tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17526569483486359092024-03-14T08:12:56.756+00:00Raising GingerA thrifty mum's thoughts on enjoying parenting
in cash-strapped times.Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-39954520383511748602011-08-23T20:43:00.001+01:002011-08-23T20:43:50.373+01:00Escaping the daily grindWe're just back from our hols - part family-fest (Zurich), part stay-cation (north Wales). <br /><br />Extraordinary things about visiting Switzerland: <br /><br />• the 20min cab ride from airport to brother-in-laws place cost over £90. I nearly wept.<br />• the hills are alive with the sound of... cowbells. Real ones, not just in the movies. Must drive the poor things mad but the kids loved it.<br />• we paid £20 for a plate of sausage (just the one) and chips. More weeping - you get the idea. Serves us right for eating in mountain-top cafe. Jaw-dropping views though.<br />• wonderful kid-in-a-candy-store moment courtesy of my sister-in-law. An invitation to rummage through crates and crates of beautiful hardly-worn girls clothes and help myself for Little Sis. She'd even suggested we bring an empty case to fill (no brainer). Thrifty Mum heaven!<br />• the freshest air and cleanest water imaginable.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/23/3000.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/23/s_3000.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Wonderful things about visiting Wales:<br /><br />• you can drive there and back for less than the cost of a 20min Swiss cab fare and they're practically giving away the pork&leek sausages (see above)<br />• reliving my childhood holidays through the eyes of our children (priceless)<br />• castles and <br />• my welsh rellies and their beautiful welsh language<br />• it only poured with rain on the day we were leaving<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/08/23/3001.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/08/23/s_3001.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Shame about having to return to the real world and the day job but without the daily grind we wouldn't appreciate the breaks would we...<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-51066460608055199842011-06-12T22:39:00.001+01:002011-06-12T22:39:03.837+01:00Affordable nursery decor and other titbitsThings I saw and liked today on a successful 'look but don't touch/spend' stroll through the Flower & Gardening Festival at Oxford Castle:<br /><br />Beads wrapped in vintage fabric and strung into necklaces and bracelets by <a target="_blank" href="www.anabellelou.etsy.com">Annabelle Lou Jewellery</a>.<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/12/4302.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/12/s_4302.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />Animal Alphabet wrapping paper by <a target="_blank" href="www.phoenixtrading.com">Phoenix Trading</a> which, for a quid, doubles as a barginous nursery poster. Ok, I admit to bending my no spending rule at this point. It matched Little Sis's bunting and charity shop wall hanging so well I couldn't resist.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/12/4303.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/12/s_4303.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Pygmy goats, ginger pigs and an <a target="_blank" href="www.omlet.co.uk">Eglu</a> full of ducklings. Aaaah.<br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/06/12/4304.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/06/12/s_4304.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Oh, and lots of beautiful garden plants. We are renting at the mo and I crave an outside space of our very own to work a little green magic on.<br /><br />Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Oxford&z=10'>Oxford</a></p>Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-26684927751753226562011-06-05T13:23:00.006+01:002011-06-05T20:45:22.140+01:00I grew up in a TV-just-once-a-week household and although I thought it pretty mean at the time I seem to be taking the same approach with our kids - for fear of turning their brains to blamange with hours and hours of the stuff. More on this neurosis of mine another time perhaps... I am aware there's a happy medium out there somewhere - let me know if you find it. <br /><br />Anyway, Ginger (now almost 5) is currently obsessed with all things Animal so his TV ration is currently used on endless David Attenborough. Hooray for DVD box sets: Blue Planet and Planet Earth are faves. I picked these up on eBay and they've been worth their weight in gold. Us growups were totally hooked on the beeb's latest epic - Human Planet. This proved too 'exciting' (scary) for Ginger but the accompanying kids series 'Little Human Planet' is great if frustratingly short (5 min episodes). Check it out on iPlayer before its too late or read more in this <a href="http://www.humanplanetblog.com/?p=1510">'Little Human Planet' blog posting</a> by series producer Dale Templar.<br /><br />Here are a few of our favourite web adventures on the animal theme:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjuq6nTqETfuIabcVfJAKrMQIlvv-kO_J3ZKdygavCeRn619ClA1K6amp0x_E1JZvQzXesAuOty__KrsvnstRZDf04p7tXSUXmWeaQGJ5Reg6JbRvgB_L48RcdyIEm8TD9cj4CqiYv_U/s1600/bembo-zoo.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjuq6nTqETfuIabcVfJAKrMQIlvv-kO_J3ZKdygavCeRn619ClA1K6amp0x_E1JZvQzXesAuOty__KrsvnstRZDf04p7tXSUXmWeaQGJ5Reg6JbRvgB_L48RcdyIEm8TD9cj4CqiYv_U/s320/bembo-zoo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614815240496416450" /></a><br /> <a href="http://www.bemboszoo.com">Bembo's zoo</a> has fabulous animal animations built from letters of the alphabet (above); google image or youtube searches for 'snow leapard' or whatever his heart desires; exploring slideshows and videos on <a href="http://www.arkive.org">ARKIVE</a> - 'the ultimate multimedia guide to the world's endangered animals' (amazing quality); another goodie is <a href="http://www.animal.dke-encyc.com">DK's online animal encyclopedia</a>; and for the <em>most </em>beautiful images check out the <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/temporary-exhibitions/wpy/onlineGallery.do">Wildlife Photographer of the Year online gallery</a>, or even better see the exhibition in person - it is currently touring the UK. Be warned, the talent in the kids section is enough to make you weep. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae6R7ncJULDJ_EZRj-2FMLghfMzy8WtAKcApvbWtjCzFLa0LpUPv0AbZlD0I5VAUoqM6anQDP2bKgTefxJG9UPJpbEV6Y2M9aO1tB-KULcNr-gL0zwvp-mqNrkJJ3K3flrRPwEyrg4GQ/s1600/Bence+Mate+Veolia+Envt+Wildlife+Photog+of+the+Yr.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgae6R7ncJULDJ_EZRj-2FMLghfMzy8WtAKcApvbWtjCzFLa0LpUPv0AbZlD0I5VAUoqM6anQDP2bKgTefxJG9UPJpbEV6Y2M9aO1tB-KULcNr-gL0zwvp-mqNrkJJ3K3flrRPwEyrg4GQ/s400/Bence+Mate+Veolia+Envt+Wildlife+Photog+of+the+Yr.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614823824971048930" /></a><br />You may not be surprised to hear that this latest phase includes a declaration from Ginger that he will be a wildlife photographer (complete with helicopter) when he grows up. Nice work if you can get it.<br /><br />Our latest battle of wills is whether we will take Ginger to Africa on safari (we will not!). He's quite keen to go (understatement) and currently thinks pester power and the 'please, please, purleeeease' approach will work the way I can sometimes be persuaded to allow an extra episode of Planet Earth. Oh dear...Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-35295896634806872502011-05-01T22:47:00.001+01:002011-05-01T22:47:32.229+01:00Bunting bonanzaCan a girl have too much bunting? I've tried, but have not yet found my limit. <br /><br />When we traded up our bursting-at-the-seams 1 bed London flat for this home counties house with 3 nano bedrooms my first urge was to decorate the kids' rooms (when Ginger slept in our London living room we weren't so keen on kiddy decor). Little Sis bore the brunt of my new found nest-feathering which - you guessed it - took the form of bunting. I have very little natural talent in the craft department but it turns out any fool can bunt(?):<br /><br />1) Take one pair of crimping scissors, a triangular paper template, several metres of ribbon and a collection of rags from your local charity store (chosen for their patterns and complimentary colours, not wearability). <br />2) Trace triangles onto fabric with a soft pencil and cut out. <br />3) Repeat until you can stand it no more.<br />4) Attach to ribbon<br />5) (optional, for extra Proud Mummy Points) Iron your bunting<br />6) Drape artfully across child's bedroom, but be prepared for them not to notice the transformation (now consider blogging about it to ensure someone appreciates your efforts)<br /><br />Great fun. And fairly thrifty... It turns out eBay is rife with home business bunting makers who don't charge much more than I spent on materials but money can't buy that 'I made this myself' feeling and rooting round selvedge bins for great fabric was dangerously addictive.<br /><br />And now Britain's gone bunting mad for the Royal Wedding and the early whiff of summer. We spent Will&Kate's big day at a friend's garden party complete with flags, union jack jelly and life size cardboard cutouts of the happy couple. Best of Blighty heaven. <br /><br />To top it all I came across world-record quantities of bunting bedecking the Royal Festival Hall today, plus cute-as-you-like beach huts/ artists' studios along the South Bank waterfront. I think it might be summer :)<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/show_photo.php?p=11/05/01/2774.jpg'><img src='http://photo.blogpressapp.com/photos/11/05/01/s_2774.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-59842086098384359062011-04-14T10:08:00.004+01:002011-04-14T10:54:57.313+01:00Baby steps<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAp4z_8hyphenhyphenab5buiYKRunWZ3-zyz8WE02vNW2Rhptf7DBIROfyk4Ms0JJ8WzqvUZFXXjGnBlFaj1wOw1qDA_5NQIyzwruGlJgG8w5lv5EE0fqTI1D5Xs0NQPftrFdTdV9LuKOxH0kgJLU/s1600/isla+shoes.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAp4z_8hyphenhyphenab5buiYKRunWZ3-zyz8WE02vNW2Rhptf7DBIROfyk4Ms0JJ8WzqvUZFXXjGnBlFaj1wOw1qDA_5NQIyzwruGlJgG8w5lv5EE0fqTI1D5Xs0NQPftrFdTdV9LuKOxH0kgJLU/s320/isla+shoes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595370587676131026" /></a>Little sis has reached a first-stumbly-steps milestone (gait ranging from John Wayne to Zombie) and I have enjoyed the excuse to hit the shops. Although spending proper money in proper shops is often out of my comfort zone (when you know you could pay a smidgen of the price in a charity shop/ at a jumble sale/on ebay) children's shoes fall into a different category. Some kind of deep seated fear that I will damage her feet forever if they are not encased in Properly Fitted new shoes from a sensible source... <br /><br />Thank goodness for Clarks Outlet stores. Ginger's feet have been clad, since he hit Zombie stage, in shoes from their Seven Sisters Rd store in London. Now we've gone all home counties <a href="http://www.bicestervillage.com/en/home/home">Bicester Village</a> is the nearest - dangerous since 'outlet shopping' at least implies money saving but the brands here are mainly pretty high end and their slashed priced goods are still beyond reach. Anyway, Clarks is Clarks... complete with sensible shoe fitters and fairly sensible prices (especially with the 25%+ discounts). Little Sis is now proudly stomping around in her First Proper Shoes :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUEJ2Z24ZS1ej5nhuqTpSxlcKmFvJe4wlgOFN2QdouU9kpMS0cVpJVDXg4-3E6_HBmaYvBP-3fPZE4jxsAgUZwDY3_2dWQESm9wlPLY2-utujYx-TPQ3yD1SL-hkTJlp0QbPeJvCmrJU/s1600/Ruby%252520Red-250x250.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLUEJ2Z24ZS1ej5nhuqTpSxlcKmFvJe4wlgOFN2QdouU9kpMS0cVpJVDXg4-3E6_HBmaYvBP-3fPZE4jxsAgUZwDY3_2dWQESm9wlPLY2-utujYx-TPQ3yD1SL-hkTJlp0QbPeJvCmrJU/s320/Ruby%252520Red-250x250.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595372306653711442" /></a><br />Before these we had quite a collection of beautiful baby girl shoes we'd been given, the vast majority of which would not stay on. What <em>is </em>the point? The only variety that reliably do are those soft leather ones with elasticated ankles. The big brands like Bobux cost almost £20 a pair but I discovered a wonderful company called <a href="http://www.mytwinkletoeshoes.co.uk">Twinkle Toes Shoes </a>who sell similar for £3.99. I love Ruby Red, but Spotty Dotty are great for matching pretty much anything.Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-44093856022008384052011-03-02T12:05:00.001+00:002011-03-02T12:05:57.226+00:00A new era and a baby sisterIs March too late for a New Year's resolution? Let's see... A new baby, a new toy (iPhone) and a renewed enthusiasm for sharing thrifty thoughts, but less time than ever. This will be an experiment in (much) shorter but (much) more frequent footnotes on Raising Ginger - and now his little sister - on a shoe string budget, brought to you with the help of my little mobile friend.<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Oxford&z=10'>Oxford</a></p>Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-5318290613160507222009-02-10T21:17:00.006+00:002009-02-10T22:46:52.855+00:00Book swapsMy recent library posting got me in a very bookish frame of mind... so I've embarked on an experiment I've been meaning to try for a while: book swapping. I've plucked a name from the google soup and signed up to <a href="http://www.readitswapit.com/">ReaditSwapit.com</a> but there are many many options out there. Groups of wannabe swappers range from local to international networks, some meeting in person to discuss and handover their wares, others setting up swaps electronically and leaving the rest to the postman. I've gone for the appealingly anonymous and less time consuming online option. The Guardian compiled a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/ethicallivingblog/2008/may/01/getgreenwithabookswapsch?commentpage=1">list of bookswap sites </a>last year and received some interesting feedback from both fans and phobes.<br /><br />The books in my life that I couldn't bear to part with were safely boxed up in our cellar three years ago, to make way for Ginger's invasion of our home - Eric Carle and Mr Bump now jostle for space where Jeffrey Eugenides, Vikram Seth and Louis De Bernieres once announced <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-that-make-a-lasting-impression/lm/R2AM7GFZQPSS9S/ref=cm_lm_pdp_title_full/275-5785438-2875566">my literary leanings</a>. My modest collection of grown up books acquired (rather than borrowed) since then have now been split into Keep and Swap piles and the Swaps offered up to all at ReaditSwapit. The best bit is compiling a Wishlist of books you'd like to trade for, then using the search function to request swaps with users who have one of these on offer.<br /><br />I'm a convert! I've recovered from the knockbacks my rash of initial swap requests generated and learned to check out people's profiles and reading tastes before suggesting a trade. By having some bestsellers on my list I've even had people competing for my books, leaving me in the great position of perusing all of their book lists to see who I'd rather swap with. If nothing takes your fancy you can always say no thanks and hang on until a better offer comes along. I've only been a member for a fortnight but already I've bagged myself four books I can't wait to read - each for the price of posting a paperback - and there is something <em>so</em> nice about receiving parcels through the good old snail mail. If you have a ReaditSwapit account or feel inspired to sign up, check out <a href="http://www.readitswapit.co.uk/UserProfile.aspx?UserID=39651">my ReaditSwapit Profile </a>and perhaps we can do thrify business :)<br /><br />So far I've seen little online action on the <em>children</em>'s book swap front, but here's <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2135287/">an inspiring tale </a>from Slate.com... This thrifty mum (or 'Spartan Mom' in this case) has replaced the dreaded gift and goody-bag culture at her son's birthday parties with a book swap scheme. We haven't yet reached the stage where we're expected to invite <em>all</em> of Ginger's classmates over on his birthday - and presumably reciprocate, bearing gifts, for each of these 25 close friends - but I'm warned it can't be put off forever. Since we had to buy a cupboard taller than me to house the trappings of his 2nd birthday this scheme sounds very appealing. Now we just have to convert each of those classmates' parents to our frugle, oh-so-practical ways...Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-46447377642270113292009-01-24T21:53:00.009+00:002009-01-27T22:34:35.322+00:00Root Ginger : a study of red hairSince this blog is all about raising Ginger – our flame-haired son – I can’t resist highlighting what looks like a stunning photography exhibition, due to open in London on 17 Feb 2009 at the <a href="http://www.ideageneration.co.uk/generationgallery.php">Idea Generation Gallery</a>. <strong>Root Ginger: a study of red hair</strong> is a collection of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2009/jan/24/ginger-redhead-exhibition-pictures?picture=342248913">photographs of redheads</a> accompanied by a book and film that delve into the life experiences of red clan members. Photographer and writer <a href="http://www.jennywicksphotography.co.uk/">Jenny Wicks </a>also explores the genetic lottery that decides our most visible, yet superficial traits - like hair colour - and our hidden depths, like whether we inherit life-shortening health conditions like Cystic Fibrosis.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296099752657578530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUDaIzyiGfSaCRY_KPYyIw8d7-KfnsmwGLTmWtkQPQaFK752Y8evPeWWkHfnIhOVWP8oIH2CekoEE2Axbr2GE2zF8RphaaEB2vCCiX8OQTVdSdBbLjY4gKZJ417bpAjFZilAQQCT8xd0/s320/Root-Ginger-Exhibition.bmp" border="0" /><br />As an ex-scientist I wasn't astonished that I (mousy haired with some bottle blonde for good measure) and my equally mousey husband produced a red haired baby, but Not-naturally-thrifty Husband has certainly found it a) surprising, b) counterintuitive and c) the cause of endless 'so, who's the father?' wisecracks. There's a great, accessible explanation in Glenn Murphy's book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Loud-Can-You-Burp/dp/0330454099/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1233094768&sr=1-2">'Why do fart's smell?'</a>, if you can bear to buy or even borrow a book of this title!<br /><p>The exhibition has triggered some interesting comment in the Guardian - <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/24/gingerism-ginger-prejudice">'is Gingerism the last acceptable prejudice?'</a> and an <a href="http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/spooners/susie-680/root-ginger-751/">interview with Jenny Wicks</a> on Spoonfed. In my wanderings around this subject I have also discovered a blog dedicated entirely to <a href="http://gingerism.com/">Gingerism</a>. I haven't delved too deep - perhaps I don't want to hear the horrors of prejudice life could hold in store for my Ginger boy. I'd rather hold on to the reassuring words of his splendidly ginger uncle, who reports having suffered no more than the next slightly shy school boy.</p>Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-69308095607429411622009-01-08T19:57:00.007+00:002009-01-27T21:39:24.984+00:00Learning to love my libraryBelow street level at the foot of a windswept 60's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">tower block</span> lurks our local library. Despite my thrifty nature I have to admit I'd deliberately given it a wide berth until I was pregnant - <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">preferring</span> the guilty pleasure of splurging on 3-for-2 offers at the big chain book stores.<br /><br />Why the change of heart? Indecision. My natural response to any new challenge in life is to research, research, research. I always start online but <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ultimately</span> I need reference tomes on my bookshelves. Which ones would see me through this baby-rearing business? Would I be a regimented routine <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Contented-Little-Baby-Book/dp/0091912695/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232487822&sr=1-1">Gina Ford</a>-style mother or a go-with-the-flow <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Top-Tips-Baby-Whisperer-Communicate/dp/0091917441/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232487971&sr=1-3">Baby Whisperer</a>? Rather than buy up the entire baby section at Borders I finally crossed my library threshold and came home with the full spectrum of options to browse.<br /><br />As I've said in an earlier post, the winner for us was <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-Secrets-Know-Babys-Needs/dp/071814709X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1232488445&sr=8-1">Baby Secrets</a>, which I now thrust upon any new mum-to-be who shows half an interest. Here are a selection of other <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Books-filled-with-common-sense-about-bringing-up-babies/lm/RQG9Z4UG3N6GB/ref=cm_lm_byauthor_title_full">great baby-raising books </a>we discovered at the library and have since invested in.<br /><br />As I swelled into a waddling whale, the once shunned library became an essential <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">pit stop</span> when running (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ok</span></span>, trudging) local errands. And once I'd exhausted the shelves of new clues to what parenthood held in store, I discovered a nice line in <a href="http://www.practicalparenting.co.uk/">parenting magazines </a>to leaf through - full of yet more money saving tips and fairly terrifying labour stories.<br /><br />Fast forward another few months and my life with tiny baby Ginger involved seemingly endless hours of breastfeeding. None of the guidebooks prepared me for just how much it dominated our days (and nights). In low moments I felt my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">existence</span> was reduced to that of giant milking machine, but the breakthrough came when I learned to balance a book on the guzzling Ginger and enjoy endless novels through all those hours on the sofa. I've never read so much in all my life!<br /><br />I'm building my own collection of <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/richpub/listmania/byauthor/A3QUCSYWWZTVLJ/ref=cm_lm_pthnk_athr?ie=UTF8&lm%5Fbb=">Thrifty Mum book tips </a>on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Listmania</span></span> - watch this space for new additions.<br /><br />I'll end this library love-in with a tip from my good friend Legal Mum. She scours the weekend papers for new book reviews to whet her <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">appetite</span> then, rather than fork out she goes online and requests her library order a copy in for her. Not a bad way to keep up with the latest releases without spending a penny...<br /><br />And - hot off the press - here's the Guardian's list of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/jan/23/bestbooks-fiction">1000 novels everyone must read</a>, which should keep me going for a while.Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-65352295822094267322008-12-13T20:16:00.010+00:002008-12-13T22:41:50.461+00:00Pregnant shoppingShopping and hormones. Potentially a very messy combination with the capacity to leave unexplained chasms in your current account. When I was pregnant with Ginger (referred to as Spud back then) two books saved us a fortune, and later on, our sanity: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Which-Guide-Products-Consumer-Guides/dp/0852029896">The "Which?" Guide to Baby Products</a> (does what it says on the tin) and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-Secrets-Know-Babys-Needs/dp/071814709X">Baby Secrets: How to know your baby's needs</a> (an all-round life-saver for clueless first-timers like us, including a super-sensible <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/071814709X/ref=sib_dp_pt/276-7411761-2697204#reader-page">shopping section</a>).<br /><br />As we prepared our home to welcome Spud we were seriously skint - Not-naturally-thrifty Husband had just quit his job to focus on exam <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">revision</span> (or was he just chasing the dream - a student lifestyle complete with lie-ins, daytime TV and happy hours?!). We needed all the help we could get in sorting the fluff from the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">essential</span> kit.<br /><br />So when I wasn't addressing my comedy pregnancy symptoms (eyebrow dandruff - was that just me?) I calmed my financial nerves with a spot of list making (Beg, Borrow or - last resort - Buy).<br /><br />Top tactics included:<br /><br /><ul><li><strong>Save the big buys for sale time.</strong> Once you're over the denial you've probably got 4-5 months of shopping time left and with any luck, at least one sale season. Friends who were parenting pros recommended a pushchair where your tiny baby could lie and face you as you walked. We made the investment in a <a href="http://www.mamasandpapas.co.uk/">Mama's & Papa's</a> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Pliko</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pramette</span> then got lucky with a donation from friends of a compatible car seat. M&P's is not a natural match for thrifty parents (I wanted to get a 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">nd</span> hand one on eBay but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">NNT</span> Husband couldn't cope with the concept of 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nd</span> hand baby sick - he's over that now!) but we loved this pram so much and it lasted until Ginger's 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">nd</span> birthday. You'd be amazed how many people spend £100's on some high spec baby <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">chariot</span> only to abandon it for a more practical runaround after 6 months...</li><li><strong>Borrow anything you can</strong>. It may be a little late for you to consider this strategy but I highly recommend delaying your child-rearing until at least two or three of your close friends have been there first. Thanks to my great friends Corporate Mum, Army Mum and Escaped-to-the-country Mum I acquired a selection of maternity clothes on loan that put my regular wardrobe to shame. And with any luck there will be several Moses baskets on offer, to save you shelling out on something your baby may only sleep in for 6 short weeks.</li><li><strong>Stock up at the Supermarket</strong>. You'll be inundated with cute little outfits for your newborn so let your friends and family do the fun but pricey baby clothes shopping and stockpile basic <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">babygrows</span> instead (we could get through 6 a day in the earliest/ messiest days). The likes of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Tesco</span> and Co-op did packs that came in significantly cheaper than the basic ranges at more obvious sources like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Mothercare</span> and John Lewis. And if you're lucky your baby's bottom will be a good match for the supermarket own-brand nappies. Buy just a few packs in advance from your most convenient supermarket and see if they suit - you'll save a fortune if they do.</li><li><strong>Spend a little on yourself</strong>. By the time I'd survived the free antenatal classes at our local hospital (how <em>can</em> it be helpful to pass around a pillowcase packed with ominous medical instruments and guess how they might be used on you during labour?) I was dangerously well informed about the joys of childbirth. The antidote turned out to be a course of Pregnancy Yoga classes at the rather right-on <a href="http://www.activebirthcentre.com/index.html">Active Birth Centre</a>. By this stage I needed to hear that my body was built for this and to learn how to roar through the pain (sorry, work <em>with</em> the pain). The mental preparation saved me from a threatened <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Cesarean</span> at the end of a 36 hour labour, and the bit at the end of each class, where we snoozed under blankets and then compared symptoms and plans over herbal tea and biscuits, was just bliss.</li><li><strong>Buy regular furniture for your baby's room</strong>. They see you coming a mile off if you're shopping for 'nursery furniture'. Of course you need a cot, but a 'changing table' and matching wardrobe will cost you a fortune whilst a simple chest of drawers of the right height (we use the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/categories/series/07468/">4-drawer Malm from IKEA</a>) can store endless baby clothes and bedding, then fits a changing mat on top to work perfectly for nappy changes. Did I mention we are raising Ginger in a one bedroom flat? He sleeps in our living room, so not filling it with too much obvious baby clutter has added appeal!</li><li><strong>Smaller things that <em>were</em> worth spending on...</strong> A <a href="http://www.mothercare.com/Mothercare-Fabric-bath-support/dp/B001CFP4F8">towling bath support </a>to lay tiny babies in the bath (giving nervous novices at least one free hand to wash their baby with); a <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/BabyDan-2045-2400-75-Babydan-nursing-pillow/dp/B000NUWGKY/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=baby&qid=1229207436&sr=1-9">boomerang shaped pillow</a> (for bump-support during those uncomfortable nights, breast feeding and propping up babies); a <a href="http://www.babysleepshop.com/acatalog/Slumber_Bear.html">'Slumber Bear'</a> (don't ask! Actually a motion- and sound-activated 'settler' that plays soothing sounds from the womb to lull a newborn baby back to sleep).</li></ul><p>I'll stop now. There is no fool-proof baby product shopping list - your own thrifty solution to preparing for a new arrival will be uniquely matched to your circumstances... After all, one woman's brilliant bed-side bottle warmer is another mum's waste of space, but comparing notes with fellow travelers can only help.</p>Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1752656948348635909.post-29288693650501833772008-11-28T19:42:00.006+00:002008-12-13T20:16:04.692+00:00We've been training hard for thisMass redundancies, crunching credit and a housing market that's grinding to a halt. Tough times for us all - especially if you're trying to raise a family. The free papers I snatch when I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">occasionally</span> brave the tube (not for the faint hearted, with Ginger plus pushchair), office and playground chat alike tell me all are tightening their belts.<br /><br />But although we fear a direct hit, we three - let's call us Ginger, Thrifty Mum and Not-naturally-thrifty Dad - seem to have been in training for this era of shoe-string parenting for three hard years already. Ever since the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">NNT</span> Dad (then a student) and I (on a modest museum salary) watched a little blue line appear on a pregnancy test back in late 2005.<br /><br />It <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wasn't</span> fashionable to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">frugal</span> back then but we've acquired all sorts of tricks to keep up appearances, enjoy this extraordinary thing called family life and spoil our son without breaking the bank. Sometimes the desire to splash out on shiny new mini-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Boden</span> kit, not to mention a sleep- and luxury-filled spa break has been almost unbearable. But we usually resist and overall we've had a ball.<br /><br />I thought I'd use this blog to collect some of my money-saving thoughts together and hopefully share ideas with other thrifty parents. I know you're out there, and joining in this conversation won't cost you a penny!Thrifty Mumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10483680521354704796noreply@blogger.com0