Having children will always make you dig deeper into your pocket to try and make ends meet. Not only do they need your money, but they also need your time and attention, taking up time you’d have used to make more money. Older parents may have found a hack and finally managed to find a balance, but first-time parents may feel the pinch.
Usually, parents always turn to banks and other financial platforms; however, children’s needs and demands may eat much into your savings. It’s therefore crucial that parents design different ways to save money. This, however, doesn’t only revolve around putting money into a savings account but also cost-cutting measures that reduce spending.
Ways To Save With Children
There are different ways in which you can save money when you have children. These methods can be helpful depending on your location, income, and most importantly, the number of children. But there are general methods that cut across different areas.
Such helpful tips include the following:
1. Use Prepaid Card
A prepaid card is an improved way of making you more disciplined with your finances. Not only does it allow you to save money, but it also controls how you spend the money. For example, using prepaid cards for shopping online is an excellent alternative to cash transactions. This is because you only spend the amount you’ve loaded, and not what you have.
Loading your card with only what you need can help prevent impulse shopping which is primarily associated with cash. In addition, you’ll become more aware of what you’re spending your money on and how much you’ve spent, which will help you save more.
2. Buy Second-Hand Items
When growing up, kids will require clothes and toys. These items are expensive when bought as brand new; however, you can choose to buy second-hand items, and you can save a whole lot of money on an item. You can also shop from second-hand clothes and gift stores that cost less than the brand new.
Another alternative to buying second-hand items is by keeping clothes and toys used by the elder children. As long as those items are of good quality, they can last for a long time, cutting the need for new purchases.
3. Plan Your Meals
Planning your meal can help you save a lot of money. For example, when you make a list of what you’re going to eat in a week, you can then bulk shop for those ingredients at once. When you bulk shop, you reduce the extra costs such as transport fees.
You can have precise control over your finances by planning your meal budget. You also avoid unnecessary spending that may arise every time you make a stop at the grocery store.
4. Limit Extra-Curricular Activities
When having kids, a lot of money can be used on extra-curricular activities. While these activities are important to the growth of a child, they aren’t always necessary. You can then limit the number of days that your kids go to theme parks and zoo, or how often they purchase books.
You should encourage your family to take advantage of free activities such as taking a walk in the park, visiting the beach, or bike riding. Instead of buying books, you can read in the library or borrow books from book clubs and friends. This is a significant cost-cutting measure that will ensure you save much money.
5. Observe the Two-Days Rule
One of the golden rules of shopping is having a two-day waiting period. When you spot a product, ensure that you don’t buy it there and then. You can wait for up to two days to determine if you need to purchase the item.
In some cases, people will panic buy things because they see others buying or because they’ve been impressed by the item. As a result, you may end up wasting a lot of money on things that you didn’t need.
6. Develop a Saving Challenge
Even though saving when having children seems complicated, you can start a saving challenge with a tiny amount. You can then choose to save either weekly, daily, or monthly. In addition, you can use piggy banks to save coins. This can also help cultivate a saving culture with your children.
After shopping for all the necessities, the remaining amount can be saved instead of using it on other luxuries that aren’t necessarily needed. In the end, the money can come in handy on other essential issues.
Conclusion
Once you get kids, the responsibility becomes more. You have to balance between providing for them now and providing for them in the future. Kids can have so many demands, and because of the soft spot you have for them, you may end up giving in to their wants. When you buy what they don’t necessarily need, you eat up on your finances.
Develop a good saving strategy and adopt ways that will help you cut costs around the family, like using gift cards when buying groceries. You should also develop a saving culture among your children to help them understand the importance of doing so.
