logo
You could save £3k – and your sanity – with my mum hacks

You could save £3k – and your sanity – with my mum hacks

Telegraph12-03-2025

Casey Major-Bunce always keeps a £5 note and a plaster in the back of her phone case. As a mum of four she never knows when she might need either.
Experience has shown her that little things like this make her life much easier, and Major-Bunce has more of these tricks up her sleeve that keep an online community of mums keen to lap them up.
'If I didn't do these things I'd probably break down with four kids,' says the 34-year-old Instagram influencer from her home in Portsmouth. 'They just all make my life easier. As a mum, you're a stylist, a nurse, a dentist, a personal shopper, a chef.
'You do so many jobs you don't even realise,' she continues. 'And who's actually looking after you at the end of the day? If I can help you save 20 minutes, then that's 20 minutes you can put back into yourself.'
Her tips are practical on a level that Meghan Markle 's are not. But Major-Bunce is embedded firmly in reality. She was six years old when her mother became ill and, as a result, disabled. Aged 13, her cousin, whom she regarded as a sister, died of meningitis.
In the years that followed, she struggled with the emotional trauma, as well as undiagnosed dyslexia and autism. 'I haven't had the easiest upbringing, I didn't have a fairytale life,' she admits. 'We never had a lot of money.'
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Casey Major-Bunce | Mum Home and Life Hacks (@majormumhacks)
Becoming a mum herself was a turning point, giving her the purpose and reason to live that had felt missing from her life. Today, she has four children: Ayron, 14, Kaiser, nine, and identical twins Arabecca and Matilda, five.
At first, Major-Bunce, who had worked as a florist and had a reputation for being a whizz at event planning, was only handing out tips to friends. Then, in 2022, one of them suggested she should share them with others on social media.
As she started posting, her followers rose steadily. Major-Bunce was amazed as they crept up to 200, and then 400. Today, her account @MajorMumHacks has more than 700,000 followers. Remarkably, she keeps in touch with all of them via her inbox, replying directly to messages and sending voice notes.
What would she be doing now if she hadn't accrued such a large following? 'I would be working at either B&M Stores or the Co-op,' she shoots back. In other words, jobs that would fit around the school run.
They are a family that saves rather than spends. Major-Bunce loves Butlins and even if she could afford Center Parcs, she's unsure it would be for her. 'I think my husband would like it, he's a bit posher than me,' she jokes.
Instead of big-ticket purchases, Major-Bunce focuses on making the small beautiful. On a woodland walk, for example, she gives her children labelled bags for the stones and leaves they collect and take home.
Before she posts anything, she asks herself: who is it going to help? Is it going to help? And is it going to make someone feel good about themselves? 'It's really important that what you post makes people feel cool about themselves.'
She has calculated that if you did every single hack in her new book The Big Book of Major Mum Hacks then you would save £3k in a year. But she's not telling people to do every single hack.
'That's unrealistic!' she says. 'It's a case of me saying, 'This is working for me and it might help you out.' It's all about saving time, money and your sanity. And having fun while you're doing it.'
Try these MajorMumHacks
Unblocking drains
It might not be a complete, permanent fix (you may need to call a plumber), but this is a great hack for slower-than-normal sink- or bath-draining problems. Put a big squirt of washing-up liquid down the plughole, leave for 10-15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain.
Getting rid of shower-head limescale
Fill a sandwich bag (one with handles) one-third full with white vinegar. Tie the handles carefully around the shower head and then turn on the tap slowly so the bag fills up. Leave the bag tied securely around the shower head overnight, then next morning untie the bag and your nozzle will be sparkling clean.
Transform your picnic flask
This is one of my most shared ideas. Don't just keep tea and coffee in your flask. I put warm hot dogs in them for days out, and take the buns and ketchup with me. This will save you a fortune and be much better than what's on offer from a cafe or food truck often. I do the same with ice lollies: just put a flask in the freezer and then pop in some lollies. It will save you a fortune by not going to an ice-cream van, and that way, the kids aren't missing out.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Casey Major-Bunce | Mum Home and Life Hacks (@majormumhacks)
Vase cleaning
Take your stained vase and fill with some uncooked rice – you probably only need a cup full. Add warm water, covering the water-mark stain that needs removing. Lastly, pop in a dishwasher tablet and leave overnight. In the morning, discard all the contents and give your vase a rinse in cold water.
Bedsock mop hack
Place a sock over the floor mount at the end of the mop handle, secure it and clean the floor as usual. Pop your sock in the washing machine and reuse as often as needed.
Storage
Wardrobe cubes typically have five compartments – perfect for organising outfits for each day of a short trip, with a cube for each family member. For longer vacations, use each section to keep categories such as T-shirts, nightwear and swimwear separate. Over-the-door hangers are similarly handy, offering rows of two, three, or four sections for organising smaller items or packing for a getaway. Once you reach your destination, simply hang it up – each day's outfit ready to go!
Keep playtime tidy
Over-the-door hangers are a great storage hack for children's toys as they utilise unused space behind doors, keeping toys organised, accessible and off the floor – helping reduce clutter and tripping hazards.
Passport sticker hack
I like to think I'm very organised when it comes to travelling because I have to be. Instead of having a frantic flick through each passport to match the right photo with the right person (we've usually lost the will by the end of it all) simply add a sticker to each one. Go for any that suit the holder's personality. Avoid the corners as I find they can catch and peel off more quickly if placed there.
Beanbag teddy hack
This removes the problem of where to put those soft toys, which can hang around even when the children are older but won't part with their favourites! Instead of spending money on buying a filling for the bag, simply fill it with their teddies and cuddly toys. Hey presto! An extra-comfy seating, lying, chilling area. Don't have a bean-bag cover? You can use an old single duvet cover, fill it halfway and fold over the remaining material.
Organised cupboards
Everyone has one of those kitchen drawers or cupboards that contains countless cookie cutters, baking trays, (the dreaded) plastic lids and no container… the list could go on. Good old-fashioned filing folders will turn it into an organised dream. The metal ones are robust and easy to clean.
Turn a crisp packet into a bowl
When I take a sharing-size bag of crisps to a picnic or to the beach, turning the bag into a bowl stops them going all over the place. Open the bag carefully so you don't rip it and the packet opens fully. Holding the packet upright, carefully push up the crisps from the bottom and, using both hands, you fold in the edges of the bottom of the packet in a circle shape. Continue doing this until you have a solid base and the crisps are at the top of your new bowl. Now fold down the top edges of the top of the crisp packet to make it neat and your snack-hack bowl is ready.
Watch movies outside
Buy a smartphone projector online for around £30 or less. Take a white king-size bed sheet and hang it up outside, either on a fence or over a football goal. Add lots of cushions and blankets. Now all you need to do is grab the popcorn, turn on the projector and press play on your phone.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How has the media wronged Nadiya Hussain?
How has the media wronged Nadiya Hussain?

Spectator

time24 minutes ago

  • Spectator

How has the media wronged Nadiya Hussain?

Nadiya Hussain's recipes have become staples in households across the country and acquired for the TV presenter and cookery writer the status of national treasure. However, her reaction to the BBC's decision not to commission a new series from her leaves a bitter taste and prompts the thought that her secret ingredient all along might have been celebrity entitlement. Over the weekend, the Great British Bake Off winner posted a video update on Instagram for her 950,000 followers. After explaining her social media absence (events in Gaza were making it 'hard to post about food in a positive way') and letting us know about changes in her professional dealings ('I'm way more mindful of who I work with, brands I work with, especially if they are brands that support the genocide'), Hussain revealed that the BBC had 'decided that they didn't want to commission a show'.

Love Island star ‘gives away' she's signed up for All Stars after split from boyfriend and abuse accusations
Love Island star ‘gives away' she's signed up for All Stars after split from boyfriend and abuse accusations

Scottish Sun

time26 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Love Island star ‘gives away' she's signed up for All Stars after split from boyfriend and abuse accusations

She previously turned down the show after getting into a relationship with her ex STAR QUALITY Love Island star 'gives away' she's signed up for All Stars after split from boyfriend and abuse accusations Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOVE Island beauty Belle Hassan has dropped a major hint she's signed up for All Stars following her split from her rugby player ex-boyfriend. Belle split from Scotland international Luke Crosbie, 28, in February and claimed she was the victim of emotional abuse. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Belle Hassan dropped a big hint she's signing for All Stars Credit: Instagram In a Q&A with fans on Instagram last night, she revealed she can't say much for "legal reasons" but insisted she's never been so happy to be single. Having 'rediscovered' herself, Belle appeared to confirm a return to Love Island in the New Year. When a fan asked if she was doing All Stars, she replied with a selfie and a large side eye emoji suggesting wheels are in motion behind the scenes. Earlier this year, the makeup artist, 27, told fans she'd experienced six weeks of alleged emotional abuse that left her feeling at an all time low. A source told The Sun at the time: "Belle is no longer with Luke. "She's back in London while she processes everything that has happened recently and is focusing on her wellbeing after the split." When a fan asked how she was, Belle wrote: "I'm probably at the lowest point I've been in my life and I genuinely don't know how to pull myself out. "I can't even pull myself out of bed, and have been like this for about 6 weeks, when I tell you emotional abuse is no joke I mean it! Have YOU got a story or an amazing picture or video? Email exclusive@ and you could even get PAID "I wouldn't wish what has been done to me on my worst enemy. "For the first time in my life I've been faced with a situation I have no idea how to deal with and I know usually it's me on here giving all the advice but I don't wanna sit here and lie and say I know I'll be fine because this time I'm not sure if I will be. Love Island's Belle Hassan on date with Scots hunk - who shows up with black eye "I can promise I am trying my best to get better but this one's gna be a process." The pair became an item late in 2023 just as Belle, who previously dated Anton Danyluk, was asked to sign up for Love Island All Stars. She called Luke a "gift from the universe" and said: 'He ticks every checklist I have, he's completely my type to a T, personality, looks everything." Londoner Belle relocated to Edinburgh to live with the sports star and opened a beauty salon in the city. Luke previously praised Belle for supporting his career and shared details of winning her hardman actor dad Tamer's approval. He told us: 'She's starting to realise how sore you are after the games! 'She's got a big job keeping me fed but she's doing a good job so far. 4 Belle posted this statement in February Credit: Instagram 4 She moved her life to Edinburgh where Luke plays rugby Credit: Instagram / @bellehassan 4 Belle pulled out of Love Island All Stars after falling for Luke Credit: bellehassan/Instagram.. 'She loves rugby now and her dad loves it as well, and her mum, so they're big supporters. 'I get along well with her dad. He's a tough man, like! 'One of the first times I met him he wanted to make sure I could protect his daughter so it turned into a little sparring match at Christmas. I passed the test! 'You wouldn't hear the end of that if I'd knocked him out!"

How my ‘perfect' beauty regime exposed my ex as a cheating rat – what his other woman did is totally unforgivable
How my ‘perfect' beauty regime exposed my ex as a cheating rat – what his other woman did is totally unforgivable

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

How my ‘perfect' beauty regime exposed my ex as a cheating rat – what his other woman did is totally unforgivable

As soon as she discovered the clues the relationship ended right then and there EX-CUSES How my 'perfect' beauty regime exposed my ex as a cheating rat – what his other woman did is totally unforgivable Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN influencer has shared the peculiar way she found out her love rat ex was cheating – by the other woman using her skincare cream. Wanessa Moura has a strict morning beauty routine and often likes to share tips and tricks with her 1.3m Instagram followers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Wanessa Moura found out her ex was cheating after the other woman used her skincare cream Credit: Jam Press/CO Press Office/@wamoura 6 This attention to detail helped her identify that one of her former boyfriends was a two-timer Credit: Jam Press/CO Press Office/@wamoura 6 Wanessa claims she had given her ex a key to her place Credit: Jam Press/CO Press Office/@wamoura Her products are all carefully organised in her bathroom. This attention to detail helped her identify that one of her former boyfriends was a two-timer. When returning from a work trip, the 31-year-old noticed that one of her face creams was running low and her carefully arranged products had been 'messed' with. 'I'm obsessed with organisation,' Wanessa, who has even launched her own skincare range, told NeedToKnow. 'I know exactly how much is left of each cream, where every bottle goes, what's sealed, what's half-used. 'When I saw one of the jars with a loose cap and a different texture, I knew someone had touched it. 'And it wasn't me.' Wanessa claims she had given her ex a key to her place, but knew he wasn't the 'vain' type, so it was highly unlikely that he had touched the cream. She said, 'Someone had messed with my products, and I knew something was wrong. 'He [my ex] would never know how to use that stuff on his own. My love rat husband slept with three other women (1) 'He was the rough type, you know? The kind who thought anything beyond soap was nonsense, and who wouldn't even wear sunscreen or moisturiser. 'He took pride in never putting anything on his face. 'That's why, when I noticed my products had been used correctly, I got suspicious right away. 'My ex wouldn't even know how to open the jar, let alone apply the under-eye cream properly.' But using my expensive products without permission? That, to me, is unforgivable Wanessa Moura Unable to let the incident go, Wanessa, who hails from Brazil, confronted her ex. When pressed for answers, he confessed. Wanessa added: 'He cheated on me, and the mistress left with glowing skin. It's absurd! 'The relationship ended right then and there, of course. 'But to this day, I'm furious. 'Being cheated on is already bad enough. 6 When pressed for answers, her ex finally gave his confession Credit: Jam Press/CO Press Office/@wamoura 6 Wanessa claimed that another one of her exes was so vain that she would spend more time getting ready than she did Credit: Jam Press/CO Press Office/@wamoura 6 Facial care is important for the social media influencer Credit: Jam Press/CO Press Office/@wamoura 'But using my expensive products without permission? 'That, to me, is unforgivable.' This isn't the only beauty-related incident that the influencer has dealt with. Last year, she claimed that another one of her exes was so vain that she would spend more time getting ready than she did. At the time, Wanessa said: 'He started spending absurd amounts on beauty products and even using mine. 'Facial care is important, and I love that men take care of themselves, but when he starts spending more on aesthetics than I do, something is wrong.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store