To ask you for your best money saving tips and advice as I'm not returning to work from mat leave

[bippitybopityboo]

We don't have rent or a mortgage to pay. Our monthly bills come to £500 and our monthly income will be around £1500 yet I'm panicking that we won't manage on that and that I'll need to return to work in march when my leave ends but I desperately want to be a sahm untill my son is around 2.

What do you do to bring the cost of living down any little tips or advice I'm worried we will struggle and don't want my son to miss out because we can't affOrd things but at the same time the things, milestones and memories I will miss when working 12 hour shifts are things you can't buy back!

[R2G]

IN January each year call every supplier, Telly insurance etc and renegotiate your contracts. I've just saved £500 for the year.

[Twopeapods]

Just always make a meal plan and shopping list and stick to it. I always find when my meal planning goes to pot I run into Tesco for the odd thing most days and spend £20+ each time, even if it's just for milk!
Maybe write down all of your outgoings for the last couple months and see exactly what your spending so you know if your income covers it.

[mygorgeousmilo]

What's the 500 on?

[DeathStare]

You have £1000 a month after bills. How on earth could that possibly be a struggle?

[bippitybopityboo]

500 is the bills Inc phone bills and car insurance.

The meal planning is definitely somethung we need to do as we're exactly the same spending stupid money on silly shops!

[bippitybopityboo]

Its not so much that we would struggle I just want tips as we seem to waste so much money and just won't be able to do that if I don't work

[Twinkleheth]

I have an old fashioned notebook system. Write down all the bills and then work out how much we have left every month. Are you claiming all benefits you might be entitled to? I started my own business over 4 years ago and have been able to stay at home with my girls (I went part time after a year) over a year now. Is there anything you could do from home, flexible hours, if you did need extra money? Xx

[EmeraldScorn]

I don't mean this in a patronising way but are you absolutely certain that there will be £1000 a month left after the bills have been paid?

If that is accurate then I really don't think you need to worry at all; With £1000 surplus you will be more than able to feed the family and still be able to afford outings/treats etc.

I don't have anything near £1000 left each month after everything else has been deducted (mortgage, food, bills, savings etc) but if you do then you will be absolutely fine.

[Twinkleheth]

Ok sorry, just saw your update. Definitely do a weekly shop and only have one or two top up shops for milk, bread etc. Budget for coffee shops/meals out, so you know what you are spending. Xx

[FairyDogMother11]

My partner and I have a joint income of around the same as yours after we take off the mortgage and we're fine. We could afford for me to stay at home when we have DC, we'd have less left over than you say you will. Meal planning is important, not making random purchases on food saves a fortune! I'd suggest writing down everything you spend - I started jotting down everytime I bought a bottle of water when I was out. It was much cheaper to buy a proper refillable one so that saved me money (basic example). Use comparison sites and ring up and see if you can save any money with your current outgoings. It's really just about planning carefully and not being caught out.

[bippitybopityboo]

Definitely need to sit and write everything down it could vary but our bills etc will definitely always be around 500 a month but that's not including food or fuel for car.

[TheABC]

Shop online for food - the running total keeps you in check!
Look around charity shops and boot fairs for children's clothes and toys. Plastic toys can be cleaned with vinegar whilst anything soft that can't be washed in the machine can be stashed in the freezer to kill off pests.
Do a big declutter every three months and EBay anything decent that you no longer use.
Ring and haggle with your suppliers. Money saving expert is your friend here - they have a list of saving tips that can literally knock hundreds off your household spend. For example, you don't need to spend more than £10 on a mobile phone contract. So a standard £20 phone bill slashed is £120 a year saved.
Use the train to bag 241 deals and days out.
Consider camping or caravanning for holidays. There are a lot of bargains to be had now in January and you can book outside of school holidays.

[ExplodedCloud]

Make sure you understand where your money is going. Proper meal planning and picking a couple of good value things that make you all feel like you have a good life.
So if Good coffee makes you happy, make sure you budget for it. Don't go into unsustainable frugality because you'll fail.

[User1234567891011]

If you see something on sale and think ''I wouldn't buy that at full price'' DO NOT buy it. You obviously don't like it that much. Buying stuff because it is on sale is a major money drainer because you think you have to get it before it goes.

[bippitybopityboo]

I hate flying so holidays abroad aren't a priority especially when our son is so young. I'll check out money saving expert thankyou

[doleritedinosaur]

Keep a note of what you're spending on now & you'll see what's going wrong.

Cut down your direct debits to what you actually need.

Meal plan as much as possible this has saved us as I'm not working & we had further income cuts.
So I plan from Sunday - Sunday & batch cook, shop around for best deals.

I also regularly stick things on eBay & do surveys for money/Amazon vouchers which helps with presents for people.

Meal planning is definitely the easiest way to save money though.

[bippitybopityboo]

Just had a quick look on money saving expert and look to be some fantastic advice so will have good read through tomorrow. Thankyou for all of your great tips seems meal planning is top of the list

[sobeyondthehills]

If you are not already put money aside just a just incase fund.

Nothing worse then when you are coming to the end of the month and you have to replace the washing machine/fridge/boiler.

And then that wipes you out for the next few months.

[bippitybopityboo]

Yes sobey I was thinking I read some advice that you should have at least 3 months worth of income in savings we don't have that I do worry a little

[StrawberryShortcake32]

Boots Advantage Card.Points earned when purchasing in Boots which basically gives you free money to spend in Boots! They also have the Boots Baby club which gives you double points when you buy from their baby range. Join the Boots Baby club to get double points on all baby related stuff.

Buy in Bulk - Nappies, nappy sacks, wipes etc. Especially where the brand names are concerned, I have found it cheaper (and frankly less hassle) to buy these things in 1 or 2 months supply at a time. I usually get mine from Amazon but there's also the good ol cash and carry.

Breastfeeding - Not really a hack but worth mentioning. This is of course a very personal choice that nobody should be making for you. However if you do decide to breastfeed it will save you money on formula.

Mailing lists- Various online baby clubs will sometimes offer free samples and money off coupons. If you don't mind alot of email spam (consider creating a separate baby related stuff only email address).

[specialsubject]

You need to save like hell now, especially with only one income. No job is safe.

All baby kit second hand except car seat and cot mattress. Stop buying adult clothes , adult presents, baby presents ( kid doesn't know or care) magazines, books ( use library), cosmetics until you run out, toiletries ditto, takeaways.

[Headofthehive55]

Plan.
Don't buy clothes.
Buy fewer baby / clothes and just wash them more. They grow out if them quickly!
Bake stuff rather than buy pre prepared stuff. Anything you do make will be half the cost!
Make friends in the same boat. They are more likely to want to meet up for coffee at each other's houses rather than going out for lunch.

[bippitybopityboo]

Baby clothes! I'm terrible with this!
Also friends in the same boat fab tip thankyou

[OneForTheRoadThen]

Maybe give some thought to the implications stopping work for a while will have on your pension. I'd definitely be putting some money aside each month towards that.

[Headofthehive55]

The other thought is - could you go very part time. It's an insurance as it's ever so much easier to work more if you need to, and you keep your skills up to date. It's a difficult task to get back to work when you are out of work. Even if you got this job easily, you may want to go back part time - it's far easier to negotiate with an employer that knows you than one that doesn't.