Latest news with #budgetbaking
The Sun
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I wasn't going to fork out hundreds for a Stitch birthday cake for my daughter so made my own with Tesco bargains
ALL parents want to create a magical birthday for their little ones, but the truth is costs can quickly add up, especially if you want a posh cake. That's why one mum decided to take matters into her own hands instead of forking out hundreds for a professionally made character cake. 3 3 3 She took to the popular Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group to show off her "Stitch cake done cheap." The glorious cake looked like it could've cost a fortune, but thanks to a few savvy supermarket buys the entire thing came to just £25. And amazingly, she didn't even have to bake anything, so her DIY creation is perfect for a baking novice. First, she snapped up the pink drip cake from Asda for just £14. Although the trendy cake looked great on its own, the mum decided to go all out with her DIY cake design, so headed to Tesco to bag some more bargains. To surround the main cake, she bought cupcakes for £4, as well as a cake base for £1.50. To add to the base and main cake she snapped up loads of pink and blue sweets, which she piled high. And the cherry on top was a Stitch cake topper, which she ordered from eBay for £5. After a little time sorting everything out, the finished cake could've fooled anyone into thinking it took hours and cost a fortune. So, it's no surprise other Facebook users were amazed by the creation too. Meghan shares rare video and pictures of Lilibet's 4th birthday celebrations at Disney One commented on the viral post: "We do this every year for our sons birthday! Buy a plain birthday cake and decorate it with whatever he's into that year." "Clever clogs!!! It's fabulous!!!" another wrote. And a third chimed in: "Looks awesome, well done!" Meanwhile, other parents revealed they've been giving the same money-saving hack a go and have made some stunning cakes in the process. One mum showed off a cake she had decorated to fit a Barbie theme, complete with pink glitter, butterflies, and gold stars. Another showed off a spitfire-themed cake she made for her son using a supermarket cake and some fondant. And someone else revealed they used the hack for their wedding cake. "My wedding cakes [from] M&S, all four cakes you can personalise on there website. £150 for all 4. The toppers cost £50 in total from eBay," she said. How much do experts advise spending on a child's birthday? A study by major toy retailer TK Maxx revealed that one in three parents admit to spending less on presents for their own children and their children's friends compared to five years ago. Average Spend: Parents spend an average of £175 on birthday gifts for their kids, while presents for their children's friends can cost up to £95 a year, adding extra strain on household finances. Gifts and Parties: Children receive around 12 presents per birthday, and parents take their kids to an average of four birthday parties annually. Top Five Gifts Parents Buy for Children: Clothes: 49% Books: 46% Technology: 39% Traditional Board Games: 38% Remote Controlled Toys: 26% Dolls: 25% How Much Should You Spend on a Child's Birthday? Experts generally suggest keeping birthday spending reasonable and within the family's budget. A common guideline is to spend around £10 to £20 per year of the child's age. For example: 5-year-old: £50 to £100 Remember, the focus should be on creating memorable experiences rather than adhering strictly to a spending rule. Simple, thoughtful, and creative celebrations can often be just as enjoyable and meaningful for the child.
The Sun
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I saved hundreds of pounds by DIY-ing my daughter's birthday cake – it only cost me £18 and people think it's ‘genius'
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. 3 3 3 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!' 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!!!'
