A SAVVY mum has revealed her top money-saving tips for 2023, including where not to shop for bargains.
Heidi Ondrak, 51, has made it her mission to help others manage their bills and was in the headlines earlier recently for her decision to go without Christmas presents this year.
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Heidi, from Plymouth, has hit out at budget supermarkets, saying that they don’t always provide the best deals.
She told NeedToKnow.online: “Stay out of the budget shops.
“You might think that going to [places like] B&M, Home Bargains and Poundstretcher to buy toothpaste and fabric softener is a good thing, but people always end up buying more.”
The life hack mum also advised deleting shopping apps off your phone and unfollowing shops on social media so you aren’t tempted to buy more than you need.
Speaking of devices, Heidi recommended ‘auditing’ all your appliances at home so you know how much each uses.
Writing a meal plan and cooking meals using cheaper appliances like air fryers and slow cookers can help cut costs.
Cheap, pre-loved appliances are widely available on sites like Gumtree and Facebook if brand new ones are out of your price range.
Heidi added: “Find free things to do with the kids, get outside more and enjoy parks and green spaces on your doorstep, and go to museums and art galleries that are free and warm with the kids.
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“My biggest concern as a mum is that the kids start to feel miserable, that’s every mum’s concern.
“You want to shield them from the impact of the cost of living but at the same time get them on board and educate them to be more thrifty without them feeling anxious.”
With energy bills spiralling out of control, the summer months, when we get there, also provide a good opportunity for slashing your spending.
Making cold dishes like salads to save on cooking energy and using warm weather to dry clothes can really help out, according to Heidi.
The TikTok influencer finished by saying: “Worrying and anxiety about the future is understandable.
“There is only so much about this situation you can control, so focusing on what you can do rather than what you can’t is the only way to keep yourself sane, it’s tough but it’s temporary.
“Life isn’t a linear path and there have been times when I have been absolutely skint, there have been times when I’ve been better off and then skint again.
“I will carry on using TikTok to share ideas as I come up with them on saving on the cost of living as people have said that it helped massively.”
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