When I was still single, I had a budget for myself which I was NEVER ever really able to stick to. I would always splurge every payday eating out and buying things I want like clothes and gadgets. I told myself that it’s my reward for working hard for the past couple of weeks. Everything changed when I became a mom and a wife. I had to create a budget and strictly follow it because our family’s savings depends on it. Going overboard means not having anything to save. It was hard because I wasn’t really used in “budgeting”. I guess this is a point in life that we all go through.
Here’s a few money-saving tips to help make your family funds go further:
1. Control Spending on Food
Mommies are in charge of food budget, grocery shopping, and cooking. Rule # 1 is never go grocery shopping hungry or else you’ll end up putting everything in your grocery cart. Make a list of your family staples and stick to that grocery list. If possible, use online grocery voucher codes like Asda Voucher Codes to save on kitchen needs, cookware, or gardening needs.
2. Brown Bag It
Bring homemade lunch to the office or pack your children lunch to school. Homemade meals are much cheaper and healthier compared to food bought from a fast food joint or the school cafeteria.
3. Become a Power Nazi
Turn off lights and electrical appliances that are not in use.
4. Drink Water
Water is cheap, healthy, and quenches your thirst like other beverages do. Opting for water most of the time will save you the unnecessary cost of buying juices, sodas and other drinks that are mostly sugar loaded anyway.
5. Use Prepaid Phones
Instead of getting the family all on a post paid plan, opt for prepaid when it comes to mobile phones. That way, you only use whatever it is that you need and you don’t feel obligated to pay 1000 bucks monthly eventhough you’ve only consumed half of it.
6. Budget Holidays and Birthday
Most people think that going on vacations are a total budget buster. They don’t have to be. Nowadays there are many group buying sites offering promos on flights and hotel rooms. You just have to look for it and choose wisely. As for birthdays, (which is my weak spot because I have a tendency to splurge on peanutbutterā„ and Ykaie),prepare for it months ahead so you have time to incorporate it into the months to come by. Perhaps, skimping on some things on that month in order to afford something for the occasion.
These are just tips and suggestions. It’s up to you if you’ll take it into consideration or not but I guarantee that it will surely help you to spend wisely.
7 Responses
as for the number 1 on the list, i would say “stick to your grocery list”… as long as you stick to it, you will not buy unnecessary items which add up to the bill. i so agree also with no. 2 & 4. if you have your own packed food, you are sure that it is also clean… and water is the best drink there is since it is calorie-free!
these are all great tips to saving money! Our family drinks tons of water and dont eat out but maybe once or twice a month so we save a lot of money that way
Love these tips kaso ang hirap sundin esp. tip #1. š
Agree with your number 6. We are always on the look out for promo fares and we plan ahead to save money.
I am trying out Amazon Subscribe and Save. With not going to the grocery store, I can save on impulse buys.
I follow one of your tips to heart. I never go to a grocery store without my shopping list. That saves me time and money. — Tetcha
those are really nifty tips. I’d like to think I’ve got a few of those tips down pat, but I am guilty, I also tend to spend much on food + splurge whenever I go to the mall, to solve it, I shun the mall + similar establishments as much as I can š