You can say what you like about cheaper brands washing just as well as the leading ones but I've never found this to be the case, especially when you start washing at very low temperatures.

• Click HERE to clean up with this Ariel FREEBIE

I have a bit of a love-hate relationship when it comes to doing the laundry - I love it when it's all done, neatly folded and put away, I resent having to pay a fortune for good quality washing 'powder' products!

I'm not a loyal brand-follower either so I'm happy to try out whichever is either on offer somewhere or being given away for FREE!

Now - to get your sticky mitts on this free bottle of laundry magic all you have to do is answer a few questions to see if you 'qualify' to take part in the trial.

I say 'qualify' because it's really not rocket science to figure out the demographic that's likely to be successful - if you say you're a single man with no kids then the chances are you're not going to get your free bottle of Ariel (which leads me to ask...if you're a single bloke with no kids what are you doing HERE to have found out about this deal anyway!? You are, of course, most welcome though!).

In addition, if you say you don't talk to anyone, don't mind stains on your clothes and are a dirty hermit living in happy clothing-squallor then you might be told 'thanks but NOOOO thanks!'

So a bit of common-sense with your given answers and this freebie is ALL yours - mine's arriving shortly!

Thanks to BlueSky over at HUKD!

One of the biggest worries I had about my children was getting them to eat the right foods to support their growing bodies and their immune systems. I was a shocking eater for most of my adult life so any rules and advice given to me by my parents had long gone out the window. This free diet calculator is a complete life saver.

• Click here for the free toddler diet calculator at Little People’s Plates

Tot It Up is essentially a calculator that gives you a personalised analysis of your toddler’s diet so you can ensure they are getting a good balance of foods. I have to admit that this is such a helpful tool I’m not entirely sure what I did without it! It gives you excellent advice on how to achieve a balance if you’re not quite getting it right too. 

There are practical tips and information on foods, physical activity, healthy eating habits and all sorts of other extras that are tailored for your toddler’s specific age. You can use this calculator even if you’re not the domestic goddess and only use pre-prepared foods.  I thought that was an excellent touch...

Thanks to ljfx at HUKD!

When you have kids to raise you suddenly become far more aware of how important daily nutrition is and what it means for their growing bodies. Adults and children that eat their five a day are healthier, more active and are less prone to serious diseases. Also, children that eat their five a day from a young age tend to keep eating them as they get older and statistically are less likely to contract cancer as adults.

These are compelling reasons to strive for our five a day. However, life has a tendancy of interfering with our eating habits. When you’re tired, busy and stressed snatching a pizza on the sofa is so much easier (and comforting) than spending an hour in the kitchen preparing a wholesome meal. It’s a common trap but it can be avoided. Yes, you’ll still have to do some hard work but only in short bursts.

What counts?

Fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, as well as tinned or canned fruit and veg stored in their natural juices. For the latter try and avoid those that have added sugar or salt. Dried fruit, like raisins, cooked fruit and veg, unsweetened fruit juice and beans and pulses. These are all viable sources of your five a day.

So for those of you, like me, who had this vision of eating through an entire setting of fruit and veg every day, this should come as a relief. You’re probably getting all or most of these anyway.

Tip: Potatoes don’t count although other root vegetables do, so put those chips down now.

How much?

The NHS has a very detailed list on exactly what constitutes a portion of your five a day. However, a general rule is to go for a fist sizes portion of fruit and veg. The site Healthy Eating Made Easy recommends that kids from 2-6 have five portions, 6-12 have seven portions and teenage boys have nine portions a day.

And on a budget?

It doesn’t have to kill you financially to stay on top of your five a day, although most fruit and veg do end up eating quite heavily into the shopping budget. There are some cunning strategies you can adopt in order to keep those costs down. Stay on top of the times and dates your local farmer’s market goes up and shop there. Often they are cheaper and you can buy in amounts that suit your household consumption. 

Consider buying loose fruit and veg, they are often cheaper than pre-packaged ones and less likely to be hiding a rotten friend at the bottom. Instead of buying your usual snacks consider swapping them with fruit or veg.

I know, the thought of saying goodbye to your crème egg and hello to celery isn’t hugely appealing but you will soon feel the difference.

Stay on top of specials, deals and bulk buy offers at your local supermarkets. You can do this by registering with them to get email updates or by visiting sites like HotUKDeals to see what offers other people have found for you.

Try and take advantage of this when getting frozen produce. Frozen veg can store for ages, take seconds to cook and taste delicious. It’s a myth that frozen foods don’t hold the vitamins and minerals; in fact the reverse is true, especially for peas.

A great tip from the NHS is to pop all of your veg that are about to go out of date into a stew or casserole. A slow cooker is a cooking saviour for this. You do your prep in the morning (when you still have some energy) and by dinner time there is a luscious meal complete with half your five a day. And you can freeze what’s left over for a comfort eating, lazy day. There are lots of great bargains on freezer storage containers at the moment so nab some of those too. Make the freezer your friend. 

Adopt a similar principle with fruit that’s edging towards the dark side. Smash those bananas and, using wholemeal baking flour, make wholemeal banana loaves or muffins. You get your grains and your portion of five a day when you snack on those. You can also make them into smoothies or ice lollies.

This is a great way to get that fussy eater to munch down fruit he (or she) would avoid at all costs in its natural form. What child can resist an ice lolly?

Cooking in bulk is a good way to save yourself long term hassles. Set aside one or two Sundays a month where the entire day is about cooking easily frozen meals. The web is packed with healthy recipes to suit your budget.

It sounds like a lot of work, and for one or two days it is, but when you can just whip out a container at 8am and that’s your entire dinner prep for 7pm it is SO worth it.

In a coming article, I’m going to be taking a look at cooking on a budget and I’ll be chatting to all sorts of mums for their top tasty tips.

I don't know about you but if I won the lottery one of the first things I'd change is where I do my grocery shopping. I'd ditch Asda and Tesco's in favour of the food section of Marks and Spencer, and I'd wander the aisles of Waitrose picking up weird and wonderfully overpriced treats and delights. Which is why I'm ridiculously over-excited about the Ocado sale, now on, with 50% off on over 170 items.

• Click here to visit the Ocado sale now

The sale mostly covers their festive stock - thing like cakes and puddings, biscuits, confectionary, cheese, nuts and pates, but it also extends to meat joints and platters as well as hampers and food sets. There are also some great deals on wines as well as cards and gift wrap and picnic items and summer dining.

My fave items include chocolate cluedo down to £4.00 from £8.00. Now that's my kind of game - one you can eat when the boredom sets in.

I'd also happily polish off a few of these Lindt chocolate gold bells, which seem less like an indulgence and more like a bargain at £1.50 instead of £3.00.

You need to create a new account or log in to be able to purchase items from Ocado online, and you will need to enter your postcode before doing so in order to check that the Ocado delivery service operates in your area. I recommend doing this before you browse the sale rails as the disappointment of realising you can't actually get your hands on any of these lovely goodies tastes seriously bitter. Sob.

If you join the Organix club today you’ll land yourself some yummy free gifts just in time for Christmas. You get a free mouse mat that you can personalise with your own photos, money off vouchers and a free 2010 calendar.

• Click here to join the Organix baby club

Organix has a thriving online community where you can talk to other parents, get much needed advice and collect rewards. There are recipes, feeding tips, a bustling forum and a great meal planner all on the site for you to enjoy.

The Natter Rewards Scheme earns you points when you submit proof of purchase on any Organix goodies. These points can be redeemed for all sorts of lovely rewards like tumblers, a Cuddlemoo towel , a Sleepy Safari Height Chart and plenty more. 

Organix foods are entirely organic, natch, free from additives and pesticides. You can enjoy puree’s for the weaning baby right on up to biscuits and chips for older kids to snack on. I’ve developed a fondness for their Gingerbread men. They are delicious with a hint of orange juice in the taste. Yum.

I’ve joined, I want that calendar and those lovely rewards. Why not come and meet me online at Organix Natter Baby Club. I need more friends...

If you want to see more offers like this to your email inbox, why not sign up to the PlayPennies daily email updates?

Wipes are probably one of the best inventions ever. I don’t know how I survived without them before I was a mother! They are perfect for nappy changing, face and hand cleaning, emergency spill fixing, crumbly food holding and also yucky toilet cleaning.

This pack is excellent value for money usually retailing for £7 or more!

• Grab a bulk packet of six packs for a mere £3.66 at Boots by clicking here

The Pampers Sensitive wipes are specially designed for more delicate skin and are perfect for newborns or older kids with sensitive skin. They are light enough to be used from birth and each pack fits neatly into either your handbag or changing bag.  Made from 95% water and chamomile they are alcohol free and don’t dry out your baby’s skin.

They are also scent-free which is, for me, a huge bonus. I really don’t like the scented wipes and in most cases the scent is an added chemical that has little benefit to your baby’s behind. I’ve been using these wipes ever since my daughter was born. It was cotton wool and water at home but Pampers Sensitive when out and about.

They really do make life so much easier and you have something damp enough to remove the inevitable baby stains on your clothing. That’s always helpful...

Thanks to soled73 on HUKD!

There are two ways you can look at the weekly shop.

1. It’s an expensive and tedious task that takes hours
2. A quick and efficient operation that saves you money

Most parents are firmly in the first camp. Whether your child’s a baby, a toddler, at school or a teen, they can cause havoc with your plans to do a quick, military-style run about the shop. They nag, cry, whine and usually throw a complete tantrum because they aren’t allowed to have xyz toy that is either shiny or the latest must-have in their friendship circle. It’s easy to understand why most of us end up buying headache tablets and another Iggle Piggle instead of the much needed oven cleaner or milk.

Here are three top tips on how to make your shopping gauntlet into a fun experience that takes it easy on your finances.

1. Eat before you leave

Yes, you heard me. Don’t even think of doing your shop if anyone in your family is heading towards the hunger zone. I know that usually (well certainly in my family) you are off to the shops because the entire cupboard is bare but try and scrape a sandwich together before you head off. Most people, be they adults or kids, get grumpy and unpleasant when their stomach starts growling and you are far more likely to buy stuff you don’t need when you’re hungry.

In fact, supermarkets take advantage of our body’s basic responses to yummy smells and tasty sights by placing fruit and veg in the most appealing ways and filling the air with the scent of baking bread. Your body is designed to cave in, get hungry and grab the available food. If you’ve eaten your fill at home you’ll be less likely to buy things that you don’t need or want (that will also affect your waistline!) and your kids will be more inclined to relax and enjoy the trip.

2. Make a shopping list

Many supermarket offers like “Buy 3 for 2” or “Buy 1 get 1 free” are actually not quite as magical as they seem. If you take a little time to work out the actual price differences, you may not end up saving as much money as you thought. And you may end up throwing away those two extra packets/boxes you bought because they are right on their expiry date. You end up disposing of the supermarket’s junk for them, and paying for the privilege! If you are a large family then consider going to shops that let you buy in bulk rather than relying on these offers.

However, that said, if you are going to use that specific product before it expires and you save some cash by taking advantage of the offer then by all means go ahead. But, again, before you do why not look at the other brands around the offer first. You may discover that buying three of the tins one shelf down works out to £2 cheaper rather than 20p cheaper. If you know that your little one’s will want a treat or you like to give them one, say you’re a monthly rather than weekly shopper, just include the cost of their treats into your list. It’s also a good way to teach them money values as they hunt down their daily treat and remain distracted while you ponder the shelves.

3. Curb your impulses