Saving money may seem like it’s an impossible task when you have a family. Maybe you’ve tried to save money before and you failed. Or, maybe, you saved money and then had the unexpected happen and have been having a hard time-saving money again.
Life is hard. I get that. And, when you have a family to feed, it’s like having extra money is hard. But, it doesn’t have to be. What if I told you, you can save money with a family by doing just a few of these 15 simple tasks.
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I know, I know, it almost sounds too good to be true, right? But I’m not lying! Just check out these 15 simple ways for families to save money in 2019 and find out for yourself.
15 Simple Ways for Families to Save Money
Imagine boosting your family’s savings by a hundred bucks or more each month. It’s totally achievable with these 15 simple yet effective strategies. We’ve packed this post with proven tips that will help you stretch your dollar without sacrificing quality of life. Let’s get started!
1. Get Rid of Cable Contracts
Cutting the cord on your cable contract is a fantastic way to trim your monthly expenses. Traditional cable subscriptions often come with hidden fees and escalating costs. By switching to streaming services, you can enjoy a wide variety of shows and movies at a fraction of the price. Plus, you’ll gain the flexibility to choose exactly what you want to watch without being tied down to a long-term contract.
Ready to ditch cable? All you need is a smart TV, Roku, or Fire Stick, and a reliable Wi-Fi connection. There’s a world of free streaming options out there to keep everyone entertained. Platforms like Tubi TV and Freevee offer a surprising variety of movies and shows without costing a dime.
2. Go On a Budget With the Utility Companies
Whenever Michael and I lived in Pennsylvania, our house heated with natural gas. In the wintertime, our electric bill would get so expensive, but in the summer, it would only be a couple of dollars.
It was so hard to plan our monthly budget because we never knew what our natural gas bill would be. That’s when we decided to call the natural gas company and see if there was something we could do.
Turns out, most utility companies offer budget plans where they charge you the same amount every month and you always know what your payment will be. Budget plans go off how much you use, so it’s a great way to budget your monthly bills without getting surprised.
3. Plan a Monthly Budget
Creating a realistic monthly budget is the cornerstone of successful family savings. By tracking your income and expenses, you’ll gain a clear picture of where your money is going. Allocate funds for essentials like housing, utilities, and groceries, while setting aside money for savings goals.
Involving your family in the budgeting process can foster financial responsibility and encourage everyone to contribute to your saving journey.
4. Start a Money Making Blog
Starting a money-making blog won’t happen overnight, but it can happen in a few months. All you need is consistency, hard work, and a lot of effort to be successful.
I actually created this free guide on how to start your own blog and I often share information on important blog topics. Whenever you’re a blogger, you have to be patient, blogging for money does not happen overnight, but it can be a great way to earn and save extra money for your family.
5. Have a Yard Sale
During the summer, one of the best and easiest ways to make extra money to save is by throwing a yard sale. Since families tend to have a lot of extra stuff, throwing a yard sale can be a great way to earn extra saving cash.
Whenever you throw a yard sale be sure to check out these tips on how to throw a successful yard sale first.
6. Learn A New Skill and Sell It
One of the best ways to save money is by learning a skill and selling it. Or maybe, you already have a skill you’re really good at like; marketing, Photoshop, sports, math, or music.
Believe it or not, you can actually make a full-time career selling your skillset. It may sound crazy, but you can earn a lot of extra money to save for your family by doing selling your skill. In fact, many full-time bloggers earn 6-figures a year just by selling courses that teach people how to blog! Crazy, I know, but there’s always a market out there, no matter how crazy the skillset.
7. Make Extra Money By Completing Surveys
Before I started blogging, lightyears ago, I started earning small amounts of money by doing surveys. I really wasn’t a fan of the surveys, but they were so easy to do and I earned money that I later used to pay for my family’s Christmas gifts.
While I didn’t get rich, I did earn enough money to save for holidays and birthdays. Some of my favorite survey sites include:
- Swagbucks – You can earn money just by searching online, too!
- Opinion Outpost – This was my main source of income as a survey taker.
8. Get Cashback on Groceries
Who knew saving money could be as easy as getting cashback on groceries? Sounds crazy, I know, but it is 2019! Thankfully, saving money can be as easy as getting cash back on things you’re already buying at the grocery store. With awesome apps like Ibotta, users can do just that!
Simply download the app, sign up, and then save offers from your favorite retailers. Before you make a purchase, just be sure to save the offer and have your store loyalty card linked and you’ll easily earn cashback. Take the money you earn from the purchases you already were planning to make and stash it into a savings account and you’ll easily save money.
9. Earn Cash Back Just for Shopping Online
Everyone’s shopping online, these days, but many people still don’t know how to earn cash back for doing it. Whenever you shop online, you can easily get money back just by shopping through a website like Swagbucks. Sites like Swagbucks rewards users who shop through their site with points.
Whenever you make enough points, you can redeem points for gift cards and other goods. It’s so easy to save money with these types of sites, that you’re actually flushing money down the drain by not using them.
10. Become an Extreme Couponer and NEVER Pay Full Price Again
One of the things I used to love to do was go couponing. Unfortunately, I no longer do it, but I do still have quite the stockpile from doing it. Learning something as crazy as extreme couponing can actually save you and your family a lot of money in 2019.
When the price of most shampoos is $5 or more, you can almost always save $4 or more dollars on shampoo just by using a coupon. When you’re buying these products month after month, the cost can really add up and you’re actually wasting a lot of money that you could be saving for your family.
11. Refinance Your Car Payment
We all know car payments can add up, but if you’re paying really high interest on your car loan, you might as well be throwing money out the window. You’re wasting so much money a month that is not going towards the principal and its time for you to try to refinance your car payment.
By refinancing your car payment you can put more money towards your loan and maybe even cut a few years off your car loan payment – for the same monthly payment! Refinancing your car payment is a great way to find money to save for your family.
12. Skip Eating Out and Cook at Home
On way to save extra money for your family, stop eating out. As hard as it sounds, when you have a family, you’re spending an average of $30 or more, just for one meal a day.
Take that money, buy groceries and you’ll start to see your money spread out further. No matter how busy you are, purchase an Instant Pot or a Crock-Pot and stop wasting all that money eating out and save some money instead.
13. Bunk With Friends and Family on Vacation
Summertime is one of the hardest times to save money as a family. With kids out of school for the summer, many families try to plan their vacations in the summer. Fortunately, you can save money on these vacations if you have friends and family who live where you’re going on vacation.
Since I personally know many long-distance friends and family love to have visitors and usually have an extra room to sleep in, take them up on that offer. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a hotel, try staying with friends or family.
Who knows, what memories you may make?
14. Try Doing a No-Spend Month
A no-spend month can be a powerful tool for boosting your family’s savings. While it might sound extreme, even a partial no-spend challenge can help you identify unnecessary expenses and build discipline. Focus on using what you already have, exploring free activities, and enjoying quality time together. You’ll be amazed at how much you can save and how much closer your family becomes during this challenge.
15. Become a Reseller on eBay
eBay is a site I love. You can sell pretty much anything on it and it’s so easy to get started. Whenever you’re looking to save up money for your family, eBay is a great place to do it. To become a reseller on eBay all you need in most locations is a Trader’s License (get it from your local courthouse) and Sales Tax Certificate.**
Once you have those affordable, or free license, you can then start selling stuff you already have laying around the house. If things start taking off, be sure to download this free eBay sales tracker printable or my updated eBay sales tracker printable to keep track of your eBay sales.
Saving money when you have a family shouldn’t have to be hard. I hope these tricks will help make saving a few dollars more obtainable. For more financial tips, be sure to check out my financial section.
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**Local and state laws vary. Check with your state to see what license are required.
Last Updated on 2 years ago by Crystal Carder