6 Ideas to Help Your Family Save On Essentials

You already know how tricky living within your means is, and this becomes even more challenging when you have kids who aren’t as financially literate as you and your partner.

It can often feel like they’re eating you out of house and home, making it impossible to stay within your budget.

Don’t feel like there’s nothing you can do, though, because here are four ideas to help your family save on food and other essentials. 

Shop At the Right Time 

Did you know there’s a secret (or not so secret now) time to shop at supermarkets for the best deals? Visiting the supermarket around 8 p.m. lets you catch discounts because the stock expires soon.

You can also check out these supermarket saving tips to help you save on your weekly food shop and hopefully cut back on your expenses without sacrificing the quality of the meals you make on hectic school nights or lazy Sundays. 

Stop Thinking New = Best 

Just because something is new and shiny doesn’t mean it’s the best. Not only could it come with teething problems, but it might overcompensate and offer too many features that you don’t even need.

This is mostly true when buying a car, so rather than buying brand-new every few years, check out a VW dealership for something more affordable that you can pay off gradually. This could be a family car or something for your kids who are just about to pass their test. 

Learn to Fix Clothes

Your kids will trip and fall. They will scrape their knees and tear their clothes open. Once you’ve taken care of their First Aid needs (a kiss and plaster should do the trick) you can consider what to do with their clothes.

Most of the time, these holes or tears are easily fixed, so learning to sew will save you plenty, especially on school uniforms, which they are more likely to damage when they’re out on the playground with their friends.

You can also sell these clothes when your kids grow out of them to help your budget, or you can just donate them if you’re feeling generous. 

Renegotiate Your Internet And Data Plans 

Even kids as young as seven have smartphones nowadays, and many schools encourage them to research their homework online.

Because of this, you need to ensure they are connected to the internet wherever they are. But, monthly phone plans for the whole family will be expensive and unsustainable, especially if you’re trying to cut costs.

The good news is that you can find family phone plans for you and your kids to ensure everyone is connected, but it doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. 

Savings 

Everyone needs savings to keep their household afloat and protect them from sudden emergencies.

These tips should help you cut back on your everyday expenses so you can build a stronger backup account for any disasters without feeling like you’re sacrificing too much.

All you need to do next is educate your kids about how money does not grow on trees and you’ll be alright. 

Cut Energy Costs

In recent years, the cost of powering your family home has likely increased dramatically. So, it makes sense to find ways to reduce the amount you spend on gas, electricity, and water each month. Using your utilities more wisely is a great way to help cut the cost.

This means turning the thermostat down a notch, taking shorter showers, and turning off lights when not in use. As well as taking these steps, it’s also wise to consider changing suppliers to see if you can reduce the amount you pay for your tariff. Comparing different energy companies, including renewable energy suppliers such as CleanChoice Energy can be a great help, and could even help you save money.