Budgeting with a Brood: Raising a Family Without Raising Debt

Ways to Keep Your Family on Budget

Be conscious while shopping.  I sometimes find myself buying something for my children that they don’t need, buying an item at the grocery store even though we already have it at home, or putting something in my shopping carriage because it looks attractive in the store even though I don’t really need it.

Find “invisible” ways to spend less.  One way I do this is during hot months, raising the thermostat at least 5 degrees when I know we won’t be home for several hours.  I also turn the fan setting on the HVAC to “auto” instead of “fan”, which means that the unit will only run when the thermostat gets to the set temperature.  I also shut the blinds to prevent the house from heating up.  You can do the opposite during the cold winter months.  You can also find other services that you spend money on that you don’t actually use.  If you have cable TV, do you use all of the premium channels you are paying extra for, do you use all of the tablets that you are paying for internet service for, etc.?

Realistically set an amount that you put into savings or that you use to pay off debt each month.  So many people spend everything they make, and more, putting themselves into debt.  By budgeting an amount that you put into savings, you are helping your future.  You can use this money for an unfortunate catastrophic event, put it toward your retirement, toward future college payments, or even a dream vacation.

Reduce your discretionary spending.  This area is one of the most easy ways to burn through money.  Make your coffee to go instead of buying it, pack a lunch instead of buying it, don’t go shopping “just to browse” if you know you will end up buying something you don’t need.  Even drinking tap water instead of bottled water can save you money.  Remember- every cent counts!

Use cash.  I know this sounds like an archaic idea in today’s modern world of credit cards, debit cards, and phone apps that we use to pay for things.  However, experts say that if you have a certain amount of cash that you have allocated for a certain expense, such as groceries, you will be more likely to stick to your budgeted amount each week when you can see the cash dwindling with each purchase.

It’s not always easy to save money, but simply being mindful will help you to be on your way to reaching your goal.
 
 
Meet The Bella Behind the Blog: Kristen Farley is a mother of three and a domestic goddess. She is a former teacher who enjoys spending lots of time with her kids, healthy eating, volunteering at school, and mommy blogging for the masses.

Be on the lookout for more of Kristen’s expert advice and brilliant tips!