5 proven tips for housewives on how to save money in everyday life

Endless crises in Russia and rising costs of services and food prices force us to look for opportunities to save money every time. You don’t want to be stressed from constant saving, so it’s better to consciously approach this issue and start applying useful tips in your life every day.

What has always been surprising when traveling to Europe and America is that they are very frugal with their resources and money. Western people always consider the feasibility of purchases: all electrical appliances and equipment are purchased in an energy-saving mode, all garbage is sorted. They always buy goods in stock at discounts, and take the children home from kindergarten for lunch, because this is more economical for the family budget.

Let's see how we in Russia can save money. Our whole life consists of daily habits that we can review in order to save money in everyday life.

Advice one. How to reduce housing and communal services costs?

• Adjust the temperature of hot water when washing dishes by not adding cold water, but by slightly reducing the pressure of hot water. Better yet, accumulate the dishes and wash them in the dishwasher.
• Change all light bulbs in the apartment to energy-saving ones. Save up to 40% on electricity.
• The refrigerator should be placed away from the stove, away from the radiator, and away from the window so that the sun does not heat the surface of the appliance.
• When cooking food on the stove, the area of ​​the bottom of the pan must exactly correspond to the diameter of the burner. It is better to cook food covered. Save up to 20% per month on electricity.
• It is better to load the washing machine after weighing the laundry, that is, with a full load. But set the mode to economical. As a result, you save powder, water, and electricity.
• A glass of water when brushing your teeth will save up to 15 liters of water per day, and 450 liters per month.
• Showering saves several times more water than taking a bath. Don't neglect this.
• Unplug all electrical appliances and chargers from sockets. Turn on the heated floor in the apartment as needed. And in your absence it is better to turn it off.
• For example, you have 10 light bulbs in your chandelier. This amount is only necessary when guests gather. Therefore, leave 3-4 lamps for comfortable lighting, this will also bring significant savings
• Do not put hot food in the refrigerator, do laundry at night in automatic mode, get spring water for free, iron clothes when there is a lot of it accumulated, and not one item at a time.
• It is better to pay for housing and communal services, Internet, and electricity a little in advance. Many of them give bonuses for prepayment: city tours, favorable rates, payment of your tariff with bonuses, access to an electronic library, etc.

So, thanks to these tips, you can save up to 40% per month .

Types and methods of maintaining a family budget, their pros and cons

The main thing in managing a family budget is the ability to negotiate. It is important that all family members understand the importance of financial planning and are willing to participate. You also need to determine who will be the “chief accountant.” This is the first step.

When you have reached an agreement in principle, decide how to distribute the family budget . This can be done in any of the ways given below, taking into account the income structure and possible reasons for conflicts.

Joint

All money is shared.

Pros:

1. It is obvious to everyone what and how much money the family spends.
2. It is more convenient to save for large purchases.
3. In case of income inequality, it relieves tension regarding goals and spending if agreement is reached on this matter.

Minuses:

1. The distribution of funds for personal expenses may seem unfair to some family members, especially those who do not work or earn significantly less than their partner.

Mixed

Conditionally joint budget: all family members with income are added to common expenses, everyone keeps part of the money earned for themselves.

Pros:

1. Everyone understands how much the total family budget is and how it is spent.
2. Everyone has money left over for personal expenses.

Minuses:

1. Disputes may arise over the amount of contributions to the “common pot”. They must be proportionate to the income of the family member, but at the same time sufficient to cover necessary expenses.
2. It is necessary to regularly account for incoming funds and adjust the budget taking into account adherence to the chosen financial plan.

Separated

Each family member manages their income independently. Common expenses are paid on a rolling basis or shared.

Pros:

1. Everyone remains financially independent and is responsible only for their own income and expenses.

Minuses:

1. There may be disagreements regarding shared expenses - what is the order of payment or who pays for what bills/services.
2. Due to misunderstandings or low responsibility, someone may not be ready to fulfill their next financial obligations.
3. In the case of unequal income, this model can lead to conflicts.

Sole

Only one family member earns.

Pros:

1. As a rule, this is a forced option/option in abusive relationships.

Minuses:

1. Makes the second partner and other family members completely dependent without income, leading to conflicts and misunderstandings.

If one budgeting format does not suit you, you can try another.

Tip two. Home tricks for saving

• Stains can be removed with dishwashing liquid, laundry soap, or ammonia.
• You can wipe off dust with a microfiber cloth without any chemicals.
• Air fresheners can be replaced with a scented candle.
• It is better to store bread in the refrigerator. It does not ferment for such a long time and can be used for a long time.
• Instead of sausage, make your own baked meat in the oven. It is healthier and more economical.
• Make your own pates from white meat chicken, herring and liver.
• 3-ply toilet paper is more economical than 2-ply.

save up to 20-30% on home tricks .

Family budget. FAQ

How to convince your family of the need to keep a budget?

Explain the benefits and prepare responses to possible objections. The main advantage of budgeting is the ability to understand where the money you earn goes. Spending transparency will make family relationships more open and help form healthy financial habits.

What to do when disputes and quarrels arise in the family over money?

First, determine the essence of the complaints. As a rule, there are only three options:

1. Dissatisfaction with the spending of other family members.
2. Lack of income or low income for a working family member.
3. The amount of contribution to the family budget for general needs seems unfair.

The emergence of monetary conflicts indicates that spending is not transparent and not systematized. To solve a problem, you need, firstly, to acknowledge its existence, and secondly, calmly discuss its causes and jointly develop a solution.

How not to fight over money?

Talk about what doesn’t suit you, while trying not to shift all responsibility for the cause of the disagreement to your partner. Coordinated management of family money will reduce tension. In case of unequal and/or instability of income, let the one who earns more/stable take on fixed expenses and mandatory payments, and determine key purchases and financial goals together.

Be sure to save personal money for each family member: even if they do not work, they still have the right to some financial independence. Look for additional sources of income.

What type of family budget is better?

It’s impossible to say for sure, because a lot depends on the comparability of income, relationships between partners and assigned tasks. It's easier to save for big goals by keeping a joint budget. If there are no global plans, but the task is to optimize spending and always have a reserve of funds, and the level of income is approximately equal, you can settle on a conditional joint budget. This issue needs to be resolved individually in the family.

What is the best way to use your savings?

They can be used to create a financial “safety cushion”, or you can try to increase them with the help of deposits, savings cards, share or special investment accounts.

What to do if one of the family members does not agree to share the budget?

A joint budget really doesn’t suit everyone, it happens. The option of a separate budget can be convenient if partners earn approximately the same and enough so as not to ask each other for money for basic expenses. However, if the difference in salary is significant, it is worth discussing the option of a conditionally joint budget with the division of key financial obligations in proportion to the level of income.

Tip three. "Frugal" product tips

Everyone knows that it is better not to go to the store when you are hungry. Everyone also knows about price tags with 99 at the end. But about the menu for the week, I think not.

• Make a menu for the week and a grocery list for the week.
• Prepare semi-finished products yourself and freeze everything. These can be pancakes, cutlets, cabbage rolls, broths, dumplings and pasties.
• The bread can be refreshed by first soaking it in water and placing it in the oven to heat.
• From leftover food you can make pizza, omelet, and solyanka.
• Plant fresh herbs and onions instead of flowers in the window.
• Place dinner on everyone's plate. This is more economical than throwing away half-eaten leftovers.
• Tea is healthier and better to brew in a teapot - there will be enough for everyone. And you can add thyme yourself, bought at the pharmacy, dry apples from the dacha, rose hips from the forest.
• Buy water for drinking in large containers, it’s more economical.
• In the morning, drink coffee at work, not from a machine on the street.
• Clearly divide portions for consumption: for example, a pack of kefir is divided into 5 portions, and pour oil for frying in a frying pan using a spoon.

You don’t have to save on groceries, but diversify your diet simply by keeping a competent count of all your expenses .

What is a family budget?

The family budget is the totality of the actual income and expenses of the family for a certain period of time.

Income , income from rental housing, cashback on bank cards, support from relatives, etc.

Expenses are everything a family spends money on: from mandatory mortgage payments and utilities to public transport. Costs are divided into:

• permanent (housing and communal services, loans, products);
• unforeseen (equipment repair, medical assistance).

Also, expenses can be systematized by frequency: annual, monthly, weekly, daily, seasonal, etc.

The personal expenses of each member are also taken into account in the family budget.

Tip four. How to shop economically?

• Use the 72-hour rule: don’t buy right away, don’t be influenced by emotions.
• Buy food when you're fresh, when you're not too tired, so you'll buy less unhealthy stuff.
• It is more economical to buy groceries in a basket than in a shopping cart.
• Small children increase the cost of a trip to the store by 30%.
• Wholesale purchases at vegetable stores, in collaboration with someone, bonuses in the store, large packages, promotional sales of the desired product - use it.
• Always consider the cost per piece, not per package.
• Focus on prices.
• Freeze food in the fall. Eggplants, peppers, carrots, beets, and tomatoes are more delicious in the fall. Then they are easy to cook with and taste just as good as at the height of the season.

save up to 40% on purchases .

Should each family member have a personal budget?

Preferably yes. Drawing up a family budget taking into account the personal needs of its members will help maintain a comfortable psychological climate, because everyone will have the opportunity to spend a certain amount of money in their own way: on hobbies, gifts for loved ones, various “wants”. Children definitely need pocket money, even in small amounts, so that they learn how to handle it.

If the family budget is completely shared or individual, it is necessary to allocate fixed amounts per month for the personal needs of each family member. Their size must be discussed in advance.

When only part of the income goes to general needs, the issue is less acute - everyone has their own “stash.” Pocket money for children can be classified as a general family expense item.

Tip five. Saving on Everyday Habits

• Lead a healthy lifestyle and you will save on medications.
• Walk 5 km a day and you will not be overweight, and your complexion will improve significantly.
• Make healthy face masks from everyday ingredients.
• It is better to visit a dentist, gynecologist, therapist once every six months so that you do not miss diseases, and you will not need expensive medications, as well as dental treatment.
• Make gifts with your own hands, you can give flowers that you grew yourself, and you can pack everything yourself.
• Manicures and pedicures will last longer with proper care.
• Don't buy bags from the store. The package costs 10 rubles, you go to the store 10 times a month, so that’s 100 rubles, which is 1 kilogram of apples.
• When shopping, the price must be compared with the cost of your hour of work.
• Review communication tariffs for the whole family.
• Plan your weekend not only for going to paid events, but also prepare excursions to interesting places yourself, and promise your children a picnic in nature - everyone will be interested.
• Don't buy books. Enrolling in an electronic library will give you very big savings, for example, a subscription for a year costs about 2-3 thousand, and one book costs 300-400 rubles.

Daily habits will bring you a more organized approach to your money and time .

Initially, when you introduce new habits, the body resists a lot, and you may even feel tense and tired from it. You need to consciously approach the issue of saving, and accept what will ultimately bring you not only savings in money, but also benefits.

Try it, you will succeed! And then, it’s so interesting to manage your little home empire!

Content:

• What is a family budget?
• Why is it worth doing financial planning in the family?
• Types and methods of maintaining a family budget, their pros and cons
• Mixed
• Separated
• Sole

How to properly manage a family budget: final checklist

1. Reach an agreement on the type of budget and distribution scheme with all family members, explain the importance of the process.
2. Set financial goals that are adequate to the amount of income and the time frame for achieving them.
3. Appoint a person who will be responsible for the “chief accountant” function and determine the accounting method: manual entries, maintaining a table, using a special program or application.
4. Regularly and in detail record income and expenses, especially in the first months of budgeting - this will help you competently conduct financial planning, adjust limits and goals.
5. Taking into account the information received, decide how to distribute the family budget. Make an income and spending plan for the next month, as well as the quarter and half a year.
6. Be sure to compare plans and reality, evaluate whether income and expenses match. If you go into the red, you need to find out the reason.
7. Determine how you can save and earn more.
8. Discuss with your family the adopted financial tactics and, if necessary, options for changing the type of budget and money distribution scheme.

A significant part of Russian families do not keep a budget, and in vain. This allows you to establish financial stability and solve your problems. Systematizing expenses and income is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to agree on whether the budget will be shared in whole or in part, choose common financial goals and regularly monitor cash flows.

Self-care - can you save money?

An increased level of spending on appearance is most often relevant for women. You shouldn’t forget about your appearance, but it’s quite possible to save money on this procedure. For example, a private hairdresser who works from home will serve you no worse than in an elite hairdresser. And the quality of work from such masters is often better than in institutions of a similar profile. The savings are obvious - the private owner does not pay rent and the tax burden on him is lower. All this directly affects the cost of hairdresser services.

Nail care can also put a strain on your budget. An ordinary person can rarely evaluate the quality of gel polish applied to nails. For such a service in a beauty salon you will need to pay more than one thousand rubles. It is much easier and cheaper to organize your own nail care.

We also advise you to pay attention to the advisability of all kinds of “rejuvenating” procedures - lifting, massage, solarium, etc. Explore alternative, perhaps more effective, rejuvenation techniques. Eliminate frankly harmful foods from your diet (sausages, sweets, canned food, fatty foods) and you will look younger without additional burden on the family budget.

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