SAHMs What Strategies Do You Use to Save Money?

[Anonymous]

I have a baby on the way and my husband would really like me to become a stay at home mom. I'm wondering what strategies other SAHMs use to make up for the loss in their income?

[Anonymous]

I cook pretty much everything from scratch. I don't sign up the kids (1 and 3yo) for classes, we do meetup groups and play dates instead. I meal plan every week, which definitely helps. We now only go out on sat and Sundays for brunch, while before it was like 5 times a week.

[Anonymous]

You need way fewer clothes. Just washable things that look good.

[Anonymous]

Breastfeed if you can, and make your own baby purees.

[Anonymous]

I'm a lot like PP - I also cook almost all our meals and meal plan. I also use meet up to organize activities for my kids. There are also so many free things to do in DC it's easy to keep busy and have fun. I eat lunch at home pretty much every day. The kids don't wear fancy clothes (pretty much all target or hand me downs) and I rarely shop for myself.

The biggest saving would be that I'm not paying for a nanny or babysitter or daycare etc. Over all, it is totally worth it for our family. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

We are not great money savers, but like most posters, eating at home has been the biggest thing. I like to cook, though, so we also don't do much take out. It's cooking from scratch that saves money.

[Anonymous]

Get hand-me-downs for clothes and baby items. Make a meal plan for each week. Budget, Budget, Budget and stick to it!!

Learn where the best prices are for groceries. Home babysit other kids if you really need extra money. Color your own hair, cut your kids and husbands hair. Sell a lot of your stuff on craigslist and ebay. Buy in bulk when its on sale. Have basic tv plan. One family car. As a family drink more water and less of everything else. Plant a small veggie garden.

[Anonymous]

credit cards

[Anonymous]

oh, and eating out ceases to be fun. that saves $

[Anonymous]

stay away from Target and other retail. Simple--if I don't go to stores, I don't spend money.

[Anonymous]

The best way to target savings is to do an analysis of your current spending.

Is food a major expense? If not-move on. If it is, identify where those spending surges are: fine cheese? Unnecessary snacks? Soda/juice? Personally, I'd rather spend $$$ on organic than expensive "junk food," and I'd rather eat rice-n-beans (very cheap) than steak every weekend. So that wouldn't almost no sacrifice for me!

What about clothes? Who's buying what? Does someone have a fetish for Lulu Lemon "workout" outfits? Identify. Budget.

Entertainment and technology: I know we hemmorage money (that we can afford) on having the "convenience" of cable, Xbox, internet, cell phone use, etc. If I had to save $ for our family, this is where I'd start. Cut what you don't need.

Interest-accruing debt: Credit card APR 14%? Call them and negotiate it down. Tackle that debt ASAP.

Holidays and travel: Where are you going? What are you spending? Maybe this is something to save for.

Outsourced activities: Lawn service, maid service, home maintenance, whatever. How much, and is it worth cutting back by doing it yourselves?

Need motivation: Watch Suze Orman. Yeah, she's got a certain personality that rubs ppl the wrong way (my steak-n-wine-n-HBO-n-Xbox lovin' husband can't stand her), but she kind of puts it to you straight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:stay away from Target and other retail. Simple--if I don't go to stores, I don't spend money.

This is so true. Target is a money suck. I would add to go to yard sales and those seasonal consignment sales for toys. Everyone buys the same learning table so there will be 15 to choose from at a consignment sale for 75% less than brand new. I got an amazing stroller for $25 at a yard sale.

[Anonymous]

more important than saving money - do you want to stay home? The phrasing of "my husband would really like me to become a stay at home mom" begs the question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:oh, and eating out ceases to be fun. that saves $

true. sooo so true! Nobody wants to eat out with tiny ones. I would rather stay home and have pancakes than go to a restaurant with children!

[Anonymous]

He got a small raise which we could make work.