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Martin Lewis has shared some novel tips around spending that you may not have thought of. He shared some thoughts around everyday spending on his BBC podcast.

The consumer expert asked his podcast fans to send in their ideas for financial tips that they had gleaned from their children. One idea he shared is that there can be an unhelpful idea of wanting to splash out on gifts for your children, when they may be happy with something cheaper but which they will enjoy.

Mr Lewis said: "We sometimes bring our own retail snobbery. The idea that it's the price you pay for something that gives it the value, not the enjoyment you'll get from it. We sometimes transport that on to our children."

One dad shared his story of how he was previously in financial difficulty and had to break the news to his nine-year-old son that they only had £20 to get him his Christmas present. Yet his son was very understanding as he could get two second-hand video games on the market with the cash.

Mr Lewis said it can be good to be honest with your children in this way. He said: "It's really interesting, I've met many families over the years who are going through financial difficulties, especially in the run up to Christmas.

"Certainly with teenagers, I tend to find that when parents do actually tell their children that there are problems with the finances, they get it. They can help and they can work together.

"You don't want to worry them, you don't want to panic them, but having the conversations about the money being limited is an important one to do."

He also said: "Children tend to be more resilient on this, and panic about it less than their parents. I think the communication that he did is worth applauding."

One mum said she went away on holiday and left £60 for her 17-year-old daughter to get some food in for her and her brother. Yet her daughter managed to keep the bills down and spent just £20 on groceries.

Mr Lewis said this might not be a bad idea. He shared an anecdote from a time that he went into a school to give some teenagers some financial education.

One of the pupils went home and put into practice when he had learnt, and managed to save the family £1,500 off their bills. Mr Lewis said: "He took over the household budget. I remember hearing later, they were so much better off."