This post is sponsored by Regions Bank, member FDIC. All opinions expressed are my own.
Adding kids to the mix definitely adds expenses to the family budget. I thought babies had a lot of expenses but as my kids have gotten older, they have just as many! From school-related things to all of their interests, it definitely uses a chunk of our monthly budget. But I’ve always been a saver when it comes to money and there are some very simple money-saving tips for parents can help you save money!
MONEY SAVING TIPS FOR PARENTS
Whether you just want to develop a smaller budget for your family or if you’re saving up for something big like a vacation, down payment, or a new car, these tips work great!
1. CUT THE CORD
I have a lot of friends who are saving a ton of money by cutting the cord and getting rid of services they don’t use. For many of them, it involves a switch from cable or satellite to a streaming service. By making a change like this, you can drastically reduce your bills and put the savings straight into your savings account!
Other services to think about include:
- Landline telephone
- Gym membership
- Multiple streaming services (do you actually use them all?)
- Satellite or streaming music
- Cell phone plan and services
- Check the pricing on your home internet
- Services like food delivery, grocery delivery, etc.
This is one of the quickest ways to free up funds and start building your savings! Even a little bit adds up quickly!
If you are looking to make saving a priority in 2020 and you live in Texas, the South, or the Midwest, I recently learned how Regions Bank can help you get started! With approximately 1,425 branches, they offer a wide variety of banking services!
Although I am not currently looking for a new bank, they invited me to tour one of their new branches and learn about the exciting technology and banking experience they offer to their customers. Instead of a traditional teller line, customers are greeted directly by Regions Bankers who can help with everything from cashing checks and making deposits to opening savings and checking accounts! They even offer planning to help customers reach their long-term financial goals!
2. SAVE WHILE GROCERY SHOPPING
The grocery store is one place where I can really bust our budget without much effort at all. But there are a few easy things you can do to help you save at the grocery store.
- Making a list and sticking to that list is the biggest thing for me.
- Only going to the store when we need at least 10 items.
- Use free online grocery pickup services. (Not delivery or pickup that charges a fee.)
- Join the store’s rewards/loyalty program to get coupons and savings.
- Also, check to see if the store has additional digital coupons.
I won’t spend hours clipping coupons but I can spend a few minutes helping myself save a few dollars at the store. Every little bit adds up!
3. EARN CASH BACK OR ROLL UP
If you’re shopping anyway, I recommend checking out the apps and services that help you earn cashback while you shop. If you’re going to be making a purchase, you might as well earn a bit back on it!
Then put any cash you earn straight into your savings account!
If you have the option with your bank or other investing apps to roll up your totals, it’s a simple way to start saving more without even noticing it! They will automatically roll your spending total up (generally to the nearest dollar) and put that amount in your savings for you!
4. EAT AT HOME
So, I’ll be honest — we spend a lot of money eating out. We’re a busy family and when we’re running around from place to place, it’s easy to stop and grab something to it. It all adds up very quickly, especially with a family of 5!
This year we’re intentionally limiting our eating out in an effort to save some money. Because I still spend the same amount of money at the store whether we eat at home or eat at a restaurant. It’s silly because it’s extra food. So I’m focused on eating at home more this year!
The best way to get started building your savings is to track what your family is spending. Start paying attention to where your family spends the most money. That’s how I discovered we were spending more than we really needed to on going out to eat. It helped me see where I could tweak our budget to make saving our priority.
5. CHANGE THE WAY YOU GIVE GIFTS
I know the holiday season has just wrapped up but there are still birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays as we work our way back to the big holiday gift-giving season.
Giving gifts of time and experiences are a great way to save money on gift-giving. Making handmade and homemade gifts are another way to save. These types of gifts often hold more value for the person receiving the gift. How many times have you bought all of those toys to give during the holidays only to have them touched once and rarely played with again? Wouldn’t an afternoon of ice skating and making memories be worth much more?
If you start making things, you can also save money by making your own laundry detergent, cleaning products, shampoo, toothpaste, and more! Homemade sugar scrubs can be great around your own house and make wonderful gifts!
If you’re looking to start saving more money this year and you need a new Bank, be sure to check out Regions Bank. There are currently 40 locations in-market and more branches will be added in 2020!
If you live in the Richmond, Texas area, be sure to check out the newest Regions branch, Aliana. Here are the details:
- Aliana– NOW OPEN!
- 18801 Somerled Ave. Richmond, TX 77407
Stop by the Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, January 25, 2020, from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm!
If you aren’t in the Houston area and are looking for a Regions Bank branch near you, you can use the locator on the Regions website to quickly find a branch near you. You can also learn more about all of the services that Regions Bank has to offer at regions.com.
Maria says
Great tips. Thanks fo sharing this important blogs with us.
Keep posted.