I don't know how old your dd is, but little ones can get a lot of fun out of dens (crawl under a couple of tables draped with sheets, or under a trampoline). Then she can have a party with her friends, using dolls' cups and saucers, but real food. That'll be something special; yet it'll cost nothing.
People are having a really hard time now because costs have gone up dramatically and many people's wages are lagging far far behind.
I can't think of any particularly good tips, only - buy food from the reduced (short date) section as much as possible, and extend ready meals by adding in a bit of additional cooked pasta for example, or vegetables. Pasta ready meals are often too sloppy in any case, as bought. You can spin out other things in a similar way. Keep your eyes open for charity shop bargains. My dd went through several pairs of charity shop shoes when she was young; they were all in as new condition when I bought them.
Have a jar 'Money for trips' and put what you can afford into it when you can. Maybe open an account specifically for repairs and do the same thing with that.
Buy bits and pieces for Christmas throughout the year, whenever you spot a good deal, and put them away. December 2014 will come as less of a shock than (I'm guessing) December 2013 did.
It IS hard. But you're doing the right thing by keeping on keeping on, and being aware of the value of money.
At least you won't be using as much gas and electricity now that the weather is better.
Don't feel bad about moaning. Life is hard sometimes - we're all entitled to have a moan now and then!