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Tag: budget

  • The Shocking Reality Of The LOL Bigger Surprise

    Natalie Harrison has taken to Facebook to share a photo of the LOL dolls £84.99 bigger surprise box.

    Harrison said “Anyone thinking of buying the LOl bigger surprise for £84.99 this is what you get”

    Harrison’s post has since gone viral having been shared over a hundred thousand times and rising.

    Most of the comments claim that it is a rip off, Hannah Smith said “you are better off just buying 8 balls”, Samantha Jane Brunton was angry and said ” I think that’s absolutely disgusting charging that kind of money for such a tiny amount of shite”

    However some think it is worth the money, Beth Starkey was passionate with her words ” I’ve got this for my daughter, I couldn’t give a flying fuck what’s in it, she will absolutely love it, I think I’m the only person that actually thinks they are worth the money, t dolls are so cute I want to play with them myself”.

    Do you feel the price tag shouldn’t matter as the look on your childs face on christmas morning is priceless.

    Gillian McVittie is on a budget but had a brilliant idea to cut costs Mcvittie said “I’ve bought some of the wraps, glitter dolls, pets and other bits and making a goodie box up myself. I plan to wrap a box and them all in tissue paper or something  inside , I will also be adding LOL colouring books and bubble bath”.

    Whats your view on the whole LOL range? Are you gong to spend a lot of money on them and maybe buy the £84 bigget surprise box or possibly even purchase the LOL surprise house playset which are selling at the lowest price of £160.

  • Fines For Parents With Obese Children

    Fines For Parents With Obese Children.

    Recent statistics show that one in five children will be obese by the time they leave primary school, twenty percent of ten and eleven year olds are obese but are the parents to blame?

    Childhood obesity is on the rise but is fining parents going to solve the problem?

    It’s easy to lay the blame but surely educating children to cook healthy nutritious meals in school regardless of their home situation would benefit our children and the future generations.

    Cheap food and soft drinks, television marketing, the vast amount of fast food restaurants surely must take a portion of the blame. According to reports deprived areas have a higher obesity rate than more affluent areas  if that is the case than surely the answer would be education and exercise?

    Funding more out of school clubs for children to play sports, cooking classes for parents on a budget even family fun days where everyone would join in is better than fining cash strapped parents money they don’t have already.

    Or is fining them the answer? Feed your children healthy food and make them exercise or risk a fine will make parents sit up and listen and change the diets of children and also the mindset of the child.

    We as parents are all guilty of giving a children sweets, crisps, chocolate and fast food now and again but is it all in moderation or are some parents too lazy to cook or prepare food and just buy cheap easy convenience food to feed their children?

    Wouldn’t the answer be to make fatty sugary food expensive and healthy food more cost-effective? Are parents entirely to blame for the rise in obesity in our children or does the blame lie elsewhere?

    Let us know your views  in the comment section

  • Christmas Saving Tips Take Some Stress Out Of Xmas

    If you’ve struggled financially this festive period we’ve got some tips to help you for next year.

    Start saving in January we love this idea but it’s easier said than done try the 365 day money challenge, the basic concept is to put 1p away in savings and each day increase it by a penny.

    Christmas Saving Tips Take Some Stress Out Of Xmas
    credit: www.ohsoamelia.com

    Keep old Christmas cards to use for arts and crafts projects next year or even gift tags.

    You may have had an elderly relative who neatly folds wrapping paper and keeps it, well if you’re like me and spend at least £15 on wrapping material this is a great way to save a few quid.

    Food saving stamps, I personally am a Sainsbury’s and an Iceland shopper, so I save up my nectar points and buy gifts around November time when the points are worth double.

    Iceland have a great scheme where you can load money onto your bonus card and use at any point, I find this incredibly handy, if I say spend £41.50 I ask the cashier to round it up to £50.

    This year I have £130.76 on my bonus card, enough to buy all the junk for Christmas night, full Christmas dinner, snacks, selection boxes for the kids, and of course lots of wine for me.

    I often have money left over on the Iceland bonus card which comes in handy towards the end of January.

    In my family we only buy gifts for the children, this saves a great deal of money, but not every family is happy to do so.

    Christmas is a time for family and friends but if yours are a long way away, save on the phone costs with free alternatives and talk for free anywhere in the world over the web. Most smartphones also let you download apps to do this via Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G.

    Make a list of who you need to buy for and whenever you see goods at kick-arse prices, grab, wrap, and stuff ’em in a Christmas cupboard, make sure to add to the list what you have bought so you don’t buy again.

    Ok now this one isn’t really Christmas exactly, but it’s saved me a few pound this year. My children often receive unwanted gifts from distant relatives, rather than waste them or sell them for next to nothing, I store them under my bed and whenever my children are invited to a friend’s birthday party they can pick a gift from the unwanted gift section.

    Christmas shopping on impulse is dangerous. So make an old-fashioned shopping list and stick to it (notes on your phone comes in handy) Remember, shops spend a fortune on targeting your spending impulses – a list helps you beat them.

    Buy your Christmas tree and decorations in January, I’ve seen people pick up a stunning tree for a small price of £2.

    See how one mum spends only £10 on each child on Christmas http://mums-advice-old-copy.local/christmas-costs-me-just-ten-pounds-per-child/

    Don’t overspend, Christmas is a time for love and togetherness not about the biggest pile under the tree.

    Do you have any handy tips or tricks to help with the cost of Christmas if so let us know in the comments

     

     

     

  • Christmas Costs Me Just Ten Pounds Per Child

    Christmas Costs Me Just Ten Pounds Per Child

    One Penny pitching mum spends just £10 on each child for Christmas and says each child loves it.

    Each child gets:

    Something to read, something they need, something they want, something to eat and something to wear.

    Michelle Bridges of East Sussex, buys 5 or 6 gifts for each child.

    Bridges says “I start searching for presents around August time, I never buy brand new, Facebook sales groups, charity shops, gumtree and free cycle are my main sites to go to, I’ve snapped up some amazing bargains before and even got free gifts for my children”.

    Bridges doesn’t wrap gifts the traditional way saying that wrapping paper is a waste of money, Bridges uses cardboard or paper saved off of cereal boxes or other household wasteful packaging, I have even taken the cereal boxes or paper from neighbours recycling boxes .

    Bridges added, “I don’t buy wrapping paper or cellotape, I reuse paper clips and cardboard to wrap gifts”.

    Bridges said “My girls are 4 and 7 and know no difference, they love Christmas and I love knowing I have spent time and effort finding the perfect gift on a budget”.

    Bridges doesn’t buy gifts for her husband or extended family, and expects nothing in return.

    Bridges parents aren’t allowed to spend more than £5 on their granddaughters gifts, Bridges says she is trying to raise smart, kind unspoilt girls, although this has caused a lot of family arguments in the past.

    Bridges mother Cynthia Drummond said ” We have come to terms with how our daughter wishes to raise the girls, we would love to spoil the girls but have to respect our daughters wishes”.

    Bridges hopes others follow suit and stop wasting money on unwanted gifts and raising children who expect mountains of presents and become ungrateful and spoilt.

    Could you spend £10 on your child for Christmas? Do you like the idea behind it all?

     

    Related Article take a read: http://mums-advice-old-copy.local/penny-pinching-mum-saving-big-money-worth/

  • Healthy family meals on a budget!

    Mealtime doesn’t have to be stressful or difficult.  It doesn’t have to cost a fortune or take hours to prepare.  We have listed 20 healthy yet delicious meals that can be enjoyed by the whole family!

     

    Breakfast for dinner!  Everyone knows a cooked breakfast is a great way to start the day, but why not enjoy this for dinner occasionally too?  Grilled bacon, beans, an egg with tomato and mushrooms or any of your families favourite breakfast item!

     

    The slow cooker is your friend!  It’s so simple to prepare a yummy chilli in the morning, then just leave it on all day to fill your home with those amazing dinner sense!  Mince meat, kidney beans, and a chilli sauce as spicy as you like it.  So cheap and easy!

     

    Jacket potatoes!   The humble jacket is more than just a side dish!  Let this bargain beauty be the start of the show, fill it with beans and serve with a basic salad.  It’s good any time of the year!

     

    Spaghetti and meatballs!  This meal it’s great to get the kids involved with if you want to make your own meatballs!  Just get some cheap mince, maybe an onion and any Italian seasoning you enjoy, form into balls then lightly fry off and cook in a yummy tomato sauce and served with spaghetti!

     

    A classic roast!  Typically served on a Sunday this meal doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  Get a small chicken which should easily feed a family of 4, or if you have a bigger family just pad out the dinner with some extra veggies, choose some nice colourful ones to make it look like a really full plate of delicious food!

     

    Pizza!  Who doesn’t have pizza?  Crazy People that’s who!  You can DIY this yummy fake away and the kids will really enjoy picking their own toppings and making it themselves.  The base is a simple wrap.  Just pop it under the grill for a few minutes and da-tah dinner is served!

     

    Pulled pork is an American classic which is making a big appearance in the UK now too!  Just buy yourself a cheap cut of pork and pop it in the slow cooker, you can find some nice barbecue sauce recipes online.  Leave the pork in the slow cooker for as long as you like then serve in rolls with any sides you like.  You should have plenty of leftovers which are tasty in a jacket potato the next day or sandwiches for the kids lunch boxes!

     

    Big Mac in a Bowl!  Ok this might sound weird but hear me out!  This diet friendly meal is so simple and really tasty!  Just simply fry off some mince with any season you’d usually use in a burger and serve on top of a bowl filled with salad, serve with chips.  You could either make your own burger sauce using Mayo and ketchup!

    Shepherd’s pie or cottage pie!  This is a family favourite can go along way!  You can pad it out with as many veggies as you want, using your preference of mince meat; beef, lamb, pork, turkey or chicken it doesn’t matter! Do it however you like it and then smoother yummy homemade mashed potatoes!

    Homemade soup!  This easy meal can be made on such a tight budget and is a little bit different every time!  Use any veg that you have in the fridge or get with ever cheap veggies you like, boil them up, add some stock and blend!   Serve with bread, rolls or chippies or dipping!  A perfect winter warmer.

    Noodles!  This might be the quickest meal you could possibly make! Just cook some noodles and add peppers and come cooked left other ham or chicken!  Easy peasy!

    Chilli con carne!  This is again so simple.  Just fry some mince, add loads of veg and beans, an easy tomato based chilli sauce and serve with rice!

    Carbonara but not as you know it!  This one does look a lot of a mess but trust me it’s really good.  Just cook some pasta, add chopped ham and any vegetables you like; onions, mushrooms, peppers that sort of thing then the strange part… add a tub of quark mixed in with one beaten egg.  Try at least once, I promise it will be become a family favourite!

    Beans on toast!  Such a great example of classic English food!  You could make your beans on toast a little bit more exciting by popping some of your favourite veggies on top, maybe scatter some cheese too!  Do it how you like it and it can be a meal!

    Slow-cooked beef stew!  It’s not winter without a stew and it can be so easy and cheap!  This is something you can really make how you like it.  Add whichever veggies you enjoy the most, make a basic beef broth and then just leave it!  The slow cooker will work its magic and you’ll have a delicious meal to look forward to.  Serve with  potatoes, rice, rolls or dumplings!

    Omelette pizza!  Again this is one of those things that people think I’m crazy for but trust me it is nice!  Just make yourself a basic omelette then cover in tomato puree and add any toppings you like.  It is something that children can really get involved in too, decorating and making how they like it!

    Homemade burger and chips!  Don’t always waste your money on a takeaway or fast food restaurant, making your own burgers can be much tastier and far healthier!  Just form the patties using beef mince and seasoning then make your own chips or wedges!  You’ll enjoy it so much more than any takeaway!

    Fully loaded omelette and chips!  Eggs and potatoes are two of those things that you can make so many meals out of!  Fill your omelette with anything you like; ham, tomatoes, onions or cheese then serve with some healthy homemade chips!

    Spag bol!  An Italian dish we Brits have claimed for our own!  Everyone has their own way of making spaghetti bolognese, while I prefer to make my own sauce, there is no judgement in a jar sauce  of course!  Add in some mushrooms, onions, peppers, celery and carrots to really pad it out with loads of yummy veg, some of my friends even had a tin of baked beans to the mixed too!

    Ham, egg and chips!   This can be such an easy and cheap meal, make your own chips, open and tin of beans, fry an egg and pop some ham on the plate!  Job done!

     

    What do you think of our list of family meals?  Is there anything listed that you’d like to try?  Can you think of any other classic meals you enjoying your house? 

    Let us know in the comments.