Raising a family can be incredibly expensive, especially when you have a home to run to. Between childcare expenses and the rising cost of living, everyone is looking to save money wherever possible. Luckily, by watching what you spend and making certain lifestyle changes, you can save pennies around the home. Here are a few top tips to help parents save money.
1. Plan Your Meals
When it comes to cooking meals, many families waste food on a regular basis. In fact, statistics show that on average American’s waste 30-40% of their purchased food. Food waste not only affects your purse strings, but it also has a negative impact on the environment. From buying too much of one ingredient to making an excessive amount of food, there are numerous reasons why households end up throwing away food items.
Luckily, you can avoid waste by planning your meals in advance and preparing them mindfully. Rather than going to the supermarket with a vague idea of what you need, work out exactly what your household will eat for each meal, create a shopping list, and purchase your ingredients a week in advance. Not only will planning your meals help you save money on food, but it is also a good way to eat more healthily. With a shopping list in hand, you are less likely to stroll down the confectionery aisle and pick up a chocolate bar or be tempted by a tub of ice cream.
2. Budget for Special Occasions
It is nice to celebrate special occasions, unfortunately, you can end up spending a fortune on them. By budgeting throughout the year for occasions and events, you will have allocated funds to spend when the time comes. You can also save money by shopping for birthday presents or holiday clothes when they go on sale.
3. Learn to Sew
Sewing is an incredibly useful skill to have for a number of reasons. With a needle and thread you can mend small rips, sew on a button and secure a hem. This way, you can avoid throwing old clothes away or paying a tailor to do the job. Those who are particularly crafty with a needle and thread can even sew entire outfits for the entire family. Although creating an outfit for yourself might be ambitious, making an outfit for your baby is usually more straightforward. For example, with a bit of fabric and a baby romper pattern, you will find yourself with a whole new outfit for your loved one in no time.
4. Borrow, Don’t Buy
If your family enjoys reading, why not get into the habit of borrowing books instead of buying them? Although it might be more difficult to find specialist books, your kids will probably love the huge selection at the local library. You can even get complimentary internet access and CD rentals too. Furthermore, libraries often have free activities going on, such as story time sessions, which means that you can keep your kids entertained without having to spend a penny.
