They say the best things in life are free… but a lot of the other stuff can cost a fortune! Here are five great money-saving tips for parents with young children.
Reusable nappies
No, we don’t mean those things our mothers and grandmothers used. Nappy ‘technology’ has come a long way in recent years and modern-day reusable nappies will quickly save you money and help save the planet. Although there is an initial expense of purchasing the nappies, you can save up to R10 000 until your child is potty trained – and you can double that with a second child. Products like Fancy Pants can simply be chucked into the washing machine and dry quickly to be used again. As an added bonus, unlike expensive disposables that destroy the environment, cloth nappies contain no harmful chemicals and are lined with a bamboo/cotton blend so that only natural materials touch baby’s delicate skin.
Memberships
Keeping kids entertained can get very expensive, very quickly. Look into memberships with your local attractions – an annual pass will often pay for itself in just 3 visits…and you can fit a lot into 365 days! Plus if you know you can come back as much as you like, you won’t feel obliged to drag your kids through the whole exhibit to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth. In Cape Town for example, the Two Oceans Aquarium, World of Birds and Kirstenbosch Gardens offer great deals for families.
Buy (and sell) second hand clothes online
Since kids grow up – and destroy clothes – so quickly, it’s very difficult to keep them looking trendy year-round. Buying like-new second-hand clothes from a reputable website IS the best way to save money on children’s clothes. As for the clothes they did not get to wear because they outgrew them before the correct season came around, or only put on a few times and still look new, you can make some money by selling second hand kids clothes to a site like Petit Fox.
Peanut Butter
Unless they are among the unlucky few who are allergic, most kids love peanut butter! It’s packed full of protein and is a lot cheaper than meat. It’s super versatile too, a teaspoon full of peanut butter is an easy way to get a hungry toddler to stop shouting and it’s a quick ‘n easy to spread onto bread. Choose healthier options without hydrogenated fat that you can buy from your local health shop or Wellness Warehouse or Faithful to Nature.
Contraception
We all know those stories about parents who had ‘accidents’. Don’t be those guys! Before you take a risk, think about whether you can afford to add another member to your family. A box of condoms is a lot cheaper than 12 years of school fees!