Mums Prefer Primark To Prada

According to a survey by MINT Credit Cards, UK mums appear to be losing their desire for designer outfits.

Instead of spending their money on themselves, MINT Credit Cards research found that mums are spending more of their money on their children's clothes.

Of those surveyed, two thirds of mums with children under three years old said they spend more on their kids’ clothes than they did on their own.

On average mums were found to spend £406 a year on their toddlers wardrobe and a third of all mums said they spent the money on designer outfits.

Primark now seems a more likely place for mums to be found shopping than Prada as 55 per cent of those asked said they now shop at budget stores for their own clothes.

Jerry Toher, managing director of MINT Credit Cards, said: "The financial pressures on modern mums are greater now than ever before without having to worry about budgeting for a baby's wardrobe. As long as people look to manage their money sensibly, credit cards can be an effective way to control short-term expenditure.

“ For instance a Mint card allows you 59 days free interest, which can be extremely useful if you need to pay for a number of things in one go – clothes and accessories or school trips, for instance.”

Prada shoes for kids can cost hundreds of pounds while ladies shoes in Primark are considerably less expensive.

Mums’ own wardrobes are losing their designer touch with 55 per cent saying they are more likely to shop in budget stores like Primark and Matalan now than before motherhood – spending just £124 a year on their own kit.

With most UK credit cards offering deals on purchases such as 59 days interest free if the balance is cleared in full within that time period, it’s no wonder that mums are hitting the stores with the plastic.

Recently it was reported that credit and debit card usage had overtaken the use of cash at the tills as card holders look to use their cards as often as possible in order to maximise loyalty benefits. As well as the convenience credit cards offer the opportunity for consumers to make those small purchases in advance of pay day, for example, without being charged interest.

Alisdair Milton
15th June 2006