Working Moms Saving Money
I was interviewed recently for a piece in a national women’s magazine about ways working moms are saving money. I have some cost-cutting measures of my own and with gas prices and a kid headed to college, am thinking more and more often about how to reduce our budget.
So far, it’s little things: getting just coffee instead of a latte or a mocha. (I know, I’m spoiled). Trying to stretch the food budget by planning meals a little more carefully. Taking advantage of entertainment we’ve already paid for; the Netflix movies, the neighborhood pool membership. We asked the girl to make her birthday party a low-budget affair. We’re having cheeseburgers at home and celebrating with homemade cake. The girls will play the variety of videogames we have for entertainment.
We buy stuff in bulk when it makes sense; stocking up on toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, cleaning supplies and cereal at the big box store. I’m on a self-imposed clothes shopping freeze — what I have will have to do until the economy improves. Today is a tax-free holiday in Virginia so we will buy the girl’s school supplies and save a few bucks.
It’s tough to adjust a lifestyle to Depression-era tactics but I’ve been thinking about my grandmother and what she would do. I can’t sew, so I won’t be making our own clothes any time soon. I think I can reduce the food budget with a little more strategic buying and cooking. It’s almost fall (yes, sorry, but the summer’s almost over) so we’ll likely be going out to eat less often as our evenings fill up with school-related activities and homework.
What are you doing to save money and stretch a dollar? Are you even worried about it, yet?
August 3rd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
I’ve read three posts at three different blogs about this today.
We are doing all the same things to cut costs at home and we are just as worried…
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
The biggest change we’ve made recently is meal planning. I plan meals for most nights of the week on Saturday, before I do my weekly grocery shopping. I cook a lot on Sunday, and prep things that can be easily fixed after work on weeknights, so that we won’t be tempted to order takeout. I also have been trying to put some ready to eat foods away in the deep freeze. Things like homemade freezer jam, pasta sauce made from homegrown tomatoes, that extra meatloaf I made when ground beef was on sale.
For those moms who are about to have new babies (myself included), reading up on breastfeeding, buying a good pump, and getting a support system in place so that nursing and pumping can be successful is another great way to save money. A top of the line pump can be had brand new for $300; compare that to a year’s worth of formula and you’re looking at a substantial savings.
And of course, working from home. Driving less. Consolidating errands. Those little things all add up.
August 4th, 2008 at 9:02 am
Here are three money-saving gas tips, any mother could use: 1) Keep on top of your errand list to avoid forgetting something and making a special trip. If you combine errands into one trip, you drive fewer miles and use less fuel. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multipurpose trip when the engine is warmed up and efficient. 2) If your employer permits, avoid sitting in traffic and wasting gas, especially during peak rush hours. A worker who telecommutes twice a week would save about $450 a year in gasoline costs. 3) Keeping your tires properly inflated is simple and improves gas mileage by around 3%, saving up to 20 gallons of gasoline, or up to $75. Try checking out http://www.drivesmarterchallenge.org for more tips. – Kat, Alliance to Save Energy