Children are very expensive, especially if you work.
The government has increased the financial help it gives towards child care costs so that the parents of two-year-olds can now get a contribution towards the costs. But this is still likely to be a lot less than is needed.
The official line is that two-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours free child care a week if the parents each earn less than £100,001 a year. But when school holidays are taken into account the free care is equivalent to one 10-hour day a week and extra costs for food and nappies are also likely to be added. And that is if you can find a child care place.
Budgets for babies are undoubtedly stretched making it vital that parents get every bit of help they can to cover the costs of children.

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Loyalty is the latest tool that supermarkets use to lure us into their stores. Big signs and advertisements suggest we can save lots of money but in reality you need to take a calculator, check prices carefully on grocery websites and allow extra time if you are not going to be ripped off.
Loyalty cards offer cheaper prices to customers who have them. But this loyalty is fickle and the offers seem to change at whim. And often there is not enough information for us to compare prices and work out which is the best value.
Shrinkflation where the contents of packs are reduced but the price is not, add to the confusion.
The stores are constantly changing their scheme rules and the timing of their offers so we have to be alert. For many it is simpler and cheaper to use discount stores and the economy ranges.
We do not have to be loyal to one group. Remember the big chains are making bigger profits this year from our loyalty.

"From Passion to Purpose" is a podcast that explores the world of nonprofit...

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Please send ideas questions, tips and warnings about rip-offs to Mrs Mean through the contact page on her website: mrsmeanmoneyshow.co.uk or to infomrsmean@gmail.com