Everyone knows that children are expensive, but no one knows quite how expensive they can be until they have a houseful themselves. No parent wants to be living pay check to pay check, so it makes sense to find savings where you can and get your finances in order. More often than not, this is a lot easier said than done, but there are a few simple things that you can do to start saving some money. Here are some tips to help your family save some money.
1. Be Organised When Shopping
When it comes to your weekly food shop, it pays to be as organised as you possibly can be. Make sure that you have a list of everything that you need, and stick to your list as much as you can. You should also take any coupons or vouchers you have collected with you, as they could be useful. If you haven’t got any coupons, visit moneysavingexpert.com and see if they have any that you find useful.
2. Use Your Loyalty Cards
If you have a loyalty card for your favourite supermarket, make sure that you use it every single time you shop. You might not benefit from it right away, but every time you shop you collect points which can be converted to money off voucher later on. If there is an app for your loyalty programme, make sure that you have it and check it, as lots of retailers put exclusive discounts on their apps.
3. Never Buy A New Car
Buying a new car has a lot of drawbacks, most obviously the huge cost, so, if you really want to save money, you need to realise that a new car isn’t necessary. Leasing a car from a company is much cheaper each month, so makes a lot more sense. However, buying a used car might fit your family better, especially if you have small children that like to spill things on the seats.
4. Drive When You Travel
If you’re heading off on your summer holidays, have a long think about how you’re going to get to your destination. If you’re not travelling too far away, you might want to consider ditching the air travel plans and go by car instead, especially if you have a few children. This saves you money on plane tickets and means that you have a car while you’re away, so you don’t have to pay out for public transport.
5. Eliminate Non-Essential Subscriptions
If you want to save some serious money, then you need to review what you’re spending money on every single month. If there’s a subscription that you regularly pay out for but rarely use, you should consider giving it the chop. This could be anything from your landline to your gym membership. After all, there’s no point wasting money when you can use it elsewhere.
Saving money while running a busy household can be difficult, but it certainly isn’t impossible, and with these tips, you should find it to be a lot simpler.
*collaborative post
