Shopping for your baby on a budget is a daily discipline most mums face, so finding a bargain is always satisfying. Just think – the more ways you can find to save money, the more you will have left to pamper yourself!
Here are 10 tips to start you off. You’ll be surprised by just how much you can save and sometimes you can avoid paying anything at all!
Nappy offers
Look out for ‘three for two’ offers on nappies in the supermarkets and extra Boots advantage points on nappies. These usually require bulk purchases but it’s worth it in the end. Don’t forget to use your Huggies and Pampers coupons. You save up to £5.
Tinned fruit
If you want to feed baby puréed fruit then look around before deciding how to make it. How much are the puréed tins? How much is the fresh fruit? You’d be surprised but depending on the season, sometimes tins of purée are cheaper than the fruit itself. Stick to the supermarkets if buying tins as they are usually substantially less there than in chemists and other smaller retailers. You save about £1 per batch plus the hassle of making it.
Homemade food
Save those jars of baby food for going out. It’s easy to make your baby a nourishing meal without having to buy in special items. For example, soak some good quality bread in full cream milk (for babies of more than six months), stir in some grated cheese and the inside
of a cherry tomato. You save 50p-£1 per meal.
Freeze leftovers
Don’t throw away your excess (unsalted!) dinner – puree and freeze in ice cube trays and remove and defrost as required. Bear in mind recommendations for what foods to avoid giving your baby, for example, nuts and shellfish. You save the cost and hassle of making another meal.
Avoid brand-name medicines
Forget buying brand name medicines for baby – it’s far cheaper to ask for paracetamol suspension over the counter. Even better – ask your GP to prescribe it for your baby when necessary. A good time to do this is at injection times.
Cotton wool
Instead of buying bags of cotton wool balls buy a big wad. When you have time to watch your favourite TV programmes, tear off pieces and roll them into balls. It’s surprisingly therapeutic and much cheaper and longer lasting!
Aqueous cream
In the winter months and when dribbling during teething your baby will have dry skin. Instead of buying lotions over the counter ask your GP to prescribe aqueous cream – it lasts for ages!
Homemade toys
Make your own toys! Your baby will love grown-up items anyway so improvise with them – but safely. For example, fill a coloured plastic drinks bottle with red lentils and rice to make a colourful shaker, but make sure the top is screwed on very tight.You save about £5 for a shaker or rainmaker.
Use the library
Visit your local toy library which will be linked to your local library or education authority. Toys range from the smallest rattle to large activity centres. Sometimes, there is no charge for borrowing and any charges are usually minimal. It’s a good way of ’trying before buying’, and saves the feeling of wasting money on toys when your baby was more interested in the wrapper than the toy itself!
Free books
Keep your eyes open for free books (and enrol your child at your local library – it’s never too early!). You will find free books with Sainsbury’s Book Start programme which your health visitor should tell you about. Some magazines often have books on the front cover too. You save from about £3 depending on book.
