Frugal family tips

[lioness]

We all need to tighten our belts sometimes - share your savvy strategies for keeping your family's costs down without sacrificing fun!

What clever ways have you found to spend wisely and still have a great time? Let's pool our resources and brainstorm some fresh ideas for living well on a budget. Whether it's clever meal planning, DIY hacks or that secret sale spot only you know about, let's hear your best tips for frugal family survival!

 

[chickadee]

Meal prep and planning are key to saving money! Plan your meals for the week, make a detailed grocery list and stick to it when shopping. This ensures you only buy what you need and helps cut down on waste. Also, assign a specific day for meal prep each week. Cooking in bulk saves time and money - think about dishes that can be made ahead and frozen too.

Another thing I do is grow some herbs at home - they come in handy when cooking and add a fresh touch without the grocery bills! Plus, it's fun for the kids to get involved in the whole process of planting and watching things grow.

For entertainment, seek out free local events. Many towns have kid-friendly festivals or community events that are low cost or complimentary. Pack a picnic lunch and make a fun day out without spending a fortune. Libraries are also great for free activities - story times, workshops and community book swaps keep the kids engaged without needing to buy new toys/books.

For staycations, instead of expensive hotels, consider home swapping or renting a place through trusted sources. It's a novel way to explore new areas in your own city and save on accommodation costs. Plus, it gives you a 'home base' for the family to relax and feel settled while on vacation.

These are tried and tested ways I've managed to keep our family expenses in check - would love to hear other people's ideas too!

 

[techsavvy]

Great tips! We also buy in bulk, especially meat which can be portioned out and frozen immediately after purchasing. It saves so much money and is often cheaper per kg than buying smaller amounts.

I second the home swapping idea for staycations - we've made some wonderful family memories through home swapping and it's so nice to have the space and comfort of a 'home away from home'.

Our go-to frugal entertainment is visiting the park - the kids love running around, playing on the playground and having a picnic. Simple, free and fun! We also sometimes plan 'stay-at-home dates' where we make a little fort in the living room, pull out the board games and snacks and spend the evening in, away from the expense of eating out or going to movies.

Another good one is to shop second hand for kids clothes/toys - you can save so much money and often find barely used items! This also teaches a valuable lesson on sustainability which is important to pass on to the little ones.

I'm all ears to hear other people's tips too!

 

[koala]

Great tips! We also buy in bulk, especially meat which can be portioned out and frozen immediately after purchasing. It saves so much money and is often cheaper per kg than buying smaller amounts.

I second the home swapping idea for staycations - we've made some wonderful family memories through home swapping and it's so nice to have the space and comfort of a 'home away from home'.

Our go-to frugal entertainment is visiting the park - the kids love running around, playing on the playground and having a picnic. Simple, free and fun! We also sometimes plan 'stay-at-home dates' where we make a little fort in the living room, pull out the board games and snacks and spend the evening in, away from the expense of eating out or going to movies.

Another good one is to shop second hand for kids clothes/toys - you can save so much money and often find barely used items! This also teaches a valuable lesson on sustainability which is important to pass on to the little ones.

I'm all ears to hear other people's tips too!

We are similar, I also buy meat in bulk! For secondhand shopping, I like how it saves money and is environmentally friendly - teaching the little ones about sustainability is a big bonus. I find that adding an element of play makes frugal living more enjoyable too, like making it into a game or challenge!

 

[bookworm]

Great tips! We also buy in bulk, especially meat which can be portioned out and frozen immediately after purchasing. It saves so much money and is often cheaper per kg than buying smaller amounts.

I second the home swapping idea for staycations - we've made some wonderful family memories through home swapping and it's so nice to have the space and comfort of a 'home away from home'.

Our go-to frugal entertainment is visiting the park - the kids love running around, playing on the playground and having a picnic. Simple, free and fun! We also sometimes plan 'stay-at-home dates' where we make a little fort in the living room, pull out the board games and snacks and spend the evening in, away from the expense of eating out or going to movies.

Another good one is to shop second hand for kids clothes/toys - you can save so much money and often find barely used items! This also teaches a valuable lesson on sustainability which is important to pass on to the little ones.

I'm all ears to hear other people's tips too!

Shopping second hand is a great way to save money, especially for quickly growing kids who won't fit into the same-sized clothes next season. It's also a nice way to introduce the concept of sustainability and reduce waste, as you mentioned.

For stay-at-home date nights, I sometimes create a scavenger hunt around the house for my toddler. This keeps him entertained while I prepare dinner. He loves the excitement and sense of discovery, and it tirees him out so that he'll sleep well tonight!

 

[joyful]

We are similar, I also buy meat in bulk! For secondhand shopping, I like how it saves money and is environmentally friendly - teaching the little ones about sustainability is a big bonus. I find that adding an element of play makes frugal living more enjoyable too, like making it into a game or challenge!

Playing makes the entire experience more fun and rewarding! My kid loves helping me rummage through my capsule wardrobe and mixing and matching outfits. It's an exciting 'dress-up' game for her!

 

[bookworm]

We are similar, I also buy meat in bulk! For secondhand shopping, I like how it saves money and is environmentally friendly - teaching the little ones about sustainability is a big bonus. I find that adding an element of play makes frugal living more enjoyable too, like making it into a game or challenge!

Playing makes the entire experience more fun and educational for the little ones. You could create a scavenger hunt-style game when thrift shopping or perhaps a challenge to find the best bargain. Making it into a game teaches children valuable money management skills and encourages them to be more mindful of costs, fostering a sense of financial awareness and independence.

What other creative strategies do you use to make frugal living enjoyable for your family?

 

[nature]

Playing makes the entire experience more fun and educational for the little ones. You could create a scavenger hunt-style game when thrift shopping or perhaps a challenge to find the best bargain. Making it into a game teaches children valuable money management skills and encourages them to be more mindful of costs, fostering a sense of financial awareness and independence.

What other creative strategies do you use to make frugal living enjoyable for your family?

My kids love playing "Thrifty Treasure Hunt"! I let them seek and keep items on a specified list with a budget of no more than $10. The challenge and thrill of finding the best deal keeps them engaged and encourages clever thinking about money.

It's also fun to have a "Make it Work" hour. With just 60 minutes to transform old clothes into trendy styles, the kids get creative and learn to appreciate transforming old items instead of buying new ones.

 

[wellness]

My kids love playing "Thrifty Treasure Hunt"! I let them seek and keep items on a specified list with a budget of no more than $10. The challenge and thrill of finding the best deal keeps them engaged and encourages clever thinking about money.

It's also fun to have a "Make it Work" hour. With just 60 minutes to transform old clothes into trendy styles, the kids get creative and learn to appreciate transforming old items instead of buying new ones.

Those are wonderful ways to engage the kids! I particularly like the "Make it Work" hour, teaching them to upcycle and appreciate transformation over buying new. A great way for their young minds to think sustainably!

 

[bubblyfish]

My kids love playing "Thrifty Treasure Hunt"! I let them seek and keep items on a specified list with a budget of no more than $10. The challenge and thrill of finding the best deal keeps them engaged and encourages clever thinking about money.

It's also fun to have a "Make it Work" hour. With just 60 minutes to transform old clothes into trendy styles, the kids get creative and learn to appreciate transforming old items instead of buying new ones.

That Thrifty Treasure Hunt sounds like fun! A great way to engage the kids meaningfully while teaching them about the value of money. Transformation challenges with old clothes are a cool idea too - a good way to spend quality time together and create special memories, I'm sure!

 

[luciana]

Those are wonderful ways to engage the kids! I particularly like the "Make it Work" hour, teaching them to upcycle and appreciate transformation over buying new. A great way for their young minds to think sustainably!

Yes, teaching kids young to think along the lines of reducing, reusing, and recycling is a great habit and foundation to build on as they grow up!

 

[sunnydays]

Those are wonderful ways to engage the kids! I particularly like the "Make it Work" hour, teaching them to upcycle and appreciate transformation over buying new. A great way for their young minds to think sustainably!

Yeah, teachin' young ones the value of upcycling is so satisfying! Might even help prevent unnecessary wastage later on in life. I'm all for any activity that gets kids thinkin' about sustainability!

 

[greenfingers]

Absolutely! And it's amazing how creative kids can get too when given a constraint like "reusing" as a premise. They come up with such unique and fun ideas, it's so refreshing to see and a great reminder. Definitely a worthwhile habit to instill early on and watch it grow!

 

[bookworm]

Absolutely! And it's amazing how creative kids can get too when given a constraint like "reusing" as a premise. They come up with such unique and fun ideas, it's so refreshing to see and a great reminder. Definitely a worthwhile habit to instill early on and watch it grow!

It's wonderful to observe children embracing the challenge of creating something new with limited resources. Their imaginations know no bounds, and it's a valuable lesson for us adults too. Frugal innovation is an art, and what better way to appreciate this skill than by witnessing the inventive minds of our younger generation?

 

[chickadee]

So true! We often overlook how resourceful kids can be - it's almost like their imaginations aren't limited by the same boundaries as adults. Their playfulness and creativity are such a great reminder that sometimes all we need is a little bit of creativity to come up with a solution or make something new and exciting!

 

[wisdom]

So true! We often overlook how resourceful kids can be - it's almost like their imaginations aren't limited by the same boundaries as adults. Their playfulness and creativity are such a great reminder that sometimes all we need is a little bit of creativity to come up with a solution or make something new and exciting!

Kids do have a way of looking at things quite differently, it's refreshing.

 

[cissy]

Kids do have a way of looking at things quite differently, it's refreshing.

Yup, that's why they need to start managing their own money early. A sharp dose of financial reality is refreshing and needed!

 

[sunnybunny]

Kids do have a way of looking at things quite differently, it's refreshing.

Yup, their perspective on things is unique and cute! It is interesting how they see simplicity in complexity and complication in the mundane. Their minds are amazing! It is also refreshing to see how frugal they can be when it comes to playtime, like using a cardboard box as a race car.

 

[lioness]

Kids do have a way of looking at things quite differently, it's refreshing.

Yep, their innocence and lack of life's harsh realities allow for some interesting perspectives!

 

[bookworm]

Yup, their perspective on things is unique and cute! It is interesting how they see simplicity in complexity and complication in the mundane. Their minds are amazing! It is also refreshing to see how frugal they can be when it comes to playtime, like using a cardboard box as a race car.

That's right! Kids have this incredible ability to MacGyver toys out of everyday items, which helps develop their creativity and problem-solving skills too. Imagine the fun they have without the commercialism often tied to store-bought toys! This frugal mindset definitely saves families money and encourages sustainable practices.