How often have you caught yourself thinking that your family’s financial situation is worsening and it’s time to save money? How often have you been frustrated by the size of your next pay stub?
The COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the increased demand for certain products as more and more people get vaccinated, has contributed to a noticeable price jump. The higher-than-normal unemployment rate and higher cost of living will force your family to look for ways to cut back on their expenses.
It is tough right now. However, if you know some secrets to save money on the family budget, you will be able to overcome all the difficulties.
- Make a family budget together.
It is crucial to make an entire family budget, considering your family’s income and expenses. Pay special attention to this process. Make it one of those traditional family nights when the whole family gathers around the big dinner table. Bring in all the bank statements for the previous period, the head of the household should bring in the actual pay stub, and everyone can participate in allocating the available funds for the whole month ahead.
Have everyone talk about their monthly income, expenses, and available savings.
Tell the children about the existence of a bank account and their plans and goals for the coming month. Let them see how important it is to plan and limit their expenses to reach a particular purpose according to the family’s interests.
Children can and even should voice to you their desires and goals to consider as well. Children will contribute by limiting spending on impulse purchases.
- Cut back on food spending.
Have you noticed the enormous amount of groceries each of your family buys while going to the supermarket? There are a few secrets to reducing your grocery spending.
First, identify one person responsible for grocery shopping for the entire family. It will reduce the number of trips to the supermarket or market, and therefore the cost of shopping. Moreover, the rest of the family members will not visit stores with groceries at all and will be unable to make additional expenses for it.
Second, never go grocery shopping hungry. Hear that? Never. Compare the receipt when you went to the store for something in particular but in a state of starvation and when you were not hungry. The desire to eat more than doubles the amount of food you buy! And it does not affect their quality, as you are more likely to buy something for a quick snack.
Third, make a list of the foods you need. If you know what you need, you will never buy anything unnecessary. You can coordinate this list with the available promotions in the supermarket or develop a menu for the week, selecting the products with a discount in advance.
Fourth, take advantage of cashback as well as store bonus cards. It helps you get a partial refund on purchases made or buy products for free using the accumulated bonuses on the card.
Fifth, reduce waste. Have you ever noticed how much food you throw away when it has already gone spoiled? It applies mainly to quickly bad foods such as vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Buy precisely how much you’ll need for cooking for a day or a week. No more than that. That way, you won’t waste money on garbage.
- Save money on utilities.
It is another way to increase your budget and save money. For example, there are many inexpensive or even free ways to reduce energy or water use in your home:
- Teach your children to turn off the water when they brush their teeth or wash dishes so it doesn’t just flow. You can make it easier for kids to remember by putting little stickers on walls or mirrors near the faucet.
- Limit your use of air conditioning, but dress according to the weather and the warmth level of the house. If you are cold, it is best to wear a sweater and pants.
- Children have a habit of breaking: leaving the room with the lights on. Put little notes near light switches to remind children and adults to turn off lights, TV, and air conditioning when they leave the room or the house.
- Cut down on holiday spending and entertainment.
You can do it by buying universal or reusable items. Plan gifts as well as holiday spending. It will help avoid increased and irresponsible spending.
When it comes to decorations and décor, you can make them yourself to cut costs and personalize any holiday or birthday party.
In addition, a reusable red tablecloth, for example, can decorate the table for Halloween and Christmas. White tableware will be relevant all year round.
When hosting parties, you can also ask friends to bring their meals and only prepare the main dish yourself. This way, you can divide and reduce your expenses.
5. Analyze the size of your house and the need for cars
Many people pay unreasonably high rent for a house that is too big for them. Your family can save money by renting a smaller home.
The number of bedrooms plays an important role. Consider whether your children need separate rooms. If the house is smaller, it will likely be cheaper than the one you live in now.
Also, you may want to evaluate the need for your large backyard in a city with plenty of parks and barbecue areas.
Eliminate the use of cars if possible. If you are in an excellent walking area or an area with adequate transportation infrastructure, you can limit your use to one car or eliminate it. Try to walk more if possible. You will save on gas, parking, insurance, and maintenance.
It’s much easier to start saving money by taking small steps. Introduce helpful habits gradually after you have learned the previous practice. Continue until you’ve used all the tips we’ve provided here.
To motivate yourself, think about your goal when saving money. It could be making a down payment on a house, paying off loans, paying for your children’s college tuition, or simply increasing your family’s financial stability and independence.
