The best fruit and veg to grow to cut down costs
Garden or no garden, here’s how to produce some nutritious fruit and veg on a budget.
Even when money is tight, there are basics we all still need – and clothes are one of them. But while a grown-up can wear the same jumper for years, kids just keep growing, which gives their kit a frustratingly short lifespan.
Fortunately, there are ways to clothe kids for less, and often for free. We talked to five parents about how they keep the bills right down by recycling, reusing and adopting smart shopping habits.
“My three kids benefit from plenty of hand-me-downs from their siblings. My tip is to put them in unisex uniform and fancy dress to get the most wear out of them.
“Not everyone knows this, but M&S school trousers come with extra length in them for growing kids, making them really good value. You just cut some stitches to let the hem down a few inches.”
- Gemma Moore, 37, Petersfield
“It takes a bit of organising, but we have saved so much with ‘bring a bag’ parties. Invite local friends with kids round to your house, and the only ask is that they bring a bag of their unwanted kids’ clothes. It can turn into a bit of a bunfight for the best bits, but it’s also loads of fun. Anything left at the end goes to the charity shop.”
Russell Steel, 48, London
“Facebook groups are fab for sharing kids’ clothes. We have one specifically for our local primary and secondary-school uniforms, which saves parents a lot of money.
“Personally, I think buying cheap school uniform is a false economy, as it doesn’t last and doesn’t wash well. Doc Marten school shoes may be an investment, but one pair has lasted two of my kids a total of four years. If full price is a stretch too far, there are loads of bargain, barely worn DMs on second-hand sites.”
- Hannah Beddoe, 36, Kirkby Stephen
“A great tip for fancy-dress costumes is Amazon Warehouse, where they resell returned goods. There’s nothing wrong with them – it’s usually just missing or torn packaging – but you can save loads on the original price.
“My son and I have a bag for anything we’ve outgrown or don’t want any more. Once full, we pop it out front for passing people to take. My son, who has autism, really loves doing this, and he even has regulars now.”
- Emma Louise Nicholson, 49, Thornaby-on-Tees
“I would highly recommend buying pre-loved quality clothes for kids. It makes so much sense. Vinted has bargains galore for all ages and is a sustainable option. You can save as much as 80% on pre-loved clothes, which we then love too.
- Kristan Reed, 50, Glasgow
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Garden or no garden, here’s how to produce some nutritious fruit and veg on a budget.
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This content is for information purposes only and shouldn’t be regarded as financial advice. While we’ve taken every effort to make sure this information is as accurate as possible, it has not been independently verified.