Baby on a budget, advice appreciated!

[randomswitch]

I am pregnant with first child who is due in march. My husband's contract is due to end at this time ( job contract that is, not 'husband' contract!). He is applying for various funding to continue his job but it is very competitive and in the current economic climate it's pretty likely he will be unemployed in march. If this happens the thought of him being at home with us is LOVELY! However, the money situation sucks so we are saving as much as we can. If anyone has any advice on the following I would be very grateful,

1. what is the minimum one needs to buy for a baby and the cheapest way to get this stuff?
2. what is the minimum winter maternity wear one needs and cheapest way to get it?
3. any tips on how to keep warm in a winter pregnancy? It is bloody freezing where I live a nd I really feel the cold anyway. I never wear women's fashion clothes in winter as they are so thin, instead buying hill walking gear. But they don't make maternity hill walking gear so I'm a bit stuck as to how to keep warm!
4. any other budgeting tips gratefully received.

Thanks for any advice anyone can give!

I don't have a car either, but I do have a car seat for taxi journeys or if I want to go out with my mum or my friends

Oh, also check out the ' for free' section on here and the ' I've got x, does anyone want it?' thread. I think it's in chat.

"Stuff" doesn't have to cost anything if you really focus hard on borrowing/freecycling (I guess you'll have a good network in Edinburgh)/MN/NM "for free" boards.

The only things you really will have to shell out for are a new cot mattress, two pairs of maternity jeans (though you might be lucky and borrow a pair that fit - steal DH's jumpers to keep warm) and probably a car seat for visits to relatives/taxi journeys.

Focus more on your long term household budget - the cost of "stuff" is trivial by comparison with the cost of childcare/loss of a SAHP's income.

OP, there is a lovely wee children's / baby 2nd shop on St Stephen's Street in Stockbridge. I had a nose a few weeks ago, it had a pram and a cot for sale.

Worth checking out?

I had a winter pregnancy, Primark. Just get a few sizes bigger. However I would seriously invest in a good BF top as it just makes life so much easier!

Edinburgh girl a long way from home

I'd also suggest checking out a sling meet if you can before you get a pram, it might not be for you, and you might want a pram for other reasons but slings can be picked up really cheaply secondhand from ebay and take up much less room, as well as being handsfree. I got to try a Kari Me that had been used on 4 children, if it's owner hadn't still been using it I'd have bought it off her as it was still pretty much like new. The only downside I can see to slings actually is they seem to be a bit addictive to the people that like them - but then I've read about people buying several prams so each to their own.

Our council gave us a free trial pack of cloth nappies which was good to see what we liked and gave us a start. Maybe worth a look online to see if there are any such schemes in your area.

Thanks again everyone! Have been checking out the charity shops and got a warm jacket which is kinda empire line style for 4.50 which I think will do till I am very large and a nice large fleece for 2.50. So thanks for the charity shop tip!
You've all given such great and wide ranging tips that I have printed out your postings to keep for reference!

You've all been stars. Thanks so much for taking the time to post.