Raising kids is one of life’s greatest joys, but let’s be honest, it’s also one of the most expensive. Between packed lunches, endless laundry, and growing feet, it can sometimes feel like money is leaving your account faster than it’s coming in. With the cost of living crises seemingly just getting worse with shrinkflation increasing as well as price increases, it's hard to find ways to save money whilst still living a fairly happy life with children to entertain.
Thankfully you don’t need to overhaul your lifestyle or sacrifice the little things you love to start saving a few extra pennies each month. Often, it’s the small everyday tweaks that add up the fastest, without us even knowing how much money we're spending and how much more we could be saving by making a few small minor changes! Here are a few easy, low-effort ways to save money as a parent - without feeling like you’re constantly budgeting, cutting corners or giving up your small pleasures in life - sometimes the only thing sanely keeping us going!
1. Make Coffee at Home
I get it. The coffee shop drive-thru is tempting, especially after a rough night or stressful morning school run, and that home cup of coffee just doesn't seem to cut it, but brewing at home doesn’t mean bland or boring anymore. Investing in a decent bag of beans from a wholesale coffee supplier will not only help to save a little extra in the bank, but it can also make your morning cup feel like a treat, not a compromise. Many people wrongly believe that only businesses can get their hands on decent coffee, but it's just knowing where to shop and what to buy, and at over £3 a pop for a decent coffee, it's beneficial in the long run to invest in some decent quality coffee beans to make your own brews. 2: Meal Plan Around What You Already Have
It’s easy to fall into the trap of buying more groceries when the fridge “looks empty,” but chances are you have more ingredients than you think. Once a week, try planning your meals based on what’s already in your pantry or freezer. Even just one or two "use what you’ve got" dinners each week can save you £10–£20 and reduce food waste, too. Talking about food waste, you can save money by using Olio which a food waste reduction service that needs a whole new blog post in itself, I'll add that to my never ending to do list!
3: Do The Budget Basket Challenge
Next time you’re about to check out online or even if you shop in store yourself in the supermarket, do a quick basket/trolley check the next time you shop, no matter if it's in store or online. Challenge yourself and ask “What can I swap or remove?” Often, small impulse buys sneak in, extra snacks, unnecessary toiletries that were on offer, or that moreish looking but overpriced seasonal limited edition item. Turn it into a game: challenge yourself to shave £5-£10 off each shop without sacrificing essentials, can you switch brands maybe, or use coupons and things like Quidco cash back deals to bring your shopping down further, even if it's waiting a little while for the re-reimbursement, after all it's all helping in the long run. 4: Shop and Sell On Vinted
With children seemingly growing quicker than we can keep up with the never ending cycle of new footwear, school uniform and general day to day clothing as well as accessories, it's no wonder why a big chunk of our financial outgoings is spent on such things. I discovered Vinted last year and made 7 purchases within my first 24 hours on there. In no time did I become a regular user of Vinted, not just buying items but also selling my own items too. They say one mans trash is another persons treasure, and for a fraction of the cost with even brand new and tagged items being sold for pennies, Vinted and the similar businesses out there are worth a go!
5: Create a Treat Fund
Although a little different, this last paragraph is all about treating yourselves. Create a treat fund that you can top up with pennies and any loose change or even just £1 a week. Use this solely as a treat fund because we all need little joys. Whether you save your treat fund up for your favourite relaxing candle, or for you favourite drive-thru coffee, or even the book you've had your eye on for a while. The treat jar is for you to treat youself and will hopefully help you enjoy guilt free indulgences without dipping into your main budget, main savings account and dropping back to old and bad habits!
Until next time,
Jada x
We all need little joys—whether it’s a candle, a takeaway coffee, or that book you’ve had your eye on. Set aside a small amount each week (even £2–£5) into a "treat yourself" jar. This helps you enjoy guilt-free indulgences without dipping into your main budget.
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