thrifty OS mum tips???

tiptoes

Not much to add really as with everyone else when my DD and DS where younger I always got Clarkes shoes, either in the sale or grandparents woud buy as a birthday/christmas present. As for clothes I'd always buy in the Gap/Next sale for the next year.

OH like to have meat with every meal so I try to bulk things like spag bol/ chillies and casseroles out with lots of veg or lentils. I use a lot of chicken and stick to thighs fillets rather than breasts as they taste better and are cheaper.

I buy the value range in fruit and also buy frozen stuff which I use in smoothies or to top porriage.

Days out would be a trip to the park, museum, library, beach etc with a picnic and our local cinema had a kids club on a Saturday morning which was a £1 per child and adult free, so this was a treat (but I'd take my own snacks of course

RachelS

I am training as a nutritional therapist and before I started on my budget in Jan bought about 95% organic food for my kids. After doing a great deal of research, I really believe it makes a difference to people's health, especially for those under the age of 5. However, I have to be realistic, and at the moment I can't afford it. I have had to accept it! In the grand scheme of things if our kids are eating healthily we're doing a great job.

The only thing I will absolutely not feed my children is non-organic milk, so I pay an extra £1.50 a week to get that.

If you can afford some organic food, the most important things to get are dairy products, meat, grain products like pasta and bread (the huge surface area of wheat means it absorbs a lot of pesticides), berries, apples and other soft fruits, and any fruit and veg you don't plan to peel.

Luckily organic food is getting a lot cheaper in relation to non-organic so in a few years maybe it's a choice we won't have to make.

RachelS

For the first post, I'd second what people have said above. I also find second-hand sales brilliant for kid's clothes. So many people buy new and the items barely get worn, especially for the baby and toddler age group. I bought 2 coats with the tags still on for £2 each this winter. You do have to get there early...and preferably unencumbered by children. Make sure you go and look at the things you are most interested in first. They usually put the higher priced items like toys towards the end of the sale, so you'll see lots of people skip the first part of the room entirely and head for the back!

triticale

karren wrote: »

dont pay to go to the huge playzone places the park, library and beaches etc are free and my 2 remember those days out more than anything, wish id known at the time! We picnic in all weathers and kids love it as they get more freedom and they help pack the picninc, my friends laugh as i regularly pack soup etc and off we go in the wellies for adventures in the park etc.

'Car picnics', in March when it's blowing a gale outside, with boiled eggs, crisps and fresh fruit, were a staple of my childhood memories and I love recreating them with my two DDs.

Feeding ducks is a good one for cr4ppy weather too, just get your wellies and a bag of bread. :cool:

Tink_04

Wow thanks for everyones replies!!!! i think its hard with the pressure of feeling like you have to buy "good" things for them! so ill start with a positive ive started xmas already as last year was just so bad i cried on xmas morning as me and DH had nothing and have spent so much money on other people i felt like we missed out on xmas and spent money we didnt have either! so i have many rolls of wrapping paper (talkin 10 - 15 of 10m paper) bought for 9p each in asda xmas sale and all my xmas cards and stuff too so im staring now and im not spending loads of money again. So im going to buy stuff as i see it and put it away - i also have a box in the bottom of DD's wardrobe full of clothes for summer in the next size up which i bought last year from next in the sale and some birthday outfits too!

So going forward im going to try and change the other ways to help out too im just a bit unsure where to start - think ill take it slow and maybe look at the shopping this month as we do a monthly shop for bout £125 (just food no baby stuff) but then buy stuff on top too like milk and when were lazy tea! so if i start with the food stuff then i can see how i get on through the month - does anyone know a thread with meal plan ideas on too as ill have a look at that too!!!

Tink_04

oh and ive found a clarks outlet so think im going to get her feet re measured in a few weeks as she will need some shoes again and will try and see if i can get some in the sale!!! i shall keep you posted!!!!!

RachelS

Tink, I agree about taking it slowly, that's what I started doing in Jan because I felt it was the only way I'd see it through...and although we still have a long, long way to go I can see improvements already.

I know what you mean about the emotional impact of wanting nice things for your kids. It hurts almost physically when you want to buy them something and feel you can't. But the reality is when I was a kid most of the things I did were free...and I really enjoyed doing them and learned a lot from them. And if you ask me what I wore, up until the age of 8 or 9 I wouldn't be able to tell you, it meant nothing to me.

Tink_04

Thanks RachelS ive decided im allowed to buy her some "good" stuff and the rest ill try to get cheaper - her coat - shoes ect (stuff that she will wear everyday) i will pay to get her "good" stuff (but will be hunting the sales!!! but stuff like vests, Pj's t- shirts for nursery ect i will try to get cheaper - i was putting the washing away and realised i had let her wear 3 outfits from next for nursery and they have paint, glue and are basically ruined so im going to sort out some nursery clothes for her so she doesnt wear her good stuff for nursery. i just feel so bad that there is some kids who look so well kitted out and i dont want her to be different especially when it comes to school time as i know how cruel that can be if your the odd one!!!!

pinkmami

as someone mentioned above going to get a loaf & coming out £20 lighter! Iceland do great deals on bread & milk. You can get 4pts for £1 and 2 Kingmill loaves for £1.50. I bought 6 loaves today - handy to keep them in the freezer (luckily I have 2) incase of more snow. The "preparing for winter" thread on here is great too. That can save you a few £££.

xx

Catwoman103

It's worth checking out the greenfingered money saving page too as home grown is very cheap and easily organic. I've dug over my garden and have been digging in compost. this consists of all my veggie peelings and rabbit doings! I grew masses of potatoes last year from spuds that had sprouted in my cupboard (easily done in a container too). Had tomatoes in hanging baskets and salad leaves on my window sill. Raddishes were lovely and the rabbits ate the leaves. Going to get a rhubarb crown and blueberry bushes this year too. Also going to try beetroot, leeks, carrots, brocolli, cabbage and squash.