McDonalds for tea or lunch, they will still call out for a sausage roll when we pass the bakers on the way home, which is very frustrating. Silly thing is they won't eat them when I buy them from tescos - must be the taste or just the novelty of getting them in town??? Odd kids

The one advantage of being pregant is I will save a fortune in snapping up clothes 'bargains' which I can't resist. Have maternity clothes from last time round so no clothing expense for me for 9 months, which adds up to a tidy sum, believe me :j

henhog

Hi, You really need the Old Style board - so much budgeting, so much fun!

jellyhead

have you tried fresh sausage rolls from tesco if they sell them? asda do - they haven't been refridgerated so they taste like the ones from the bakery.

Savvy_Sue

There's always saying 'no, sorry, not today, haven't got enough money'. Say it enough times in a row and they'll get the message. Can be helpful to have small plastic box of broken breadsticks or similar in your bag to offer instead - "if you're really hungry you'll have one of these, if you're not hungry enough for this you don't need a sausage roll!"

I don't know how old they are, but if old enough or right mindset worth talking to them about how you need to spend a little bit less money because of new baby. Although this could be a risky strategy: I remember waiting in the chemist with the youngest in the pram, and my two grumpy under-5s sitting at eye level with the condoms. "Mummy what are these?" "Those are for mummies and daddies who don't want to have any more babies." "Good, because we don't want any more babies, do we!" No, we don't!!!!!

Look out for cheap and free local activities - if you've got local SureStart there may be summer stuff going on and even if one of yours is 5+ they may be able to go with you. Ask your HV if there is anything she knows of. Look on local council website etc. Someone else was asking about entertaining children while pregnant - here - so any other ideas there may help you, even though it's a completely different part of the country!