Money tricks for raising children

ACCORDING to figures out this week from the life insurance broker Reassured, it costs an average of £225,521 to bring up a child to the age of 18 — that’s more than £12,000 a year. So, with the rising cost of living, parents need all the help they can get. n CLAIM THE BENEFITS TO WHICH YOU’RE ENTITLED: It’s possible there are benefits and tax credits you’re owed that you don’t know about. Use the calculator at turn2Us.org.uk or at entitledto. co.uk to see if there is extra help you could get. And check out Workingfamilies.org.uk too. n MAKE THE MOST OF FREE AND

DISCOUNTED TRANSPORT: Children can often get free travel on buses, trains and trams. Young children and teenagers can also get bus passes that allow them to get discounted travel up to the age of 18. Contact your local travel provider to see what is available.

If you travel by train even just a few times a year as a family, it’s worth getting the Family and Friends Railcard which gives you 30 per cent off travel on off-peak fares and 60 per cent for the children. It costs £30 for a year or £70 for three years at Railcard. co.uk and they say that the cards save an average of £114 a year. n JOIN PARENTING GROUPS

ONLINE: Social media sites like Facebook, Telegram, WhatsApp and Nextdoor.com have groups specially for parents where users can sell or exchange kids’ items, get advice and even share babysitting. Most schools offer forums for parents to sell or swap school uniforms to save having to buy things new. You can also swap children’s clothes for free at websites such as rehashclothes.com. n FREE TRAVEL TO SCHOOL AND APPRENTICESHIPS: If your child is of school age or undertaking an apprenticeship, you can get free transport for them if you are on a low income. Find out more at gov. uk. Apprentices can get a year of free travel to and from their placement. Contact your local council to see what they offer. n FREE CHILDCARE: If you have a young child, you may be able to claim for up to 30 hours of free childcare per week during term time, or for a full year, should you use less than 30 hours a week. Visit gov.uk.