In a world where things seem to become more and more expensive by the minute, it’s easy to get upset. Especially when you’re a mom who just wants the best for her family. Here are some clever money hacks for moms (from moms), which should help lighten the load (or at least, the mood).
The phrase ‘every bit helps’ relives its meaning tenfold when it comes to mamas and money. Scary Mommy agrees and says it really is about keeping calm and looking to small, consistent budget hacks that add up over time. Like garage sales, for one, or the more technologically savvy version: Facebook Marketplace. Here, you can not only sell items, but you can also buy a full wardrobe of name-brand clothes at a fraction of the price you would pay in stores.
A friend recently said they have weekly Tupperware evenings – a clean-out-your-fridge evening, where they empty all the containers in the fridge and make dinner from whichever leftovers there are. Whether you whip up a quiche from leftover veggies from the weekend’s braai, or whether you cut up the last two pork chops, add the half-cut green pepper and some rice noodles for your own version of Sweet and Sour Stir-fry, it’s your prerogative. The only rule here is that at the end of the day, the containers in the fridge must be empty and you mustn’t have spent any money on making dinner.
By reusing certain items, you can save a lot of money too. Paper towels – although we love them – are an item you can cut costs on. Replace them with napkins and cotton towels and see how far that gets you. Also, rather use washable and reusable plates instead of paper plates, and Tupperware containers for lunchboxes instead of Ziplocs and plastic sandwich bags that just get thrown away.
The Everygirl remembers one specific money hack her mom taught her: Skip the R50 purchase (or in her case, the $3 purchase). “Of course, she didn’t mean to put back an essential grocery or personal care item on the shelf if it only cost a few dollars. What she meant was to ignore the very small spending temptations that lurk around every corner,” she writes. Now, we can add to that and recommend going shopping without the kids in tow, as they often tempt you even further, asking you to buy this and that as you walk along the aisle. These small purchases add up fast. A cappuccino here, a candy bar there… Don’t let them tempt you!
There are probably numerous other mommy money hacks out there, but these will certainly put you on the right track. Be wise, mama. Who knows, maybe one day your kids will also remember your money hacks as vividly as The Everygirl remembers her mom’s advice.
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