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Times are hard, and it’s no surprise to learn many people are spending more than they earn. New research has found one in 10 people spend more than they have in their current account at least seven months each year, and more than half (59%) spend more than they earn at least one month a year. The research, for website TopCashback, also revealed that while parents with children under 18 typically have just £179 left in the bank the day before payday, nearly three-quarters (73%) of people feel they don’t have their spending fully under control, with nearly half (47%) citing the rising cost of living as the cause. And around two-fifths (41%) admit they feel anxious about the cost of living on a weekly basis. “So many people are guilty of spending above their means – let’s face it, it’s why credit cards are such big business,” says finance expert Vicky Parry, head of content at MoneyMagpie. She says emotional spending can be a real issue, pointing out: “When we feel deprived of something, it makes us seek out that dopamine to feel good, so we online shop, and we buy things we don’t even need.” And Rajan Lakhani, a money expert at the smart money app Plum, says: “With wage growth now beginning to exceed rising costs, households may be tempted to spend even more.” But he stresses it’s important to try to get any high interest debts down before succumbing to spending temptations, and notes there are plenty of easy ways for families to reduce their spending. Here, Parry and Lakhani outline their tips for family cutbacks as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite… 1. Avoid brands Parry advises families to stop buying branded goods in the supermarket, pointing out that the mark-up can be huge. “More often than not, it’s made in the same factory as the supermarket’s own-brand product,” she says. “If you equate a brand as a stamp of good quality, then try to change this mindset – look at the taste awards and you’ll see many own-brand and cheaper products are superior.” 2. Get the kids involved with cutting energy bills If they’re old enough to understand, talk to your kids about why it’s important to switch off lights when they leave a room, and why the heating might not be on as much when winter comes. Lakhani says: “As a dad, I’m having to constantly tell my eldest daughter to switch off the lights when she’s left the room. That helps in the short-term, but explaining to children why it’s important to do this, whether it’s the benefits for household bills or the environment, means they’re more likely to remember.” He says smart meters also provide a fun way to bring cost-saving to life for kids, as they can see the impact of switching off lights or turning off appliances that aren’t being used. “It becomes a game for them, and you can create competitions around who’s being the most energy-efficient,” he suggests, pointing out that children’s help could make an important difference, as although energy bills have fallen, prices are still far higher than they were at the start of last year. 3. Budget Keeping your eyes firmly on a budget is the first step towards stopping overspending, stresses Parry, who points out there are some good budgeting apps that tell you what your monthly budgets should be. “Have lists of items you want, items you need and items that will make your life easier,” she suggests. “If you see a top in the sale, yet ‘top’ isn’t on those lists, you’re being impulsive. It’s a good way to remember what you genuinely need.” Lakhani says it’s crucial to budget in the supermarket, and families need to “develop your special superpower” against clever in-store marketing ploys. “Have a set budget and shopping list, and ringfence how much you want to spend on groceries,” he advises. He suggests buying groceries online can help with set budgets, because you can see how the costs are totting up as you put them in your virtual trolley. “Buying groceries online also reduces the chances of being tempted by impulse purchases and kids asking for extra things, while also being easier to find offers,” he says. 4. Childcare share After-school clubs may be a necessity for some parents, but the cost can be crippling – Parry points out that the average fee for an after-school club is usually between £8-£15.50 per session, so five days a week for the 39 weeks of the school year can cost as much as £2,925 per child per year. But you can cut that cost completely, she says, by getting a group of trusted parent friends together and taking it in turns to have all the children over after school for one night each a week. 5. Walk more Although it’s often tempting to use the car for short trips like the school run, Lakhani stresses: “Walking the kids to school is not only good for your pocket, but for the planet and your health. It also gives you more face-to-face time with your children, so you have more time to know how they’re feeling and what’s going on at school. “With petrol costs on the rise again as oil prices are increasing, this is a relatively simple way to cut your costs.” 6. Beware of hobby stacking Hobby stacking is when kids develop a passion for a particular pastime, and then forget it and move on to another within a few weeks. “Before you go out and buy all the kit and gear for something which is essentially a phase, try and borrow it from a friend, or make do, until you’re sure this passion is a long-term investment,” Parry advises. 7. Cut nappy costs If you’ve got a baby, nappies can cost a small fortune, but Lakhani says you can save money by buying them in bulk or having a subscription, which are often discounted. “If you’re buying in bulk,” he says, “ensure you don’t purchase too many, as you could be left with nappies that are the wrong size as your baby grows.” In addition, compare the price of nappies at different retailers, or for an even cheaper option, use reusable nappies. Not only are they cheaper (in the long run), but they’re better for the planet too. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live What is combination cholesterol therapy, as study suggests it could save lives? Cancer cases in young people ‘are rising’ – the warning signs to look out for How construction expert Daniel Ashville Louisy went from social media star to TV host

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A mum who had her teeth removed after she vomited so much while she was pregnant - has gone on to have more children and embrace life. Louise Cooper, 26, became pregnant for the first time while she was working as a nanny at a ski resort in France. A week after finding out, the mum-of-three said she got so sick she had to move back to the UK. Louise was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) in April 2017 – a condition which affects around 1% of women. Louise would vomit so frequently, her teeth started falling out. Her first child, Zachary, five, was born in November 2017 and six months later Louise had to have all her teeth removed as they were so damaged. Since then, Louise has had two more children, has embraced life without teeth and often goes out without wearing her dentures. Louise, a hairdresser, from Reading, Berkshire, said: “Life is alright now, everything has gone back to normal. “Life is a lot more relaxing and enjoyable. It is not enjoyable when you have HG and are in bed for nine months. “I have embraced having no teeth. I have only really just come to terms with everything in the past year. “It has restricted my diet - I don’t eat a lot of meat anymore. “I mainly stick to eating vegetables.” Louise fell pregnant with her first child in February 2017. A week after she found out she was pregnant, Louise’s sickness was so bad she returned home to be with her family. Three months after falling pregnant, Louise wasn’t getting any better and was bed bound for much of her pregnancy. In April 2017, Louise was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) - excessive nausea and vomiting. Louise said: “The damage was caused by the acid from vomiting. “I lost my first tooth around 16 weeks and it was just out of nowhere. “I was told that my teeth would need to be removed as they were so damaged. “I gave birth to my son in November 2017 and six months after that I had my teeth removed.” After the birth of her son, Louise has had two more children - Ollie, three, and Oakley, 11 months - and every time she has suffered from HG. She said: “HG disappears when the baby is delivered. “However I had more than one child and I have suffered from HG every time. “I would say my diet isn’t the healthiest as it is restricted from trauma. “I have a lot of trauma about food groups, it is so traumatic to go through severe vomiting for nine months - it was none stop. “It is hard to go back into a routine of understanding that food won’t make me vomit anymore. “It was very traumatic, I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy. “A lot of people compare it to the side effects of chemo as you feel like you are dying. “It is unpleasant. It is emotionally and physically draining.” Within the last year, Louise said she has only just managed to come to terms with having no teeth and will now leave the house without her dentures. She said: “I have accepted the fact I have no teeth. “I have dentures now but they are not the most comfortable things to wear as they are cosmetic. “They are also very triggering for the traumatic side of HG. “I can now leave the house without having teeth in. Life is more relaxing and enjoyable for me.” Read More Why are Russian and Belarusian players allowed back at Wimbledon? Matt Hancock seeks to humiliate himself in public again Intermittent fasting ‘no better for weight loss’ than calorie counting British toddler has American accent after watching popular YouTube show GB News in ‘significant breach’ of Ofcom rules over Covid vaccine claims

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A woman has been condemned as a terrible daughter after chosing to miss her own mother’s wedding to attend a concert. To be fair, this isn’t just any concert, but a Taylor Swift ‘Eras’ show which, the disgraced daughter insisted, is a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”. However, inevitably, the move didn’t go down well with her mum, nor with thousands of social media users, after she attempted to defend her decision on Reddit. Explaining how the predicament came about, she wrote: “My mom is getting remarried (my birth father passed away a while ago). A few weeks ago I won Taylor Swift tickets on the radio for the same day as her wedding. “I made the decision to go to the concert over the wedding, and I told her this, and she is very upset- she has not spoken to me since.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The Redditor continued: “I love my mother and feel bad missing her wedding, but I thought she would understand due to the circumstances. I do not like my soon-to-be stepfather, and I feel like seeing Taylor Swift is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I do not want to miss.” Wrapping up her monologue, she stressed: “I have made it very clear to my mom over the past few months that I am not okay with the marriage, but still plan[ned] to be at the wedding. “But then I won the tickets, and things changed.” The post racked up more than 2,500 comments within a day as users of the AITA forum voiced their fury at her selfishness. “Unless you hate your mother [...] this is SUCH a s***ty thing to do,” one wrote. “Don't expect her at any of your own major life milestones!” “[Taylor Swift] is not once in a lifetime. But your mother finding happiness again (regardless of your like for the groom) is very rare,” pointed out another. “This is why people hate crazy fans. How tf could anyone with their right mind choose a concert over their loved ones??” said a third. Meanwhile, a fourth noted: “Even Taylor Swift wouldn't want you to miss your mother's wedding to go to her concert.” Still, others were more forgiving of the original poster (OP). One asked: “Is there no way to do both? Can you do the ceremony then skip the reception and head to the concert?” They then added: “Also for what it's worth I would probably skip my own wedding for eras tickets.” Another then replied with a lengthy, personal take on the whole affair writing: “The concert isn't the issue - from my perspective, it's more of an excuse not to go to the wedding (and do something else that occupies your mind and feels personally purposeful). “I've lived through my mother getting married to a man I intensely disliked (it was mutual). Luckily (?) I wasn't even invited, even though I had still been living with her at the time, and she even tried to avoid telling me about the wedding at all, "so I wouldn't get upset". “This whole period of my life is obviously one of the reasons I regularly attend therapy.” “I hope you will, at least one day, have a sincere conversation with your mother about all this. And perhaps, that she will realize, in time, that a husband your children have a big issue with usually isn't the right choice.” They continued: “I know yours is a very complicated issue, but I think that not all people on Reddit know the pain this kind of relationship can inflict on you. “I'm still traumatized by having to play along even when I really wanted to do the opposite, just because I had no choice at the time. Do what's best for your mental health. We do not need to always accommodate everyone around us, especially if it isn't a mutual thing.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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