Costs of a baby!

[Rhian82]

I'm just trying to do my calculations for finances after the baby's born and I'm on maternity leave. I know what all our current expenses are, so I'm just wondering what new weekly/monthly ones we'll have after the baby's here.

I'm not thinking about one-off costs such as the cot, but regular expenses - ie we're going to have reusable nappies and are thinking about using a local nappy laundry service, so I'm not counting the costs of the nappies, but am counting the weekly cost of the laundry.

All help appreciated - it's our first baby, and we're figuring it all out as we go along!

Breastfeeding is free, formula is not

If you do b/f - you will need more food in the house (I'm not joking - you get really hungry) at least to start with.

Something you may not have thought much about - you are likely to need new clothes regularly both for the baby and for you as your shapes changes (unless you are a snap back to a size 6 kind of girl and even then if you b/f your tops won't fit)

When you get to weaning stage - jars or extra fruit and veg.

Toys as the baby gets older.

Main cost is probably the amount of washing you will do not just for nappies but baby clothes.

Cost of petrol if you need to drive a lot and are at home all the time.

I know you aren't thinking about one off costs but people usually end up buying a Maclaren six months down the line

HTH

Oh and if you go back to work - a MAJOR cost is childcare......

Thanks muchly Ooh I def know about childcare - we're choosing a nursery at the moment which is why my mind's on finances!

Luckily I'm breastfeeding, and we don't have a car, so that's two major expenses ruled out!

IF you are at home during the day you will be using more electricity and gas.
And the central heating during the day if you would ususally be at work.

You will get through more tea and toilet roll too.

You only need the basics.
Don't overload on little outfits which will never get worn.
Just something to sleep in, a few vests, and hat, mittens, coat if cold time of year. Don't buy shoes - not needed until they walk! A cot, a pushchair, car seat for birth to 3 years (yes these can be found and cheaper than buying one which last 9 months and then have to buy another!)

I bought a baby bath with ds, won't use with number 2. Just put them in with you or use the kitchen sink. Top an tail bowl, waste of time. High chair is not needed, use a bouncy chair and then transfer to a booster seat when they are older, much cheaper and easier to store. I could go on!

As for weekly costs - nappies around £10 a week including wipes. Don't use nappy bags.
Or buy washables, I used these with ds until he was 8 months, I washed them at home myself and spent around £3 a week on washing powder. Formula gets less expensive as they get older, but of course there is extra fruit/veg to buy, but honestly it will only be a matter of a few pounds a week. Much cheaper to make your own puree food than buying Jar food. Although I used to use Jars sometimes when I was out for the day or on a Friday night when being lazy!

Congrats btw!

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i did 2-3 loads of washing a day for the first few months (cloth nappiles and ds had reflux)

clothes minimal for ds, made do with cheap babygros/vest from tescos brightened up with stuff from charity shops. Don't think i spent much more on clothes for me that i would normally

books + toys again minimum, loads of pressies and really good finds in NCT sales and charity shops

food yes more in house but was made from scratch (no buying in of sandwiches etc) and little waste as ate in most days.

No money spent on going on + very little on booze

net effect was loads of money left over for first few months

After about 6 month we started to spend more
£6-9 per week on activities (singing, baby signing, swimming)
proper clothes
plastic plates and baby cutlery, doidy cups + the like
£2 per day on coffee and babycino (decided was necessity)

i did 2-3 loads of washing a day for the first few months (cloth nappiles and ds had reflux)

clothes minimal for ds, made do with cheap babygros/vest from tescos brightened up with stuff from charity shops. Don't think i spent much more on clothes for me that i would normally

books + toys again minimum, loads of pressies and really good finds in NCT sales and charity shops

food yes more in house but was made from scratch (no buying in of sandwiches etc) and little waste as ate in most days.

No money spent on going on + very little on booze

net effect was loads of money left over for first few months

After about 6 month we started to spend more
£6-9 per week on activities (singing, baby signing, swimming)
proper clothes
plastic plates and baby cutlery, doidy cups + the like
£2 per day on coffee and babycino (decided was necessity)