Family life isn’t all rainbows and butterflies. It’s hard. Sometimes, it’s extremely hard. Of course, it’s also very rewarding – raising a family is probably the best thing that you will ever do. However, that doesn’t mean that managing is always easy – there are times throughout family life when it can seem a lot harder than during other periods. It’s important to know – that is entirely normal.
Life has this way of throwing curveballs at us when we least expect it, doesn’t it? Sometimes, all it can take is one ‘curveball’ and it can feel like everything is falling apart. Knowing how to manage when this happens can seem tricky. However, there’s always a solution – it’s just a case of finding it, that’s all.
If you and your family are struggling financially, it can feel like the end of the world. It’s extremely stressful when things don’t go right with your finances, but the fact is that you can remedy the problem, and you can learn to cope with the situation at hand. It’s just a case of learning what steps you need to take and how you can become more creative with your approach to finance.
For everything that you should know about making your money spread a little further during turbulent times, have a read of the tips and ideas below!
Learn to cook more economically
A great way to cut your family’s spending costs is to get creative when it comes to how you cook. The fact is that often, the cost of family shopping can be extremely expensive, which is where a lot of your monthly income can end up going – on pricey food. However, the good news is that when it comes to your monthly income, it is possible to reduce the amount that you are spending on cooking. It’s just a case of learning to cook in a more economic way.
This means thinking about how you are cooking; and being mindful of what is going into each meal. There are plenty of budget-friendly recipes that you can opt to take advantage of – many of which are free and available online. You can also find a number of budget-friendly recipe Facebook groups to join, where people share daily ideas for keeping cooking cost-effective.
A great hack for cutting costs is to go part vegetarian; cooking with vegetables instead of meat will significantly help to cut your cooking costs. Aim to cook at least three vegetarian meal a week, to help reduce your weekly shopping costs.
Take advantage of budgeting apps
When it comes to budgeting, learning how to start budgeting isn’t always an easy task. There’s a lot that you need to take into account and a lot that you need to consider; which is what can make budgeting a little complex when you first start out.
However, the good news is that there are plenty of budgeting apps on hand to help make the process of learning to budget, a little easier and less stressful. These apps are designed to make the process of only spending what you really need to, far simpler and easier. All you need to do is input your income and outgoings and you can workout what you have spare each month to use for food shopping and other necessities.
There are a number of different budgeting apps to choose from, each of which offers a range of features – it may take a while to find the budgeting app that works best for you but it’s worth taking the time to do so. Some of the most popular budgeting apps include Bean and Dashboard – however there are plenty of others to choose from too.
Utilize voucher codes
A great way to cut costs when it comes to your family spending is to take advantage of voucher apps and websites, such as NetVoucherCodes.co.uk, for example. Here you can find a wide range of deals and discounts that should help to cut your family spending costs and keep prices low, to help make your money spread that little bit further.
A great routine to get into is, whenever you need to replace an item, such as your mop or broom, for instance, instead of going out and buying one right away, take the time to source the cheapest option, without compromising on quality, of course. Voucher code websites and apps can help to make this process easier; ensuring that whenever you buy anything, you’re getting it for the best price possible.
Just make sure that before you purchase an item that’s discounted, that you read the reviews of that item. This is important for ensuring that the item you are buying is of a good quality, and won’t be a purchase that you will live to regret.
Don’t be afraid to buy pre-loved
There’s often a stigma around buying pre-loved items, however there really shouldn’t be. Whether you’re in need of new household furniture or your children’s wardrobes need updating, opting to buy second-hand can be a great way to pay a quarter of the price you would need to pay brand new.
By choosing to buy second-hand, you can save yourself a lot of money, and ensure that you aren’t overspending or leaving your family short of funds for other things. Wherever you can cut costs and save money, you should do. Don’t be embarrassed to buy second-hand, it’s not only a great way to cut costs but also a good step to take to help lead a more environmental life.
There are lots of places that you can buy second-hand items from, from eBay to Facebook MarketPlace, as well as within various Facebook selling groups. Just make sure that before you buy anything, you are able to see it and inspect it, to make sure that you aren’t being ripped off.
Adopt a ‘make do and mend’ approach wherever possible
We live in a world where, far too often, if something is damaged we simply throw it away and fail to replace it. However, if you want to cut costs and reduce waste, then learning how to make do and mend old items that are failing to work properly anymore is vital.
When it comes to fixing household items – whether it’s your washing machine or a broken chair – there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube and other sites that guide you through the process of fixing various items.
You could even get your kids involved in the fixing process, teaching them a number of key skills for later life.
Source extra income opportunities
It’s also a good idea to consider looking out for extra income opportunities; as by adding to your income, you can help to ensure that your finances are able to stretch a little further each month. There are lots of ways that you can earn an extra income from home, it’s just a case of working out what would work best for you.
You could opt to do some freelance work in your sector or choice, or you could consider doing something a little bit different. There’s also the option of completing online surveys for cash payouts. There are a wide number of options to consider.
There you have it, a few useful tips for how you can make coping in difficult financial times a little easier and less stressful. Getting used to being careful with money isn’t always an easy task, but once you’ve adapted to the changes, it can make life far simpler and easier.