Tips on Saving the Family Money

Children are expensive to raise, but if you get a second job, you will not be able to spend time with your kids. Instead of trying to make more money, there are ways you can spend less money so that you can enjoy the comforts of life and have time to spend with your family.

Follow these ideas to save money at home so you have time to bond with your kids.

Sometimes when we see our neighbors and friends get something new, we may want to get the same thing, or at least something new for ourselves as well. This effect is magnified as we see all the new items in the media.

We can save money by realizing that something new is not necessarily better. There are many times when the older item is actually a better item, and once the newness wears off, the item will not continue to please us and we will then want the next new thing.

By teaching our children to take care of their belongings and consider the long term value of them, they will learn to appreciate what they have instead of continually asking for every new gadget and style that comes along.

There are many ways that you can reduce your expenses when you go grocery shopping. By growing some of your own vegetables, using coupons, shopping for sales, stocking up on items when they are on sale, and limiting how often you eat out, you will be able to eat healthy foods and save money at the same time.

You can teach your children how to cook, know everything that is in each meal, and be there to talk to them while you are getting dinner ready.

Clothing is a big expense when you have children as they continually grow out of them. Here are some ideas to save money on clothing:

• Consider buying used clothes. These clothes tend to be in good condition as children have not had a chance to wear them out before they grew out of them.
• Buy clothes on sale. When you get them at the end of the seasons sales for the following year, you can save a great deal of money. Be sure to take into account the fact that your children will grow during the year.
• Ask bigger kids for their hand-me-downs. You can develop a chain where the older kids hand down their clothes to the younger kids.
• Don't worry about name brands. Your kids don't need clothes that are made to last since they will likely grow out of them quickly.

There are many ways you can keep your kids from getting bored and yet save money. Here are some for starters:

• going for walks
• playing in the park
• outdoor art activities
• renting movies
• playing board games

Utilities can be a big expense when you have children. You can save money on your utilities such as electricity and gas by teaching your kids to turn off the lights when they leave a room, insulating your house and turning down the thermostat at night. You can also save water by installing low flow water saving device on your shower and faucets. There are many little ways you can save money on utilities which add up to big savings when you add them together.

Your family wants to spend time with you, and by reducing your costs, you will be able to spend less time at work, and more time with your spouse and children.