Smart Ways to Save Money as a Mom

Hello fello mammas!

As a mom, managing the household budget can sometimes feel like you are trying to plug a leaky dam with just your fingers. Between groceries, childcare, school expenses, and unexpected costs that come along with parenting, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, fear not! With some smart strategies and more creativity, you can become a master of thrift and save money without making sacrifices on quality or convenience. As they often say, a penny saved is a penny earned. So let’s get into it!

Budgeting: Because Adulting is Hard

Let’s start with the basics, but also one of the most important things: budgeting. It’s like creating a roadmap for your money but sometimes it feels more like a treasure map if your toddler is your compass. This can be the most overwhelming but with a better understanding of your income and where your money goes, you will be able to better see where you can save money and keep from veering off course. There are plenty of free apps to help you along the way such as YNAB, Empower, and Monarch Money. This will help you identify where your money is going and help you find areas that you can cut back on. By staying organized and sticking to your budget, you’ll be amazed at how much you can save without sacrificing your lifestyle. I’m not saying never get that latte you enjoy, I’m saying become aware of how many lattes and how often you are buying them.

Meal Planning: Because Dinner doesn’t have to be a Mystery

Raise your hand if you’ve ever stared into the abyss that is your fridge and pantry at 5pm praying for a dinner inspiration to strike. Now raise another hand if you reached for your phone and ordered a pizza or Door Dash instead of cooking. *silently raises both hands* Trust me- we’ve all been there. Meal planning is your well-known secret to dinner-time woes. Sit down once a week or every other week and make a menu and then stick to it. Stick to it like glitter from your kids school project seems to find it’s way stuck to everything everywhere. Create your list and shopping list based on what you already have in the fridge and pantry.

I love picking up a cheap Dollar Tree calendar and sticking it to my fridge and plan out my upcoming week of easy dinner ideas and include nights to eat up leftovers. I make my grocery list on my phone and stick to it when I stop at the grocery store or better yet, order ahead if you can get free pick up. This helps prevent impulse buying when you’re in the store.

Meal planning can save you money by avoiding those last-minute trips to the grocery store with the kids and fuel cost, but it will also prevent you from overspending on takeout and convenience foods. Better yet, you won’t have those dreaded “what’s for dinner?” meltdowns after a long day at work or at home with the kids.

Pro Tip! Put together a freezer meal that you can easily pull out and toss into the oven, slow cooker, microwave, or stove for busy nights or days you forgot to plan for.

Entertainment: Because a Netflix Binge is Cheaper than a Theme Park

Let’s talk entertainment—aka keeping the tiny humans entertained without bankrupting yourself in the process. Sure, theme parks and fancy outings are fun, but have you ever tried turning your living room into a blanket fort and declaring it a kingdom? Trust me, the kids will love it, and it won’t cost you a cent. Plus, you can finally catch up on that Netflix series you’ve been meaning to watch while pretending to be a dragon guarding the treasure. Check out local community events and attractions for free or discounted admission, and don’t forget to take advantage of nature’s playground with hikes and bike rides. As a kid, I loved going Geocaching with my family (not sponsored, it is seriously just that much fun). If you’ve never heard of it, look it up! It’s like a treasure hunt all around you!

Shop Secondhand: Because One Mom’s Trash is Another Mom’s Treasure

Kids grow faster than the weeds in your garden. Their clothes and toys have a shorter life span than a snowman in July. Instead of constantly shelling out money for brand new items, consider shopping secondhand. Thrift stores, consignment shops, and online marketplaces are treasure troves of gently used goods at a fraction of the cost. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also be doing your part to reduce waste and promote sustainability.

Pro Tip #1 For birthdays and holidays, ask friends and family not to buy your kid more things or just plain junk they don’t need. Instead, ask for gift cards for their favorite stores or places you often get them new or used clothes and toys to replace their old ones. Or- ask for money to put into their savings account (preferably a High Yield Savings Account if you don’t already have one for your kid).

Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends on social media looking for hand-me-downs either. There are so many mommas who would love to pay it forward and pass down things their children may have never even used! Seriously though- we got a pack-n-play from a grandma who only used it TWICE! It was practically brand new. Don’t be embarrassed to ask for things. You can start your search with something like “Before I go buy new, does anyone have ‘X’ they are looking to give away or sell?” It’s such an easy way to find things you need and this extends beyond just searching for things for your kids.

Pro Tip #2 That adorable thrift shop you found? Talk to your kids about putting some of their gentlely used clothing that they don’t fit into on consignment. They can use the money made to buy new clothes at that shop and help teach your kids that value of money. Win win.

DIY: Because Pinterest Exists

Last but not least, let’s talk about the magic of DIY. Whether it’s fixing that leaky faucet or crafting the most epic birthday party decorations known to humankind, there’s nothing a mom armed with a glue gun and a can-do attitude can’t accomplish. Sure, it might not always turn out like the picture on Pinterest, but hey, that’s half the fun, right? Let the kids help and it’ll be twice as rewarding. Set reasonable costs for that decor though- don’t go spending $50 for something you can buy for $20. Have a reasonable expectation of what you want to spend on an event and stick to it.

Bonus Birthday Party Money Saving Tip: Because People are Eager to Assist

Let your friends and family help. How often do you hear other parents, friends, and family say, “Can I bring anything?” “Is there anything I can do to help?” YUP! Sign them up! Were you planning to make deviled eggs? Pass that task along. Need potato chips? Someone else can bring them. Wanted some helium balloons? Someone else can buy them. It doesn’t matter if they don’t follow your recipe or bring the exact potato chips you asked them to bring… no one will remember or care next week. There will be food. People will eat and you didn’t have to pay for it all. You won’t have the stress of making or buying it all. Your kids will have fully enjoyed themselves and a few years down the road probably won’t even remember what food was served at the party anyway.

Do you know what they will remember? Who was there for them. How happy and stress-free their mom was and being surrounded by people who love them. They may not even remember the gifts they got or the games they played so don’t do it all alone.

Saving money as a mom doesn’t have to be a chore

It can actually be a lot of fun finding new ways to cut costs and save money. By mastering the art of budgeting, meal planning, and savvy shopping, you can take control of your finances and set your family up for financial success. So go ahead, put these tips into action, and watch your savings grow! Your kids will appreciate you setting them up financially when they’re older even if they don’t understand now.

Want to see more helpful finance and budgeting tips? Check out our other posts here.

Good luck momma!

Your Budget Bestie