10 Money Saving Tips For Single Parents

The most effective way of doing this is towasteful spending can be avoided. Another helpful
reduce expenses. This can be done in many waysway is to make a list of what is needed before
but the following are the ten best ways Iyou go shopping. This will control impulse buying.
discovered to do it:Avoid also using a credit card - it is the quickest
1. Share and trade with friends, relatives andway to slide into debt.
colleagues such things as children's clothes,5. Take advantage of special offers. Many utility
outgrown toys and baby requirements, etc.services offer packaged deals which are usually
Bartering also is a good way of getting what youmore economical than buying individually. Basic
need and giving what you have. Examples of thispackage deals are also less expensive. This may
would be: a friend can do haircuts and you can doencourage watching less television. Also, apply for
resumes, or you will babysit and your friend is anrebates and make use of coupons.
excellent seamstress. Basically, bartering is an6. Don't eat out. Taking your own lunch to work
exchange of goods and services between variouswill save many dollars each week compared to
people without money changing hands.going out for lunch every day. Restaurants and
2. Do not be wasteful. The old saying 'waste not,even fast food outlets are very expensive.
want not' certainly applies when trying to liveAnother savings can be to drink water instead of
within a limited income. This means using allbuying pop or coffee out. Even one cup of coffee
leftovers, not getting rid of things just becausea day will add up over a month.
you're tired of them, and wearing things out. If7. Smoking and drinking are other expenses that
your sofa is worn, make do with what you have.will kill even the most carefully designed budget.
If it is really bad, buy second-hand or look in the8. Associate with other frugal and thrifty-minded
free columns. Shop at second-hand or thrift shopssingle parents so as to avoid being tempted to
and take the time to look around for the bestkeep up or feel included. Those who are in the
deals in everything. Save those pennies that don'tsame financial position will have other ideas on
seem to be worth anything. Added together theyhow to reduce their expenses too. They will also
can make the difference between having a treatincrease the number of people who will be
or not.interested in bartering and sharing.
3. If you own a car, consider how to cut down9. Other savings within the home will be to only
the costs of operating your vehicle. Drive sensiblyrun your dishwasher and washer when there is a
keeping in mind the cost of gas by planning yourfull load; invest in a low flow shower head, and
route and doing errands along the way so otherbuy in bulk.
trips won't have to be made. Invest in a small,10. Do you need it or do you want it? When I
economical car rather than one of the larger ones.was a single parent I found remembering the
Share your drive with others in order to help paydifference between the two saved me a lot of
for the gas. Sometimes the cost of owning a carmoney. In almost all cases with a few days'
is not feasible. If that is the case, otherthought before a purchase, most things were a
transportation options such as transit or bicyclingwant and not an absolute need.
could be considered.I also discovered that it made it easier when I
4. Avoid debt. In order to help do this catalogueinvolved my children in helping me with these
expenses daily to help you realize where yourmoney saving strategies. By encouraging them to
money is going. In this way you will be able tobe part of the saving process, they learned to be
determine what can be done without andthrifty too.