Frugal Living Tips for Families: Save Money and Have Fun
88How Can Families Save Money and Still Have Fun?
Let's face it: raising children is costly. From grocery shopping to buying clothes, entertainment and much more... it all adds up!
Experts estimate that the cost of raising a U.S.-born infant to age 18 is approximately $200,000-250,000. If you have more than one child, multiply that figure accordingly.
As a mother of four children, ages 9-14, I am constantly looking for ideas to save money as a family, but still have fun. Until 2008, my husband and I both worked full-time. Then the recession hit and we went to a single-income family. While I had always been good at pinching pennies, we had to quickly adopt a more frugal living style. Before long, we realized that we could save hundreds of dollars each month with a few simple tips. What's more, it was actually fun to watch the savings add up.
Clipping coupons is only part of the equation here. I've never been that good at organizing all my coupons anyway, so we've streamlined the process of saving money for busy families.
Saving Money as a Family: Teamwork!
A good friend of mine always reminds me that when it comes to family, we're all on the "same team." This applies to rules, chores, and disagreements concerning everyday matters. The bottom line is that we all basically want the same things: a stable household, food on the table and a place to sleep.
Saving money as a family helps to ensure these fundamental needs are met, in most cases.
Minimize disagreements on money issues by calling a "team meeting" at which you ask for ideas from each person as to how to save more. Talk about what expenses can be cut out. Ask what trade-offs each is willing to make. How can you save more energy or hot water? Perhaps even set a long term goal to set aside part of the monthly savings for a special family outing!
Whether or not you have tight finances, the exercise of saving money as a family helps establish good habits and responsibilities concerning making and sticking to a budget. These are life long lessons that will follow your children into adulthood.
One Frugal Family Saves a Bundle
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Save Money at Meals
One of the easiest ways to incorporate frugal living into a family routine is to save money at meals. Homemade lunches and dinners are less expensive and usually healthier than take-out meals.
Collect some cheap, fast and easy family recipes, shop smart at the grocery store, and follow these tips:
- Purchase discounted groceries and freeze for future use (meat, bread), or incorporate into a meal immediately
- Never throw away leftovers
- Stretch your shopping dollar stocking up on staples when they are on sale
- Double your recipes and put one in the freezer for another day
- Have your children help with meal preparation (there are many great children's cookbooks!)
- Shop for seasonal produce and pantry essentials; skip items that are out of season
- Grow your own vegetable or herb garden
- Make dried fruit, can fruits and vegetables, make pickles, make your own jam or jelly
- Bake from scratch instead of buying pre-packaged items
- Make popcorn on the stove top, instead of buying microwave popcorn
- Clip and use coupons or, if you have a smartphone, download free coupon apps
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Save Money on Clothing
My four children seem to grow overnight! Clothes and shoes that I purchase in September are often too small by the holiday season.
To stretch our clothing dollar, I use these frugal tips to save money on clothing:
- Purchase new clothes on clearance and/or at the end of the season; stock up on essentials in larger sizes such as t-shirts, socks, undergarments and jeans and pack away for 9-12 months
- Repair clothing where possible: patch jeans, sew on buttons, replace zippers
- Organize hats, gloves, socks and underwear in easy to see bins; have children help you match pairs of gloves and socks
- Save, wash and organize older siblings' clothes to hand down to younger kids
- Ask friends with children older than yours if they have outgrown items that can be passed along
- Shop at consignment shops, Goodwill and garage sales
- Check eBay or Craigslist
- Organize or attend a clothing swap party with friends
- Avoid purchasing premium brands, unless for a gift, or where the child has earned the extra money themselves
This Frugal Mom is an Inspiration!
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Regular home maintenance can help increase energy efficiency, saving you money on heating and cooling costs year round. Here are five important home maintenance projects you should undertake each year. - Cheap, Fast and Easy - Dinners Under 3 Bucks per Serving
Tasty recipes for family dinners that are cheap, fast and easy! - Healthy Hamburger Helper Recipe Alternatives
Family meals are easy and quick with these healthy Hamburger Helper recipes. - Crockpot Easy Recipes: One Pot Family Cooking
Its simple to prepare family meals in a slow cooker! Consider these crockpot easy recipes before you head out the door in the morning. - Budget Friendly Home Improvement for Beginners
Simple, inexpensive home improvement projects for a beginner on a budget. These suggested projects can help you update your house without breaking the bank. - A Young Woman's Guide to Personal Finance
Young women just starting their lives away from school or home should consider this guide to personal finance. - How to Stop Impulse Buying
If you are looking to stay on budget, you'll need to consider how to stop impulse buying. From expensive purchases down to small $1-$2 items, don't let impulsive buying drain the budget.
Save Money on Entertainment
Entertainment expenses are often the first items cut when a family is working on a budget. But, while you are saving money, you still want to have fun!
Fortunately, there are many options for family entertainment on a shoestring budget - some are even free!
- Check out books at the library instead of buying new
- Check out DVDs or CDs, instead of renting or purchasing
- Borrow books, DVDs and CDs from friends
- Watch for special inexpensive or free movie screenings for families - our elementary school offers these quarterly; during the summer, our city has outdoor movie nights once a month
- Organize a movie night with friends and their kids to share the costs of entertainment
- Attend public lectures or book readings at the library
- Attend high school plays or concerts - even if you don't have a child that attends the school
- Spend time outdoors walking, hiking, bicycling or swimming
- Go to the playground or park
- Attend local sporting events, rather than professional games
- Organize a toy exchange and swap items that your children have outgrown or are no longer interested in
- Print out coloring pages from the Internet, rather than purchasing coloring books
- Tell imaginative tales with your children during "story night" at your home
- Enjoy traditional, inexpensive games such as dominoes, playing cards, cribbage, checkers, chess, marbles and jacks
- Entertain your children while also having them help out at home, saving even more money: enlist their help gardening, folding clothes, preparing meals, walking the dog and much more!
General Frugal Living Tips for Families
Its not hard to save money and have fun as a family. In addition to the tips above, reducing your monthly living expenditures will can add up to significant savings.
Whether you minimize energy use at home, increase fuel efficiency of your vehicle, or pay less for services through a barter system, consider these general frugal living tips:
- Use a programmable thermostat to reduce heating and cooling costs
- Unplug appliances when not in use
- Reduce frequency of running appliances (dishwashers, laundry)
- Hang clothes to dry
- Wash in cold water
- Drive your vehicle less often
- Maintain your vehicle to increase fuel efficiency
- Consider having your teen take a part time job to earn his or her spending money
- Consider bartering/swapping services with a friend: i.e., you color their hair and they fix a plumbing issue at your home (note that the government may determine a bartering scheme to be taxable - confirm with your CPA before proceeding)
What general frugal living tips have you found most useful?
America's Cheapest Frugal Family
How Could You be More Frugal as a Family?
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Wonderful hub, Steph. Great ideas! I grew up with a frugal mom, and I continue her tradition. I do think living frugally and continually finding new ways is fun. Lots of votes on this one!
You have put together a very comprehensive list of money saving ideas! I am a SAHM and try to economize as much as possible. I love coupons--not just because of the savings BUT it's a kind of "thrill of the hunt" to me to see just how much I can save and still purchase the brands I like. I agree with Simone above--sometimes being frugal can be fun :)
I also think money could be saved by buying fewer "convenience foods" such as the popcorn you discussed. I think the regular popcorn IS SO MUCH BETTER than the microwave with its weird waxy coatings anyway. Excellent job - voted up :)
I love these types of hubs; I always get something good out of them that I can use. Good job and helpful!
This is a very impressive Hub and a reminder that all of us need to live smarter. I don't have children, and I have to hand it to you for raising them in these "hard economic times." As a retiree, I am on a fixed income unless I hustle for the writing jobs.
All of us can use tips to save money. Especially with the cost of living going up.
This is a very nice hub. Everyone from all over the world can use your tips. Thank you!
Thanks so much everyone! I think that its much more fun to be careful with money than to worry about it. It's great to be able to share our successes and hear that many others are living frugally too. Best, Steph
Excellent tips. In these days of multimedia and Internet entertainment, we forget that there's such a thing as a library in most cities. Good reminder that it still exists. Voting this Up and Useful.
Excellent tips, steph. You would be proud of me. I NEVER throw away leftovers.
That's because I never HAVE any leftovers!
Well done. You covered a lot of ground with your material.
@drbj Ha!! :)
Thanks alocsin - we regularly take our cub scout group to the library and many of the kids are amazed at the resources available at no cost. Cheers, Steph
Thank you Lenzy!
Great tips for saving as a family. Making it a family project, rather than leaving it to one person to try and control the budget, is an excellent approach. Thanks for sharing this hub.
Great hub, thanks for the Google references to cheap kindle downloads. Everybody seems to be tightening their belts these days and this hub is very useful.
Thanks Shelley - you are right! It has to be a family effort and everyone needs to be on board when it comes to saving money. It reduces stress and minimizes the chance that a single person is perceived as the "bad guy." Thank you for the comment. Best, Steph
I love your suggestions about how a family can work together to be more frugal-- this is so great and not just in terms of saving money. It teaches valuable lessons in terms of relationships, people, respect and so much more. Great hub, Steph!
Thank you Robie! Yes, respect is key to success in adopting a frugal living system as a family. Everyone can celebrate accomplishing the goal of saving money when they feel like a valued part of the solution. Cheers to you, Steph
I was shocked to see just how much it costs to raise a child, especially as I have 4 children which makes it a nice round million can't wait till they all pay me back lol.....jimmy
I wonder where that million is coming from lol.
Thanks Jools, I thought it was important to include inexpensive resources for families on a budget. Cheers to you, Steph
Oh Jimmy - I am in the same boat! :) Who knows??? LOL!
Loved it! Voted up. Way to go, Stephhicks68!
thanks much @EuroCafeAuLait!
Thanks for the tips! I'm always looking for ways to stretch a dollar even further! :)
Thanks for the tips! We have been using the various local libraries a lot, and that has been really great. It's a fun destination - almost as fun as a toy store - and I like that you can pass the time there and also take stuff home! Kids don't really know the difference whether you're buying or borrowing for free! :)
Another great hub by you;well done Have found doing without a motor vehicle has saved me a lot of money and stress. Don't have to worry about fuel prices,cleaning location parking fees other traffic. the list goes on
Hi Suzie, taking a few frugal steps is not very hard and anyone can pocket an extra $5-10 per month ($60-120 per year!) Thanks for reading and commenting, Steph
Twoseven, you are right! At our library, there are computer stations for the kids that help them learn to read, or play educational games - more free entertainment, in addition to books, DVDs and CDs. Plus, there are often book readings for kids, lectures for adults and more. Love the library!! Cheers, Steph
Hi Barry, Thank you! Owning a car is definitely a huge monthly expense, from maintenance, insurance, licensing, parking, car payments, and of course, the fuel. If people could go without a vehicle, or reduce to a single vehicle per family, they could save anywhere from $100-$1000 a month (or more). It really adds up, doesn't it? Cheers, Steph
Great hub topic and full of useful ideas on saving money. We cut our dining out to once every two weeks and it has made a big difference. We also freeze all leftovers and cook fresh food at home. I have also taken to borrowing books, videos, etc. from the library or friends instead of purchasing them new. Wonderful hub topic and voted up!
Thanks teaches,
You are right about eating out! It gets very expensive. We try to save it for special occasions. Appreciate the vote up and the comment. Best to you, Steph
Thanks for reminding me of some ways I should be living! Great Hub!
So many great ideas and suggestions, and all are very useful! I, unfortunately, had to vote "all of the above"! lol I'm working on it! =]
Voted up & useful.
Veronica, you are not the only one to vote "all of the above" Saving money can be fun when you all pitch in as a family. Good luck with budgeting! :) Steph
Great hub, Steph, packed with tips that we should all use in these green-conscious times, whether or not budget is an issue. Totally support your suggestion of "team meetings" too, so important for everyone to feel that they are included, important and have a say. Greater likelihood of following through too! Voted up, thanks!
Thank you poowool, I do believe in families working together so that everyone feels like they have a voice, and compromise is more easily obtained. Appreciate the comment. Cheers to you, Steph
One more point: For us, what you buy for your child will be passed on to the kid next door and vice versa. Most hand-me-downs are in remarkably good condition. While passing along shoes is not recommended, the majority of clothes can be extended to more than one child if they are cared for - changed into "play clothes" when coming home from school. Best, ECAL
Hi Steph
This is a hub packed full of so many great ideas on how to make your money go further.
I had to vote "All of the above" too, not because we don't try to spend our money wisely but because we have room for improvement in all of these areas.
You've suggested using your washing machine less often which is going to save the most money but if you do need to use it washing at a lower temperature or on a shorter cycle will also help.
Amber:)
Definitely ECAL! In fact, I tend to spend just a little bit more on clothes that I know can be handed down. That practice ends up saving money in the long run. Thank you for the comment! Best, Steph
Hi Amber, I would like to think that most of us have room for improvement when it comes to saving money. Even when you prepare a budget and think about purchases ahead of time, many families can save even more.
Good point about the washing machine. Today's detergents allow cold water wash for all types of laundry, which can save a lot of energy and money. A shorter cycle is usually sufficient, too. Best, Steph
very interesting money saving points.
Thanks
Great tips. This hub will surely helpful for every family.
Excellent advice Steph! Congrats on Hub of the Day.
Steph, your Hub of the Day award was well-deserved on this Hub. You very thoroughly outlined the benefits of family teamwork and how that could affect our finances.
I had not heard the statistic on how much it costs to raise a child to age 18 in the U.S. - that is truly eye-opening.
I enjoyed this article and can definitely put the tips you have provided into good use. Voted up, interesting, and useful.
Excellent Hub Steph! I could use many of these tips to cut back on extra spending. I also enjoyed the video you included on the family who lives frugally! Congrats on the HOTD! Take care, Kelley
Congratulation on the HOTD! This is indeed an excellent hub for families. Family teamwork is very important and you outline it very well. Thanks for sharing. Voted up and useful;-)
Congrats on HOTD! This was well researched and well written. I voted it UP, etc.
Just last night I published a Hub on divorcing my cable company to save money, and here I see your Hub on saving money this AM.
I keep a container of left over veggies in the freezer, beans, corn, etc. When I have enough, I make soup.
This is a fantastic hub Steph...Especially when so much of the world is struggling economically...timely info and is sure to benefit many...thanks for sharing with us...up, useful and awesome.
Steph, this Hub is wonderful. I am on my way to paying off one more credit card, then the house is next. This Hub is so encouraging.
Excellent ways to save money. Thanks!
Fantastic hub! All these ideas are so helpful to families living on one income. I need to print this out and hang it on the fridge to remind me of all the different ways to save money. Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful ideas with us! Congrats on your well deserved Hub of the Day!
Wonderful hub with great tips to save money. Thanks for sharing it. Voted up. Congrats on HOTD!
I've read and commented on this hub before. Just wanted to say congrats for it being Hub of the Day!
Great hub! Chock full of good ideas! Inspiring!
You have some great and fun ideas. Great hub!!
Wonderful tips.
Congrats for well deserved the Hub of the day.
Great way shown about living the life without undue expenses.
Hi Stephanie, what a wonderful hub this is. Yes, you're correct about people being able to do things without having to have to spend too much money.
Great hub and congrats on winning HOTD
John
I love the family meeting idea. People,including children, always take more interest in something when their oppinion was valued. Also being carefull with what you have shows appreciation. You sound like an amazing mother! I also have four children, Gage, Hunter, Regan, and Jillian. Bless You for sharing!
These are all wonderful ideas - all quite doable. One of the biggest savings I received was in hanging my clothes out to dry. It was almost unbelievable how much money I saved on my electricity bill. That little dryer sucked up way more electricity than I thought. Excellent hub. Congratulations on receiving Hub of the Day!
What a great guide! I definitely agree about the part of the family working together as a team. That's very important to future financial success. Congrats on being featured as the hub of the day!
Smart, sensible advice. We can all benefit from any and all money-saving tips. Personally, I am Miss Frugal to the max. I see it as a Science, a challenge....almost an art form!
Everytime I think I've included every way to save, I find another method.
I am positive that your average consumer is not aware of the "waste" we can be guilty of. I believe we need to take the time to focus on our daily life, get organized and create a budget that we can easily live with. Be diligent and keep up with our "homework"....always being willing to change, rearrange, cut corners and stay with a savings program. Great information here. Thank you UP+++
Fantastic read Steph, I will certainly be taking into account your recommendations. I noticed the part where you said about the cost of raising a child to 18 around the $250,000 mark....well my wife had twins a week before Christmas last year, and I've just turned seven shades of blue!!
We follow many of these tips even though we do not have kids. It just makes sense. I grew up learning similar things from my mother...so teaching your kids will have a long lasting effect no matter what the economy does in the years ahead. Great hub and congrats on HOTD. Well deserved! Voted useful and plan to share this so others can learn from your experience.
Thank you to everyone! Its Memorial Day weekend and we're at baseball tournaments, so its hard for me to respond individually to each one of you right now. What an honor to have been chosen for HOTD! Appreciate the support from each of you, Steph
Fantastic artcle stephhick, WELL WORTHY as HOTD . . .Congrats!! Awesome hub, so many excellent tips, ideas and suggestions for life. Thanks so much for sharing and voted up, awesome, interesting and useful.
interesting article.
Thanks for share it.
Well done stephhicks. With or without children we can all benefit from taking your advice.
Congrats of being chosen for the HOTD.
Ditto all the compliments and congrats! Have a great time at the tournaments!
Thank you, everyone! I am so grateful for this community and all the wonderful comments. Best - enjoy the rest of the weekend, Steph
Thanks for this comprehensive and informative post Steph. We don't have kids but enjoy living frugally and making the most of what we have. I like the way you shared about making decisions as a family and involving your children in the processes and in taking responsibility collectively - inspiring!
Brilliant tips and advice on saving money! All of them can be utilized and used for living better!
Great hub!
Simone Smith Level 7 Commenter 3 months ago
Hehee, these things sound like so much fun- I want to do them anyway- not to save money, but just because I want to! Movie nights, going to the library, working as a team.. who would NOT like to do these things!
I'm beginning to think that we make more expensive choices not because more costly alternatives are better, but simply because we've forgotten how fun it is to be frugal. Thanks for reminding me!