Money saving tips for families - shall we share?

[Sanne Panne]

Anyone care to share some good money saving tips? I'm mainly looking for savings in the area of family expenses (big and small) but anything goes. Or links to websites that you've been using.

I really need to start being more careful with what I spend.

:)

[Sanne Panne]

I'll go first...

Before buying anything for your first baby, ask a parent of two or more children which items they would use if they had another baby. You will see that pretty highchairs that don't turn into toddler seats are not on their list. Either get a cheap Ikea one or go straight for the Tripp Trapp. To name an example. For items some parents swear by and some never use, consider borrowing one off the forum first. Swings are a good example. Neither of my kids cared the slightest bit.

[Lochie]

Use olive oil instead of baby oil on babies dry skin, it's cheaper (if u already have it in house) and much kinder.

If only branded nappies worked on first child don't assume it's the same for second child. I've just discovered sainsburys nappies work really well on 7 week old girl and they didn't hold anything for first born son. So daughter much cheaper on the nappy front!

[echo]

We are also in the 'budget' zone. Food shopping seems to be our biggest expense.

I try to meal plan and I've started to use the cheaper food ranges such as 'basics' 'savers' and in my favourite- Lidls.. Not sure about how ethical their stuff is though.

I also have the odd week where I try to use up all the food in the cupboard and freezer.

[Bellenden Belle]

Cloth nappies. They are more reliable than disposables and are a great investment. Also, don't be afraid to buy them second hand - they cost a fraction of the price and actually are more absorbent if they've been used previously.

[bluesuperted]

Well, a great place to start is Martin Lewis' site, I use the budget planner (free) and find it super helpful and quick, he also has endless (messily presented!) information on saving money on absolutely everything from car insurance to phones to flatscreen TVs to mortgages etc etc.

Here's the budgeting tool:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/Budget-planning#tools

Other tips I try and stick to are:

- meal planning (usually in my head but sometimes I write it down for the week)

- bulk buying non-perishables when they are on offer - really bulk buying! I have a lot of old priced stamps (from last year's price hike not yesterdays) and a cupboard of the baby wipes we use...

- slow cooker (see previous threads on this, but can allow you to use much cheaper cuts of meat so it all goes further)

- when making meat dishes bulk up with lentils and vegetables as much as possible, really makes a difference between eating the meal in one go and having a load left over to freeze

- on a similar note, eat one evening meal a week that is cheap/veggie - jacket potatoes, lentil dhal etc

- taking snacks and drinks (especially for baby/kids) out and about with you

- cloth nappying

- reducing meals out - we find this easy at the moment with a 20.5 month old; at weekends we come home for lunch and nap so that really helps (again nice full cupboards with good meals really help this

- online grocery shopping - reduces impulse buying, helps meal planning. I have an Ocado delivery pass (midweek only as it's cheaper) and even though the food is slightly more than Sainsburys I am convinced we now spend less and eat better quality food than before because we... (see next point!)

- reduce unnecessary trips to corner shop, Tesco Express etc - this always ends up being a pricey way of buying food for dinner etc!

- buy an epilator instead of leg waxing, I have a fab Philips one and it's virtually painfree and has saved me ??? over the 4 years I've had it - I used to get my legs waxed every month or so and now I epilate instead!

- being savvy with loyalty points - I used to be better as this, but for example using Tesco points on the things that give you 4x the value rather than spending in store

I'm sure there are loads more things, I'll write more if I think of any!

x

[Crokes]

I don't venture out to the shops/London too often and find online shopping normally is well priced or cheaper - even more so by using cashback sites for each purchase eg. my fav is Topcashback http://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/louise_z

Once registered, you start at this website and click through to the website you want to buy something from. Each purchase earns a small percentage that soon adds up and is easily paid into your bank account as cash when you request it. (I use this website for buying most things - it often has discount codes you can use too. The downside is that not all websites are listed).

[Convex]

I'd like tips on cheaper veges. Are there any markets that you wold recommend? I get turned around by not really knowing how much they should cost and so not being sure if I am saving or not by buying local or in markets.

[reneet]

i buy my washing powder, dish washer tablets and olive oil in sales, usually buy one get one free or 1/2 price sales. I buy alot meaning I never buy them at normal price. Sainburys recently had persil at half price and finish dishwasher tablets as well so thats me done for the year. :)

[Saffron]

My toddler loves playdough, so we make our own.

Use a small teacup to measure 2 cups plain flour, 2 cups water, 3/4 cup salt, 1/4 cup oil, plus 4 rounded teaspoons cream of tartar. Mix all ingredients well. Cook in a heavy bottomed pan over medium-low heat until it starts to thicken. Then add food colouring (and vanilla extract if you want it to smell nice). Keep cooking until it is very firm and comes away from the sides of the pan into one large ball. There should be no wet patches left. Turn onto a breadboard and knead until cooled. Store in an airtight container.

[Gidget]

Convex Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I'd like tips on cheaper veges. Are there any

> markets that you wold recommend? I get turned

> around by not really knowing how much they should

> cost and so not being sure if I am saving or not

> by buying local or in markets.

Where do you buy your veg now? I think Sainsburys is expensive. I think the Sunday market in Brixton Station Road is excellent for good veg. There is a trader who comes down from Lincs I think and their stuff is really reasonable. Also try Rye Lane, and Lidl in Peckham. You can also then have a look round all the traders there and also go into Brixton Village undercover market.

I think other people have recommended Lewisham as well. I don't have any experience there.

[crystal7]

Agree with Crokes, cash back sites are great if you do lots of online shopping. We use Quidco.

[Fuschia]

Definitely shop round for insurance and haggle re phone contracts etc

Buy a flask and take your own hot drinks out with you!

[Helen GV]

Lewisham for fruit and veges, sometimes you have to eat them pretty quickly but more often than not they're fine, good for things like little tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers(bowl of 6 or 7 of the long ones which I love for a pound), aaubergines, avocados, and watermelon in summer!

Used to find it a bit overwhelming if busy but now I plough on through the crowd

[Saila]

ASDA own nappies are basically just like pampers but much cheaper

Buy second hand (on here!) especially things like young baby stuff and maternity clothes

Have friends round rather than meet 'out'

Use the freezer for food when you buy one get one free - so you dont end up throwing stuff away

Slightly over pay on your mortgage each month

Pay bills by direct debit as they often offer discounts

You can get quite good second hand toys from charity shops

Dont buy loads of children's books - use the library

[bluesuperted]

This is a weird one and most people may know already, but if you are self employed and don't earn much money (e.g. I'm a SAHM who does a small amount of marketing consultancy from home but not usually enough to pay tax) yet think there is a chance you will have a(nother) baby then definitely register as SE and keep paying your *FULL* NI contributions and do not opt out and get a small exemptions certificate. I pay full NI every month, it's a few pounds a week and it means next time I get pregnant I will definitely be entitled to Maternity Allowance which is like Stat Mat Pay for the Self-Employed - ?100ish a year for almost ?5k maternity pay when the time arises... good deal!

[lucyA1308]

I was going to say that I don't think that my cloth nappies were necessarily the money saving idea which I had hoped. We used them most of the time for the first 6 months, but then they were out grown.

I since calculated that the cost (based on 1 pack of nappies per week) was only covered by about 5 months. We do still use them for our 2nd child, and so now I feel that we are saving money, but looking back on it, it probably wasn't as much of a money saver as I had hoped - unless, of course you have more than 1 child, or buy them 2nd hand.

My main tip is to say "yes" to anything that anyone offers. you might end up with a lot of things you don't need, but it is amazing what you later find that comes in necessary. Anything you don't want can later be handed on to others, or taken to a charity shop.

Also shop in sales for childrens clothes for the following year. i.e. winter coats will be on sale in spring. Buy for the next year while in the sale.

[Mrs Bigsy]

*get a cash back credit card (martin lewis money saving expert site has recommendations) and to maximise the benefit buy everything on it then pay it off at the end of the month

*or if you shop at tesco get a tesco credit card, you get double reward points for everything spent in their stores.

*check if your employer has a discount club scheme - hubby has one and we can get reloadable gift cards for lots of retailers at 5 - 15% discount, it really adds up, especially for supermarkets, its all managed online

*switch your energy supplier once a year

*REALLY look at all your direct debits on your last bank statement to check you still need everything - can you reduce your sky tariff, your mobile phone bill, do you read that magazine you have a subscription to?

[dulwichgirl2]

I used to stress about small things like where the vouchers were etc. till I realised that a few big changes could easily save much more so....

Cancel things like gymn memberbship unless you use it. Run in the park or join the weekly 5k nationwide runs. Play tennis on the park courts.

Use things like the travel insurnace that comes with bank accounts - check exactly what your accounts offer and don't duplicate.

Call your mobile provider and check you are on the best deal.

Leave the car at home and walk everywhere, saving on petrol.

Buy things you know you will need in advance when on offer. It deeeply distressed me when my husband bought "Finish" at the local corner shop and paid the same for a tiny container as I could for 10 times the size.

Cards - I used to get all cards in lovely little shopts. Now I buy 7 for a ?1 in discount shops at junction of Coldharbour Lane and DH.

Take crisps, sandwiches etc with you when e.g. you go swimming.

Use "The Book People" for eg party bags - HOrrid Henry and other "series" books are a fraction of the price.

Join Amazon Prime - we save a lot on p and p by paying around ?50 a year.

Get haircuts etc on the cheap day if possible.

Make sure your savings are earning "good" interest! (eg 3% instant access)

[Belle]

bluesuperted Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This is a weird one and most people may know

> already, but if you are self employed and don't

> earn much money (e.g. I'm a SAHM who does a small

> amount of marketing consultancy from home but not

> usually enough to pay tax) yet think there is a

> chance you will have a(nother) baby then

> definitely register as SE and keep paying your

> *FULL* NI contributions and do not opt out and get

> a small exemptions certificate. I pay full NI

> every month, it's a few pounds a week and it means

> next time I get pregnant I will definitely be

> entitled to Maternity Allowance which is like Stat

> Mat Pay for the Self-Employed - ?100ish a year for

> almost ?5k maternity pay when the time arises...

> good deal!

Yes - I did this, in similar circumstances (i.e. fairly low freelance earnings) and it's been a godsend since I've had baby number 2!

I try to always buy Sainsburys babywipes - something like ?3 for a pack of 4, 80 wipes in each, much better value than e.g. pampers and I think they're better. Ditto their nappy sacks, so cheap. I also buy the majority of my kids' clothes there, particularly things I know will get really stained (e.g. am weaning baby number 2 so no point putting him in expensive tops!).Although saying that, I do notice that the older the age you're buying for, the less differential in clothes prices between Sainsburys/Asda and e.g. M&S. Sainsburys does periodic offers on baby products and clothes, so worth looking out for those too.

My husband is much more astute than I am on e.g. utilities, and uses Moneysavingsexpert and also uswitch to make sure we're on the best deals. With uswitch, I think you get a case of Virgin wine whenever you change utilities, pretty good!

I recently sold my old iPhone back to O2 after I'd upgraded, got ?94 for it...

And finally - sell everything once you stop using it, it's a great feeling. Look out for cheap/free offers on the forum, we have had so many bargains for the price of a bottle of wine. And look out for flash sales online etc - actually worth those annoying marketing emails, e.g. I did a big shop online at Gap recently and got t-shirts for the kids for ?3 each.

Having said all that I am a terrible economist! Really need to try more at it e.g. menu planning but can't find the time/energy.

[Pugwash]

I had my kids 13 years apart. after my first child a friend became pregnant and I gave her all my non gender specific

baby clothes, cot and pram blankets etc. She used them for her 2 boys and passed them back to me 13 years later.

Young children quickly grow out of clothes in a matter on months, recycle amongst friends, especially if they have children either older or younger than yours.

Buy special offers i.e. 3 for price of 2 and stock up freezer. When catering for a large group ( family gathering)

work our what you could do with left overs. Unused cooked veg and meat could be turned into soup, cheese can be frozen, bread - bread and butter pudding or bread pudding, add chopped tomatoes and cheese to left over mashed potato

to get a light lunch. Ignore sell/use by dates - using common sense most things can be eaten a couple of days later.

[womanofdulwich]

When you are pregnant look out for someone who is not going to have anymore children - ask them if they want to have a clearout of stuff and buy everything off them. then stay in touch over the first few years and buy the clothes etc off them.

[srisky]

Take a packed lunch to work - over a 5day working week you could save ?25...over a year it definitely adds up and then don't think twice over going out for a nice meal

[sillywoman]

Use 'Say no to 0870' for all phone calls to companies/businesses etc. etc.

Always use 'moneysavingexpert.com'

Only use half a dishwasher tab (particularly if you bought them half price - 4x the value!!)

[Gidget]

sillywoman Wrote:

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> Use 'Say no to 0870' for all phone calls to

> companies/businesses etc. etc.

>

> Always use 'moneysavingexpert.com'

>

> Only use half a dishwasher tab (particularly if

> you bought them half price - 4x the value!!)

If you have a landline then lots of companies allow free calls to 0870 and 0845 numbers now. That is why some companies have migrated over to 0844 numbers.......check with your provider.