Mum gives kids a ‘£5 treat budget’ for half term that bans them from the kitchen
DURING term time, it's all too easy to keep the cupboards brimming with our children's favourite snacks... but when half term hits, that goes right out the window.
That said, one mum has revealed how she takes back control of her children's eating habits during their week off - and we're gutted we never thought of it ourselves.
Mum Deborah Hitchins shared her genius "Half Term Treat Budget" idea on her blog .
In order to teach her children about budgeting (and maintain her sanity), Deborah told them that they were banned from rummaging through the kitchen cupboards for snacks.
She wrote: "Are you guilty of slogans such as... 'there's nothing to eat' or 'you need to go shopping!'
"Here's your chance to take control and avoid all of the above! The budget is now in your hands."
Here's your chance to take control! You have £5 to buy your own stash... use it wisely, this is to include all treats.
Allocating the kids a fiver to spend on their food for the week, the mum explained: "You have £5 to buy your own stash... use it wisely, this is to include all treats.
"Crisps, sweets, biscuits, pop, cake etc. This week I will only provide you with dinners and puddings."
After being shared on Facebook, others mums - who are currently struggling to keep their cupboards stocked up - were full of praise for the "genius" idea.
Vote for your Fabulous Mum of the Year and WIN
DO you know a mum who deserves some extra recognition?
Whether she’s overcome adversity, dedicates her life to help children in need, works long hours to support her family or is just an all-round supermum, we want to hear your stories.
Nominate her for our Fabulous Mum Of The Year Award and she could win an overnight stay for two at a Champneys spa of her choice complete with a Bronze treatment package, which includes a full-body exfoliation and cocoon wrap.
Two runners-up will take home goodie bags worth hundreds of pounds including an afternoon tea with bubbles thanks to Buyagift, plus all three will have a makeover and appear in a gorgeous Fabulous magazine shoot.
Meanwhile, you could win a Samsung TV worth £499 or fashion vouchers for £100 or £50 from Next, Marks & Spencer, F&F at Tesco and George at Asda simply for nominating her!
If you want to nominate a mum then fill in the form .
To enter, upload a photograph of the mum you are nominating and explain why they deserve to win.
The deadline for entries is Sunday, February 23, and one winner and two runners-up will be announced on Sunday, March 22. Good luck – we can’t wait to hear from you!
One replied: "I might try something like this with the kids... Fed up of the moaning already."
Another added: "I need to do that! My 14-year-old son is always in the fridge hunting for rubbish."
However, a third wrote: "My toddlers (1, 3 and 4) would eat their way through this in a day. The one year old demolished an entire punnet of blueberries as a casual post breakfast snack..."
Most read in Fabulous
In more parenting news, this mum got lunchbox-shamed by her four-year-old son's teachers for giving him gherkins because they "don't count" as veg.
Plus these parents were left horrified after a grandma gifted her granddaughter a babygro printed with nipple tassels, thong and a "tramp stamp".
And this clever mum hid chocolate in a frozen berries packet so her son doesn't "gorge himself silly" - and parents love the idea.