One Income Families
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Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7031
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Topic: One Income Families
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Subject: One Income Families
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 5:02pm
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Hi there,
Here's a question for stay at home Mums/Dads...how do you cope on one income? What kinds of things do you do to save the dollars? I am hoping to take a year off work but am worried about how it's going to affect us financially so am looking for some tips. Thanks in advance  ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Replies:
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 5:18pm
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Hi there, we are a one income family, have been for 4 yrs.
Tips: Buy baby clothes now for next year. When they come up on sale get a few items.... I do this constantly, just means I am off to a head start for next year. Do your grocery shopping fortnightly or monthly if you can and only buy items that are on sale! Have just started the monthly rotation as DH paid monthly.... Budget, budget budget abd stick to it!!!! Most important!!!! Save as much as you can between now and when bubs is born. If you have a baby shower, encourage people to get items like trainer drinking cups, baby spoons, bottles if you are going that way rather than just newborn stuff. Or if you are going the MCN way, get them to get you nappies!!! ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 5:22pm
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I think the most important thing you can be doing now is save, save save! Try as mcu h as you can now to live on one income and save as much of the other as possible.
other things to help now are: Stocking up on general household items so they won't need to be part of your weekly shopping (clothes powder, toothpaste, toiletpaper, deodarant etc) Build up payments on utilities - paying an extra amount each month so you can reduce payments for some of the time you are off. Look at things you can cut back on now and make those cuts - shopping at different stores, changes at home to make it better (thermal lined cutains to help with heating etc). Build up a range of meals that are tasty, nutritious and easy to make so you aren't compelled to get takeaways. Many preople rate the destitute gourmet, there is also a link on WINZ to a comprehensive healthy eating cookbook (don't have the link but you should be able to find it there). Investigate the possibility of a mortgage holiday for a couple of months or an interest only scheme for a couple of months if you have a mortgage. Investigate options for travelling to things you need to do for bubs now that you can walk to - plunket, local groups etc. These are off the top of my head, i am sure many others will also have great ideas! -------------  
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Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 5:26pm
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Oh, another thing - if you are going disposables, then getting them from one of the online stores seems to be so much cheaper - so far my research shows most people like dryups. (thats what we are going to try after bubs is out of newborn, we already have over 250 newborn nappies).
Trademe is great for bargains for some of the things you might want to get for bubs - we got the bouncer, stroller, change table and other bits and pieces off there for huge savings and it doesn't matter that they aren't new, bubs won't care! Borrow - borrow as many things from friends who have older kids as you can. We have borrowed the monitor, the newborn playmat, the highchair and loads of other things too. -------------
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Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 5:38pm
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Me again - sorry! Just found these tips at the end of that WINZ cookbook I mentioned earlier:
- grow some veges in the garden or in pots to supplement meals as they are often expensive and go to waste - Use alternative cleaners: baking soda mixed to a paste with water can be a creme cleaner for benches etc; strong vinegar/water solution cleans the toilet, an all purpse cleaning liquid recipe - 4 L hot water, 1/4 c vinegar, 1 T baking soda - don't use the dryer, use the clothes line and an indoor rack - Don't use the oven as a heater (only included this one because on that wasted show one guy did!! Insane!) - microwave and electric frypan are cheaper to run than the oven. -------------
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 6:37pm
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What do we do to save money lets see....
We use cloth for everything, nappies, wipes, mama pads and moon cups, cloth breast pads...the savings totally add up. Meal plan meal plan meal plan. Buy only what you need and shop once a fornight. Buy budget brands, you don't need name brands ie: Coke $2.50 - homebrand - $0.89 - makes a big difference. We only spend $200 per fornight for our family of 3 and I know of larger families with a similar budget so it can be done. Save power - again it makes a huge difference to the bills, turn of lights, don't leave things on standby. Make meals from scratch, do your own baking. Again saves a huge amount. Get a selection of easy recipes that you can use each fornight. Once you are in the habit of it then it's no biggie to cook each night or make your own bikkies, bread etc. That's about all I can think of for now.Hope that helps. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 7:25pm
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i can't add much to what's already been said but
*definately shopping once a fortnight..it's alot cheaper than weekly shopping. we spend $150 per fortnight. even if we don't need much i stock up on things especially if they are on special. we only buy pams/budget brand as it's just as good as anything else *if using disposables, shop online. i've done alot of research during my days before we went MCN and babysupplies.co.nz has the best and cheapest nappies (IMHO) cien brand *run dishwasher/dryer/hot machine wash at night times after the cheaper rates kick in *on those cold nights, go to bed and snuggle while you watch tv (if you can) saves on heating *if you haven't already, open a bank acc with no eft card and deposit $$ into it regularly. having to go into the bank to get cash will make you think twice. we've got 2 like that with kiwibank. ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 7:37pm
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If you have freezer space, it's nice to make 2x meals and put half of it away for a night when you can't be bothered cooking.
Budget...and stick to it. Don't forget to budget in spending money, and money to save. Have a look at what entitlements you can get - accomodation supplement (WINZ)? Family tax credit (IRD)? If you know someone who has just finished their family, see if you can get some of their hand-me-down clothes and/or furniture. You'll save a heap. We've been on a single income for 4 years (since we got married), it's tough at times but the best advice we ever got was to budget together, it saves a heap of money problems later. -------------  |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 7:38pm
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PS Someone suggested taking a mortgage holiday by IMO you should try to avoid doing that if possible (even if you just lowered your payments would be heaps better) just in case you change your mind about returning to work, or decide to go part-time. Then you wouldn't have locked yourself in. ------------- |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 8:25pm
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I agree with what the other ladies have said.
We have been a single income family for so long, since having paris, and now i have finished study, i am working and mike is at study so we are in it for the long haul of at least another 3 years after this. Find out what you qualify for, and don't be afraid to use it. it's there for a reason. Like others have said, budget, realise what are wants and what are needs.. sometimes the two run into each other and you realise you can live on alot less than what you actually think you can. sit down and write out incomings and outgoings for every week, or pay period if it isn't weekly. that way we know exactly down to the dollar how much we should get in. if the pay packet is not always the same, budget on the bottom flat rate.. anything like overtime or penal rates that get added come as a bonus and are extra money. We have everything on AP's through our bank, with an account that is $12 flat rate per month, saves us a heap on AP fees. and also makes sure our bills get paid as otherwise we just don't get time to do it. for our power we pay the same amount in fortnightly amounts, which is the years amount divided up - genesis does this. it means no matter if our power bills go up or down, we pay the same but it also means no nasty letters telling us we are in arrears if we don't pay the full amount one month as it all evens out. we use internet banking alot too as we can check on our money easily and know what we have in the bank at a glance, and also where our money has gone (surprising sometimes how much the little things add up!) we dont use the dryer unless it's absolute need, we have a 3 tier tall washing hanger, which washing gets put on if its too wet to hang out - another good thing is a line inthe shed or carport. at least then you can just chuck in dryer for a few seconds to finish it off if really needed. we don't have a dishwasher, and unless there's heaps of dishes, we do the big lot of dishes at night. We don't hot wash at all, clothes get just as clean and far less faded with a cold wash. and hand me downs and supermarket specials (ie stocking up when stuff is cheap) are helpful and save heaps. buying at end of season sales for the next year is too. TNT have great sales and we just go and buy roughly what size we think we'll need for the next season. Paris has all her 4 yr old shorts and summer stuff sitting in her wardrobe waiting for summer. W do our shop once a fortnight, and for our family of 4 of us, including nappies (even when they were both in them) plus when ayja was on formula.. our budget was $240 a fortnight, and we stuck to that. there are some things we will not compromise on for certain brands, you quickly learn what is a good deal to buy budget and what just isn't great - ie tastes awwful or doesn't do the job. for stuff for us, like shampoo, feminine things, make-up - it comes out of our own spending money. (hence i don't actually use that much, because i use my spending money on the kids most times to buy at the sales etc, or pay off laybys. we buy for xmas at the july toy sales, put down a layby and just get a few little bits closer to xmas. we buy for birthdays at sales too, kmart and farmers are great for their 20% off sale. there's so so much more, but i guess you learn to live within your means. we are lucky in that now my income is actually more than what mikes was when our roles were reversed, so we have that little bit of extra cash, which is now going towards paying off some things that have been nagging us for a long time. and then will go toward our wedding. i have written out a plan, to pay off things, (which can be a good idea pre baby so it free's up money after baby) so that we would have been debt-free by early october.. before i would have gone on maternity leave. we no longer have to think about that, but are still sticking to the plan, so that by the end of this year, we will be debt-free, and any money we get, is ours, and ours alone. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 26 April 2007 at 9:54pm
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When we lived in Motueka we were on a very low one income. But we budgeted hard out.
I bought bulk packs of meat and broke them up, we grew our own veges but still bought where necessary, with clothes I accepted any hand-me-downs, and once Haleigh was to big for them I would buy clothes in loads of sizes when they were on special. I also buy big when it comes to clothes, so Haleighs still wearing clothes I bought this tiem last year as I went crazy in all the sales. MAybe start stocking up in clothes while your on 2 incomes and stock up on things like nappies and anything else you may be needing NAppies, depending what oyur going to use, cloth would be cheapest, but if you go disposables we bought bulk packs good ones at night and cheapies for day, we got ones from baby factory very reasonable and are great for a day nappy and are ok as a night nappy. Family Assistance pays alot better now than it did when we got it so you could be entitled to a good amount, also accom supp from WINZ is always helpful to. Also possibly if your power company does it do a smooth pay, we are with contact and pay them $75 fortnight and jsut keep it up so in the months where we use hardly any power we end up building up credit which is really good, our power bills look very impressive every month. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 8:48am
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What we find works is withdrawing cash from our account to cover costs for that fortnight (week whatever). Then put the eftpos and credit cards away and you automatically spend less!!
I totally have to agree with the meal plan idea I look at what is coming up on special that week and plan my meals around that - write up the meals on a monthly plan I have up on our fridge and stick to it!! Definitley helps save. We spend $250 a fortnight for groceries, toiletries and nappies - this might go down now that we aren't living in Wellington anymore? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: newmum
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 8:50am
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Dh also always takes his lunch to work to save money. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 8:52am
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i def found nappies cheaper when we lived in motueka and food in general than in wellington.
for some reason we spend more here than we did there ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: emeldee
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 11:54am
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And don't forget to get your Pamol/Zinc and Castor Oil Barrier Cream etc. on prescription from the doctors for the kiddies (I do it whenever the kids need to see the doctor) - saves paying full price.
(I also ask the rellies for gift vouchers for presents - we have loads of stuff so gift vouchers can be used on things we actually want or need). ------------- |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 12:57pm
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this is a great thread guys! I am panicking about going to one income as my income has been the main one and it is going to be horrible to let it go. We dont spend extravagently at the moment but we arent good at planning so little things add up. We are trying really hard to get as caught up with things as possible before bubs arrives as we are also saving for our wedding.
we plan to grow our own veges, DF is from a farming background and is missing the garden and now we have shifted to a place that has a garden we can go for it. I will be very impatient waiting for things to grow though. We have already started to shop at the farmers market and only buythings that are in season as I think we should learn to live that way anyway. I need to get back to a lunch I enjoy for work though. My tastebuds have been nuts during this pregnancy and I often get to work and think "yuk! I dont want that now!" I think a toastie sandwich maker will help at work. Keep the advice coming guys!!!! |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 1:29pm
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There's also another thread I started a few months back about money saving ideas that has some more tips in it. I'll bump it up for you guys
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 1:31pm
| Oh, it's in the First baby, second or more board |
Posted By: jamesmum
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 1:49pm
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I've just started buying christmas club voucher's at New World that way we can use those to do our groceries around xmas time and free up some money for presents.
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 2:22pm
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oooh and I save LOTS of money now after switching my bank accounts (ok, so only about $15 a month) I set up a streamline account with ASB bank, which is COMPLETELY free of charge, after you have set up all your AP's etc. So no charges for aps or anything, I do all my banking through this account and it costs me ZILCH!!! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 2:27pm
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I do the Chrisco thing, while i know they aren't the cheapest, I put away $5 a week and don't have to find 100s at xmas time. We are still eating out of the contents of the hamper i got last xmas. Also I Lay-by all my clothes, for $10 pr week I can afford $500 of clothes a year. Kmart is fantastic for this. Growing vege is great, also stocking up when they are in season and freezing. Pumpkins are 25c at the moment that makes a lot of soup for the winter.
Talk to WINZ/IRD get everything you are entitled too. you've worked for it. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 5:02pm
Ay?!?!? In Palmy the pumpkins are $2.49ea  lucky you 
If you go the toastie sandwich way, or even the packed lunch way, it helps to make a few at once and put them in the freezer. Freezer bags are great and not too expensive. ------------- |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 5:11pm
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With Chrisco, if you can do it, it saves a tonne of money to get the christmas club vouchers instead of paying for Chrisco. We had a thread on Chrisco on EBB- one perosn works at PnS, they worked out the value of a hamper from Chrisco on normal PnS prices (nothing on sale prices) and it waas $100 more to get it from Chrisco. SUpermarket vouchers give you a discount of some sort and you can get exactly what you need, rather than what they put in.
I do know there are some people that Chrisco really works for though. -------------
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Posted By: sparkle
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 5:49pm
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I'm a big advocate for shopping online for your groceries!
I've just done my big "once a fortnight" shop and spent $265.00. Probably sounds like a lot for only 2 people but in that I bought 2 boxes of beer for DH, 2 packs of 30 nappies and 3 8pks of toilet paper! I try to stock up on the house essentials each shop so we have a bit of a stock pile when bubs comes. I probably won't have to "shop" again for another 2 -3 weeks depending on how we go. And the dairy is at the end of the road for bread and milk. The way you save money is to go thru all the specials first. I saved a whooping $86.00 today!! If I actually went into the shop there is no way I would have seen all those specials! I also second the idea of paying extra on the bills. I pay extra on all the rates, power, phone etc so that each month we are adding to the amount we are in credit. I figure it's got to help, especially with the power (we live in the coldest house in the world and have a baby due in the middle of winter!!!) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 6:43pm
Have you seen the ads for watties toasties????? CRAZY!!!! but I like your idea of freezing them. |
busymum wrote:Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 27 April 2007 at 10:50pm
i also second the idea of getting supermarket xmas club rather than chrisco. i'm not baggin chrisco in any way but in my opinion, you can get more of what you actually want and need if you have supermarket xmas coupons.
just my 2cents worth ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: bumblefoot
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 6:40am
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My advice with the xmas club vouchers would be to avoid New World if at all possible. My Dad used to be a manager of a big brand supermarket, adn would often compare the prices of all the major chains to make sure he was the most competitetive. New World were ALWAYS the most expensive, and had the least range overall. However when it came to the cheapest, if buying in bulk, then Pak n Save is good, but only for bulk (their deals cater more for the bulk purchases) but they dont pack your groceries, which of you are pregnant, or have a little one in tow, the last thing you need is to pack freaking groceries into shoping bags yourself. Countdown was by and large the most cost effective, and customer friendly the majority of the the time. The staff at any supermarket are paid to pack the groceries, so why dont Pak n Save see it as necessary? Beats me... Oh and in case you are wondering which chain my Dad managed for 20yrs, well it was the "by and large most cost effective and customer friendly place, for the majority of the time...." You guessed it. Good old Countdown. We still shop there now, and Dad has been retired for 4years now. Best of luck on the budgeting, we are taking on some of the fab ideas on here, always a wealth of knowledge and wisdom! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Spudling
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 8:25am
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I suggest to have different bank accounts for different things.
We have a house & bills account that covers morgage, rates and ALL household bill, then a food account (NOT for takeaways). Then a spending account. When the spending account is spent, you have to be strong not to dip into the others, get your bank to set it up so you can't efpos from those accounts Also we have a couple of saving accounts, one is a holdiay account which we put a small ammount aside each week so when we do ever get to go on holiday...we can without stressing on how we will pay for it. ------------- http://tickers.families.com"> 
http://tickers.families.com"> 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 10:36am
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If you do Shop n Go at PnS, i got the box and pack as i go. Then all you have to do is pay, and not wait ages to get thru the check out. Buttercup pumpkins were 25c this week at Write Price Feilding. I didn't realise there was much difference between here in Palmy!?
Christmas club vouchers are cheaper than Chrisco, however means adding an extra $5-10 to the weekly shop, for some reason i find putting an AP of $5 on to Chrisco easier. I also have a christmas acc with the bank, DFs b'day is 3 days before and i can't afford all them gifts at one time, and holidays as well. |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 10:55am
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I like christmas club because if I spent more at one particular shop then I don't buy vouchers but if I spend far less at another time I can buy more, I'm not stuck on having to spend a certain amount every time which is cool.
Pumpkins are one of those things that once they get them in stock they gotta get rid of them, write price obviously had too much stock and got rid of them for cheap, which is better than letting them rot I suppose lol |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 11:04am
oops! I was talking about crown pumpkins. Dunno how much the buttercups were 
Didn't realise you lived so close either! ------------- |
Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 12:09pm
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I should save this thread seeing as i will be a single mumma with one income. lol. ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 1:47pm
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Happy 21st for tomorrow Mel, hope you have a good day.
Our new world in Blenhiem has alot of stuff that is chraper than our countdown, for example, most baby stuff is considerably cheaper, and the dog food we buy is cheaper there as well. I shop around, use the mailers etc. We have no PNS here, and our countdown is fairly useless, often I go and whatever is advertised isn't in stock and the shelves are always part empty, it really grots me, plus I find the gum chewing teenage checkout girls irritating! I'm a fairly careful shopper *ahem!* so I find I spend roughly the same, definately no more anyhow?------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 3:52pm
| I must admit I prefer New World. I hate the hustle and bustle of PNS and countdown and the woolworths just seems so boring. I find New World relaxing to shop at and I know where everything is. I also shop carefully. I tried to do an online woolworths shop last night and was freaking out at the prices. I am sure I dont spend as much on some brands at NW. I just need a list and need to stick to it....and never go shopping on an empty tum!!! |
Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 4:56pm
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i usually do the chrisco thing apart from last year i thought they were kind of crappy.
im really stressing about jumping down to one income mainly as at the moment my partner and i live at seperate addresses. and as well as a morgage payment on my place we have a lease on the building our business is in which togeather are almost $700+pw plus im paying off my car at $60pw plus the house insurance and car insurance 
and because my partner has a day job and also our own business we arnt entitled to much at all through ird or working for families which is really stressing me out as ive always been a independant person and always lived on a strict budget anyway! my partner tells me not to worry as he has alot of money saved that hes been saving for over 10yrs so i dont want to even think of touching it as as far as im concerned he worked dam hard for thet money and i dont want to blow it. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 8:06pm
| I suggest that if you can, start living on one income before you start TTC to see if you can do it. That's what we have done, and my sis and her DF have aswell, from advice from our parents, as they did it too. We got a mortgage on one income and will have a boarder in to ease the burden, and it means we don't have to stress about losing an income. |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 8:19pm
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Catrad, is your partner the father of your baby? If so then there is no prob with him eating into his savings. You'd eat into yours if you had any.
but I know what you mean. We are trying to scrimp and save for bubs and I feel that DF is sacrificing things and I want him to still have his treats....then I check myself and think its his bloody baby too and of course he should sacrifice. Mind you, he is more than happy to, it is just my silly head that gets it all confused.
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 8:22pm
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One thing that is good about chrisco is if you live a fair way from town, AND hate the xmas shopping rush
I'm doing the warehouse chirstmas club as well as Pak N Save this year. |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 28 April 2007 at 8:23pm
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he he, and we always feel guilty for them not having things.. but then i think , hang on, when was the lat time i went out without the kids, when was the last time i dyed my hair, got it cut, hhhm bought myself some clothes, or shoes, or heck, a chocolate bar?!! i then realise that at the mo, i am the main breadwinner even.. and still i am in that mentality that i was when he was the breadwinner and i was the student. I felt like it was his money not ours.
it's a head thing. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: 11111
Date Posted: 29 April 2007 at 3:20pm
Ok well have to put a plug in for Paky here(ex checkout girl). If you use shop'n'go you can pack as you go round only needing to unload your trolly if you get a rescan wich after a while of use should be 1 out of 10 time's. As for the c/o being paid to pack not sure if you are aware but the wages sux deffintly not paid enough to pack. And if for some reason there is a coustmer struggling with young children or being pregnant or elderly you will fine alot of the checkout staff if asked nicely would be willing to help to pack a wee bit depending on how much stuff the coustmer has. Oh and countdown here in NP IMHO is horrid to shop in the few time's I have it is so dirty and messy can't find thing's I am after. ------------- Deborah Mum to:   
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Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 29 April 2007 at 4:58pm
Yep hes the father and thats very true. i just feel so bad tho as he works 7-5pm at his day job then weekends and nights at our business ( he builds cars to spec for people) so he really doesnt have any time to spend it on himself or give himself treats at all, and the money hes saved is so that we can ( very luckily) move the business and our family to a nice block of land freehold, when we find some decent land. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 29 April 2007 at 5:01pm
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oh and we cant really do the living off one income thing, seems we both kind of live at seperate houses haha (which is quite weird) but also has definate advantages ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 29 April 2007 at 5:12pm
| Its a wierd mindset we females have. I confided in DF about how I dont want his lifestyle to be compromised by the baby and the look he gave me...I think he was about to have ne committed. we forget, just becasue they arent carrying the baby we feel they arent as involved. but men have an overwhelming urge to "provide" for us and I think we have to let them. But it so hard when we have always been able to provide for ourselves. |
Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 29 April 2007 at 5:22pm
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every time i say thankyou to my partner for doing something he always says its his "job" to do it, which is what he also says about how many hours he works he says hes doing it to provide for the future we both want, which is neat although sometimes makes me feel as tho im not pulling my weight. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 29 April 2007 at 5:40pm
Yeah, and you can make a lot of soup from 1 pumpkin, great first food for bubs too. Interestingly no one has mentioned the cost of baby food!! After looking at the prices in the supermarket, I would say one area of savings is to make it your self. I mean $3 for baby food apple?! |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 29 April 2007 at 6:00pm
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Catrad, Know what you mean about feeling like you arent pulling your weight. My DF is fantastic and does so much for me and I wonder what Ican do for him and I often come up blank.
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Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 29 April 2007 at 6:43pm
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i know what you mean, i have no idea what i can do for him sometimes, especially the last few days that ive been on bed rest he wont even let me off the couch to cook dinner or even just get him a coffee.
i think the price of baby food is rediculas, i used to peel a apple and stew it in the microwave for about 10min then id puree it with some of the juice, or add a little orange juice. sarah loved it. another thing we save alot of money on is MILK!! we go through around 8 litres of milk a week especially when i have cold milo cravings and ive found that you save soooooo much money by buying from your local bp petrol station or shell stations also you get 2x 2L milk for $5 and considering that the anchor 2L are $4 each thats saving quite alot.
i also make casaroles and freeze them. and pumpkin soup and freeze it. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 10:05am
| Thats funny catrad I work for the Anchor distributior and it is cheaper to buy milk from BP, Woolworths or Countdown. their homebrands is cheaper than what we can buy direct from Fonterra. |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 10:28am
| Is milk cheaper at BP??? how about compared to the milkman? We fill up at BP all the time so maybe we should start getting milk there....I am going through so much at the moment as I am having cravings for strawberry nesquik! I have never been a big milk drinker but we go through about 6 litres a week at the mo. Guess bubs wants milk |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 10:30am
| I work for the Anchor milkman, and it is cheaper at BP or Woolworths/Countdown - either Homebrands or Dairy Dale range. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 10:48am
I think you have a really good point with that...B is always saying how it's not his money but our money, I might be out earning but I'm still working just as hard. Of course I think we have the advantage that we both grew up with stay at home mums so it's not as hard for us to get our heads around unlike people who have been brought up more with the mindset that they must earn thier own money to really make a valuable contribution. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 11:10am
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Bp cheaper?? lol! I have a bp fuel card which someone else pays... maybe I'll get my milk there as well! lol!! ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: BabyOnBoard
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 3:49pm
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breads cheap at petrol stations! At the supermarket a special is 3 loaves for $5 but at a petrol station it's like $1.10 a loaf ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 3:56pm
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If you buy homebrand bread at the supermarket it's only 95cents per loaf. Homebrand milk is also cheaper...I think a 3 litre milk is the only slightly more or the same cost as branded 2 litre milks. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 4:25pm
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im a big fan of the rivermill bread at countdown its 99c a loaf and their super thick toast bread is so yummy.
im really finatical about power wasting, and ive found that leaving my oven turned off at the wall until i need it has saved alot ( i dont really use the oven alot) and making sure that power points are switched off when not in use, particulary ones that are hidden away in the garage. also supermarkest often try to suck you in with their 3 for $5 deals. as when you think about it if you were only needing 1 of something that was $2 if you buy 3 then your spending money that you dont need to, its their way of trying to make you think your getting a good deal when alot of the time your not. its good to buy meat eg: sausages in bulk and split them up into smaller portions when you get home and freeze them. or if you have a friend with a farm, talk to them about home kill meat(yes sounds gross) we get all our meat from a friends farm and it lasts us so so long i dont know how we would get by without it. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 4:29pm
| Yeah home kill is far cheaper, even if you pay a butcher to cut it up for you. My parents home kill for most of their meat. I should remember to actually ask for some next time they do it so that DH can get some meat for free - I always forget because I'm vegetarian that it never occurs to me to ask for some. |
Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 4:44pm
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my friends partners a butcher so we always manage to bribe him to cut it up in return for a box of beer or a couple of roasts.
however since being pregnant i cant stand the sight or smell of meat cooking especially mince. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 4:59pm
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Just thinking about what some of you have said about not feeling you are ulling your weight/wanting to do stuff for your partner etc.
You are! You are doing such an importnat thing right now, which he couldn't do even if he wanted to - you are carrying his child. And this is a physically, mentally and emotionally draining job that is 24 hours a day. By the sounds of it, you have partners that actually get that - and that is why they want to take care of you and do everything for you. You should NOT feel guilty. And then, once bubs comes, if you are the one who is at home with bubs, well you are making sacrifices to do that. And yes, your partners may be working hard and earning the only money in your family, but you are working hard doing a very important job. And then, if you do go back to work, no matter how good DH or DP is you will still do more stuff for bubs than him because that is what women do. SO again - don't feel guilty, you are a partnership and it sounds like many of you are in excellent partnerships where you are both looking at the same set of goals. That is something to celebrate! -------------
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 5:48pm
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Well said Miss. I believe that deep down but every now and then I have to remind myself of it. However I do get the odd joke in about. We have just moved house and I couldnt help at all. DF did it ALL himself...mybig strong hero. I felt bad as I couldnt help him so I told him that he "had one on me for now...but come August I will get my own back and he will never ever have on one me again as I will get the ultimate mileage out of pushing a baby out "
We are lucky, I just dont ever want to take him for granted and I want to do nice things for him too, as well as carry his baby. |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 5:58pm
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Miss I think you just summed up everything B is always saying!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 30 April 2007 at 7:13pm
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that was really well summed up, and i also have to keep reminding myself of things like that although after the prem labour scare last week there isnt much at all i can do hubby likes to remind me " thats our son your carrying so sit down and dont argue" hahaha which is nice but does get rather anoying.
and as nzpiper said, i just dont want him to feel like hes taken for granted. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 12:57pm
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*bump*
On a similar thread, how has your work/income changed after having bubs. If you haven't gone back to work, what do you do for income/money? |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 1:06pm
| I guess my concern is losing my financial independence. How have other mums, mums to be managed? |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 2:03pm
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We started on a single income when we got married (I was earning, DH was a full-time student not eligible for assistance because of my pay). Our DD1 was born in the summer holidays at which time we were eligible for the PTC, I finished working at 35 weeks pg, and DH went onto the student allowance for his 2nd year study when DD1 was 8 weeks old.
Through that time I kept working on Saturday mornings (DH babysat DD for me with EBM) and 4 hours during the week and take DD with me. DH worked on Saturday afternoons - mowing lawns and helping a friend redecorate his rental home. It was pretty stressful (we were always out) but ok short-term. The plus for me was that I didn't have to put my baby in care. DH had a year working on-call but has just started working full-time on a salary, we are now on about the same as I used to earn 4 years ago. We also get family assistance and have had a boarder this year. DH and I take a small allowance out of his pay for lunches (him) and clothes (me) as we choose. Advice? Agree on a budget together. Start now; your current income can we nice back-up savings. ------------- |
Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 2:11pm
| Thanks for the advice, for DF he thinks children are ages away, (I don't think he will be ready until they are born) but if we start putting a little away now, then I wont be forced to put my baby in to care cause I have to go back to work. Having just met my friends 11 week old daughter I don't know how mums can leave them. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 2:22pm
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I don't think my DH was properly ready until after DD was born too - it's a huge adjustment! ------------- |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 4:23pm
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I worked out a budget when we were thinking of starting to ttc and then we worked on our savings from then to get to a point where we could start ttc, get pregnant and afford a years leave. Of course we didnt expect to get pregnant straight away (we did), so I am pleased that we had started prior to ttc or else we would be in a more difficult postiion than we are.
it is a huge cut to our finances - we were on the same income so that is now halved, but it is just about removing the things we don't need while still maintainging some quality of life - a tricky balance, will see how it goes once things are furhter along -------------
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Posted By: MyBelly
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 4:29pm
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Hi ladies,
Sometimes it feels like we are already one one income in my home! being a student i get $170 per week and me being the bright spark that i am, thought last year when i was in a "stable job" until the company went bust! that i was well off (which ok i was at that time) and thought i needed a plasma tv, now im paying that off at $50 a week (as low as i can go!) then i have $60-100 groceries (lately closer to $60 because im not eating meat) and then at least $10 ($20 wen i have xtra) on each power and phone a week, so there goes all my money! But what im wanting to do is make lotsa cassaroles to freeze and just get out when we need them, but heres my dilema, i've never made a cassarole and wouldnt know what to do, any help please???? Thanks, laura
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Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 4:50pm
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Google!!! Google casseroles with whatever you like in them if you aren't eating meat then gogle vege casseroles.
Maybe some people have good sites they could share. the slow cooker thread on this site has some awesome recipes - if you don't have a slwo cooker you can still cook them in the oven. If you do have a slow cooker, the alison holst book is good and was on sale at Whitcoulls recently. -------------
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 5:05pm
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Make a thread in the food & recipes section and put in there what you regularly buy (or like) in the way of meats and veges, and there'll be heaps of replies I bet! ------------- |
Posted By: MyBelly
Date Posted: 07 June 2007 at 7:35pm
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haha, thanks guys, had a little blond moment and didnt even think of that!!
Thanks
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 08 June 2007 at 3:41pm
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We are already on one income as I'm a student and only have the loan ($150 pw) because of DH's income. We will get family assistance, and are taking on a boarder up until bubs is born. We'll see when he/she comes if we still need a boarder (I'll be by myself for 5 months so don't really want to be looking after a boarder too).
I've also taken jobs with family so that it can't be taken under our family assistance - like cleaning my sisters and mums houses, gardening, odd jobs here and there. Jobs I can still do when bubs comes. I also plan to eventually try and hook onto a few schools around my area and do tutoring (as I'll be a qualified teacher) as extra income when we have a couple of kids. I don't want to go back to work until our children go to school, as that's how we were both brought up, but the reality is things are so expensive these days and we'll want to buy a better and bigger house with 2 children which will need a second income. But if I can work from home, I will. It takes a lot out of you (and your children) when your DH comes home and announces he's going to be away for a few months, so that doesn't really fit in with childcare, work etc. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 08 June 2007 at 8:02pm
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Em have you thought about private tutoring people? You know, like some kids get extra tutoring to get them up to speed on maths etc? ------------- |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 08 June 2007 at 10:17pm
When our bubs is born Im going to stay home for as long as I can, we will live off DF's income and some family assistance, we will be eligable for it so thats good. I will also get my 14 weeks maternity leave(then we will get the familt asisstance after my maternity leave finishes), but im not going back to work, not until bubs is at school, we will just have to see, I may need to do some part time work but the way we have worked it out is that, If i want back to work after 3 months my income would just be paying for child care, and i would miss all of babys firsts and stuff, so DF and I really want me to be able to stay at home, thats what I really want, to be a stay at home mummy  And id like a sibling for this one after a few yearsaswell! hehe------------- |
Posted By: Candkids
Date Posted: 09 June 2007 at 4:03pm
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im planning on taking my annual leave before my paid maternity leave, only discovered i could do this last week yay
------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 09 June 2007 at 5:09pm
| Busymum - yeah thought that could be a good idea. Just have to get advertising when bubs is, firstly born, and then a bit older! |
Posted By: BellaB
Date Posted: 09 June 2007 at 5:45pm
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What about looking after other kids in your home when bubs arrives? Like Barnardos or Porse? I think if we struggle then I'll look into that. Does anyone know much about it?? Or maybe I'll look into cleaning houses in our area.. |
Posted By: ezza
Date Posted: 14 June 2007 at 12:19pm
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We have already started thinking about this (first cycle ttc).
I work nearly full time (till 3.30 but get full time salary) and my partner is a musician (which fyi means he earns about 200 a week ) we also have a record label which makes us nothing btw HAHA. When bubs comes along, i will drop my hours down to 8.30-1.30 and DP will work 3.00-6.00 just to make ends meet. Unfortunately, staying at home will not be an option for me :( but at least our child wont be in care and we will be able to split the care between the both of us. Luckily i love my veggie garden and grow as much as possible! I also find online shopping works really well, the delivery fee is about $10 if you spend over $199.00 (which i do fortnightly) and i find i don't get distracted by things i don't need which more than makes up for the delivery fee. I'm also going to be MCN mum, wiht a breastfed baby on homemade baby food! hahah. Fingers crossed we get hapu that is! |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 14 June 2007 at 12:27pm
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Great to be thinking about it now Grymeworks! it means that you will be prepared for it when it happens. Good luck TTC - hope it does't take too long but in the meantime asave as much as you can!
it will be great being able to split care the way you have planned - what a lucky bubba spending quality time with both parents! -------------
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Posted By: Leelee
Date Posted: 14 June 2007 at 4:42pm
| At the moment we are living of dfs income as I am a student and I still have 2.5yrs left of study and I will work 1yr full time before we ttc so what I earn in that year will get save so we will able to still afford things with a baby. I would like to be a SAHM but I dont know how long I will be able to but I hopefully will be working in an early childhood centre so I will be able to have my child at work with me |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 14 June 2007 at 4:58pm
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You'll want to try out the s/hand shops LeeLee. It is possible, we were on a smallish single income for the full year before we had our first baby, and student income for the next two years. All donations of s/hand cots and clothes etc were a huge help! ------------- |