I’m a single mum-of-4 & holidays are the priority – I save hundreds to go away by stockpiling food & sleeping on a sofa
A SAVVY mum-of-four has shared her best money-saving hacks to make sure she can send her kids on holiday.
The single mum took to social media revealing how she saves money throughout the year to make sure her kids have the best childhood.
Charlene Woracker revealed that she gave up her bedroom so her son could have his own room instead of moving to a bigger house and paying more rent.
Instead, the selfless mum got a sofa bed for the front room and now sleeps there.
The mum-of-four is able to save on her shopping bill as well by stockpiling her food and cleaning essentials.
"Stockpile to cut down on weekly expenses, I only spend £50 a week on groceries, so it saves me money in the long run," she explained.
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Sharing a picture of her cupboard under the stairs, she had piles of toilet roll, condiments, washing-up liquid and bath products.
When she isn't stockpiling from stores, Charlene is making her own household products to store away, including her own skincare and cleaning products.
Charlene also used the 'cash stuffing' technique to help her budget for the month.
Cash stuffing is where you have different folders, labelled with things like "bills", "rent", "groceries" and fill these with the amount of cash you have budgeted for yourself for that particular cost each month.
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By being able to physically see how much money you have allocated for each expense, it becomes easier to not go over budget.
Other tips from the mum include never buying coffee while out, making her own freezer food like chips, and buying presents in the January sales.
She said: "I buy most of my Christmas/birthday presents in the end of January sales, I've bought things that are worth £50 reduced to £1 you just need to look out often for deals."
The mum-of-four admitted it might seem like she sacrifices a lot by living on a budget, but her ways ensure she is able to prioritise holidays for her family.
The clip, posted to her TikTok account @, has over 90k views and 1,700 likes.
People were quick to comment, praising the mum for her frugal tips to give her kids holidays throughout the year.
One person wrote: "My husband and I sleep on a sofa bed in our living room so our kids can have their own rooms. It’s not normal, but it works! Plus, I always fell asleep on the sofa anyway."
Another commented: "You seem like such a good mum with common sense. Things are costing so much these days. Hats off to you."
"I think this is admirable, you’re doing a great job," penned a third.
Time-saving mum hacks
Morning Routine
Nighttime Preparation: Set out clothes for yourself and the kids, pack lunches, and organise backpacks before bed.
Effortless Breakfasts: Keep simple, healthy breakfast options on hand, such as overnight oats, smoothie packs, or pre-made breakfast burritos.
Meal Planning
Weekly Meal Prep: Dedicate time each week to plan your meals to eliminate daily decision-making.
Bulk Cooking: Prepare larger quantities and freeze portions for future use.
Hands-Off Cooking: Make use of slow cookers or Instant Pots for easy, unattended meal prep.
Ready-to-Use Veggies: Purchase pre-chopped vegetables or chop them all at once to save time during the week.
Household Chores
Daily Laundry: Do a load of laundry every day to prevent a buildup of dirty clothes.
Continuous Cleaning: Encourage kids to clean up after themselves and perform small cleaning tasks throughout the day.
Efficient Multitasking: Fold laundry while watching TV or listen to audiobooks/podcasts while cleaning.
Organisation
Family Command Centre: Set up a central hub with a calendar, to-do lists, and important documents.
Daily Decluttering: Spend a few minutes each day decluttering to maintain an organised home.
Organised Storage: Use bins and baskets to keep items neat and easy to locate.
Kid Management
Prepared Activity Bags: Have bags packed with essentials for various activities (e.g., swimming, sports).
Routine Visuals: Implement visual charts to help kids follow their routines independently.
Task Delegation: Assign age-appropriate chores to children to foster responsibility and reduce your workload.
Meanwhile a fourth said: "Omg £50 a week is amazing for the size of your family, I need to take a leaf out of your book."
"Well done, smashing it,” claimed a fifth.
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Someone else added: “You're a fabulous mum."
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