Saving money can be difficult, especially if you have babies or young children in the house.

So in this post we’ll explore some ways families can make savings on their bills throughout the cost of living crisis.

Little Things Make a Big Difference

Look for the small things you can do that, over time, could make a difference to your energy use:

• Think about how you use your heating but make sure you stay warm. Put on some layers, and use draft excluders and thermal curtains on your windows and doors.
• Never leave the lights on in rooms you’re not currently using. Turn off your appliances at the walls, instead of leaving them on standby.
• Air dry your clothes rather than using your dryer.
• Rather than relying on laptops, smartphones, TVs, tablets and games consoles for your entertainment, you could play boardgames, go for walks, read books, and so on.
• Heating water can be a significant cost. See if you can turn your water temperature down slightly and how else you might be able to save on hot water use – such as having shorter showers or using a BabyDam bathwater barrier to reduce the bath size you need for small children.

Also ask your energy provider for a smart meter, so you can keep track of your energy use in real-time. Some families find this really useful.

Make Savings on Your Food Bills

Unfortunately, the cost of food is rising along with everything else. But there are a few ways you can feed your family for less.

• Consider changing your supermarket and shopping around for deals – the likes of Aldi and Lidl are almost always a lot cheaper than Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and even Tesco, and offer different deals.
• Look for budget recipes online – there are loads of healthy recipes that won’t break the bank and will give you an idea of how much they cost per meal.
• Plan a week’s worth of meals in advance. That way, you’ll know exactly what ingredients to buy, so you won’t be spending money on stuff you don’t need.
• Look for recipes that’ll let you cook a batch at once, to give you multiple meals throughout the week.

Bringing Down the Cost of Raising Children

New parents have to buy a lot of new items for their babies and small children. The costs can soon ramp up. But it’s still possible to make savings. And some products can even help you make even further savings in the long-term.

• Talk to other parents you know, to see if they have anything they can pass-on to you. Also check online to see if you can get anything you need second hand. But bear in mind that there are some things, such as car seats, that you should never buy second hand!
• Consider switching to reusable nappies. Yes, you have to get into the habit of cleaning and drying them. But once you get used to them, you’ll never have to buy another pack of nappies again. Read our full guide to how reusable nappies work, and how they can help you save money.
• Get a bathwater barrier. You can use one of these every time you bathe your child from their earliest days until they’re a toddler. Through reducing the size of your bath, they can help you save up to 56 litres of water per bath, which will also make a huge difference to your energy bills. Learn more about how our BabyDams can help you save both energy and money.

Browse our complete range of eco-friendly home and baby products many of which can save you money in the long run.