Hello mummy’s, daddy’s, aunties, uncles everyone! I hope you’re all good! I thought I’d start of my first money saving related post with some tips I’ve discovered (and in some cases wish I knew sooner) when it comes to trying to save money whilst also providing for your little one(s) and looking after yourself

So I already heard about how expensive having kids were long before I even thought about having my own. But now having a 2 year old, I think whilst having children will inevitably cost you, beyond a certain amount I think how ‘expensive’ they are will depend on you as a parent and what kind of lifestyle you’d like to provide for your child. For example, if you want your toddler to wear only premium label brands, then you will spend more on your child than say if you shopped high street clothing.

In this post I’ll list a few of the money saving hacks I’ve found and use. Some are well known but hopefully you learn about a couple you might not have known of before. To make it simpler, I’ve split them into categories.

My tips by category:

Nappies

Look out for a reward clubs for example Pampers have the Pampers club where you can collect points with each pack you buy. Points can be collected to redeem money off vouchers for Pampers nappies and wipes.

With other brands, they might not have a direct reward scheme but you might be able to sign up to loyalty schemes with the retailer you normally buy them from i.e. Boots parenting club and Sainsbury’s Nectar card (which can also be used at Argos)

Travel

I’d like to say that after writing this post I have to start packing our bags for flight to a nice a warm location … but that’s not the case. In good time I tell myself. Back to the point, holidays can be expensive but there are ways to help travel smarter instead of having to work harder.

One idea you might want to consider is getting a reward credit card with which you can collect air miles or Avios. I have the American Express British Airways card and was able to use my Avios to get some money off our first family holiday (if you haven’t already, you can read our first family trip abroad here). If you sign up and become an BA executive club member, you can now link your account with Uber and collect Avios with eligible Uber rides, rail trips and coaches (see full information here). If you have a Nectar card, you also have the choice to convert your Nectar points to Avios after linking you accounts.

Whilst there are other reward credit cards like this or ones that give cashback with purchases, always look out for the interest charges as they can be high. The last thing you want to do is get into debt so make sure you’re able to pay off your balance at the end of the month to avoid these charges before applying.

Childcare

The help available mentioned here, as far as I’m aware, is only available in the UK. For those abroad, it’s worth seeing what help is available, where you live.

It can be a bit confusing to work out exactly what help is available in the UK but a good place to start would be with this help with childcare costs calculator. The schemes available include:

• Tax-free childcare. This involves applying for a childcare account which if approved, will give you a government top up when paying in money to go towards paying a childcare provider
• Free 15 hours of childcare for eligible 2-year olds (extending to children aged 9 months and above from September 2024) and free 30 hours for 3 and 4 year olds of working parents

Both of these are means tested so you may not be eligible if you earn above or below a certain amount. The government website has all the information but the calculator linked above should show you what you’re eligible for based on your individual circumstances. Especially with the funded hours, make sure to check with your provider exactly how it works as it normally only covers term-time.

Clothes

One thing about kids – they’re gonna grow up fast! So you’ll find yourself buying clothes relatively frequently especially in the early stages but it doesn’t have to break the bank.

There’s a few things you might want to consider and this can change depending on how old (or active) your child is.

The vast majority of clothes I’ve bought for may daughter has been from H&M. I actually love their children’s range and from infant stages to the now toddler stage, they’ve not let me down. Not only are they affordable but a good proportion of their clothes are made from organic cotton. They also have a membership club that’s free to join and you collect points as you shop. It’s always a lovely surprise to see I randomly have a coupon when I’ve added more pyjamas to my cart because all of her other ones no longer reach her ankles …

If your child is attending nursery, I’m sure you’re already aware of how dirty they’re clothes can get. I’ve also had a couple of occasions where her clothes have gone missing even after labelling them. For these reasons, it’s probably a good idea to stick to more affordable clothes for example from larger supermarkets like George at Asda or Nutmeg from Morrisons which can also be very cute and of good quality.

It’s also a good idea to get clothes in bigger sizes when there’s good sales on. If you have somewhere to keep them, it’ll be a big help because before you know it you’ll be bringing them out.

Do you have any money saving hacks when it comes to managing finances with children? Share in the comments below

Until next time

The Sister Mama,

Cheral