Comments (4)

By Little Mummy, December 1, 2008 11:30 am

I can’t bring myself to mention the ‘c’ phrase, which relates to money and the economy. We’re all suffering, even the rich folks are losing equity, shame. We have to find ways to cut the proverbial cloth, and if you don’t fancy partaking in Britain’s favourite thrifty pastime, a clothes swapping party is a fair alternative.

We held our own ‘swap party’ a couple of weeks ago. A few family members, a couple (read half dozen) bottles of cheap plonk, and some knock down party food from the other dirty word (Tesco) plus a few binliners of, ahem, quality garments (open to interpretation) and you’re good to go.

There are a few different styles you can adopt.

The Catwalk Stylee

Clothes are presented and guests try on outfits, the rest of the group can provide feedback and whoever suits the clothes best get to keep them.

The Boot Sale Stylee

Clothes are thrown onto tables in no particular fashion, distribution is a free-for-all, biting and kicking is discouraged.

The Auction Stylee

The owner presents each item in turn, describing its merits. Guests are invited to ‘bid’ on items, this can be done with vouchers or simply presenting a good enough reason why they are deserving of the item.

Ours was a huge success, I bagged a pile of, actually, very good quality clothes for the winter and saved myself perhaps a couple of hundred pounds. A few drinks, a bit of girly chat, all in all a very pleasant eveining of thrifty entertainment.

Comments (4)

By Little Mummy, July 4, 2007 12:19 pm

A while back I wrote an article about keeping costs low as a new mum, it’s time to update that article with ideas suitable for toddlers and the parents of.

Food

Milk

We moved from powder milk to full fat milk as soon as Erin was 12 months (recommended earliest age). Not only is the carton milk cheaper it’s also ready made – our mornings became that little bit smoother as a result.

Breakfast

I buy weetabix in bulk packets, for non weetabix days we have granary toast. These options are inexpensive and healthy.

Lunch

I usually provide a ‘picky plate’. My time working at a nursery taught me that this was one of the most effective ways to get children to eat a variety of well balanced food. I usually serve a bread product ie a sandwich, bread & jam or pitta. A meat product, usually mini sausages, ham or chicken bites. Fruit & vegetables, whatever I have, which is usually baby tomatoes, cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, strawberries and grapes.

Snacks

Fruit, biscuit, or occasionally a few crisps.

Dinner

A mini version of whatever we are having.

The point I’m making is that by keeping it simple and within what you already purchase it’s cheap and efficient to feed your toddler healthy food.

Toys

Most of the toys in our home have been christmas or birthday gifts. When I do buy something it’s usually a toy I know will last a long time and be used in different ways ie the kitchen we recently splurged on.

I know that over time the kitchen will be a cafe, a laundrette, a fast food outlet and probably much more than even I can think of. You can’t go wrong with kitchens, tool benches, cleaning sets and doll related stuff, they are perfect for the 1-5 year olds.

Clothes

Buy staples items like vests, pyjamas and socks cheaply from supermarkets or low cost shops. Accept hand-me-downs as ‘playing clothes’. This leaves nearly your whole clothing budget to spend on the main clothing items.

I buy seasonally, usually one season ahead, this way Erin doesn’t become desperate for things and I can take my time and find the nicest clothes and sometimes some good deals too. Although we never seem to have enough socks??

Entertainment

Mix paid entertainment with free stuff. Our freebie entertainment includes the library, museums, the park, feeding the ducks, and the petting farm. Our paid days out are usually swimming and soft play. Save the most expensive days out for special occasions ie the zoo.

Please jump in with your own ideas, just click on the comments button below if your new to this blog thing.

Comments (11)

By Little Mummy, February 13, 2007 1:44 pm

1. Accept Hand-Me-Downs

Don’t be too proud to accept second hand goods, the money you save can be used to buy other baby products. Alternatively put the savings into a trust fund, your baby will be pleased you did when they turn eighteen.

2. Don’t Go On A Spending Spree

As tempting as it may be, it’s not a good idea. You are likely to receive many gifts after your baby is born, wait, and then buy extras when you can see exactly what you need. There are only so many babygros and towels your baby needs.

3. Bargain Hunt

Search for bargains on Ebay, Freecycle and Babywear Exchange.

4. Baby Basics

Buy your baby basics (vests, babygros etc..) from supermarkets. If you’re in the UK, Tesco, Asda and Sainburys do a great job of these. Any suggestions for baby basics in the US?

5. One Pram Only

Buy one pram that adjusts for different ages.

6. Baby Food

Make your own. The cost of making your own is a fraction of what it costs to buy a jar.

7. Milk

If you’re bottle-feeding use powder milk rather than ready-made. If you can breastfeed, do so (but only if you want to!)

8. Cheap Days Out

Don’t waste money on lavish days out that your baby won’t remember. Instead utilise museums and galleries with free entrance, save the big trips until your baby is at least a toddler and can take it in.

9. Call To Arms For Knitters

Ask knitters to knit blankets and jumpers, you could offer to provide the wool.

10. Sterilizer

Buy a cheap microwave sterilizer rather than the fancy gadgets on the market, they do the same job and can’t break down.

Subscribe to littlemummy.com

Comments (0)

By Little Mummy, August 13, 2006 2:02 pm

It’s The Little Things That Count

As the title says it’s the little things that count, and the little things that you and your guests will remember. The hand-made but very beautiful table centre pieces, the table toy for someone’s child…..

Here are some suggestions;

My wedding as I mentioned was in Wales so we had someone make Scottish Tablet to go with the coffee instead of mints.

A special speech of thank-you’s.

A slide-show (keep it short!)

A special song played for someone

Giving the bouquet to the eldest guest is a nice gesture especially if they have been married a long time – it may bring you good luck.

And Finally

It matters not how grand the wedding, but the quality of the marriage after it.

The Complete Dream Wedding Series

Part 1 – Utilise Friends and Family

Part 2 – Contributors

Part 3 – Location, Location, Location

Part 4 – Clothing

Part 5 – Food

Part 6 – Wedding Stationery

Part 7 – Wedding Favours & Decorations

Part 8 – Gifts and Rings

Part 9 – It’s the Little Things that Count

Comments (1)

By Little Mummy, August 13, 2006 6:30 am

Gifts and Rings

Aaaah so you thought you were the only one to get gifts….. nope! It’s tradition to give the attendants a gift to say thank you for their contribution to the day. So that’s the bridesmaids, flowergirl,and pageboy. I also think it’s nice to give something to the best men and anyone who has contributed to the wedding.

These gifts don’t need to be expensive though. I suggest personalised gifts, they are special but not too expensive.

Here are some suggestions;

Engraved tankards (good for best men, and usually under £20)

A personalised book for children.. you know…the ones that include their name.

An engraved bangle

An engraved cigar case

On eBay you can buy wine, whisky and champagne with personalised labels, in fact I did male table presents of miniature whisky bottles with personalised labels – they seemed to go down really well (down the throat, most of them!)

Rings

They are one of the only things that will last after the big day, so spend some money and buy ones that you not only love but that are good quality and will last ‘a lifetime’. I spent 10% of my overall spend on the rings. No regrets here. And if it all goes wrong….at least you’ll have something solid to throw at them!! (JOKING)

Comments (1)

By Little Mummy, August 12, 2006 5:40 am

Wedding Favours & Decorations

Once again, the best advice I can give you is make them yourself.

Buy sugared almonds by the bucket load, a length of voile type material in your wedding colours…get all the ladies around and have a favour making party. Keep it simple.

Substitute some flowers for balloons or another type of decoration, flowers are very expensive. Consider using some fake flowers.

Make your own table decorations, vases, glass pebbles, candles, confetti…again, keep it simple, the simple designs tend to have the most impact.

You will get lots of ideas from wedding fairs and magazines.

Remember a small ‘table toy’ is a welcome distraction for young children!

Comments (1)

By Little Mummy, August 11, 2006 3:16 am

Wedding Stationery

Invitations (ceremony and evening), order of service, menu cards, place cards, thank-you cards. It all adds up.

I have one thing to say… Make Your Own! This is the single biggest way to save money on stationery.

Go to craft and wedding fairs where you will meet with suppliers, watch presentations, and most importantly get lots of ideas. These days there are plenty of craft shops with a variety of products and materials for all levels of competence.

If you’re a dab hand, buy some embossing equipment, fancy paper and create away.

If you’r not too hot, buy embellishments to stick directly onto cards. Pick up a cheap calligraphy set to write your cards and envelopes seal for that extra touch. This is one area to get the family involved, if there is someone who is particularly creative farm the work out to them (for a bottle of wine or two!).

If you really cannot stand the idea of ‘doing it yourself’ there are plenty of people providing this service on eBay for reasonable prices. Be sure to ask for a sample first, and order in plenty of time so if you aren’t happy there is plenty of time to sort it out.

Comments (1)

By Little Mummy, August 9, 2006 2:31 am

Food

Beware the budget buster! Feeding people is expensive: fact. A conservative price for a three course meal with coffee would be around £25 ($55) a head not including wine.

You have two options here.

First option, have a small ceremony and meal and have a big party in the evening. Cut the ceremony and meal to immediate family only and invite extended family and friends for the evening reception (this is what I did). Remember everyone at the ceremony should be invited to the meal (if there is one), and you will be expected to provide the wine too.

Second option, have a later ceremony which progresses straight into the evening. If you have the ceremony at four or five in the afternoon, by the time it is finished all you need provide is a buffet. You should expect to pay around £5 upwards a head for a buffet although prices range dramatically.

Comments (1)

By Little Mummy, August 8, 2006 6:56 am

Clothing

Wedding clothing doesn’t start and end with your dress. You will need a suit or kilt for the groom. A suit or kilt for the best man. Bridesmaids and flowergirl dresses. Pageboys and ushers will also require outfits. It is traditional and typical that all of these are paid for by whoever is paying for the wedding.

As you can see costs can start to escalate pretty quickly if you are planning on having all four neices as bridesmaids with a flowergirl and pageboy thrown into the mix.

Consider scaling down, for example one best man, one bridesmaid and either a flowergirl or pageboy.

Hire as many of the outfits as you can ie kilts, morning suits and even wedding dresses can be hired. Or, check who has their own, and hire the remainder to match.

Buy your wedding dress second hand or use a family member’s dress and have it altered and tweaked to your style. Don’t forget as lovely as it is to have your wedding dress designed and hand-made for you, it’s expensive and only for one day. I wouldn’t advise spending more than 10% of your budget on your dress unless it is the most important factor of your wedding.

Comments (1)

By Little Mummy, August 7, 2006 12:30 pm

Location, Location, Location

Products and services vary in price greatly depending on your area. It’s obvious that a wedding in London or Edinburgh will cost considerably more than a wedding in Swansea or Aberdeen.

To combat this consider both you and your partner’s birth towns. Do either one measure up better than the other? For example in my case we live in Edinburgh where Alex was brought up, whereas I’m from Swansea in Wales. We chose to have our big day in Swansea as we found we could get more for our money.

Remember though if you want to marry in a church sometimes they expect you to have attended regularly in the past, or to begin attending regularly before the wedding. If you are planning a civil ceremony (registrar’s office or registrar marrying you at a hotel or country house) be sure to check their rules, it may be the case that you have to have specific ties to the area you want to get married in.

Alternatively, would a wedding abroad be more cost effective? This option does not sit well with some though, especially if you want full family involvement.

Take care too, a wedding abroad may seem an attractive option ‘wedding and honeymoon in one’ but there are downsides. Can everyone you want to attend afford too? Is it much cheaper when you think of the big picture? If any of your guests are heavily pregnant or elderly, are they still able to fly?

Lots to consider then. Do your homework and investigate all options thoroughly. If you are tempted by far and exotic places seek out recommendations or testimonials on your chosen destination.