1. Check your benefits and make sure that you claim everything to which you are entitled

There is a wealth of information available on the internet, and from Local Government and Neighbourhood offices. Check www.entitledto.co.uk and enter your details to see which benefits and grants you may be missing out on.

Mums will be particularly interested in childcare voucher schemes, which save income tax and national insurance costs as well as grants such as the new £190 Health in Pregnancy Grant.

For fresh fruit, vegetables and milk, check out the Healthy Start Voucher Scheme

2. Make your own cleaning products straight from the pantry

White vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum and hard water deposits. When mixed in equal parts with water, you can make a cleaning solution that cleans everything from floors to countertops. It is gentle enough for hard floors. Don't worry, the smell disappears when dry so your home won’t smell like a salad. You can also use it undiluted for a chemical-free way of cleaning the toilet.

Baking Soda is a natural deodoriser and makes light work of grimy bathtubs and greasy sinks; just sprinkle it on to a damp sponge.

For a cheap Furniture Polish Recipe, mix 2 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice in a spray bottle. The lemon juice cleans and the oil adds shine.

3. Plan your weekly shop, and love your leftovers
Try using a weekly planner to keep on top of your shopping list and stick to it. Remember, BOGOF doesn’t necessarily mean it will save you money, so only buy these items if you know you will use them - a bargain is only a bargain if you actually need it!

Check out www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for some fantastic leftover recipes and a portion size calculator.

4. Packed lunches aren't just for kids
Taking lunch to work can save upwards of £15 a week. That's a massive £720 a year. Try planning your packed lunches around your leftover evening meals and store cupboard staples. You can download a packed lunch recipe sheet from our recipe section.

5. Make cash from old mobile handsets
Trading in your old unused handsets can make you some extra cash on the side whilst de-cluttering your electronics pile.

1. Fonebank
2. Mazuma Mobile
3. Envirofone
4. Cash4Phones

There is also a charity called Stepping Stones Nigeria (http://www.steppingstonesnigeria.org) that helps abandoned children. You can send your old phones as an alternative way to donate.

6. Join a toy library to cut the cost of new toys
Why spend a fortune on brand new toys when you can join a toy library, meet other parents at the group and have a much-needed coffee break whilst your little one plays?

You can find your local toy library where you can borrow toys for as little as 50p for 2 - 4 weeks.

7. Book worm? Swap your books - don’t buy them
If you are not a library member and have a full bookcase at home, then why not swap your unwanted books online for ones you haven’t read.
Check out

1. ReadItSwapIt
2. BookHopper
3. Title Trader
4. Swapitshop

8. Cancel memberships and subscriptions you don’t use
Are you going to the gym each week, do you watch all the Sky channels you pay for? Are you really using all your minutes on your mobile tariff? Go through your direct debits and monthly outgoings and ditch anything from which you are not getting maximum usage.

You could freeze memberships if you are reluctant to cancel completely. Also, look at bundling your mobile, home phone & internet into one cheaper package.

9. Give up the unhealthy habits and swap for an occasional treat
Any naughty habits you need an excuse to get rid of? Are you a smoker? Do you eat junk food/takeaways/ready meals? Perhaps it’s drinking the whole bottle of wine in the evening with a meal instead of just a glass or two?. The credit crunch is giving people much-needed motivation to sort out their finances, so use this challenging time to get your health and finances in order. Giving up smoking will save you money each week which could allow you a small treat for yourself or for your kids, like a fortnightly cinema trip (don’t forget to take your own sweets and drinks) or maybe a relaxing massage for you once month.

10. One mummy’s trash is another mummy’s treasure
Do you periodically have a big clear out and throw things away that might be useful for someone else? Then why not sell it online or get a pitch at a car boot sale and sell any unwanted items. Think of all the things you could put that spare cash towards!

 

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