The final week of Eat Shop Save

14 Aug The final week of Eat Shop Save

• Bulk buy essentials such as nappies and wipes from wholesalers or check to see when the next supermarket ‘baby & toddler’ event is on. If you sign up to loyalty schemes like the Asda Baby & Toddler Club, you’ll receive advanced notifications in addition to special offers and The Boots Parenting Club also offers extra Advantage Card points and free gifts. 

• Of course you’ll want to use the very best on your baby, but don’t be afraid of own brand products – they’re often just as good as the leading brands and can work out much cheaper. 

• Your supermarket shop can often be a big weekly outgoing and if you’re suffering from sleep and time deprivation you may be tempted to spend even more without realising it. Plan your food shop ahead and batch cook meals which you can then freeze. This will also save you some precious cooking time and will be a lifesaver if you’re tired too. Hearty meals such as bolognese, curries & chillis are cheap and easy to make and you can throw in loads of extra veggies which is a great nutrition boost for a breastfeeding mum. You can also do this for baby food and cooking fresh baby meals in batches can often work out much cheaper than buying individual jars and pouches. 

• Embrace second hand items or share/borrow with your friends. Babies grow so quickly and some items are barely used so there may not be any point in buying brand new when you can find some good pre-owned items in immaculate condition on sites like Facebook Marketplace. 

• Activities for families with babies can be quite expensive so look around for some cheaper alternatives. Your local Sure Start centre is a good place to start and local church halls often run baby and toddler classes for just a couple of pounds. 

• If you meet other parents at your local coffee shop, swap it for a picnic in the park instead and bring your own refreshments. 

• A new baby can mean more outgoings than ever before and whilst saving is maybe not at the front of your mind, try and put a little away each month for your baby’s future. It’s amazing how much it adds up and if you’re honest with friends and family and ask for cash instead of birthday or Christmas gifts, your little one’s nest egg will soon start to grow. Cut back on toys too, many babies and toddlers stick to one or two favourites with many hardly getting used.