by Chelsea Springli 
Whether you’re a first-time parent or a seasoned pro, supporting a family is expensive. Creating a budget is a great first step in getting your expenses in check and build up savings. It can also help you decide where you may also be able to cut some costs. Here are a few quick family money tips on cutting costs to stay on budget.
Explore Lightly Used Items
Kids grow in and out of clothes in the blink of an eye and can become bored with toys quickly. Why spend an arm and a leg on new clothes and toys that don’t last very long? Reach out to other moms in your community or friend circle and see if they have any hand-me-downs they are looking to part with. This will help you save money and declutter at the same time. Another option is Facebook Marketplace. You can find clothes, toys, kid gear, and more for sale in your local area.
Compare the Savings from Lightly Used Items
A new Liteway Stroller from Chicco costs $109.99. A Rawlings Icon USA Youth Bat costs $349.99 at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Finding hand-me-down versions like these can potentially save you over $450!
Shop Resale Stores
Another great spot to buy gently used children’s clothing, outerwear, and shoes are at your local resale shop. Once Upon A Child is a resale company that has multiple local locations. All items sold in the store go through a careful inspection process to ensure only high-quality items in ready-to-wear condition are being put on the shelves and are much less expensive than similar items sold by retailers. In addition to buying clothes at Once Upon A Child, you can also sell items your kids are no longer wearing to earn some extra cash! Poshmark is an excellent source for gently used clothing and other items and comes at a fraction of the cost of buying a brand-new from a retailer too.
Compare the Savings from Resale Stores
For example, Target sells dresses like this for $20. At Once Upon a Child, dresses may go on sale for $1 each. That’s $19 in savings per dress! Use the same logic for shirt, pants, skirts, shoes, etc.
Find Free or Low-Cost Activities
Keeping kids entertained can be exhausting, but it doesn’t have to be expensive. With just a little research, you can find plenty of lower or no-cost options in your community. Community centers offer low-cost amenities like indoor swimming pools and basketball courts. Get outside and go to your local park and walk the trails and enjoy what nature has to offer. Plus, being a credit union member has its perks. Check out our exclusive savings for credit union members with Love my Credit Union Rewards.
Compare the Savings from Low-Cost Activities
While Six Flags and Hurricane Harbor provides hours of fun, tickets start at $40.99. An alternative park playdate or trip to the community pool in O’Fallon only costs $12 for kids. That’s almost a $29 difference.
Eat-In & Meal Prep
Planning your meals ahead can save you money. Eating out every day adds up fast, so by simply eating at home more often, you can start saving. Once you get into the habit of eating at home and bringing lunch to work, there are additional steps you can take to generate even more savings.
Compare the Savings from Eating In
To compare the savings, a Kids Combo at Raising Cane’s includes 2 chicken fingers, a side of crinkle fries, and a drink for $7.99. A bag of Tyson chicken strips with 8 servings costs $8.72 at Walmart. A bag of Ore-Ida crinkle fries with 11 servings costs $3.97 at Walmart. Plus, a 2 liter Sprite bottle at Walmart costs $2.97. While your Walmart total will cost around $16, that’s the price of two kids meals from Raising Cane’s. If you’re feeding more than one kiddo, you’ll get a lot more food for the same cost by buying the ingredients instead of paying to dine out.
Additional Money-Saving Meal Prep Tips
Download grocery store apps to access weekly ads, sale information, and earn rewards.
Stock up on your family’s favorite items when they’re on sale and freeze or store them for future use.
Meal prepping is another great way to save. Make large batches of easy-to-prep meals, cook them on Sunday, separate them out into single meal containers, and you’ll have breakfast, lunch, and dinner ready for you and your family for the whole week. While meal prepping takes time on the weekend, it can save you valuable time during the busy work week.
Consider memberships to wholesalers like Sam’s Club. Credit union members get a one-year membership for 40% off plus, for a limited time, you’ll also get a $15 entertainment discount.
The Bottom Line
Daily expenses add up quickly and can easily get out of hand. By taking the time to evaluate your monthly expenses, you can determine what you can change to make the biggest impact. Sometimes all it takes is a little research and some creative thinking to find new ways to save. We understand that financial goals are not one-size-fits-all, which is why we’re here to help you navigate all of life’s moments. If you find yourself in need of financial assistance, Alltru Credit Union is here to help.
