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tips to make managing your finances easier, budget tips

Managing your personal finances can be tough when you are a parent. It feels like there is never enough money and there’s alway something unexpected to pay for. It can be extremely frustrating but there are tips to make managing your finances easier. Just when you think you’re getting ahead, the car breaks or the central air goes out or there’s another tuition payment for ballet due. There are so many different things that contribute to the stress that builds up surrounding money, but if we break it down together then you might be able to work out how to cope a little better. Me too! In this article,I’m going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can do in order to manage your finances better and easier, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.

Managing Finances Can be Difficult as a Parent, Tips to Make Managing Your Finances Easier

Learn The Word No

First, I’d recommend that you start learning to say “no” without guilt. Of course, if you can say yes and you want to say yes, then this is entirely different. But, a lot of people say yes when they are in no position to do this, and that is a huge problem. It causes a lot of people a lot of money issues, and we don’t want to see that happening to you. As such, whether it’s to yourself, or whether it’s to your children, you need to be able to say no when something is not wanted if you cannot afford it.

We understand that saying no to your kids can sometimes feel awful, especially if they really want what they are asking for. But, there is only so much that you can do, and you can’t magic up money that you just don’t have.

Save For What You Want

Instead of just splurging all of your cash that should be for something else or in your savings account on something that you want, take the time to save up for it. With the money that you have leftover each month, you can take some of that and save for whatever it is that you are wanting. It might take a little while, but it’s going to be worth it in the end because you get the thing that you want, and you don’t have to use any money that was already allocated to get it.

Plus, you will know that you do actually want the product as you have spent the time to save for it. Most people will get bored of saving quite fast because they feel as though the item is not worth the amount of time and effort that needs to be spent to get it. Because of this, you will know that if you do stick it out that it’s something you really wanted.

Budget Well

Budgeting should be at the very top of your list for how to manage money. If you are not budgeting, then how do you know what you are spending? How do you know what you have left at the end of every month? How do you know how much to put into savings? The short answer is that you don’t know the answer to any of these questions which explains why you are having problems with money. It’s tough to manage money, we know, but it’s not tough to create a budget. 

To create a budget, you simply need to create two lists: one of these is going to be your incoming funds, and the other is going to be everything that you need to pay out. Take the total of the outgoing away from the total of the incoming, and see what is left. Make sure that each list is as detailed as possible, and always round up instead of down. For example, if you have a bill of 77.65, round it up to 78. It’s always nice to have a little more leftover than not enough to cover it. 

The money that is left is yours to do with what you want. However, we highly recommend that if you can afford it, you put half of this into savings so that you start to build up a decent nest egg. It’s important to have some savings for a rainy day, and even though it’s tough, it can be done if you are dedicated enough.

Find Discounts Where You Can

If you are spending too much money at the moment, then you need to start saving money, which can begin with finding discounts. When you are looking around online and doing some shopping, they often ask you at the checkout if you have any voucher codes. Now, there are a few ways in which you can find these discount codes, one of which is signing up to the company mailing list as they will often send them through this. Or, if you’re in the UK, you can use a site like NetVoucherCodes.co.uk which has a whole list of codes for you to choose from.

Try to keep in mind that if you’re struggling for money then any discount is a good discount. Any place in which you can find some savings is going to be helpful, and obviously, the bigger the discount, the better for you.

Save On Your Energy Bills

Have you given much thought to your energy bills? At the moment, the cost of gas and electricity is rising through the roof, having soared to numbers that haven’t been seen in a long time, perhaps ever. It’s tough because you need energy to be able to live the way that we do, but there are some ways that you can save. For example, if you use energy saving light bulbs, this will dramatically improve the overall cost of your energy bill. As well as this, when you leave a room, make sure that you turn the lights off. We know that it doesn’t feel as though you’re using energy because it’s what you’re used to, but if you want to stop paying through the nose so much, this is important.

You can look up other ways to save, and there are a few more such as getting better insulation. Just remember that this is more of a long-term goal, so you might not see any immediate savings.

Always Set Aside For Savings

As I mentioned earlier, you should always be setting some money aside for savings. The more that you can do this, the better it is going to be for you. I know that when you’re on a tight budget it can be tough to find the motivation to save, as you want to use the little money that you have left for the things that you love, or things for your children. However, if you can manage to put at least some of this in the savings pot, future you is going to thank you greatly when you need it.

If you think that you’re going to struggle with this, you can even start putting this into your budget if you think that it will help.

Credit Cards Are Not The Solution

The final thing that I’m going to say is that credit cards are not the solution to all of your problems, they are simply another problem that you are going to have. While it might not be a problem right now, it’s certainly going to be one when it comes time to pay it back, and that’s what you’ve got to keep in mind. Credit cards charge you interest, so even if you are borrowing some money, you’re going to be paying back a lot more than what you originally borrowed, which is not what you need in your life.

I wish someone had taught me this lesson before I went away to college and they were throwing free t-shirts and pre-approved credit cards at me. It has become like a chain around my neck. A lot of people view credit cards as something for nothing, but this is simply not the case at all. It’s no free money, as my daughters used to think when they were little. A credit card is just a way to get money right now so that you can pay it back later. While it might seem like a fantastic solution to all of your problems, what’s the likelihood of you being able to pay it back when the time comes, over the minimum payment? It’s a vicious cycle that you are better off never getting involved in as once you start, it’s extremely difficult to stop. This is especially true when a lot of credit card companies will up your limit without letting you know, and you think ‘oh well I must be doing okay so I can spend more’ but this isn’t necessarily true. Live within your budget if you can, and you will be just fine. 

We hope these tips are helpful to you. Now, you can see that even though managing finances can be difficult when you are a mom or dad, it can be made much easier. Sometimes, all it takes is breaking things down until they are small enough to be manageable. You don’t have to do everything at the same time, sometimes it’s taking your time and working through things at your own pace that is going to work out the best.

What is your best tips to make managing your finances easier for parents?

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Easy Tips to Grow Your Savings Today for a More Financially Secure Tomorrow

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

As I get older and I have time to breathe, out from under the weight of all the firsts of being newly married and a new mother, my dreams are once again growing. I can see clearly and I know what I want for our future. The time for pressing on, pushing through and getting by is over. I want to live in abundance without fear of how to get through the next catastrophe. I want all the easy tips to grow your savings today for a financially secure tomorrow.

I’ll be honest with you; I’ve never been one to want to be rich. But I want enough money to not worry about how to afford the life I want to live. I grew up in a blue-collar family with a stay-at-home mom and 6 siblings. We learned to get by that was our state of existence. Savings is not an option when you are living paycheck to paycheck. Don’t get me wrong, we were happy and we had food, shelter and love. When it comes down to it, we were luckier than most but I don’t like the anxiousness that comes with being the adult in the situation. I want to be financially comfortable.

Whether we want to admit it when we’re younger or not, saving money is important for securing our family’s future. It’s the very thing that can help you move to your dream home, ensure you have an emergency fund saved up and pay for things like your kids’ high school and college tuitions, quinceañeras, memory-making family vacations and their weddings. 

Having savings goals gives you something to work towards, helping to motivate you to stick to your budget. It might not be fun saving but it’s extremely satisfying reaching a savings goal or paying off bills, but what happens when you get there? Growing your savings can boost your assets and provide you with even greater financial security for the future.

Do you want to be more financially comfortable? Tired of living paycheck to paycheck. Sick of feeling like you’re working your butt off and have nothing to show for it? Could you do more to grow your savings? Take a look at some of the following ideas.

Easy Tips to Grow Your Savings Today for a Financially Secure Tomorrow

Choose the right kind of savings account

Is your savings account providing you with benefits? If you’re using an ordinary savings account, you could be missing out on valuable interest that could help you grow your savings. Learning how to choose the right savings account can help you find an account with great interest rates, helping you earn money on your savings. Work smarter not harder.

Try a side hustle to put more money away

Starting a side hustle is a great way to add to your savings. But know going into it that side hustles take work, a lot of work. It won’t be easy but it will be worth it. I’m a freelancer so I am a queen of side hustles. Many people take on a side hustle to generate an extra income that can help them reach their savings goals quicker than expected. Have you considered mining Bitcoin as a way to earn some extra money? It could be an enjoyable and profitable side hustle that could even turn into a full-time venture. Explore different side hustle ideas to find a good fit, and see how it could benefit your finances.

Invest your savings wisely

Investing your savings is another way to grow them. You’re never too old to learn how to invest, with some options that are ideal for novices, as well as more experienced investors. Some employers provide investment schemes that can help you invest a portion of your salary, or you can work with a broker to help you find the right sort of investments for you. Having investments can be a great way of boosting your savings, but it’s important that you make yourself aware of the risks before you commit. 

Find ways of cutting back to allow you to save more

Is there more that you could be doing to save more? There are ways you can save money every month you might not have thought about. From haggling with your phone and internet provider to cutting back on your energy use, you could make a lot of additional savings each month. Take a look at your outgoings and set yourself a target that will help you spend less so that you can save more.

Being able to save is a huge achievement – a lot of people struggle to save money successfully. But once you’re in the habit of saving, you can take things to the next level by finding ways of maximizing your savings to boost your family’s finances. With so many ways to grow your savings, make sure you take advantage to help ensure a bright future for your family.

What’s your best easy tips to grow your savings today for a financially secure tomorrow?

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hefty, money saving tips, budget friendly tips for the kitchen, budget friendly tips, Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean, How to enjoy your summer

My house has been a mess all summer. My kitchen has been the worst. It’s been difficult changing my routine and getting used to the girls being home. Don’t even get me started on the dish situation in this house this summer. Between the traveling, the summer entertaining, sleep overs and flow of other people’s children in and out of my house, we have more dirty dishes than a school cafeteria and I thought the never ending laundry was out of control. I do dishes at least 3 times a day and I am never caught up.

I don’t know about you but my girls tend to dirty dishes like they are in some sort of dirtying dishes and destroying my kitchen contest. Speaking of which, is there some symbiotic way for dishes and trash to breed? Because if there is, I’m quite sure the trash and dishes in my kitchen have figured it out. It’s a full time job keeping up with it and it doesn’t even pay.

What are my choices? It’ not like I’m going to stop letting my daughters have their friends over, isn’t that what summer’s all about. I’m also not going to stop entertaining because aren’t friends, family and having fun together making memories the good things life is filled with? So what if people dirty dishes and make messes, I like my life messy. It makes it feel lived in and loved on.

What I don’t want to do in the middle of all of this wonderful living, most of which happens in the heart of my house, the kitchen, is to go broke, be wasteful or have a disgusting house that people are afraid to visit. My kitchen is the natural gathering space in my house and I’ve just learned to embrace that fact.

When all the kids are over and I’m feeding more than just my two or I’m going for the little splurges in life like a hot fudge sundae bar party for a group of energetic 9 to 11-year-olds, I need to stay on top of the state of my house without turning into the crazy lady who made it not fun because she was so worried about the mess. I know you know what I mean. We’ve all been there; that moment when we need to let it go but we can’t.

I want to do all these things but I need to find ways to do it on a budget and while not letting my kitchen spin out of control into a heaping pile of strewn garbage on counters and dirty dishes (and we all know how fast a sundae bar can go south with a group of excited little girls.)

Below are a few tips to save money in the kitchen so that you have it extra for life’s sweet splurges and also how to keep yourself from spending all of your free time washing dishes.

Well, unless you want to put all those extra kids to work in your kitchen. No, probably not the best idea.

save money in the kitchen,hefty, money saving tips, budget friendly tips for the kitchen, budget friendly tips, Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean, How to enjoy your summer

Tip #1 You need durable garbage bags.

Hefty Ultra Strong bags are an outstanding quality for cleaning up all the mess your creating while having all that fun this summer. At a new, lower price it’s a value especially when you consider the durability, Arm & Hammer odor neutralizers and new, invigorating scents that help to keep odors at bay so even when your kitchen is full of people, the smell of garbage won’t be overwhelming your guests. Plus, a scent-free option for those who prefer it that way! Add to all of this a top-quality performance with active tear resistant technology that provides better puncture resistance and you can feel secure knowing there is less likelihood you’re going to leave a streak of shame while transporting garbage from inside the house to the outside. We’ve all done it and it’s bad enough alone, no one wants to do this in front of a house full of party goers?

save money in the kitchen, hefty, money saving tips, budget friendly tips for the kitchen, budget friendly tips, Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean, How to enjoy your summer

The best part is that you can easily pick these bags up at your local Walmart or Target to try them. Plus  you can go on Ibotta and earn $1.00 cash back via Ibotta after purchasing one box of Hefty trash bags. Or you can go on Coupons.com and save $1.00 off one box of Hefty trash bags.

Tip #2 Paper products are your friend

There was a time when I would have scoffed at the idea but now that I have two growing children and lots of extra people coming and going, eating and drinking (and can someone tell me why little girls need a new glass every single time they drink anything?) in my house, I know the value of disposable paper products. Plastic cups and sturdy paper plates can save you a lot of time in the kitchen and a lot of aggravation. Just enjoy your people and forget about who’s going to do the dishes and when it’s going to get done. At the end of the party, just put it all in the garbage back and forget about it.

Tip #3 Use a Canning Jar to Keep Leftover Wine Fresh for Up to a Week

I learned this one from Food52 and I love it. I love good wine but my husband is allergic to sulfites so I don’t normally buy the wine I like because I can’t drink and entire bottle by myself and I didn’t want to waste it. Anyways, by limiting the wine’s contact with air, which contains the oxygen that causes wine to oxidize this trick accomplishes the same goal by using a jar that is slightly smaller than the amount of wine to be stored. Place the jar on a kitchen towel and fill to the very top. When the lid is screwed on, the jar should overflow a little, which lets you know there is no air between the lid and the wine. According to the wine experts who gave Food52 this tip, wine stored this way will last up to a week. It’s a total win. I save my wine. I save my money and then I saved money again because, just so happens my dad worked at Ball glass my entire life and we have loads of mason jars, so no need to buy a fancy wine saving gadget or even new mason jars!

Tip #4 Keep Berries Fresh Longer

Who doesn’t love berries in the summer? We buy in bulk. The only problem is that berries ripen quickly in the warm weather and sometimes you end up throwing out an entire container. That not only hurts my heart it hurts my pocketbook. Wash your berries before storage in a diluted vinegar bath (1 cup of vinegar and 3 cups of water). Then place in a salad spinner lined with paper towel and spin them until they are completely dry (if you don’t do this, it will actually accelerate the rotting process). Store your cleaned berries in a sealable container lined with paper towels. I actually put a piece of paper towels between each level of berries to help soak up any excess water. Leave the lid open so that moisture can escape. Moisture is the enemy. According to Lifehacker, this method extends the shelf life of berries by days and the vinegar destroys bacteria and mold spores on the berries, helping them stay fresh longer.

Tip #5 Keep your countertops free of mess

When you see that you countertop is clean, it just gives you that motivation to keep everything clean  as well. I recommend getting a granite countertop for easy cleaning and when you see it messy, it will show as well. So, get started now and see the different granite transformations you can do to your kitchen.

What’s your best tip to save money in the kitchen?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed  about how to save money in the kitchen are all my own.

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