the resourceful mum’s handbook

I made Rosie this cool butterfly sundress at the weekend. It’s got a butterfly on the front and a flower on the back and I think it’s quite Boden-esque. I used navy blue T-shirt material, which was really easy to sew and some scraps of beautiful Amy Butler fabric for the appliques. I used one of Rosie’s old dresses as a template. I’ll measure it and blog a pattern next week. This dress isn’t in my book The Resourceful Mum’s Handbook, baby on a budget, but it might be in a sequel…

My make-your-own handful of monsters will be appearing on The Guardian website soon in their crafty blog. As soon as it’s live I’ll upload the article here too. Until then, here’s some pictures whet your appetite.

Simon made Rosie a sandpit over the weekend. I think it’s much nicer than the plastic ones you can get in the shops. He just used a couple of planks of spare decking wood we had in the shed and some plywood to make the floor and lid and a bag of building sand. Bargain. We’ve lined the lid with an open bin bag to keep it completely dry when it rains

I wrote an article this month for website www.mumsrock.com offering six easy ways to have a baby on a budget. You can read the article as it appeared here http://www.mumsrock.com/articles/speed-parenting/rock-guides-to-life/how-to-have-a-baby-on-a-budget

Or, to make things easier. I’ve pasted it below. Hope you like it.

From Bugaboos to Bill Amberg designer sheepskin boots, having a new baby can be a costly business. Research from LV says that parents can shell out as much as £8,853 in the first year of their baby’s life, once they have paid for nursery equipment, toys and clothing. But having a baby doesn’t have to break the bank. Here’s six savvy things you can do to bring up baby on a budget.

1 Get bold with the benefits

As a new mum, make sure you claim all the benefits you are entitled to. There’s a new ‘health in pregnancy’ grant worth £190 for mums-to-be due on or after 6 April that every pregnant woman is entitled to, for more info check out: www.direct.gov.uk/money4mum2be. Then there’s child benefit, worth £20 a week for the firstborn, that’s just over a grand a year and certainly not to be sniffed at, plus you get £13.20 a week for any subsequent children. Ching ching. All you need to do is post the government form with a copy of your baby’s birth certificate as soon as you can, as benefit won’t be backdated. Finally, start saving for your baby with the £250 voucher you get from the Government for The Child Trust Fund. And if your income falls below £15.575 in 2009 your baby will qualify for double that amount – so a cool £500! For straightforward advice on how and where to invest the cash, go to www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/child-trust-fund-vouchers

2 Don’t buy ‘everything but the kitchen sink’

Babies don’t need much; they need food, love and shelter but despite that, new parents tend to go a little overboard when planning for that extra addition to the family. Here is a list of all you need for a new baby. Really.

Cot and new mattress, Pram, New car seat, Clothing, Bedding, Nappies, Sling or papoose, breast pump (you can rent these) and feeding bras – for breastfeeding OR bottles and steriliser – if you’re formula feeding

3/ Go ‘vintage’

Aside from the car seat and cot mattress, all other baby equipment can be bought second-hand. When you first announce you’re pregnant, tell the world you want hand-me-downs. Then start scouring charity shops, NCT sales, small ads, specialist baby websites and eBay for baby equipment. Do your research so you know exactly what you want, for example a particular brand of buggy, and what you’re prepared to pay for it. Scrutinise the condition of the product before you buy as some second hand baby stuff can be a little worn, however little babies grow very quickly so many items will be as new. Check out www.beansprog.com a specialist (second hand) baby goods site and www.freecycle.org for free stuff near you.

4 Think ahead and buy ‘to last’

There are some baby items that it makes sense to invest in. For example, I bought a TrippTrapp highchair for my daughter Rosie when she was six months old. It’s a wooden chair that adapts with age and is pulled up against the table, so she will still be able to use it when she’s five or six years old. Other friends bought huge and expensive plastic, all-singing, all-dancing highchairs when their babies were small, then once they became toddlers they had to buy a booster seat as well.

5 Put the womb bear down. And please step away from the checkout.

Perhaps it’s the hormones, perhaps it’s the excitement… but some new mums go crazy and buy all these baby paraphernalia that they just don’t need. Here’s a list of products you should avoid.A womb bear/womb music/anything designed to replicate the womb. A womb bear is a sinister-submarine-sounding bear that is supposed to echo the sounds in the womb. Face the facts – the baby is out, it’s loud and you should be proud. Move on.Wipe warmers: Yes they really do exist. But let’s face it - does your baby mind a cool wipe that much? Really? If you’re really concerned use a warm flannel instead.Baby walker: unless you own somewhere like a ballroom with vast gaps between walls or anything to hang on to, don’t.Bath thermometer: brain meet elbow, elbow meet brain.Lotions and potions – if they’re dry olive oil is good, if they’re not warm water will do. Babies are not meant to smell of either camomile or lavender. It’s okay if they do, but really not essential!Hi-tech nappy bin. Nappy goes in bin then in the outside bin. Putting another bin into the equation won’t make it less smelly, bad for the environment, or less yucky, it’s just adding some more junk to find money for, and space to store.‘Specialist’ baby furniture. Aside from a cot, there is really no need for any furniture designed only for babies. Ignore baby wardrobes, change tables, nursing chairs etc etc. Your baby won’t love you anymore if you get them, and they get a little older they won’t be shy in telling you that teddy bears and rabbits are for babies and what they really want are space cowboys instead.

6 Be clever about gifts

Everyone who knows you will buy your new baby a gift. And without prompting, these gifts tend to be very tiny, largely impractical, but ever-so-beautiful baby outfits. And in that chaotic period between leaving the hospital and your child reaching three months the last thing you will want to do is spend time dressing them up – they are not dolls and their little arms and legs are not as bendy as you would think - therefore getting them dressed and undressed at all is a challenge at the best of times. This means that around fifty percent of the sweet baby outfits you are given will be too small by the time you get around to putting them on your baby. Fact. So firstly if friends ask what you might like you can either ask them for a contribution to a larger gift (some large nursery retailers offer a gift list service to get around this) or ask them to give you clothing in larger sizes (don’t forget to look ahead in seasons too). If you do receive unwanted gifts, keep the labels, hangers and packaging as most retailers will let you exchange unworn items.

Here’s what my Amazon reviews have to say about The Resourceful Mum’s Handbook, Baby on a Budget.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars The Resourceful Mum, 11 Mar 2009
By Elizabeth Wight - See all my reviews

This is a really great read and wonderful reference guide for anyone, with a young family, who is watching the pennies. How I wish I’d had this to hand when I had my first baby. The baby industry is a booming business and the author really strips away all the gimmicks and offers a concise guide as to what the necessities are when having a baby. It’s packed full of money-saving tips, including what to and what not to buy in terms of equipment. There are also loads of tasty recipes for quick meals and even household cleaning products. I also loved the bit about having a first birthday party on a budget. The book is divided into easy to refer to chapters and is interspersed with first-hand advice from mums who have the wonderful benefit of hindsight.
Several of the baby books I’ve read have been quite patronising. But I would say this hits the spot perfectly.

5.0 out of 5 stars this book is excellent!!!, 28 Mar 2009
By J. Cresey (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

this is exactly the type of book that needed to be written. the author gives great advice on what is needed and how to get it cheaply as well as what to avoid. the make yourself ideas are easy and quick - perfect for new mums! i only wish that i had seen this book before i had my little girl as the pregnancy bits are good too! will be buying a copy for the expectant mum that i know - would lend mine but will be getting used by me still!

It’s much cheaper, more resourceful and more fun to make your own play dough. Plus, as babies like to eat a little, at least you know exactly what it’s made of.

1 cup plain flour
half a cup salt
1 cup water
1 teaspoon cooking oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
7-8 drops food colouring

Mix flour and salt, add cream of tartar, water and oil. Add some food colouring and mix well. Cook over a medium heat until ingredients form a ball, which shouldn’t take longer than one minute. Your toddler will enjoy playing with it while it’s still warm. Store in zip-lock bags or Tupperware containers to keep pliable and fresh.

You’ve got till April 6th to buy back any years of missed national insurance contributions at a reduced price since being on maternity leave. If you can possibly afford it - try to find around £420 to buy back each year of missed contributions. I know it sounds a lot but it will lead to an extra £160 a year once you collect your pension. Plus, after April 6 it’s going to cost nearly £630 to reclaim exactly the same amount. Check your NI contribution and ask for a pension forecast on 08456060265 or online at www.thepensionservice.gov.uk

This is the table and chair that my Grandad made for me when I was little, over 30 years ago. Rosie loves it, they’re both really well made. I’m going to try and get Grandad Mac to give me instructions of how he made it, so we can make another one. I also need to repaint this one, as they’ve been yellow since I was a toddler and the paint’s peeling away. I’m thinking about covering the top with some oil cloth, a la Cath Kidston. I’ll keep you posted.

Joanna Parry reviewed The Resourceful Mum’s Handbook on Families Online http://www.familiesonline.co.uk/article/articleview/4458/1/167/

I’ve pasted it below too.

I have reviewed many books on what to buy for baby and what you absolutely must/must not spend your hard-earned cash on before, during and after you give birth, but here is a suitably appropriate guide for the new credit crunch times we live in.

The financial cost of having a baby can be staggering, but it need not always be Bugaboos and designer cashmere cardigans. Elen Lewis elaborates on what a parent must have (the obvious cot/car seat/pram items), the Nice-to-haves (bouncy chair, travel cot) and what you really, really can do without (wipe warmers and bath thermometers!).

Today it’s all about begging and borrowing, and that saviour of all our bank accounts, eBay (she provides handy tips on buying and selling etiquette). NCT nearly-new sales can be invaluable, so too can charity shops and home-made substitutions.

There’s a bit of padding in this book – sections on essential wardrobe during pregnancy (does anyone really have time to read a book on what to wear whilst pregnant?) and a recipe for her Granny’s home-made scones you might like to bake whilst waiting for the big day – but sticking more to the resourceful theme, the author has some lovely ideas for making your own bunting, murals and paper chains to decorate the nursery, or customising furniture and fabrics. If you’re really handy with a sewing machine you can make your own cot sheets and baby blankets. Take it a step further and make your own changing mat, sling and soft toys.

Well laid out and easy to read. Worth a look.

FSW Rating: Four Stars

A shameless plug I’m afraid. The Resourceful Mum’s Handbook, Baby on a Budget is out today. Buy from the supermarkets - ASDA, Tesco or Sainsbury’s, or it’s 3 for 2 in Waterstones. Or just click on the link here to buy direct from Amazon. The book was given four stars by The News of the World on Sunday. I haven’t been able to link it to the NoW website, so here’s what they said.

“With the credit crunch biting hard, the expense of raising a baby is now higher than ever - and a recent survey claimed that from birth to 21 a child can cost its parents a whopping £186,000. There are a million and one parenting guides out there but this book does exactly what it says on the cover. While the baby industry tries to convince new mums and dads they have to splash out on all the latest must-have gadgets, Lewis proves you don’t need to go down that road. She gives handy, easily digestible advice on what to buy and what not to buy. Plus she tells you when it’s worth breaking the bank for essentials - and where you can cut corners, from pregnancy through to nurseries. “