Our Mommyhood

Whats in your piggy bank?

Do you ever get to the end of the month and wonder where all your money went? I know I do. I decided to take charge of the situation and start a family budget this year. We seem to always take into account the “big ticket” items, but everyday purchases can really add up. My goal was to find ways that I could easily budget and plan for these items and also have a discretionary fund for unforeseen incidentals. Here are some of the ideas that I came across—I hope they will help you as much as they’ve helped me!

Clothing

Clothing needs are something we rarely plan for and usually it will show up as an impulse purchase—when you see the latest cute sweater at the store. This can be a quick way to break the bank and you will end up with deficits in other areas of your budget.

Start by putting a clothing allowance into your budget, and that way you won’t be hit with any surprise costs and what you don’t use can roll over to the next month. If you find that you have extra cash, then stock up on items that wear out quickly like socks and undershirts. I find that you can really save on these items by stocking up at the local club discount stores. When you buy in bulk it saves you money and those items will always be on hand.

Homemade Airedale Chow

Pets

Pets are expensive, bottom line. Between vet costs, food and treats you might be in the red pretty quickly. Definitely build two types of pet costs into your budget, one for known items and the other for an emergency. Even if your pet is healthy there are always those emergencies that pop up, usually on the weekend and in the middle of the night when your vet is most expensive.

By having a pet emergency fund it will help to counteract those costs and give you peace of mind. To get extra money for the fund cut your everyday pet expenses by buying food in bulk or making your own pet food. Check out some easy to make recipes at simplypet.com and you could be saving money in a flash!

Sundries

I feel like I am always going to the drugstore for one household item or another and buying out of need rather than planning ahead. Spending 10 dollars here and there can really add up during the month. Start by tracking your use of items like shampoo, toothpaste and other daily use items. If you make a log of them for a month it will really give you a great picture of what your needs actually are. Then you can accurately put a number on how much you will build into the budget.

Once you know what you’re dealing with, you can keep an eye out for sales and start to purchase in bulk. Some retailers offer discounts on items if you recycle them, so check with your favorite brands to see if they offer a recycling or buyback program.

I have really found that the key to a successful budget is to find a program that you like to work with online. One of them I like to use is budgettracker.com because it is easy to use and helps balance your entire budget. Another interesting one is billmonk.com, which is helpful if you are in a roommate situation or have expenses between friends; it does all the splitting calculations for you. By using online tools and taking a close look at your spending habits, you’ll find yourself saving some real cash. Let the savings begin!

As a stay at home parent, Mary Blanchard understands the importance of making her dollars stretch. She frequents the free online coupon site Coupon Croc to stay within budget and still have a little left over to splurge.

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