Family Finance: Here’s How You Can Nail Frugal Living

Family life is expensive, when you’re raising kids there will always be some expense or another and sometimes just making ends meet can be a struggle. The price of living is high, with groceries, bills, rent and mortgages costing a small fortune. No one wants to feel like they’re scraping by and living on the breadline. So it’s important to live frugally, and know where to make cutbacks so that you can maintain your lifestyle and everyone in the family has everything they need. Here’s how you can go about it!

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Have a Budget

Whether you’re a single person or a large family, a budget is important for everyone. When you know where your money is going each month it allows you to stay in control of it. It means you’re not overspending and not falling behind with bills. Either use a budgeting app, or simply write everything down on a calendar or on a notepad. Find a method that suits you and make sure you’re sticking with it each month.

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Create a Meal Plan

One of the biggest expenses for a family is food- feeding everyone doesn’t come cheap. You probably find your grocery bills are pretty eye watering, and to make matters worse you’re either throwing away lots of waste or simply running out each week. One way to make life easier and make grocery shopping a lot cheaper is to come up with a meal plan. Write down the dinners you will all be eating that week and shop to this. That way you’re not buying excessively, and it also helps to keep you organized as you know what you’re making.

Get The Best Deals

Whether it’s utilities, items you’re purchasing online, insurance or anything else- always make sure you’re getting the best deals. In the case of credit cards, make sure you’re getting the best deals. Otherwise price comparison sites are handy, or you can compare things directly using Google. If you’re buying a product online, always go through a cashback site first. That way you get a little bit back every time you spend. Look for voucher discount codes too, just always make sure you’re getting the best possible price as all of these savings can add up in a big way.

Sell What You No Longer Need

Kids are expensive, because they’re constantly growing and always developing new interests, meaning they go through things like clothes and toys incredibly quickly. In fact they can change so fast, these items are still in excellent condition where they were not used for long. Instead of simply throwing them away, sell what you no longer need. You’ll never get back the original price you paid, but it can raise some money which can be used towards new things. Facebook marketplace is great for this, as your ad will be seen by lots of local people. You could also do boot fairs or sell on sites like eBay and Craigslist.

This is a contributed post.