Budget meal planning is vital to the health of most household budgets. Nobody looks forward to rice, pasta and beans for every meal, but sometimes a financial strain means you have to really look closely at your food intake as a place to eliminate extra expenses. These tips for busy moms to help budget meal planning become easier, are perfect for keeping you well fed and your finances in order.
Stick to what your family loves.
One of the biggest budget meal planning blunders around is trying out too many new recipes each month. Unfortunately, what looks great on a blog, television or in a magazine may not meet your families taste preferences. Stick mostly to those tried and true recipes and flavors you know everyone will eat so you aren't wasting money on food that ends up in the garbage. Try 1-2 new recipes a month and if they are enjoyed, add them to your rotation. Here's a list of our family's favorite meals.
Keep accurate track of what you have on hand.
A pantry and freezer list is a must when you are budget meal planning. Your meal plan should include items you have in stock in your pantry. Knowing what you have on hand keeps you from spending too much on items you don't need. Basically, it will keep you from making last minute stops at the grocery store and spending extra because you forgot an ingredient.
Get to know your butcher.
Whether you use a traditional butcher shop or your local grocery store meat counter, knowing the butcher is a great way to find the best deals on meats. Not only can you talk to them about the end pieces of meats that are perfect for stews and chili, but you can find out when they are running a sale, or when something is about to be marked down because it is near the end of its shelf life. These little things can save you a ton of money on meat purchases.
Create a core base of ingredients.
Many families like specific flavor profiles more than others. When you figure out what your family tends to gravitate toward, you can easily start shopping for those items in bulk. Whether it is a type of meat, produce or base like pasta or rice you can find most groceries in bulk for less than individual servings would cost.
Plan meals for leftovers.
One of the best ways to save money while meal planning is to actually plan your menu for leftovers. Not only can larger batches of some meals save money on a second evening meal, they can save money on your lunch expenses. Soups, casseroles and many one pot meals are perfect for leftovers. If your family doesn't like eating the same thing multiple times in a row, you can easily create the double batch and store it in the freezer until later in the month. Then all you have to do is thaw and reheat in the oven or slow cooker.
These budget meal planning tips are perfect for moms who are busy juggling kids and work. Not only will they help you stay on budget each month, they will provide you with great meals your entire family will enjoy.
Moms, how do you stay on budget each month when it comes to groceries? What are your tips for making food stretch further?
Everyone wants to cut back on household expenses and these tips are perfect for seriously cutting your household expenses in half. Some are easy to accomplish while others may be drastic measures that only a few families can manage. All will help to cut back on the money you are spending each month to maintain your home.
Downsize as much as possible.
While this may seem obvious, many families overlook the bigger ways to downsize as they feel they are impossible. Things like moving to a smaller and less expensive home, selling the second family vehicle or simply decluttering items from your home that are no longer needed can easily create more money in the budget.
Limiting extra curricular activities can also be a great way to cut household expenses. This can mean limiting the number of teams your kids play on, your own gym memberships or even your weekly nights out with friends. You don't have to eliminate everything, but you can downsize your activities to a more manageable amount.
Start couponing regularly.
Simply Frugal brings you tons of coupon deals on a regular basis, and using these to save money on everything from food to household supplies can greatly cut back your household expenses. Just make sure to not get carried away and spend more than normal just because you have a coupon for something. Utilize coupons for the best deals on products you would already normally be purchasing.
Cut out extra expenses.
Check your household budget for things you are spending money on that can be eliminated. (Even if it's temporary.) This can be eating out, new clothing splurges or even special channels on cable television.
There are a lot of little purchases made each month that can add up fast.
You may also consider spending time calling insurance companies, policies and banks to try and eliminate any unnecessary monthly fees. Check your credit cards and pay off or transfer balances on those that have higher interest rates so you save a little more money each month on expenses.
Make your own household products.
One easy way to cut household expenses is to begin making your own products to use around the house. Homemade laundry detergent, fabric softener, stain remover or even homemade body scrubs and lotions can all be made for less than store bought products, and you will like the fact that they contain fewer harsh chemicals.
Monitor utility expenses and cut back when possible.
Usually next to mortgage/rent and food, utility expenses are the highest monthly bill. You can monitor these regularly and cut back by conserving water, adjusting your thermostat or even investing in solar panels or better energy efficient utility systems.
Grow your own food.
A garden is a great way to save moneyon your grocery budget. It can also be a wonderful way to cut household expenses by providing not only for the current food you need, but year round.
Can or freeze fresh fruits and vegetables you grow to use throughout the off seasons. In urban areas you may also consider raising chickens to provide your family with eggs and chicken to eat later in their lives.
Have one spouse become a stay at home parent.
This is a drastic choice, but it can easily lead to household expenses being less. If you are paying a lot each month in childcare expenses, take out or even someone to come clean your home, then it may be even more financially beneficial for one parent to stay home with the kids instead. The savings on daycare will be huge, but you can also save by being able to menu plan, keep the household running smoothly and perhaps doing some work at home projects.
These tips to cut back on household expenses are just a few of the many ways you can work your way to being more financially free. Reducing expenses is the number one way, which is obvious. How to do that can be difficult depending on your individual situation. Think outside the box and your household expenses can be cut in half.
There are tons of tips for how to live frugally to pay off debt out there. But today, I have gathered some of what I feel are the best ways for you to focus your income to get rid of debt and create financial freedom. Some simple changes in how you view money can truly make all the difference in the world.
Create a functional household budget.
A functional household budget is actually looking at your true reliable monthly income and true reliable monthly expenses. Fluctuating pay from part-time jobs that aren't consistent, selling something online or occasional side jobs are not consistent and shouldn't be included in your household budget. Focus on what is your primary income, then create a list of all your regularly occurring expenses. This list should include things like housing, utilities, transportation, health, savings, groceries and similar items.
A functional budget shows you what you have coming in and going out each month. If you have less coming in than going out, it's time to look closely at the differences. Is the difference because your income is too low, or is it because you're making poor spending choices? It's often a combination of both poor spending habits and an income issue. If you cannot easily change your income status, it's time to look at what your expenses actually are and streamline as much as possible. That means eliminating things that are not necessities until you are in the clear and able to meet your needs.
Understand wants versus needs.
This is one of the biggest things to understand when you want to know how to live frugally to pay off debt. It boils down to what is coming in as income and going out as expenses. Typically the expenses that are unnecessary are what have to go. What is necessary to some is not to others. For my online business I have to have Internet at home to do my work efficiently. Others can do with using their cellular phone carrier for using the Internet. What is a necessity to me is a want for them. Take the time to look in detail at each item on your expense sheet and determine what can be removed as a want until you are better able to afford it.
Things to consider that are typically wants and not needs:
Newer vehicle
Larger home or living space
Pampering like: manicures, pedicures, professional hair styling, massages or spa treatments
Eating out
Entertainment like: new video games, movie theater tickets, or amusement parks
Make savings a priority.
Ultimately if you want to live frugally to pay off debt, you need to also consider saving money in the process. For most families, debt racks up because of a lack of savings to pay for expenses that occur unexpectedly. A savings account is not just for vacations and future purchases, but for unexpected expenses. Job loss, poor health, vehicle repairs or even a new roof on your home can all happen out of nowhere and quickly incur debt if you do not have a savings fund in place.
Once you realize what you have coming in and going out each month, you can begin to focus on how and where to save money. Using coupons, eliminating expenses and cutting corners can all be done better once you understand what your true financial needs are.
Babies grow so fast, it's hard to keep them in clothes that fit! Don't miss these great places to find discount baby clothes that are of great quality and fit easily into your lifestyle if you're on a limited budget!
6 Places To Find Discount Baby Clothes
eBay
A huge powerhouse in the discount baby clothes industry is actually eBay. This online auction site is a great place to buy gently used and brand new items at a fraction of the price you would in a store. Check out various large lots of clothing for the best prices on bulk purchases with discounted shipping. You can also earn money back once those clothes have been outgrown by selling your own items on eBay for credit.
Craigslist/Kijiji
Looking at these popular online classified sites can bring you many opportunities to grab kids clothing and specifically discount baby clothes at great prices. Remember to always arrange to meet in a public place and have someone go along with you for safety.
Local Facebook Buy & Sell groups
There are so many buy & sell groups on Facebook. I happen to think they are a great place to find discount baby clothes. They are similar to a garage sale or yard sale, only online and easy to choose what you want without having to drive all over the place to find it. Much like Craigslist, it is important to arrange to meet in a public place and have someone come along with you for safety.
Thrift or second hand stores
There are tons of great thrift stores and second hand stores all over the place, and they are ideal for finding amazing discount baby clothes that will work into your budget and keep your little one clothed.
Consignment sales
Consignment stores and sales are an amazing place to sell your own gently used items, but also to buy great name brand items for your baby at deep discounts. Watch for pre-sale days, special offers and great name brand quality items for up to 75% off retail prices.
Hand me downs
Take any hand me down items that are offered to you from friends, family and neighbors. You'll be surprised at how many people will offer you items for your baby. Take what's offered and go through items to choose what you can and are able to use. Pass on the the items you aren't able to make use of to others.
These are some great places you can easily find discount baby clothes that are in great condition while staying within your budget. Your baby doesn't need a ton of clothing when they are little, but as they grow you'll find it can be costly to keep them in new sizes all the time. These tips will help you to manage keeping your baby in cute clothing without spending outside your budget.
Okay guys, today I want to know your number one money saving tip. The thing you do that saves you the most. Or some little hack that you do to to avoid spending full price on something. Then once we’re all done sharing our tips and tricks, I thought it would fun if I compiled all your ideas into one printable sheet that we can read again and again. (Don’t worry, this will be a free printable for everyone to enjoy!)
Let’s get on with it shall we?
I’m Wondering: What is Your #1 Money Saving Tip?
Do you have something you’re wondering about that you would love Simply Frugal readers to answer? Send me your questions, here.
