Make a budget!
Don't overestimate the power of thinking ahead. Too many times did our family glance at the bank statements and incoming bills
and just assumed there was enough to balance everything out-only to find ourselves in a bind when our math didn't add up. Always assume the bills will be the highest you have paid, and your paycheck the lowest you have received.The link below has examples of budgeting templates you can use for your family.Get a Calendar
Write down all the due dates for your bills where all the household adults can see them on a daily basis.
Day planners can work as well, but for our home it was always easier to just glance up and see when something had to be paid. We also wrote down when paychecks would be arriving to see which paycheck had to cover which bills, and if we needed to save extra from other pay periods to make ends meet. If you feel comfortable, you can also write the amounts for the bills and the incoming money so it is all in one place. Free blank calendars are available online.
DIY
Doing things your self can make a little bit of money go a long way. We made our own baby wipes, magic erasers, laundry and dish soap, and more. Below are some links to our DIYs. For a longer list of DIY projects, feel free to check out the DIY Projects link on the homepage of the blog.
Money spent on easy food can add up quickly, especially with children. Eating at home is a great way to save money on a tight budget. I recommend shopping at Aldi, Food Depot, Farmers' Markets, Costco or BJ's, and Food Lion for the best prices. Dollar Stores also sell food, but the quantity and quality makes me question if the savings are worth it, or even really savings at all.
Having a stock on staples is also helpful. Rice, pastas, canned vegetables and soups, and other items that do not expire quickly, can help prepare you for a bad income month. Having these things on hand not only offers more food for your money, but also are good for emergencies.
Cook Ahead
Although cooking from home can save you money, it isn't exactly time efficient.
Cooking meals ahead or doing early meal preparation can help speed the process and feed the hungry mouths surrounding you. Freezer meals, pre-cutting vegetables and ingredients, or reheating are great ways to save time. The links below include a few fast or easy recipes that your kids are sure to enjoy!
Spinach and Eggs Crock Pot Mac N Cheese Cheesy Green Beans
Hot Dogs and Sweet Potato Fries Rice and Beans
Spinach and Eggs Crock Pot Mac N Cheese Cheesy Green Beans
Hot Dogs and Sweet Potato Fries Rice and Beans
Go Natural
Both our children were breastfed and used cloth diapers for a period of time. My oldest was completely breastfed until she switched to homemade almond formula at age one. My son was breastfed only until seven months and then switched to dual feedings with the breast-milk and soy based store bought formula afterwards. After my son was born we had little time for constant-and I mean CONSTANT-washing of cloth diapers so we switched to disposables. Our pocketbooks took a huge hit! Formula is expensive and diapers follow right behind! I highly recommend sticking to breastfeeding and cloth diapers as long as possible because it really does save hundreds!
Cloth diapers are not like they used to be, they are very easy to use and to clean. Buying a kit can cost around $100-$200 depending on how many you want and what brand you get and will last you the first 2 years. (That's about 2-3 months of disposable diapers).
Buy During Sales
I never understood the hustle and bustle about sales at kid shops-until I had kids. I remember during the holiday season I was at Gymboree and they brought out 5 boxes and said everything in them was 75% off. I was crazy mama in the wild going through each to the bottom, and eying my competition as they inched closer to something in my kid's size!
Ha ha, I do not shop like that often, but you do what you gotta do.
Thrift and Consignment Shops
Oh, wonderful discount shops. We use them mainly for my children. They grow out of clothes so fast right now, it just seems ridiculous to spend $20 on ONE outfit. I can easily find places that sell baby and toddler clothing for $1, and most of the time they have never been worn! We also go to these places for strollers, work shoes (but please change the soles), books, and toys.
Birthday/Holiday Shop Early
In March, I may see something perfect for my father for Christmas. So, I BUY it (if we have the money). Waiting until last minute to purchase gifts can get pricey fast! If you have some extra money one month, you may want to consider using it to get some of your shopping out of the way.
"Do something today that your tomorrow self will thank you for."
Cut Out the Non-essentials
We lived with no television, Internet, smart phones, and other luxuries for two years. We still watched movies on our computers, and had the libraries for Internet usage when necessary. Living without these things actually brought us much closer and we had soooo much more free time! We still do not have television because it has been such a great experience!
Know Your Network
Churches, family members, co-workers, Facebook friends-they usually have children and want to get rid of clothes and old toys. Sometimes all you need to do is ask.
Church families are also great for emotional and spiritual support.
Government Aid
Sometimes we need a hand up (not a hand out) to just keep us going for a short time. Below are some links to figure out if your family qualifies for government some assistance.
Pray
I cannot even count how many times God made things possible for us through us praying. Random acts of kindness, church families, and so many loving hearts have blessed our family simply because they claimed God was telling them to help.
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