Raising a family isn’t cheap! While slashing household expenses requires time and effort, families don’t have to go the route of extreme couponing or sacrificing quality time together to make money-saving changes happen. From planning family meals in advance to shopping smart, here are 4 easy ideas to save money:
by Stephanie Nelson, Coupon Mom
Stephanie Nelson, founder of the 7 million member CouponMom.com website, wants to share a few of her favorite secrets for getting the ultimate savings when shopping at Target! With a little effort, you’ll be able to get great products with big savings every week.
by Stephanie Nelson, CouponMom.com
Strategic Shopping is not about changing the way you eat, it’s about changing the way you buy the food you like. Create customized shopping approaches that save time, allow your family to have tasty and healthy meals—all while cutting your grocery bill in half.
by Maisie Knowles
Though Pregnancy Awareness Month is all about health and wellness, new mothers are also confronted with changing bodies and budgets. Once the morning sickness subsides, you’ll discover a growing baby bump that makes it more challenging to wear your favorite outfits.
Before you run out to your closest maternity store and buy a new wardrobe, consider these creative ways to help extend the life of your pre-pregnancy clothes and save money on maternity must-haves.
By Joe Laing, El Monte RV
No one disagrees with the notion that it’s hard to save money and stick to a budget, whether you’re an individual or a family unit. But sometimes, the reward in the long run can be worth a little bit of penny-pinching in the present, especially when it comes to your summer family vacation. Do you really want to let the kids down this June and tell them that the family can’t afford to take a few days and road trip together someplace interesting? You can avoid that unpleasant, disheartening scene with a little bit of planning–and not as many sacrifices as you might think.
If you’ve never educated the kids (or your spouse!) regarding the purpose of a budget, having a family meeting before getting started is essential. Let everyone know that a budget is a fun, responsible way to make sure enough money is available for a vacation that year. Keep in mind the following when discussing the family budget:
By Andrea Woroch
There are many ways to save on dining out, whether it’s at your favorite diner or the best restaurant in town. Read on for tips to enjoy a tasty evening without overindulging your financial appetite.
1. Tune Your Radar
Since celebrity chefs congregate in big cities like New York and Los Angeles, you may assume Restaurant Week is only available in those locations. Wrong! If you live in or near cities such as Denver, Chicago, Charleston, Ann Arbor and San Diego, you have access to great food for less, too. A quick Google search should educate you on the timeframe and participating restaurants in your area.
2. Get Rewarded for Research
By now you know to never enter a new restaurant without first reading reviews. Sites like Yelp.com dominate restaurant review resources, but sometimes you can also find a voucher for additional savings. This is especially true for new restaurants hoping to build a customer base.
