Stay-at-home moms can find it challenging to manage family finances. If you’re a homemaker, our tips to save money will come in handy when the struggle between savings and spending gets real. Stay-at-home moms take care of the needs of the entire household, and are never idle. They know which kid is allergic to nuts and which one hates eating their veggies. However, it’s not as easy as it looks.
They’ve another thing ruining their peace of mind—to save money for an emergency, to have a little money to spend on yourself or to buy something for your husband. Read along and discover how to save money as a stay-at-home mom without sacrificing anything you and your kids love.
20 Best Ways To Save Money as a Stay-At-Home Mom
Life isn’t always rainbows and sunshine for mothers. It gets difficult at times, and nobody can escape it. So, when you’re facing financial worries, these ways to save money as a stay-at-home mom will ease your situation:
Create a Household Budget
The first step to saving is analyzing how much money is spent on grocery shopping, utility bills, take-out meals, rent money, school fees, etc. Now, separate these expenses into two categories—fixed and variable. Fixed is where you can’t increase or decrease the spending amount, whereas variable is where you can adjust the money you spend. Allocate specific money to each category based on how much you want to spend and save.
Use Cashback and Reward Programs
Use your credit cards to maximize your savings. Research and select which credit cards offer plenty of cashback and extra offers. Plus, you must be smart about redeeming an offer. Be strategic and consider cashing out for statement credits, gift cards, travel, or merchandise, depending on which option offers the best value for your points or cash back.
Meal Planning and Cooking at Home
This is one of the most important things to assess when saving money. Many of us splurge money on outside food when we can make it at home. Plan all your meals at the start of the week and prefer going out once a week or once every two weeks. If you can’t cook every day, then cook it in batches and store it in the freezer. Soups, stews, casseroles, and any deep-fried food are great options for batch cooking.
Couponing and Sales Hunting
Collect coupons from various sources, such as magazines, newspapers, online websites, and mobile apps. Stack them and shop at the right time. Also, stay informed about all the ongoing deals by checking their social media websites.
Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk is a smart way to save money on grocery bills. Evaluate your needs and shop at warehouse clubs like Costco, Walmart, and Target. So, take advantage of the sale time and check the expiration dates of the edible items.
DIY Projects
If you want to save money on repairs, it’s best to do it yourself. Instead of hiring someone, you can fix the leaky faucets, do the gardening, and install lights and other electronic items independently.
Sell Unwanted Items
Check what’s lying around in your house that is not being used for a very long time. Is there a TV that you haven’t switched on in months? Do you have broken furniture in the garage? Perhaps a run-down car? Sell these things and earn a little extra cash to make your life easier.
Cut Unnecessary Subscriptions
Look at your credit card statements and determine how many unnecessary subscriptions you have. If any of these don’t provide any value in your life, it’s best to cancel them. Have you subscribed to every single OTT platform? If it’s unnecessary, cut down on a few subscriptions.
Use Public Libraries
You can’t buy your kids brand-new books now and then. You can take advantage of the public libraries and save money. If you can’t go to the library, the internet is just one click away. This is an excellent opportunity for you to cut down on spending.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce the amount of unwanted things you buy. Reuse or repurpose items instead of purchasing new ones often. For example, you can turn an old T-shirt into a rag or repair broken items instead of replacing them with new ones. Lastly, recycle your trash. Learn what materials are accepted for recycling in your area and follow local recycling guidelines to ensure that items are properly sorted and prepared for recycling.
Be Energy Efficient
Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models that have ENERGY STAR certification. These appliances consume less energy, and you will save money. Furthermore, you can use LED lights, as they last much longer than incandescent bulbs.
Utilize Free Entertainment
If there are free channels on your television, opt for it. You don’t always have to go to expensive restaurants to have fun. You can go to nearby parks, galleries, and museums with your children and play outdoor games.
Barter with Friends and Neighbors
Things are expensive these days. So, you can try bartering with your friends and neighbors. You make good bread, and your neighbor is a skilled handyman. You can use each other’s skills and benefit from it.
Rent Out a Spare Room
You can ask around with your friends or family members if they know someone trustworthy who needs a place to live. You can rent a spare room to that person and save a little more.
Grow a Garden
By growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs, you can reduce your dependency on store-bought products, which can be expensive. You can also sell your home-grown produce in the neighborhood and earn some income on the side.
Carpool or Use Public Transportation
Another great way to save money is to use public transportation for commuting. By sharing rides with others, you can split the cost of gas, tolls, and parking. Many public transportation services also offer discounts for senior citizens and women.
Make Homemade Natural Cleaners
Making homemade natural cleaners is an economical way of saving money. Plus, you can make your own cleaners without adding harsh chemicals. You can make everything from wood cleaning spray to glass cleaners and all-purpose polishes at home.
Use Hand-Me-Downs
Instead of overspending on clothes, you can purchase good quality clothes from thrift stores. You can find clothes, furniture, household items, electronics, and other things at significantly discounted prices.
Try Home-Based Work Opportunities
Work-from-home is another excellent opportunity that has taken the world by storm. Many women use their free time to make extra cash by doing the work they are passionate about. For instance, if you love painting, you can sell your artwork. If you bake, you can become a home baker. You can also sell homemade food or start a drop-shipping store.
Become a Dog Sitter
You can become a pet sitter for your friends and neighbors when they are away. You have to take care of the pet while the owners are away. If you don’t know anyone with a pet, you can create an online profile on pet-sitting websites and set your rate.
Conclusion
As a stay-at-home mother, you may have to calculate all your expenses to identify potential areas to make financial savings. As a result, it becomes crucial to have some techniques to improve your savings and strengthen your financial management, no matter how much your partner earns. With our helpful tips, you won’t have to live frugally anymore. You can save money and start a side hustle while staying home with your kids. Also, check out Beem Better FinancialFeed ™ (BFF) to manage your finances better with on-point financial insights and recommendations.
FAQs
How much money should I save to be a stay-at-home mom?
It depends on each family’s income status. You need to save at least a quarter of the money you receive to run the house.
How do stay-at-home moms afford their homes, cars and other finances?
Determining to afford a car, house and other expenses while being a stay-at-home parent can be a challenge for you and your partner. Therefore, it requires being thoughtful, practical and realistic for parents to make necessary decisions on monthly income and expenses.
Is it cheaper to be a stay-at-home mom?
It can be cheaper or expensive depending on how much money you spend and save as a homemaker. If you spend lavishly, you will find being a stay-at-home mom as expensive. On the contrary, if you are low maintenance, it’ll be cheaper for you.