One of Britain’s largest families say the cost of keeping a household running has got even harder – after having a 13th child.
Super mum Alexis Brett and husband Davie say they wouldn’t be without their huge family, although they’ve finally agreed they won’t be having any more.
The couple are parents to Campbell, 20, Harrison, 19, Corey, 17, Lachlan, 14, Brodie, 12, Brahn, 11, Hunter, nine, Mack, eight, Blake, six, Rothagaidh, five, Cameron, four, Orran, one, and Scarlet, five months.
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The family can easily spend £120 on a daily top up shop in Tesco – and go through seven litres of milk, three loaves of bread, one giant box of cereal and two multipacks of crisps every day.
Even a trip to the shop for an after school snack can set Alexis back £20 a time.
Alexis, who is preparing to return to work as a gym instructor after having youngest daughter Scarlet, said: “We’ve said no more children for a long time now, and then another one just comes along.
“I think this time we have to mean it though, we’re at capacity.
“We’ve had to buy triple bunkbeds so everyone has somewhere to sleep.
“And we’ve shelled out for two huge corner sofas so we can all sit down at once.”
The family’s bills now top more than £5000 a month, after rising costs meant they face paying £750 a month for their energy supply – mostly down to the washing and tumble dryers, which are on constantly.
Their food bill alone can top £3000 a month.
The family proudly say they don’t claim benefits from the state, and rely on Davie’s career as a train driver and Alexis’s part time work to fund their outgoings.
Alexis, Dingwall, Inverness-shire, said: “Things have got significantly tighter with the cost of living rising. Every penny that comes into the house goes out again, but we do try to be careful with our money.
“We don’t really have a lot of meals out, I tend to batch cook big meals like spaghetti bolognese, and we don’t do big family holidays.”
Alexis said: “Once you hit about five children, you really don’t notice the extra ones. There’s just a lot of people everywhere and a lot of noise.
“We have to be quite regimented about things like homework – we come in from school and they all sit down and get on with it, and they’re pretty good at putting themselves to bed, too.
“Luckily, we’ve been blessed with good sleepers, so we do usually get a full night’s sleep.
“We wouldn’t change it for the world.”
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