Budgeting the Boring Stuff – Cutting Household Bills

Let’s be real – it’s not the fun side of parenting, but bills don’t stop coming just because you’re skint. Feeding the kids, clothing them, keeping them warm… it all adds up, and if you’re not careful half your wage disappears before you’ve even had a chance to moan about it.

I’ve learnt a few tricks over the years (mainly from necessity, not choice) to keep the household bills from swallowing me whole. Here’s what works in our house – five kids, one mom, and bills that don’t stop.

Energy Bills – stop them eating you alive

• Switch it off at the plug. I promise, standby is the silent killer of your bank account.

• Layers, blankets, dressing gowns – they’re cheaper than turning the heating on.

• Slow cooker over oven. Cheaper, easier, and the dinner doesn’t burn while you’re refereeing the kids’ arguments.

Water Bills – it’s literally money down the drain

• Showers instead of baths (unless it’s a bath bomb treat or I need to contain a certain toddler).

• Reuse water where you can – the dehumidifier water goes in my mop bucket.

• And the biggest battle of all: teaching kids not to leave the tap running while brushing their teeth. Mine still don’t listen.

Internet & Subscriptions – sneaky ones

• Check those direct debits. I found out I was still paying for a kids’ app no one had opened in two years.

• Ring your provider and haggle. I hate it, but it works. Half the time, they’ll knock money off just because you threatened to switch.

• Share accounts – one family plan for Netflix is cheaper than everyone having their own.

Food & Shopping – part of the bills whether we like it or not

• Meal plan from the freezer first. Half the time, I’ve already got three dinners waiting, but I’ve forgotten.

• Yellow sticker bargains are life. Late night supermarket runs pay off.

• Don’t get sucked in by “deals”. Two for £5 sounds good until you realise you only needed one.

Final Thought

Cutting bills isn’t glamorous. Nobody’s bragging about using mop water twice or sitting under a blanket instead of putting the heating on. But these small things add up, and they mean I can say yes to an ice cream at the park or a cheap day out with the kids. That’s what matters.