Kids Ain't Cheap

But They Sure Are Worth It

Archives for May 2014

Review of a1Travel.com and Tips for Using It

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a1TravelSummer is just around the corner. And as a kid the start of summer always meant a family vacation.

With so many people gearing up for summer travel it seemed like an appropriate time to talk about saving money on your next trip. I just learned about a new site, a1Travel.com, which can help you do just that!

Let’s take a look.

Review of a1Travel.com

A1Travel.com is a site focused around cheap Holidays (flight and hotel deals) to Spain, Turkey, Greece, Egypt & Portugal. You can save upwards of 70% on a trip compared to using street travel agents.

This company has also been in business for more than 30 years!

They have 2 dedicated UK call centers in London and Manchester with over 120 expert travel consultants, offer online booking, accept debit and credit cards, and also offer low minimum deposits.

Plus their site is easy to use and they offer daily deals on their website and discounts through their newsletter.

Tips for Using a1Travel.com

Here’s how it works: when you visit the website you can choose “destinations” from the menu bar to see all the popular trips. Click on your desired destination. Once you do this you’ll be given a little information about your chosen destination as well as the following options:

  • Fly From
  • Depart
  • Nights
  • Board
  • Rating

Once you place your desired filters you’ll be given a price for the trip you chose.

And the best part is that a1Travel.com has a price match guarantee! For instance, if you book a package deal and then see the same package for a lower price on a competitor’s site a1Travel will give you a refund of the difference.

Pretty sweet!

You can also check out the shorter city breaks, which are simply two night stays in luxurious European cities. These are also offered at affordable prices. If you just want to get away for a weekend this option will work.

They also offer cheap hotel deals that don’t require you to buy a holiday package.

Other Ways to Save Money on Your Trip:

To find the best deals possible you can check the daily deals on home page of the website show casing the latest flash sales & special offers. (Also check out the latest offers page.) The daily deals can help you get the most bang for your buck.

You can also sign up for their email newsletter to receive discounts and be eligible for competition giveaways.

Conclusion

It’s important to make the most out of your money when you’re travelling. And with a site like a1Travel.com you can do just that!

Where will you be going on vacation this year?

5 Tips for Eating Well on a Budget

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eating well on a budgetI have heard many arguments that one of the main reasons obesity is such a rampant issue is because eating well is so much more expensive than buying ‘junk food’. This is something I have always argued.

Buying convenience food is substantially more expensive than buying fresh, and I live in an area where food is very expensive. There are certain things you must do if you want to eat well on a budget.

Make it a Priority

If you don’t make eating well on a budget a priority the rest of your efforts won’t make any difference. I didn’t say it was easy to eat well, especially on a budget but it will be so worth it for you and your family.

Learn to Cook

You have to learn how to cook. If you can read then you can follow simple recipes and cook. The reason people shop for convenience food is often because they’re lazy, don’t know how to cook, lack time or simply don’t care. Basic cooking skills will go a long way in stretching your budget. At the grocery store this week I noticed a single-serve frozen entree on sale for $3.00 each. Instead I made a delicious pasta dish from scratch for $6.00. Double the price but provided 8 sizable servings. It definitely pays to learn how to cook!

Make Better Choices

This week I could have bought three large bags of chips for $6.00, instead I opted to buy the two-pound container of blueberries for $7.00.  Though $7.00 seems like a lot for a single fruit it will accompany our meals for at least five days. There is often always a choice. Don’t waste your money on pop and juice, water is a healthier and cheaper option.

Canned and Frozen is Ok!

People often forget about both canned and frozen fruits and vegetables. I buy large bags of frozen fruit to make smoothies or add to yogurt at a fraction of the cost of fresh. We also stock up on canned goods when needed. Just make sure your veggies are not canned in salt and that your fruits are canned in either water or natural juices instead of syrup.

Grow Your Food

Even when I lived in a one bedroom apartment I grew some of my own food. I had a few small containers on our deck where I grew peppers, tomatoes and herbs. For a low upfront cost I was able to grow and enjoy a substantial amount of food.

Eating well is a challenge. You have to learn to meal plan and shop the sales. Putting the effort into learning or refining your cooking skills will go a long way for providing good food for you and your family. The better you eat now, the less complications you may experience long-term. Eating well may help keep your medical bills down afterall, living with obesity isn’t without its own costs. 

What do you do to eat well on a budget?

Frugal Gift Ideas for New Parents

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frugal gift ideas for new parentsThough it seems like an eternity ago, I have a daughter who is only two years old.

It wasn’t that long ago that I was a stressed out new parent (stress is far from gone just in a very different manner). We were one of the first in our circle of friends to have a kid but now it seems everyone is starting to catch up! Given that it wasn’t that long ago I was in their position I have a pretty good idea of good, useful gifts for new parents.

Here are some frugal gift ideas for new parents.

Cleaning

Though there is a difference between messy and dirty, maintaining your home during those first few weeks is tough, even on a basic level. I was home recovering with a c-section and though my husband was home to help, he was busy helping me and baby, taking care of basic needs like food, comfort and laundry.

Cleaning the house was the bottom of the list. After a few weeks when I started feeling better and kid was into more of a sleep routine (I miss those long newborn naps sometimes!) I was able to do it but I so appreciated when my sister came over just to help tidy up and sweep the floor. I could rest and she helped every few days with tidying up. If you don’t want to donate your own time to help parents with cleaning, consider getting a gift certificate for a cleaning service. Trust me, they will use it!

Food

In the weeks leading up to baby I prepped a few meals to freeze but not everyone has time to do that. I think my favorite gift was food. We both so appreciated having food delivered. We were both tired and didn’t feel like cooking, even to turn the BBq on to cook the burgers I had already prepped. We received both cooked meals and gift certificates for meals to go, both of which were blessings.

Sleep

Once my husband went back to work and I was on my own during the day, I did receive a treat visit once or twice when friends or family came over to watch baby for a few hours so I could rest. Sleeping when baby sleeps is much easier said then done and a rest when you really need it is invaluable, trust me.

Basic Needs

Though it’s tempting to buy cute fluffy toys and blankets for a new baby, parents would love to help with basics like diapers, pajamas or clothes for the kid that will grow (and fast). I had one friend but outfits for a 12 to 18 month old. It was nice to have clothes for all ages and not just newborn.

Becoming a parent, especially the first time, is a stressful time. They say the first year of marriage is hard, I would argue that the first year as parents is the most difficult I’ve ever been through. If you’re looking for a good gift to give your new parent friends, the truth is that the more practical the gift, the better!

What would you add to the list?

Any tips for gifts for new parents?

A Rant About Mother’s Day Gifts

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a mother's day rantMaybe it’s because I didn’t pay much attention to the ads until this year, being my second Mother’s day celebration. Maybe it was because growing up, making homemade gifts for special occasions was the only option, not ever noticing ads.

I don’t know why but this year more than ever, there seems to be a huge amount of what I would consider inappropriate ads for special occasions, Mother’s day being just one.

Mother’s Day Ads Gone Overboard

I caught a local ad on TV advertising that what mom ”really wants” is this luxury vehicle for Mother’s day. Really? A car? For Mother’s day?! Not only is this just insane to me, it gives the message of ”Thanks Mom for driving us around all day, mind-as-well have a comfortable bum while it continues”. Who buys mom a car for Mother’s day?!

Mother’s day is important. Moms work hard. While I don’t want to discredit Dad, my experience (both as a mom and child) is that there is generally more pressure on mom. More pressure to keep the house running, nursing, feeding, parenting, mom’s do it all, no questions asked.

What a Mom Really Wants

Taking a single day every year to make sure moms are acknowledged is important. Don’t let Mother’s day excuse you from doing it more often though 🙂 Mom doesn’t want a car. Any mom, I don’t care about demographic, ethnicity or race, doesn’t want a lavish gift such as a car. Mom wants time.

Time that is usually consumed by doing dishes, taking to practice, running the house. Mom wants one day where she has every second of her day to enjoy however she wants. For me I was able to take a nap, for no reason other than I could. Had extra cuddles with my daughter while I let her watch one of her favorite shows just so I could hold her while she was still.

Time outside running around the park. Time with my family while we ate a yummy dinner prepared by my husband. It was a beautiful day and while my daughter did get me a gift (a vegetable garden made by dad which my daughter and I will enjoy together) the best gift given to me was time. While I still did some cleaning and got some laundry done, it was on my own accord and I was able to accomplish everything I wanted.

Moms don’t need cars and diamond rings. They want time for themselves. Time with their family and general acknowledgment that what they do is recognized. Showering mom in foolish expensive gifts is a cop-out. The effort you put in to making anything will be much better received than any gift in which you merely had to swipe a card for. If mom needs a new car, sure, work it out so she gets one, but disguising it as a Mother’s day gift is an injustice to your mom.

Going forward for future years, make sure you spend time with mom. Make her something to the best of your abilities. Tell her you love her. She doesn’t really need that silly materialistic item regardless of what the advertises will have you believe.

What do you think is an appropriate gift for mothers day?

Travelling with Kids: All You Need to Know

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travelling with kidsThe thought of travelling with kids can be a scary one but with a little bit of forward planning and organisation it needn’t be any more challenging than travelling alone.

The secret to successful travelling is to pick and choose holidays and destinations according to the needs of you and your children.  If you have very young children still in prams or pushchairs, a walking holiday may not be the best option for you.

Here are a few tips and hints to make your next family trip a memorable one:

Be safe

If you’re planning a road trip, then being safe is paramount. Check important documents are up to date and spend a little time checking you have the correct level of insurance cover.  It’s now quick and easy to compare Australian car insurance products using Internet comparison sites.

Take your time

In order to fully enjoy a holiday with kids in tow, you’ll need to take things a little slower than you would usually. Be realistic about how much you’ll be able to cram into your break, the less you plan, the more you’ll enjoy it.  By planning too much in advance you’ll feel restricted if you want to stay in one day, or the kids are tired.

Split chores

When traveling with partners, spouses or other families, it’s a good idea to split chores between you.  Take turns minding the children, preparing meals and driving so you all feel like you’ve had a proper ‘holiday’.

Allergy alert

If you’re travelling to a hotel that will be providing meals for you and your family, ring ahead to notify them about any allergies your children may have.  If they have severe allergies you may want to consider getting them a card written in the language you will be travelling to explaining what they’re allergic to.

Alternative venues

Gone are the days of couples only resorts or relaxing spa hotels.  Having children means changing priorities and looking at venues that cater to the needs of all your family.  Farm stays are gaining in popularity, as are hotels that offer arts and crafts and sporting facilities for little ones.

Kids clubs

Kids clubs are fantastic for giving you a couple of hours child-free relaxation time but you will want to check they’re not just sitting them in front of the TV.  You’re kids are on holiday too so will want to have fun.

Lightweight strollers

It’s worth investing in a lightweight stroller to take away with you.  Even if your toddler is independent enough to walk unaided, having a lightweight stroller with you means that you can stay out a little longer and enjoy a peaceful evening drink whilst your child has a sleep.  Sleeping children are surprisingly heavy!

Don’t forget the medicine

It’s a great idea to take a small emergency kit away with you.  This could include:

  • Liquid painkiller suitable for children
  • Bite and sting cream
  • Medicated nappy cream
  • Antihistamine medication

Keep a travel journal

Encourage your children to keep a travel journal.  Encourage them to fill it with tickets, leaflets and keepsakes from the areas you travel to.  This will supply them with hours of entertainment and provide them a lovely keepsake for years to come.

What other tips would you add?

Photo Credit: iosphere

5 Expenses Every Family Can Save On

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5 Expenses Every Family Can Save OnHaving to provide for a family is expensive. There are more mouths to feed, kids to clothe and activities to attend. Families are often looking for areas to save but sometimes are at a loss about where to start. There are many areas a family could look at cutting back on or eliminating all together in an effort to balance a family budget.

Clothes

Before I buy anything I always check the local thrift store first. Women’s and children’s clothes especially. Women are always gaining and losing weight, often buying, and then discarding, perfecting good and sometimes new clothes for others to capitalize on! Children just grow like weeds so rarely get more than a few months worth of an item anyway.

Utilities

I already spoke about cutting back on cable options (eliminating everything entirely also being an option). Other options for saving on utility costs are to look into energy savings. Everything from upgrading cheaper options like energy-efficient light bulbs, to more expensive options like upgrading to energy-efficient appliances. All will help with your monthly bottom line.

Transportation

Have a good look at your transportation costs. Do you really need a second car. Could you make one vehicle work? Is there a way to save on gas? Carpooling? Public transit? We sold my car before we moved into our current home. Though it would be hugely convenient sometimes to have that second car, especially with my commute and a child, we can’t justify the added expense. Even with a paid-off car we need to consider gas, insurance and maintenance costs.

Food

Food expenses can get out of control in any sized family. I can’t stress enough how important meal planning is. Not only will it save your sanity it will help your budget immensely. We used to easily spend $650 per month of groceries for our family of three (plus cat). Now, an expensive month is $450 and that usually includes topping up some supplies and on-off items.

I can’t think of any other way to maintain a decent diet and in-check budget without meal planning. It makes all aspects of your life easier! Also look into buying bulk for items you consume a lot of. We go through a lot of berries, bananas and broccoli for example so always buy them at a wholesaler instead. We also find stuff like toilet paper and laundry soap generally cheaper at wholesaler prices.

Don’t Buy Cheap Stuff

This sounds counterintuitive but if you waste your money on cheap crap, you will ultimately end up spending more money. Saving up for quality usually saves money in then end. Some things you can get away with a cheaper version but other things are worth saving for. You decide if the item in question is worth saving for or a cheaper version will do.

I for example would never buy my growing child expensive clothes when I can shop at thrift stores or places like Target knowing it won’t fit in like three months and will have plenty of play encrusted in it.  I would however invest in pieces for myself or husband that I know we’ll get a lot of wear out of.

How do you save on family expenses?