Living within my means-the challenge

beckseven

Thanks strumpet-I think I am going to continue using the dual carriage way as it is less than a mile more and a lot smoother drive. 56mph for me all the way! We've just had a free afternoon at the playground and going out for a cheap curry in a bit. I put a top on ebay as well so fingers crossed!

HelenKA_2

Just want to second/third your intention to use re-usable nappies!

I couldn't for DD1 as no outside drying but bought plain terry squares and nappy nippas for DD2 (with help from Mum) and added fleece wraps, terry boosters and fleece liners for DD's3&4.

At the time, using huggies cost as I'd used these for DD1 -supermarket nappies not great at that point - I worked out that it would take me 8 weeks to break even and then I'd be saving. The one lot of these plain squares (I bought 3 dozen) lasted me 3 girls then I handed them on to a mechanic :rotfl: .

Am I allowed to post a link for info? I will but mods, please delete if it's not ok.

http://twinkleontheweb.co.uk

There's a lot of fancy nappies so you'll have to wade through! (But maybe you have time on nights!) My take is that these plain squares dry quicker and can be used for all sorts after. You don't have to buy particular wraps and they can last from cradle to grave!!

The fleece wraps met with a lot of derogatory comments from MIL (though otherwise v supportive) but I loved them, again v quick to dry and comfy to wear. Cool patterns now too;) .

I never soaked/washed at 90. I did put bicarb in the wash drawer/washed at 40/put lavender oil in conditioner drawer.

I also used disposables as back up/on holiday/when out depending on what we were doing.

And the big sisters got great at the folding!

You do have to be a reasonably organised and determined person but it's not at all difficult, it's green and very satisfying not to mention MS :money:

barnaby-bear

beckseven wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm going to try all the things you suggest. My task tonight ( I'm working night shift!) is to do a meal plan for the week. I spent 9.74 today in Tescos on basics like milk, cereal, veggies baby wipes and a fantastic pair of jeans for my little boy which cost £2.70. I'm going to get another pair for him as they were a great bargain! I bought value sweetcorn as well to go with a tuna pasta i'm going to make on Monday. I'm going to join the make £10 extra a day challange in June as well as the grocery budget challenge as well. We got our electricity bill yesterday and it was horrendous again. Ever since we've moved to our new house over 2 years ago our electricity bills have been horrendous. At one point we were £1500 in debt with it. We've had it checked no end of times but EDF say that it is not them at fault. We turn off lights obsessively, dont' leave anything on standby, turn off microwave,oven etc and use dishwasher, washing machine and tumble drier in economy times and only used 1 storage heater in the whole house all winter but eleccie bill is £393 pound for the quarter and in 2006 got as high as £700 per quarter. Crazy! We never had these problems in our last house which was a 2 bed terrace but now we are in a 3 bed semi it's horrendous. I think that we were more careless there as well with our electricity whereas now I'm always turning lights off even when my DH is still in the room!

We moved from a tiny rented two bed terrace to a much bigger detached owned 3-bed and our bills fell by 20-30% because we had double glazing, wall/loft insulation, thermostatic valves on radiators, heavy curtains not draughty blinds, an efficient fridge rather than the landlord's second hand pile of sh1te etc - lights make very little difference the bulk of it will be hot water/heating/insulation - you can get grants to get these put in cheaply and loft/wall insulation is fairly cheap. There's something munching the leccy or letting the heat out if you are spending 240pounds a month.....

beckseven

Thank you so much for the advice on nappies HelenKa-very much appreciated. I will go on that website when I am next on nights and have a good look. Barnaby-I think there is something seriously wrong with our leccie-we've been on and on about it to powergen but they swear that there is nothing wrong with our meter -still dubious but hey ho! Went for a fab Sri Lanken meal tonight-had 2 courses with 2 beers (not mine!) and 2 cokes with rice and roti bread for £40. So £10 spent on a thouroughly good night-I'm well chuffed! £20 now left over from my weekly £40 budget (spent the other £10 on crocs for DS!) which can go on debts. Have joined up make £10 extra a day challenge for June so looking forward to that.

beckseven

Walked into town and spent £1.74 on eyemake-up remover and cotton wool in Wilkos-unavoidable spend. Other than that no more to do. I'm going to aim to put 2 things on ebay tonight.

beckseven

Didn't post yesterday as didn't have time! Went to a bbq at lunch to organise our preschool's charity race night and was asked to bring the bread which was quite a lucky call! I spent £2.50 on getting an extra key cut for our hols and 5.14 in Asda on a pack of rolls, 3 french sticks and a pair of tights. When we were at the BBQ (there were loads of us there) my friend had organised for a couple of babysitters to watch the kids whilst we organised things-my DS of course wanted none of the happy playing under supervision and spent the meeting sitting on my lap bless him! We were asked for a couple of quid to give to the two girls which was unavoidable so that was another £2 spent.I made a lovely bacon pie (off the old school board-many Thanks OS guys!) for me and my husbands tea and also took home from the BBQ the leftover salads and some of the rolls to put in the freezer so all good! I've got half the pie left over so I will freeze that for us to eat at a later date and my DS can have some for tea today. In the evening i went to see Sex and the City film which was fantastic. I picked up my friends from my friend's house where they were really tipsy from their Cosmopolitan cocktails which was very funny! We were all meant to glam up and the others looked fab. Unfortunately I was going to wear a glamourous slinky shirt and highwaisted penicl skirt combo but when I tried it on my boobs have grown so much (happened last time I was pregnant too) it caused my top to bulge open in an unattractive manner so ended up wearing jeans and a smart top. Hopefully soon my belly will catch up with my boobs ending my current top heavy look! The cinema cost me £6 so not bad for a good night out. Dropped the others off in town afterwards to carry on drinking! At work this morning at 7am. I sold one of my mobiles on ebay for 6.99 and the other for 99p so will send them off on Monday. Another auction will be finishing at lunchtime today so fingers crossed. Need to put some more stuff on today.

beckseven

Am working again this morning so merrily joining in challenges on here whilst it's quiet. Just read the post i put on yesterday 'Hopefully soon my belly will catch up with my boobs' -and it made me laugh-what a thing to wish for! I made some turkey meatballs in red pepper sauce last night-and froze some for DS's tea. Also froze a good portion of bacon pie which DH can have when I am working evenings next week. I didn't spend anything yesterday which is always good news. I need to buy some veggies today to go with a roast pork joint I've got-so we will have whatever is on offer at Tesco at the moment! I sold a top on ebay for £1.20-every penny counts! I've got a Karen Millen top and some other stuff to sell tonight-I must do it. I need to write my meal plan today for the week-hopefully will spend a lot less this week than last week. Also must look into how the Amazon selling works.

moanymoany

Congratulations, my first baby is now in her 30's and such a support and source of love in my life.

Start point - a penny saved is a penny earned. The easiest money you have is that you earn. Money from extra jobs etc is not to be depended on, especially when you are pregnant.

If you follow the usual form the next few weeks you will be feeling too tired to go out! lol

Go to moneysaving old style, there you will find loads of ready made meal plans, some with shopping lists. Put a post on and ask for advice, it will come in shed loads. Forward planning and a few plastic boxes will save you having to buy bags of salad. You will also be able to plan packed lunches that contain the nourishment you and your baby need.

Many local and county council authorities are now giving incentives to parents to use cloth nappies. Here in West Sussex it is a very generous package. Your local library will know.

Get hold of a copy of the 'Tightwad Gazette' book that has all three TG's in it. Does this woman know how to have babies cheaply!

It is important to allow yourself treats, but try to find some free and cheap treats. You will find that your life will change beyond what you can imagine now. You will have many new friends in the same position as you.

OOOOOOH, it's so exciting! :j

p.s. not your first baby - I should read all the posts - doh!

beckseven

Thanks moanymoany for all your tips. Even though it's not my first baby I think that this is my first MSE pregnancy as I was not thrifty at all with my first or whilst on maternity leave so I think I've a lot to learn! I think my local authority have an incentive on reusable nappies so I will look into that. I'm terrible for buying bags of salad-from now on I will make my own. Thinking of growing my own veggies as well to solve the salad issue!

jak

Hi Beck,
Your SATC night sounded fun! Brilliant film! So funny! It's a good idea to grow your own lettuce. If you get salad bowl seeds you pick them again adn agin as the leaves grow back. And they are yum...Also rocket grows like weeds, as do radishes. The gradening board is good on here for cheap and easy ideas. Good luck.
Also RE: cheap baby stuff: This might sound a bit cheeky but we made a list of the stuff we needed and when people asked what we wanted we told them and i'd write their name next to the item. Sounds simple I know but we haven't really had to buy anything for this baby. We've been very lucky. Also work did a collection and when I was asked what I wanted for the baby I said money! I felt well cheecky, but now the baby's got £73 savings- that's more than me!!!!!
J
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