Deals of the Week!

Deals & TipsSaving Money
Written By The Budgeting Mum

If you're anything like me and are obsessed with a bargain you’re in the right place. But I know that searching out the best deals can take a lot of time, something we don’t always have. The good news is that I will hunt out the bargains that will save you money every single week so you don’t have to!

I only recommend products and businesses I use or would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. Some links in this blog are affiliate links or sponsored by the companies I use and recommend. This means I may earn a small commission but at no extra cost to you.

I always think the pressure builds up so much around money and gifting when it comes to Christmas so I’ve put together a little list of the ways you can get a bit of extra cash before the big day. 

GIVEAWAY! Comment on the bottom of this blog your favourite way to save for the big day and email me at beth@budgetingmum.co.uk when you have to be in with a chance of winning a £100 Boots voucher!

We LOVE The Traitors and with the final out this week I ordered these crackers for Christmas! I’ll let you know what they are like when they arrive - eek!

I popped into Tesco recently and saw they have 25% off ALL the Christmas jumpers and knitwear!

I’m definitely going to pop back to grab a Christmas jumper as the designs are so nice this year!

If you've seen my Instagram this week you’ll know I've been chatting about my hair. After after years of fighting it because it's not straight or curly, I can't tell you how happy I am to embrace the fact that it’s wavy! I’ve been using Merwave products which are for wavy hair - which is why its worked for me as mine as the products are more lightweight. I’m 100% converted and you can get 40% off here.

I also use this diffuser which seems to help. But who knows if I’m doing it right!

We’ve got this digital photo frame up in our house and I honestly think it’s such a good gift for parents or grandparents! You just download the app and upload the pictures you want it to flick through and thats it! I got it for a bit cheaper than it is currently so maybe keep an eye on this one for Black Friday!

Last year I got the kids Lego advent calendars and they were so expensive for what you actually got inside. This year I went to the Works and got their 12 books for £10 Black Friday deal, which worked out to be just 83p a book! I went for a mix of Christmas books and stories they can enjoy all year round and wrapped them all up with advent stickers so the kids can open one each day in December! Head to your local Works as it’s in-store only!

If you know me you’ll know my family are OBSESSED with Lego and i’ve seen that Argos currently have 2 for £20 on selected lego sets and a lot of the sets included in the deal are £20 on their own! So I’ve gone online and ordered a couple for the kids for Christmas because they are such a bargain… and you can get Nectar points on the purchase too!

We’ve brought loads of games with us on holiday so I thought I’d put a list together ahead of Christmas as they’d be great for gifting or for playing with the family. One of our faves are these Murder Mystery envelopes! These are a great evening entertainment, take about 3 or 4 hours to finish, highly recommend!

  • We needed to move up our phonics book so I ordered these ones as there’s multiple stories in one. Don’t forget you can get ‘nearly new’ on Amazon for a fraction of the price.

  • If you follow me on IG you’ll have seen im going on a wavy hair journey! I’ve been using the Merwave products. Hang fire on ordering though as I’m due to get a discount code VERY soon! 

  • I also got this universal diffuser to add onto my hairdryer to make drying my curls easier.

  • All my make up ran out at the same time (why does that happen?) so I had to restock that. I don’t wear much but these are my favourite products.

  • My daughter has really thin hair so doing a bun can be tricky but these accessories make it really helpful!

My video has caused quite a sitr on the internet when I said I didn’t do Christmas Eve boxes!

For me, December boxes full of crafts are a reminder to me to STAY HOME in December. It can be easy to get swept away with booking activities left right and centre, but a box of christmas crafts is just as special. 

Some bargains here for Christmas crafts and cheap books too.

I get lots of questions about which Yoto cards are best for education so I’ve put a list together here. I’m keeping an eye out for the sales for these, hoping for a good Black Friday deal for you all.

My discount code is still live CC-BUDGETING10 if you’re ordering anything beforehand.

We’ve also just got these Brain Bots inventor cards, and we’ve been learning about who invented the toilet, braille and windscreen wipers!

I love getting a personalised photo book for Grandparents, and you can save 40% off photo books here with code HW1025

How cute is this mini 1.5ft pre-lit Christmas tree from M&S?! It’s only £8! The snowy version is £10 too - such a steal for M&S. And if you want something a bit bigger while keeping to a budget, the 3ft pre-lit one for £16 looks so good for the price.

I’m loving these Elsie Silver books right now and I think they’d make a great Christmas present for anyone that wants a little cowboy escape! Plus they are only £3 each! Shop the series below:

Bonfire Night is one of my favourite evenings during autumn, but between event tickets, food, and fireworks, it can easily burn through your budget (pun intended!). The good news is you don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy a magical night. There are plenty of budget-friendly ways to make the 5th of November special, whether you’re heading out or staying home and I’ve rounded them up here.

Thinking about getting a Yoto for the kids this Christmas but not sure if it’s worth it? Check out this honest review - it covers everything!
And I swear all I’ve heard lately is K-Pop Demon Hunters, so FYI, Yoto has just dropped a brand new card!

Something that really gets to me is seeing people raid the Aldi wooden toy sale just to resell them on Vinted for triple the price.
Let’s not forget that the whole appeal of the Aldi toy event is that it’s affordable!

There’s no sense in paying over the odds for something meant to be budget-friendly. The good news? I’ve found an amazing alternative you’re going to love here.

These Regatta kids’ dry robes are an absolute steal right now! They’re 50% off in the sale, and you can take an extra 12% off with code AFVCUK12.

Prezzo have just launched Free From Wednesdays - all gluten-free starters, mains, and desserts are 2 for 1! Such a win if you’re eating gluten free.

This No7 gift set is finally back in stock — and you can grab £32 worth of products for just £10 when you use a referral code!
Here are a few shared by my lovely followers:

✨ KATE-R1DV
✨ TRACEY-R1N1
✨ EMMA-R3NK

Check out their other gift sets as they are such good bargains for what’s inside!

A great budget-friendly gift idea for kids is to make a big batch of handmade Play-Doh and bulk buy little cutters and stamps that you can split from a pack. This gives you at least eight mini Christmas gifts. You can often get little jars and cookie cutters in charity shops too so keep an eye out for bits and bobs over the next few weeks.

Watch my video to follow along here.

Sometimes we forget that it’s the simple but thoughtful gifts that mean the most, so here’s how to create a lovely gift for under £4. First get these photo strips from Snapfish - which worked out at 99p each.

They are perfect to use as a bookmark. Then I grabbed a book from the charity shop for 50p. Finally I added some chocolates for £1.50 and tied it all together. This lovely gift that came to £3.48!

You all loved last week’s leggings, bag and jeans combo so here’s a few more winter bargains to grab! I paired these cream and brown long sleeved tops from Next with the jeans from last week’s deals. I got them both in a size 16.

I always liked the idea of getting involved with Christmas pyjamas, but the prices are just wild, so stopped buying expensive Christmas pyjamas that the kids will have grown out of by next year. Instead, head to Primark and look for the little kids racks of Christmas T-shirts as they have such a wide selection and prices start from £1.80. What a bargain! Then pair with pyjama bottoms you already have at home. I’m a true believer that Christmas magic isn’t about the money you spend.

Many of you will know I’ve been stitching up my old handbag for a long time but I finally treated myself to a new one — and I’m obsessed. It’s gorgeous, practical and such a bargain!

These high-waisted leggings from Amazon were under £10, super cosy and perfect for the season. I grabbed them in black and brown in size L-XL (I’m usually a UK 16-18).

Another steal: a two-pack of wide-leg trousers in cream and brown for £38. They’re flattering, comfortable and I’m wearing a size 18.

With Christmas around the corner, I know how easy it can be to slip into debt for Christmas. The “buy now, pay later” adverts feel noisier than ever this year, but one thing that’s really helped me stay on track each year is making a budget early.

We’ve got about three paydays before Christmas, so starting now can make a big difference. This app lets you plan your budget, track your spending and make sure you’re sticking to your goals each month. It’s been a game-changer for me.

I’ve just spotted some amazing Lego discounts - including loads of Harry Potter sets. Perfect timing with Prime Day coming up if you’re planning Christmas presents!

Another idea for Lego fans is a Brick Borrow membership. It lets you borrow sets, build them at home and send them back when you’re ready for your next one. My son’s Lego obsessed, so he’s been saving his pocket money for the £14.99-a-month plan, which gives him unlimited sets to swap. They also offer gift cards, and you can cancel anytime - such a brilliant gift option for Lego lovers of any age.

When placing an order on Amazon for a £100 One For All gift voucher (which you can spend at over 100 shops!) you get a £15 reward. I personally would load up this gift card with a set budget of what I’m going to spend on Christmas presents as there’s such a variety of shops you can spend it on - and then you’ve just bagged yourself an extra £15 for yourself! Use code ONE4ALPBDD25 here.

Holiday Pirates has got some great cruise deals on at the moment! You can go on a 2-night mini cruise from Newcastle to Amsterdam this autumn or winter for £33pp on selected dates! I feel like that’s the perfect time to go to Amsterdam too as it’s such a beautiful place!

Is it too early for Christmas talk? I’m so tempted to go on this mystery Christmas market holiday for just £99pp! You could end up in New York, Chicago, Finland or many more places!

I prepped all of my son’s birthday party myself and I was so impressed with how these chocolate bricks turned out - so good!

I ordered some play money to give the kids exposure to seeing money visually whilst we are learning about the value of money and I’ve had so many messages asking for the link - so here it is!

If you are about to become parents or you are a student check out my latest blogs:

Who says date night has to mean expensive dinners out? I’ve pulled together some budget-friendly date night ideas that you can do at home.

I’ve had loads of messages asking for the link to the wedding guest dress I wore on the weekend - it’s from Next and it’s this one.

I was asking for swimming goggles recommendations on Instagram and lots of people suggested these, these, and these so wanted to share in case helpful!

Boots has launched its first Welcome Baby Box which contains 19 products for new parents. It’s £35 but contains over £100 worth of products from skincare to teething toys.

I finally got myself a robot vacuum! I went cheap to see if it paid off and the kids thought it was fascinating! I left it to go round the house for an hour and honestly the results were embarrassing! The battery life is great too, I’d definitely recommend!

In May half term you can get 7 nights at a 4 star resort for a family of 4 in Brittany, France! 

The resort is coming in at £306 and the ferry from Dover to Calais is looking at £225. It is a 5 hour drive but you could break up the journey along the way! Check it out here.

I recently got this dupe of the Dusk coffee table for £130 less! Apparently JYSK is the Danish version of Ikea and honestly the quality is amazing. Check it out here.

This is literally the same product but for £60 less! Check it out here.

Code 1: SAND Code 2: H7G9 Just collect 2 codes and choose from over 250 holidays for only £9.50!

Bills are bringing back this promotion where you get bottomless pancakes on Fridays for £5!

Available on selected Fridays only. Available all day on most Fridays. Check out Bills website for more information.

Don't forget to check out the Clarks Outlet online. They do pretty much identical shoes that were in the shops last year but for a huge discount. The styles are often 'last years' version, but the difference is so small and the savings are huge! And do the kids really care?!

Our butterflies hatched whilst we were away! 

We bought a little kit so the kids could watch caterpillars turn into butterflies and honestly, I think I've found it just as fascinating as they have. I was watching a video about it and it turns out it's not as simple as them just ‘growing wings’. When a caterpillar goes into its chrysalis, its body actually breaks down into ‘soup’ of cells, and then those cells reorganise to form a butterfly. Isn't that wild? I had no idea!

I LOVE a games night on holiday, both with the kids and as adults. Here are my top picks:

  • CLR - this is the perfect handbag game that you can crack out during a meal - so simple but fun!

  • Five Crowns - this got played A LOT on holiday. I’d say it’s for slightly older kids but ours can play with a little help from us both.

  • Murder Mystery - this is so good to pack for an evening games night! I rate this brand!

  • Qwirkle - This is a great little game, small enough to pack in hand luggage too.

  • Playing cards - honestly endless fun with a pack of cards. Our favourite games to play are Nomination Whist, Poo Head and Gin Rummy.

We’ve just got back from Rome and stayed here at, Camping Fabulous. It was 20 minutes from the airport and just 30 minutes on public transport from Rome! It was ace and I highly recommend. It’s a 4-star site with loads of pools and you can stay here next August from £550 for a family of 6!

If you’ve seen my latest Instagram video you’ll know that we are planning on doing seven days away as a family of four with just under the seat cabin bags! Are we mad? I don’t know but I’m fed up of getting cheap flights then having to pay a fortune for baggage!

I got these bags and paired with these packing cubes and I was so surprised at how much room I actually had!

If you’re going away this summer, waterproof games are a MUST. Honestly even though we are only taking one rucksack each, these were a priority for us. We got waterproof Uno and waterproof Dobble which has 20% off currently!

We had our friends over recently night and did one of these. OMG it was fab - such a good date night idea for parents when the kids are in bed. I think it’s really good value for money and they currently have £5 off. I would highly recommend.

I’ve recently upgraded our smoke alarms in our house and lots of you requested the link. I got these ones as they have a 10 year battery life. They are quite good value for a twin pack.

I used Attraction Tickets when we went to America earlier this year and honestly it is such a great site to check if you’re thinking of doing Disney. I’ve rounded up all the deals they are currently offering if you’re thinking of going any time soon! 

If you've been following me on Instagram this week, you’ll have seen I’ve been hitting the charity shops, hunting for budget-friendly pots and pans for the kids’ new mud kitchen. This is the one I ended up getting. I went for the wall-mounted version, but there is also a free-standing one.

IT Luggage currently has a huge summer sale on where you can save 30% off kids luggage bundles.

This set currently has 40% off! It doesn’t often do sales so I’d grab it while you can!

My kids have been loving these building tiles and they’re meant to be so good for their brain development too!

Here are my top bargains that we currently use with the kids!

These tablets are great. You can get loads of educational games as well as Disney and Netflix so they’re perfect for keeping them entertained on a flight.

We wouldn’t be without these headphones either

Did you know if you take at least five pieces of unwanted clothing to H&M (any brand not just H&M clothes!) you will receive a £5 thank you voucher to spend when you spend over £25. The clothes need to be in decent condition but I think it’s a great incentive for us to recycle our clothes!

You can receive £5 worth of Advantage Card points when you recycle 5 qualifying Boots items and spend £10 in store! Qualifying items are anything that can’t be recycled in your recycling bins at home, but the app guides you through the entire process!

Through Planet Offers you can save over 50% on family attractions all over the UK such as splash parks, play centres, museums, aquariums, and loads more!

These 5 products have given me the glowiest skin on holiday and I’m so here for it! I never used to wear anything on holiday but I always feel more confident with a little bit of something on. I had a makeup lesson before I came away and a lot of these products are what she recommended. 

 So here’s my top picks for realistic 5-minute holiday makeup for mums!

  • This L'Oréal Glotion has been my FAVE buy! It gives you the most glowy skin without being heavy so perfect for holiday. It’s so cheap too!

  • Next is the product that actually makes me look like I have a tan! This liquid bronzer is a bit more money bit it’s so worth it. 

  • When I had the makeup lesson she said stick with a cheap concealer so I went for this one as it really brightens the eyes! I got shade Fair Beige but it’s actually a little too light for me.

  • This liquid lipstick is amazing and it’s on sale here!! I wear 305 Velvet.

  • Finally this is what I set it all with. It stops everything sweating off my face in this insane humidity!

This game we’ve got for the kids is SO good! The classic game of Sequence made just for kids.

I’ve had a few messages on Instagram asking for the link to this bikini. It was more of a splurge buy but well worth it in my opinion,. I love how flattering it is, particularly the bottoms with the twisted top around the tummy and they’re super high waisted. The top is also lovely and very comfy.

DEAL STACK! You can save by signing up for the newsletter to get 15% off and 3% cashback through TopCashback. 

But if you are looking for something cheaper, I also got this one which fits so well and is high-waisted too - no thongs here!

If you’ve been following my America content you’ll see I’ve fallen in love with a slick back bun for my go-to holiday hair!
My sister-in-law who’s young and cool has shown me what to do… she recommended using a hair mask instead of gel for a nicer feel on your hair and then setting everything in place with this hairspray, and using this brush.

We’ve just checked out of the second part of our stay and these static RVs on Key Largo are the PERFECT base for exploring the Keys and the Everglades. We ended up getting an upgrade to this brand new one (which NEVER happens to us!) and you can book to stay here for £142 per night. 

We paid with an everup gift card and got 4.6% cashback!

I’ve been using these at Disney and they’ve really helped. They reduce noise but still let you chat – ideal for busy places or travel. The kids ones are great too, I would definitely worth it if loud environments get overwhelming for you too.

These are the ones I ordered for me and these are the ones I ordered for the kids.

We visited here earlier in the year but Ryanair have recently stopped direct flights here - ruining the fun! More over on my Instagram.

But I’ve been working with HolidayPirates to find some alternatives. Keep an eye on this page for alternative budget options.

I also shared more over on my Instagram the other day.

This sand and water bench table is currently on offer and was a fab investment for us last year, still the kids favourite garden toy! It can be used as a picnic table but if you remove the centre panel you’ll reveal a sandpit and water table!

It keeps the kids busy for hours and it only takes up a small amount of outdoor space; ideal for compact gardens or patios.

Shorts weather is here and if you’re anything like me, I’m dreading getting my legs out - but equally don’t want to be boiling hot.

I’ve been trying out some different shorts and these ones are my favourite so far. 

They’re so flattering and really cool, would deffo recommend. Girls - this is your sign to wear the bl**dy shorts!

I treated myself this week to this STUNNING perfume. I swear this is the smell of the summer! 

DEAL STACK! It’s on offer here with 20% off and you can get up to 16% cashback on this too through Top Cashback.

Look at this fab Amsterdam deal for November!

You get an overnight ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, stay the night in a hotel and then get the overnight ferry home from just £79pp! Absolute steal!

Whilst I was on Statutory Maternity Pay, I was earning well under my tax free allowance for the year. 

I put in a claim for Marriage Allowance, which meant I could transfer a portion of my tax-free allowance over to my husband. This can save you as a couple up to £252 per year. 

You can also back date your claim by up to four years, which meant we also got a tax refund of over £700. More information here.

You can check your eligibility on the Government website.

This is the one adult purchase that’s worth every penny!

Drying clothes in winter can be a nightmare, but this airer is an absolute game-changer!

I’ve tried heated airers, but I don’t rate them - clothes need space to dry properly, and cramming them together just doesn’t work.

Instead, I use this extendable airer over my radiator, and it dries clothes SO fast!

Highly recommend!

 

TOP TIP! If freebies are your thing, don’t forget to head over to my freebies blog too!

 
 

Disclosure: Some of the links in this blog are affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

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The Budgeting Mum

Hi, I’m Beth, aka the Budgeting Mum! Like many families, my family and I have felt the financial pinch since becoming parents.

One thing I'm incredibly passionate about is affordable family travel and truly believe that you can explore the world with children in tow, no matter your budget. So, if you’re tightening your purse strings, looking for money-saving advice for families and bargain deals, follow along for more! 

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