Right, we are already at the bone, HOW can we afford 3 kids, and a car to transport them in, on one income? HOW?

[fillyjonk]

We are bascially breaking even every month

We hardly have extravagent lifestyles.

We cook everything from scratch, though I accept there could be less strawberies and more reuse of leftovers.

We buy 90% organic

All kids clothes, and most of ours, are handmedowns or from ebay/charity shops. Ditto most toys etc.

We use reusable nappies etc.

Holidays-camping, or with grandparents

Have already shopped around for cheapest utilites / insuance etc - ta Martin's Money Tips

I want a very safe car with 3 x ISOFIX seats, this is non negotiable, I am utterly utterly neurotic about car safety. This looks like the fiat multipla and whoa they are expensive.

Plus also-there WILL be another mouth to feed, clothe, etc.

What about a car with 2 isofix in the back and one in the front. Then the 2nd adult goes in the back. Depends how much driving you do with the whole family I suppose?

buy organic fruit and veg from Lidl, a lot cheaper than 'normal' supermarkets. Are you thinking of buying a new car? or 2ndhand? how old are your children? is anyone about to move up to a booster seat rather than a 'full' seat, IYSWIM?

I really don't feel happy about having any of the kids in the front

this is a "thing" of mine, I am utterly neurotic about car safety, I am from london and have known several people killed in crashes.

Also, despite having done various advanced courses, I am a nervous driver

I just don't think we can afford new, but I'd like as new as possible really. I am worried about buying a car with 87k on the clock, which is the cheapest we can actualy afford. (would sell other car)

This is, I realise, my BIG mental block to having mroe kids-the car.

I'm soon to be in a similar boat, 3 children, one wage and it terrifies me!

I've decided once I go on amternity leave we'll go down to half my pay and save the rest, then over the 9 months reduce the amount so we're weaned to 1 wage that way. Is that a possibility for you?

Also, we re-mortgaged for a bigger car and extended the term of the mortgage so the payments didn't go up. Not ideal, but necessary.

Watching this with interest.

find out if your entitled to any more benefits...

google 'entitled'

-don't buy a car till next year and try to put some money away for it (could save a thousand pound in tax, ins, petrol etc that's more needed now for baby, mat. leave etc). buy a robust pram instead and good weatherproofs for winter.

-try to spend less on energy:

-buy blankets for your beds - to reduce need for central heating to come on too early. buy thick PJ's, thick jumpers now while their cheap at carbootsales etc.

-try draftproofing your home, use draft excluders, make stuffed snakes, replace leaky doors, fill holes in exterior walls/gaps round pipe work. lag pipework, install loft insulation., paint exterior walls, check downpipes go into drains.

spend less on fruit and veg:

-grow your own

-visit your local allotment and ask if anyone has over-produced (can take it off their hands?)

-make a weekly menu, include 'cheap' meals like baked beans on toast for lunch and make a full on meal for everyone in the evening.

-make a shopping list and stick to it.

-buy toilet paper and washing powder in bulk at the beginning of the month to last you.

-eat porridge instead of buying packaged-cereals (very cheap!).

make money:
-try to earn some pin-money, babysitting, ironing, cash in hand work.

i've been there so if i'll think of anymore i'll let you know!

ok we only have 2 but have given up organic except for the veggie box scheme - we buy from a local grocers instead. It's REALLY much cheaper. Also meat from the local butcher is MUCH cheaper - I have to lug home several carrier bags of pig before I get over the £5 limit so I can use my debit card

sign-up for tescos-clubcard and bootscard, which provide points-to-cash without risk. these can be saved for emergencies.

only if you patronise these companies, of course!

we are currently trying to think this out too.

looks like we will struggle for a while, but hopefully things will work out.

I would cut out the organic, will surely save money.

Baby clothes can be bought cheap from ebay/car boot sales etc.

Child benefit and tax credits will go up to help cover a few of the expenses.

cashbie those are good ideas esp re the energy! am printing off your post

because i am studying, i don't think I CAN raise money by working. re benefit-no we are at max (used to be CAB benefits advisor!). Am SAHM atm so no mat pay

mp i think i will have to bite the bullet and do that re the vegetables.

oh shoes

last month I spent £100 at Clarks.

(bascially kids BOTH had new shoes then BOTH grew out of them in 2 weeks)

shoes

I am wondering if my kids actually NEED summer shoes, given that they spend the summer in bloody wellies

oh i suppose i could tutor maths or science or something to about gcse

but i really don't want to

I have not actually had DD2 fitted for shoes yet and she has had several pairs

I have bought all second hand and given her hand-me-downs - made sure they are not tight fitting and don't leave red marks, and her toes have lots of room

I really think that Clark's "expertise" is over-rated

I buy from Barratt's and Shoe Express which is about 8.00 per pair

yes and clarks shoes are horrible

oooh it is tempting

fillyjonk...clarks doodles are great for summer and are only about £12 a pair!

Could you think about getting registered as a childminder? I know a few women sho have done this to make a bit extra whilst off with their own babies.

I'm reading this with interest as I don't think I'll be going back to work after No2, at least not full time....we're considering downsizing/moving to a cheaper area in order for us to do that as our outgoings are currently more than my DHs incomings alone, and that's before food and clothes!

I was reading your other post on Tuesday....I assume that your DH is happy about the new baby now?

I thought clarks guaranteed you 6 weeks wear? I woudl be going back to teh shop [stroppy mum emoticon]

Fillyjonk - we have 3 young kids too ( #3 also a surprise baby, conceived while Bf, no periods AND using condoms. in fact IIRC we were not having sex either, or if DH was, I was asleep ...thsi seems to be a MN theme)

...anyway....we have the fiat multipla and I love it. lots of space instead to climb in and hold down screaming toddler while you strap him into the seat ect. but ours only has isofix seat on the two outside back seats, not teh middle one. but it has plenty room for the double buggy in teh back - lots of teh 7 seaters dont have a boot if you have the back row up

its very cheap to insure - I am 200 fully comp

oh i thought the multipla had 3 isofix seats? crappola

i honestly couldn't be a childminder. does not really appeal. Def might do it when own kids a bit older but...right now i'd have 3 of my own (and my kids are home educated, so they are not off at school). I'd be worried about whetehr i could look after any more, responsibly, really.

oh he's not happy BUT

money is a big big reason why not

so i am posting here to try to get ideas

jelly shoes in summer (£2 a pair)

wellies in winter (£4 a pair)

school shoes from shoes express (£8 a pair)

suitable for boys and girls. it's only when they started school that i started to buy clarks school shoes or sim.

cut your children's/hubby's hair (buy a clipper if not confident doing it with comb and scissors). when you go for your haircut, ask for a dry cut (wash and go to appt.) much cheaper between £10-£15 a time.

use almond oil straight after a bath (from supermarket) for supersoft skin - just don't go in the sun immediately after, you'll burn!

in the summer, sunlotion factor 25+ is a must and hats for children.

ohnoohnoohno

oh NO

I need nice haitcuts

oh NO, I'm not going to be able to afford decent haircuts, am I?

pin-money:

if your good a gardening, try propegating some or starting some from seed, to sell. depending on size of plant can get £3-£5 per pot for just some compost(home-made) and some water!! tomato/peas plants etc are good to start off with.

if you have a sewing machine get some patterns and buy some fabric from a charity shop (usually funky bedsheets and curtains) and make some dresses etc in the evening. do a alteration/curtain/hemming service advertise in local launderettes.

if you can paint, buy some cheap canvas' and sell on ebay - a friend of mine has made a mint by painting in pop-art style doing peoples dogs etc.

make marmalade with old coffee bottles to sell at your gate. costs about £2 to make a batch and sell a batch of 7/8 for £1 each. same with other pickles ie onions etc

i do grow a fair bit but am thinking i won't have time

i don't want to cut the organic stuff but i suppose somehting will have to go

Filly get yourself into a Suma collective or start your own

soooooo cheap when you buy everything wholesale

haircuts: I have mine done every couple of months for free at local Toni and Guy's when they are doing training. Most I have ever paid was a tenner and I have never had a duff cut yet.

agree re: veg, if things are too tight you can get a VAST amount of veg from greengrocers for a tenner

don't know anything about cars - what do you use the car for?