Now that the summer holidays are over and the kids are back at school it’s a good time to think about saving some money throughout fall– and seeing as fall is pretty much already here, now is the perfect time to start.

We’ve been thinking about all the parents that sent their little ones off to school, maybe for the very first time, and how much you had to spend on new school clothes, lunch boxes, pencil cases… the list seems endless!

Thinking about saving might seem like an impossible task, especially as a parent. So we’ve put together some tips on how to save more cash whether your children are still babies, just learnt to walk, or are running about the house like crazy! Have a look at a few of our ideas…

Cut your kid’s hair…

It sounds harder than it is, but you can easily trim your children’s hair yourself. Taking them to a salon can be expensive; it’s likely to cost you at least $25 per child. But all you need to do it yourself is a spray bottle, sharp scissors/clippers and a comb.

Stick to neutral clothing…

If you’ve got more than one little one in the family or one on the way, it’ll save you a fortune if you choose unisex clothing. Stay away from pinks and blues and stick with whites and yellows and you’ll be maximising your hand-me-down potential – lots of baby clothes can be worn by both girls and boys so it just makes financial sense to share!

Brush away dental bills…

Did you know a single filling can cost up to $300? Ouch! By brushing your kid’s teeth twice a day, until they’re old enough to do it on their own, you’ll be preventing cavities and plaque build-up – which in the long run will ensure you won’t have to spend money every time you visit the dentist.

Play for free…

There’s so many things you can do and places you can go with the kids that won’t cost you a fortune. A bookstore, museum, park or swimming pool all make for a great day out at the children (and you!) will love – take a picnic along with you and you won’t even have to spend money on food whilst you’re out and about.

Make your own baby food…

Paying at least $1 for mashed carrots in a jar doesn’t really make sense when you can easily puree fruits and vegetables yourself – all you really need is a food blender and you can even buy specially adapted ones for around $25. And the best thing about making your own baby food is you know exactly what’s going into it!