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SAVING MONEY ON CHILDREN'S EXPENSES

Having children is notoriously expensive from babies through to teens and even beyond.

We focus on the top level areas where you can reduce costs across the board. Check out the other various subject areas on the LEFT MENU which apply to family life and general living which will naturally include the kids.

Shoes

• Shoes need to be new and can be needed every few months - whilst its not worth cutting corners with both quality and fit sourcing online and around the town can save on this regular purchase.

Clothes

• hand me down toys, gear and clothes is OK and can be encouraged between other moms. For normal day to day wear around the home where clothes are getting dirty and washed regularly recycled clothes can save a fortune, if they get damaged or badly soiled it's easier to toss away clothes costing a few dollars or pence, than the latest designer play suit.
• sell off surplus or out of size/age toys and clothes on auctions sites like EBay - best as a bundle to speed listing and costs, and can be a better option for buyers to source bringing down the cost per item to really low levels.
• look at specialist second hand sites like http://www.babyloot.com to both buy and sell

Toys

• a toy for a kid needs to be fun, interesting and educational, some they love, others they bore easily with. Get to understand their likes and dislikes and aim for toys to be likely to please.
• chat with friends and relatives to avoid being given duplicates, or unsuitable by type/age, even get vouchers so you can choose  yourself. 
• toys need not be expensive, kids will as they grow older will always want the "latest" because "everyone else has one", but resist it and do "deals", remember you are the "boss" not the other way round. Teach value and thrift to kids old enough to understand.
• lots of free online games to play to, or off your computer, BUT do limit the time they spend

  • Free Kids Games, Colouring & Jigsaw Puzzles for Children

  • Free kids games from Microsoft

Parties

• going to parties is fun and often they need to take a present - it need not be overly expensive take something "different" and well thought out even self made.
• throwing a birthday treat is great for kids to make them feel special, often a small affair with a few special friends is as good as a huge bash. Kids rarely eat much, just give them a bit of variety and have a few back ups to call out if they are unusually hungry. Prepare a few games that require no special equipment

• Helpful tips on running parties for babies and children.

Presents

• notoriously expensive you can often be buying "treats" and little presents - often something simple with some thought is as good, even better, this is true of presents to other kids too. Remember kids can enjoy playing with the boxes and wrapping as much as the gifts themselves!
• Use imagination and originality - it's cheap and if managed well can make kids happy knowing YOU have bothered to take an interest in THEM
• Giving kids more of your TIME is better (and cheaper) than expensive presents to "keep them quiet."
• kids want VARIETY and that does mean big expensive things which may end up being boring and lie unused.
• maybe you have drawers of unopened and unused gifts you can give as presents to other kids for parties or birthdays.

Days Out

• Trips out need not be costly, you can source ideas using Google using keywords "free day out kids x " where X is your country, state, county here are some for the UK

• Kids Go Free in London - Treat the kids to a free day out

• Kids Days Out Days out with children with details of wheelchair access for disabled, throughout Britain from Kids Days Out. A great resource for everyone including families, school, outings, trips - 'I wish I had found this before!'

• Days Out for Children and Family - plan a great day out with up to date ideas and listings by region.

• Days Out UK - the leading days out guide, plus loads of free coupons!

Please feel free to Contact Us with questions or to give us information to add to our knowledge base.