saving tips before mat leave and what to really buy

[rosear]

Hi,
Im currently 22 weeks pregnant, and Im saving towards those months when my mat leave runs out and I wont be earning anything. I have cut down already in costs of eating out, buying things, etc but trying to find more ways to save and/or make some extra profit from somewhere, any tips? Also, my baby will be due in Summer, and I don't want to buy too many things as I know I won't need them right at the beginning. I have borrowed some clothes already from family, and have got gifted a few other bits like sleepsuits, how many things do I actually need to buy?
Thanks!

Surely you are both saving ?

And you need to think about how to share equally the financial costs and the actual work of looking after a baby.

Is there someone else in the picture or are you having baby on your own?

Try to get as much as possible gifted, borrowed or second hand. Babies and toddlers grow really quickly so their clothes and other stuff doesn't really wear out.

Make sure work colleagues, neighbours and people who are just acquaintances of all ages know you are pregnant and when the baby is due. Hopefully you will know a few people who want to get rid of baby and toddler stuff. (Don't take anything people want back.)

I found people didn't really hand me things until I was over 30 weeks. I ended up getting a JL cot second hand but could have got one for free if I had waited a week. (I had to buy the cot mattress.)

Surely you are both saving ?

I doubt anyone is going to hire the baby just yet.

Bit random but was easy to do... Every time I needed to buy myself toiletries/cosmetics when I was pregnant, I bought two and put one up for maternity. Didn't need to buy anything like that during mat leave which made it easier to budget.

I didn't make that clear at all did I @loropianalover

I meant the op and the other person who helped to make the baby.

Both parents need to save for a baby and plan finances for when the baby is here

If you have to buy baby things, second hand all the way.

If you get decent quality second hand you'll be able to resell them for pretty much the same price if well looked after. New to second hand plummets. Plus you don't have to keep things hanging around in case you want a second.

Have you phoned all your suppliers Ike internet phone etc to get them as low as possible? I found when I said I was going on mat leave and wanted to cancel or reduce they were quite amenable.

You'll presumably get SMP. Have you done a full budget? I sat down and worked out that shortfall for those months and how much I needed to save before then to cover it.

Remember your annual leave. I used mine before going back to work. I took just under 10 months so I was always getting something - the SMP then holiday for three/four weeks.

Buy everything second hand - there is so much of it around!

Freecycle for by the bed cot ( buy new mattress), changing table( not really necessary unless you have a Caesar) and often bundles of first size baby clothes in immaculate condition. In fact most first six month stuff. Cook and freeze stuff if you can closer to due date. Congratulations on your first baby.

Buggies often better new but don’t go mad on cost

Agree to buying everything second hand.
High chair - get the cheap ikea one, it's easy to clean.
You don't need fittet sheets for Moses basket, pillow cases do nicely (discovered this one might my pukey baby puked one too many times)
I had new borns in baby grows the first few weeks, so much easier so you don't have to buy lots of newborn clothes. If someone you know knits, the little cardigans are lovely.

I know, well I am mostly the one saving for those months once my mat leave runs out - my partner will still be working so we think we could live on his salary but we haven't really sat down to talk finances yet

Sit down and have the chat about finances now. Also discuss when you are going back to work and how your finances will work then (unless you have free childcare available or are going to work opposite shifts, you will have to spend a chunk of money on childcare).

Agreeing that is way more important than wondering what to buy now. Although it's great that you are saving.

Mumsnet is full of threads from women (generally not married) who had a child and find themselves penniless as their partner doesn't give them any money or expects them to live on their savings.