Curb The Cost of Parenting: 6 Ways To Stretch Your Funds Further

Brought to you by Bank Of Ireland.  Being a parent is SO expensive. From finding the safest buggy on the market to installing the best car seats (in two cars!) the expense is never-ending, but there are a few ways you can ensure you always have a little money left over to save for a rainy day. With a bit of clever thinking, you can make your money stretch much further. Try these tips and not only will you find yourself with extra funds at month-end, you may even find yourself fitter, happier and more zen to boot. 1. Be Realistic If you're not using that gym membership three or four times a week, cancel it and walk the dog instead. Takeaway coffees at €3 a pop? That's almost €90 per month - enough to make a handy dent in that college fund! 2. Stop wasting food Go through everything in your store cupboard (pastas, rice, flours, tinned fruit and vegetables) and make a list of meals you could make using those ingredients and some fresh produce. Shopping for the extra produce only will reduce your grocery bill significantly. You can also make your food go further, for instance: adding a punnet of chopped mushrooms to a 400g carton of lean minced beef can almost double its volume, without losing any flavour - ideal in a lasagne, saving more than €3 per meal. Plus it's healthier! 3. Freeze Out the Ice Cream Man Is the nightly ice-cream van visit the bane of your life? You could tell them the music means the ice cream man is sold out of ice cream (LOL). Alternatively, whip up some tasty treats to have on hand in your very own freezer. There are healthy recipes everyone will love, baby options ideal for teething tots, and even some delicious options for adults! Pop the resulting leftover loose change in a piggy bank to deposit in a savings account every few weeks. 4. Game On Tired of forking out €20 for a trip to a play centre every weekend? Find some like-minded friends and neighbours, choose an open space and host a mass water fight or a giant old-fashioned game of rounders or dodge ball. Get the grown-ups involved too - by the time the kids are worn out, you'll have burned enough calories to truly enjoy that evening glass of vino! 5. Hit the Sofa Trade a family night out at the cinema for a pizza party at home. Load up the oven with frozen pizza, pop some popcorn and cosy up together on the couch for a family classic (think about it: have your kids seen Home Alone, The Goonies or the original Annie?). Doing this could save you €60 per month - over 18 years in a youth saver account, that adds up to more than €13,000! 6. Plan a Picnic Meeting mates is a sanity lifeline when you have small kids or you're on maternity leave, but all those coffee and lunch dates add up. Make a date in a local park instead, with each mum bringing coffee (a big flask is best), sandwiches or sweet treats on different days. Everyone gets some sunshine and fresh air while saving some serious cash.     Bank of Ireland is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.