OK, so you don’t have a money tree? No inheritances? No millionaire uncles who are willing to share? But, you do have mouths to feed and rent/mortgage which needs to be paid. Maybe you have the next upcoming Olympic gymnast who needs class tuition paid. Or maybe you have a kiddo with asthma who needs monthly medication.
So what now?!?! How do us Moms live frugally, stay sane, provide for our kiddos and take care of ourselves at the same time?
Here are a few tips from one Mom who is trying to live a frugal lifestyle….
Be content! Helen Keller said, “Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.” Its okay to not have the newest line at Abercrombie, if your kids have clean clothes on them. Assess what you need and strive to get all needs met. If you are able to get some wants met, then pat yourself on the back. Either way, be content or you will drive yourself crazy! Don’t compare!
Comparison is the thief of joy.
Franklin Roosevelt
Use coupons! Coupons will help you to get more bang for your buck. If you utilize a budget, its likely that you look at your grocery budget as something permanent and not fluid. After all, you can’t tell the kids that dinner isn’t in the budget. Did you know that 6 out of 10 couponers live in households which make over $100,000!!! Couponing does take a little time, especially in the beginning when learning the tricks, but the reward and cost savings has been well worth the time for me. There are a lot of websites and resources to get you started. You don’t have to be like one of the crazies (or really smart?!?) moms on TLC’s Extreme Couponers to save money!
Shop when there are sales! Depending on what type of product you are looking for, deep discounts (75% +) are available at many retailers. Many times it may make sense to wait for the sale to purchase or to buy off-season in preparation for the next year.
Shop Consignment! There are true bargains to be found, especially when it comes to kids clothing. How many of our kids grow out of clothes quickly or wear and tear their clothes up? Buying the top of the line, newest style clothes may be great for some moms but most kids don’t know the difference. Some of us moms may have a little shopaholic in us too and shopping consignment may help us to get our shopping in by finding treasures without having to come home broke. In the Cincinnati area, there are lots of mom to mom sales such as the MOPS Baby and Kid sale coming up in March in Milford. You can also make a little money by selling clothes or toys which are in good condition!
Budget, budget, budget! Do you know where all your money goes each month? Before my husband and I had our first son, we sat down together with a notepad, a white board and our bank statements. We were astonished to see how much money we spent on food and going out to eat. By creating a budget, we were able to give each other guidelines on spending, identify financial goals and even save each month. There are even several apps which will help you budget and then monitor your spending.
