Mums Money Matters

Sales

2011-01-20T02:20:00.000-08:00

It's January sales time, and I'm making the most of looking through the last few reduced items seeing what I can get for next years Christmas presents. Best bargains so far:

Sainsburys - transparent pencil case 3p
Tescos - set of pink erasers 25p
Wilkinsons - glass tea light holder with christmas tree design - 25p
Matalan - Set to make a car for 8 years+ - 50p (buy one get one free offer)

Cars

2008-02-13T02:23:00.000-08:00

I've had problems with the car I share with my ex, so I'm now going to share my boyfriends car. This does come with some problems if you both need the car for diferent things at the same time, but genreally it works out fine, and save lots of money on insurance, tax, MOT's and services.

Valentines Day expenses

2008-02-09T04:06:00.000-08:00

Don't be taken in by the shops advertising all the symbols of love that you should be buying for valentines day. A home made card means a lot more than something produced by a shop, especially if you carefully make up your own rhyme.

Instead of buying an expensive present or going out for a meal, why not cook a nice meal at home instead. It doesn't have to be that expensive just take care with how the food looks and it will be highly appreciated.

Borrowing

2008-02-02T03:04:00.000-08:00

I read an interesting article on the Motley Fool website yesterday saying how if you borrow money you might think that you are able to buy more than other people, but in fact, because you spend so much more paying for them because of the interest on the credit, you in fact end up with a lot less in the long run.
So waiting for things and saving up means you will have more, even if it takes you longer to get it.

Going out for Free

2008-01-31T05:45:00.000-08:00

I often find that I turn down nights out because I can't afford to buy drinks. One way round this is to drive so that you can't drink alcohol and in return for giving a lift to your friends they often give you free drinks. As long as your friends don't live too far apart and you spend loads on petrol, you can still have a night out with your friends.

Library Books

2008-01-30T03:58:00.001-08:00

Today our house is scattered with library books. My girls love the novelty of reading a new book, and although nothing is the same as have a brand new book of their own, borrowing from the library is the next best thing. They get a great deal of enjoyment out of it and experience a big range of different stories that they would never had read if I had to buy them for free.

Cold verses savings

2008-01-29T12:56:00.000-08:00

I have decided to stuff saving money on my heating at the moment. My central heating is still not working, and I have had a radiator plugged in all day upstairs, and it is so nice not to feel cold up here. I still only have the little halogen one downstairs so it is cold in the kitchen, but I can put up with that.
It is forecast to be really cold at the weekend so I have decided to just keep the heating on. It is green energy so I don't need to feel guilty about the environment, and I have got to the point where I just want to be warm.

Cheap Food

2008-01-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

Going to cheaper supermarkets such as Lidl, Netto and Aldi are a great way to save money. They are much cheaper than the big name supermarkets. The only thing I find is that you have to use up the fruit and veg quickly or else it does tend to go off, so don't overstock or you might find it is a false economy.

Refund

2008-01-26T12:31:00.000-08:00

I got a bonus £5 back on Friday after realising I had been overcharged for something. It is always worth checking things like that as you might accidently pay out more money that you should be.

Saving Money on Clothes in the Sales

2008-01-23T10:43:00.001-08:00

It is easy to go to the sales and buy lots of clothes because they are reduced but then leave them hanging in the wardrobe and hardly every wearing them, or buying things similar to lots of clothes you already have.

The best thing to do is look at the sort of things that you will need for the next 6 months or so and just buy them. It might not be as much fun buying practical undies, and clothes for a summer holiday you haven't even booked yet, but at least you won't be spending more money than you need.

Money from Nowhere

2008-01-22T09:22:00.000-08:00

I have spent the day trying to work out a way of getting some money and this afternoon was offered some money for places some advertising on my website. It is amazing how if you really focus on what you need it tends to come to you.

House Prices Falling

2008-01-21T13:23:00.001-08:00

With house prices falling at the moment, there are a couple of things that you can do to help. Firstly you can pay back more of your mortgage now if you have the option. If not you could put some money in a savings account for when your mortgage ends to help pay it then.

Secondly you can do some home improvements to keep the price up. Just make sure they are appropriate for the house and the area it is in.

saving

2008-01-16T12:04:00.000-08:00

Don't forget that there is only a couple of months before the end of the tax year, and that means only a couple of months to fill up your ISA before you get your interest. It is worth putting in as much as you can afford, even if it is only a few pounds, as you will get tax free interest on the money even if you are a tax payer.

A day without spending money

2008-01-15T12:21:00.001-08:00

Today I didn't spend any money. I know I still used electricity and gas, but other than that, I didn't spend. I think it is something to be celebrated especially as it happens so rarely.

Charity Shops

2008-01-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

Today I had to take a trip to a nearby town to register with college. (I'm on Council Tax Benefit and am entitled to some courses for free, it is certainly worth looking into if you intend to go back to work in the future). While I was there I thought I would look around the charity shops there as otherwise I couldn't justify using the petrol as it is about 10 miles away. I found a few things that I could resell on ebay so it was well worth taking time out to look in the shops there.

Make savings when you can

2008-01-13T12:24:00.001-08:00

Today I managed to get 6 pens and 2 post it pads in a pack for 59p from Home Bargains which I can take out of the pack and make look pretty with a ribbon and give away for Christmas. A real bargain.

I also found cheap summer clothes in Tesco's sale for the kids. It might be a bit early to buy, but I just got 2 sizes bigger than they are and took advantage of the t-shirts for 75p, dress with leggings for £2 and even got myself some long warm socks for 50p a pair and they weren't even in the sale (just black which is a bit plain for my taste but when you don't have much money you can't complain!).

Little Savings Add up

2008-01-11T04:02:00.000-08:00

It might seem like a waste of time remembering to leave your TV switched off and not on standby or unplugging your mobile phone charger when you aren't using it, but little things really add up when you are trying to save money. So remember to turn off lights in rooms when you aren't using them and put in energy saving bulbs. Walk to the shops instead of automatically taking the car, and try to warm up with a sweater and a hot drink before automatically switching on the heating.

Saving Heating Costs

2008-01-09T01:54:00.000-08:00

Well having no boiler has certainly made me think about how to keep the house warm. Keeping the curtains shut all day is keeping the bedrooms warmer as my windows are quite draughty. I am just heating the rooms I need, sad keeping the doors shut to keep that h eat in. So in the day I have a halogen heater on in the living room for a while to warm that up with the door shut, and at night I warm up the kids bedrooms early and then mine for a while later. Once we are in bed it is warm enough without heating at all (which we are used to anyway).
I haven't got any hot water bottles yet, but that was a useful suggestion that was given to me as well. Any other hints would be welcomed.

Warm Front

2008-01-08T06:10:00.000-08:00

Warm Front give grants to help you be more energy efficient by helping with loft lagging, insulation and currently arranging for me to have a new boiler. If you are on benefits you can contact them on 0800 316 6011 or look at http://www.warmfront.co.uk/

Toddler Entertainment

2007-11-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

I am very lucky to have in my local area two different groups who provide free activities for toddlers. I can go to 2 toddler groups a week for 2 hours with free play (and one optional craft activity) followed by a snack, songs and a story. I have 2 free sessions for 2 hours a week in a soft play area where toast and a drink (for both parent and child) are provided. I have 2 mornings a week where I can mix with other mums and my daughter is looked after by creche workers, and 2 other sessions a week for 1.5 hours each where I can do activities with my daughter for free.

I am not sure if these opportunities happen all over the country but it is certainly worth talking to your local health visitor who will know all about local free activities. Most libraries have a free story session which is great for toddlers. My daughters both love these when we can make them (unfortunately they currently clash with my voluntary work).

I don't take advantage of them all as the times aren't always convinient and in fact I would rather pay £1 a session for an alternative toddler group where my daughter is happier. But because I'm on a low income there are some swimming sessions I can get free too so there is plenty to keep us occupied.

The only problem is trying to explain to my older daughter why I didn't do the same amount of activities with her, which was because I had a higher income and had to pay for them all, plus I was working.

Birthday Savings

2007-11-01T01:20:00.001-07:00

My daughter had a birthday yesterday and I found it very easy to make it cheaper. I found presents in the sales through the year to save money on her present. Got Barbie gift bags and invitations from Home Bargains for 40p for 20. Then I have saved on her party by having it at home instead of taking the children out. I made her birthday cake myself. Small savings really add up and a birthday that could have cost me hundreds of pounds ended up only costing about £50 including all her presents.

Don't waste money on heating

2007-09-20T04:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a lot colder the last few days and I have had a few people saying that their heating is going on. To me it is still far too early in the year to put on your heating, especially if you are on a tight budget.

Here are some ways you can stay warm without having to pay lots of money:

If you are cold put on some thick socks and a jumper before switching on a heater.
Once it is dark shut the curtains to keep in the heat but make sure you open them on sunny days.
If you have been sitting for a while and feel cold then get up a walk around and get the blood moving and you will feel warmer.
If you have hot water have a hot shower or bath as this will warm you and is cheaper than running the heating full time.
Get yourself a warm drink, that helps you feel much warmer.

In the long term these ways will help you keep warm but will only save money in the future:

Get your house insulated then you don't need to put the heating on for as long or as early in the year.
Buy warmer clothes such as thermal vests and padded trousers and jumpers so you can keep warmer in the house.
Get a more energy efficient boiler that will keep the cost of heating down. Choose one that will only heat water when you need it.
Make sure you have double glazing and the windows don't have any draughts. If necessary put secondary glazing on for the winter months to keep it warmer. Thick curtains also help to stop the heat from escaping.

And don't forget that if you have friends with warm houses visit them more often so you don't have to heat your own!!

New Section in Mora Chat

2007-09-13T05:23:00.001-07:00

Mora Chat has a section for work at home mums and an area which gives ideas for online and offline opportunities to make money. If you are interested click here: http://morachat.com/forum/profile.php?mode=register&refer_id=431

Charity Shops

2007-09-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

I went out to a different town yesterday and round the charity shops found a couple of fairly rare books that I am going to sell on ebay. I have noticed that the richer the town the better the selection of items in their charity shops. However ones in towns tend to be more expensive than the smaller village ones. They are a great place to get bargains of all kinds, especially toys for the kids as they change their mind about what they want so quickly.

Save money for Christmas

2007-09-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Ok it seems way to early for Christmas but I see some shops are already getting their cards out. At this point I think it is a bad idea to start buying little things if you see them in preparation for Christmas as you will either forget you bought them or they might end up being not suitable. The best way to prepare for Christmas now is to put a bit of money aside each week ready for it.

Write a list of all the people you buy presents for and the approximate amount you want to spend on them. Then work out how much you need to save each week in the lead up to Christmas to afford that much. If you can't afford it scale down some of the prices, you don't need to spend a lot to show you care, even a small gift, if well thought out, can mean a lot.

Once you have worked out what you need to save either find a box to store the cash or open a savings account and make sure you put the money in every week. You will then be sure you have enough without having to have a last minute panic about how you are going to afford everything.

The best way to save money I find is to accept any invitation you get for going over for Christmas. I always find I buy way too much food and so much gets wasted that it costs me as much as the presents.

Toy Library

2007-09-05T04:23:00.001-07:00

If you children get bored of playign with their toys you don't have to buy them new toys every time. In many towns there are toy libraries where you can borrow toys for your children and take them back every few weeks and exchange them for other ones. It is also a great way to try out toys to see if the kids are going to play with them before you pay out lots of money on them.

Saving unexpected Money

2007-09-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

This month because of the way they are paid out I get 2 lots of child tax credits. This is because they come once every 4 weeks instead of once a month, so every so often I get some extra.

I have decided that the best thing to do with this extra is to save it as I know I already have enough for this months bills. Doing this means that I have that extra for any emergencies that crop up.

Motley Fool Guide to Saving Money

2007-09-03T03:29:00.001-07:00

This article contains loads of ways to save money and some of them were things I hadn't thought of. http://www.fool.co.uk/news/money-saving-tips/2007/09/01/seventy-six-ways-to-save-money.aspx?source=ioowftxt0010011

Making some Money from my Blog

2007-08-29T09:41:00.001-07:00

Today I have managed to make a bit of money from my blog by making some of the words in the blog link out to other blogs. It is a bit annoying as some aren't really relevant at all to what the blog is about, but with school starting to soon and having to buy my daughter new trousers, shoes and skirts I need the money.

Walk in the Forest

2007-08-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

We took a walk in a mini (and I mean tiny) forest today. It is just down the road from my house so I thought it would be a nice cheap adventure. The trees were nice but we didn't have a chance to really look at them as the place had been used as a dogs toilet. We had to spend the whole time looking at where we were walking. It was really horrible. So much for a nice cheap morning out.

Free day out with the kids today

2007-08-25T04:23:00.000-07:00

Today is the cheapest day out for me that the kids have had lately as their dad is taking them out!! lol. However he isn't going to stpend much money, he is taking them to the center of Shrewsbury to watch some free music and dancing promoting their folk festival. He will get the park and ride bus in that only costs £1 and the kids will be entertained for an hour or so.

It is always worth looking in the local paper or listening to local radio for events like this as the kids think its a real treat, and it doesn't cost you a thing!!

New pay to post forum

2007-08-24T04:17:00.000-07:00

I have found this great forum where you get paid for posting a responding to messages. Its very basic and has only just started. It is running a couple of contests too and there is a good chance of winning as there are so few members on the site. Go to MoraChat to find out more.

Win $100 in the Ashwin Khanna Revenge Contest

2007-08-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

I previously linked to a competition that said you could win $2500 by linking to a blog. This was just a ploy by the blog owner to increase its links and potentially sell more advertising on that blog. There is now a counter competition launched to reduce his ratintg back down where it belongs and also give you a chance to win $100. Now of course this could be a scam as well but check it out and decide if you think it is worth entering :

http://www.contestblogger.com/win-100-in-the-ashwin-khanna-revenge-contest/#more-288

online interview

2007-08-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

I did an online interview for this blog. It was easy and anyone can try to enter to get some promotion for their blog. Take a look at it here http://bloginterviewer.com/money/mums-money-matters-michelle-darcy

Visiting Cafes

2007-08-21T08:06:00.000-07:00

I have had family visiting me for a long weekend and I have noticed that everywhere we go they want to stop for a coffee. This costs a huge amount of money and I now realise why I stopped goin it when I go out. I always make sure I pack a drink for the kids or if I forget I just buy a bottle of water or juice from a shop rather than paying huge prices for a cafe. If I am tired we sit on a bench to drink it to get our strength back rather than in a cafe.

Recalled Mattel Toys

2007-08-16T05:29:00.000-07:00

I have one of the Polly Pocket Playsets that have been recalled my Mattel. I wonder if anyone knows how I can get my money back, or an alternative replacement toy, as my daughter is gutted that she can't play with it any more.

Save Money on your shopping bill

2007-08-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

Have you ever looked through your cupboards and had to throw out all the out of date items and the same with your fridge?

It is a good policy to clear out your fridge every week and make sure that all the items that are close to the use by date are moved to the front.

With your larder or pantry look through every month and make sure you are using up all those things you buy just in case. I often buy tins of chopped tomatoes and butter beans in case I run out of vegetables and can't afford to buy more, but these just seem to pile up in the cupboard. It is a good idea to make sure you run down your food low every now and again to make sure you aren't wasting money on it.

Play a game and win money

2007-08-13T04:45:00.000-07:00

Ok so like most online games the chances of winning are very slim, but I found it a lot of fun to play and very easy. If you like RPG games and want a bit of fun in your relaxation time take a look at exodus 3000. If anyone already plays and has any tips for me, please let me know!

Free workshop today

2007-08-13T01:16:00.001-07:00

Today I am taking the girls to a free circus skills workshop. It is provided by the local families project, but it could be something you could easily set up at home for the kids. All you need are some items to juggle like bean bags or soft balls and some string to practice balancing on (stretch on the floor not tied up at first for safety). AFter they have finished practicing they can have a clowns fight with buckets of cut up paper to throw over each other.

Back Home

2007-08-10T06:12:00.001-07:00

We have just returned from a holiday visiting family. I found that it was qite expensive. I should have thought about taking more things with me for the kids to do as I had to buy some books and some other things to do. I also had to buy a t-shirt for my one daughter as it was hotter than I anticipated and she didn't have enough cool clothes. I guess todays hint is to be organised and plan well as that can save you money too!

Holiday for the summer

2007-07-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

I am finding it difficult to keep up to date with my blogs while the kids are home, it seems to take so much more time to tidy up etc. I am going to do my best, but please bear with me if the messages come far less often.

Save money when you go out for the day

2007-07-30T11:07:00.001-07:00

I find that even if I go out somewhere that is free to go in I always end up spending out on drinks and food. The best thing is to be prepared and take drinks for you and the kids as well as a picnic and lots of extra snacks as they will get hungry as they are bound to burn off more energy than usual. Otherwise I find that I end up spending nearly £20 a day just on drinks, snacks and lunch.

Another Cheap Day Out

2007-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Today I got a lot of bargains. Went into town and parked using my boyfriends parking permit so saved myself £2.50. My girls wanted their dad to come with us so I managed to get him to pay for some shoes for them and that saved me another £10. With the £10 I saved I got myself a bargain pair of shoes that were reduced from £25. The sales are a great way to save money all the time, as long as you only look for things you need instead of things you just want (like my shoes!). The rest of the time we spend in the park with the kids. They played for free and it exhausted them so I now have a quiet evening - a good day all round!!

Promote Your Blog

2007-07-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

I dont' know if anyone who reads this has a blog as well, but if you do I found an interesting site today that promotes your blog by way of an onilne interview. It is easy to enter and you can filli nthe interview form without them contacting you. For anyone who is interested here it is:

http://www.bloginterviewer.com/submit-an-interview

Low cost holiday activity

2007-07-24T01:37:00.000-07:00

It is the first sunny day we have had for a while and looks like the only one this week. To take advantage of the weather we aren't going to an expensive theme park or a similar activity, we are going to do gardening. My kids love doing stuff in the garden, they think it is real fun (and a novelty as they haven't done it much this year!) They are so excited about doing it. It just goes to show that having fun doesn't need to cost money.

Win $2500

2007-07-22T07:54:00.001-07:00

Over at Ashwin’s blog, you will find one crazy blog owner!! You can win $2500!! To enter just copy this text and paste it in your blog!! But hurry, this competition will not last long! So get posting!

This sounds too good to be true, but surely worth a try!

Ebay isn't always cheaper

2007-07-18T12:29:00.001-07:00

Today I went to look for some phonics books for my youngest daughter. I found them in the Early Learning Centre and was about to buy them when I thought that they might be cheaper on Ebay. When I got home and checked I found out that in fact not only were they dearer, they were more expensive by a few pounds. I wonder who buys things from Ebay that you can get cheaper in the shops. At least it taught me a lesson, that ebay isn't necessarily cheaper.

Look local to save money

2007-07-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

I was always under the impression that local shops were more expensive than big chains because they have less competition and so can get away with higher prices despite the lower rents than they would pay in the town centre.
However today I was suprised to find out that in my local shopping area there is a pet shop that is selling items far lower than the big chain pet shops. She can save you about 25% on normal prices. It just goes to show that it is worth shopping around, especially before you make an expensive purchase (like a cockatiel cage!!).

Free Kids Activity

2007-07-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

Today my girls went out to a birthday celebration in a pet shop. They got to look at animals had a free badge and bookmark and got their faces painted. These sort of activities are great as they are free but the kids really felt like they were given a treat. It is worth looking in the free papers for events like this.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #12 - Cooling

2007-07-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

In the summer I usually see lots of people with fans on trying to cool down their houses, this is a real drain on the electricity. In the USA a lot of people have air conditioning and just put it on without thinking that there are better ways of stopping the house getting too warm.

To start with I leave the curtains drawn on a hot day. I have black out curtains upstairs and hardly any of the heat seems to come through them.

I try to get a through breeze in the house so I keep the windows and the door open so the air can circulate well.

I also wear cool clothes. I wear thin cotton clothes and not tight heavy fabrics.

I also use lots of ice in drinks and always make sure I have a cold drink next to me as that cools me down quickly.

School Holidays

2007-07-10T12:08:00.001-07:00

The summer holidays are coming up soon and I'm sure everyone is as anxious as I am to find activities to do with the kids that are cheap and fun.

My daughter came out of school with a leaflet about all the acitivities that are taking place in the libraries in our area. There is something each week that would be relevent to one or both of my girls and they are all free. I would think it would be worth other mums checking out their local libraries as I know other areas of the country have activities in their libraries too.

Free day out

2007-07-08T12:20:00.001-07:00

Today we took the kids around town and then to the park. We didn't buy anything in town, just looked around the shops a bit and then they played in the park.

Car parking is free in town on a Sunday and so all we had to pay for was the petrol to get us there.

Everyone had a good time, so it was a nice free day out.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #11 - Decorating

2007-07-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

I have just been decorating my living room but I have a limited budget. Instead of doing expensive decorations I have painted the room magnolia over the top of the paint that was already there. That meant I only need one coat of paint which saved me money and I could also buy very cheap paint as magnolia is one of the cheapest ot buy. White paint is cheap too which is why I have kept the ceiling white even though I'm not keen on white ceilings.

Instead of getting a new carpet which I really need I'm going to use a friends carpet cleaner instead to make it look cleaner and newer but saving me a lot of money.

I have also washed down all the door and skirting boards which has meant I don't have to repaint them which will save me money as well.

Walking to School

2007-07-05T01:57:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to stop driving to school again today. It has got to be a bit of a habit. With all the bad weather we have been having and because I have been doing some childminding, it has been difficult to get motivated to walk. It it much better as it saves me money on petrol but also keeps me fit! It is amazing the difference it makes, I usually have to put about £10 worth of fuel a week into the fuel guzzling car that I borrow from my ex to take the kids around.

Bucks 4 Banners

2007-07-04T06:07:00.000-07:00

I have been resisting putting on these money making websites onto this blog as I wanted it to be more about ways to make or save money around the house as there are plenty of sites about how to make money on the web.

However today I signed up for Bucks 4 Banners. I put 3 of their banners on different pages of my website and I will get paid £10 for that and a further £5 for every month the banners are active on the site. This involves no work whatsoever and doesn't depend on people clicking through for you to have to earn. I hid the banners on the bottom of pages of my site that people don't usually look at, but this was still acceptable. This means my hosting fees will be paid automatically for my site without me having to rely of google adwords or selling products.

To see an example of one of the banners on my site go to: http://www.recipesforvegans.co.uk/aboutus.html

To get more detailis go to the Bucks 4 Banners website.

Freecycle

2007-07-03T12:25:00.001-07:00

Freecycle is a wonderful website where you can recycle your unwanted items instead of throwing them away and filling up the landfill sites.

It is also a great place to find items for free that you might otherwise have had to buy, hence seving you a lot of money.

If you go to http://www.freecycle.org/ you can find out which group is the most local to you and subscribe to it. I have got rid of loads of 'rubbish' from my shed, and lots of the kids toys knowing that they are going to a good home. I have also got a lot of good things off there including a push chair, car seat, books, clothes and shoes for the kids and videos.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #10 - Driving

2007-07-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

Petrol and Diesel prices are increasing all the time so owning and driving a car is getting more and more expensive.

Save fuel by trying not to rev as hard. Using the air conditioning uses more too so only use it when its really necessary.

When you are about to make a car journey question whether it is really necessary or if you can walk instead.

I had to give up my car as the engine went wrong and the cost to repair it was more than the car was worth. I now walk far more often, and when I do need a car I borrow my kids' dads' car. That way I don't have to pay tax, insurance or for mot or servicing only my share of the petrol. Even if we were sharing those bills it would still save me a lot more than when I had my own car. It is certainly something to think about.

Helping you get back into work

2007-06-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

Did you know that there are a lot of courses that will help you get back to work, that are free if you are on low incomes?

On Monday I signed up to a web design evening course that will help me get a job when I go back to work, but is free because I am on council tax benefit.

It is worth looking into as there are also courses that can be done free in some areas regardless of income. Such as in the Telford area you can do classroom assistants courses for free and hygine courses too. These might be helpful if you are thinking of going back to work in the near future and want some help.

An Evening Out

2007-06-28T11:32:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow night I am having my first evening out without the kids for a long time. However because I am on a tight budget I have decided to just either go to the cinema or have a meal not both. I think the novelty of an evening out will be so great that it won't matter if I have lots of activities lined up or just one, it will still be special. I will have the added bonus of it not costing too much.

Saving Money when buying new things

2007-06-27T11:01:00.001-07:00

When you want something new, do you just go to a familiar shop to buy it, or do you shop around. If you go onto the internet and compare the prices in different shops you can often save yourself a lot of money. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy online and pay postage than it is to go into your nearest shop, especially with expensive purchases.
You might also consider getting the item second hand as often they can be as good as new and at a fraction of the cost.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #9 - Current Account Interest

2007-06-25T12:05:00.001-07:00

These days a lot of current accounts are giving you interest on your money. This month I got 86p interest from my account with Smile. I know it doesn't sound like much, but this money adds up. I would make about £10 in a year which can't be a bad thing.

Making money from your blog

2007-06-24T11:23:00.000-07:00

My sister told me about this document about making money from your blog. It has lots of interesting ideas and is written by someone who has made $11,000 from his blog in one month. Click here to take a look.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #8 - BOGOFs

2007-06-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

For those not familiar with BOGOF it stands for Buy One Get One Free. This is something that supermarkets tend to do from time to time as well as other offers, such as 2 or £2 and other similar things.
These are a great way of saving money and it is well worth stocking up on things when the prices are favourable like that, especially when its on something that lasts a long time.
However beware. Make sure that you aren't tempted by the offer without thinking about if you actually need the item or checking whether the stores own brand is cheaper. There is no money to be saved if you buy something you don't really need, or something that isn't cheaper than what you normally buy.

Saving your extra cash

2007-06-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

If you do have some extra money remember that just leaving it in your current account isn't going to get you any extra money on it. If you put it in a savings account you will get a higher rate or interest and ISA's are even better as you aren't taxed on your interest.
I have a mini cash ISA and use it just like a savings account. Putting in money when I need it and taking it out when I have to spend it. It is with the same bank as my current account so the money transfers immediately so it is easy to access it should an emergency come up.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #7 - Post

2007-06-20T11:57:00.000-07:00

When you send things through the post do you always consider the cheapest option. If you get your birthday cards ready a day early then you can send 2nd class instead of 1st.
Parcels are worth looking into first. Remember that if they are only paperwork or books they can go as printed papers to foreign destinations and this is much cheaper than going standard air or surface mail.
It is really worth remembering as you can save a lot of money by being a bit more organised.

My Lot

2007-06-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

My Lot is a website where you can get paid for expressing your opinions and takign part in discussions. It is a lot of fun and is a great community where you can make some nice friends. It doesn't pay a lot but if you have free time and are looking to make some money it is a good place to start. The only thing you need to get paid is a paypal account.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #6 - Shopping

2007-06-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

Because of where I live, if I want to go to big shops or specialist ones I have to travel quite a distance. Today I had to buy a new tablecloth and the cheapest place to get one is over 8 miles away. So to make the most of the trip I bought some other things in the shop that I was planning on getting next month and popped in another shop on the way as I don't pass it very often.
It might not seem like much but trying to save petrol like that (especially in a fuel guzzling car like mine) really adds up.

Making the most of your skills

2007-06-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

Whether you be an arty person, practical, enjoy being with children or have skills in other areas, there are always ways we can make the most of our skills and potentially make money from them.

My skills are in web design which is why I try to make money from blogs and websites. I also enjoy looking after children so do some childminding and work voluntarily at a nursery. (This might not sound like a way to make money but it will help me with my CV once I want to go back to permanant work as well as hopefully getting me a good reference).

If your skills are in arts and crafts why not try painting pictures to sell, making cards, designing flyers for people etc. If you have good people skills there are telemarketing jobs you can do from home. If you enjoy walking perhaps leaflet delivery will work for you. If housework is your thing you might be able to take in ironing or do cleaning, often people are sympathetic if you take a young child along as long as they behave.

There are a lot of jobs out there that might suit your skills you just need to sit down and think about what you are good at.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #5 - Presents

2007-06-18T01:23:00.000-07:00

I am sure that from time to time we all struggle to be able to afford to buy presents for people. Some months my daughter has 2 parties a week and there are lots of presents to be bought.

What I do is keep my eye out for bargain toys and other presents all the time and buy them when they are cheap. Then I have a stock of things, and if I get an unexpected party or birthday that I hadn't budgeted for, I usually have something ready to give.

I also get cheap cards when I can find them. If I see some pretty cards at bargain prices I will buy several of them. And with wrapping paper I buy it from markets rather than shops where it is much cheaper. You might not be able to get Spiderman or Barbie on the paper but it is 10p a sheet rather than £1.

Entering Competitions

2007-06-18T01:18:00.000-07:00

I know competitions are down to chance a lot of the time, but if you enter enough you are going to win something every now and again. However there are things you need to take care with. Often competitions charge for you to phone or text them, but you can sometimes enter on the web for free, or post entries so just pay the price of a 2nd class stamp rather than a first class one.
There are lots of competition sites on the Internet that you can go in for. I must say I haven't had much luck with them, but have won odd prizes. However I didn't spend much time doing them. Perhaps others know of good online sites to try on.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #4 - Own Brands

2007-06-17T12:22:00.000-07:00

When buying things in the supermarket have you ever stopped to compare your usual brand with the supermarkets own brand or a cheaper version of what you use.

Ok, some items don't compare and it is worth paying more for extra quality (for me loo roll certainly comes into this category), and sometimes you like to pay more for ethical reasons (like I buy environmentally friendly items and things that aren't tested on animals).

However for me things like baked beans, fruit and veg, crisps, tinned fruit etc doesn't vary that much and you can save loads by trying a cheaper brand. I must admit there are some shop brands that I don't like at all, but most are fairly similar to the orginals and save you a lot.

Selling on Ebay

2007-06-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever looked in those boxes of junk cluttering up the spare room/attic/gargage/shed etc and thought that any of it could be worth money.

It is a good thing to have a look through your boxes and take out anything that could be valuable. It could be old books, jewellery, ornaments, toys, clothes etc.

Get the items and have a look on ebay. See if anything the same or similar has sold. If they have and for more than £5 then it is worth putting your items on and trying to get some money for them. It isn't worth doing it for just the odd pound or two as ebay charge you fees for listing items and you also have to go to the trouble of posting things and dealing with any queries.

I have made a fair bit of money through getting rid of old cd's, maternity clothes, baby items, books and unwanted presents. It is certainly worth a go.

To find out more about ebay go to http://www.ebay.co.uk.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #3 - Utility Bills

2007-06-16T12:45:00.001-07:00

It is difficult to know what to do with your gas and electricity with every company claiming that they are the cheapest and that you should move to them. However there is a website that will tell you the cheapest company for your circumstances if you key in your details: http://www.uswitch.com/

The most important things to remember with gas and electric are that payment meters and paying in full each quarter are far more expensive than paying by direct debit.

Also if you get both gas and electric from the same company you often save a fair amoutn of money.

Going out for free

2007-06-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

Although it isn't really making money, finding ways to go out with the kids without spending money really helps with the finances.
Today I took the kids to a museum. Admittedly you do have to pay for a yearly ticket for 10 museums in the area, but I already had the ticket so the trip was free. It worked well as the kids were worn out and went to bed really well, and they all had a great time and it didn't cost me anything.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #2 - Clothes

2007-06-15T08:14:00.000-07:00

When I'm looking for new clothes I start off by searching in the charity shops. Sometimes you can find new or nearly new items at a bargain price.

If I have no luck I look on ebay. Things can be expensive on there, but there are still bargains to be had.

Next I will look in the cheaper shops like Tescos, Primark and Peacocks. It may be that they have a cheaper version of what you want that can be dressed up and no one else will know that it was cheap.

The other way I save on clothes is to wait till my birthday and Christmas and ask for either clothes or money to buy clothes. That way I can treat myself to something really nice, without feeling guilty about spending the money on it.

If you do like clothes from more expensive shops, try to wait till the sales, or give yourself a limited budget to spend so you try harder to find a bargain.

Car Boot Sales

2007-06-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this weekend might not be ideal car boot sale weather, but it is supposed to be summer.
It is amazing how much money you can make from stuff which you might otherwise have thrown away. It is certainly true that one mans junk is another ones treasure.

I really like doing car boot sales and have made £180 at my best one, but know other people who have done much better than that.

There are a few tips that I can give you:

Presentation is key - make sure that you have a nice table to display your items on, if it is grubby cover it with a cloth. Make sure you spread out all your items so they can be seen easily, but don't crowd it so much that people can't get to your table.

Don't look too professional - I know that there are some people who won't buy of stall holders who look like they do car boots sales every week. These people often go early and get bargains off other sellers and then resell them on their stall for more money. Make sure that you don't look like one of these people and loose some sales.

Talk to people when they come to your stall - you never know they might be looking for something you have to sell but might not see it unless you point it out. Also talking to people makes them more likely to buy something if they previously hadn't been sure about it.

Make sure you take food, water, sun tan lotion and a hat - in the summer it can get very hot and you lose energy very fast. Don't make the mistake of forgetting those things and having to buy them at the sale as this is a quick way to eat into your profits.

Be prepared to barter - a lot of people won't buy something unless they think they are getting a bargain, so make sure that you suggest a price that you are willing to reduce if necessary. If you aren't sure about doing this, think about whether you would rather take the item back home with you or sell it at a bit less money.

Saving Money - The Little Things Add Up #1 - Newspapers

2007-06-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

This is the first of my daily guides into how to save money. These suggestions all save small amounts, some only a few pence, but they all add up and can together reduce your spending by a huge amount each month.

How many of you buy a daily newspaper and find that some days you haven't even had time to open it? Or you do look through it but only at about 10% of the total news in the paper? Have you ever thought that the same news is available on the web for free? All of the big newspapers have their own websites and all of their stories can be found on them. If they have the occasional big story that the cut down for the web to get you to buy the paper, then you can buy the odd copy.
I haven't bought papers for years and don't have a TV but still manage to find out what is happening in the news by looking on the Internet. It might only save me about 30p a day for my local paper and £1 for my Sunday Times but over a month that is a saving of over £12 a month and £145 a year. Little things certainly do add up and with that £145 I can get a weekend away instead of a mountain of papers to recycle.

Create your own Blog

2007-06-14T03:21:00.000-07:00

A good way of making money with no financial investment is to create your own blog. It is easy to start, just think of a topic that interests you and will be of interest to other people.

If you start a blog on blogger like I have they will automatically put a google adsense ad on the blog for you so if people click through you can start to make money. You can also create your own google account and put on your own ads, like I have. These are easy to do and I will talk about this on another occasion if people are interested.

I find that the key with a blog is to promote it and to update it regularly. Updating it is easy, and promoting it can be easy too. I find the best way is to go onto forums relevent to the blog and promote it there. There are lots of other ways too, and some good sites that can help you. If you are interested let me know and I will put the links in but I haven't got time now as the kids are fighting.

Welcome

2007-06-14T03:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. I aim to help mums out there who don't want to go to work, or are unable to but need help with their finances. I have only been a single mum since December 2006 but have been used to living on a budget for a long time and I hope you will be able to benefit from the hints and tips that I am going to give you. I have some ways of saving money and some ways of making money. I hope to put on a new hint or tip every day, and woul welcome any comments from others on what they do to save.