Daycare for three children full time was going to cost me $2400 a month. I knew if I went back to corporate America that I would need to make alot of money in order to afford daycare. Then I would be using more than 75% of my income just to pay daycare.
Being home with my children has been the best decision for me and them. I had to sacrifice my desire to work outside the home because I knew financially and emotionally I could not afford it.
In order to be able to continue working from home I had to I cut out luxuries, reduce my household expenses and live a very simple life to make it work. I knew I could do it I just needed to make some changes.
If you are a single mom or you want to be home with your children while your husband works you have to trim your expenses down. Here are a few tips to help you save money.
1. REDUCE YOUR GROCERY BILL
The easiest way to cut your grocery bill is to meal plan. Planning out what the family will eat for meals and snacks will help control how much you spend on food. Check your cupboards, refrigerator and freezer then see what you already have on hand. Then see what you will need to complete your meal plan.
Times like this you can get creative, each meal doesn’t have to be a 4 course meal. Cut out meat 1 or 2 days a week. Choose to be dairy free. Don’t buy processed food, make everything from scratch. When you compare the cost of 1 package of chocolate chip cookies with buying the items yourself and making them home made not only are they better they are significantly cheaper.
Check out your local stores when they put meat or produce on clearance. My local Kroger marks town meat everyday by 7am. I know if I don’t get there by 7:30am someone comes and gets all the great deals. I try to go and get enough for 1-2 weeks.
If your really serious about cutting your grocery bill you could coupon. I tried couponing I found I ended buying other more expensive brands just to use the coupon when I could of just bought the store brand and saved money.
2. DON’T EAT OUT OR LIMIT EATTING OUT
Have you ever went grocery shopping get home then decide your too tired to cook so you order take out or go out to dinner? Yep, that was me at times. What I didn’t realize how much money that was coming out of my account, it really does add up.
If you cook at home not only will it save you money it will be healthier too.
Pack your lunch for work. I always bring snacks for the kids, it’s inevitable someone will complain they are hungry. I keep almonds in my car too just as a protein for the girls to have if they are really hungry.
Being prepared to cook at home helps. You need to have your meal plan and a few back up options for those times you just don’t feel like cooking. Maybe it’s leftover chili in the freezer or a frozen pizza.
3. BREAK UP WITH YOUR CABLE COMPANY
It’s unbelievable what people pay a month for cable. Really it’s an added luxury that you do not need. When my husband moved out he said he would continue to pay for Netflix, Roku and Hulu. Well as you can imagine that only lasted a few months.
After a fight we had he changed the passwords it was at that point I told the kids we will just use YouTube. That was the best financial decision you don’t need cable and all those other subscription services. We have movies we watch on our DVD player and everything else we watch om YouTube.
4. SHOP AROUND FOR CELL PHONE PLANS
There are plenty of cell phone plans out there. You could even get a prepaid plan if you want. Just because you have been with the same carrier doesn’t mean you have to stay with them.
I was with Sprint for over 15 years and noticed that I was paying more a month for the same plan a friend had. I called Sprint and explained that I was going to go to another carrier to save money so they reduce my monthly plan cost, I still have unlimited everything yet now I pay $30 less per month.
Depending on how many phones you have on your plan, and what you’re needs are you can save yourself some serious money.
5. CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIPS
Gym, Amazon, Car Washes, Wine Clubs, Make Up Boxes any memberships that are reoccurring charges have to go. Your trimming excess and all of these are not a necessity right now.
You can workout at home, look up videos on YouTube. You can go to the library and rent a book if you have Audible. Go to the store and purchase those items you needed at a fraction of the cost than in a membership. You can do without so cut them.
6. MAKE COFFEE AT HOME
I know some people say they can’t function without their coffee, so if you need it that’s fine make it yourself. Our society has become so excuse driven why they need a $7 cup of coffee. I don’t have time to make it myself, I deserve it or it’s my only treat. You have to realize you are trimming your budget so you will have to make coffee at home.
I know some people go to Starbucks everyday that’s a lot of money a month that could be used towards an expression machine or keurig to use at home. I drink chia tea not coffee and I invested in a frothier, it cost me $7 worth it. I love my tea frothy it’s makes me feel like it came from Starbucks.
You’d be surprised at the amount of money that you’ll save when you stop going to Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks every morning.
7. PAMPER YOURSELF AT HOME
Do your own hair, nails, and makeup. These little pampering things can really add up each month, getting your hair dyed, getting a pedicure. As women we can spend a lot of money on self care. Paint your own nails, do a pedicure at home, dye your own hair.
Go to the store, buy what you will need, watch YouTube videos and learn how do it yourself. In addition to saving money you will save time too.
Those are the things that you should absolutely cut when you are trying to reduce your household expenses. I know a lot of them can be luxuries yet when you want to save money, reducing your bills as much as possible, is the first thing you should consider.
How do you cut your household expenses? Leave a comment below on things you cut from your budget.