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Whether you currently are a stay-at-home mom or working towards this goal in the future saving money is a priority. It can be difficult to afford to be in a single-income household. Keep reading to hear about some simple things you can do to make it more possible for this to become your reality.
1. No Refill Items
Avoid products that require a refill. Instead of owning an item such as a Swiffer instead purchase a steam mop with a washable and therefore reusable pad. We use the Bissell Steam Mop.
We have been very happy with it for the last two years. You need nothing except water and power to run the mop. No chemicals. No refills. It is a simple item to own.
I do not use plug-in air fresheners. When I got married and moved into my husband’s home he had them. I bought the wrong kind of refills so many times. It drove me crazy. Apparently, this has become a trigger for me. It is just ridiculous how many brands and sizes you can find.
My point being, I do not purchase these anymore.
When purchasing an item think about the long-term impact. When purchasing an item aim for simplicity.
Also, keep in mind that if you are on a budget you may not actually need the item. Take the air fresheners for example. It may sound silly to put it this way, but that is a luxury item. It is by no means a need for any household.
2. Quit Shopping
Stay out of the store and off online retailers. If you avoid them you can’t give them your money. Backing off on your shopping is all about creating new habits. This could mean removing an app from your phone, unsubscribing to store emails, or taking a different route when going places.
Whatever you do or see in your daily life that causes you to shop online or in a store needs to change.
Less shopping is a huge factor in money-saving.
Quit shopping.
3. Shop Smart
Above I said quit shopping. I do mean that for the most part. Obviously though some shopping has to take place. The key is to be smart about it.
Have you ever heard to only grocery shop after eating? If you shop on an empty stomach you will spend more than you should. You should follow this advice!
If you find yourself getting sucked in at certain stores stay out of them. Take Target for example. That store is literally designed to make you want to spend money. If Target is your weakness stay out of there. Start grocery shopping at a store that only carries food. This will help limit you.
My husband and I will go to Menards when we feel the itch to go shopping. We will look at light fixtures and such items that we will not be making an impulse purchase on. They are more so dream shopping trips.
The other thing we will on occasion do is go to Menards to get items that are free if you send in the rebate.
We have purchased Clorox wipes, dish towels, and small plastic containers that we use for our toddler’s food. The way it works is you purchase the item, mail in the rebate, and then you get a store credit of the amount. We save the store credits for when we need to make a purchase later.
We feel like we are shopping. We spend money at the time, but get it back later. Then when we need to purchase items such as flowers and mulch in the spring we have the store credit to use.
This is a specific example of something that works for us. Find what works for you.
4. Pack Lunches
Pack lunches for everyone. This could be your husband for work each day. It could be children going to first grade or eighth grade. This could be for yourself going to work.
Pack lunches for daycare. Check out How to Easily Pack a Week Worth’s Worth of Lunches for Your Toddler.
Pack lunches for an outing to the park or the zoo.
Pack all the lunches.
I challenge you to do this for a month and see what a difference it makes on your credit card bill at the end of the month.
Depending on your budget maybe you can allow for one day of purchasing lunches per week. Your kiddos can pick the school lunch they want most. You or your husband could eat out every Friday maybe.
This is up to how badly you need to be saving money.
5. Free Entertainment
Whether you are looking to become a stay-at-home mom or already are one you need to find free entertainment options. Look for resources and groups in your area. Talk to family friends that have children and see what they are doing on the weekends or during the week.
Some great options that I know of in my local area include parks, fast food play places like McDonald’s, splash pads, and church playgrounds.
The fast-food option is my least favorite because it comes with poor quality food and paying to eat out. Try to do so in the most affordable way.
If you have three kids do not get them happy meals. Instead, get one large fry and a 20 piece nugget to split amongst them. By ordering this way you can divvy up food into appropriate portions for different ages.
6. Limit Grocery Shopping
Stay out of the stores as much as possible. Every time you go in to grab a few things you will end up spending more than you intended.
When you do go shopping have a plan. Know what meals you will be making for not just the coming week, but for the following week as well. See if you can go for two weeks on a single trip.
This does take some preparation, but will greatly benefit your budget.
When it comes to grocery shopping and meal planning you need to be smart about it. I like to compare raspberries and green bananas. You have to use what will go bad first and save what can wait for later. Raspberries usually need to be gone in a day or two so they would be the fruit you use first. If you are smart you will buy green bananas so you have a fruit to have once the raspberries are gone.
You can think of dinner the same way. Meals that require fresh ingredients should be made first. Later once you haven’t been to the store in a while is the time to break out the freezer dishes or pantry items like rice.
The last tip with grocery shopping and meal prep is shelf cooking. This term, I believe coined by Jordan Page, is shopping for dinner with what you have on the shelf. Create a meal with what you already have. This is a great way to inventory your pantry and also go through items that have been sitting for a while.
7. Clothing
Do people still go shopping for clothing? Ever since having a child, this has not been on my list. I go about twice a year and get what I need. I am talking the basics!
If you are trying to tighten that budget you need to greatly reduce your shopping.
If you are struggling to reduce the shopping you need to at the minimum move to purchasing second hand.
This could be via thrift stores or online services.
If I am going to give it to you straight I’d put it this way.
Quit buying clothes.
Live on little.
Do not buy trends.
Love your favorites.
Do the laundry more.
8. Restaurants
How often do you currently go out to eat during a typical week?
If you don’t know the answer to this, track it for a month or two. See what is your ‘normal’.
Now make cuts.
You could reduce the number by half.
You could drop down to eating out once a week.
Or you could go so far as to say we get to eat out once or twice a month.
Eating out is a luxury, not a need. This is an area where often significant cuts can be made.
Your decisions here are all about your lifestyle, your budget, and how bad you want to be able to afford to live on one income.
I honestly think it is fair to eat out once a week as a family. This will often happen with social gatherings.
When you are at a friend or family member’s house and they suggest getting pizza it is hard to opt-out of that. You could, however, try to encourage pitch in meals at get-togethers instead.
Conclusion
These 8 ways to save money may not be significant enough to allow you to be a stay-at-home parent. They are not increasing the money coming in. Sometimes there just isn’t enough.
These small tips though can make an impact. They can help you make moves in the future.
Consider these 8 suggestions. See which ones you are doing well at and which areas you could make improvements.
Sometimes you have to take inventory of your life and lifestyle and see what is really important to you.
Good luck and let me know ways you have been able to save money to stay home.
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