How to Save Money Amidst the Credit Crunch
Money Saving Tips to Cut Family Budgets When Times are Tough
Dec 8, 2008
Most families can save money if they make some simple lifestyle changes combined with some careful budgeting planning. Whilst being in debt causes anxiety and stress, innovative ways of spending less money can make family life much more healthy and happy. Follow these money saving tips.
Use Inexpensive yet Healthy Items in Cooking
- Use dried pulses and vegetables like lentils and beans in family stews to replace more expensive ingredients like meat.
- Make large pots of stock from leftover vegetables and meat bones and use in healthy hearty winter soups.
Make Homemade Presents and Cards
- Home produced jams, bottles of chilli oil or a box of homemade cookies make wonderful, thoughtful presents that cost very little.
- Spend less cash by making all special occasion cards at home. Either use software on the PC or add a personal touch by editing unique photographs. A pack of A4 card paper will save lots of money versus shop-bought cards, which cost a fortune.
Save Money on Gas
Cycle to work or school and save money on expensive fuel plus get fit and healthy at the same time. Ensure the bicycle is given a full maintenance check before using if it has been locked away in a shed for months.
Lock the Credit Card Away
When shopping, avoid taking the credit card in order to stick strictly to a cash budget.
Recycle Everything
Modern society throws so much away when it could be reused:
- Make rubber bands out of old bicycle inner tubes.
- Wash out food jars and use for storage or jam making.
- Keep boxes for storage, lighting fires or making a pet kennel and so much more.
Grow Your Own Vegetables
Don’t necessarily buy seeds when they can be saved from bought vegetables and fruit. Peppers, pumpkins, mangoes and avocados are good examples.
It may take up to 6 months to see results, but once grown, new seeds can be taken from the crop and the whole family can get involved in the new cottage garden.
Save Money at Holiday Time Through Good Preparation
- At Halloween, grow your own pumpkins in advance from seed.
- Make your own Christmas cards and spend less cash.
Earn Money
Start a family craft workshop and sell whatever is made through car boot sales and craft fairs. Take anything from paintings and pottery to homemade jams and cookies, which always sell well at fairs.
Form a Family Co-operative
Get together with neighbours and share produce grown by the group or swap unwanted items rather than give to second hand shops. Sell whatever is not required at a car boot sale.
Set up a Budget Spreadsheet
Some families will need to monitor progress on savings on family spending. Consider investing in some family budget software if finding it very difficult to keep costs under control.
With innovative ideas for saving money, all families can reduce their budget leaving a small amount of money for little luxuries which do wonders to boost morale when times are tough.
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