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| Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels |
Raising kids is expensive, and just about every family needs to stick to some kind of budget to be able to afford everything they need. If your money is a bit all over the place and you need to do something about it, here are some ideas.
Get your debt under control
Getting out of debt is one of the best things you can do for your family's finances. Sell what you don't need to raise the cash to pay down balances, or if your debt is out of control then speak to a debt charity who can give you advice based on your situation.
Start saving
Once all of your accounts are paid and closed and your debt is paid off, start saving up. One of the best ways to do this is by automating things- set up a standing order to transfer money from your current account to your savings account on the day you get paid. You won't have to think about it and can let it just save for you, over time your savings will build and build.
Earn more money
Having a variety of ways to earn money will help you to save faster and will also help you to feel more financially secure. If for any reason you lost your job, you know that you’d have other methods of earning money that you could rely on until you were back on your feet. Blogging, freelancing, home businesses, tutoring and trading are all ideas. Find out the safest place to buy btc and do some research and you could get started with it right away.
Save money on days out
Going on days out can be a fantastic opportunity for you to make memories together and spend quality time. However, tourist attractions can be really expensive. You might not be able to afford to go to the zoo, a theme park, a boat ride or an adventure day every weekend but there are plenty of other ideas. Parks, farms, museums and galleries are all cheap or free, most have exhibits for kids to keep them interested. Check out local Facebook pages for your area for events at libraries and community centres as there are often free things for kids and families to do. You could just take a picnic and go on a walk or bike ride if the weather is nice, it’s all quality time spent together.
Spend less on food
Food is more than likely one area you’ll be able to cut back on. Most of us buy too many fresh items that don’t get used in time, or items that look good in the shop that we don't really need. If you buy ingredients in bulk you can batch cook meals and freeze them, otherwise menu plan and only buy what you need for that week. Have a store cupboard stocked with essentials, that way you have what you need for most kinds of recipes.
