Circular wins for young families

1 min read

Family life can mean tight budgets, little time and endless stuff that gets outgrown fast.

Families with children tend to purchase greater quantities of textiles, and tend to waste more food than families without children. Reducing how much you buy should be the priority, but for those must-have items, these tips and tricks help stretch your money further, while also teaching kids habits that'll serve them for life.

Kids' toys and equipment that make sense

Children outgrow everything rapidly. Smart choices keep costs down whilst ensuring quality and safety.

Buy pre-loved for fast turnover items

Clothes, toys, sports equipment through charity shops in Charity Retail Ireland, Flopsy Shop, Reborn, Vinted, Refurbed.ie, Adverts.ie, DoneDeal.ie and local Facebook groups
Join swap networks

Parents tend to be more interested in reuse, often through informal swaps. Toy Library Ireland is a great place to start. Kids and baby swaps are great for finding second-hand clothes in great condition. Keep an eye on swap events at our events page.
Go reusable

Cloth nappies can remove thousands of nappies from the bin per child, from birth to potty training. Try them out to see if it works for you through Cloth Nappy Ireland. You can find starter kits and even borrow before committing, as well as attending free training workshops to help you make the switch.
The Nappy Market, one of our circular.ie communications grant awardees, provides a huge range of reusable nappy supplies, from training pants to swim nappies and starter kits. Kate shares easy tips on how to use these nappies on her social media channel, helping parents to feel less intimidated by the early days of transitioning to cloth nappies.
School uniforms

Where possible, buy second-hand through school sales, parent WhatsApp groups, your local charity shop and DoneDeal or Adverts.ie. Reborn Ireland is an online marketplace specialising in preloved baby items
Play it forward

When your little ones out grow their things - think circular and pass them on. Start local with relatives, whatsApp exchanges, school and club swaps

Family food that goes further

Feeding growing children doesn't have to drain the budget. Simple strategies make every shop count.

Batch cook when possible

Sunday prep saves weeknight stress and reduces waste. For more money saving food waste tips check out Stop Food Waste
Get kids involved

Teaching portion sizes, using leftovers, understanding food dates. Taking a trip to the refill shop can be another way to encourage less packaging waste and make shopping fun
Plan around offers

Start with what is already in your fridge, create a shopping list, make the most of offers.
Pack smart lunches

Ditch the plastic for reusable containers, bulk buy favourites and think seasonal snacks. Take note of what gets leftover and look for alternatives when needed.

For more tips on how to turn food waste into food wins click here.

Make saving fun for everyone

Turn circular habits into family activities that build skills whilst cutting costs.

Party Kit Network

Celebrate in circular style with party kits, with everything you need for outdoor entertainment. These contain everything from plates and cups to tablecloths and decorations. Explore kits near you (or set one up!) at the Party Kit Network.
For more tips on how to celebrate birthdays with less waste click here.
Repair together

Find a Repair Cafe near you. Share or try out basic sewing skills, get into the habit of simple maintenance tricks, or try out DIY toy fixes etc (see YouTube for a world of how to videos). Find out what happens in a repair cafe here. To find out repair cafes near you visit our events page.
Create swap systems

Host swaps and exchanges with friends at home, check out your local library, explore Ireland’s online Toy Library, see what your local sports clubs is doing, or start your own gear swap.
Garden together

Growing herbs and veggies, composting food scraps, and involving children in the picking all help them to understand where things come from. This might encourage more varied eating and make mealtimes more fun. Try giving each child a dedicated plant, like rosemary or mint, that is theirs to take care of.
Growing your own food can reduce food waste, allowing you to harvest only what you need, when you need it. That means fewer vegetables and herbs sit in the fridge until they spoil, and any extra produce can be shared, preserved, or composted instead of thrown away. Find here more about growing food in allotments.
Community connections

Family-friendly repair cafés, local growing groups, playgroup swaps. Looking around your community will reveal plenty of monthly events both free and family friendly. To find events near you visit our events page.
Young families are perfectly placed to build habits that save money and teach values. Start with what feels manageable – small changes become family traditions.

Make a start today

These circular steps add up to big impact - for your wallet and the planet.