How to Raise Kids on a Budget

Raising kids doesn't have to cost a fortune. With a little time and effort, you can provide your children - and yourself - with healthy meals, cool clothes and enriching opportunities, and still stay true to your budget.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Children's Clothes
• Child-approved Food
• Local Newspapers

1. Determine how much you can afford each month for food, clothes and other needs. Stick to it.

2. Explain to your children that you live on a budget. Needs must come before wants.

3. Shop around for the best deals on food and clothing. To that end, don't be too proud to take advantage of wholesale, outlet and thrift store prices.

4. Find bargains at yard sales and in classified ads.

5. Investigate high-priced items by borrowing from a friend first.

6. Let it be known that you like hand-me-downs. Keep them organized.

7. Make family meals and baby food from scratch. Save the expense of formula by opting to breast-feed.

8. Buy foods in season, and freeze milk.

9. Pack school lunches instead of buying.

10. Visit parks, zoos and museums for inexpensive entertainment.

11. Find out if you qualify for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or Head Start programs.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy clothes on sale or in the off-season.
• Use coupons for entertainment, restaurants and haircuts.
• Split adult portions instead of buying kids' meals at restaurants.

[1wealthbuilder]

on 9/28/2007 I agree with the majority of these tips. Our children learn thier values about money, investing, budgeting, and spending from us.

Good habits now that don't come across as lack or going with out go a long way.

reading blogs like www.ReliantAFS.com/MoneyBlog is a good resource

on 2/28/2006 Ask the doctor for sample formula when you take your baby for a doctor's visit. These samples are free, given from the manufacture to the doctor.

on 11/22/2005 If you have 2 or more kids, ask for a frozen yogurt to be put into 2 cups, but still the same amount of frozen yogurt. If you catch them at a busy time, it is likely they will put a lot more than 1/2 of the whole portion in each cup ^_^

on 11/22/2005 Local toy libraries are fabulous. Often each child can take out two toys, a book and a cassette or video for 2 weeks, you a parenting book. They may have crafts & snacks for kids, counselling services for parents. Often free or minimal eg. $5/year.