Smart Budgeting Hacks for First-Time Parents

Smart Budgeting Hacks for First-Time Parents

As the school year gets underway and holidays approach, many first-time parents struggle to meet their financial obligations comfortably. Trying to make monthly deadlines and purchase gifts with the same paycheck might be daunting for those who did not save ahead. Consider implementing these money saving tips to supplement your household budget as you prepare for an exciting, busy season.

Budget Ahead for Autumn and Winter Events

To enjoy a festive holiday season with your youngster, consider beginning preparations as soon as possible. Drawing up a holiday budget in detail at the first opportunity will let you know whether or not your present bank balance will cover all of your anticipated expenses. If you discover a serious shortfall, then consider searching for creative ways to bridge the gap. Some possibilities include:

  • Fitting a part-time seasonal job into your schedule;
  • Beginning your own small business from home;
  • Selling unwanted belongings online for extra cash;
  • Looking into a short-term seasonal installment loan.

Today a wide variety of ways to earn small sums occur online. Sites such as Fiverr, Task Rabbit, and Mechanical Turk enable parents to raise money performing a variety of useful projects, such as transcribing tapes or moving furniture. If you possess creative skills, such as carpentry or jewelry making, you might find a market for your wares on sites such as eBay or Etsy. Take some time to explore the potential marketplace for your skills using a search engine. The results may please you!

Develop a Savings Routine

It also helps to focus on savings. If you can set aside 5% to 10% of your pay check, you’ll discover your funds rapidly accumulate. This strategy requires discipline to implement. Consider setting up a household holiday coin jar to collect pocket change at the end of the day. Do you really need to spend this money on small conveniences? Re-allocate discretionary funds into the jar frequently. The savings will help provide supplemental resources for purchasing Halloween costumes and Thanksgiving trimmings.

Remain Alert for Unexpected Opportunities

Remain alert for sudden holiday-season coupons and specials. Downloading an app such as Ibotta may help you maximize your purchasing power at the grocery store. If you can afford the investment, purchasing a freezer and a food “saver” storage system enables you to buy in volume at sales prices and package and preserve meals for future use. Adding this technology to your pantry helps you extend your holiday budget.

Prepare Meals at Home

Finally, do you possess culinary skills? To enrich your holiday feasts, consider making some treats at home. For example, if you bake breads, pies, cakes, cookies, and candies in your own kitchen, you’ll significantly reduce the cost of feeding large holiday gatherings. Many guests appreciate tasty home-cooked fare. You’ll have the opportunity to control the ingredients, too. Create healthy, nutritious dishes for your loved ones!

Incorporate these ideas into your monthly budget to help your family enjoy the rapidly approaching holiday season. By starting early, you can give yourself a financial cushion that is large enough to carry you through the holiday season stress-free. Buying your first-born all of the gifts that they desire is possible if you just plan ahead.

SOURCES:

  1. http://www.taskrabbit.com
  2. http://www.fiverr.com
  3. http://www.mturk.com
  4. http://www.ebay.com
  5. http://www.etsy.com
  6. http://www.ibotta.com

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