Frugal Mom - The Basics

Being a mom can be tough, especially when you are a stay at home mom trying to thrive on one income. In this article we are going to cover the topic of being a frugal mom, and some things we should think about when it comes to living the frugal lifestyle.

Why do we all want to save money?

I think one of the first reasons why we all want to save a bit of money is because being a stay at home mom means making sacrifices and losing one income. If we are frugal then we can help contribute to the family budget - “A penny saved is a penny earned.”

Not to mention gas and food prices, among other things are rising and cutting into the family budget. Sometimes cutting back and adopting a frugal lifestyle seems to be the only thing we have control over when it comes to the rising prices.

Some things to consider when adopting a frugal lifestyle:

I think it’s a good thing to realize ahead of time that being frugal isn’t always the answer to replacing an income. I also think it is an unrealistic expectation to think that we will some day get “rich” because we are clipping coupons, saving money, and being “frugal.”

Another thing to think about before becoming frugal, think about what you plan to do with all the money you are saving. It really all goes back to the have a plan for your money. I think a lot of us decide to start saving money but we don’t really have a plan as to what the whole purpose is behind our desire to save money.

Being frugal to help your family is great, but also consider how you will use this additional money to help further God’s Kingdom as well.

Money Saving Tips:

Coupons: They seem to be the easiest and cheapest way to save money. Some coupon tips and tricks I have learned:

• Get a Sunday paper subscription and clip coupons every week.
  Look at the ads to see what’s on sale, and if you have a coupon use it, even if you don’t have a need for the item just yet.

• Consider shopping at Target and other stores that might be considered “expensive”, sometimes their prices are better than Walmart.

• Stores that offer double coupons are usually more expensive that your local Target or Super Store. Plus they usually only double up to $1.00. When shopping at a store that offers double coupons, it is usually only worth the trouble if your coupon is worth less than $1.00.

• Use manufacturer and store coupons together.

• Don’t be picky. Being frugal means you may need to use a razor, shampoo, shaving cream, or toilet paper that isn’t your “favorite” brand, so it is a good idea to put brand loyalty aside when it comes to mastering the art of using coupons.

• Shopping at Walmart or “Dollar Stores” doesn’t always mean you are getting a good deal! A lot of times these stores use even prices meaning: $2.00 price tag instead of $1.97 to make you *think* it is a cheaper price when in fact it is not.

• Give convenient stores a second chance. I grew up thinking convenient stores like CVS or Walgreens was BAD news when it comes to saving money, but I was wrong. A lot of times these stores offer store coupons which you can combine with manufacturer coupons which equals big savings.

• Use coupons when you get them. If you are like me and you wait until you actually need something in order to use a coupon the coupon will more than likely expire before you actually get a chance to use it!

Energy Savings:

Another fun way to save money is to save energy in your home. Here are some energy saving tips:

• Keep your curtains closed during the day, especially if you are not going to be home.

• Purchase a ceiling fan and change the direction during the summer and winter. Ceiling fans are great at keeping th house cool in the summer AND keeping the house warm in the winter.

• Using a Digital Thermostat will help to keep the temperature in your house more accurate, plus some you can program to be a different temperature in your house at different parts of the day.

• Change your furnace filters often. I have to admit I am SO bad at this. But seriously keeping your furnace filter changed will keep your system running smoothly and efficiently.

• Start using compact fluorescent bulbs. I really like these, not only do they help save money and energy but the lighting is a lot more natural than regular yellow bulbs.

One last thing I do want to mention, when adopting the frugal lifestyle be sure to remember to enjoy your money also. Burn out is a big reason why most of us start to retreat back to our old ways when it comes to saving money and being frugal. Try not to be so hard on yourself, and just keep on keeping on.

Saving money and adopting the frugal lifestyle will take some kind of investment and commitment. But always remember that God is your provider and being responsible with the money the Lord has blessed you with is showing respect and gratitude for all God’s blessings in your life.

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