Five Simple Strategies for Your Family Budget

With kids activities, work and responsibilities, it can be sometimes be a challenge to find time to focus on money saving strategies. Small changes, however, can make a big difference when it comes to your family finances. Here are five simple steps to add more money to your family budget.

Get Smart About Groceries
Groceries take up a huge chunk of a family budget, especially if you go to the store unprepared!  Bring a list and stick to it, take an envelope of coupons and seek out store specials, and always have a targeted budget for each grocery store trip.  If you can leave the kids at home, that will likely save you from impulse buys to make the little ones happy.

Eliminate One Service Each Year
You know that gym membership that you never use?  What about those online subscriptions that are piling up?  Take a minute to evaluate which services really provide a value to you and which ones that are just draining your budget.  Even if you're only spending $20 a month on an app, getting rid of it could translate to hundreds of dollars each year.

Sell Your Stuff
You know that storage room full of furniture, clothes and appliances you don't use anymore?  Consider is a vault of cash in the making!  With online communities like eBay, Craigslist and Facebook, selling things that you don't need or want can bring in some good money.  It's easier than you may think to start selling your items when it's simply taking a photo and posting it online.

Drive Instead of Fly
While it's tempting to hop on a flight, if it's feasible to drive to your destination you could potentially save thousands of dollars on family airfare.  If you going a few hundred miles away or less. driving is definitely more economical and you may find that getting in the family roadster could make memories that last a lifetime.

Get Thrifty About Clothes
Imagine what you could save on your kids' clothing if you shopped in a thrift store versus in a retail store.  While it does take a little extra effort and digging, you could spend $3 on a pair of pants in a thrift store that would normally cost $30 or more in a retail shop.  If thrift stores aren't your thing, head to discount shops to maximize your budget.

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