Five Ways to Reduce Family Expenses

It’s no secret that when a family’s household grows, weekly bills and expenses begin to move in an upwardly direction and budgets can become tight. Having children is definitely not cheap and paying for their necessities and activities can massively eat into monthly incomes. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to get savvy when spending and look for ways to reduce expenditure one step at a time. Start small or make bigger changes to help reduce costs in the long run, these helpful tips and tricks will definitely free up some money.

Weekly Meal Prep

Planning ahead is a great way to save money and this is certainly true when it comes to family meals. Plan what you’re going to eat every day of the week to reduce takeaway purchases and spontaneous trips out to your favorite restaurant. If you can slot the time in, try and prepare a few freezer-friendly meals at the weekend to tie you over on those hectic school days. There’s usually no time to rustle up a delicious home-cooked meal when you’re dropping the kids off at school, attending evening sports clubs and assisting with homework deadlines so having a quick meal at hand will be efficient and cost-effective. 

Buying ingredients you know you’ll use will also cut down on food waste, this is another area where money is usually wasted. Download a simple meal planner that you can print and stick to the refrigerator to keep you on track. 

Shop Second Hand

Dressing children can be expensive for families, one minute they have new outfits and the next they have outgrown them and desperately need more. Sourcing second hand clothing until your child has stopped growing is a great way to save money and some items you’ll find will be as good as new anyway. Auction sites such as eBay are a great place to look as they are updated with new items daily. Make sure you hold onto any outfits for younger siblings to grow into or consider selling them to friends and family who can get more use out of them. 

Make Your Home More Efficient

If you’re in a position to invest money upfront to benefit from long-term gains, look at ways to make your home more efficient as utility bills can become a huge strain on family finances. How old is your boiler and does it need replacing? Could you benefit from a remote heating control system? Are your windows letting out too much heat during the winter? If you do decide to make some upgrades to your home, it’s best to hire a professional instead of tackling it yourself. If you’re not sure what you’re doing, it becomes quite costly. Window installation, for example, needs to be completed by a professional, who can ensure there are no gaps left between the frame and the glass which is one of the reasons why your home suffers from heat loss. Search online for “window installation near me” to ensure that this particular job is done to the highest standard. 

Carpool 

Cut down on fuel costs by teaming up with fellow parents and share the responsibility of taking the children to school. Whether you take it in turns or get reimbursed for helping out, this is a cost-effective solution to an essential daily task. Carpooling not only helps the family bank balance, but it also frees up time, alleviates traffic on the roads and is much better for the environment. 

This is also a great way to build a community where you live and strengthen your children’s friendships with their peers. 

Opt For Activities At Home

Weekend activities don’t have to be costly, there are plenty of budget-friendly options that will keep your children occupied over the weekends and school holidays. Swap a trip to the movies with a cozy home screening and add a few snacks and sweets to make it special. Invite friends over to make a real occasion out of it, it can always be part of a slumber party. Simple arts and crafts kits can keep children entertained for hours and don’t have to break the bank. Cardboard boxes can become canvases and old t-shirts can become art projects. 

Raising a family is an expensive task, but it doesn’t need to be. By taking the above advice into consideration, you can effectively work towards reducing your expenses, leaving you with more cash in the bank to enjoy activities and entertainment as a family. You may even be able to save up for a family vacation! 

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