Living on a budget

[Mummyboy1]

Looking for tips/ advice. Recently moved into my own place (renting) with my baby, single on maternity leave. I'm currently claiming universal credit, in total bring in around £1400. First time living alone. I did a rough look at all my outgoings and it's more than I'm bringing in. How do you survive?? I'm not sure what I can cut out and I'm dipping into my savings all the time. Obviously have had to kit out our home and I still need things. Really worried that I need to go back to work now. He's only 2 months old

Post your budget and people may be able to advise?

Make sure the things you "need" for your new home are really "needs" and not wants.

Keep a book or spreadsheet on absolutly everything you spend every day. Have a budget forbeach meal and stick to it. Shop in the evenings if possible when supermarkets do the second mark downs; the first reduction is never that much. Shop around, I use Home Bargains for Nikki loo roll, kitchen towel plus get soap, toothpaste, painkillers there but not soap powder, there are usually better offers to be had. Have a look at trolley.co.uk to compare prices on everything in the main supermarkets. I rarely pay full price for anything.

Make a pot of veg and grain or lentil soup each week, its great for lunches, fills you up and is cheap. Dont waste any veg, stick it in the soup. Learn to love lentils and chickpeas!

Make sure you are claiming everything you are entitled to

What are your outgoings?
Do a breakdown & post, maybe someone can advise.

Who will be looking after you DS when you do go back to work?
Congratulations on your new baby

It all depends on your outgoings and what your rent is.
Some get way less than £1400 and still manage.

A spread sheet is your friend.

List income on one side:
Smp /ma
Uc
Cms

Then essential fixed monthly costs:
Rent
Council tax
Utilities
Phone contract

Then essential variable monthly costs:
Food
Nappies

Then other things that are not every month:
Clothes
Transport
Savings

Etc different for everyone

Then finally a list of things you would like but could be cancelled eg Netflix, Spotify

Working out a monthly food cost budget really helps, shop in charity shops or keep an eye out on local Facebook groups etc for baby things

Impossible to advise without your outgoings

Within the £1400 have you taken into consideration any housing payment from UC?

How much is your rent/mortgage? Have you applied for the 25% CT reduction and CT benefit? These are separate to UC.

TBH babies don't cost a lot. My total income is similar, for me and 2 teens. It's very hard.

Don't buy new baby clothes, go to a car boot sale for those. Babies need hardly any toys and 'stuff' - they just need you. Go to parent and baby groups and look out for local NCT nearly-new sales as well.

Have only the basic freeview channels and cancel everything else.

Check the price per kilo of absolutely every single thing in the supermarket. I bought ten chicken drumsticks for £2.29 the other day. That's five meals for you, with some spuds and veg. Buy in season vegetables and avoid all the exotic stuff. One tiny bag of trimmed green beans costs double the price of a big cabbage and four times the price of a bag of carrots.

Cut your own hair, and stop having your nails done.

Can you switch to a cheaper phone contract? Same with other utilities.

are you claiming council tax reduction? are you also on top of that claiming single person occupancy and getting 25% of the tax demand?

have you put in for discretionary housing payment? this would be done at local council not universal credit

as other pp state unless we see your figures then we can't help and assist with suggestions on thet

give a breakdown on council tax - and whether its over 12 months or 10 months

rent payment
water bill\gas and electric
mobile phone
wifi
tv license

transport costs

food shopping
nappies
baby clothing

budget planner

Use this budget planner to work out your expenditure and income.

Use charity furniture stores to buy furniture, cupboards etc cheaper. They can have some really good stuff.

@Fernandina

Don't buy new baby clothes, go to a car boot sale for those. Babies need hardly any toys and 'stuff' - they just need you. Go to parent and baby groups and look out for local NCT nearly-new sales as well.

Have only the basic freeview channels and cancel everything else.

Check the price per kilo of absolutely every single thing in the supermarket. I bought ten chicken drumsticks for £2.29 the other day. That's five meals for you, with some spuds and veg. Buy in season vegetables and avoid all the exotic stuff. One tiny bag of trimmed green beans costs double the price of a big cabbage and four times the price of a bag of carrots.

Cut your own hair, and stop having your nails done.

Can you switch to a cheaper phone contract? Same with other utilities.

I was also going to suggest car boot sales for anything you might need for baby or household, much cheaper than charity shop prices and you can haggle. As the weather is getting better they will be starting up again soon. I'm so sorry OP. It's such hard work being poor, watching every penny 😪

This is what you have savings for - to tide you over until you’re back working, so don’t feel bad about using savings while you’re on your own with a two month old baby. Congratulations on your new arrival