voucher blog

The kids may only just be back to school after half term but that means the summer holidays are a few short weeks away. If your little ones were getting bored after a few days off, how are you going to entertain them for a whole six weeks?

There are an endless amount of toys and entertainment that will make sure your children get outside and enjoy the summer sun. From climbing frames to mountain bikes and skittles, there are loads of goodies that the kids will love. 

To help you get the most for your money, I've scoured high and low to find some of the best buys at the Early Learning Centre. Read More »

Nothing reminds me more of summer than the smell of a barbecue. They have long been a popular way for families and friends to gather together but these days hosting a casual get-together can put a major dent in your bank balance.

It seems a real shame to miss out on this great summer tradition just because you're worried about saving the pennies. Thankfully, I've got some great tips that can keep the cost of your BBQ to a minimum. Whatever your budget, you can enjoy an old-fashioned backyard grill. Read More »

We all know that the economic climate is tough for just about everyone at the moment. So, having a new baby can be a real struggle.

From the moment you visit the hospital for your first scan, the money will start to drain away.

Did you know that the average family spends around £3,000 on a baby in the first year? It's so easy to get carried away with spending when you're planning to start or extend your family. However, with a bit of bargain hunting, you can get those essentials at a fraction of the price.

It can be difficult to strike the balance between saving some cash and getting a quality product. Luckily for you, I've picked out some top bargain buys from Mothercare for less than £10. Read More »

Did you know that April was National Pet Month? I didn't so I'm a little bit gutted I've missed out on four weeks of spoiling my furry friends. At the same time, I'm now super-excited as it runs until 6th May 2013.

My pampered pooch is one of the most treasured things in my life. I think that's how most people feel about their animals and the reason behind National Pet Month. It has been introduced to celebrate the positive impact that our four-legged friends can have. Read More »

Although some parts of the UK may be knee-deep in snow, there's no reason why we can't start our summer countdown early and look forward to a time when a wardrobe full of over-sized jumpers and slouchy boots will be replaced by maxi dresses and espadrilles.

While investing in a whole new wardrobe for what may only be a few weeks of summer sunshine can seem like a false-economy, with more flesh on show as the temperature gauge increases, looking our best becomes even more important. Read More »

How to get your nearest and dearest back around the table.

In an ideal world, families up and down the country would end the day sitting around a pristine dining table enjoying a hearty meal while sharing tales of the various goings-on from their day.

Yet sadly it seems that the frantic pace of everyday life has meant that many families have forgone the pleasures of quality time over a hot dinner for the convenience of a meal in front of the TV or on-the-run.

Research from Santander Home Insurance has revealed that 8% of working families can only carve out one night a week to dine together while a further 15% feel that they can only afford the time allowed for a family meal once or twice on the weekend. Read More »

Kids across the country burst out of school gates on Friday with impossibly big grins on their faces. Half term! A whole week with no school uniform, no teachers, no long division... it's a happy thought for many a child.

Parents across the country, on the other hand, trudged out of the office with unfeasibly worried looks on their faces. Half term, sigh. A whole week with the kids at home...how on earth can they be kept entertained for NINE days in a row?

Over a third of parents say that February half term requires the most effort on their part when it comes to entertaining the kids, with more than four in ten mums and dads blaming the uncongenial weather for compelling them to splash the cash on expensive excursions and even gifts to steer symptoms of boredom away from the brood. Read More »

The Bank of Mum and Dad officially opens the moment a child comes kicking and screaming into the world and it appears that it doesn't shut up shop until our little ones hit the tender of age of 21... so much for adulthood officially starting at 18!

And while many would-be parents think the cost of raising a child will only involve shelling out for a few on-trend outfits, the occasional school uniform upgrade and our young one's weekly fill of food and drink, they may have more than a little surprise on their hands when they read the final bill for shepherding their children through primary school, secondary school and beyond.

The recent annual Cost of a Child Report from LV= revealed that parents will stump up a staggering £222,000 from birth to 21, with more than three quarters (76%) forced to tighten their purse strings in an effort to do all they can for their offspring.

Here are just a few ways parents can claw back some of their kiddie cash. Read More »

Do you want to know what got my heart pounding and left me physically shaking on Friday night?

That's right, I spent my Friday evening in Christian Grey's Red Room. Only joking! Although driving home in the snow was just as scary.

After spending half an hour sweeping about three feet of snow off the car, I spent an hour and a half driving what should have been a 40 minute journey.

It was a nightmare from start to finish: I skidded on numerous occasions, sailed through red lights on the grounds that braking might actually do more harm, and spent an inordinate amount of time worrying about the three hills I was expecting my car to make it up without turning it into an Alton Towers-esque experience. Read More »

We're now half way through half-term, so what's the verdict? Have you enjoyed spending more time with your kids or are you struggling to keep them entertained all day, every day?

With the UK's economic troubles rumbling on (despite the fact we are apparently out of recession),
many people are under the impression that any family activities will have to be home-based this half term to keep costs down.

However, this does not have to be the case. If you've been able to get time off work to spend some
quality family time together, there are plenty of things to do out and about. Read More »

Over the weekend, news broke that parents are spending £300 per month per child on 'essentials', items such as clothes, food and transport. I have to admit to spluttering my morning coffee when I read it; according to the study, I'm blowing £1500 a month just to feed and clothe my 5 kids. Seriously, where do they get these figures? I'm not actually expecting any of the Savoo community to agree they spend this sort of money on the regular costs of living - after all, you're all part of Savoo because you like to save money, not squander it. And yes, I honestly think anyone with those sort of everyday expenses is squandering their money.

However, on the off-chance that someone might be nodding and saying, 'Yes, I can see how essentials can add up to that, let me give you a few pointers on how to reduce those expenses dramatically. Many of our DealPros are parents who have fine-tuned the art of saving money when it comes to kids. Read More »

Half term provides families with a whole week to spend some quality time together, have a well-earned rest and stock up on any bits and bobs your child might need for the second half of term.

The thought of doing the back-to-school shop all over again may well instill fear in the minds of many a parent – not only is it tedious but spending extra money in the run-up to Christmas is hardly ideal.

However, the back-to-school (again) shop can be quick, easy and most importantly cheap, if you know where to find the best deals. Read More »