AIBU to ask you how you cope/or prepare for maternity leave

[Vilanelle]

Hi everyone.

I am expecting my first baby in June 2020 and have started saving for when I go on Maternity leave.

I am having a mild panic as I am struggling to save large amounts whilst also buying items for the new baby.

I am looking at reducing my bills such as Sky and Electric. Currently on a prepay meter and have been told this is more expensive that pay monthly?

Anyone have any good budgeting ideas?

Both myself and DP work full time.

@CentralPerkMug Thank you, I do not feel organised! With the electric I don't know. We don't have a tumble dryer, never use an immersion heater, but we do only have storage heaters and are on an economy 7 meter which means electric is cheaper overnight. Heaters are set to "out all day" so only come on in morning and evenings for around 2 hours a time.

I am in the process of switching suppliers.

Good advice about adding something each time we do a shop.

I did deliver for a Just Eat type of company last year and he is always asking me to come back, but it is quite exhausting so will keep that for after baby is born and DP can do the childcare in evenings!

Just so you know, you can't start a new job while on mat leave, you will lose your SMP.

@haveuheard Oh I wouldn't leave my job, the evening job would just be handy for when I am on maternity leave

You will still probably lose your SMP when HMRC find out you are working another job. I would ring them for advice before you accept any work.

@Vilanelle you cant work on an employed basis while claiming smp. You can however work self employed.

You will get gifted lots of clothing, take some back and exchange it for the next sizes up so you have outfits in bigger sizes ready for that season or when they grow into it.
Batch cook a Lot prep slow cooker freezer bags and freeze a load of dinners for 2. Double up on cheap meals now and freeze half. Honestly cooking with a baby can be difficult

@QforCucumber Oohhh ok! See, I did not know this!

@Catsick36 I am 1000% going to do the batch cooking, this was a great idea. P.S your MN name has made me feel nauseous lol

For the baby sleeping downstairs - what pram combination have you bought? Mine came with a bassonet (lying down bit) so we scrapped the Moses basket and just used that.

You deff need to get a view of dps finances, it sounds like you might be ok and that will reassure him too, but you need to be in it together.

It reminds me how important is to have a cradle that can be easily taken everywhere. It can be just a pack n play. And for the baby to be more comfortable, you should also have an extra mattress.

1. Plan a load of cool and creative ‘mama bear’ activities and projects
2. Don’t get round to any of it
3. Look back in 12 years at your child’s empty baby book

From a true story

Op start to 1)organise nkney.

After bills, money for food etc. All essential.
Then what's your social money left, holiday money, Xmas money? Money into stock and shares isa for baby?

Start good practise now putting 20 a month away for Xmas, 20 for bday... It all adds up, and as baby gets older you'll have wondeful little Xmas fund to pull on.

Same for bday. You have about 2 years to save up before they notice presents.

As for baby stuff.. It's hard with covid but second hand. I was at a baby sale once near closing time, this man was practically begging me to take 2 beautiful moses baskets becsuse he didn't want the hassle of packing them up again! Slings, high chairs, toys etc I've always had excellent quality at rock bottom prices from charity shops, mother and baby markets... Ebay.

Same with buggies I've actually had amazing buggies, entirely free from the free cycle.

Most things can be washed and added too eg in pushchair we had our own sheepskin liner.

Save money for little days out, subscription to the local play farm.. Things yiu will really appreciate with an active toddler on your hands.

Work out what you can afford to spend on going out each weekend rather than Say, just spend and say. I spend 40 a month on coffee at Costa. That's a very backwards way of doing things.

I second the comments about buying secondhand - especially newborn clothes, you'll find some lovely bundles for next to nothing on Facebook marketplace or various selling groups. There is a group called Preloved to Reloved for Postage which often has a lot of bargains. In non-Covid times, nearly new sales are the place to go. Cloth nappies may also be cheaper than disposables if you have a local cloth nappy library; your local council may also offer a £40/50 voucher to use on cloth nappies.

You will hopefully be able to do some cooking once baby is a few months old, and that could be a way of saving money especially if you can batch cook.

Sadly another one to say, Car Seats and Mattresses should be new, there could be the tiniest hairline fracture in the seat that you can't see that would make it completely unsafe, this includes dropping it and improper storage.
Cheeky Wipes are amazing and have saved me £300 in the first year they aren't too expensive to buy initially. Otherwise hold off buying until you know you need it. Many things go unused and a waste of money when your baby just doesn't like it or agree with it.

Any baby clothes, buy second hand - Facebook Marketplace or eBay for bundles. The only new clothes i have ever bought for my son was his outfit when he turned one. Saved a fortune. Same for things like pram and accessories.

Have you bought that stuff already? You shouldn’t need a Moses basket if you have a Next to Me crib and cot as part of the pram.

Clothes you will get given and can bulk buy cheap on second hand sites. Bulk buy plain muslins from boots.

Op was due in June 2020