Although parenthood is fulfilling and beautiful, it’s also time-consuming and expensive. Even the most organized families can experience financial strain. When you have someone you want to give the world to, it can be hard to find the time and resources for anything else.
When you’re a busy mom, you don’t have all the time in the world to search for and dream up all the ways you can save money. You need that kind of information right now. Don’t waste your time scrolling through other articles. Here are five money-saving tips for busy moms.
Make an easy game plan for your child’s clothes.
Your kids are constantly growing whether you like it or not. One second they’re just sitting up and the next they’re running through the backyard with your dog. It can be difficult to keep up with their clothing needs when they grow so fast. By signing up for a clothing subscription box, you can save money and time picking out great clothes for your kid.
You can schedule a Kidpik’s subscription box for every one to three months depending on how rapidly your little one is growing. Unlike other subscription boxes, you never pay a styling fee. You can budget accordingly knowing that each the average cost of a box is only $95, which comes out to be about $13.50 for each article of clothing— a great deal for kid’s clothing. Kidpik understands that you’re busy, so you get seven days to try all the clothes on, and then you only pay for what you purchase. Your kids will look forward to this, unlike clothing shopping at stores.
Save on your own clothing without sacrificing style.
If you’re always putting your kids first, it’s easy to feel like you’re losing yourself a little. You can take back your life by focusing a little bit on your fashion style. Fashion can be expensive, especially if you’re looking for brand new pieces. But if you know what to look for, you can save money and have multiple looks.
Next time you’re shopping, consider purchasing a reversible dress. You’ll look amazing and have two different style options. No one will have any clue that their two favorite dresses that you own are actually one piece of reversible clothing. Reverse them and change them up with jewelry for a myriad of “looks.” You shouldn’t have to pay exorbitant prices to feel great about yourself when you go out.
If you’re a busy mom (and let’s be honest— who isn’t?), consider going for the incredibly popular athleisure look. This style preference is great because you can look active and chic at the same time! Look for workout clothes with clean lines and supportive fabrics. Find sports bras that are comfortable for jogging or chasing after your energized toddler.
Look to the future.
Your kids might be little now, but college is actually right around the corner financially speaking. Forbes recommends asking your close friends and family to contribute to a 529 plan in order to start saving for your child’s future. Asking everyone to donate some of his or her money now will save you money in the long term. You have people in your life who would love to be a part of your little one’s future, so let them. So, instead of telling them what toys your kid wants for their next birthday, encourage them to add a chunk of change to the 529 plan instead of receiving a truckload of toys that your kid will forget about in a week.
Use what your employer offers.
If you work somewhere that allows you to have a flexible spending account for childcare, you can opt into it and fund it pretax from your paycheck. You can ultimately contribute up to $5,000 a year, which lowers your taxable income. Make sure you do your research before setting how much you want to put aside. You can do that by looking at childcare facilities in your area, and averaging what they cost each month.
Take a hard look at your spending.
Since subscriptions and bills are mostly automated, you may not be aware of ways you can easily save money. Did you forget to cancel a subscription after the free trial? Are you being overcharged for car insurance? Hunt for the best deals whenever you can. You may find more wiggle room in your budget than you thought.
