Parenting Pointers: Saving Money for Busy Moms

As a mom, you know that it can take a lot of effort to keepyour household's expenses under control. After bills, things the kids want,family needs and your savings account, you may find that there's not much moneyleft over for you to use on other things. This stressful and frustratingpredicament can be remedied, however. There are many everyday expenses that youcan save money on without making things more tedious for yourself and yourfamily.
Make Real Meals

A lot of moms turn to heat-and-eat meals and pre-packaged snacks becausethey're strapped for time and energy. While these foods may be fast and simpleto prepare, they provide little nutrition and cost a lot of money. Serving forserving, these convenience foods usually cost several times more than if you'dprepared the same amount from scratch. Although that often means time spent inthe kitchen, you don't have to spend hours cooking. Try things like sandwiches,slow-cooker meals, homemade pizzas and no-cook snacks to nourish and satisfyyour family while saving a heap of cash.

Turn Off Electronics

Modern devices like computers, televisions and game consoles suck a lot ofenergy when they're left on, yet most people leave them running all day long.This habit is based on the long-standing myth that electronics require moreenergy to power on than would be used if you'd simply left them on. In reality,all you're really doing is wasting energy. Energy consumption at power-up is sosmall that it doesn't matter. Consider making it a rule in your house that anydevices not currently being used must be turned off. Be prepared to watch yourenergy bill fall by leaps and bounds.

Shop at Thrift Stores

Are the kids outgrowing their clothes again? Buying entire new wardrobesseveral times each year can get really expensive if you buy them at departmentor clothing stores. If you think it's ridiculous to spend half a day's pay on ashirt and a pair of pants, then thrift stores are for you. It's not uncommon tofind current styles in excellent condition for less than a dollar.

Buy Discount Brands

If you only buy products made by big name brands, you're likely paying extramoney for nothing. In many consumer studies, people are unable to tell thedifference between generic brands and major ones. In fact, value brands areoften made by the major companies but given generic labels. By switching tooff-brands, you could save considerably on your weekly grocery bill.

Saving money doesn't have to mean making sacrifices or taking on extra burdens.These are just a few of the ways in which you can cut down on your expenseswithout a big effort. Try reviewing your budget and lifestyle habits to findother ways to shave off a few dollars.Author Bio:
Jack Meyer is a regular contributor for http://www.nannybackgroundcheck.com/. As a detective he wants to spread the knowledge of terrible things that can happen when people don’tfully verify the credentials of a caregiver or any employee. He also writes forvarious law enforcement blogs and sites.