Coping with recession challenges – tips for parents
As families across the country feel the effects of the recession, parent support charity Parentline Plus has issued some tips to help them cope. Parentline Plus feels strongly that family life can be tough enough without the added financial pressures and strains that a drop in household income or unemployment can put on them. This sort of pressure leads to a greater risk of stress-related family breakdown. Parentline Plus is urging parents not to be put off asking for help because they fear they will be labelled as ‘bad parents’. In a stressful situation, asking for help is a sign of parenting strength, and parents should be encouraged to access the support available, such as the free* and confidential Parentline service they offer 24 hours a day. Parentline Plus Chief Executive, Jeremy Todd said: “Life is harder for a lot of families at the moment but we want parents to know that we are here to support them and if they are struggling they can give us a call on our free* confidential, 24-hour Parentline 0808 800 2222. “We have put together some useful tips on making the most of your money during the recession as we appreciate that the added stresses that can be put on families at this time can impact on everyone – young and old – and can even lead to family breakdown.” Parentline Plus’ tips for coping with the recession Paying the bills For a lot of people, the higher costs of fuel, the end of cheap, fixed-rate mortgages and lower incomes has meant a squeeze on the amount of money you have to look after your family. If you are struggling to cope it is vital to take that first step in asking for help. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse. You need to open the post. You need to prioritise which debts are most important (if you don’t pay your mortgage you can lose your home) and ensure you are paying what you can afford.
It helps to get support and advice. Anyone struggling with their mortgage or any housing problem should contact Shelter's free housing advice line on 0808 800 4444. For all other bills, you can get in touch with your supplier and make voluntary arrangements. Don’t hesitate if you are struggling. Shop around for cheaper insurance deals when it comes to renewing you household or car insurance.
Cutting back household spending Food Cook your meals from scratch where possible, rather than buying ready meals or processed food. An added bonus here is that there is a link between good diet and children’s wellbeing and ability to learn. If you have close friends living nearby then why not take turns to cook a meal for each other, say, once a month – it’s a lot cheaper than a night out! Make an effort to look down when you got to the supermarket! Shelves at eye level often contain the more expensive items and the best bargains may be on the bottom shelves, where you are less likely to look, especially if you are in a hurry. Get into the habit of regularly checking use-by dates on items in your fridge. Use your leftovers e.g. if you've enjoyed a roast chicken on Sunday then use the rest of the chicken to make up another meal and maybe a sandwich or two during the week. If you've got time, you can even boil up the carcase to make stock or soup. If you have any dinner left in the pan then pop it into a freezer-proof bag or container and it's an instant meal for another day. Think about having a veggie meal once or twice a week, to save money, or make the meat go further by mixing in beans, like kidney beans or even baked beans. Planning meals for the week ahead is a great way to avoid waste and have some tasty food to look forward to, rather than going to the supermarket and thinking on your feet.
Ask the kids what meals they would like. Check your fridge, freezer and store cupboard and write a list, so you don't end up buying things you've already got, or have to dash out to the more expensive local shop. You could end up spending more on other tempting bits and pieces! Look out for deals in your local shop/supermarket. You can always cook something with it that day if the use-by date is about to pass, and then freeze it straightaway. When you cook, make up a big batch of food so you can eat half and freeze half for another day.
Keeping the kids occupied on a budget Don’t feel under pressure to spend money on the kids – your time is more important to them. Just staying at home and doing simple and free activities like drawing or painting at the table together or playing Lego are great and free ways of spending quality time with the kids. If the weather’s OK, you could take them out for a walk or go to the local park. With older kids, contact your local council to find out if they do any heavily subsidised or free sporting activities. Find out if there are any relatively low-cost afterschool activities like cubs or brownies in your area. You could ask other parents at school if you aren’t sure if such a group exists locally. These are usually relatively low cost, although there is an initial outlay on uniform. You could also head to your local leisure centre for swimming sessions or activities to keep the kids occupied. Libraries are a good place to take the kids to encourage them to choose their own books to read at the library itself or take home. There is often a children's reading area. It’s also worth checking out if your local library puts on any activities for older kids, like a teen hour at the weekend. Check out deals at your local cinema, like cut-price viewings for little children at the weekend, when films that have been out for a few months are shown on the big screen at a reduced price. Sometimes cinemas offer children's activities such as card-making and colouring prior to these performances.
Shopping Compare prices in different shops – this can add up to good savings. One way of doing this is via comparison websites, which list the prices of goods bought online or on the high street. Shopping online can be cheaper than the high street. You can also buy good quality ‘as new’ clothes – and second hand goods – on websites like eBay.
Make a quick list of what you need to buy and how much you are prepared to spend before you head out to the shops, to avoid shopping on impulse. Look out for store loyalty card schemes, where you can collect points and use them to buy items when you get to a certain number. If you want an excuse for a cheap get-together with friends and a chance to get some new clothes for free then think about organising a clothes swap party or ‘swish’. Everyone taking part brings along at least one item of clothing that they're proud to give to someone else.
Finding extra cash You could sell unwanted items like clothing, games consoles or games and CDs that are still in good condition online on a site like eBay or think about going to a car boot sale, to make a bit of spare cash.
Parentline Plus is here for you. You can call us on 01453 768 160 for local information and support, or call our 24hr Helpline number on 0808 800 2222
The list of services A free* confidential, 24-hour Parentline 0808 800 2222 A free textphone for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment 0800 783 6783 Email support parentsupport@parentlineplus.org.uk Local Individual support Local Parenting groups and workshops Information materials A helpful, interactive website for parents www.parentlineplus.org.uk An online community for parents www.parentlineplus.org.uk/community An online one-stop shop for professionals www.parentlineplusforprofessionals.org.uk A new website for parents concerned about bullying www.besomeonetotell.org.uk A social networking site for parents of teenagers www.gotateenager.org.uk Volunteer opportunities
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