To wonder how much you spend on 1 year old a week? This seems like a lot?

[munnyworries]

I spend around 400 a month on ds who is one, outside nursery fees. This includes a weekly shop of six ready meals so I don’t have to cook every meal from scratch (I work full time), a pack of 32 nappies 11 pounds, whole milk, 2 packs of wipes, one pack of Milton wipes and snacks like organix bars etc then fruit and veg. This comes to around 35 a week. On top of this there is petrol to and from nursery, ten pounds a week. Entry to farms or soft play twice a week, 15-20 quid. Then things like new vests or socks here and there, or the odd toy now and then. Easily spend 100 a week. I don’t think I spend too much or too recklessly, I consider these things ds needs? Is this similar to other people’s spending? A family member has said they can’t understand how I would need to spend more than 25 a week!

I have a 1 year old too and also work full time as well as being pregnant with twins. I do things the more expensive way too because they tend to save time, pampers nappies also work the best for us over supermarket brands.

Soft plays, farms etc are nice to do at the weekends too.

If you can afford it, I don't see the issue.

Spice and flavour is suitable for a 1yo, really.

How are you going to farms/soft play twice a week if you work full time?

Weekends?

If you can afford it I guess it's fine, but I'd say most people don't spend that amount a week. If you have more than one child will that double the amount you spend?

The ready meals are unnecessary. Once in a while yes that's fine, but readymeals don't have the taste and texture of homemade, nor the variety. As an adult do you survive on a ready meal every single night? It takes 10 mins to airfry frozen roasted veg with a tin of tomatoes and then purée it and freeze in little pots. 7 mins to boil some pasta and grate a little cheese and you have a healthy meal! Can you honestly not carve out 10 mins of your day for your child?

I don't buy new toys, the kids get enough given to them at presents and don't need something new every week. Softplay is about once a month if even. Mums and tots are generally free and kills a couple of hours plus provides a snack too. My eldest has been to a paid farm twice in 4 years. We can afford these things no problem but we like to save them for treats and birthdays rather than a weekly trip!

Another one voting for cheeky wipes! I got the boxes and drops second hand for a tenner, then the wipes new. I feel like the wipes have saved us even more money than reusable nappies. We were going through tons of wet wipes before. The cheeky wipes get him so much more clean too.

I've just bought my DS what I think should be his entire collection of 9-12 month clothes on vinted with £50 of Christmas money, and tbh I could have economised further with cheaper brands. If you get a good bundle from one seller it saves you in postage and most baby clothes are honestly like new.

The thought of batch cooking is worse than the reality, honest! I've got 3 sets of patty type things on the go. Each took maybe 30-45 mins to make, but will each do for about 20 meals. That plus whatever veg we're having if we're having a 'main' that we can have makes meal prep so quick.

I'd say all of these swaps are win win in terms of saving us money but also being better environmentally.

Well yes, but it seems a lot!

At 1 year:

washable nappies and wipes - the wipes were about £40 for 50 wipes (new, cheeky wipes). We used them every day still and Ds is 3.5 years. Used for bum, hands, face. I can’t imagine buying wipes to throw, disposable also don’t clean them properly just smear.

Food - things like scramble eggs, toast, avocado, banana for quick meals.

Toys - I don’t buy toys weekly no. Mainly gets as gifts ie birthday, but also as needed when small ie I would just buy sand play toys in summer, not wait. But not on a weekly basis. Now at 3 years I only really buy children’s books ad hoc, the rest for events.

Never bought Milton wipe? Just would wet cloth and clean something. Or spray with eco cleaner and cloth.

Snacks - I don’t buy those bar type things as dentist said they are pure sure on teeth ( natural sugar from dates and raisens on teeth in those bars is still not great as it just sticks). Snacks are fruit, crackers, Greek yogurt, toast

That seems like a lot. We did soft play as a once a month treat type thing or if the weather was really awful and spent £4 a week on going to toddler groups on the days DD wasn't at nursery. At weekends we'd go for a walk in local park, feed the ducks or go to the library all of which are free or about £1. They don't need loads of entertaining or to go to expensive places. Or get an annual pass to one place and use it a lot!

Have some of the ready meals in the freezer as a back up but can't you just portion off some small portions of other things you're cooking and freeze those. Eg bolognaise sauce, lasagne, cottage pie, curry, chilli

Nappies and wipes are just one of those costs but you could reduce the wipes a lot by using a dishcloth to wipe up after meals (we had a clean one every day - just stick in laundry with towel load so it's no more work).

Clothes I kept a list of what was needed in each size and bought secondhand bundles in advance which saved a lot.

I don't think I counted things like petrol costs to nursery or milk/food costs as child costs though as they were just part of the family budget?

I would just feed the baby the same as you (reducing salt etc. as appropriate) and give fruit, veg, crackers etc. as snacks.

Depending on if at home or not:
Toast, soft cheese spread on top
Breadsticks
Raisins
Banana/apple/satsuma
Yogurt
Hard boiled egg
Cheese

That’s a lot more than I did but I think the difference is packaged snacks and ready meals, which are super expensive.

I also used reusable nappies, which were an upfront cost rather than weekly and a lot cheaper overall.

I suppose it only matters if it’s a problem - if you can afford it and are happy with the way it’s working, it’s all good!

I mean I worked full time when my kids were young.

They ate what I did and i would freeze left overs. if I didn’t want them to eat what I was because it was too spicy, I would take a meal out of the freezer.

But kids of one year can definitely eat spice and flavour. My family are a mix of different cultures and we all were weaned in foods with spice and flavour. As were my kids.

I wouldn’t buy the pre packaged snacks, I would t buy pampers, I wouldn’t buy Milton wipes.

I wouldn’t count the petrol to take my child to nursery and a child expense. The child is going to nursery so I can work. If money is an issue you don’t need to do a farm and a soft play at the weekends.

If you are happy to spend that amount, do it. But there’s plenty you can cut back on.

In terms of toys, they really don't need that many, especially if they're in full-time nursery! There will be loads of developmentally suitable toys there.

We bought majority of toys for birthdays and Christmas, thinking ahead to developmental stages coming up in the next year. Some things that are worth investing in are a bike and/or scooter to help with getting it and about at weekends, good quality waterproofs or puddle suit and wellies so you can go out in all weathers. We turned a trip into town into an activity by walking around looking at lights/statues/whatever your area has, splashing in puddles, stopping for a coffee and then looking for a toy or book in a charity shop.

Having said that, it doesn't matter how much you spend if you can comfortably afford it but bear in mind your level of job security, how much you have in savings, and your future plans etc. eg Could you spend £50 a week instead of £100 and overpay your mortgage by £200 a month instead?

I spent much less.

Never bought ready-meals as I'm concerned about UPF, and DC ate little so I'd give them bits off our plates mostly. Our shopping bill didn't seem to increase much at the age of one. I'd guess maybe £10/week tops?

Clothes were mostly secondhand for free from friends. I suppose I bought one or two things a month. Started to buy shoes then too. So maybe £10/week average.

Probably did spend around £25/week on activities, mainly swimming which was expensive.

We used reusable nappies and wipes so based on the initial outlay prob cost around £3/week over the course of two years.

Two packs of wipes a week is loads. So is £11 on 32 nappies.

If you work, why do you need to do farm and soft play every week? She'll be getting loads of stimulation and socialisation at nursery.

Agree with supermarket nappies. You are spending over 3x what I do. £3.50 for 36 at Aldi.

You could definitely stop buying the Milton wipes. Don’t really see how you can use a pack a week especially if you work FT.

Toys don’t need to be bought each week. Or you could look in charity shops. I rarely buy new toys these days.

My main expense is activities as I have one at home with me everyday and another some of the week as not in FT school yet. I try to limit to £25 a week for those.

i would stop buying the ready meals. So are they eating a ready meal every week night? That’s a lot of processed dinners. Give what you cook or save your dinner from the night before for them if you cook later.

I would definitely consider annual membership of something for days out. E.g. sometimes National Trusts or English Heritages have lovely playgrounds. Or your local leisure centre may have a soft play as well as a swimming pool and then you can go as much as you want without paying each time.

Packaged snack bars aren’t ideal for them. Babybel, breadsticks, fruit, cucumber or veg sticks, batch cook banana muffins or pancakes etc.

Pop to Aldi baby section

There are rice cakes, oat bars, good nappies, all a lot cheaper than the main brands

I don't think it matters, unless you need to cut back. My eldest is 11 now, and I didn't work when he was little. I probably spent more than this when he was one, just because we did so many groups. No regrets, loved every minute of it!

Feeding a baby ready meals is just plain crap parenting. Total waste of money not to mention what nasties youre feeding into them.

I work full time but have to cook meals as we can't get kiddie ready meals where I live.

Pre-made Gnocchi is a SUPER quick evening meal if you'd like to try and make some quick things (much quicker than cooking pasta). I can make it while DD has a piece of fruit and some water. Just boil it for about 1 min, then sauté with a dab of butter, cheese, peas, Philadelphia and /or chopped tomato. You can eat the rest of the packet for your tea.

Why can’t the baby eat what you are eating? Surely ready meals are not great to be eating every day?

Never bought new toys when mine were babies, got given lots of hand me downs or bought 2nd hand, Facebook marketplace place is often full of free or cheap toys?

I'm not sure you can cut back too much on what you’re spending, nappies are expensive, I guess softplay could be cut back or swapped for a local baby group?

The cost is irrelevant if you can afford it : but please do not feed your baby 6 ready meals a week, every week. Especially ones as cheap as the ones you’re buying. If you really absolutely cannot precook meals and freeze them then at least buy ready meals from somewhere like Cook with minimal additives.