84% of working parents struggle to budget for their children’s childcare costs - just one of the findings of a recent survey conducted by MummyPages.ie.


MummyPages also asked the mums of Ireland about the changes they would like to see being introduced to help alleviate the burden placed on them, and based on the information gathered, we lodged our pre-budget submission on childcare to the Irish Government ahead of Budget 2016. 

 

In this submission, MummyPages calls for the government to subsidise private childcare, early education services and after-school care for working parents, which, according to 83% of mums would greatly improve their family’s current childcare situation.

 

So, as parents struggle to budget for childcare costs, and with 83% saying they have little or no faith in the government fulfilling any promises to solve the childcare crisis, we decided to put together our top ten tips to help families save money in other areas of day-to-day life.

 

1. Extra money

 

Websites such as Irish Opinions pay people to fill in surveys relevant to their interests. You might get €1.50 - €3 per survey, but over time, it all adds up, especially if you complete them regularly.

 

You can withdraw the total amount anytime you wish but it’s a good idea to let it build up as much as possible first. The amount you earn is not paid in cash but rather in the form of a voucher for a shop such as Boots.  

 

 

2. Negotiate Interest

 

Call your credit card company and see if there’s any room to negotiate the interest rate. Banks understand that some of their customers are going through a hard time. Don’t avoid them. Simply explain your financial difficulties, and ask if there is any way in which they can help you. If they can, they will.

 

3. Multi-purpose cleaner

 

If Kim and Aggie taught us anything, it’s that expensive cleaning products are not necessary when white vinegar can tackle pretty much any problem. All you have to do is mix equal parts vinegar with water and you have yourself a non-toxic multi-purpose cleaner that will do everything from get rid of grease to leaving mirrors sparkling. The odour will disappear as soon as it has dried, but if you really dislike the smell of it when cleaning, add a little eucalyptus to the mix.   

 

4. Alleviate the cost of the unexpected  

 

There is nothing like an unexpected expense, such as a new washing machine or television, to throw your budgeting plans into disarray. Fortunately, there are websites where people give away their stuff completely free of charge. An internationally known site is Freecycle.org, however three Irish sites include freebiesireland.com, Jumbletown.ie and freetradeireland.ie. If you keep a close eye on the listings and get in first, you can make huge savings.

 

5. Buy in bulk and use coupons

 

You can make huge savings by buying in bulk, and if you are not already availing of coupons and offers, then you need to start doing so. You might be surprised by how much you can save through clever couponing.  

 

6. Grow your own

 

If you have even a small garden, you can grow your own vegetables. It’s not that difficult, and as well as being a big money saver, it’s also healthier to eat freshly grown produce rather than pre-packaged foods.

 

 

7. Stop buying disposable items.

 

Disposable items are a needless expense. Why keep buying plastic bottles of water when you can buy a filtered water bottle and refill that instead? Likewise, it makes no sense to keep buying paper towels when you can buy some reusable cloths instead. Smarter shopping will save you money.  

 

8. Plans meals and bulk up  

 

At the start of each week, plan your meals for each day. This will prevent you from rushing to the shop and spending needlessly on impulse buys. When you plan each meal, see if there are any meat dishes that you can bulk up further with vegetables. Go for the kind of dishes that you can make a big batch of and freeze.  

 

 

9. Save on bills

 

Certain appliances can cause bills to soar so see which ones you can do without. Wash dishes by hand rather than always using the dishwasher, and if space allows, set up a clothes line and air dry your garments rather than using a tumbledryer. These two changes alone should help you make a saving on bills.

 

10. Replace the bad with the good

 

Stop buying sugary drinks. They’re expensive and certainly not doing your health any good. Instead drink water and after a couple of weeks, you won’t even miss the soft drinks. The same goes for crisps. Do you find yourself automatically picking up those multi-bags of crisps when grocery shopping? Instead make your own. Potato shavings seasoned and baked are a much healthier alternative and won’t result in any waste either.

 

Latest

Trending