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Budget Mum Soph

Trying to navigate the cost of living crisis and motherhood

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Budget Mum Soph

Trying to navigate the cost of living crisis and motherhood

16th September 202516th September 2025

Simple Meal Planning on a Budget: How We Do it in 4 Easy Steps

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Sophie Bradbury aka budget mum Soph. helping mums save money.

When we fell on tough financial times, I did everything possible to make and save as much money as possible. I am just a normal mum, sharing ways which help us live our best lives, on a budget!

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Oh it was an expensive Saturday 🙈 After a few ye

Oh it was an expensive Saturday 🙈

After a few years of a fake tree… we decided to get a real tree this year! Had I of been organised, I’d of found a second hand tree pot… but I wasn’t organised at all 🙈

Most of our decs are still in my parents loft from before we moved… so that’s why the tree is a little bare! But it goes to show how ‘popping in’ to a few shops can really quickly add up! I’m trying to reuse everything we already have from previous Christmasses rather than feeling like I need a different theme / decs each year… pressures of social media eh!

No budget charity shop challenge! It’s been a wh

No budget charity shop challenge!

It’s been a while since we filmed one of these… luckily Albie was more than happy to complete the challenge 🤣🤣 he picked out a good selection u think! And insisted we got his Moana obsessed friend a Moana costume 🥺🥰

B&am mooch / come shop with me - Christmas edition

B&am mooch / come shop with me - Christmas edition!

✨ SEE WHAT I SPEND SATURDAY ✨ I’ve started filmin

✨ SEE WHAT I SPEND SATURDAY ✨

I’ve started filming my Saturdays to show you what we spend as a family of three (and a dog) on a budget!

We only spent £10 today, which I was pretty impressed with! I didn’t count the pizza night ingredients, as these were bought in the food shop. However, should we do a food shop on a Saturday, this would be included in the See what I Spend Saturday total!

Half Term Budget Tip! One thing we do during hal

Half Term Budget Tip!

One thing we do during half term is have a baking day! I usually buy the cheap supermarket own baking sets (for my own sanity) otherwise baking with four year olds can be stressful 😂 we measure out the other ingredients and I let them go to town with sprinkles, sometimes even food dye, icing etc…. We may not be winning bake off anytime soon and I wouldn’t dare eat one myself 😂 but it kept them entertained for a few hours! Plus… it was Lyn as messy as I expected it to be as most of the ingredients were ready to pour in. We made rainbow cookies and cupcakes!

If you have more than one child, I recommend giving them separate bowls to avoid any mixing dramas! I also learnt the hard way to tip the sprinkles into bowls to avoid any sprinkle dumps 😂🥰

Attempt two at the perfect roasties ready for Chri

Attempt two at the perfect roasties ready for Christmas!

I’m chuffed with this weeks attempt!! They were so much crispier than last weeks! I received sooo many comments with helpful tips last week. So I picked a couple and tried those! I still have more to try and let me know if you guys have any more top tips!

Things I did differently:
- metal & bigger roasting tin
- used maris piper potatoes
- cut them bigger (diagonally) and used fewer potatoes so they had space in the oven
- used dried herbs rather than fresh

What I spend Saturday 🥰❤️ I thought I’d film yest

What I spend Saturday 🥰❤️

I thought I’d film yesterday to show all what I spend every Saturday! I actually spent more than I usually would, but I couldn’t resist those Waitrose bargs!! Plus, I’m well stocked up on fake chicken and fish fingers, so I’ll save money on the food shop!

Let me know if you want more of these type of videos! 🥰🥰

Okay but here’s the real question… which two tubs

Okay but here’s the real question… which two tubs are you going for?

@asda have got a deal on their choc tubs 2 for £5 until Sunday (27/10/24). You can get either celebrations, heroes, quality street or roses! Make sure you have their Asda rewards app as the coupon is on there x

I went to the @sainsburys toy sale and found so ma

I went to the @sainsburys toy sale and found so many bargs!!

I’m actually chuffed that I managed to get so many bits for £60! There are sooo many toys on sale, I couldn’t film them all but here are some of my favourite deals!

They have lots of options for big presents which I really like as they’re all heavily discounted! Plus lots of stocking toys too!

I’m cooking Xmas dinner this year… so I’m attempti

I’m cooking Xmas dinner this year… so I’m attempting to learn how to make the perfect roast potatoes!!

Attempt 1: I feel like this was okay… was it perfect? No… was it edible? Yes 😂 I really want to learn how to make them more crispy all over! So help 😂 please share all your tips on how to make the perfect roasties!

What I’ve put away for Xmas this week! I like to

What I’ve put away for Xmas this week!

I like to start putting things away for Christmas a few months before the big day, as I find it works out much easier to spread out the cost, so come December I’m not taking a huge hit. Even little things, like a tin of chocolates or a Xmas pudding! It only adds a few extra ££ to my weekly food shop - where’s if I did it all at once in December, I’d spend hundreds at once!

(The Batman figure was very kindly ad/gifted from @smythstoys for Albie - so I’ve put it away for Xmas. We collect the big superhero figures, so I’d of got it anyway!)

Xmas decs - @bm_stores
Gravy boat - @dunelmuk
Lego sets - @vinted
Football & Paw patrol craft set - @tescofood toy sale

#ad @mcdonaldsuk have a NEW £5 Meal Deal, so of co

#ad @mcdonaldsuk have a NEW £5 Meal Deal, so of course I had to go and check it out!

For just £5, you can get:
- Mayo Chicken OR Cheeseburger
- ⁠Medium Soft Drink
- ⁠Medium Fries
- ⁠4 Chicken McNuggets®

You can’t buy 4 Chicken McNuggets® on their own so it’s exciting you can now enjoy them in the deal! The £5 Meal Deal start today so grab yourself a fiver and head done to you local #mcdonaldsuk *

@mcdonaldsuknews #mcdonalduknews #FancyAMcDonalds

*£5 Meal Deal can be purchased in participating restaurants with cash or card

Come for a mooch round b&m with me! I went late

Come for a mooch round b&m with me!

I went late night shopping alone to b&m… it was heaven 😂 so I thought I’d bring you along for the journey! Since relocating much nearer to a b&m (that’s not why we moved… but it was definitely a perk😂), I’ve been living in there ngl! 😂

I’d love to know how you guys are starting to prep

I’d love to know how you guys are starting to prep for the cost of Christmas?

Here’s a few things I’ve been doing! Our Xmas cupboard is slowly getting fuller and fuller… which is will be a huge relief when December comes along!

Just incase you didn’t know! @tescofood currently

Just incase you didn’t know! @tescofood currently have 25% off across @fandfclothing which makes my bargain heart so happy! Maybe it’s a sign I’m getting older… but I’m actually obsessed with the clothes in tesco and M&S at the moment!!

I have a full video coming on YT with bits that are in store and a rather large haul (oops) but enjoy a little snippet here!

A Realistic Week of Lazy & Budget Friendly Kids Di

A Realistic Week of Lazy & Budget Friendly Kids Dinners!

I thought I’d film what I’ve made Albie for dinner after school this week to hopefully give you guys some inspiration of some quick & budget friendly meals ❤️

1️⃣ Pizza & Sweetcorn
I’m such a lover of those little budget pizza’s you can get for like 40p! I usually cut one in half and he has it with some veg! He’s only 4, so wouldn’t eat a whole one. I added sweetcorn too as it’s his fave - making this whole meal under 50p 😍

2️⃣ Chicken & Bacon Tortellini with a corn on the cob!

I use half a pack for Albie, and like the pizza, the other half he will usually have for lunch or another dinner in the week! He’s not a fan of sauce with it, so I just added a bit of butter & cheese. I usually have tortellini in the cupboard as it’s so quick and easy!

3️⃣ Turkey Dinos, Mixed Veg & Smiley faces
Literally one of the best kids dinners ever! I make it in the air fryer so it takes less than 10 minutes. And it’s a guaranteed winner in this house! I use the big bags of frozen mixed veg as it works out miles cheaper than buying fresh. I also often cook a few portions and keep the rest in the fridge ready to stick in the microwave for the next few days (to save time and electricity)

4️⃣ @littledish ready meal! I know these might be cheaper to make from scratch… but I just don’t always have the time! So I keep this in my fridge/freezer for emergencies. They’re often on the @shopmiumuk app for free / a discounted amount. They’re great for swimming lesson days too as we’re always in a rush! I paired it with Mondays leftover sweetcorn too!

5️⃣ Cheesy Beans on Toast

Albie has been poorly this day! So I made him one of his fave comfort meals… plus it’s so cheap and easy! I’ll usually have the rest of the beans for my lunch the next day, or he’ll have it with something for dinner!

I love watching other peoples food shops… so here’

I love watching other peoples food shops… so here’s mine!

We aim to spend about £70 a week on our big food shop, this one was a lot more as we’ve just moved… so we needed all new fridge and freezer things… plus bathroom bits too!

We did it! We’re home owners! It’s been a crazy

We did it! We’re home owners!

It’s been a crazy few days, but I had to make it insta official! It seems crazy to me that a few years ago we were using food banks and this week we bought a house 🏡

Don’t worry, I won’t be filling this page with just home content 😂 I’ve made @budgetmumhome for that 😂❤️

The first of my toy sale series! This year I’m o

The first of my toy sale series!

This year I’m on a mission to go to every toy sale and share the best bargains I find! I’m a huge lover of second hand present shopping, but as my sons getting older, he has some very specific things on his lists…. So I’m trying to hunt them down at toy sales instead of paying full price!

Oops! I thought my boot fair season was over… but

Oops! I thought my boot fair season was over… but I may have found myself at one today 🙈

I did start my Christmas shopping though! I only spent £7 and managed to get two packaged toys for Albie!

Rescue boots retail at about £12, so I saved £7! And the Marshall play doh set seems to be discontinued… you can get it shipped from America for £50 🤣🤣 I couldn’t find anything too similar, except a play doh garbage truck which retails at £20, so I’d assume it would have been similar pricing… either way for £2.50 defo a good saving!

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