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Cutting the cost of raising a child

Bringing up kids is never cheap.

In fact, according to the Child Poverty Action Group, it cost couples £160,000 and lone parents £193,000 to raise a child to the age of 18 in 2021, thanks to rising inflation and benefit cuts.

But there are smart and simple ways parents can save on both day-to-day expenses and big-ticket purchases.

Whether you've just found out you or your partner are pregnant, or already have a newborn, a teen or a child somewhere in between, we have tips to help you save money, budget, cut costs and plan for the future.

1. Work out a family budget

Getting to grips with your finances is the first step to ensuring you can afford the things your family wants and needs.

Look at your bank statements over recent months to work out how much money is coming in and going out. Identify your essential spending - such as mortgage payments, rent, food, utilities and nappies - and look for areas where you could cut back.

A lot can change in a short period when you have a child. As they grow, and if you have more children, you'll need to recalibrate your budget to suit your new needs.

Our guide on how to plan an effective budget will help you manage your family finances. Alternatively, if you're expecting and your income is about to change, use our guide on how to budget for having a baby

2. Boost your savings

Once you've created your budget, you can try to find ways to cut your spending and perhaps save a little money each month to build up savings for you or your child.

Saving this spare cash could help towards future big purchases, or could act as a buffer during parental leave.

It's worth shopping around for a savings account that will make the most of your family funds. See our guide to finding the best savings account for more.

You also have a number of choices of children's savings accounts: from Junior Isas and children's savings accounts to investments or premium bonds. You could teach teenagers good saving habits by opening up one of these accounts for them.

Whether you want a nest egg in case of a rainy day, or you're saving towards university fees, find out which option would be the best way to save for your child.

3. Apply for benefits and support

There are a range of benefits and financial support available for you, as well as to help with the costs of having a new baby or looking after a child.

For example, if you're expecting a baby, you can get free NHS dental care and prescriptions while you're pregnant and for a year after your baby is born.

You could also be entitled to the Sure Start Maternity Grant, which is a one-off £500 payment to help towards the cost of having a child.

If you're pregnant or have a child under four years old, you can receive Healthy Start vouchers to spend on milk, infant formula, and fresh or frozen fruit and veg.

Some of these benefits are dependent on your income, while others are available to all new parents.

You might also be entitled to child benefit, which is a monthly payment for each child you have. It pays £21.80 a week for your eldest child, and £14.45 a week for each additional one. There is no upper limit for the number of children you can claim for.

4. Stick to the essentials when shopping for new babies

As easy as it is to get carried away with online shopping when you or your partner are awake with pregnancy insomnia at 3am, resist the temptation - your house will end up cluttered before the baby has even arrived.

Instead, make a shortlist of essential baby products and think about when you will actually use them. Here are the key things to think about buying before your baby arrives:

Baby car seat: You won't be able to drive your newborn home from the hospital or birth centre without one, so this is an essential pre-birth purchase. Find out which option would be best for you and your baby with Which? advice on choosing the right car seat.

Pushchair or pram: To be suitable from birth, a pushchair must recline completely flat or come with a carrycot - see what else you should consider when buying a pushchair. A sling or baby carrier can also be a relatively cheap alternative or complement to a pushchair for getting out and about with your baby.

Cot bed, Moses basket or baby crib: To help you decide what's best for you, we have separate tips on each of these sleeping options - read about choosing the best cot bed, Moses basket and baby crib to find one that suits your home and budget. If you're often on the move, a travel cot might also be worth the investment.

Nappies: You'll need to change your newborn's nappy up to 12 times a day. Buying in bulk can often work out cheaper, and you'll want to make sure you've stocked up for the first few weeks. But don't go overboard, as the type of nappy your baby needs can change quite quickly.

Feeding essentials: Depending on how you're planning to feed your baby, there are also breastfeeding essentials you may want to have ready, while a breast pump can help you to express and store milk. Meanwhile, baby bottles and sterilising equipment are needed for expressed milk and formula feeding.

5. Do your research to avoid overspending

Simply put, spending more money on products for babies and children doesn't guarantee better quality. That said, it can be hard to know exactly how much you should expect to pay for certain items, and even trickier to identify products you should steer clear of.

For those big buying decisions, Which? Baby and Child reviews can help you find the products best suited to your needs and budget.

Check out our guides on:

Doing the research before you start shopping can also mean you're more sensible about how much you spend in one go. Spreading out expensive purchases throughout pregnancy (rather than panic-buying the lot in week 39) may help you manage your cash flow better.

6. Save on nappies and toiletries

Whether buying nappies and formula for your baby, or toiletries for older kids, there are ways to save.

You can usually buy non-brand for cheaper prices, and there's often little difference between products. For example, see our advice on the best disposable nappy brands.

Ditch the disposables and try reusable nappies and baby wipes if you really want to get your money's worth.

You should also do your research on the best places to buy other essential items. See our analysis of the cheapest places to buy toiletries.

7. Collect free baby stuff

You'd be surprised at the number of baby freebies you can get your hands on.

In Scotland, parents are given a free baby box full of essentials, which you can apply for by speaking to your midwife.

You should also keep an eye on websites like Latest Free Stuff, which rounds up freebies retailers are offering in exchange for signing up to newsletters or liking them on social.

8. Join clubs for discounts

The Boots Parenting Club hands out extra Advantage points when you buy baby items and offers free gifts at key stages of your baby's development.

Alternatively, members of the Asda Baby & Toddler Club are alerted first about discount events in the supermarket.

9. Look for discount codes

To get even more bang for your buck, look out for discount codes to save on the items you really want. You can do this as your child grows up, as discount codes are for all sorts of products, not just baby products.

Before buying something in a shop or online, do a quick search for in-store offers or voucher codes.

You can find codes simply by checking sites like Vouchercodes and HotUK deals.

10. Ignore the name tag

Many products are branded as 'for pregnancy', from vitamins and skincare products to herbal teas.

But that doesn't mean a standard version won't work just as well. As long as you check the ingredients are safe, it's worth seeing whether a cheaper alternative will serve the same purpose.

Other things can be adapted from their original purpose. Some maternity clothes can double up as breastfeeding-friendly outfits, while a breastfeeding pillow will earn its value both pre- and post-birth.

11. Buy second-hand or borrow

Baby products don't wear out very quickly and often aren't used for long. You can often bag a bargain by shopping for things second-hand (not to mention doing your bit to save the planet).

Have a look at local selling pages on Facebook or your local National Childbirth Trust sales. If you have friends or family with children older than yours, ask if they have any products they're not using anymore that you could have, buy or even borrow.

This tip also applies when you're buying things for older children, such as gifts, clothes or school equipment for teenagers.

Whatever you buy, just be sure to do your research and check it thoroughly for any safety issues. Be aware that car seats should never be bought second-hand, as it's impossible to tell if they've been in a crash that has weakened the seat.
Find out more: your rights when buying secondhand goods
12. Tell people what you need

Family and friends are likely to bring gifts for a new baby, and again for your child's birthdays as they grow older, so let them know what will be most useful for you.

Encourage them to bring items that would make a difference to your day-to-day life - for example, picking out a baby sling in lieu of the latest popular toy.

Amazon offers a free gift when you spend £20 on your 'Baby Wish List'.

13. Keep toys to a minimum

Babies and young children are often happier to play with the wrapping paper and box than the carefully selected toy inside. So if you're strapped for cash, make toys the first thing you cut back on.

Instead, try collecting a basket of everyday items like spatulas, hairbrushes and empty kitchen roll tubes for your baby. They'll have a blast and your wallet will thank you.

14. Cut childcare costs

If you or your partner decide to go back to work, you might need to consider your childcare choices.

There are a few ways you can get childcare for free or at a discount.

Some parents in England will be able to get free education and childcare when their child turns two.

Children in England aged three and four can all get 15 hours of free childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year.

The government will contribute to what you're paying for childcare with the tax-free childcare scheme. It pays working parents up to £2,000 a year towards childcare they're paying for. It's £4,000 for children with disabilities. Only some parents will qualify, however. You'll have to be working for 16 hours a week and earning at least the National Minimum Wage.

Find out more: 13 ways to cut your childcare costs

15. Make extra money in your spare time

If money is tighter than it used to be while you're out of work caring for your family, there are ways to boost your income.
Find out more: best ways to make money
It might be possible to earn extra cash from the comfort of your sofa by, for example, reviewing music, testing games or taking part in online surveys.

16. Adapt your healthy living activities

While pregnancy yoga or fitness classes can be great fun, it's useful to know that you can continue most normal exercise routines throughout pregnancy.

If you already have a gym membership, it may make more financial sense to ask an instructor which equipment and classes can be adapted to pregnant women, rather than paying for additional sessions.

Swimming and walking are other activities that are gentle both on your body and wallet when you're pregnant.

17. Cut down your food costs

Try to avoid shopping at 'express' stores, as convenience comes at a price. Consider larger pack sizes, to pay less per weight/quantity.

Plan meals for the week ahead and stick to your shopping list. If you can, batch cook and freeze leftovers for future meals.

You'll be particularly glad of some pre-prepared home-cooked meals in the early days with a newborn, so fill up that tupperware and thank yourself later.

Making your own baby-friendly foods and freezing individual portions could also be more economical than buying pre-made jars and pouches.

If you don't currently own a freezer, it doesn't need to cost too much: read our advice on choosing the best freezer.

Whatever you're buying, you may be able to save money by switching to another supermarket. Each month, we conduct research to crown the cheapest supermarket to help you make that switch.

18. Reduce household bills

The cost of living crisis will see many household bills skyrocket. There are still things you can do to keep costs to a minimum.
Find out more: how to save on your mobile phone bill
With broadband and mobile phones, for example, you can still save hundreds by switching to a cheaper deal. With energy, though, switching won't necessarily be as effective as it has been in the past.

Listen to the Which? Money Podcast's 'Ease the Squeeze' miniseries for more tips on saving through the crunch.

19. Get something back when you're spending

Many retailers, restaurants, and supermarkets offer loyalty schemes that reward customers by giving you points every time you buy something. These points can then be used toward the cost of future purchases.

Loyalty cards for places like Boots, Superdrug and supermarket chains could come in particularly handy if you'll be buying lots from one retailer.

Find out more: which supermarket loyalty cards are worth it.

20. Plan budget-friendly date nights
Find out more: best ways to save money
When you and your partner might need the occasional break from parenting duties, date night doesn't need to be pricey.

Many restaurants offer dining discounts, while websites such as Opentable, Lastminute, and 5pm specialise in two-for-one meals, 50% offers, and promotions like free wine with your dinner.

Look out for similar offers on two-for-one cinema tickets if you fancy a midweek movie night instead.

21. Find cheap parent and baby activities

Activities specially designed for families, such as baby swimming or yoga classes, can be great fun - but they often come with a hefty price tag. For budget-friendly ways to get out of the house, have a look for free or cheap baby activities.

Your local Sure Start centre is often a good port of call. Many of them run baby sensory or massage groups, especially for parents with little ones.

Otherwise, have a look around for church playgroups in your area. While not always free, you can usually get in for just a pound or two - and the entrance fee often includes free tea and biscuits as well.

When your child gets older, try your local council website to see what youth activities it's running. You'll find lots for your child to do, often for free, especially in the school holidays. These range from sports clubs to places for older kids and teens to socialise together.

Have you successfully used our tips to help save or make money? We'd love to hear from you. Get in touch at money-letters@which.co.uk.

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21 money-saving tips for parents - Which?

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Whether you've just found out you're pregnant, or already have a newborn, toddler or teen, we have tips to help you plan a budget, cut childcare costs, find freebies, shop smart and avoid overspending. Find out how to cut costs and maximise your savings.

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by Jack Monroe, bestselling author of ‘A Girl Called Jack’

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Including a month of meal ideas

If you are looking for comfort food family meals or healthy family meals on a budget then this post is for you. These cheap dinner recipes are not just delicious but also come in at under £1 a head for a family of four.

These aren't hard recipes either. They are all easy and beginner dinner ideas that you can use for a whole month. They range from pasta dishes to easy chicken recipes at a very low cost.

Cheap meals for a week for a family

If you're struggling to plan meals for a week or a month then why not use our meal plan below. These are cheap family dinners that come in at under £1 a person.

Now I have a confession, this week's meals come in at £5.04. The shopping list is £5.41, as I didn't use all the onions, so they'd be ready for the following week.

Everything is made for 4 people and most of the meals can either be frozen or used from frozen ingredients.

The good thing about these meals is they lean heavily on the kitchen staples, so if we're struggling money-wise for a week, I start to come up with recipes, like below, that we can use, without spending too much extra money.

If you are looking for more £1 a head meals then have a look at:
The Ultimate £1 Per Head Budget Meal Planning List A Week of Budget Family Meals For Under £1 a Head Keep reading down below for a whole month of £1 meal ideas.
If you are a beginner cook or would like to increase the amount of recipes you know then have a look at Spicentice. We used them over a three-month period as we got stuck in a food rut cooking the same meals.

Spicentice send out packets of spices with easy to follow instructions so you can make a meal from scratch.

They are great to use if you are new to cooking from scratch or if you are looking to get your family eating new budget-friendly meals and have no clue where to start.

We tried them at the start of this year and loved them. We got stuck in a food rut and they helped by giving us ideas while keeping our food budget really low.

We made the below meals using Spicentice. Try them for yourself here:
Really Easy Homemade Beef Burgers For Under £1 a Head Easy Chicken Fajita Recipe: A Family Meal for 94p a Person Spaghetti Meatball Recipe For 73p a Head Vegan Shepherd's Pie For Just 82p Per Portion Beginner Chilli Con Carne Recipe for Just 95p a Head Chinese Chicken Curry For Just £1.54 For 4
If you'd like to try Spicentice yourself then make sure you use our link here with our code LASAVE20 to get 20% off every purchase.*

Free Resource Vault

If you find meal planning hard then come join our Facebook group Money Saving Mums and get access to The Resource Vault with access to over 20+ money saving printables. This includes our easy slow cooker meals meal plan, available exclusively to subscribers!

Everything is included from budget planners to meal plans and pre-made shopping lists plus a link to our Money Saving Mums Facebook group!
Come join our free Resource Vault here.
(By joining giving us your email address you are consenting to us emailing you about our other travel, home and lifestyle ideas. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link at the bottom of every email.)

Cheap Family Food

If you are looking for a cheap meal plan for the week then have a look at our meal plan and shopping list below:

(Please note that these are based on Asda essential items and that the prices may change.)

7-day dinner meal plan:

650g Asda frozen onions £1.30

250g Asda mascarpone cheese £1.50

125g Just Essentials by Asda Ham 64p

2 courgettes 80p

6 pack Just Essentials by Asda tomatoes 78p

600g Frozen peppes £1.20

400g kidney beans 30p x2

400g chickpeas 33p

400g lentils 55p

200g potatoes 20p

300g sweet potatoes 47p

Total: £8.37 for a week of family meals.

Monday Night:

Creamy Tomato Courgetti

Low in calories but really high in taste, this Creamy Tomato Courgetti meal is a great way to hide vegetables. I use my spiralizer for everything!!

The original recipe calls for a sauce, but I make my own using mascarpone cheese, which takes about 2 minutes.

Onion 7p, three big tablespoons of mascarpone cheese, 44p, Ham, 25p and 2 x Courgette, 60p.

Total: £1.36 that's 34p each for 4 people.

Tuesday Night:

2. Veggie Stir Fry

Simple and quick, just chuck what ever you have in. I use rice noodles, as you can chuck them in with a sauce and just fry it all together, but any will do.

3x Tomatoes, 34p, 200g Frozen Peppers, 40p, Onion, 7p, Ham, 25p.

Total: £1.06

Wednesday Night:

3. Risotto with Ham & Peas

Using just one pot, this risotto is an easy mid-week meal when you really can't be bothered to cook. Just chuck it all in and let it cook!

Onion 7p, Ham 50p.

Total: 57p

Thursday Night:

4. Penne with Arrabbiata

I love arrabbiata, but the kids aren't so keen. This calls for chili, which they hate, so I cook everyones and add some chili flakes at the end for me.

Ingredients: Three big tablespoons of mascarpone cheese, 44p.

Total: 44p

Friday Night:

5. Vegetarian Chilli

4 of your 5 a day, this Vegetarian Chilli only takes about 30 minutes and can be bunged into a pan and left to its own devices.

Itself of buying a bag of vegetables, I cut up my own and roast, and mix and match every time, depending on what we have left over in the fridge. I've thrown in ham, pineapple, frozen vegetables and even sweet potato. Anything goes!

Ingredients: Courgette, 30p, Onion, 7p, 400g of Frozen Peppers, 60p, 3x Tomatoes, 34p, Tin of Kidney Beans, 30p.

Total: £1.61

Saturday Night:

6. Chilli Con Carne

This chilli con carne recipe is easy to do and can be frozen for another night. Read how we cooked our Chilli Con Carne recipe here.

500g beef minced meat £1.99

200g frozen onion 32p

3 garlic gloves 7p

300ml tinned tomatoes 28p

400g tinned kidney beans 30p

3 tbsp tomato puree 15p

Half a lime 12p

220ml stock 3p

4 tbsp low cal spray 20p

1 tsp salt 2p

Half tsp sugar 5p

180g Rice 24p

Total: £3.77

Sunday Night:

7. Vegan Shepherd's Pie

This is a great recipe if you need to feed a lot of people quickly. Make this in the morning and just chuck it in the oven when you need it. Read how to make our vegan shepherd's pie here.

400g tin chickpeas 33p

400g tin lentils 55p

2 large potatoes 20p

3 sweet potatoes 47p

125g frozen onion 8p

4 sun-dried tomatoes 20p

2 carrots 14p

5 mushrooms 40p

2 celery sticks 60p

2 garlic cloves 5p

300ml vegan stock 3p

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 6p

2 tbsp tomato puree 10p

2 tbsp low cal spray 10p.

Total: £3.31

Menu Planning for me is the hardest, but the most important part of eating on a budget. It gives you a plan you can use to help you buy food more wisely and stop you staring in the fridge for 5 minutes trying to think what to make for dinner tonight. This happens more then I would like... So I designed a few menu planners that work best for me and I thought I would share them. Enjoy!

So after the week, I'd then write what I've used from my kitchen staples onto my list for the following week, or on a week I could afford. Here they are below for ease:

Store cupboard ingredients:

Garlic

Dried basil

2 x Tin Tomatoes

Rice 1kg

Vegetable Stock

Frozen Mixed Vegetables (like peas, carrots, and sweetcorn.)

Puree

1kg Pasta

Chilli Flakes

Noodles (2 pack)

Soy Sauce

Passata

More extremely cheap family meals

Make sure you have a look at our another cheap meal idea posts here that could help you to fill up your meal plan and keep your grocery bill down:
Feeding a Family on a Budget: This Weekly Shop is Just £18 21 Budget Family Meals and a £16 Aldi Meal Plan
Pasta recipes

If you are looking for more cheap pasta recipes then have a look at our post here called: 11 Cheap Pasta Recipes That Are Under £1 a Head.
8. Italian Meatball Marinara
This is a gorgeous meatball recipe that the whole family will love. It's a healthy meal that uses a basic tomato sauce recipe that can be used for loads of meals. Make this amazing meatball marinara here.

500g minced meat £1.99

2 onion 16p

3 glove garlic 7p

1 egg 10p

1 tsp salt 2p

2 tsp low cal spray 10p

1 tin passata 32p

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 3p

Half tablespoon sugar 5p

Half tablespoon salt 3p

210g Spaghetti 8p

Total: £2.95
9. Bacon and Cheese Pasta
This bacon and cheese pasta is my little one's favorite dinner. She'd eat this every night if we let her, and I have to say, at just £3.41 for the four of us, this is a bargain!

Mushrooms 22p

English medium Cheddar cheese £1.74

Smartprice unsmoked middle bacon £1.04

Smartprice Pasta 31p

Onion 8p

Garlic 24p

Total: £3.41
10. Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes
This is one of those "chuck in whatever you have" recipes. It's mega easy and even grilling the tomatoes only takes minutes.

Wholemeal penne (500g) 55p

Cherry tomatoes (250g) 53p

Dried basil (14g) 69p

Total: £1.77
11. Spicy Sausage and Cheese Bake
As long as you have butter, flour, and milk in your cupboards, then this sausage and cheese bake comes in way under budget.

Smartprice pasta shapes (500g) 30p

Smartprice thick sausages (12 per pack - 681g) 88p

Chosen by You English Mature Cheddar (200g) £1.27

Smartprice mozzarella (125g) 44p

Total: £2.89
12. Mac 'n' Cheese
Cheesy pasta is a family favourite in my house. Try it in the slow cooker for an extra easy weeknight dinner.

200g macaroni pasta 13p

200g cheese £1

100g plain flour 10p

Stock cube 6p

25g butter 3p.

Total: £1.32
13. Spaghetti Bolognese This spaghetti bolognese recipe is so simple and the longer you leave it in the more intense the flavour.
The sauce can be left to cook all day, ready to be mixed with freshly-cooked pasta when you get home.

1 onion chopped 22p

1 tbsp tomato puree 10p

2 tins chopped tomato 58p

1 tbsp caster sugar or to taste 4p

1 celery stick chopped 10p

250g minced beef 83p

1 carrot chopped 7p

2 cloves garlic chopped 4p

1 tsp oregano 2p

2 large mushrooms chopped 75p

1 beef stock cubes 6p

1 handfull Parmesan for sprinkling 20p.

Total: £3.01, that's 75p a head.
14. Carbonora
This amazing Carbonara recipe is a really quick family meal that you can put together within 10 minutes. It takes 5 minutes to prep and 13 minutes to cook.

Cook the spaghetti first as per the packet instructions, normally for 12 minutes. While it's cooking, cut the bacon into small chucks and start to fry it.

You shouldn't need any oil, as the bacon is pretty fatty. Add the mushrooms to the frying pan and fry until soft. Add the garlic.

Whisk the eggs and Grana Padano cheese together in a bowl. Drain the pasta and add it to the frying pan with the egg mixture. Stir quickly so the egg does not scramble. Salt and pepper to taste.

350g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Spaghetti 14p 2

50g JUST ESSENTIALS by ASDA Cooking Bacon 37p

62g mushrooms 13p

3 garlic cloves 5p

2 eggs 10p 60g

Grana Padano 80p

Total: £1.59 for 4 people that's 40p a person.
15. Penne with Arrabbiata
I love arrabbiata, but the kids aren't so keen. This calls for chili, which they hate, so I cook everyone's and add some chili flakes at the end for me.

Three big tablespoons of mascarpone cheese 44p

Tin Tomatoes 400g 34p

Pasta 30p.

Total: 44p

Vegetarian recipes:

If you are looking for more vegetarian and vegan meals then have a look at:
31 Cheap Vegetarian Meals That Are Under £1 a Head 16. Vegetarian Chilii
7 Vegetarian Pasta Recipes That are Under £1 a Head
4 of your 5 a day, this Vegetarian Chilli only takes about 30 minutes and can be bunged into a pan and left to its own devices.

Itself of buying a bag of vegetables, I cut up my own and roast, and mix and match every time, depending on what we have left over in the fridge. I've thrown in ham, pineapple, frozen vegetables and even sweet potato. Anything goes!

Courgette 30p

Onion 7p

400g of Frozen Peppers 60p

3x Tomatoes 34p
17. Homemade Pizza
Tin Kidney Beans 30p.

Total: £1.61

This is an easy quick Friday night dinner. You can make the dough in the morning or straight away as it doesn't need to sit. We use plain flour, dried yeast and some water to make the dough.

Taw Valley Mature Cheddar (approx 100g) 85p

Onion 10p

Chopped tomatoes (400g) 31p

2 x mozzarella (125g) 44p each
18. Veggie Stir Fry
Loose closed cup mushrooms 20p,

Total: £2.34.

Simple and quick, just chuck what ever you have in. I use rice noodles, as you can chuck them in with a sauce and just fry it all together, but any will do.

3x Tomatoes 34p

200g Frozen Peppers 40p

Onion 7p

Ham 25p.

Total: £1.06
19. Vegan tacos
2 x Courgette 60p.
Read how to make our vegan tacos here.
Total: £1.36 that's 34p each for 4 people.

These vegan tacos are really easy to make. They aren't spicy at all, and the homemade salsa is really fruity.

175g pack baby corn £1.20

190g frozen red onion 25p

100g frozen peppers 20p

½ tsp cumin seeds 5p

2 tsp olive oil 5p 1

10g kiwi 11p

400g tin tomato 42p

100g wholemeal flour 20p

1 large garlic clove 5p

5g dried coriander 5p 1

tsp vegan bouillon powder 5p

½ tsp smoked paprika 5p
20. Sweet Potato Carrot Soup
85g red cabbage 20p
Read how we make our Sweet Potato Carrot Soup Recipe here.
Total: £2.88 that's 72p a person.

This sweet potato carrot soup recipe is really easy to make and is great for weekend lunches. Everything you need should be in your cupboard or freezer.

The roasted sweet potatoes taste really nice in this soup.

500g chopped and cubed sweet potatoes 55p

400g tin carrots 49p

3 tbsp olive oil 5p

100g frozen onion 16p

2 garlic cloves 5p

1L vegetable stock 5p

100ml tin coconut milk 82p
Related Posts:
10g pinch chilli flakes 10p

Total: £2.27 that's 56p a person.
Cheap Chicken Recipes That Are Under £1 a Head 13 Leftover Chicken Recipes That Are Under £1 a Head 21. Southern Fried Chicken
Chicken recipes
This is how we make our Southern Fried Chicken.
If you are looking for more chicken recipes then have a look at:

These are one of my family's favourite meals. This friendly meal is great with homemade chips and corn of cob. Get the kids to help you make them too.

4 chicken breasts £1.40

150g breadcrumbs 65p

2 eggs 20p

4 tbsp plain flour 15p

4 tbsp milk 10p

2 tbsp low cal spray 10p

4 potatoes 40p
22. Tomato-Baked Chicken
4 corn of cob 52p

Total: £3.52

This is great if you have toddlers in the house too. It's healthy and will keep you all full up.

Smartprice Chicken wings (1kg) £1.65

Tomato & garlic pasta sauce (560g) 92p

Smartprice British small potatoes (1kg) 50p
23. Sweet and Sour Chicken
Baby button mushrooms (150g) 86p
Here's how we make our sweet and sour chicken recipe here.
Total: £3.95

This easy to make sweet and sour chicken recipe is perfect if you have friends coming over. Make a huge batch with brown rice and add as many vegetables as you like!

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts £1.16

1 x 425g can pineapple chunks in natural juice 50p

2 tbsp cornflour 2p

½ tsp dried chilli flakes 2p

2 tbsp dark soy sauce 5p

2 tbsp tomato puree 2p

1 medium onion 8p

300g frozen peppers 43p
24. Peri-Peri Chicken
2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed 5p

Total: £2.33

This does take a bit of prep but is perfect for a weekend fakeaway. It takes about 30 minutes to cook and goes with wedges, rice and salad.

You can also have this with tortillas and salad if you prefer.

4 chicken breasts £1.40

3 garlic cloves 9p

Small piece of ginger 2p

Rind of lemon 3p

5 tbsp lemon juice 9p

2 tbsp cooking oil 3p

1 tsp salt 2p

4 potatoes 40p
25. Chicken Fajitas
180g Rice 24p
Here's how we cook our yummy fajitas.
Total: £2.32

Making your own fajitas is a great family treat! Make sure you marinate the chicken and peppers before you cook as it does make them taste amazing!

This takes about 40 minutes to cook. If you like it spicy then add some chillis too.

4 chicken breasts £1.40

2 peppers 30p,

100g frozen onion 16p,

1 Lime 6p,

3 garlic cloves 9p,

1 tbsp salt 2p,

1 tsp sugar 5p,
26. One-pot Chicken Pepper Bake
8 pack Tortillas £1.

Total: £3.08.

With little washing up involved, this one-pot chicken pepper bake is one of my personal favorites. It's great for Sunday lunch or if the extended family comes round.

Chicken Thighs (1kg) £2.75

Green Pepper 50p
27. Chicken Kebabs
Tin of Baby potatoes (550g) 32p

Total: £3.99

You can make these homemade chicken kebabs with chicken breast or chicken thighs. We prefer chicken breasts as you can cut them into chunks easily.
Read how to make our Chicken doner kebabs here.
If you are planning to use the pitta then you may want to finely chop the vegetables smaller. You can also make the marinade as spicy as you like.

My children do not like spice but you can add chillis or flakes to the sauce for that extra kick.

300g frozen chicken breasts £1.08

100g red peppers 25p

100g green peppers 25p

425g tin pineapple 90p

Marinade:

5g turmeric 5p

5g mild curry powder 10p

5g smoked paprika 5p

5g tomato purée 7p

150g natural yogurt 20p
28. Chicken Doner Kebabs
5g garlic clove 10p
Read how to make our chicken doner kebab here.
Total: £3.05 that's 76p per person. (4 people)

This chicken doner kebab recipe is really easy to make. We use frozen chicken breasts but you can use chicken thighs if you prefer. We make our own chicken doner kebab marinade which we smother all over our kebab meat.

Our kebab marinade recipe is:

50g low-fat natural yogurt

Curry powder

Chilli powder

Dried coriander

Finely chopped chillis

Optional spices are: smoked paprika garlic powder onion powder It is really easy to make chicken kebabs healthy.

50g low-fat natural yogurt 7p

5g curry powder 10p

5g chilli powder 10p

10g lime or lemon juice 5p

10g dried chopped coriander 10p

10g red chilli 10p

300g chicken breasts £1.08

100g green salad 55p

4 pitta breads 25p

Total: £2.40 that's 60p for four people.
29. Creamy Tomato Courgetti
Pork recipes

Pork can be a great cheap meat to have in the fridge on days when you need the kids to eat some a healthy meal.

Low in calories but really high in taste, this Creamy Tomato Courgetti meal is a great way to hide vegetables. I use my spiralizer for everything!!

The original recipe calls for a sauce, but I make my own using mascarpone cheese, which takes about 2 minutes.

Onion 7p,

Three big tablespoons of mascarpone cheese 44p

Ham 25p
30. Ham Stir Fry
2 x Courgette, 60p

Total: £1.36

Simple and quick, just chuck what ever you have in. I use rice noodles, as you can chuck them in with a sauce and just fry it all together, but any will do.

3x Tomatoes 34p

200g Frozen Peppers 40p

Onion 7p
31. Risotto with Ham & Peas
Ham, 25p.

Total: £1.06

Using just one pot, this risotto is an easy mid-week meal when you really can't be bothered to cook. Just chuck it all in and let it cook!
32. Easy Sausage and Potato Casserole
Ingredients: Onion, 7p, Ham, 50p.

Total: 57p

This Sausage and potato casserole is so easy to make and really cheap to buy. A lot of these ingredients, including the sausages and puree, can go toward other meals too.

Onion 22p

Tin of New Potatoes 32p

Frozen Sliced Peppers (600g) £1

Frozen Value pork sausages (20 pack) 99p

Chopped Tomatoes 29p

Puree (80g) 75p

Total: £3.57
33. Homemade Burgers
Mince beef recipes
Here's how we make our Homemade Burgers.
Mince beef is really easy to cook and is normally pretty cheap. We have more mince beef recipes here.

These are gourmet burgers that can be spiced up or down depending on what your family like spice wise. We also cook our homemade chips and add cheese slices.

You can make them in the morning if you don't have time in the evening.

500g minced meat £1.99

1 onion 8p

2 garlic cloves 6p

1 egg 10p

Pinch of salt 3p

6 burger buns 56p

Lettuce leave 25p

Tomato 50p

Cheese slices 35p
34. Italian Meatball Marinara
4 potatoes 40p
Make this amazing meatball marinara here.
Total: £4.32

This is a gorgeous meatball recipe that the whole family will love. It's a healthy meal that uses a basic tomato sauce recipe that can be used for loads of meals.

500g minced meat £1.99

2 onion 16p

3 glove garlic 7p

1 egg 10p

1 tsp salt 2p

2 tsp low cal spray 10p

1 tin passata 32p

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 3p

Half tablespoon sugar 5p

Half tablespoon salt 3p
35. Cottage Pie
210g Spaghetti 8p

Total: £2.95

This is a classic cottage pie recipe! Just chuck it all in and grill at the end.

Tin of New Potatoes (550g) 32p,

Beef mince (500g) £2,

Onion 22p,

Carrots x2 9p,

Mushrooms 68p,

Everyday Value soft cheese (200g) 49p,

Total: £3.89.

Laura x
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35 Extremely Cheap Meals For UK Families

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If you are looking for comfort food family meals or healthy family meals on a budget then this post is for you. These cheap dinner recipes are not just delicious but also come in at under £1 a head for a family of four. These aren't hard recipes either.

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11 practical tips to keep warm and save energy this winter - Rest Less

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While an energy price cap of £2,500 is currently in place and due to last until April, many people are still likely to struggle to cover heating costs this winter. Although the new cap is £1,000 less than Ofgem’s original proposed October price cap, energy prices are still more than double the amoun…

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What we do Feeding Britain is an award-winning charity with a vision of a UK where no one goes hungry. We support a national network of 60 regional anti-hunger partnerships comprising more than 600 local organisations - ranging from community centres and schools, to local authorities and social enterprises.

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Best Free Things to Do With Kids in the UK

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Best Free Things to Do With Kids in the UK

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The best free things to do with kids in the UK

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From adventure playgrounds and farms to art galleries and museums, these are the best free UK attractions the whole family will love.

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Are you looking for some free ways to entertain the kids? We take the hard work out of planning your free family time with 101 FREE things to do with kids that will cost nothing but time (and perhaps just a few store cupboard items!).
Don't miss our best content straight to your inbox! Sign up now and get our FREE newsletters packed with fun ideas and things to do with the kids, family-friendly recipes, expert advice, parenting tips and great competitions.
If you need some inspiration for amusing the kids, we are here to help! We have put together this list tried and tested, free things to do with kids that are really easy, quick to prepare and, most of all, lots of fun!

Fun and FREE Things To Do With Kids

#1. Go for a Walk

Head out to your local woods, beach or park for a walk. Make your walk more fun with our free nature scavenger hunt list turning a walk into an adventure!

#2. Create an Obstacle Course

Create a fun obstacle course, indoors or outdoors, and test your skills in a friendly family competition.

The course possibilities are endless and you can change it around each round, becoming more challenging as the players improve their skills.

#3. Learn Magic

Wow your friends and family, and learn some magic tricks - here are 10 easy magic tricks for kids to master.

#4. Create a Time Capsule

Create a time capsule together. Put things in it that are happening right now and then open it in 12 months and see how things have changed.

This is a great activity for birthdays. You could create a sheet of questions that you answer annually and see how your ideas change as you grow. They could be favourite bands, foods you like, friends, goals etc.

#5. Enjoy Gardening Fun

Gardening with kids is great fun - they love to get mucky and see the results of their work. If you have room, why not assign them their own flower bed and help them plan out their planting? Here's how to make your garden a fun place for kids.

Give them their own pot/planter. Herbs and salad leaves are quick to grow, and most kids enjoy eating what they have grown! Here's a how to grow your own pizza garden.

#6. Play Water Balloon Dodgeball

Fill water balloons or buckets, and place them equally on opposite ends of the garden.

Split up into teams and stand facing each other.

When the signal is given, begin throwing water balloons at the other team.

When a player is hit, the other team scores a point.

Play until all the balloons are gone, the members of one team have all been hit, or a certain number of points have been reached.

#7. Host a Teddy Bear Picnic

Get out the blankets and cushions, make and deliver the invitations and decide on whether your picnic will be indoors or outdoors.

Cut out some teddy bear footprints from pieces of paper and put these on the floor leading to the picnic area. Footprints could also lead to other activities if you are having them. You could include a teddy bear themed pass the parcel game or even dance with your teddy bear.

#8. Tongue Twisters

Take turns saying these fun tongue twisters and see who can say them the best. Tongue twisters like "If two witches were watching two watches, which witch would watch which watch?" will surely leave you in fits of giggles!

#9. Make a Camp/Den

Let your kids make a camp/den using old blankets/duvets, cushions and chairs for props. Or gather some sturdy sticks from the wood and use some old tarpaulin as a roof.

#10. Play Card Games

A fun and inexpensive way to pass an afternoon, so grab a deck of cards and gather around a table to begin.

We have compiled a list of fun card games for kids to get you started, or the kids might like to learn some easy card tricks.

#11. Make a Home Cinema

Set up a home cinema and settle down to watch some fun family movies together.

Wondering what to watch? Try these feel-good movies, introduce your kids to some 80s classics, or work your way through our A to Z of fab family movies!

#12. Create a Hairdressing Studio

Create your very own hairdressing studio and take turns doing each other's hair. No scissors needed for this one!

#13. Go For A Cycle

Strap on the helmets, grab the bikes, and go for a cycle. Sustrans has some good family cycling safety tips.

#14. Scavenger Hunt

How about something a bit different to do outdoors? Enjoy a Scavenger Hunt, we've got lots of scavenger hunt ideas you can download and print.

#15. Be Mad Scientists!

Homemade science experiments can get messy, so if weather permits, move the "lab" outside. Here are some ideas:

#16. Have a Big Bug Hunt

Love them or hate them, bugs are fascinating to kids! Download our free Big Bug Scavenger Hunt List to search for critters in the park, woods or closer to home.

#17. Sand Play

Kids love to mess around in the sand, particularly at home in the garden. Even if you don't have a sand table, it's easy to make your own, with a large shallow plastic container, and some play sand. We've got lots of great sand play ideas for kids - just remember to cover when finished, to keep the cats away.

#18. Go for a Picnic

We all love to dine alfresco, and kids especially love a picnic. Pack a basket of homemade goodies, a flask with tea for yourself, and a waterproof blanket. Why not try our easy recipes for homemade sausages, homemade lemonade and yummy chocolate chip cookies?

#19. Go to the Playground

Going to the playground is a great way to get the kids active outdoors. Most towns have a local playground, but for a change, why not try a different playground in a nearby town? Pack a picnic and make a day out of it.

#20. Build Something

Design and build a Lego or plastic brick structure. It could be a castle, a house, a fire station, or maybe a small town. Or have building competitions, where have to make structures using only one colour brick.

Try our 30 Day Lego Challenge or LEGO Bingo Challenge if you need more ideas!

Give your child's LEGO creativity a boost with more than 50+ LEGO instructions and how-to videos that are sure to turn them into a Master Builder!

#21. Splash in Puddles

Kids love to run and jump in puddles. Dress them in their wet gear and head out for some rainy day fun! Take some inspiration from these fun outdoor rainy day games.

#22. Play Outdoor Games

Speaking of outdoors, why not get your kids playing outdoor games - they might need a little bit of instruction to get started, so have a look at these great childhood games for inspiration.

#23. Feed The Ducks

Take a trip to your local park, river or lake, and feed the ducks or swans. But please don't take bread, as this isn't good for birds. Other options that are better for them include grapes cut in half, cracked corn/barley/oats/birdseed, frozen peas or corn kernels (defrosted, but no need to cook) or duck feed pellets available from pet shops.

#24. Fly a Kite

Wait for a windy day, and head to an open space to fly a kite. You could even try your hand at making the kites.

#25. Have Mini Fun Sports Day
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Host a mini fun sports day, with obstacle courses, long-jump, and novelty races like 3-legged, sack, and egg and spoon.

Hours of fun and exhausted kids guaranteed!
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#26. Dominoes

Play a game of dominoes or for something even more creative, set up a huge long line of dominoes and then have fun knocking them down!

#27. Have a Treasure Hunt

A much loved activity in my house, treasure hunts are great fun! All you need are some pens, paper and of course, treasures! Here's some tips on setting up a kid's treasure hunt.

#28. Make Mudpies!

All you need is some sand, water and a desire to get mucky!

#29. Go Camping

A night out in a tent is definitely a must for all kids - I still remember my first night out camping, and having to run back inside when the worst ever thunderstorm erupted!

Even if you don't get away, you can set up the tent in the back garden, and enjoy sleeping outdoors.

#30. Measure a Tree

Head out the nearby park or woods, with a ruler and tape-measure, and measure a tree. See who can find the tallest tree.

#31. Go Fishing

Fishing is a great outdoor activity, but remember, it requires lots of patience on your part. Gear the day/expedition to their level, and assume they will want to get wet, and look for everything else but fish!

However, it can be a great way to spend time with your child, and you might even bring home dinner!

Fishing nets on the beach are ideal for catching crabs in rock pools, and a lot easier too!

#32. Try Star Gazing

On a clear night, bring the kids outside for some star gazing. If you have a telescope all the better, but is not necessary.

See if you can recognise any of the well-known constellations with our tips on fun astronomy for kids.

#33. Get Arty with Pavement Chalk!

Let the kids loose on your pavement or driveway, with some pavement chalk, and stand back and watch their creations unfold!

#34. Watch Clouds

Watching clouds is a very relaxing way to spend time, for all ages. Get the kids to lie on a blanket in the garden or at the park. Clouds all look the same but yet can be so different as they morph into different shapes and objects.

#35. Run a Lemonade Stall

A lovely summer's activity and a great way for your kids to learn about money. All they need is a table/box, sign, paper cups, jug, and lemonade.

Help them make homemade lemonade instead of buying lemonade. Alternatively, they could sell some cupcakes they have made themselves.
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#36. Wash The Car

Washing the car = fun for kids! They most likely will get wet, have a chance at using the hose, and might even earn some pocket money! They could even do a neighbourhood car wash.

#37. Make a Garden Waterfall

Let the kids make a temporary waterfall in the garden, using large stones, hose, plastic tubing, and any other props they might require.

They could also make a marble-run but use water instead of marbles.

#38. Make Bird Feeders

Provide some treats for our feathered friends and help the kids make some bird feeders.

#39. Skip

Skipping can be done individually, or if there are a few friends around, get a large rope, and get the kids doing some skipping games.

Jump Elastics are also great fun. Do you remember them from childhood? Inside, Outside on the rails? All you need is a long piece of elastic, stitched together at the ends.

#40. Plant Flowers

Gather any old welly boots your children have outgrown.

Poke a few drainage holes in the bottom of them and then fill them with some compost.

Choose which flower seeds you would like to plant. Sunflowers are a favourite among kids as they grow very quickly and are very easy to grow.

Place them along your path or outside your front door. Your kids will love to see their old wellies blooming!

#41. Crazy Golf

Get the kids to let their imaginations run wild, and set up a crazy golf course in the garden, using buckets, plastic cups/glasses, ramps, car tracks, boxes etc. Anything will work, to make the hole as crazy as possible!

Aim for 3 or 4 holes minimum in their course, and then have a competition, counting lowest number of shots to reach hole as a win.

#42. Make a Scarecrow

This is a lovely project for the kids to do, particularly if they have helped you with the gardening. And even if the scarecrow is never used in the garden, it's a fun project to do. All you need is some old clothes, hat, canes, straw or old newspapers for stuffing, needle and thread, and plastic bag. Here's how to make a simple scarecrow.

#43. Paint

Kids love painting. How about moving it outdoors if the weather is good?

Use lots of outdoor interesting shapes for painting, like grass blades, or sticks, or unusual plant leaves. Get them to gather some leaves and do leaf patterns.

If you need more ideas, try these easy painting ideas for kids.
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#44. Make Sandcastles

A great beach activity, enjoyed by kids, time after time. As well as using the bucket and shovel, why not use some flat knives and spoons to help carve out their structures. Collect shells and stones to decorate your amazing castles!

#45. Blow Bubbles

Blowing bubbles should lead to giggles! Make your own bubble mixture at home, then use different blowers for a range of bubbly fun. When all the bubbles are used up, why not try making your own using washing-up liquid, sugar and water?

#46. Make a Slip 'n' Slide

Why spend money on a slip 'n' slide, when you can easily make your own, with strong refuse bags or a large plastic sheet, washing-up liquid, and a hose.

Guaranteed hours of fun!

#47. Hunt for Animal Tracks

Look around your garden or if you are out for a walk, and see if you can spot any animal tracks. Borrow a book from the library to help you identify the different animal/bird tracks.

#48. Car Racing

Most houses have a toy box full of cars. Bring it outside and let the kids have car races down the driveway, seeing which car goes furthest. They could even award "cups" to the winners!

Use tape or chalk outside to make roads, race courses, roundabouts and parking spaces.

#49. Play Tag in the Dark

Great fun for older kids. Head outside with torches to play chase or tip the can in the dark - amazing how the whole game can change when played in the dark.

#50. Cardboard Box Fun

We all know that when you give a child a toy, they often have more fun playing with the box!

There are lots of great cardboard box ideas to make with kids - from a doll's house to a jack-in-the-box, the only limit is your imagination!

#51. Make Sun Shadows

For this, you will need:

Sunshine

Nature items e.g. leaves, twigs, flowers

Construction paper - darker colours work better

What to do

1. Find a sunny spot outside late morning. Arrange the items on a sheet of paper.

2. You might need a stone for each corner to keep it from blowing away if it's breezy.

3. Leave the paper for several hours in direct sunlight.

4. The sun will fade the construction paper, it will create silhouettes where your items are located.

#52. Make Homemade Ice Pops

These can be as simple as you like, just blend your favourite fruit and pour mixture into ice pop moulds. Freeze until firm and enjoy!

If you want some more inspiration, try these healthy ice pops that kids will lick clean.

#53. Play Dress Up

Let the kids and the adults swap roles and clothes for the day- or at least an hour or two. It will be lots of fun choosing what to wear as well as trying to find children's clothes to fit the adults!
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#54. Create Pretty Vases

Upcycle old jam jars by painting them to use as pretty vases on your window sills.

#55. Make Pizzas

With some simple ingredients, the kids can enjoy helping make homemade pizza and pizza dough (you could use ready made pizza bases too if you want).

Chop up some vegetables and other toppings, and let each person arrange on their own pizzas. Make some funny or scary faces out of your pizzas. Pop in the oven and serve for dinner.

#56. Design Your Own Clothes

Cut up old jeans to make shorts or an old T-shirt to make a sleeveless top, then design and decorate as you like. Adorn them with sequins, add buttons, or tie-dye them for something unique.

#57. Hold Toy Races

Root out any toy at home that works using a remote control. This could be a car, a dog, dinosaur or anything at all. Let your children choose which toy will be theirs for the race and line them up at a chalked out start line. Then let the race begin as each toy must compete to cross the finish line first. The toys can be swapped around for each race.

#58. Bake a Cake

Kids love to bake and nothing beats the smell of home cooking. Enjoy some quality time baking a cake, be it for a birthday, a special occasion or just for fun.

If you're looking for some ideas, you could try:

#59. Pasta Bead Jewellery

My children love to design their own jewellery using penne pasta. This is a great way to pass a few hours on a rainy day.

First the children paint the pasta. Once dry, thread some string through various coloured pasta to make bracelets and necklaces.

#60. Head to the Beach

A trip to the beach is always a fun day out, no matter what the season! If it's a nice sunny day, you might want to check out our summer beach checklist, to make sure you don't forget to pack an essential item!

Why not collect some stones and shells, and paint them when you return home to make some garden decorations? Try these beach craft ideas and 50 fun things to do at the beach with kids.

#61. Make Music

Perhaps there's an old tin whistle or piano lying around at home. You could download some instructions and simple songs to learn too. You could also make some cheap instruments, using kitchen utensils (most popular in our house are pots, wooden spoons, tins, spatula) and form a band - check out our tips here.

#62. Play Board Games

Play some games together. Parents recommend their top 20 board games for families, or you could try one of these unusual board games that are lots of fun!

Alternatively, enjoy more traditional 'parlour' games such as Consequences.

#63. Make Shakers

Use old bottles that have a screw top, such as a water bottle. Remove any labels from the bottle.

Paint the outside of the bottle using some fun coloured paints.

When dry, fill the bottle with rice or lentils or beans. Each item you use to fill inside will make a different sound.

Close the lid and add some stickers to the outside and your shaker is ready to use.

#64. Make Daisy Chains

The art of daisy chain making is one that should be passed down to your children. Put a small slit in the stem of a daisy with your nail, and thread a stem of another daisy through it, and repeat to extend length. "Fashion" into necklaces and bracelets, or challenge the kids to see who can make the longest.

#65. Write a Story or a Play

Have a story writing competition or write a play for puppets or for you all to perform. Help younger ones who may be unable to write but can still make up their own story. Let them illustrate their story with pictures.

Or create your own stories playing Chinese Whispers. See how different the story is by the time it reaches the end!

#66. Read-a-thon

This is a great activity for older kids - set a challenge to see how many books/chapters can be read during the day. During summer, encourage your kids take part in a summer reading challenge.

Looking For More?

Download our fun and FREE book scavenger hunt and set off on a reading treasure hunt!

#67. Learn Some Clapping Games

Remember playing Miss Mary Mack? Or A Sailor Went to Sea? Play these and make up some of your own ones too. More Nursery Rhyme activities here.

#68. Visit a Museum or Library

Many local museums are free to visit, they can be inspirational places and provide a learning experience. Often they have kids activities such as treasure hunts or activity sheets. Or join a tour to find out more about some of the objects in the museum.

A trip to the Library can pass a few hours as they often have colouring sheets and toys for children to play with. They sometimes have storytime too, which is great for younger children.

#69. Make a Flippy Book/Moving Story

All you need is a drawing pad, and pencil. Draw an image in the same corner of the book on each page, and that each image changes only slightly. Stickmen are a good starting point, in different poses. Then you flip through the pages and watch their character start to move.

#70. Make a Wind Chime

Wind chimes are easy to make and look charming in every environment. They can be made from just about anything- old cutlery, shells, or old keys.

I like the idea of using shells as it reminds us of a great day out at the beach.

Collect your shells and wash them.

Drill a little hole in the top of each, being careful not to break the shell. It is a good idea to collect some extra shells just in case some to break.

Thread string through the shells and tie a knot after each shell. Vary the strings with the amount of shells you pace on each.

You will then need to tie all strings together by attaching them to a stick.

This stick can also be decorated with any leftover shells. Display your fabulous windchime in the garden or inside where it can tinkle and delight.

#71. Create a Handprint Family Tree

You will need some paints and 2 large sheets of cardboard (or use A4 paper) and willing hands.

1. Working from the biggest to smallest hands, have each person dip her hands in her chosen paint and print them on the page, overlapping the handprints slightly as the group moves up the tree.

2. Use a paintbrush to add a tree trunk and then let all the paint dry.

3. Identify each set of handprints with a permanent marker.

4. Cut out the tree and glue it to the page. You could then date and frame this family handprint tree.

#72. Play Shop

Set up a little grocery/mini supermarket with tins and packets. If you have a play till set up a checkout table and they can take it in turns to be the checkout person or the shopper. The ironing board made a great checkout in my youth! Have some bags ready to put the purchases in.

#73. Balloon Ping-Pong

All you need is some balloons, and either table-tennis bats, or make your own bats using paper plates and sticks for handles. Clear some space in the hall and off they go.

#74. Life Sized Drawings

Get a large roll of paper, like you use on easels/boards, and draw the outline of your child(ren) on the paper. They can then colour in, adding features, clothes etc. This is also a great winner at parties.

You could do each portraits of each other once the outline is drawn. Or if you don't have paper, then draw the outline in chalk outside and decorate afterwards.

#75. Make a Cardboard Town

If you have a giant cardboard box, why not draw a town on the bottom of the box, with roads, tracks, bridges, parks, car-parks, etc. Add some wooden building blocks, cars, trains and some wooden/plastic animals.

Older kids could help with decorating/creating the scene. Or convert an old shoe box into a dolls house or garage.

#76. Skim Stones

Apparently skimming stones is a skill! But if you can find a small rounded, flat stone you should manage to skim it enough to impress your little ones.

#77. Make a Photo Album

Browse through your digital camera or your pictures on the computer and print off your favourite family photos. Then let the kids arrange them in a photo album.

Or use them to create a collage of a special family time.

#78. Laser Grid

All you need for this ingenious activity is some string or wool (preferably red), sticky tape, and a hallway. You need to create a grid using the string/wool that the kids will then attempt to pass through without touching the string or "laser". Anyone who does touch the laser has to return to the start line again.

You can begin with an easy grid and increase the level of difficulty with age and ability. It will occupy them for hours! And you may want to have a go yourself!

#79. Misfit Characters

Give kids old magazines/catalogues and get them to cut out pictures of heads, bodies, legs and shoes. They can then have some fun mixing them up, and gluing on blank sheets of paper.

#80. Make a Home Movie

The movie will be a delight to watch when your small ones have grown up and guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. The movie can be about everyday tasks or you could dress up and bring out the inner actors in you and yours!

There are some great movie maker downloads for tablets and mobile phones, if you don't have a video camera.

Alternatively, here's how to make a stop motion movie, which kids will also enjoy.

#81. Have A Toy Exchange

A great way to get rid of unused toys, have your friends or neighbours do a toy clearout and then gather to swap your old toys for something new.

#82. Tell Jokes

Tell some jokes you love. The classic "Knock Knock" jokes or perhaps "Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road"? Find out who is the wittiest in your house!

#83. Bake Cookies

There's nothing better than the smell of cookies wafting through the house! Set their little hands to work with one of these easy cookie recipes to follow or join in the fun too.

#84. Learn to Juggle

Juggling is a fun activity, albeit a challenge to learn. Juggling helps your hand/eye coordination, encourages brain growth and is also a great way to de-stress.

Bean bags are a better choice to start with for beginners as otherwise you will tire yourself out running around after tennis balls or other bouncy balls.

#85. Jigsaws

Jigsaws are a whole-family activity that can work well between differently-aged siblings.

Set each member of the family up with a puzzle to suit their skill level, all helping each other finish, or create teams to work on large puzzle together.

You can even make your own family-photo jigsaws using an enlarged photo printed onto plain paper from your computer.

#86. Have a Hula Hoop Contest

With your Hulas at the ready, get those hips moving and try to control your hoop longer than everyone else.

#87. Learn to Whistle

Whistling can seem a bit hard at first, but practice makes perfect. Once that mastered why not try whistling through a blade of grass. Not as easy as it sounds, place the flat grass leaf between your 2 thumbs and blow through, to make a most unusual sound.

#88. Measure Rainfall

Take a large jar, or cut the top off a large plastic water bottle, and put outside in the rain. At regular intervals or when the rain has stopped, measure the height of the rain that day or hour and make a chart of the rainfall over time.

#89. Press Flowers

Pick some flowers and place them either in a flower press or between 2 sheets of paper in the middle of a big book. Put some more heavy books on top of the book if using and leave for a few days.

#90. Build a Card House

Can you reach 4 or more levels of your card house? Check out this video showing a cool card house technique:

#91. Watch The Sun Rise

Set your alarm clock and wake your children in time to watch the sun rise. Then get out the paints later and have them paint the sunrise they saw.

#92. Decorate Shoes

Glam up your summer shoes by adding sequins, ribbons and buttons to them. Use craft glue and any items you have lying around at home. Or use beads and paint to upcycle your trainers.

#93. Play Football

Hold a family game of football in the garden or ask your neighbours to join in and choose teams. If stuck indoors have a family tournament using a smaller soft ball.

#94. Paint Your Faces

Take turns painting each other's faces. You can say what you want to be, as in a tiger or let your face painter surprise you. Take photos of the handiwork!

Or have each child ask questions about what they could be and let them guess what you have painted them as.

#95. Play Question Games

One person thinks of a thing or a person and the others have to guess what it is but are only allowed to ask questions that get a Yes or a No answer. The others must guess by the 20th question. First one to guess gets to pick the next item to be guessed.

Or write something on a piece of paper and each person sticks it on their head and has to ask questions to help them guess what they are.

#96. Sock Puppets

Gather up some of your old socks, and some items for eyes, mouths, and noses, to make some sock puppets.

If your kids can sew, they can add the decorating with needle and thread, but for younger kids use glue. You could create a puppet theatre in a cardboard box, and let the kids put on a puppet show for you - be sure to record it though.

#97. Hold a Blinking Contest

Stare at your opponent while trying not to blink. Whoever closed their eyes first loses.

#98. Exercise as a Family

Have the kids participate in your own boot camp. Ease them in to it by having them walk 2 laps of the garden. Next let them jog around. Throw in some jumping jacks, lunges, squats and leg lifts. Are they sweating yet? Try the What's Your Name Exercise Challenge! Or how about some hula hooping, frog jumping or skipping. Cool down afterwards.

#99. Play Charades

Charades can be played with any type of word or phrase, but with kids you may find that movie titles work best. Most kids are familiar with many simple movie titles such as Sleeping Beauty or The Lion King. And even the youngest can act out Pinocchio!

#100. Make Skittles

All you need is plastic bottles, filled with rice, and paints and a ball. Fill the bottles with rice, and tightly close/glue the lid back on. Next paint the bottles, with some funny faces and bodies,patterns and numbers etc. Grab a ball and all set to play.
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#101 Play Unfortunately / Fortunately

One person kicks off a story saying something like "One day a man was in the jungle. Unfortunately he met a lion". The next person has to be the Fortunately person, so e.g. "Fortunately the man was a lion tamer". And so on.

Have your say! Do you have any other suggestions for free things to do with kids? Leave a comment below and let us know - we'd love to hear from you!

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101 Free Things to Do with Kids That Will Cost Nothing but Time

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Are you looking for some free ways to entertain the kids? We take the hard work out of planning your free family time with 101 FREE things to do with kids that will cost nothing but time (and perhaps just a few store cupboard items!). Don't miss our best content straight to your inbox!

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This guide, co-written with Sustain member Shared Assets, shows how councils can take forward food growing in parks, using public assets to address local priorities. The guide shows councils not only the many benefits of using parks for food growing, but the different options for working with their…

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Tips for How to Stay Positive in Difficult Times

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Tips for How to Stay Positive in Difficult Times

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Find out some great ways to stay positive in difficult times. Our top tips will help you to stay positive after sad news or a challenging period. From mental resilience to mindfulness, learn more here.
If you want to learn how to stay positive, even when the pieces of the jigsaw of life don't seem to fit, this post is for you. We will cover how to stay positive in everyday situations, as well as discussing how to stay positive at work when disputes occur or if you don't land that promotion you deserved.

Reasons why we might feel down right now

2020 has been a difficult year for most people - there are more stressors about physical health, many people are suffering financial difficulty, and you may have found lockdown difficult to deal with. With so much going on in the world, and so many negative news stories, it's sometimes easy to forget that there are plenty of day to day difficulties that we faced even before COVID, wildfires, and political disruptions. All of these have a chance of impacting your mental health and resilience, which is why it's important to check in with your feelings and make sure that you're taking the time to build yourself up.

Latest statistics on mental health

The latest statistics from UK mental health charity, Mind, reveal that 25% of people in England experience a mental health problem at least once per year. Moreover, one in every six people experience a mental health issue every single week.

That is a huge number of people dealing with mental illnesses, which result from an agglomeration of situations and circumstances - and cannot be seen. If you are feeling down about something and dealing with anxiety, depression or just feeling a little sad, remind yourself that you are not the only person who feels like this, and unfortunately, it is quite common.

First, tell yourself it is okay to feel down

The first thing to do when you feel down is to acknowledge that not feeling okay is, in fact, completely okay. All of our feelings are temporary states that cannot be kept forever. We cannot be happy every minute of every day and that means sometimes we are going to feel unmotivated or sad.

The first step in staying positive when things don't feel right is to acknowledge that it is perfectly acceptable to feel down every now and then. It's a normal part of the emotional spectrum and, in fact, it's unhealthy to try to feel happy all the time. It's especially natural if you haven't seen your loved ones for a while and your usual routines and support systems are disrupted.

Building emotional resilience can help

Emotional intelligence is often defined as reacting well and strategically to bad experiences and stressful situations. When these instances occur, such as the death of a family member or not getting your dream job, our emotions may go into meltdown. But it's not just there for extreme circumstances - good resilience helps you deal with approaching deadlines at work and just those days where nothing seems to go right.

How to develop emotional resilience

So, the obvious question is how can you build emotional resilience? Here are some answers to a complex question:

Understand the 5 components of emotional resilience

Be aware of your feelings and your responses to different circumstances

Practice thinking and talking before acting

Gain an understanding of your negative responses which may undermine your positivity and resilience over time

Create a decision-making framework that helps you cope in difficult circumstances

Focus on solutions to problems and improve your mental flexibility

Practice good self-care to avoid feeling overwhelmed

Allow yourself to fail without treating it like a defining moment or characteristic

Other ways to stay positive

Emotional resilience is one of the important ways to stay positive. But there are lots of other things you can try and learn about to improve your mood:

Stay social (but make sure you have some you time)

If we are going through a rough period, you might want to lock yourself away and try to lick your wounds. That's perfectly fine, and you should give yourself some you-time to be alone. But it is best not to block out all your social interactions.

We have friends and family because they love us, support us, and help us when things are difficult. Even though you may want to be alone more than on other occasions, try to still meet up with those that care about you. If that's physically difficult, try to have catch ups over the phone or video calls.

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a word we hear a lot these days but many of us still don't really know what it is . That's a shame because it is useful for helping us to develop positive thinking, and it ties in with emotional resilience.

Mindfulness is a way of becoming more aware of yourself and your surroundings. You could consider it a way of clearing the picture of your life and daily experiences. The different techniques to achieve mindfulness are extensive, ranging from breathing exercises to yoga and much more. The aims are to make you present in the moment, rather than worrying about work, money, or other things which can sap your enjoyment and increase your stress levels over time.

Exercise more

is not just to lose weight or build strength. It is a way to make us feel good about ourselves, and it's proven by science. When we go for a run, a hike, or to the gym to work up a sweat, an array of chemicals are released, including endorphins and dopamine.

These chemicals are super powerful to the body because they make us feel happy, reduce our stress levels and get this - some chemicals that are released can even increase our physical pain threshold!

You don't even have to go hard when working out. Just some simple exercise that gets you a little sticky will do the trick. It' perfect for when you are dealing with a personal problem or a stressful situation in school or work.

Explore nature

The mental health charity, Mind, states that spending time in nature has been proven by researchers to help with anxiety and depression. This special way of making us feel more positive even has a name. It's called ecotherapy and involves getting into nature away from the big smoke - and often combining your leafier outing with some exercise.

If you want to try ecotherapy, you could:

Go hiking in a national park

Go camping with friends or family

Take a walk in your local city park

Visit some nearby villages away from the crowds

Visit the seaside, attend a zoo or go bird watching

Improve your nutrition

Some of the activities and exercises that will help you stay positive require you to be more active. And with that comes a need to fuel your body with enough energy to go hiking up mountains or on a jog with friends. Having better nutrition will help you to accomplish these things and feel good. But that's not the only reason to eat your fruit and veg and prepare colourful platefuls of food.

Scientists have discovered that nutritional foods change the way we think and our overall mood . By eating well, we are less prone to mood swings and behavioural imbalances. The connection between foods and mental health is starting to become a hot topic.

Listen to music

Music has been an ever-present part of human experiences since our ancestors walked the planet. So, it might come with no great surprise that music changes how we feel. In fact, multiple studies have identified a significant connection between listening to music with improved mood and better mental health.

But does that mean listening to happy and joyous music only? Not exactly. Whilst there is lots of evidence to make out a connection between upbeat music and a new positive energy, there is even evidence to suggest sad songs can make us happier too.

A study by the University of Durham found that music that is considered downbeat or sad actually made some people feel better. However, this did not work for everyone so if you are undecided what to listen to right now, maybe reach for a happier track over your Adele albums.

Accept and ask for help - and help others!

Some people avoid asking for help, whether that is a friend to vent with or professional help, just because they think it makes them look weak. With mental health awareness growing exponentially and the general population more sympathetic to mental health, there is no better time to seek help from others. There is nothing weak about asking someone for advice or support, quite the opposite. It shows strength that you are taking hold of your life and trying to move it in the right direction.

Another point on this topic is that offering to help others - who may or may not ask for help - is also a way to feel good. Studies have found that good deeds make you feel better and can help you deal with your own issues as well.

A special word on your digital diet

We believe a special word is needed on your digital diet , i.e. what content you are consuming on your laptop or smartphone each day - and how much of it. Research suggests many of us are spending the same amount of time online as a part-time job. And this isn't healthy.

But it isn't just the usual suspect of social media that can be making us feel down. Reading lots of news stories can do the same.

Most of the news is not good news and we get to hear about too many upsetting stories due to the ease of access and push messages from news apps. Those who follow terrorism news stories closely for long periods may even experience PTSD, which was proven when people kept following the 9/11 attack. Moreover, reading lots of negative news articles can even make us more susceptible to diseases.

So, is it time to set your digital mealtimes?

If you think you may be consuming too much online content and news stories, you can counter this with a digital diet that includes set "mealtimes" of when you can consume. Make it work for you. Maybe you will only consume within certain hours or take weekends away from the online world altogether?

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How to stay positive in difficult times | Tips and information - FutureLearn

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Find out some great ways to stay positive in difficult times. Our top tips will help you to stay positive after sad news or a challenging period. From mental resilience to mindfulness, learn more here. If you want to learn how to stay positive, even when the pieces of the jigsaw of life don't seem to fit, this post is for you.

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NHS - How To Reach Out if You're Struggling

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NHS - How To Reach Out if You're Struggling

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Find out how to access NHS mental health services and where to get urgent help.

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Foods and recipes | Love Food Hate Waste

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© WRAP 2022 Waste and Resources Action programme (which operates as WRAP) – is a registered UK Charity No. 1159512 and registered as a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales no. 4125764.

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With many of us currently feeling a financial pinch, saving money on our food shop can make a real difference. Read our dietitian's tips for shopping and cooking healthily for less.

1. Shop smart

Review prices online to find the best bargains. Using supermarket budget ranges for items such as tinned and fresh fruit and vegetables, pasta and rice is a real help too. Don't overlook greengrocers for cheaper fruit and veg.

2. Beware multi-buys

These offers aren't a great deal if you end up with a mountain of food that you can't eat before it goes off. Think before you go for a multiple offer such as 'two for one' or 'buy two get one free'.

3. Compare like with like

Compare prices per 100g to make sure you really are getting a deal - use the price tabs on the supermarket shelves to give you this information so you can compare across different size packs. Larger packs are often better value, but only if you are going to use it all.

4. Use seasonal fruit and veg

Prices come down when there is a glut of any kind of food and, when it comes to fruit and veg, an extra bonus is that produce tastes much better when it's in season.

5. Plan everything

Don't underestimate the humble shopping list, based on a meal plan for the week. This ensures you have everything you need and also helps you to avoid temptation in the supermarket.

6. Only cook one meal

Don't get into the habit of catering for a variety of likes and dislikes. Make one meal for everyone. It costs more to buy the different foods and cook separate dishes.

7. Freeze leftovers

Cooked too much? Leftover bread? Don't bin it, freeze it. Enjoy casseroles, soups and curries another day and use up bread as breadcrumbs, toast or chunky baked croutons in soup.

8. Add pulses to stretch out the meat

One of the most expensive items in your basket is meat, so learning to make a little stretch a long way is a good idea. Beans and lentils are vegetarian sources of protein and iron, but shouldn't be exclusive to non-meat eaters. By adding pulses to your dishes in place of some of the meat, you'll bulk them up and get plenty of protein, plus the flavour of meat, but it costs you less.

9. Fill your oven

If you're putting the oven on, don't just use it to cook a couple of jacket potatoes. Cook a casserole, like our chunky vegetable and bean goulash, to freeze for another day and bake some fruit to eat over the next couple of days.

10. Claim your benefits

Make sure that you are receiving any benefits that you are eligible for and, if you find yourself in an emergency situation, look for food banks in your local area and find out how you can access them.

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10 simple ways to eat well and save money

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With many of us currently feeling a financial pinch, saving money on our food shop can make a real difference. Read our dietitian's tips for shopping and cooking healthily for less. Review prices online to find the best bargains. Using supermarket budget ranges for items such as tinned and fresh fruit and vegetables, pasta and rice is a real help too.