Easy Money Saving Practices

The cost of living is rising while our paychecks remain the same, or in many cases are getting smaller.  And it is up to us to find easy ways to offset the rising prices and give our bank accounts a raise.  We've found some easy ways to help you save some money.  Families can get as extreme with each of these money saving practices or choose to use them on occasion, because every little bit helps:

Trade Babysitting: Let's face it, babysitters are expensive nowadays - making way more than minimum wage in many areas.  If you have friends with children, why not ask if they would be interested in swapping babysitting time.  A bonus to this is not just the money you save, but that you know your children are in good hands and it might keep your children busy too! Always make sure to keep it as equal as possible to prevent a strain on your friendship.

Clip Coupons: If you can be flexible with the brands and products you purchase, this is a great way to knock money off your grocery bill.  Trading unused coupons with friends or family and planning meals around the coupons you redeem will save a tremendous amount of money.  This is something you can choose to dabble just a little bit with or get extreme. Maybe even create a coupon club with your friends or bring them when you meet for coffee?

Shop Consignment Sales: How many parents are familiar with the unused or barely used clothing and toys we end up with from our children.  And many savvy moms have figured out that consignment sales are a great place to find these new and gently used items.  Generally consignment sales are rampant in the spring and in the fall but some areas have them even more often.  This would also be a great place to make extra money by selling your gently used or new items.

Shop Goodwill & Consignment Stores: Consignment stores have sure come along way lately.  They have great bargains for the whole family including sporting goods and even items that can be used for Halloween costumes. 

Restaurant Coupons: Many restaurant coupons can be found either online or in your newspaper inserts.  If you can be flexible where you are eating out, this is a great way to savey money. 

Skip the Kid's Meal: How many times have you ordered your child their own meal to find that they take 2 bites of it and you end up feeding them a PB&J at home afterwards.  Why not try sharing your meal with them.  You'll love the money you save, your children will get to try different foods, and you may even shave a few calories off your own meal!

Kids Eat Free Nights: Several popular family restaurants offer at least one night a week that kids eat free. 

Shop the end of season sales: Depending on the age of your child and how fashion conscious they are, try purchasing clothes at the end of the season (when they have been marked down dramatically) for next year.  This also works well with holiday decorations.    

Household Tip: Unplug, unplug, unplug.  TV's, cable boxes, phone chargers and nearly everything else that plugs in uses electricity even when not in use. Try it, you'll be amazed!

If you have a great money saving tip that you would like to share please send it to us: admin@usmomstoday.com