Raising children is expensive. For many of today’s parents, the challenge of making ends meet is much harder than it was for their parents and grandparents. Housing cost, food costs, and clothing costs continue to rise. While many are stuck low paying jobs. The good news is that there ARE simple ways to make parenting less expensive.
Read further to learn more about a few of them. Saving money is probably easier than you think.
Note: This page contains affiliate links, which means that if you buy something using one of the links below, I may earn a commission.
Simple Ways to Make Parenting Less Expensive
You can make great strides in reducing your parenting expenses by using a few simple tactics. Some you may have already started doing here and there. Implementing them many of them at the same time will yield big results.
Teach Kids Early
Small kids are like sponges. They soak in information quickly. It is not necessary to wait until your kids are older to teach them that money doesn’t grow on trees. When they ask for things, learn how to say no without feeling guilty.
A great way to teach kids about money is by giving them an allowance. Consider giving them an age-appropriate allowance, in exchange for doing their homework (without being asked) or doing simple chores around the house. This is one way, you can break the habit of your kids asking for something every time you leave the house.
Shop Wisely
Shopping wisely is a skill. There really is a lot to be said about comparison shopping and taking advantage of sales and discount days. Obviously, this takes more time than just running into the store really quick to pick something up. But, if you have time to shop around, you’ll generally save big time.
Utilize technology to help you shop wisely. Cashback apps, such as Ibotta, Ebates, and Dosh can help you save on items you need for your kids. There are also apps like ShopSavvy that can help you find the best price for anything you need to purchase. Sometimes, you can save money just by shopping online. I check Amazon before I make many purchases to ensure I’m getting the best deal.
Also, remember that there’s nothing wrong with buying certain things in “gently used” condition. Shopping at thrift stores doesn’t mean that you’re poor; it means that you’re a smart shopper.
Related Post: How to Cut Your Grocery Bill – 7 Easy Tips
Download a copy of our free Monthly 50/30/20 Budget Worksheet. It’s a free excel spreadsheet to help you create and maintain your budget.
Cook at Home
When you’re a parent, there never seems to be enough time in a day. Don’t let time constraints allow you to get in the habit of eating out. This is exactly what happened to me. I quickly learned that cooking at home, from scratch, is so much more affordable.
If your schedule is hectic, try “batch cooking” or meal prepping one or two days a week. You can successfully freeze almost anything. Pull something out of the freezer the night before. In the morning, toss it in a slow cooker. You will be surprised at the money and time you’ll save.
Related Post: Pack School Lunches That Your Kids Will Actually Eat
Find a Support Network
When it comes to things like childcare, try to find a support network. Talk to two or three other moms about swapping childcare duties. The more you can trade off with other moms, the less you have to pay for expensive day-to-day care. Doing so also allows you (as parents) to enjoy an occasional “date night” when the mood hits.
If you are having trouble meeting moms in your area check out the Peanut app. Peanut is the ultimate mom matching app. It connects moms with other moms with similar interests. Peanut will help you meet other moms in your area. It is referred to as “Tinder for Moms”.
Related Post: I’m a Fabulous Unicorn Mom – Are You?
Look for After-School Alternatives
After-school activities can be quite expensive. Look for alternatives offered by your local park system, the library or even the YMCA. In addition, check out the community calendar on sites like craigslist.org and your local news websites. Many times, you’ll find listings for free concerts, classes, and other family-related activities.
Get Started Today…
Armed with this information, as well as taking advantage of some of these tips, should make parenting a bit less expensive. You can even go one step further and create a budget if you like. By sticking to it as much as possible, you’ll probably be able to save money and still be considered one of the coolest parents on the block!
Why not get started today?
Leave a comment and share your hacks for making parenting less expensive.
Pin this Pin on your Kids and Parenting Pinterest Boards
Don’t forget to Like, Share, Tweet, and Pin this post. 
We just started our parenting journey, so any good tips are appreciated! I’ve heard that kids are expensive!
Congratulations Sophia! Kids can be expensive but there are ways to lessen the blow.
It is such a great idea to teach kids young about money. This way they can leave the house someday knowing all there is to know about saving money and spending wisely. Also, cooking at home is another perfect option for making parenting easier. Going out to eat all the time can add up quickly, but if you opt to eat at home it is usually healthier as well as cheaper!
Teaching kids early has many good benefits. It’s makes good money management second nature.
I really need this since I have two kids and I really needs some tips on how to save so that I can provide their needs. Thank you so much for this! I will take this note.
Hi Karla, I’m glad you found this post useful.
I don’t have kids but I look to the future and I worry, these little beings are expensive but you’ve shared some really great feedback – I remember, when I was a kid, taking advantage of so many free after-school activities, so many great memories from those experiences. Teaching little ones from a young age about the importance of money is so valuable – I think our school systems can also do a better job with this too.
Hey Angela, like you I remember participating in many free activities. I have fond memories of going to a free summer camp and learning all types of skills.
You offer so many great ways to crunch a buck, which is really hard these days. Raising a family can be very expensive. I overheard a young college student at coffee shop the other day saying, “kids are more of a luxury item you should wait to have when you can actually afford them, unlike my parents.” That was a very unique perspective for me to take in, clearly the children are becoming the adults.
Jen, it seems as if the cost of living is going up overall. I think with the right mindset and information spending can be reduced.
These are some great tips! One thing we are trying to work on is less eating out. It’s crazy how much money is wasted that way!
Very true Clair… eating out is my thing as well. I love the convenience but it is mostly unhealthy and expensive for me.
I wholeheartedly agree with shop wisely, look for alternatives and to eat at home. But I do enjoy eating out and it’s always my downfall.
You aren’t alone Brie. That’s the hardest one for me too.