when to start buying baby bits?

[SammyFirstBaby]

I'm 6 weeks pregnant, but on a very low
budget of around 60 pounds every two weeks after bills and food for house.
When isit to early to start buying basic bits, like vests and socks.
Stuff that if the worst happens I can return.

First pregnancy, and very scared!!

Maybe you could ask your local shops how long it is before you can't return things if you keep the receipt?
Have you thought about contacting your local sure start centre? They often have clothes to give to people in need..
Congratulations btw

It would be a better idea to start putting money aside rather than spending it on things you might not need (I don't mean if the worst happens, heaven forbid, but if they turn out to be the wrong size or you find the same somewhere cheaper).

How about trying to put aside £5 per fortnight for now? Then if you desperately need to dip in to it to pay for something important the money's still there. If £5 is too much then even a pound or two will mount up over the months. Basic baby stuff is really cheap from supermarkets and just as good quality.

Instead of buying bits too soon could you put a few pounds a week aside instead until you are after 12 or 20 weeks?

If you can save a bit then you can buy a multipack rather than one vest or one pair of socks iyswim.

i would hold off buying anything for a long while yet.
especially if you have friends or family with children!

we found that for the first 3-4 months, we didn't have to buy DD anything except nappies (and most of those were cloth cheap second hand), because everyone wanted to give us stuff (either new as pressies or hand-me-downs)

we were even given a moses basket and a pram. (that one was very lucky though)

you might find that you might be able to borrow a cot from someone and just have to buy the mattress.

congratulations :)

Yeah I thought about saving, me and boyfriend are in the process of setting a savings account up. Just really excited about starting our own little family.
And as for family, I havnt spoken to them in around 4 years? They completly disowned me due to my choice of boyfriend.
I thought racist coments would have been old news now yawn
Also, does any one know what grants you get and when?

Thanks for all the help.

Sorry to hear about your family, you're better off without that I'm sure

I think there might be a sure start grant of £500 for first babies? Also child tax credits, working tax credits and child benefit. If you go on the you gov website (I think?) it should have all the details there

I didn't start buying anything until after the 20 week scan (no real reason to wait until then, it just seemed about right to us) but I would echo what others have said about put some money aside now if you can.

Also look on your local Freecycle and Freegle groups online, as people give away good quality baby stuff all the time for free (but it's very popular so you have to show interest very quickly when stuff is posted!)

Best of luck with your pregnancy, it's such an exciting yet nerve wracking time

Yeah, I'm not even going to tell them I'm pregnant.
And thanks xx

Congratulations Sammy. Your family don't know what they are missing out on, how sad for them and you . But, you do sound better off without them!!
Do have a nose around charity shops, they often have bits and pieces. I wouldn't start buying things until about 6 months though, just because you really don't need to!! and although it's really hard to resist you need to try and remember that most of the nonsense out there (baby baths for example) were just invented to make a sale - your baby really doesn't need anything much - just you. Good Luck.

yep, baby baths - we used the washing up bowl!

the family into which you were born doesn't matter - i'm sure you'll have other people who will be dying to shower you and your boyfriend with gifts for the new baby (and i'm including hand-me-downs in that!)

Congratulations Sammy!
Agree with other posters. I'm a first time mum too at 23+4 and all I have is a cardigan, hat, sleepsuit and a few bottles. I won't be buying the bulk of my stuff until late November and even then it will mainly be the bits I will need to take to the hospital for LO. My advice would be to sign up to all of the baby clubs (mothercare, boots, sainsburys, asda etc) as they always have offers and some of them a few freebie samples.