Life Stages

Circular wins for young families

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Family life can mean tight budgets, little time and endless stuff that gets outgrown fast. Families with children tend to purchase greater quantities of textiles, and tend to waste more food than families without children. Reducing how much you buy should be the priority, but for those must-have items, these tips and tricks help stretch your money further, while also teaching kids habits that'll serve them for life. 

Kids' toys and equipment that make sense

Children outgrow everything rapidly. Smart choices keep costs down whilst ensuring quality and safety.

  • Buy pre-loved for fast turnover items

    Clothes, toys, sports equipment through charity shops in Charity Retail Ireland, Flopsy Shop, Reborn, Vinted, Refurbed.ie, Adverts.ie, DoneDeal.ie, Change Clothes and local Facebook groups 

  • Join swap networks

    Parents tend to be more interested in reuse, often through informal swaps. Toy Library Ireland is a great place to start

  • Go reusable

    Cloth nappies can remove thousands of nappies from the bin per child, from birth to potty training. Try them out to see if it works for you through Cloth Nappy Ireland

  • School uniform strategies

    Where possible, buy second-hand through school sales, parent WhatsApp groups, your local charity shop and DoneDeal or Adverts.ie

  • Play it forward

    When your little ones out grow their things -  think circular and pass them on. Start local with relatives, whatsApp exchanges, school and club swaps

Family food that goes further

Feeding growing children doesn't have to drain the budget. Simple strategies make every shop count.

  • Batch cook when possible

    Sunday prep saves weeknight stress and reduces waste. For more money saving food waste tips check out Stop Food Waste

  • Get kids involved

    Teaching portion sizes, using leftovers, understanding food dates

  • Plan around offers

    Start with what is already in your fridge, create a shopping list, make the most of offers

  • Pack smart lunches

    Ditch the plastic for reusable containers, bulk buy favourites and think seasonal snacks

Make saving fun for everyone

Turn circular habits into family activities that build skills whilst cutting costs.

  • Party Kit Network

    Celebrate in circular style with party kits, with everything you need for outdoor entertainment. Explore kits near you (or set one up!) at the Party Kit Network

  • Repair together

    Find a Repair Cafe near you. Share or try out basic sewing skills, get into the habit of simple maintenance tricks, or try out DIY toy fixes etc (see YouTube for a world of how to videos)

  • Create swap systems

    Think about swaps and exchanges with friends, check out your local library, explore Ireland’s online Toy Library, see what your local sports clubs can provide, or start your own gear swap

  • Garden together

    Growing herbs, composting food scraps, understanding where things come from

  • Community connections

     Family-friendly repair cafés, local growing groups, playgroup swaps

Young families are perfectly placed to build habits that save money and teach values. Start with what feels manageable – small changes become family traditions.