If you’ve had a kid, then you’ll know that they are expensive! If you’re a new mum, then we hate to be that guy – but, you should know they only get more expensive as they get older…
What with endless snacks, clothes that constantly need replacing and always needing the latest of everything – it can definitely start to add up!
But don’t panic just yet, we’re here for you! We understand the struggle busy mums face in trying to stretch the dollar enough to afford all their family commitments.
So whether you’re a new mum, a single mum, or a mum that already has kids in the house – take a look at some of our handy top money-saving tips below. Follow these and you’re sure to be a super-savvy money-saving mum in no time!
1) Cut Your Food Bill
This is one of our favourite money-saving tips for moms because there are absolutely loads of simple steps you can take to cut your food bill in half!
Try to choose cheaper alternatives. If you’re currently brand-obsessed-mad, then why not try their cheaper alternatives?! Stores such as Morrisons have own brand products at a fraction of the cost of well known brand products. You could even do a taste test on your kids… and we bet they’ll not be able to tell the difference.
It’s also important to remember to shop around! A lot of busy mums often just do their weekly food shop at their usual, most convenient store. However, in the competitive retail world, there are always plenty of discounts to snap up!
2) Plan Your Meals
Another way that mums on a tight budget can save on food shopping is by prepping meals!
Before you head out for your weekly shop, simply plan out all of your meals so that you don’t end up buying pointless items that go to waste.
Remember to add in plenty of veggies and salad which you can get delivered to your door from Ocado! Not only are they good for your health, but they’re generally also much cheaper than meats and fish.
If lack of time is an issue in planning and making meals – then Meal Delivery Kits can be an absolute life-savour and will cut out the majority of your waste. Try companies such as Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, Gobble, or Dinnerly.
3) Cut Down on Takeaways
If you’re planning your meals ahead and prepping, then you should naturally cut down on takeaways too. Takeaways are generally expensive. And can be very unhealthy, too.
But when you do plan to have takeout from Dominos or go out for a meal, make sure you look out for any discounts first to help you save on your bill. Or have a look for places where kids eat free.
4) Be Energy Smart
Compare your gas and electricity bills with other similar-sized families to yours to make sure you’re on the right plan for you (you could search online or speak to other mums).
Then once you’re happy you’re on the right plan – (now for the hard bit) – get the kids to help save on energy! Turn those lights off, turn the TV or games console off when they’re not being used and try to cut down on the heating.
You could also look for energy-saving alternatives like light bulbs from stores such as Hive which is an easy way to save you on average £15 a month. Oh, and don’t forget to keep your eye out for any energy discount codes – they really do exist!
5) Buy Budget Furniture
Let’s face it, your kids are only going to ruin them anyway, so buy budget!
We can guarantee every mum out there has had to try to rub permeant marker off an item of furniture before. So when you’re looking to buy new, make sure you shop around.
Second-hand shops or even Facebook Marketplace are great places to find some brilliant budget furniture. Or if you do want to buy new furniture, then make sure you check out stores like Furniture Village for discounts or sales.
6) Plan Ahead for Christmas & Birthdays
They’re the same day every year, so you really have no excuse not to plan for these ones!
Try to put a bit of money aside every month. One into a Christmas fund, and one into a birthday fund for the kids. You’d be surprised how quickly it adds up and the difference it’ll make!
Think about how much you want to spend on gifts (don’t set the bar too high if they’re still young), and then save a bit extra for entertainment. You deserve some girls’ nights with your favourite gin tipple from Craft Gin Club after all…
7) Get Creative at Home
As so many of us have learnt over the past year, you don’t always have to go out to have fun!
Go back to basics and have a think of ways you can entertain the kids at home. Things like a movie night or a games night are a great way to spend time with the kids, or even as an alternative to a costly date night. If you don’t want to go over budget looking for movies or games, check out stores like Amazon where you’ll find both and they won’t break the bank!
8) Plan a Monthly Budget
A budget is super easy to implement, and will massively help you keep your spending on track each month!
Work out all of your expenses for the month, all your income, and then you’ll know exactly how to budget with your remaining disposable income.
9) Use Discount Codes Sites
If you’re a mum on a tight budget, then discount code sites should be your absolute holy grail!
There are so many amazing deals to snap up, and discount code sites such as us at Hey Discount do all the hard work for you,
We regularly update our site with tonnes of amazing promo codes. With money to save on anything from kids' toys to holidays!
10) Be Proud of Yourself!
So this one may not be a money-saving tip exactly, but it’s so important!
Whether you’re a new mum or a single mum living on a budget, just remember that you are doing enough. There’ll always be people with more money out there, but there’ll always be people worse off, too!
Just by reading this article, you’re already making a big step toward saving money. Be content with the things you do have and don’t feel pressurised into impulse buying anything you can’t afford.
We hope our money-saving tips for mums on a tight budget has given you a few ideas to get started!
For more of our money saving tips, please check out our blog here or contact us for more information.
