Christian-Parent.com

by Nichole

Busy moms are always looking for a way to stretch a dollar. There never seems to be enough time and money to go around. There are some easy ways to lower your household expenses that do not take a lot of time and will not change your lifestyle too much.

1. Look at Fixed Expenses

• Insurance- It is sometimes easy to overlook the fixed expenses in your budget. Upon examining them you may find some that can be reduced. Insurance is a big one here. The internet has made it simple to compare car insurance quotes. You will be able to see the savings if you change to a different company, change coverage limits or lower your deductible. Using these online quotes for auto insurance can lower your premiums and allow you to save on car insurance. It is important to maintain proper coverage while also looking for the best value.
• Phone Bills- Another fixed expense that is worth looking into is phone bills. If everyone in the home has a cell phone, it may be time to get rid of the land line. Also examine your current cell phone plan to make sure that you are not paying for features that are unnecessary or not being used. Even when under contract it is usually possible to switch to a cheaper plan with the same provider.
• Cable- Cable is another luxury that is easy to replace with a cheaper alternative. There are many free or frugal ways to watch television and movies. Netflix has hundreds of television shows and movies that can be instantly streamed to your computer or television for a fraction of the monthly cost of cable.

2. Grocery Budget

• Buy Generic- The grocery budget is a place that most busy moms can cut expenses easily. There are many generic products that taste as good as the national brand. Give a few generic items a try and see if your family notices.
• Couponing- Although it can be time consuming, couponing is a great way to save money at the grocery store. There are countless websites that do the leg work for you matching sale items at the store with coupons. If you do not subscribe to the newspaper there are plenty of other ways to get coupons. Online you will find coupon cutting services, you pay a small fee in exchange for them cutting out and mailing the coupons that you choose. There are also many coupons available to print from your computer at home.
• Stockpiling- Another way to lower your grocery budget is by stockpiling when things are on sale. An example of this is when barbeque sauce is on sale for one dollar, buy three bottles instead of the one that you would normally buy. Pretty soon you will have a pantry full of items and can plan your meals around what you already have.

3. Eat Out Less Often

• Have a Plan- Eating out can play havoc on a family budget quickly. Having a good family budgeting plan can help to reduce trips through the drive through. Having a weekly menu plan and checking it in the morning will help you be better prepared for a hungry group at dinner time. Slow Cookers are a great solution to those busy days when you know that you will not have time to cook. Taking a few minutes in the morning to start your dinner can result in coming home to dinner being mostly completed.
• Pack Lunches- Lunches out can add up quickly. Making your lunch the night before and having your school age children do the same can save you a lot of money. It will also save the hassle of trying to do it in the morning rush.
• Freezer Meals- Making meals ahead and freezing them will help you eat out less. Many things can be frozen, an easy way to do this is to double a recipe you are making and freeze half. There are whole cookbooks dedicated to this type of cooking. A few things that freeze well are muffins, pancakes, casseroles and some soups.

4. Buy Smart

• Second Hand Stores- There are many ways to get clothes and toys for less than retail. There are many second hand stores that sell nice things. Some even specialize in children’s items. You may be able to sell some of your items that your child has grown out of for credit towards other items.
• Clearance Sales- They are a great way to clothe your family. An example would be to buy swimsuits for your family at the end of the summer and save them for the next year. This will only save you money if you are diligent and actually use what you buy. Make sure that it is really a good deal, and you are not buying it just because it is on clearance. You should also look at certain store credit cards where discounts are offered for buying things!

Using these tips for family savings will help a tight budget loosen up a little bit. It is important to remember, when looking at money saving tips, to evaluate how long it will take and how much money it will save. If you spend a long time on something that saves a little bit of money, you may find a better use of your time.

Be Sociable, Share!

•