LIFESTYLE
“I would advise
potential buyers
to make sure their
finances are in place
before making an offer
on a property.” Lisa
makes a decision and buys what’s needed?
Or are you drawn to things you hadn’t
realised you absolutely had to have until you
see them when you’re out shopping (only to
discover that you have another four items just
like it back at home)?
Think about your friends and family. Whose
spending habits do you admire the most? What
kind of values around money did you learn
from your parents when you were growing
up? Which friends and family members have
shopping strategies you know not to replicate?
Who might you learn from if you were to ask
how they go about making large and small
purchases?
It’s not about being anyone other than
yourself but by realising that what you’re doing
is creating your financial situation and that
what you take for granted isn’t necessarily the
way everyone else does something (or the best
way) you can tweak your shopping strategy so it
suits you and your bank balance.
Smaller purchases
While babies are small, the expenses parents
can easily incur are not.
“Having a baby can be very expensive indeed,”
says Liat Joshi Hughes, co-author of What to
Buy for Your Baby. “Parents are bombarded with
information about products they supposedly
will need to keep their baby safer, healthier or
happier. It’s very easy to feel that if you don’t
splash out on this huge list of products, you aren’t
doing the best for your baby.
“Think carefully about what you really need. It’s
probably a lot less than you might initially think.
You can always order anything extra online if
you find you need something else after the birth.
Don’t be afraid to borrow or buy second-hand,
especially those items which aren’t used for very
long such as cribs. Always buy baby mattresses
and car seats new. (Car seats might have been
Resources
in an accident which could compromise their
Stephanie LH Calahan www.stephanielhcalahan.com
safety in any future collision. Used mattresses
have been linked to a higher risk of Sudden Infant
Lisa Hockley www.positivemortgages.co.uk
Death Syndrome). Ebay and NCT Nearly New
What to Buy for Your Baby by Liat Hughes Joshi and Caroline Cosgrove, published by White Ladder Press, £9.99.
Sales are excellent sources of discounted or used
baby gear.”
www.applecoaching.com
rapport - Autumn 2009
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