How to save your family budget: 41 real tips on how you can save money

To start saving money somehow, even with a small salary, you need to create some kind of cash reserve. Let it be very small, let it be 50 thousand rubles or even 30 thousand.

It is important that such an amount remains free in your personal or family budget so that you can manage it and be able to use it for growth or invest.

When all the money from paycheck to paycheck is allocated for the daily needs of the family and there is not a single spare penny, you can forget about investing and any future passive income.

However, if you want to run your household economically, you can carve out a little money to start with, and then begin to systematically increase this amount available for investment.

Then you can use this money anywhere - use it for investment, put it into a savings account, or go on a trip. It is important to learn how to run a household economically and it is important to learn how to withdraw money from your daily budget.

4-step system for saving your family budget

This system allows you to quickly and easily reduce your expenses through proper prioritization and the formation of savings. It consists of four steps that will show you how to properly manage your family budget in order to save money.

Step	Step description
1. Prioritize and determine must-have expenses	Mandatory expenses are expenses that cannot be avoided. For example, paying for housing and communal services, lunches at a child’s school, food. All this is vital. Prioritize what you will need money for in the future. For example, you want to save up for university education, a new computer, repairs, or something else. Determine how much you need to save monthly. Write it down. Income – mandatory expenses – amount you need to save = money you can spend on something else besides mandatory expenses . If this amount is less than 0, then you either need to look for additional income or remove something from what you want to save for.
2. Record all expenses	To start saving your family budget, you need to understand where the money is spent. It is important to record even small purchases, since they often add up to serious expenses. Below in the article we will tell you how best to do this.
3. Optimize costs	Having collected statistics on costs, see what can be optimized without compromising the quality of life? Many people have at least 3-4 things that are not worth spending money on. For example, give up paid subscriptions, expensive Internet or TV tariffs, and bad habits.
4. Determine the outcome	After optimizing your expenses, evaluate whether you are able to save your family budget and save the necessary amounts or not? If the result is negative, repeat steps 1-3 until you achieve your goal.

The 4-step system allows you to effectively save your family budget and cut off expenses that do not actually improve your quality of life. Direct your money where it will do the most good.

Public transport and personal car – you can save money

If you travel around the city mainly by public transport, then you should think about buying a travel card. Typically, the higher the denomination of the card, the lower the cost of travel and the greater the savings. For those lucky people who live within three kilometers from the office, walking to work will be relevant. This method of moving will bring your budget several thousand saved rubles.

It's good to have a reliable and economical car. Taking into account urban conditions, it is better to buy a compact car with low fuel consumption. If necessary, you can equip your iron horse with gas equipment. The price of gas is several times different from the cost of gasoline.

Criteria for saving a family budget in the field of transport:

For regular trips around the city, use a transport card.
Walk to work if possible.
When choosing a family car, focus on low fuel consumption, reliability, availability of spare parts and compactness.
Use taxis only as a last resort (one taxi trip is equivalent to a week of trips on public transport).

Transport costs

↑ contents ↑

Why do you need to do home accounting and how to do it correctly?

When you start writing down what you spend money on, you get objective information about your expenses. This is especially useful for people who sometimes cannot answer what their salary was used for. It seems like yesterday I received payment from a client, but today there is nothing.

Therefore, it is important to record all purchases and analyze them monthly for necessity. So you can understand:

Where does the most money go? You may be surprised which expense items will dominate. It's not always what you think it is.
Track small expenses that are not necessary and can be reduced. For example, canceling a subscription at a cost of 300 rubles. per month will save 3600 rubles. per year, and deleting two subscriptions costs 7,200 rubles.
Record all debts and loan payments in one place and don’t forget about anything.

It is important to group expenses in order to assess their share in the family budget. For example: food, housing and communal services, expenses for children (school, clubs, extracurricular activities), expenses for a car, Internet and subscriptions, etc.

This can be done in Excel or Google Sheets. If you pay for purchases with a card, you can usually view spending statistics in your online bank. But there it is not always divided into the necessary groups.

There are also special programs for maintaining a family budget. For example, “Home Accounting”. It allows you to keep track of personal and family finances, debts, and bank deposits. Analyze your expenses and optimize them. The program has already been downloaded more than 4 million times.

Household chemicals

8	Look not at the brand of the product, but at its composition. Well-known brands most often make markups solely on the name to cover advertising costs.

11	Sometimes it is better to wash dishes not with a special detergent, but with regular soda. It is many times more effective against soot and scale, and is also completely safe for the body.

4	Ammonia gets rid of many difficult stains no worse than an expensive stain remover. But you shouldn’t experiment with thin and delicate fabrics.

16	A large package of detergent or washing powder is cheaper than a small bottle. Chemicals do not deteriorate, so such an economical purchase for future use will definitely pay off.

11	An anti-scale agent for a washing machine and even a kettle can replace ordinary citric acid.

4	Dust and dirt can be removed from most surfaces with a clean, dry microfiber cloth. It is not necessary to use detergent.

5	You should not buy separate cleaning products for the kitchen, bathroom and floor. Their composition is approximately the same, so a regular chlorine disinfectant is best for dealing with dirt.

7	A clogged sink can be cleared with baking soda and vinegar, saving you on an expensive anti-clog cleaner with a tricky chemical composition.

4	Instead of air flavorings, you can use regular citrus peels or jars of essential oils.

8	If you have accumulated soap, put them in a glass jar and pour boiling water over it. In this simple way you can make homemade liquid soap.

6	Do not buy toothbrushes, toothpastes, shower gels and other products in pharmacies - the markups there are much higher than in chain stores and hypermarkets.

1	Grease stains on furniture, carpets, surfaces and clothing are easily removed by ordinary gasoline. By the way, don’t miss the most necessary tips on saving gasoline.

Memo: what else can you save your family budget on?

There are many ways to save money and learn how to properly manage your family budget. Moreover, without loss in quality of life. This part of the article contains real tips on how to do this correctly in practice.

How to save on food and eat well?

Create a menu for one to two weeks. Buy the necessary products at a hypermarket or wholesale market, where prices are lower. Try to go to stores near your home as little as possible - usually everything costs more there.
Many cities have small shops of local producers. Often you can buy cheaper and higher quality products there without online markups. This applies to dairy products, meat, fruits and vegetables.
Don't get fooled by marketing. More expensive products are not always better in composition. Choose products and brands that offer the best price-quality ratio.
Buy products that are in season in your region. During the season, prices are lower and benefits are greater.
Go to stores with your own bags. Firstly, it's better for the environment. Secondly, it’s cheaper, since many stores make high markups on packages.
Make preparations. This is not only about pickling cucumbers and making jam. Buy vegetables, herbs, and berries during the season. Cut into portions and freeze; use special bags or containers for this so that the flavors do not mix. During heat treatment, they restore their properties and qualities and do not differ from fresh ones.
Don't cook too much. One dish should be eaten within a couple of days. If it is delayed, then on the third day you will want “something tasty” - this is an unplanned waste, and the prepared dish will be in the trash the next day.
Look in your parents' cupboards for nut makers, waffle irons, and cookie cutters. If you don’t find anything, bake an apple pie or sour cream rolls. It just seems difficult and time-consuming. Taking into account baking, it will take no more than an hour, after which none of the household will want cookies from the store, and the benefits and savings for the family budget are obvious.
If you don’t know how, learn to cook. Take food and drinks with you to work, on the road or for a walk, do not buy ready-made ones. It's cheaper and healthier.

How to save money on household appliances?

Take advantage of promotions and special offers. They usually appear before the holidays. It is also profitable to buy models that will soon be discontinued, immediately after the release of new ones. Usually they give good discounts, and in terms of their parameters they are still quite relevant.
Choose equipment with the options you really need. The simpler it is, the longer it lasts. Don't overpay for features that you won't actually use.
Buy equipment in online stores. Even regular chains already have online storefronts, where prices are often lower or there is an opportunity to get an additional discount.
Buy only what you really need. You shouldn't upgrade your smartphone because a new model has come out if the old one fulfills your needs.
Monitor the energy consumption of household appliances. The lower it is, the less money you will spend on electricity.

How to save your family budget on entertainment?

If you like to meet with friends, agree to invite each other over and go to cafes only on holidays. By hosting your party, you'll save money and have a fun time.
Keep an eye out for the opening of new cafes and clubs. In the first days after opening, they offer discounts and bonuses. The topic with coupons is also alive.
Don't go straight to premieres. Wait a few days and the tickets will become cheaper. There are also sessions for which tickets are traditionally sold inexpensively.
Tickets for concerts can be purchased in advance. It will be much cheaper this way.
If you love to read, buy e-books. They cost less. If you like the classics, join the library.

How to have a good rest and travel without spending a lot of money?

Buy tickets and book hotels in advance.
Choose inexpensive hotels that are located near the main excursion routes. Save money on travel and see more interesting things.
Use websites where you can hire local guides. Often this will cost less than buying an excursion from a travel agency.
Don't stay in all-inclusive hotels unless you plan to spend all your time there.
Rent a bike, scooter or car. See what is not available on excursions and pay less.
Avoid hotel restaurants and cafes on main streets. Get away from the tourist spots, to where the locals live.

Housekeeping

3	Carefully care for household items, including furniture, household appliances, dishes and interior items. A careful attitude will prolong their life and save you from unnecessary and unplanned expenses.

8	Don’t put off cleaning until later: dried grease on the stove and countertops, old rust and carbon deposits will require much more physical effort and detergents.

6	Follow the washing instructions on the clothing label. Proper sorting of items protects against unwanted staining, shedding, pilling and the need for repeated washing.

2	Buy a battery pack. This will help you save not only on buying new ones, but also protect the environment by throwing away used items less often.

3	Moth repellents are cheaper than a new sweater, woolen coat or fur coat. Don't forget to use insect repellent tablets when storing winter clothes in the closet.

5	Twice a year, lubricate the rubber seal in plastic windows with a special product. Then it will serve for years without letting in the cold, and there will be no need for expensive replacement.

10	Regularly check the refrigerator for stale food that is nearing its expiration date. As long as they haven’t spoiled, a good housewife can make a delicious salad, pizza or other baked goods from them.

8	Dishwashing detergent is used more slowly and more economically if you pour it into a bottle with a dispenser.

What should you not save money on?

On quality products. This may affect your health. The price of a product does not always determine the quality. Pay attention to the composition and its naturalness.
To your health. Get regular checkups. Don't put off visiting the dentist.
On quality clothes. The principle “the miser pays twice” applies here.
On a rest. It needs to be done efficiently in order to restore strength.
Increased professional level. Mastering new knowledge and skills is the key to your relevance in the future.

Having decided to write this article about how to start saving your family budget, we do not want to say that the most severe optimization of everything is needed. It is important to use finances rationally and control expenses, learn to manage your finances correctly. Sometimes you can pamper yourself and encourage yourself.

Buy gifts and things that will delight you, but in moderation and without compromising your well-being. This should be a well-deserved gift. For the fact that we worked on ourselves and achieved some results.

Buy gifts for your family and friends, receive in return a charge of positivity, delight and love. And remember: everything should be in moderation.

Author: Kadrof.ru (KadrofID: 79032) Added: 02/24/2021 at 20:55

To favorites

Comments (0)

Tip four. How to shop economically?

Use the 72-hour rule: don’t buy right away, don’t be influenced by emotions.
Buy food when you're fresh, when you're not too tired, so you'll buy less unhealthy stuff.
It is more economical to buy groceries in a basket than in a shopping cart.
Small children increase the cost of a trip to the store by 30%.
Wholesale purchases at vegetable stores, in collaboration with someone, bonuses in the store, large packages, promotional sales of the desired product - use it.
Always consider the cost per piece, not per package.
Focus on prices.
Freeze food in the fall. Eggplants, peppers, carrots, beets, and tomatoes are more delicious in the fall. Then they are easy to cook with and taste just as good as at the height of the season.

save up to 40% on purchases .