WHEN social worker Becky Goddard-Hill decided to take an extended career break after the birth of her first child, she was faced with some scary financial realities.

The bubbly 38-year-old, from West Bridgford and husband Jonny, 37, a self-employed IT consultant, saw their annual income dwindle to roughly £15,000. How on earth were they going to afford this bold change of lifestyle?

But manage they did. And four years later the couple and their children Frankie, five, and Annalise, two, couldn't be happier. "I've loved spending time with my children," says Becky. "To be honest there have been tough times, but never too tough. I think we have become less materialistic and as a result much more creative and relaxed."

Now canny Becky has used the wealth of experience gained through coping on a significantly reduced budget to write a book offering 101 budgeting tips to other parents.

How to Afford Time Off With Your Baby is aimed primarily at mums who, like Becky, want to stay at home to care for their children. But she also hopes dads, grandparents and other carers will gain useful advice to help them make better financial decisions in their everyday lives, whether they stay at home or go out to work.

Becky says: "I've never worked so hard in my life since I gave up my job. We were living on a budget of £15,000 at one point, that's now up to about £21,000. All the tips in this book have come from my own experiences or the experiences of people I know.

"I'm a stay-at-home mum, that's my choice. But these tips are supposed to be for everyone, whether it's telling mums how to dress nicely on a budget, how to do a car boot sale or where to get advice on benefits."

"For me staying at home has definitely been better than working," she says. "Our family has become part of our community now and we definitely have deeper, more productive friendships. It has been a real journey of discovery."

"But you have to do what's right for your own family. If you are struggling financially and need to go back to paid work, of course that is what you must do."

Here are some of Becky's main suggestions:

Take a mortgage break if you can.

Let people know you are living on a budget. It's better to be up-front to avoid embarrassments. "We live in quite a well-to-do area and some mums were often inviting me out on lunches that I just couldn't afford," she says. "As soon as I told them, they suggested picnics and alternatives that wouldn't cost a lot, so I could still join in."

When people buy children presents for birthdays and Christmas, ask for practical ideas instead toys, such as a set of swimming lessons.

Pass your old clothes, toys, games etc on to others and be ready to accept other people's cast-offs in return.

Make your own gifts.

When you've finished with things, sell them on through eBay, car boot sales, baby sales or the good old Evening Post. Buy your stuff second hand too.

Try to breast feed and use reusable nappies – it will save so much money. But if you can't, shop around. Supermarket own brand nappies are just as good as pricier branded ones for instance.

Walk to places rather than going in the car. And take your own food on days out.

Becky says that she has sometimes had to be brutally honest with people in her mission to live frugally.

"Our relatives wanted to set up trust funds for our children when they get older, but we just told them 'actually, we need that money now if you don't mind'. But in the same way, we try to be as generous as possible – not with money, we can't buy expensive gifts. But we can pay people back with time. We have groups of people we share tasks with.

"Jonny will do their computers and in return we've had our house painted and all sorts.That's what communities used to do isn't it? Favours for each other and rallying round."

There have been certain traumas along the way, Becky admits.

"Jonny even cut my hair one time, but never again," she giggles. "But I've got friends who club together and get a mobile hairdresser to come to one of their houses and do all their hair, their kids come too so they are having a fun day out, it's cheaper than the hairdresser going individually to each of their homes."

Becky is lucky to have extended family close by for support, but is aware other people are more isolated. Her solution is simple.

"It's all about making an effort to be sociable and I know that can be hard work," she said. "You've got to just bite the bullet. Other mums are the same as you, they want to make friends and they want a bit of support too."

Becky has always wanted to write a book but never dreamed it would be a practical advice book. She says she is enjoying the launch and has fielded media calls from as far as Australia. But it seems not everyone is impressed with her brilliant ideas.

"Great grandma keeps saying 'but these are all really obvious suggestions'!" she laughs. "But that's the thing. I think modern people have forgotten those simple ideas around in the old days to save money.

"It's good to remind people in these difficult economic times."

How To Afford Time Off With Your Baby by Becky Goddard-Hill, published by Vermilion, is available now.