Money

[Nurse 26]

I also worry about money all the time, i gave up my job to move for OH's job so i'm not entitled to any maternity pay or allowance. OH has a good job but is a self employed joiner so work can be up and down, hes just started a new project with work for the next 9 months which helps but i do worry about what happens after that. i guess as long as we can pay morgage and bills we will be ok.

Family are giving us alot of the baby things as they all have children already so lots of hand me downs, which is great

 

[Sleepy sue]

Hi Hun it would be worth testing the water on the pt thing as they only have to consider flexible working there is no obligation to do so!

I'm also worried about money oh has a very expensive hobby of racing motorbikes it currently costs us between 400-600 per month. When I'm on full pay this isn't an issue but while I'm on mat leave it's going to be a struggle and I don't want him to have to give it up I just wnt him to start saving now !! X

 

[Cazza]

Breast feeding, reusable nappies, clothes from freecycle or donated from friends, co-slept for the first 9 months... Having a baby doesn't have to cost much at all, it can cost thousands though or anything inbetween. Even now the majority of what jasper eats is a quarter of my dinners so he really isn't expensive. You can even get buggies and car seats for free! Just think about what you would like to splash out on and beg or borrow the rest, what baby needs is time . Not.stuff x

Very good post

I also believe that if you wait you'll never afford a baby..........and I say that as a 41 year old!!

I do think that lots of lovely ladies feel very pressured to buy the latest fashionable pram/cot/furniture/bedding and labelled clothes.

I'm a big ebay fan my cot will probably come from there, my travel system is actually coming from a guy at work who happened to mention he had the exact one in his garage ( that was only used for 6 months) I wanted but could never justify the cost of, and we have lots of friends giving us practically brand new clothes. My Moses basket was given to us too.

My OH has started to transform part of our paddock into an allotment, as vegetarians we eat loads of veg so this is my project while I'm off next year to save some money too and lots of fresh air for Bubs too!! I've even sorted out my dear old Dad's wine making recipes to have a go too!!

It's going to be tight though, luxuries like my dog showing & rallies will have to be thinned out or even stopped for the year and we've cancelled our holiday. I've swapped my nice perfumes/shampoo/creams for own brands or Avon ones already.

Last year we stopped shopping at a supermarket and now we go to Lidl's!!! It's amazing how much that has saved too.

So there's lots of things to watch and cut back on, but it's a worthwhile sacrifice I think!!