Money Saving Tips

Seems simple enough, but it's common to find two different insurers charging very different prices for the same or very similar products. Car insurance in particular can be sensitive to how many years you have been driving - a new driver may be better off with one company, and a very experienced driver may be better off with another.

Seen the price of petrol these days? And it's always going up. While you can't cut out the car completely, there's a lot of ways to save on petrol bills.

• Walk with the kids to school or kindergarten. Not only will you save money, but you'll get fitter as well.
  

While it may not be practical for everyone, downsizing to the smallest car that is practical for your family will help immensely. If you are already looking to buy a new car, there are some things you need to keep in mind.

Or if you must buy designer clothes, get them at a discount outlet.

Children's clothing in particular can be very expensive and kids don't stay in them for long. Unless you are living in a really upmarket area, children won't know what brand clothing they are wearing (and if you are in a really upmarket area you probably won't be needing budgeting tips like this one).

Phone plans change all the time. If you've had the same phone plan for a while, whether it is a home or mobile phone, you might find you're on a deal that doesn't suit your spending habits.

Out of all the things my daughter eats, the most expensive one would have to be her morning snack or afternoon snack. This one is easy to replace with:

• An apple. Although kids won't like it, it works

• A slice of home-made cake or a home-made muffin. Problem with this? Some schools won't allow cake, even if you choose a relatively healthy recipe.