Thursday, 30 July 2015

Money Saving Tips


We all like to save money, don't we? I mean, who wouldn't like to have the extra money to spend on something else?! I have never had problems with money, and I have always been very careful with how I spend budget and spend. I got my first job when I was 16 and started saving from my first pay cheque. I eventually saved up enough money to start Driving Lessons, buy my first car, and insure it which I am very proud of! 

I fell pregnant while Chris and I were still at University. We were both working part time jobs alongside studying so neither of us were earning that much. However, between us we were able to save up enough money to buy the pram of my dreams, clothes, nappies, and everything else a new baby could dream of. 

Chris and I have always lived off a very small wage. This has actually done us so much good because we have learnt how to live off of minimal money while providing Florence with everything she could possibly need. We are still living off of one wage as my Maternity Allowance has stopped and I will be returning back to University in September.

Being a parent can be expensive, but learning how to budget and cut costs can be beneficial in the
long run. Here are some things that we have found to save money since starting a family!

Amazon Subscribe and Save 

We signed up to Amazon Family Prime while Chris was still at University as it cost half of the usual price. Subscribe and Save is a money saving feature that is exclusive to Amazon Prime Members (I think?!) With Subscribe and Save you save even more money on Amazon products and receive free standard delivery. You are also able to schedule your delivery for a day that suits you!  As we are Amazon Family Prime members we receive an additional 20% off of nappy subscriptions through Subscribe and Save. This month we bought 152 Pampers Baby Dry nappies for £16 instead of £30.  We save 5% on other products such as Water Wipes and Tommee Tippee Prep Machine Filters. It all adds up and the free next day delivery is fabulous!

Discount Codes 
 
Before I buy anything online I will always Google for a Discount Code for that particular store. For example, if I am shopping with Mini Boden I will search “Mini Boden Discount Code.” I don’t think that I have ever paid full price for clothing from Mini Boden which suits me down to the ground. I’ve recently stumbled across this brilliant Mums Net thread for Discount Codes. You can either search for a code or start a new thread asking for a code. I’ve saved a fair amount of money by using Discount Codes, from Car Experience Days to Nappies. It’s always worth a try because there have rarely been times that I haven’t been able to find a money off code.

Meal Planning 

 Chris and I are absolutely terrible for Food Shopping. I’ll send Chris out for a pint of milk and he’ll return home with everything but the kitchen sink. We used to buy enough food for a family of 5 and so much of it would get wasted! I have recently started to make an inventory list for our fridge and freezer so that I know exactly what food we have. I will then decide on meals that I can make with what we already have and then create a small shopping list to top our supplies up and compliment the products that are in the cupboards. It’s worked well so far and we have certainly spent less on Food Shopping since starting. We have also just joined up for Tesco’s “Scan and Shop” which helps me to spend less because you can see how much you have spent as you go. 

Do you have any other money saving tips that you'd like to share?

Monday, 27 July 2015

Weaning Diaries // Week 13



 This week I have carried on trying to make sure that I give Florence interesting and tasty lunches, she has certainly enjoyed them this week.

Florence had her first taste of Baked Beans and Marmite this week. She has tried a little Marmite on my finger a couple of weeks ago, much to Chris's dismay. You either love it or hate it. I love it and Chris really does hate it, buy luckily Florence is on my side and she LOVED it!!!


Here is Florence's food diary for Week 13 - 


Week 13
Breakfast – 9.00am
Lunch – 1.00pm
Dinner – 4.00pm
Bedtime – 7.00pm
Monday
Bottle

Weetabix with Apple and Banana Fruit Pot
Bottle

Houmous and Grated Carrot Sandwich
Bottle

Pasta Stars with Veggie Sauce

Pear, Banana, and Kiwi Fruit Pouch
Bottle
Tuesday
Bottle

Yoghurt with *Ella’s Kitchen “The Yellow One”
Bottle

Pasta with Ham, Cheese, and Tomatoes

Pineapple Fingers
Bottle

Creamy Chicken and Vegetables

Apple and Cherry Fruit Pot
Bottle
Wednesday
Bottle

Ready Brek with Ella’s Kitchen “The Green One”
Bottle

Organic Rice Cakes, Babybel, Ham, and Cucumber
Bottle

Cod Fillet with Cheese Sauce and Vegetables

Apple with Raspberry Pieces Fruit Pot
Bottle
Thursday
Bottle

Crumpets with Butter and Marmite
Bottle

Ham Omelette and Beans




Watermelon Fingers
Bottle

Beef and Carrot Casserole with Parsnip and Sweet Potato

Apple and Mashed Mango Fruit Pot
Bottle
Friday
Bottle

Weetabix with Apple and Blueberry Fruit Pot
Bottle

Pitta Bread, Egg Bites, Carrots, and Sausage
Bottle

Vegetables in a Cheesy Sauce

Apple and Strawberry Fruit Pot and Strawberry Puffs**
Bottle
Saturday
Bottle

Yoghurt with Plum, Pear, and Blackcurrant Fruit Pouch
Bottle

Boursin Bagel and Carrots


Mango Fingers
Bottle

Sweet Potato and Lamb Casserole

Ella’s Kitchen “The Red One”
Bottle
Sunday
Bottle

Ready Brek with Apple and Peach Fruit Pot  
Bottle

***
Bottle

One Pot Chicken

Yoghurt with Plum, Pear, and Blackcurrant Fruit Pouch
Bottle

*I've never given Florence the Ella's Kitchen Fruit Pouches, not for any particular reason, I just buy the Organix Fruit Pots as they are always on offer! Each individual Ella's Kitchen pouch retails at 79p but Costco are currently selling a big variety box of 24 pouches for £12.99 making each pouch just 55p!

** I also picked Florence up some Kiddylicious Fruity Puffs from Tesco. They're currently 2 packs for £1 so I thought I would give them a go as they are perfect finger nibbles for the Aeroplane.

***On Sunday we took Florence to the Science Museum. She actually slept for most of the day which is completely unlike her. It did mean that she missed her Lunch for the first time since starting having lunch!