'I'm a money influencer who is honest about budgeting - we all make mistakes'
Share:
“No one is perfect when it comes to finances. Even if they have a personal finance blog,” writes mum-of-one Amy Ward about all the unexpected ways motherhood has cost her. In one update, she reveals how treats of M&S cookies are turning into a regular thing and admits to making impulse purchases – including a pair of fluffy rabbit slippers that she did not need – during night feeds with her little boy, who was born last February.
Amy’s love of a takeaway coffee would send some “finfluencers” (finance influencers) into a spin – many a word has been written about how ditching your daily caffeine fix can get you on the property ladder. But rather than painting a picture of someone who has never spent a penny over her budget, it is Amy’s honest talk that makes her relatable – not only to parents, but to anyone struggling to save money.
What started off five years ago as an Instagram page documenting her journey to buying her first home has now turned into a place where Amy helps other new mums navigate the pressure of juggling your finances while on maternity leave and beyond. She covers everything you would expect, from her favourite Aldi purchases and all the second-hand gifts she is buying her baby this Christmas to more complex subjects such as claiming Child Benefit.
Alongside the practical tips are raw conversations about her struggles with mental health, specifically postpartum depression. Amy documents how her little boy was six months old before she decided to visit her GP after struggling with high anxiety and low mood, and she now does regular maternal mental health “check-in” posts where she encourages others to speak more openly about how they are feeling.
