10 tips for (mostly) free toys

You can do toys on the cheap, and keep it green.

Here's my tips for toys that won't cost a packet, and make the most of recycling, reusing and borrowing.

1. Toy Swap. I do temporary swaps of bags of toys with friends and it works a treat. Your little one will be delighted with the 'new' toys, and will enjoy getting their 'old' toys back.
2. Car boot sales. I can't resist them. Best toy bargain? Toy pram for 25p. 
3. Freecycle. I can't help myself and check this site most days. Latest acquisition was a Playmobil castle with play figures - absolutely free! Items get snapped up quickly so keep your eyes peeled.
4. Charity shops. 'Nuff said. They're a goldmine of cheap toys just waiting to be loved all over again.
5. NCT Nearly New Sales. They're popular, and with good reason.
   
6. The great outdoors. Get your wellies on! Nothing beats fresh air, and a run around in the park, woods, or garden. Need inspiration? Check out Nature's Playground and Green Crafts for Children.
   
7. Netmums. Just discovered I can get free kids' stuff in my local area. And give away/sell my own. It's dead easy to advertise items, I put up 3 items at the weekend with my 18 month daughter messing about on my lap.  
8. Gumtree. See Gumtree Free postings
9. Libraries. When my kids are fed up of their toys, it's time for a trip to the library. My little boy loves choosing books for himself and his sister, and putting them in the machine to scan them. There's not a toy library near me, but you might be lucky. 
10. Rubbish. Think Mr Maker. Collect toilet rolls, yoghurt pots, boxes, ribbon, any bits that a child can transform into a robot/castle/rocket/etc. Pasta shapes, paint and string? You've got a princess bracelet. Keep bits in a shoebox and rainy days will never be the same again.

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What's for tea mum?

Please mummy, can I have my favourite tea in the whole wide world? Waffles with tuna, cheese sprinkles and peas. Please mum!

Just been watching Big Fish Fight on Channel 4. I've relied on old faithful tinned tuna as a handy standby for the kids' meals for too long. Time to change my fishy habits. It's impossible to ignore how wasteful tuna fishing is (even if you buy the better brands - see Greenpeace's Tuna League Table), I'm going to try and branch out and try different fish that are more sustainable.

First off, Jamie Oliver's fish fillets with lemon sole or plaice. Just insert the word 'party' before 'fish fillets', and the children should go for them - hook, line and sinker.

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Pegs, pegs, pegs

Can't get enough of them. I first got a pack when I got my own place years ago, thanks to mum, always one for practical gifts! For years, I used them just for hanging out the clothes (no tumble drier bills). Then a lightbulb moment! I realised I could use them for clipping all sorts of food bags.

So now, everything from pasta, coffee and cereal, to peas in the freezer, means food keeps better and longer so less waste.

Such a humble little thing, but sometimes it's the little things that can make life that bit easier.

Came across these cool recycled pegs by Ecoforce, who have a bucketload of ideas for what you can do with pegs. Submit your own suggestions and they'll publish them. You can buy them in high street supermarkets too. Take a look at their picture gallery - who said pegs can't be stunning?

Image: Ecoforce

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