A FRUGAL FAMILY’S GUIDE TO SAVING MONEY ON EXPENSES
If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to pinch a penny here and there. And when it comes to our family’s expenses, we are no exception! I am always trying to figure out how I can save on groceries, clothing, etc. I ponder what bill or expense I can cut and live without. Seeing, how water, food, and lights aren’t an option.
I have attempted to get rid of the pest control company I don’t know how many times, until the pest showed back up and I remember why I had them in the first place.
Though, over the years we’ve learned a few things that have helped us save money on everything from our grocery bills to our utility costs. So today, I wanted to share with all of you homeschooling moms out there these tips on saving money on expenses.
Now maybe you are wondering how to save money on expenses when everything is so costly today.
That’s the question we all want to know, right? It can be tough, but there are ways here and there to keep some of our hard-earned cash in our bank accounts rather than everyone else’s.
In this blog post, we are going to discuss some tips and tricks that will help you save money on a variety of different expenses that we all have. After all, we all must eat. We like homes to live in and warm beds to sleep in.
We’ll talk about ways to save on groceries, transportation, utilities, and more!
How to save money on groceries
One of the best ways to save money as a family is to be mindful of your grocery spending. There are a few different ways you can do this. First, try to meal plan and make a list before you go shopping. This will help you avoid buying things you don’t need. Furthermore, whatever you do, don’t go to the store hungry. That can mess up your budget. I am speaking from experience. Second, take advantage of sales and coupons. And third, try to buy in bulk when possible. In the meantime, always check to see what you have in inventory and make a meal with ingredients you already have on hand.
Also buying items that are already on sale can help you save or use left overs to repurpose meals. If you cook tacos one night. You can freeze the meat or use it again in the week to make, like maybe spaghetti or chili with the leftover hamburger meat. Another option is to avoid buying processed foods, sugary snacks, and drinks. These items can be a budget buster.
How meal planning helps save money
One of the best ways to save money as a family is to meal plan. This can help you save on groceries because you’ll only buy what you need for the week ahead. Meal planning can also help you save time because you won’t have to worry about what to make for dinner every night. Eating at home saves you time and money. Restaurants can eat up your food budget when you haven’t planned for eating out in your budget in advance. Besides saving money, eating at home gives you an opportunity to cook with your children. This is memories that you are making with your kids and life lessons your children can treasure for a lifetime.
We do a lot of cooking on our griddle. With a family of 8 and it used to be a family of 10. We have gone through a lot of griddles. This one below is the one I am using now. I really like it and it is one of the largest ones that I could find.
Ways to save money on Transportation
If you’re looking to save money on transportation, one of the best things you can do is cut your fuel costs. With today’s fuel prices, we need to save on gas prices wherever we can. How do we do that, right? Glad you ask.
There are a few different ways you can do this.
First, try carpooling or taking public transportation when possible. If you have a friend, coworker, or family that you can share a ride with, this can save you a lot of money in the long run! Always make sure your car is well-maintained. This will help you avoid costly repairs down the road. Make sure to keep tire pressure checked. Properly inflated tires can help you save on fuel costs. Also, try to consolidate your errands. As busy moms, this cannot only save time, but it will also save us some money in the old fuel tank. Another thing we can do moms, is clean out our vehicles. Yep, that extra weight of toys, jackets, diaper bags, trash, groceries and of course people add up.
Now wait! Don’t get rid of the people, just empty out the junk we don’t need. Like I said. Everything counts and every little bit adds up.
There are tons of great ways to save money as a family. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to saving money in no time!
How you can save money on car repairs
No one likes having to pay for car repairs, but it is a necessary evil. There are ways that you can save money on car repairs, though! One way to save money is by shopping around for the best prices on parts and labor.
Another way to save money is by doing some of the work yourself if you are able, or maybe paying someone you know to do the work. This insures a good job and you want have to pay shop prices if you or a friend does the job. At least most friends want charge you shop prices. Haha
And last, try to keep up with routine maintenance on your car. This will help you avoid major repairs down the road!
Of course, sometimes there are unforeseen circumstances that arise, and you must pay for repairs. If you do need repairs and can’t fix them yourself, ask about recommendations. Some shops aren’t always reputable. But if you can plan and be proactive, you can save yourself some money in the long run!
How to save if you need another car
If you are in the market for another car, there are a few ways that you can save money.
One way to save is by shopping around for the best deals.
Another way to save is by looking for cars that are fuel-efficient. Think about what that car will cost you in car insurance prices as well.
Also, avoid luxury cars if possible. Luxury cars often come with a higher price tag! Therefore, consider buying used instead of new. Used cars can often be a great deal and you can save a lot of money!
These are just a few ways that you can save money when it comes to car-related expenses. Do your research and shop around before making any big decisions!
Of course, sometimes you must sacrifice a bit to save money. But if you are smart about your purchase, you can save yourself a lot of money.
Last always save up and pay cash if you can.
Saving up ahead of time will help you avoid going into debt for your purchase and will help you save money on interest.
How to save money on utilities
Utilities can be one of the biggest expenses for families. But there is a way to save on utilities, and that is by conserving energy. There are a few different ways you can conserve energy and save money.
First, make sure your home is well-insulated. This will help you keep the heat in during the winter and the cool air in during the summer. Then, try to use energy-efficient appliances. These appliances use less energy and can save you money on your utility bills. Also, always turn off the lights when you leave a room. Moreover, try to use natural light as much as possible during the day.
Using black-out curtains is another great way to help save on electric costs. In the wintertime, I like to keep them closed when it is cold. When the sun moves around to that side of the house where the windows are. I open the curtains and blinds to let the heat in. When it starts getting later and the sun shifts. It is time to close the curtains back, to keep the heat and save on utilities. Another thing is to seal up any place that you may be getting air in. Like around windows and doors.
We live in an older house, and we have doors that aren’t sealed well. One door is bad and just blows cold air in and makes the house cold. Plus, we have a lot of windows in our playroom. We put things around the door to block the cold air from coming in.
It not only saves on heating costs, but it also keeps the room much warmer.
Putting plastic over the windows is another way to save on utilities during the colder months. You lose a lot of warmth from the glass.
Another place that you lose heat is around the electrical outlets. You might not think about these areas as much, but just a small leak can affect utility costs.
This is the kind of product we used to insulate the outlets.
Ways to save money on clothing for the family
One way to save money on clothing for the family is by shopping at secondhand stores. You can find some great deals on clothing this way! Another way to save money is by shopping clearance racks at your favorite stores. You can often find some great deals with clothes that are going out of season! This is a great way to save money on clothing for the whole family! Also, if you have friends or family that have kids around your child’s age or maybe a little older. That is another way to be able to save. The clothes can be passed back in forth. I have a friend with a little boy the same age as mine.
However, her child is taller than my son, in which my son can still fit them. She shares his outgrown clothes with my son, and it was a blessing and saved us some money.
If you have a child that has outgrown their clothes, pass them on to someone. While we may like new clothes. It’s not always necessary to pay prices for new clothes. Kids just outgrow them so quickly.
So, save money where you can.
Saving money on vacations
Vacations can be a great way to relax and rejuvenate, but they can also be a great way to spend a lot of money!
If you are looking to save money on your next vacation, there are a few ways that you can do so. One way to save money is by planning your trip during the off-season. Another way to save money is by being flexible with your travel dates. And last, try to find package deals on travel and accommodations. This is a great way to save on a trip is to have a vacation package. Depending on what kind vacation package you purchase, sometimes you can make payments ahead of time. In paying ahead you can have a paid off vacation. How cool is that? To be able to go on vacation and not to have to worry about debt when you get back, now that’s a vacation.
After all, we are trying to be frugal in our spending and not create a headache from overspending. No debt is less stress.
Ways that you can cut costs on internet expenses
One way to cut costs on internet expenses is by shopping around for the best deal. There are many providers out there and they all have different deals. Another way to save money is by bundling your services. Many providers offer discounts if you bundle your internet with other services such as your cell phone.
Best deals on cell phone expenses
Speaking of cell phones, one way to save money on your cell phone bill is by shopping around for phone plans as well. There are many providers out there and they all have different deals. Another way to save money is by bundling your services. Many providers offer discounts if you bundle your cell phone with other services such as your internet service.
Ways to save money on renting or buying a home
One way to save money on renting or buying a home is by looking for deals. For example, many landlords offer discounts if you sign a lease for longer than one year. Another way to save money is by looking for homes that need repair. Oftentimes, you can get a great deal on a home that needs a little work! And last, try to be flexible with your moving date. Many times, you can get a better deal if you are able to move in on a different date than the one that is originally requested.
For example, when we received a contract for our last house that we sold down in Florida, the buyers didn’t want to move at Christmas. They told us when they made the offer on the home, that they would meet our asking price. In fact, they said they would pay $100 more than we were asking if they could move in at the first of the year. It was coming into Christmas time, and they didn’t want to move during that time.
It worked for both families. Be sure to think outside of the box when trying to purchase a home. It could save you some money in the long run.
Refinancing is somethings a good deal far as your mortgage goes. I know the interest rates are starting the creep back up, however, if you are in a higher interest rate loan. Refinancing can save you thousands.
We were able to refinance last year when the interest rates were crazy low. It was a blessing because we were able to refinance to a 15-year loan. We will be able to save money and pay off our house quicker. It’s a win win.
Ways to save money with homeschooling your children
One way to save money is by using free resources. There are many websites that offer free homeschooling resources.
Another way to save money is by using recycled materials. For example, you can use old textbooks from the library or from friends.
Also, watch for specials on homeschool curriculum. If you are willing to purchase school curriculum early, Monarch is usually 20% off in the month of April.
https://whatmomslove.com/kids/50-ways-to-save-money-while-raising-a-family/
Just remember that it’s important to start small and build up from there. Every little bit helps!
So, there you have it, a comprehensive guide to saving money on everything from groceries and gas to clothing and school supplies. We hope you’ve found these tips helpful and that they will help you save money this year. Be sure to subscribe to our blog for more great tips like this, and please share with your friends and family who could use some help stretching their dollars further. Thanks for reading!