A guide for austerity mums
Anyone struggling with their weekly budget, and wondering whether to peel those soggy vegetables off the back of the fridge to turn into soup, would be forgiven for thinking that a blog called Austerity Mum might help. It sounds so promising; if nothing else, recession has made us alert to innovative ways of saving money.
Sadly you’ll find no such nuggets of wisdom here. Last week, the blog was revealed to be written by Lisa Unwin, the wife of Ashley Unwin, who heads PwC’s £200 million-a-year consulting business. It succeeds only in showing off her family’s extravagant lifestyle, which, I suspect, is the point. In updates, she ponders whether to cancel her family’s helicopter ride from Nice to St Tropez. Suggestions to “buy a lawnmower and sack the gardener” or “wash the car by hand” are dismissed as “totally cruel”.
Unwin defends her blog, claiming it was tongue-in-cheek. But for parents facing real financial struggles, it’s hard to keep a sense of humour about one woman’s battle to tighten her Gucci belt.
While I wouldn’t want to depict my family as anywhere near as squeezed as some, I’ve always celebrated thrifty living and relish the chance to count the pennies, if only to prove that it’s possible to have a happy family on a shoestring.
A is for art
Many leading art galleries, including Tate Modern in London, have children’s zones offering free activities at weekends. Make the most of the National Gallery’s Free Family Sundays. Or, at the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, enjoy its mini-museum for under 7s. To find out what’s going on near you, visit kidsinmuseums.org.uk
B is for bulk cooking
Along with a weekly menu plan, the best way to save money while serving healthy meals, is to cook double or triple quantities. Don’t make one bolognaise, make three. Freeze the extra in old takeaway tubs or yoghurt pots.
C is for childcare
Forget nannies with diva-ish demands for month-long holidays and posh cars, childminders are cheaper for tots (average £60 a day); most nurseries are cheaper still (£40 a day). Later on, team up with other mums to do the school run and call in favours from friends.
D is for donations
Given that children grow out of clothes before their outfits have returned from the wash, there is no point in styling them in Stella McCartney’s kids’ range. Don’t even bother with a trip to John Lewis. Instead, prompt friends with older children to pass on cast-offs — the main reason that people don’t offer hand-me-downs more is for fear of causing offence.
E is for eBay
No one wants their child to be the one to go without, but don’t think that you have to buy every toy brand new. eBay should be your first stop, and is great for children’s shoes, too. Visit a shoe shop to have little feet measured, disappear muttering something about needing a cash machine, then whiz home and buy correct size shoes on eBay (ebay.co.uk).
F is for Freecycle
Not just a source of unwanted electronic tat, but a treasure trove of children’s clothes, toys, DVDs and baby equipment. Sign up for the daily digest in your local area and keep an eye out for discarded gems (uk.freecycle.org)
G is for gardening
Grow your own rocket to spruce up supermarket salads. What’s more, heading outside in wellies, armed with a watering can, to sow seeds is the kind of activity that small children love. It’s creative and mucky, not to mention free.
H is for holidays
The rising costs of air travel makes it a stretch for penny-pinching parents. Opt instead for a “staycation”, ideally in borrowed accommodation. While you may yearn for a sunny beach, children are just as happy on a soggy Welsh hilltop. Or check out Eurostar offers (short-breaks.com/eurostar).
I is for internet
Selling stuff on eBay is one of those things that many of us intend to do but feel intimidated by the process. As long as you are able to upload pictures on your computer, it’s not that bad. For a simpler option, try gumtree.com.
To read more, visit timesonline here
Anna Shepard is a journalist and author. She writes mainly about green living, contributing to national newspapers and magazines, including The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Daily Mail, Prospect, Red, Elle, Psychologies and Waitrose Food Monthly. 
Please consider buying my book How Green Are My Wellies: Small Steps and Giant Leaps to Green Living with Style available from both Amazon