Money Saving Tips for Mamas
I’ve always considered myself a saver. Finances were a priority for me for as long as I can remember. As soon as I was old enough, I got my first job. I loved having my own money and being able to purchase the things that I wanted for myself. When I was in high school I read a book about finances and it gave me a great mindset about money that stuck with me for decades.
As a young adult, living on a budget was a top priority. When I was in my mid-twenties I decided to take it a step further and started putting money into savings on top of budgeting. At that time I saved $10,000 in six months.
However, since becoming a mother, my financial goals fell down my priority list. It’s so easy to lose yourself in motherhood. At this point my finances are definitely in a position that could use some improvement. Getting my finances back in order is one of my top goals for 2022. Here are a few of the ways that I am planning to do it along with some other tips for living a frugal lifestyle.
Have an Abundance Mindset. I truly believe that mindset is everything. We move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts. So having an abundance mindset will move us in the right direction. I keep an abundance mindset by doing two things.
First, I always focus on what I do have rather that focusing on what I don’t have. Focusing on what I do have and focusing on how grateful I am for the abundance of blessings in my life keeps me in the most positive state of mind. Truly, whenever I feel down, I stop and practice gratitude, this small shift in mindset changes everything.
Second, use mantras. Mantras originated in Hinduism and Buddhism as words or sounds repeated to aid concentration in meditation. Today we also use the word mantra to describe statements or slogans that we repeat frequently. Every day I speak the following affirmations to myself: a. Money is flying at me from all directions. b. I am surrounded by wealth and abundance.
As I mentioned earlier, we move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts. When our thoughts consist of scarcity (I don’t have enough money, I will never get out of debt, I am broke, and so on) that becomes our reality. However, when our thoughts become full of abundance, prosperity, and confidence, that become my reality.
Meal Plan and Eat at Home. Planning your meals in advance can be a massive money saver. In the long run, it can also save time, as you won’t have to think about what you will eat each night. You can buy food that’s on sale and then plan your weekly meals around that. Here you can find a printable menu planning sheet. Having your meals prepared a week in advance will mean you are less tempted to eat out spontaneously. You are also less likely to waste food.
If you do want to eat out occasionally, go for lunch instead of dinner. The portions are smaller, and the prices are lower. Try to find restaurants that offer a good children’s menu or a time when kids eat for free. Order water instead of soda. It’s good for both your health and your wallet. Most restaurants make a ton of money from people ordering drinks. Always look online for coupons and discounts before you head out!
Use Technology. There are many apps you can use that will tell you where you can get coupons and discounts. Make sure you browse on coupon sites for coupons before you go shopping. With just a little bit of time invested, you could save a ton of money. Wait for sales to make big purchases. Look online for good investment accounts for kids. Encourage your children to save their own money and earn good interest rates. You can set limits on withdrawals to make sure their money builds up. Make financial goals a family affair.
Keep Up With Maintenance. Although maintaining your home, car, appliances, clothes, etc. can be expensive, it will save you a lot of money in the long run. Having big repair bills in the future could cause you many financial problems. Doing small things like changing the oil in your car, clearing out your gutters, and taking care of leaks before they become really bad, can save you a ton of money in the long term.
Stay Away from Credit Cards. This sounds obvious, but buying things on credit if you can’t make payments on time will really negatively affect your finances. Zero percent interest may sound appealing, but it won’t be so attractive when the offer runs out, and suddenly there are huge interest rates. The fun of getting a massive new TV, that you probably could have lived without, will fade when the bills start to come through. Waiting and saving up money is a much smarter idea.
Make A Holiday/Gift Budget. Plan for Christmas well ahead of time. You could save a little bit of money each month. The same goes for birthdays. The only significant event that could come as a surprise is a wedding. You should be able to plan your gift buying well in advance for everything else. You can also consider making presents. This is much more personal and likely to be greatly appreciated. Home-baked goods or DIY health and beauty products can be a great gift.
Motherhood is one of the most challenging jobs in the world. There are so many responsibilities and things to think about. It’s easy to let important thing fall to the wayside. Hopefully, these money-saving tips will help you if you find yourself in a boat like me. I am so excited to make this a focus this year and I’ll be sure to check in with my progress along the way.