10 Easy Ways to Save.
Want to start saving but feel overwhelmed when you actually pull up your budget?... Tons of people do. And honestly, you have to look. Even when things don't look too good, you can always make some immediate changes to free up some fund.
Homemakers need to be savers. If you are not bringing in a paycheck, your job is to keep as much of your family's income in the bank. Work things from the other side. Make sure you trim the fat from the home budget.
Saving for those rainy days, college funds, medical bills, Christmas gifts, etc. Let's be real - every generation has seen a down-turn in the economy at some point. How awesome to know that your family is secure in their finances because YOU were smart during the good times?
Being frugal does not make you a saver. Just because the item was on sale does not mean it was a good purchase. Buying a necessity at a low price is a win - buying an unnecessary item on sale is still a bad purchase. The best way to save money is to not buy the item at all. So many people think they are frugal because they buy everything on sale. Not so. If you are clearing out the Target clearance rack when you already have a closet full of clothes - then you aren't being wise with your money.
Start making these few changes immediately and you'll be on your way to saving money now ...
1. Make your own coffee.
Yup. No fun. But do it. Get some creamer and syrups at the grocery store and start making that delicious brew at home. Like iced coffee? Brew at home, let it cool, leave it in a pitcher in the fridge and pour when you're ready - over ice of course. TA DAH! Iced coffee.
2. Pack your snacks.
I wrote a post all about making this happen. Pack snacks for yourself and your kids before you leave the house. Keep some in the glove box. All of those extra drive-thru runs and convenience store stops add up quickly.
3. Get rid of some of your clothes.
Do yourself a favor and clean out your closet - leave only items you fit in and actually enjoy wearing. Donate everything else. If you want to actually make some money, try to sell some of the better items. It is counter-intuitive, but the less you have to weed through when you are getting ready the less over whelming it will be. You will find lots of items you forgot you had. Now, on to the third item...
4. Do not buy new clothes.
But I just threw so many out!
Less is more people. Instead of getting buried in a sea of ill-fitting clothes you do not like, all you will have are choices that fit and you actually like. It'll make it SO much easier to get dressed. Do you know how many "seasons" the fashion industry has created for us? 52. Do you know how many weeks are in a year? 52. Yeah. They want you to feel that your clothes are inadequate EVERY SINGLE WEEK, so you will go buy more. Stop falling for it! Instead, get creative. Mix and match what you have an make "new" outfits. Borrow from a friend for a special occasion. You have more options than you think.
5. Do not buy new clothes.
You said that already.
Right...
So, when you do need clothes... for the children that outgrown everything almost overnight, you should not buy new. Consignment and thrift. Do you know the savings that come with buying second hand?! OH. MY. GOSH. It is unreal. If you haven't ever shopped second hand, I'm sorry, but you are being very foolish. Items with tags still on them. Brand names of well-made garments that will hold up so well. I buy my clothes and my children's clothes second hand. It has drastically changed our budget when the season's change. Get outside your comfort zone and try a few places if you have not. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.
6. Stop grocery shopping.
Skip your next planned grocery trip. Instead, shop your own pantry and freezer; make a meal plan based on what you have and go with it. Take the money you would have spent on groceries and put it away into savings or on debt - have a purpose for your saved money. If you must, give yourself about $20 to grab some essentials like a pack of diapers or some produce. Challenging yourself to use what you already have will save you some money quickly as well as keep you from wasting food you have already purchased.
7. Start a soup & sandwich night.
Once a week you need a simple and very inexpensive meal at home. For my family, our soup is usually homemade in the Crock-pot. For example, if we have had chicken earlier in the week, then we will have chicken noodle with veggies or a chicken and wild rice soup. Add PB&J's or grilled cheese and we have our meal for the evening. Another tip - I like to plan this meal for our busiest evening of the week. The Crock-pot does all the work and the clean up is easy.
8. Stop eating out.
As simple and straight-forward as this is, SO MANY PEOPLE DO NOT DO THIS. If you want to build your savings, stop eating out for a period of time. Challenge yourself to make it 30, 60 or 90 days without getting take-out or going to a restaurant. The money you would have spent on those meals needs to go into savings or on debt - make sure your savings have a purpose.
9. Make your own cleaning supplies.
One trip to Walmart for just cleaning supplies left me in sticker shock. All that money on nothing even slightly fun? It took me a little while to get on this train but I am currently a firm believer in the financial and health benefits of making your own household cleaning supplies. Pinterest offers TONS of resources on how to make this happen. In a nutshell - distilled vinegar, baking soda and Borax will get your house clean from top to bottom.
10. Learn to be Content.
Contentment is key. I am convinced it is the key to happiness. Be grateful for the life you have. We live in a society that pushes the ideals that MORE means happiness. That what we possess equates to our importance. Don't fall of it. Discontentment leads to unhappiness and ultimately debt, in a lot of cases. Gratitude changes a person's outlook on life and creates peace. Setting your family up with a peaceful and financially secure life is one of the greatest things a Homemaker can do.
