The fastest way to save money with kids in the UK is to claim every bit of support you are entitled to first, then go after the three biggest costs: childcare, food and clothes. Many families miss out on Tax-Free Childcare, Healthy Start or free school meals simply because they never applied, and those are worth far more than any amount of coupon clipping.
This guide works through the support available in 2026/27, then practical ways to spend less on the everyday things children need, without making them feel they are going without.
Claim the support you are entitled to
Check these before anything else. Most are claimed online through gov.uk or the NHS, and some can be backdated only a short way, so it pays to apply as soon as you are eligible.
| Support | Who can get it | What it is worth (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| Child Benefit | Anyone responsible for a child under 16 (under 20 in approved education) | £27.05 a week for the eldest, £17.90 for each other child |
| Tax-Free Childcare | Working parents of children aged 11 or under (16 if disabled) | £2 added for every £8 you pay in, up to £2,000 a child a year (£4,000 if disabled) |
| Free childcare hours (England) | Working parents of children from 9 months; 15 hours for all 3 and 4 year olds | Up to 30 hours a week in term time |
| Healthy Start | Pregnant or with a child under 4, on certain benefits (England, Wales, NI) | £4.65 a week, or £9.30 for babies under 1, on a prepaid card |
| Free school meals (England) | All pupils in households on Universal Credit from September 2026 | A free lunch every school day |
If you or your partner earn over £60,000, the High Income Child Benefit Charge claws back 1% of the benefit for every £200 over, until it is fully repaid at £80,000. Still register for Child Benefit even if you opt out of the payments, because it protects your State Pension record if you are at home with a child under 12. See our guide to the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Universal Credit families with three or more children should also check their award: the two-child limit on the child element was removed from 6 April 2026.
Cut the cost of childcare
For working parents of under-5s, childcare is usually the biggest bill in the budget. Combine the free hours with Tax-Free Childcare for the hours you pay for: you cannot use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for the free hours themselves, but you can use it for extra hours, wraparound care, holiday clubs and registered childminders.
- Ask your provider exactly what the free hours cover. They can charge for meals, nappies and optional extras, so compare total costs between nurseries, not just hourly rates.
- Stretch the free hours across the year if your provider offers it, which spreads term-time hours over more weeks.
- Look at holiday clubs run by schools or councils, which are often cheaper than private camps, and check whether your child qualifies for the free Holiday Activities and Food programme.
- If you are on Universal Credit, you can claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs instead of using Tax-Free Childcare. You cannot use both at once, so work out which pays more.
Spend less on food
Food is the cost you can change fastest. A weekly meal plan built around what you already have, one big shop and a short top-up shop will almost always beat buying day to day.
- Plan five or six evening meals and make enough for leftovers or a packed lunch the next day.
- Batch cook and freeze portions of bolognese, chilli or soup so takeaway is not the only easy option on a busy night.
- Drop down a brand level on staples like cereal, pasta, tinned tomatoes and yoghurt. Most children do not notice.
- Use the yellow-sticker reductions late in the day and freeze what you will not eat in time.
- Check supermarket and restaurant 'kids eat free' or 'kids eat for £1' offers during school holidays. They change often, so look them up on MoneySavingExpert before you go.
Clothes, school uniform and kit
Children outgrow clothes long before they wear them out, which makes second-hand the obvious choice for most items. Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, local selling groups, charity shops and school uniform swaps all work well, and you can sell outgrown clothes the same way.
In England, statutory guidance from September 2026 limits schools to three compulsory branded uniform and PE items, or four for secondary schools if one is a tie. Everything else, such as plain trousers, skirts, shirts and jumpers in the right colour, can come from a supermarket. Some councils also offer school clothing grants, so check your council website, particularly in Scotland and Wales where national schemes exist.
Free and cheap things to do
Children rarely remember what a day out cost. Libraries run free storytimes and holiday reading challenges, many national museums are free, and parks, beaches and woodland walks cost nothing beyond travel and a packed lunch.
- Take a picnic and drinks on every day out. Food and snacks at attractions are often a large share of the cost.
- Look for family railcards and two-for-one entry deals before booking train trips.
- Weigh up annual memberships (for example a zoo or heritage pass) only if you will realistically visit three or four times.
- Check your council and leisure centre for free or cheap holiday activities.
Birthdays, Christmas and pocket money
The big seasonal costs only hurt because they arrive in one month. Divide what you expect to spend on birthdays, Christmas and school trips by the number of months until they happen, and put that amount aside each month. Our guide to sinking funds shows how to set this up.
Agree a gift budget with family, try a Secret Santa for cousins, and keep birthday parties small or at home. Giving pocket money and letting children choose how to spend it is also one of the best ways to teach kids about money: they learn quickly that a toy now means no toy next week.
Use the free NHS help for children
Children get several health costs free, which matters if you would otherwise pay for prescriptions or glasses.
- NHS prescriptions are free for under-16s, and for 16 to 18 year olds in full-time education.
- NHS dental treatment is free for under-18s, and under-19s in full-time education.
- NHS sight tests are free for under-16s (and 16 to 18 year olds in full-time education), and you get a voucher towards glasses.
Start saving for them, even a little
Once the essentials are covered, a small regular amount builds up over 18 years. A Junior ISA lets you put in up to £9,000 a year tax-free, and the child can take the money at 18. Some parents save all or part of their Child Benefit this way.
One tax rule to know: if money you give your child earns more than £100 a year in interest, the whole amount is taxed as your income. Junior ISAs are exempt, which is another reason to use one. Use our savings goal calculator to see what a monthly amount could grow to, and our budget planner to find room for it. If you want help sticking to it, SYM tells you how much to put aside each day and keeps a streak going.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions from UK parents trying to cut family costs.
How much does it cost to raise a child in the UK?
Can I get Tax-Free Childcare and free childcare hours at the same time?
Do all children get free school meals in 2026?
Is it worth claiming Child Benefit if I earn over £80,000?
What is the cheapest way to buy school uniform?
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