Being a "Yummy Mum" has nothing to do with our bank balance or the latest designer changing bag. It's about how we choose to present ourselves to the world: making the best of our means (no matter how small these means may be), and feeling good in our own skin.

In the "real world" of dirty nappies, trips to the supermarket and school runs, nobody really looks to see if your handbag is the latest Chloe design or if the sole of your shoes is the red signature of Louboutin. Money cannot buy "class" or "style": it simply offers more options of where to spend our hard-earned cash!

Who are your real style icons?

Many of us may envy Victoria Beckham's ever changing wardrobe or Gwynneth's effortless style. But surely there are style icons closer to home whose charm and wardrobe you admire?

As my late Nan used to say, the richest women in the world can spend a fortune on clothes, and still look like they're wearing a paper bag, while the poorest can learn to dress like they've stepped out of Harrods.

Nan herself was testament to this notion: after Grandad died, she lived on the breadline, struggling to bring up three boys on her own. Yet in every photo I've seen, she always appeared impeccable. Charm, grooming and confidence make us look far more "expensive" than the costliest designer clothes. Yet it took a stranger to make me understand this for myself.


Each morning on the way to work, I'd see a fellow mummy at the bus stop who always seemed so effortlessly stylish, even when wearing her jeans and a shirt. She was a curvaceous woman, a few years older than I, who always seemed so well turned out: immaculate, tidy and definitely a "Yummy Mum"! I always wondered why she caught the bus to work each day (honestly, to look at her you'd think she should be chauffeured, or at least able to afford a taxi!). When we finally had a conversation, I discovered that she worked as a cleaner in the city centre and was not the high-earning executive I had come to believe. It was such a big surprise!

Who are the mummies whose style you really admire? It could be Angelina Jolie, effortless in her jeans and t-shirts with her babies in tow, or the mummy you get talking to at the park who always seems beautiful even when wrapped up in a winter scarf.

In real life, yummy mums follow three simple rules to ensure they always look and feel fabulous, no matter what the state of their bank balance. They are:

1. Clean
2. Classic
3. Cared for

Take a look around you at the mums whose style you admire, and you'll see exactly what I mean by these three rules. We can follow these rules no matter how dismal the family finances, and believe me, you'll feel much better about yourself when you do!

On being Clean...

To me, being "clean" is as much about grooming as cleanliness. Having a washed face and non-greasy hair is a good start, but what about our hands and clothes?

As a busy manic mum, I know just how hard it is to keep clothes clean, hair untangled and hands soft, when there's little time and money to spare. So here's some thrifty time-saving tips to help you feel much more yummy and groomed with the minimum of effort:

Get a good haircut!

A good haircut not only makes you feel great, it sames time and energy too. The ideal haircut for a budgeting mum is one which requires little styling in order to look great. Fancy frivolous styles require blow-drying, straightening, curling or loads of hairspray in order to look good. Instead, opt for something simpler which suits your face and lifestyle..

To find a good stylist, ask around! Friends and family are good for starters, but also check out any forums for the area in which you live. This is how I discovered the hairdressers I've been visiting for years now: it was recommended by many women on my local forum, and is surprisingly one of the cheapest I've ever visited.

Many hairdressing and beauty colleges also offer cut-price haircuts so students can learn their trade. Don't worry about leaving the college with a purple-dyed pixie cut (unless that's what you're after!); students will always be supervised and at hand for advice whenever needed.

Also check out salons for trainee nights, or ask around for mobile hairdressers who usually offer their services at a reduced price.

Take loads of pictures to the hairdressers and explainexactly what you need to your stylist who should gladly advise the bestcourse of cutting action (since they are the experts when it comes totaking care of our locks!).

On colouring hair...

If you're on a tight budget, don't dye your hair unless it's really necessary. Coloured hair requires regular touch-ups (expensive trips to the salon); extra care, and pricey shampoos/conditioners for coloured hair. You really can't scrimp when colouring your hair, as dark (or light) roots are very unsightly and you'd risk ruining your hair altogether by not properly caring for it.

Save your money towards regular 6 week trims instead. Your hair and bank balance will surely thank you for this change!



Lady shopping with Pampers by *mangu* wanders by...; Young Mum (B&W) by laurabaabaa;