When you’re a busy parent, money can be one of the most difficult things to manage. It seems like it comes into your life one minute and leaves the next, and there are always costs that you have to pay out for your family and the things that they need. However, there are many ways that you can make money as a busy parent, and they will enable to you top up your salary a little (and have a little bit of extra fun, too). We’ve listed them here for all of those budget-savvy parents, looking to earn some much needed cash.
Sell your old stuff
If you’re a parent, your house will characteristically look like a bomb has gone off, and that’s to be expected. However, there are some things here that you’ll be holding onto that you don’t really need, and you could get a bit of extra cash by selling them online, on sites such as eBay. What may not be very interesting to you or your kids anymore will be something that another parent may be looking for, so don’t think that there is anything too small that you can sell. Every so often, get some stuff together that you don’t need anymore, and list it all online. You’ll be glad that you did when your wallet is a bit bigger as a result!
Make sure that you budget well
Sometimes, your finances can feel like a real minefield. There are so many costs going out, and coming in, that you don’t really know what is going on at all, and it can be difficult to see where you’re spending the most. Getting a hold of your budget will help you to see where you need to cut the costs, and it will help you to feel more secure in your finances, too. We know, looking at your bank account can be a difficult task, but you’ll definitely be glad that you took control when you can see the benefits later on. There are many apps out there that can help you to budget, if you don’t want to sit down with a pen and paper trying to work it all out yourself.
Go freelance
As a parent, the biggest stress that work can present is that it just isn’t as flexible as you’d like it to be. There are times that you need to be there for your children within the 9 ‘til 5 day, and you just can’t be, and this can be infuriating. However, freelance work could solve some of your problems, as it is a flexible way to earn money from the comfort of your home. That way, you can pick your kids up from school, and work a little later on to make up for it. This is a great way to make money, whether freelance is your full time job or just something that you do on the side to earn yourself a bit more dough when you need it.
Make sure that you thrift
When you have a house full of kids, it can seem as though they’re growing out of their clothes every few months, and sometimes this is actually the case. Buying new clothes can be an expensive game, especially if you’re having to buy them for a few kids, so make sure that you look in thrift stores before you go to high street stores and splash out the cash unnecessarily. Think about this: the clothes have probably only been worn a few times, by kids who also grew out of them. You can find some really good, like-new clothes this way, so don’t believe that there will be nothing on offer for you! It also helps the environment, so it’s a win-win situation.
Advance your career
The financial improvement that you’re seeking may actually come from taking a step up when it comes to your job role, or asking your boss for a raise. You have nothing to lose by asking, and it could make a big difference to life for your family! One way of advancing in your career is carrying on studying - which you can do part time or online - or even beginning your studying journey so that you can open up some doors for yourself jobwise. From an online Civil Engineering degree by Michigan Tech to a part time business course, there will be something out there that gives you the opportunity to get a better job, and some extra cash each year.
Use coupons
Where possible, you can save a lot of cash just by checking out whether there are any coupons available online. Whilst you can get booklets of coupons for supermarkets which also come in handy, this is especially useful if you’re thinking of investing in something quite substantial and you’re going to spend a lot of money on it. You could get up to 50% off by using discount codes online, and if you are thinking about going back into education, you’ll also have a student discount, too. Just do a quick search on the web before you pay for something, and you’ll be glad that you did when you see the money that you’ve saved from doing so.
Cut down on non-essential items
When it comes to saving money, you may be struggling because your costs on non-essential items are pretty high. Are you always buying the latest phone, and do you splash out on really expensive clothes for yourself and your kids? There is nothing wrong with treating yourself (and others) once in a while, but make sure that it doesn’t become too much of a regular occurrence, as it could be the reason that your bank account is looking a bit worse for wear. Decide what you really need, and try to only spend your cash on that. Even if you do it for a month, you’ll see that your financial situation has massively improved as a result.
Take your kids on free days out
Any parent knows what it’s like to have a house full of energetic kids, and going out as a family (and tiring everybody out) is an important part of you all bonding, and your kids having a great time. However, if you were thinking about taking them bowling again, you could save yourself a bit of cash by looking into the free days out that you can go on. From parks and farms to museums and galleries, there will be something out there that is free and fun for you. An extra money saving tip: instead of going for lunch in a restaurant, take a picnic! It will save you a lot of cash, and your kids will love it, so get a cool box and take it with you.
So, there are many ways to save money as a busy parent, from budgeting well to advancing your career, and these things are certainly worth trying out if you want to get yourself a bit of extra cash! The main thing to remember is that parenthood is an expensive game, but there are ways to get around it without blowing the bank all of the time, you just have to be a little conscious of how and where you’re spending. So sell some of your old belongings that you don’t use anymore, go on some free days out, and use coupons where you can. Most importantly, don’t forget that you can have a lot of fun despite being on a budget!
1 comments:
Such a great post..!!! Thanks for sharing...
Post a Comment