Thanks to having the responsibility for the care of actual human beings, one thing we’ve quickly had to learn is how to be clever with our money.
And if research carried out by Laya Healthcare* is anything to go by, it seems us savvy parents will try pretty much anything to make our cash stretch a little further.
As part of a study on big families in Ireland, 1,001 parents were questioned on all things family-related – and the results are giving us some serious money-saving inspiration:
1. We don’t buy everything brand new
74 per cent of us cut down on cost (and waste!) by buying second hand books for the kids, while 55 per cent go old school, repairing things instead of throwing them out and replacing them. Clothes-wise, 58 per cent use hand me downs to kit out the brood, while another quarter (25 per cent) visit charity shops.
2. We make our food budget stretch further
Food and groceries is another area where we employ clever hacks to get more for our moolah. In the supermarket, 59 per cent of us have bought food on discount and 67 per cent use coupons, while at home, a surprisingly high percentage of parents have grown their own food (28 per cent), and one-in-two freeze leftovers.
3. We make use of free resources
Over half of parents entertain the kids by using a free library (54 per cent) while 53 per cent ask grandparents to babysit the kids. In fairness, where would we be without them?
4. We’re clever when it comes to treats
When it comes to treats like holidays, one-in-three are opting for an Irish staycation to save on flight costs, while 15 per cent take kids out of school to holiday off-peak (clear it with their school first!) And taking it right back to basics, one in three of us (30 per cent) are simply saying no to the kids more.
5. We cut the cost of raising more than one child
As we all know, looking after a large family can be expensive, so we’re all about the handy hacks that will save us money AND keep the kids happy. Of the parents surveyed, 63 per cent say they’ve opted for bunk beds, and 20 per cent bath the kids at the same time. And when it comes to all those birthday parties the kids go to, 23 per cent say they have re-gifted toys. (And we have to say, we’re all for it.)
Laya Healthcare understands that raising a family can be expensive, so they’re helping take the pressure off with their Free Kids offer on their Essential Connect Family scheme. You simply pay for one child’s health insurance, and the rest are FREE, no matter how many you have. For more on the offer, pop over to Laya Healthcare.
*Research carried out among 1,001 parents with children in Ireland between 2nd - 15th December, by iReach online survey, on behalf of Laya Healthcare. Insurance provided by Elips Insurance Ltd trading as Laya Healthcare. Laya Healthcare Ltd trading as Laya Healthcare and Laya Life is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
