Thanks to Rebecca for being our profiled mum this week. Rebecca blogs at
Hi, what’s your name?
Rebecca English
Any kids?
I have three girls – a five year old and two year old twins.
Do you work? FT/PT?
Very part time as a supply teacher – a few afternoons a month.
Why do you work?
We need the extra money – for the extra things like car MOT or swimming lessons.
If you don’t work why don’t you?
I don’t work full time or more regular days because I by the time I pay for childcare for the twins and after school clubs I wouldn’t have any money left over.
What are your child care arrangements?
My husband is sometimes off in the week if not my inlaws have the twins.
How do you manage for money?
I saved a lot when I was working before I had kids. That has given us a cushion for the last couple of years. Now it’s running out I need to look again at our budget and try to earn some extra money to cover the shortfall.
Do you worry about money?
I have recently. This is the first couple of months where I have really had to tighten the budget.
What do you waste money on?
Not very much really. Extra things at the supermarket that I wasn’t planning for – mainly clothes or magazines for the girls.
Have you made any big financial changes since having kids?
Again only recently. We were always pretty careful with money.
How do you make extra cash?
I’m trying to make extra money from my blog.
Can you share 3 top budgeting tips for other parents?
1. Buy food which will make a few days worth of big meals – roast chicken the first day, stir fry the next etc
2. Make soup – a batch can last most of the week – great for dieting too!
3. We drastically reduced our expenditure by getting rid of one car. It’s hard organising it sometimes but saves lots of money.
Rebecca is a teacher turned stay-at-home Mum to three girls (a five year old and two year old twins) and blogs at Here Come the Girls which is full family activities: crafts, cooking and chaos.
She also writes an online story for children called A Child Like You (beginning February 4th)
Follow her adventures with her girls on twitter or Facebook.
Thanks for having me over! It’s a great series.