A mum-of-one obsessed with scouring resale sites like Vinted and Facebook Marketplace says her shopping hacks save her hundreds of pounds every month.
As a young single mum, Abby Williams tries to pinch the pennies wherever she can.
The 22-year-old fell pregnant with Bambi, her one-year-old son, while at university and quickly had to adapt to her new reality, including becoming savvy with her spending habits.
She rarely buys new items for her child, focusing on getting good deals on pre-loved goods instead.
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Having become quite the shopping savant in the past year, Abby is now eager to share her tips with fellow parents, frequently uploading her tips on TikTok.
“During my pregnancy, I knew i would have to think very carefully about what i was buying and how much I was spending, as I knew it was coming out of all my own money,” Abby, from Dorset, told What’sTheJam.com.
“I was in a difficult situation, having just finished my second year at uni and was unable to find a long term job as job hunting while pregnant and living in a small area was almost impossible!
“I do find it hard to save money as I solely provide for my son and we are in a cost of living crisis.
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“Being a single mum is very financially difficult, which is why I try and find as many ways as possible to save money.”
Olivia was eventually able to “pick up a few jobs here and there” during her pregnancy and has more recently become a full time content creator.
But she is still sticking to her frugal ways.
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One of her biggest hacks is stocking up on clothes in a bigger size during seasonal sales, planning ahead for her growing tot.
She said: “The best time to bulk-buy sale items is at the end of seasons.
“At the end of summer 2023, I bought loads of summer outfits for summer 2024 and most of them were on sale for around £4.
“My favourite shops to buy clothes in the sale are ASDA, Matalan and Sainsbury’s.
“I find their sale prices to be the best and you can buy online and in store!”
Like many people in the UK, Abby too is struggling with the cost of living crisis and will rarely buy new clothes.
Instead, she uses resale sites and second-hand shops to snap up steals.
She said: “I save hundreds by buying off Vinted.
“It’s amazing, especially since babies grow out of things so quickly!
“If I’m thinking of buying an outfit in a shop, my first thought is, ‘Will i find this on Vinted for a much cheaper price?’
“If I can’t, I will then purchase it in store.
“I like to buy things off of Vinted as there’s a huge range of clothing you can buy in bundles or on their own for around £1-4 and some of this is even brand new with labels.”
The mum also purchases gifts gradually over a 12-month period leading up to big events such as birthdays and Christmas, to avoid a big splurge in one go.
She said: “I found this really helpful as Bambi’s birthday is so close to Christmas.
“Being able to spread the cost between earlier months made me feel much less stressed as I only had to buy last minute bits here and there.
“I would absolutely recommend anyone with November or December babies to do this!”
As an example, Abby saved £200 by snapping up Bambi’s travel system in a black Friday sale.
Abby said: “I probably wouldn’t have been able to buy it if it wasn’t on sale.”
The mum says there can be a stigma around buying babies items second hand but that, with a few simple steps, these goods can be just as good as those that are brand new.
She said: “I think people forget that things can be washed and cleaned up good as new, and that buying second hand is not something to be ashamed of and should be encouraged.
“The best thing I’ve found in a charity shop was a big activity cube that would normally be around £60-£70 and was being sold for £10!
“It was still in great condition and was definitely worth way more than what it was sold for.”
By finding groups on Facebook that give away baby items, the mum has also been able to save even more money and give back, too.
She added: “[I’ve] also been able to help other mums by giving away things I don’t need anymore.
“My advice for any struggling single mums is to remember that your children do not need everything brand new.
“They don’t need hundreds of toys, you don’t need to feel guilty about not being able to buy them everything they want.”
