I saved hundreds of pounds by DIY-ing my daughter's birthday cake – it only cost me £18 and people think it's ‘genius'

Scottish Sun

01-06-2025

IF your child's birthday is coming up and the thought of splashing the cash on a lavish cake sends shivers down your spine, fear not, you've come to the right place.
Many parents will know that ordering a personalised birthday cake can often end up costing hundreds of pounds.
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A mother has revealed that rather than forking out hundreds of pounds for a personalised cake for her daughter's birthday, she DIY-ed a supermarket buy
Credit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa
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For less than £20, Amy was able to celebrate her child's birthday in style
Credit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa
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Amy nabbed the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake from Waitrose
Credit: Waitrose
But in a bid to save cash, one savvy mum took matters into her own hands and was able to cut costs by DIY-ing her little darling's birthday dessert.
Posting on social media, a mother named Amy shared a step-by-step tutorial of how she DIY-ed her daughter Myla's pink birthday cake - and it cost her less than £20.
So if you're on a budget and your purse is feeling tighter than ever before, then you'll need to listen up.
The UGC content creator explained that to celebrate her daughter turning one, she decorated the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake, which she bought from Waitrose.
The pink coloured golden sponge cake, which is filled with raspberry jam and topped and decorated with pale pink and dark pink buttercream, cost Amy just £18.
Then, using some pink icing and ribbons she already had, she was able to personalise the cake - and we think it looks incredibly professional.
Alongside a short clip shared online, the influencer penned: 'Making my daughter's first birthday cake, saving £100s!'
Showing off the box-fresh vintage-style cake, which is decorated with whirls and swirls of piping, Amy beamed: 'Come with me to DIY my daughter's first birthday cake for only £18!'
Amy confirmed that she used letter cutters to cut out 'Myla is one' in pink icing, which she placed on top of the cake.
Following this, she attached pretty pink bows, which she already had from Shein, and was able to stick these to the cake with cocktail sticks.
The simple chocolate cake recipe using only TWO ingredients - it's sweet and you won't even need to put it in the oven
We think Amy's DIY cake looks brilliant and is a great way for those strapped for cash to save money, without having to scrimp on the celebrations.
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @mummyandmylaa, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 178,600 views.
Not only this, but it's also amassed 2,782 likes, 31 comments and 780 saves.
Social media users were impressed with the jaw-dropping cake and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this.
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.
One person said: 'Love that. Wish I hadn't already ordered a cake almost the exact same.'
Another added: 'This is genius!'
A third commented: 'Super cute!'
Not only this, but another parent beamed: 'Omg that cake is adorable, I wish I knew about it before!'
This is genius!
TikTok user
At the same time, one user wondered: 'What it nice? I worry that supermarket cakes can be dry inside as they are sat on the aisle for a while.'
To this, the content creator replied and confirmed: 'Not dry at all!!!
'Honestly, it tasted AMAZING, no regrets!!!'
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