Having children can be expensive, read our tips on saving a few pounds and making a few too, but most importantly making it fun

Saving money on Baby Items
Cots, car seats, strollers, pushchairs, prams and most baby items can really add up.  Check your local second hand shops and sales or ask friends if they have any before you buy them new.  However, don't cut corners where safety is involved.  For example, in the case of a car seat, you want to make sure the seat is very new and passes all current safety regulations, and has not had any recalls.

Baby Wipes
Why not use terry toweling face cloths or a flannel sheet cut into sections. Dilute some baby wash/shampoo and use as normal. If you are going out for the day use a small plastic tub to put them in and dampen them with the solution. Wash and sterilise as normal.

Baby Food
A good way to introduce your children to vegetables from a young age (this helps no end when they are older) and save money at the same time, is to cook your vegetables – broccoli, carrots, swede, parsnip. Individually blend with baby milk and put them into ice cube trays and freeze. Pop out two or three varieties into a bowl and defrost/heat up when needed. Babies get used to the taste, texture and colours of real vegetables and you save your pennies.

Baby Clothes
You will find a huge range of baby clothes at your local car boot sale, babies grow so quickly you will find the clothes are hardly worn and many are in extremely good condition.

Kids Toys and Clothes
Again, car boot sales usually have a huge range of both toys and clothes, look in your local paper for the bigger sales. Let the kids have a bit of pocket money, 50p or a pound can go a very long way, let them hunt out a bargain and don’t forget to practice the art of haggling! It’s a chance for everybody to get some exercise and fresh air.

‘You wouldn’t catch me at a car boot sale!’
Unless your name is Hyacinth Bucket, why not? Give it a go! Get up early and get motivated for the day, catch that early morning sun before it hides its head behind the clouds; you won’t save money shopping in expensive high street stores, especially for things like kids’ clothes and toys.

Sell your unwanted items
When you are feeling brave enough you can also recycle your things – and get some money for them by setting up a little stall yourself. When you can’t open the kids bedroom door any more because there are too many toys behind it, get them to sort through their things (tell them they can earn money from this or it will be very hard to get them to do it at all) and boot ‘em! You’ll be surprised how much money can be made from the things you don’t want or need any more.

Pack your lunches
If you are going out for the day, pack your lunches, take a picnic – this believe it or not can be really good fun and a much better alternative than sitting in a burger restaurant somewhere. Get the kids to help you make the lunches and you will probably find they are less fussy when it comes to eating it. Save money and have a really good time doing it.

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