Thrifty Tips and Trips Mum

So here it is - the reason I’m here, why this account exists and how life as I currently know it came to be….but the condensed and toned down version (I’m trying to share so you guys can understand and relate to my story more, but also want to try and be as mindful as I can if possible). Otherwise known as my butterfly effect! 💫

What’s a butterfly effect? It’s the idea that everything that’s happened to us, every heartbreak, every chance meeting, every decision we’ve ever made leads us to where we are now. Not to be confused with ‘everything happens for a reason’ which I think can be very triggering and traumatic to hear when you’re experiencing horrific pain or a great loss. But it IS the notion that there is something to be taken or learnt from every experience and situation we find ourselves in and that everything we endure in our lives shapes who we are, what we value, the paths we choose and eventually where we are in life.

If you’ve never thought about yours before, I would really encourage you to look back and think about it, your own butterfly effect will soon become clear ✨

*Trigger Warning - Child Birth*

Wow. What a story. SERIOUS book recommendation if you LOVE an incredible comeback story, are keen to delve more into the depths of mental health or you’re a sucker for an autobiography which focuses on real life, featuring real people experiencing REAL, life changing events. Yes, celebrities are still human and they are not immune to tragic situations or circumstances!

I managed half of this book on the plane with a toddler in tow (that’s how much I loved it!) and I’d finished it by the time our holiday was through - such a gripping and emotional yet ‘easy to read’ book with an inspiring message.

I was 21 and in my last year at Leeds Uni when Louise appeared on our TV screens, I watched her on MIC like a many of us did back then and I’ve followed her on social media ever since. Her birth story and how open and brutally honest she’s been with her experience of motherhood has had me in a chokehold since she first began to reveal snippets of what she’e endured, so the minute she released her book, I knew it would be this year’s holiday read!

The fact that she basically almost died (the first as a result of child birth) like three times and is beginning to view what she’s been through as lucky, as opposed to unlucky (for the sheer fact that she managed to survive it all) now she’s finally emerging out the other side, shows character, strength and true resilience. But perhaps what stuck with me the most is what her doctors said to her post op regarding her fitness and health. In effect, it was down to the health of her organs and how fit she was as a woman in her early thirties that ensured her survival. I shed tears as I read that. Louise was healthier and fitter than the average 30 something woman at that point in her life, which meant that a lot of us would most likely have died had that happened to us…which really did blow my mind. The fact that I know I likely couldn’t have survived that then and am fairly certain I couldn’t survive it now, was the reality check I needed to begin looking after myself more.

I smiled, I cried, I reflected and I really THOUGHT.

Thank you .thompson for bearing your soul ❤️

Now you see them ➡️ Now you don’t 👀😂

Quick throwback to Dublin, I promise the full reccos are coming soon!!! 🙏🏼

After last week’s all inclusive and trying to just live off air and leaves today, looking back through these photos isn’t helping my new diet 😂😂😂

Really enjoyed the short hiatus from posting to this account, but it’s back with a bang and a sunrise photo 💫❤️

On this particular morning, I got up early to scope out our ideal sun-bed spot and enjoy a coffee with the sunrise, whilst I did a bit of self reflection. I whacked my son’s birth playlist on, thought about my son and his speech journey, creating this account and what I’ve achieved with my little business over the last year and genuinely shed a tear! There have been nights I’ve quite literally prayed for what I’m experiencing in life now and I feel like those prayers are being answered. I looked up and thanked my grandma for watching everything in my life play out from above (the way it needed to but I didn’t always understand that at the time) and helping my desires finally come true (her birthday was our son’s due date and I lost her aged 12 very unexpectedly, she came to stay with us every weekend whilst we had her here, she was like my second mum, which is why the date felt significant) and just felt very….grateful 🤍

This was the first holiday I’ve been on in my adult life where I was lucky enough to not have to feel overly conscious about visiting the spa because I was worried about money, or not buying those shoes because I was overdrawn yet again. I’ve worked since I was 22 and it’s only at 35 that I can genuinely say that. This isn’t me pretending that I’ve not been to lovely places, experienced wonderful things or been privileged in lots of ways growing up. I have and I’m well aware of that. BUT it is honestly the first time, I’ve not had that money ni**le in the back of my head with every decision I’ve made as a working adult.

Would you guys be interested in hearing a little more about why being ‘thrifty’ became part of who I am? I think it’s important you guys understand where that mindset and this account name came from? If you don’t know me personally or you’re just joining this account now, you won’t know how the last 13 or so years of my life led me to have a pretty up and down relationship with money, one even some of my best friends are only learning about now.

Let me know ❤️🫶🏻💫

Whilst all of the above may be true for so many of you and I try to write these with the majority of us in mind, my September looks a little different this year, as we’re actually going on our Summer holiday today! One last year to take advantage of those prices outside of the school holidays and we’re going with our little tribe of besties, 9 of us in total ❤️ Once we get back, of course I’ll go into full on Autumn mode as Halloween is my favourite holiday and we go all out in those house! 😂

Sending love to anyone who has sent kids back or to school for the first time this week, I’ll be in your shoes this time next year and having truly felt like I’ve experienced every emotion parenthood can throw at you over the last four years, from the highest of highs emerging from lockdown and finally being able to take my son swimming at six months old for the first time, to feeling terrified and super emotional as he underwent over three hours of Neuro/ENT surgery at 15 months old - I’m sure starting school will bring yet another bucket load, which I’ve not yet experienced nor am I sure I’m ready for ❤️🥹

Been in two minds as to whether to take a week off socials during our holiday, mainly because I love it, so it kinda feels like fun for me rather than work, but I’ve decided not to post to this account during this time. As social media is my past time as well as my job, I spend SO much time on it that it almost becomes like another limb, so I’m actually really looking forward to not posting. I’ll still see what you guys are all getting up to of course, what else do I do when I’m on a lounger besides scrolling and reading 😂 but you won’t see me on here for a week and I’ll play catch up when I get back ❤️

Social Media is fun but it’s NOT real life and when we’re away with blue skies, sun, our kids and our best friends I want to be IN real life, even if just for a short while 💫

Happy September 🫶🏻

In my supermarket clothes era and I’m not even sorry about it 😂😂😂

Well done on this bloody lovely waistcoat, at less than £20 it’s a proper bargain and I love it 🙏🏼❤️

At this point I’m 95% caffeine and strongly debating buying a cheap version of this crockery set 😂🌸☕️🩷

Full Dublin review coming soon 👀 but if you’re heading there any time soon, gets my vote for serious insta aesthetics, delicious food and unforgettable coffee 💋

A little bit of a wind down (as much as we ever wind down😂) for us this month, ahead of our holiday in September with our besties!!

Village fetes, free activities, lots of old fashioned Summer fun before the season turns to Autumn, in six weeks or so!

We have one year left before our son starts school so next Summer we’ll be in the throws of buying uniform, labelling everything he owns and I’ll no doubt be crying into my pillow, as I can’t quite believe time has flown that fast! 😂

It’s 3.23am and I’m awake watching a dinosaur film with a poorly three year old 😩😳🤪

Yesterday afternoon, my son was sent home from nursery early with a high temp and as we know, when there’s illness in any household, everything else falls by the wayside 😩 It meant ready meals for our tea, the dishes are piled up by the sink, the dishwasher needs unloading, I’ve got several hours work to catch up on (best believe I’ll find the time to cram it in somewhere 👍🏻) and the editing I needed to do for a reel to post to this account, quite simply…will have to wait! I can also foresee us possibly having to change our weekend plans, but hey, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there 🤷🏼‍♀️

It’s taken me a A LONG TIME to get comfortable with leaving things, or accepting that they can wait. In fact I spent the first year of parenthood really struggling with this idea. I’d always placed so much value on ‘achieving’, ticking off a ‘to do’ list and the whole ‘tidy place, tidy mind’ concept, I didn’t know how to just ‘be’. And essentially, that’s what a lot of newborn life entails. Just surviving. Just BEING. But…I’m there now ❤️

So instead, I’m posting the reality of life with a poorly toddler, because that’s what I want this page to be about, thrifty tips, kids trips and a slice of reality - and as much as I love my job, thrive on getting s**t done and I truly enjoy managing this page, it can all wait (although I might rope Grandma into helping me out for an hour tomorrow - I may be better at leaving things, but I’m still me after all 😂).

Being mum is my most important job ❤️ Gonna need ALL the caffeine tomorrow ☕️😂😂😂

Rediscovering myself after having my son has been a journey, both mentally and physically - this week, on a whim, I suddenly decided to go all in with the full fringe which has instantly made me feel more ‘cool’ 😂😳 put together and that bit more ‘on-trend’ 🫣

It’s amazing how a fresh hairstyle or slight change can boost your confidence a bit and make you feel a little more like “you” again, although the usual me, even before kids is definitely a mum bun, so there’s certainly an irony there 😂

Whilst I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to keep up with the daily styling and washing my hair more than once a week, it’s the thought and the effort that counts, right 😜 Even though my priorities have shifted with mum life and age, a little touch of glam and self-care always leaves me feeling a bit less ‘mum’ and a bit more ‘Chelsea’ 🤩

‼️‼️GIVEAWAY‼️‼️

Excited to have teamed up with for this pretty EPIC GIVEAWAY for one awesome night out!!

The famous musical ‘Rent’ as performed on the West End, is coming to Peterborough NEXT WEEK and you can…

🤩 WIN TWO FREE TICKETS for a night of your choice! Thurs 20th - Sat 29th June, New Theatre, Peterborough

You will also WIN:

🤩 Two drinks vouchers
🤩 Two ice cream vouchers
🤩 A programme

To really make a proper night of it! 🎉🎉🎉

To enter, all you have to do is:

🤩 Like this post
🤩 Follow and on Instagram
🤩 Tag 3 friends (each tag counts as an entry)
🤩 Share to your story

The winner will be announced the evening of Tuesday 17th June and announced on stories. New Theatre will get in touch to confirm arrangements for ticket collection! 👍🏻

I love a musical and I have enjoyed some bloody awesome shows at New Theatre over the last few years, you’re really in for a treat 🎉🤩❤️ Good Luck!!!



T&Cs: Tickets are subject to availability and must be booked in advance, drinks/ice cream are all subject to stock available and may be substituted for a similar product, the voucher will state what drinks/ice creams are available as part of this promotion, this cannot be applied to tickets already booked or swapped for any other shows. By entering this giveaway you give permission to be contacting by the New Theatre for the purpose of booking tickets. We will never ask for card details, so please be alert for scammers. Must be 14+ to see Rent.

Praying we get some actual sun to enjoy in June, off to a great start 🙏🏼☀️

Kicking off the month with our rearranged family trip to London, which I’m super excited for! 😍 Later in June, we’re also off to in Caistor, on a little caravan break with the grandparents ☀️ and it’s my first full month working purely in social media, both in my employed role and for myself, with my side business! It’s a very exciting time for us as a family and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the next few months unfold 🙌🏻

I hope those of you in the thick of school, ahead of the Summer holidays, keep that beach holiday and lazier mornings ahead, at the forefront of your mind when you’re rushing around from pillar to post 😂💪🏼💫 The end is in sight!

🩷 Thrifty Tips and Trips Mum x Mini Fest GIVEAWAY 🩷

is exactly that, a festival for your minis created by several local superwomen in business! And after such a successful first year last year, it’s back this year, bigger and better than before at the incredible on Sunday 21st July! ✨

Packed with meet & greets, singalongs, food and drink stalls, sweetie stands, hair braiding and plenty more - it’s a kids dream!!! 🤩

We are giving away one adult and one toddler ticket to this awesome event and all you have to do to enter is:

🩷 Follow both our accounts on Insta
🩷 Like this post
🩷 Tag a friend
🩷 Share to your story and tag us

The winner will be announced Friday 24th May and Mini Feat will arrange getting the tickets to you! These tickets can also be added onto any existing orders! 🫶🏻

I am super excited to have been gifted tickets for our family to visit Mini Fest this year, of course I’ll be reviewing it all on here for you, as well as featuring it in my simply Spalding Column! Can’t wait and get entering! 🎉☺️

April showers bring May flowers…and amidst the raindrops warmer weather and lighter nights, I’m gearing up for some truly heartwarming moments and occasions this month ❤️

Thrilled and honored to be a part of one of my best friend’s wedding, where I’ll be reading a special poem 🫶🏻 We’re also staying overnight child free so the hangover will be real I’m sure 😂😂😂✌🏼

Plus, our little family can’t wait for the adventure that awaits us at Warwick Castle’s Zog Land at the end of the month. I have fond memories of Warwick castle from childhood and school trips. A bit surreal that now it’s my turn to take my son to enjoy it! What a way to make me feel old 🤪😂

Let the magic of April unfold! 💍🌸🏰

Proud and excited to announce that my monthly column ‘Thrifty Tips and Trips Mum’ will start for local magazines, Simply Spalding and Simply Boston, as of May!

The column will focus on my everyday family life, budgeting and money saving tips I’ve picked up along the way, as well as local kid and family friendly days out and activities. I am extremely flattered that such a long-standing and well established magazine with such a vast reach has offered me this exciting opportunity to write for them. I look forward to starting work for them asap!

Thanks again to Hayley and the team at Simply Spalding and Boston ❤️

⭐️ Jenny’s Wood Review ⭐️

⭐️Where: Jenny’s Wood
⭐️Location: Wyberton, about ten minutes from Boston
⭐️ What: Woodland/nature walk with path following a loop
⭐️ When: 18th March ‘24
⭐️ Visited Before: Several times 🥰
⭐️ To Do: Snack hut, nature walk with good path for biking/scooters, ‘exercise’ type equipment, great for dog walkers
⭐️ SEND: Very peaceful and wheelchair friendly 👍🏻
⭐️ Cost: Free. The snack hunt is very reasonably priced too
⭐️ Parking: On site, free 🙏🏼
⭐️ Food: Breakfast baps, crisps, pupcakes, ice cream, hot and cold drinks, very affordable ☺️
⭐️Toilets: No toilets on site
⭐️ Dogs: Yes, must be on a lead March - July I think 🤔
⭐️ Age Range: All ages can enjoy a stroll here
⭐️ Best Suited: Babies, adults, dog lovers, young kids may get a bit bored, depending on how outdoorsy they are!
⭐️ Time of Year: All year round, prefer it in the Spring! Do not visit on a very hot day as barely any shade anywhere, made that mistake before! We almost died 🥵
⭐️ Time Spent: One hour, probably two at most
⭐️ Total Cost: Approx £6 for two coffees, an ice lolly, a pupcake and a little Easter egg for our son! Very good! Could take your own snacks and drinks and not spend a thing 👏🏼
⭐️ Out of Ten: 7/10. No shade or toilets so bear that in mind. Treating ourselves to a coffee or snack at the start of the walk also ‘makes it’ for us, it’s a cute little shepherd’s hut 😍
⭐️ Visit Again: Yes! Not too far from our house and good that the path allows for bikes, scooters, pushchairs etc for kids which is handy!

Keep following for more and please tag me in your visits 🙌🏻❤️

Social media often gets a bad rap! Criticised for its effects on mental health, similar to the negative spotlight you could attribute to chocolate causing weight gain 🤔 But, it’s crucial to recognise the impact it has is in our hands. Social media, like choices with chocolate, just requires a mindful approach when it comes to consumption.

I think socials can often be used as a scapegoat for deteriorating self-esteem, when in fact, if you work on self awareness and acknowledge when you’re entering a realm of comparison, I feel it’s benefits can greatly outweigh its negatives.

Social media serves as a space for connecting individuals, communities and providing a platform for ‘every day’ voices that otherwise, would go unheard. Reflecting on covid’s lockdown, social media emerged as a lifeline, offering connection and a sense of community during isolating times 😊

The narrative paints social media with a broad brush, emphasising its detrimental effects, but my experiences (I met my partner via Instagram!) and those of others, speak to its positive potential. It’s a dynamic arena where individuals, like my recent guest on the latest DOAM found true support and understanding when she had her baby girl, Wren, at just 20 weeks gestation. She quite literally said she would have struggled to survive that time without it, transcending the physical boundaries that otherwise would have left her feeling completely isolated.

So, amidst the criticism, I refuse to feel guilty for enjoying time on socials. It’s not just a platform often used for self-indulgence or bragging - and let’s not forget that’s at the hands of the ‘poster’ (socials didn’t force you to share that photo of the latest designer bag or sports car!) it can also be a medium for connection, awareness, nowadays it’s even people’s careers and entire businesses…and sometimes, a literal lifeline for those in need. Let’s not undermine the diverse ways people engage with socials, recognising the positive impact it can leave on our lives 🙏🏼

Spent Mother’s Day Weekend at a bottomless brunch with a few of the girls yesterday and today, we went for a very wet and muddy woods walk, followed by a visit to my parents house, where my dad cooked a steak dinner for us all ❤️ It was the perfect mix of a little bit of everything!

Whilst I was at brunch yesterday, my partner took our son to in Peterborough for the first time! We usually visit the Bourne one as it’s only 20 minutes from us, but Peterborough happened to fit in well with our plans 🤩

We like ‘Full of Beans’ as it’s more of a cafe for the adults with soft play to keep the kids entertained, rather than the other way around 🤪 The food and coffee is great (they also do takeaway) it’s affordable at just £3.99 for 90 minutes of soft play and you can easily see where your kids are at all times, giving you peace of mind.

My discount code gets you 10% off all online bookings and 5% off your food bill, so save this for future reference to get that little extra off your next visit 👏🏼

Aside from it being my birthday month and Mother’s Day…March is one of my favourite months of the year for many reasons! For me, with March comes the feeling of hope after a lonnnnggg old Winter, a bit like ‘the light at the end of a tunnel’ so to speak 🌸🌼

I love the lighter mornings, longer days, seeing the daffs and snowdrops bloom, dog walks without having to wrap up in layers - it’s also a time to get organised in the garden and we get the power washing done 👍🏻 Excited for the Summer which will soon be upon us ☀️

We go hard for Easter in our house (shock) and every year we do the Easter Tree together in the most cheap and cheerful way 😂 I take a photo so I can compare the trees and how our son has changed each year and we host an egg hunt for our little tribe on ‘Good Friday’, which has kinda become our little tradition 🤍 This is the stuff I most looked forward to when I found out I was pregnant, and we’re in it right now!

Yep, I love Christmas and if you didn’t know by now, I also LIVE for Halloween, but as seasons go, Spring is the one for me. Time to start afresh, it gives me feelings of renewal and revival, re-birth I guess you could say ❤️

⭐️ Sacrewell Farm Review ⭐️

⭐️Where: Sacrewell Farm
⭐️Location: Just past Peterborough, on the way to Wansford, approx 50 mins for us
⭐️ What: Farm, play area, soft play
⭐️ When: 25th February ‘24
⭐️ Visited Before: Several times!
⭐️ To Do: Farm animals, outdoor play area, cafe, indoor soft play, Pooh sticks bridge
⭐️ SEND: Wide paths but rough terrain in places, especially in the Winter, very muddy! Cafe, soft play etc are wheelchair accessible 😊
⭐️ Cost: Approx £29 for two adults and a three year old, under 2s go free
⭐️ Parking: On site, free 👍🏻
⭐️ Food: Cafe serving ice cream, hot drinks, hot meals (the pizza is lush 😍) and snacks
⭐️Toilets: At reception, in the soft play
⭐️ Dogs: Dogs on leads welcome 🐶
⭐️ Age Range: All ages, a family feel!
⭐️ Best Suited: A nice day out for everyone
⭐️ Time of Year: All year round, they do some great themed events around certain seasons and holidays, we went for Halloween one year and it was fab 🎃
⭐️ Time Spent: 3 hours but could do a whole day here!
⭐️ Total Cost: Approx £45 for the tickets, two coffees, an ice lolly, and a few goes on the £1 type ‘rides’ 🤪 quite pricey for just a few hours 😂
⭐️ Out of Ten: 8/10. The outdoor play area is VERY good, something for all ages! We would visit for this area more than the farm animals, or attend one of their themed days 🤩
⭐️ Visit Again: Yes! This is a good one to meet friends who have kids of differing ages as there’s something for everyone 🙏🏼

Keep following for more and please tag me in your visits 🙌🏻❤️

Amongst the above which come to mind when I think of February, it’s also my dad’s 70 Birthday which is a huge milestone for our family to acknowledge and celebrate 🥹🫶🏻 AND we’re enjoying our first family trip to Butlins for ‘Toddler Week’ ❤️

Buzzing for pancake day, I like to mix it up, have one with Nutella, keep one traditional with lemon and sugar and of course, the classic golden syrup! 😍 At this point in life I look forward to pancake day more than Valentines Day! 😂😂😂 Anyone else? 🤪

Celebrated Ed’s 36th birthday as a family at ‘Full of Beans’ – where soft play meets decent food and coffee rather than the standard ‘frozen food in the oven’ type vibe! If you know you know 😬

Because who says birthday fun has an age limit? 😂

Enjoying the best of both worlds – good food, strong coffee, whilst enjoying the chance to sit down for more than five minutes AND keep an eye as our son plays, all at the same time! 🎈🍰

Locations include Bourne, Peterborough and Corby, use my code CHELSEAT10 to save yourself 10% on your 90 minute soft play session (adults free) AND 5% off your food bill! Use the code as many times as you like 🫶🏻

Wowwwww January came and went fast and before I knew it, I realised I hadn’t yet posted my guide on ‘How to Organise’ 😜😂

So….your fool proof step by step guide to organising your home is finally here! 💪🏼🤩🏡 Now, I’m not claiming to be an expert, these are simply tips which work for me and help me maintain a busy family home with plenty of comings and goings, a toddler and a doggo!

Worth a go, right? 👍🏻🤩

I don’t like the term ‘Influencer’ as it has negative connotations to vanity, not a ‘real’ job and thinking you’re a somebody - which, for me, the latter in particular, couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact, I spent a lot of my twenties wondering where I went wrong! Only in the last year do I believe I’ve found my purpose in life and my feet with my career.

I prefer to think of myself as a ‘content creator’ or 34 year old mum running a hobby account with her spare time to try and help! But that’s a mouth full 😂

In fact, I dislike the term ‘Influencer’ so much, I’ve gone against advice to choose ONE ‘niche’ (ie. SEN, budgeting, kid days out, organisation) and create content solely around that to grow quicker. For me, that wouldn’t be staying true to the purpose of the account. I would rather sacrifice speedy growth for an engaged audience who follow for the real me, where I create and do what I want, when and I don’t fit into a category. I work in social media with a marketing background, so I know I could grow this account faster by ‘niching’ down….but I’ve opted not to despite how easy it could be, (given how this game works and the money you can make). If that means slower growth then so be it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Having said that, as you’ve seen, I’ve recently signed my first contract for paid brand work, and in it I was referred to as an ‘Influencer,’ so I guess that’s what I’m becoming 😂 I get to use this page to raise awareness, share tips, help others and make a side income for my family - an incredible bonus!

So here is my promise. I promise to always be real and genuine with this page and why it’s here. I promise anything I cover or discuss is because I want to, it interests me or I use it, that goes for any paid work I’ve been offered too! I won’t do anything that isn’t ‘me’ and everything you see here is representative of my real life and who am I.

Thanks so much for your support and joining me on the ride, big love, Chelsea the ‘influencer’ but definitely NOT an ‘influencer’ ❤️

Ps - I genuinely have the utmost respect for anyone who has opted to follow the ‘niche content creator’ path if it works for you! You do you 😍 It’s just not me ❤️