When you have a family with young children, money is always something that’s on your mind. Your worst nightmare is not being able to provide for them when it comes to food, warmth, clothing, and general happiness. Unfortunately, no matter how conscious you are with your money, sometimes things can land on your doorstep unexpectedly that might leave you feeling a little out of pocket. Whether it’s a fault boiler that’s finally broken down, or even a utility bill that’s much higher than you thought, it’s not a nice feeling knowing that you owe so much money. Luckily, we have some tips on tricks about how you can continue providing for your family when the going gets tough. Check them out:
Cut back on leisure
Being able to treat the family to nice days out is an amazing feeling. However, when you’re low on cash it’s definitely time to think about cutting back on your days out, even if it’s only temporarily. You can do tons of things free, such as:
- Take a long walk with the children and a few disposable cameras.
- Go bike riding
- Do some gardening
- Visit some friends or family
- Go to the park
- Do some crafting at home
Cutting back on leisure will give you a surprising amount of spare income at the end of each month and, hopefully, you will be able to settle any money you owe faster than you’d thought!
Consider borrowing
When a large bill or charge arrives, it can be difficult to work out how you’re going to get all of that money together within the timeframe you’ve been given. In times like these, it can be near on impossible to achieve this and unfortunately, most companies slap on a late fee if you don’t pay in time. Consider borrowing the amount you need from companies like Bonsai finance, as they are able to lend you money on a short-term basis. The great thing about companies like these is that they will show you how much you have to pay back before you agree to any kind of loan, so that you always know what you’re getting yourself into. You will then work out an affordable repayment plan with them, and you can settle all of your debts without stress. Do keep in mind that if you’re unable to meet these agreements, you could end up facing further charges and a damaged credit score, so make sure it’s the right option for you.
Go for second hand when appropriate
As you already know, children go through clothes faster than you can blink sometimes, and replenishing wardrobes gets costly – quickly. Since your children aren’t in their clothes very long, why not consider buying second hand clothing to save yourself a pretty penny or two. Sale pages on social media sites such as Facebook often have people selling their child’s clothing, so look out for some bargains! Some people may even offer the clothing for free if you’re able to pick it up. To make a little extra money, once your children have grown out of their clothes, why not do the same thing?
Remember that hand-me-downs can come in great use as well. So, if you have clothing that a younger child could grow into, then hold onto it! Your wallet will thank you later on!
Speak to your providers
If one of your large and unexpected bills has come from a utility provider, then now is the time to call them and speak about your charges. Make sure that you’re checking the charges are correct before arranging anything further with them. Sometimes you’ll find that they have mistakenly charged you, and you have nothing to worry about. However, if the charges are correct, you can simply explain your predicament. Companies are usually more than willing to help set up a payment plan so that you’re still able to afford the essentials in life, but they still get their money.
While you’re at it, why not try to haggle down the prices of bills that you’re on? Providers won’t tell you this, but there is always a cheaper bill that you could be on, and they are always able to lower the price you’re paying for your utilities. They don’t want to lose your custom, so they are usually happy to oblige when you ask for a cheaper deal.
Try home brand food
It’s understandable that everyone has his or her preferences when it comes to food. However, brand named food often tastes the same as home branded food. Consider switching your most expensive items and trying home brand food so that you can have a little more in your bank and a little less to worry about.
Take on some extra hours
Another way of making some extra money is by asking for some extra hours at work. Using the extra money that you’ve made and putting it away will soon mount up to what you need to get your finances in order again. Some bosses are even open to giving an advance on wages, so if you like, speak to your boss about your problems and see if they are able to give you an advance to help you straighten your finances out.
Do some freelancing
Finally, if your job is unable to help when it comes to extra money, then why not consider doing some freelance work? You can freelance any skill or profession, and there are always people looking to outsource someone for a bit of work here and there. Perhaps you do have a keen eye for grammar and spelling mistakes. Why not freelance yourself as a proofreader and make some money on the side? Websites like Upwork and Fiverr are great for finding freelance work – so give it a go!