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 18 May 2009
MUM-ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR 2009
Gemma Johnson, founder of the high street discount Mastercard BaBeeCard and Mums Money Tips, has been crowned Mum-Entrepreneur of the year 2009 at a national awards ceremony sponsored by the Women's Business Mastermind Network. Gemma set up BaBeeCard with the aim of helping mums to take control of their finances. Here, Gemma offers her Top Ten Tips for Mummy Money Saving and How to Save Money with a Toddler or Two.
Gemma Johnson is an entrepreneurial mum based in Buckinghamshire. Owing to the financial insecurity experienced with the birth of her son, Gemma started looking for a way to help empower mums to manage their money, while saving at the same time. Gemma says: "Winning this award has helped inspire me even more to keep pushing forward for what I believe in. It's a wonderful feeling to have recognition, especially when raising a family."
With the current economic gloom showing no signs of lifting, Gemma would like to share her money saving tips and advice with mums and families everywhere. “I am absolutely delighted to have received this important accolade, in a world where an increasing number of mums are becoming entrepreneurial while fitting their work around their family” Gemma says. "Taking care of the pennies really can make pounds worth of difference."
Direct Links:
- Top Ten Mummy Money Saving Tips
- Save money with a toddler or two
- 10 ideas for presents for Dad! on a teeny weensy budget
For more information please contact: E-mail Gemma Johnson
Copyright © 2009 Gemma Johnson. All rights reserved.
Top Ten Mummy Money Saving Tips
by Gemma Johnson, co-founder of BaBeeCard
1. Check your benefits and make sure that you claim everything to which you are entitled
There is a wealth of information available on the internet, and from Local Government and Neighbourhood offices. Check www.entitledto.co.uk and enter your details to see which benefits and grants you may be missing out on.
Mums will be particularly interested in childcare voucher schemes, which save income tax and national insurance costs as well as grants such as the new £190 Health in Pregnancy Grant (see www.campaigns.direct.gov.uk/money4mum2be). For fresh fruit, vegetables and milk, check out the Healthy Start Voucher Scheme (www.healthystart.nhs.uk).
2. Make your own cleaning products straight from the pantry
White vinegar dissolves dirt, soap scum and hard water deposits. When mixed in equal parts with water, you can make a cleaning solution that cleans everything from floors to countertops. It is gentle enough for hard floors. Don't worry, the smell disappears when dry so your home won’t smell like a salad. You can also use it undiluted for a chemical-free way of cleaning the toilet.
Baking Soda is a natural deodoriser and makes light work of grimy bathtubs and greasy sinks; just sprinkle it on to a damp sponge.
For a cheap Furniture Polish Recipe, mix 2 parts olive oil to 1 part lemon juice in a spray bottle. The lemon juice cleans and the oil adds shine.
3. Plan your weekly shop, and love your leftovers
Try using a weekly planner to keep on top of your shopping list and stick to it. Remember, BOGOF doesn’t necessarily mean it will save you money, so only buy these items if you know you will use them - a bargain is only a bargain if you actually need it!
Check out www.lovefoodhatewaste.com for some fantastic leftover recipes and a portion size calculator.
4. Packed lunches aren't just for kids
Taking lunch to work can save upwards of £15 a week. That's a massive £720 a year. Try planning your packed lunches around your leftover evening meals and store cupboard staples. You can download a packed lunch recipe sheet from www.babeecard.com/recipes.
5. Make cash from old mobile handsets
Trading in your old unused handsets can make you some extra cash on the side whilst de-cluttering your electronics pile.
Try;
- Fonebank - www.fonebank.com
- Mazuma Mobile - www.mazumamobile.com
- Envirofone - www.envirofone.com
There is also a charity called Stepping Stones Nigeria (www.steppingstonesnigeria.org) that helps abandoned children. You can send your old phones as an alternative way to donate.
6. Join a toy library to cut the cost of new toys
Why spend a fortune on brand new toys when you can join a toy library, meet other parents at the group and have a much-needed coffee break whilst your little one plays?
You can find your local toy library at www.natll.org.uk where you can borrow toys for as little as 50p for 2 - 4 weeks.
7. Book worm? Swap your books - don’t buy them
If you are not a library member and have a full bookcase at home, then why not swap your unwanted books online for ones you haven’t read.
Check out
- ReadItSwapIt - www.readitswapit.com
- BookHopper - www.bookhopper.co.uk
- Title Trader - www.titletrader.com
- Swapitshop - www.swapitshop.com
8. Cancel memberships and subscriptions you don’t use
Are you going to the gym each week, do you watch all the Sky channels you pay for? Are you really using all your minutes on your mobile tariff? Go through your direct debits and monthly outgoings and ditch anything from which you are not getting maximum usage.
You could freeze memberships if you are reluctant to cancel completely. Also, look at bundling your mobile, home phone & internet into one cheaper package.
9. Give up the unhealthy habits and swap for an occasional treat
Any naughty habits you need an excuse to get rid of? Are you a smoker? Do you eat junk food/takeaways/ready meals? Perhaps it’s drinking the whole bottle of wine in the evening with a meal instead of just a glass or two?. The credit crunch is giving people much-needed motivation to sort out their finances, so use this challenging time to get your health and finances in order. Giving up smoking will save you money each week which could allow you a small treat for yourself or for your kids, like a fortnightly cinema trip (don’t forget to take your own sweets and drinks) or maybe a relaxing massage for you once month.
10. One mummy’s trash is another mummy’s treasure
Do you periodically have a big clear out and throw things away that might be useful for someone else? Then why not sell it online or get a pitch at a car boot sale and sell any unwanted items. Think of all the things you could put that spare cash towards!
BaBeeCard and Mums Money Tips show you how to...
...save money with a toddler or two.
Children are dear little things from the minute they are born, not only in the close-to-your-heart kind of way, but also close-to-your-wallet. Here, Gemma Johnson, mumpreneur and founder of BaBeeCard & Mums Money Tips, offers some helpful hints on how to save some pennies.
1. The soft shoe shuffle
Toddlers seem to scuff their shoes from the moment they first put them on. Although shelling out for two pairs may initially seem expensive, it will save you in the long run. Try buying two pairs, one for 'best' and one for everyday (which could be from a cheaper brand).
Wiping shoes clean at the end of every day with a wet wipe or damp cloth should increase their life span.
Current advice is to get children's feet measured every 6 - 8 weeks. If you are unfortunate enough to have a growing child who grows out of shoes before they can be worn out, why not try selling the smaller pair on an internet auction site to try and recoup some of the cost.
Keep your eyes peeled for discounts and sales. The BaBeeCard discount club offers discounts at these stores all year round:
- John Lewis 8% discount
- Shoes Direct 10% discount
- Debenhams 10% discount
- House of Frazer 10% discount
- Boden 12% discount plus free P&P
- Mothercare 5% discount
2. Talk is cheap
You don’t swear or curse? Really? Then make or buy a swear box and you’ll be very surprised at how quickly it fills up! Besides preventing the little parrots from copying your language, the extra cash saved can go towards a treat for the little angels - or one for you when the little monsters get too much!
3. Pick a picnic
The beauty of Spring and Summer means that you can have fun outdoors for very little expense. Why not gather your toddler's playmates and head off for a picnic in a local park or even in a friend's garden.
Lousy weather? Then hold a carpet picnic, turn on some nursery rhymes or music, invite Teddy and Dolly to join in and make a fun feast for you and your little one to enjoy.
For the picnic lunch, check out http://www.supermarketspecialoffers.com/ for a list of BOGOF’s, half price items and many more special offers.
Alternatively, save with BaBee on everything at these stores:
- Waitrose 8% discount
- Sainsburys’ 5% discount
- ASDA 5% discount
- M&S 5% discount
4. Little green fingers
Have fun with your toddler planting seeds. Growing your own vegetables is becoming a hot topic and certainly is a step forward in the money saving, and planet saving, direction. Whether you live in a flat, a mansion or a tent, fruit, vegetables and herbs can be grown. Just check with the garden centre for the ideal plants for your growing space.
For buying plants, bulbs or seeds, why not use BaBeeCard to save you 10% discount at Crocus?
5. Think ahead clothes
All department stores have a sales/bargain rack,. It’s a great way to pick up clothes ahead of time for next to nothing. This is much harder to do with shoes if you have a secret Bigfoot in your brood, but clothing, toys etc can be snapped up and stored.
BaBeeCard can earn you discounts on clothes and more at these stores:
- ASDA 5% discount
- Sainsburys’ 5% discount
- John Lewis 8% discount
- GAP 10% discount
- Debenhams 10% discount
- House of Fraser 10% discount
- Boden 12% discount
- Truly Madly Baby : Truly Madly Kid 10% discount
- Jo Jo Maman Bebe 10% discount
- Babyworld.com 10% discount
- Mothercare 5% discount
- Peacocks 7.5% discount
6. Painting in the Bath
Painting can be an extremely messy activity and most toddlers don’t understand why painting and drawing on every white surface they can find is not welcomed as the work of a creative genius.
Why not put a towel or craft sheet down inside a clean and dry bathtub and let them paint in there, where they can get as messy as they like and draw and paint to their hearts’ content?
If your toddler is in just a nappy or pants, once the activity is over, the tub can be rinsed out before your little one is rinsed off.
BaBeeCard can save you on craft ideas at these stores:
- ŸCraft4kids 10% discount
- Truly Madly Baby / Truly Madly Kids 10% discount
- Jo Jo Maman Bebe 10% discount
- Argos 8% discount
- Mothercare 5% discount
- WH Smiths 8% discount
- ASDA 5% discount
- Sainsburys’ 5% discount
- Babyworld.com 10% discount
- The Baby Catalogue 10% discount
7. The world is full of colour
Don’t pay out for colouring books when you can download some great shapes and pictures form a variety of sites, such as:
- www.crayola.com
- www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies
8. Swapsies
If you are not a library member and have a full bookcase at home then why not swap your unwanted books online for ones you haven’t read?
Check out
- ŸReadItSwapIt - www.readitswapit.com
- BookHopper - www.bookhopper.co.uk
- Title Trader - www.titletrader.com
- Swapitshop - www.swapitshop.com
9. The dreaded odd sock
Instead of spending hours pairing socks only to find you are left with a heap of odd ones, why not buy several pairs of the same socks? If you buy the same colour and size you won’t have to drive yourself mad looking to match them up before you give up in disgust and buy some new ones.
Stock up on socks at these stores with BaBeeCard:
- John Lewis 8% discount
- Truly Madly Baby / Truly Madly Kids 10% discount
- Jo Jo Maman Bebe 10% discount
- Mothercare 5% discount
- ASDA 5% discount
- Sainsburys 5% discount
- Babyworld.com 10% discount
- The Baby Catalogue 10% discount
10. Beg, Borrow or Steal
Why spend a fortune on brand new toys when you can join a toy library, meet other parents at the group and have a much-needed coffee break whilst your little one plays?
You can find your local toy library at www.natll.org.uk where you can borrow toys for as little as 50p for 2 - 4 weeks.
Or check out www.beansprog.com which is a bring and buy for mums.
10 ideas for presents for Dad! on a teeny weensy budget
Written 15th June 2009 by Gemma Johnson Co-Founder of BaBeeCard
Bring on fathers’ day! Why not show your dad this weekend just how much you appreciate him. Below are some ideas to celebrate daddy’s around the UK.
1. Put a CD together of your dads favourite music
Buy some blank CD’s and make a drive time compilation album of all his old favourites. You can design your own CD cover and then print it out.
2. Wash his car
Cleaning the car needn’t clean out your purse. Download our Homemade Car Cleaning Kit for a cheap alternative to expensive cleaning products. A squeaky clean car inside and out is enough to bring a smile to any man’s face. So round up the kids and get your rubber gloves on and make his day.
3. Make a money box for his dream fund
We all have dreams and why should your ‘dad’ be any different. Sometimes we dismiss our dreams as unachievable due to a number of reasons, lack of finances usually being the main one. So why not kick start his dream fund and make him a money box to get him started or open up an account that you put a little into each month, even £5 a month will get him on his way to ticking of one of his dreams, be it a power tool or a big ticket item.
4. Write him a thank you letter
Many years ago I wrote my mum, dad and two brothers a letter explaining to them just how much they meant to me. They cherished that letter and it brought tears to their eyes. Sometimes it is hard to say the words you feel to those you love so spending time to write your a gratitude letter will be something he can keep forever and read over and over again.
5. Make a coupon book
Why not make a homemade coupon book entitling your ‘dad’ to a free hug, car wash, breakfast in bed, a lie in etc. You can let him redeem 2 or 3 a week until he runs out. Everyone loves a hug and they don’t cost a penny!
6. Make him a hand painted t-shirt
Why not make a t-shirt with your children’s handprints or footprints on? It’s very simple and your kids will love creating something unique plus they’ll get to get their hands covered in paint. If you sign and date the shirt you can keep tabs on just how much your little ones grow. All you need is a cotton t-shirt and some fabric paint.
7. Make a hamper of all his favourite junk food.
Most men have some favourites on TV, my husband’s is cricket and rugby and my fathers’ is back to back episodes of the Sopranos or Deadwood. Why not get a wicker hamper and fill it with all their favourite junk food and drinks, so they can tuck in and be ready for the next mammoth session of sport or DVD’s.
8. Framed photograph
Pick out your favourite photo of you with your dad or your children with your husband and get it blown up and frame. If you are feeling really adventurous, why not decorate the frame so there is only 1 in the world like it.
9. Make him a D-A-D cake
Pitch together and make him a cake with your fair hands. There are loads of cakes you could make, chocolate is always a family favourite and a good excuse to indulge. There are some great recipes on the net and I have listed some below under further info.
10. Give him a hug in a box
Make your special dad a box with a hug inside, you can attach or write this beautiful poem onto it as the box is intended never to be opened. Why not decorate the box with photographs like a collage and then tie a pretty ribbon around it.
This is a very special gift
That you can never see
The reason it's so special is
It's just for you from me.
Whenever you are lonely
Or are ever feeling blue
You only have to hold this gift
And know I'm hugging you.
You never can unwrap it
Please leave the ribbon tied
Just hold the box close to your heart
It's filled with hugs inside.
Written by Gemma Johnson, co-founder of BaBeeCard
If you have a BaBeeCard then why not use it to save on some goodies with the following offers below.
- 15% discount at Moss Suits and Moss Hire
- 15% discount at I Want One of Those (until 19th June)
- 15% discount at Viva Box
- 15% discount at Thorntons
- 10% discount at Comet
- 10% discount at realale.com
- 10% discount at mankindonline.com
- 10% discount at Halfords
- 8% discount at Topman
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