It seems some things never change, particularly when it comes to saving money.
 
We remember SO well all the ways our own mums would try and make the family budget stretch further – and it seems we have followed her lead when it comes to our own kids.
 
Yep, according to research carried out by Laya Healthcare* on the subject of big families, we’re just as money-savvy as our Mammies:
 
1. Bathing the kids together
 
We remember so well bathing with our brothers and sisters to save on hot water – and it was always such craic! And it seems many of us have carried on with the tradition. 20 per cent of the 1,001 people surveyed in fact.
 
 
2. Repairing things instead of replacing them
 
We love that 55 per cent of people are turning to repair jobs instead of throwing things out and replacing them. Can you imagine our own mums throwing out socks or jumpers just because there was a hole in them? Nope, us neither.
 
3. Buying second-hand books
 
A book doesn’t have to be new to be precious, and it seems 72 per cent of parents surveyed agree. We remember having second hand books all through school. And as bonus was we would often get some helpful notes in the margins, and if we were very lucky, a few right answers.
 
 
4. Clothing the kids in hand-me-downs
 
Our parents knew that passing down perfectly good clothes to younger kids was a clever thing to do – and it seems that we feel the same. 58 per cent of us in fact.
 
5. Using coupons
 
Our parents did their best to get the most out of their shopping budget, and a big part of this was snipping coupons and using them religiously. And it seems we’re following suit, with 67 per cent of us saying we cut down on grocery shopping costs by using coupons and discounts.
 
 
6. Holidays at home
 
For many of us, there was none of this heading off every year to sunny climes. Nope, we were taken to the likes of Tramore for a seaside holiday (on what you would now call a ‘staycation’), and we were delighted with it. And according to Laya Healthcare’s research, 30 per cent of us still holiday at home to cut down on costs.
 
7. Simply saying ‘no’ to the kids
 
Well here’s a novel idea: saying ‘no’ a bit more. We remember that word being bandied about a lot when we were younger – and it seems one-in-three parents surveyed (34 per cent) are still employing the word ‘no’ as a financial tactic.
 
 
8. Signing the kids up to the library
 
When we were kids, the happening hotspot was the local library. There were festivals, events and of course, free rein with all those magical books. But for our parents, it was also an inexpensive way to keep us entertained. And according to Laya's findings, it seems that 52 per cent of us still consider the library a great way to keep the kids busy for pennies.
 
 
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.

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