Being frugal is, for some people, a choice. For others, however, it’s something of a necessity. If you’ve got a large family and you’re looking for ways to be a bit more frugal, then it can sometimes be hard to figure out where to make cuts and how to still live a frugal lifestyle. While every family is a little different, here are some ideas to make that step into frugality a little simpler.
Buy in bulk
One common way to be frugal is to buy in bulk, but with that suggestion comes the issue of how to store all that food, and how long it will stay good for. Large families, however, won’t have this worry quite as much as you’ll likely go through such things fast enough to make storage simple.
Learn to reuse and upcycle
Whether you have a large family or a small one, hand-me-downs and reusing items is a good way to save a bit of extra cash. You’d be amazed at how many things you can easily reuse or upcycle. Thrift shops are also great places to get gently used items at half the price.
Utilize sales and coupons
Always take advantage of sales and shop around for the best deal. You’d be amazed how much a few dollars or cents here and there will add up on your final grocery bill. Clipping coupons and buying in bulk for toiletries and common things that your family will always use is also a great idea.
Plan your menu right
If you’ve got a large family, planning a menu is essential, that way everyone knows what is going on. This is especially important if you’ve got a really busy schedule. Make sure that you also plan out snacks for the kids, especially if you have teenagers who like to have a little something between meals. This way they aren’t eating the food that you need for meals.
Have no-spend weekends
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun. Try having a couple weekends a month where you don’t spend any money. Organize something fun to do at home, or go out and enjoy a free activity like an afternoon at the park or a local museum.
Give coupons instead of allowances
One of the most expensive parts of kids as they get older is paying for all the extra activities and even allowances. While there’s not much to be done on the extra expenses, try giving out coupons to your children for things like not having to do dishes, or getting to pick a meal on the menu. This way they still feel compensated for work and learn the value of work and the payoffs.
What do you do to try and keep your large family frugal? Leave a note below with any tips or tricks that work for you!