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The Fashionable Housewife

The Fashionable Housewife

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3 Budget Hacks for Frugal Families

Modified on April 29, 2018 at 6:10 PM

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3 Budget Hacks for Frugal Families

Now that parents can expect to spend $233,610 raising a child, it has never been more expensive to start a family. Itโ€™s easy to see why so many parents struggle to save money โ€” especially if they have more than one child. Between food, clothing, toys, and education, things add up. Sometimes, itโ€™s enough to put your budget in disarray. If youโ€™re one of the many parents wrestling with their household budgets, here are some budget hacks to keep your frugal family out of the red.

1. Organize Meal Times

A familyโ€™s grocery bill can be one of the biggest expenses in its budget, next to rent or mortgage payments. According to USA Today, feeding a family of four can cost anywhere from $146 to $289 each week. If you want to reduce your costs to reflect the low end of this spectrum, consider organizing the way you handle food.

Our favorite budget hack is meal planning. You’ll quickly find that a meal plan is an important tool for any frugal family. By using a meal plan, youโ€™ll know exactly what your familyโ€™s eating each day of the week. It can help you avoid using not knowing whatโ€™s for dinner as an excuse to use the drive-thru. Websites like eMeals and Food on the Table can help you choose simple recipes that can save both time and money. You can also check out our curated Favorite Recipes board on Pinterest for some great recipes.

dining table

Once you decide what your family will be eating, display the list on the fridge so your family will know what to expect and you can stay organized. Download and print our FREE weekly meal planner printable below!

Click here to download the FREE PDF file for the below Weekly Meal Planner

or click on the image to download the JPG.

This Week We Will Eat

Click here to download the FREE PDF file for the below Weekly Meal Planner

or click on the image to download the JPG.

This Week We Will Eat

 

We will add more free printables for you soon. Please click here to see all of our free printables.

2. Have a Plan B

It may feel like youโ€™re putting out one financial fire after the next when youโ€™re raising a young family. Between unexpected school costs and back-to-school shopping to unforeseen medical bills and household repairs, family life can drain any savings you manage to put aside. You need to have a backup plan in case youโ€™re stuck with another bill or repair when your savings are depleted.

Many parents go online to borrow money when theyโ€™re facing similar issues. The online borrowing experience is a great alternative to traditional banking for many busy parents. They donโ€™t have to take time out of their day to visit a brick-and-mortar location during specific office hours. Instead, you can apply for cash loans whenever is convenient by using a lenderโ€™s online application. If approved, you can have the cash you need within the next business day.

money dollar bill

3. Buy Second Hand

Thereโ€™s a thriving second-hand market for virtually anything your family needs, and you can tap into the used economy by adding apps like ThredUp and Varagesale onto your phone. These apps (and apps like them) provide a digital community for parents looking to buy or sell used items. Much like any online store, you can scroll through the available items according to category and price. These platforms also make it easy to add your own used items for sale. You can price old clothes, toys, and other things theyโ€™ve outgrown to sell quickly and use the proceeds to fund the next must-have for your kid.

Raising a family is an expensive responsibility, but it doesnโ€™t have to doom your finances. If you follow these 3 budget hacks to keep your expenses low, you can raise a happy and healthy family without going broke.

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Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on April 29, 2018 at 6:10 PM
Filed Under: Finances, Home Life, Printables
Tagged With: budget friendly, budget hacks, expenses, food budget, free printables, frugal living, meal planning, meal plans, printables, Recipes

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

Disclaimer

The Fashionable Housewife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for blogs and websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We alsoย participateย in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission on purchases made through our links. There is no extra cost to you! For more info, please see our Disclosure & Privacy Policy.

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Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! Iโ€™m Sarah-Jean. Iโ€™m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

I enjoy homesteading, reading, writing, cooking, baking, crafting, home decorating, Xtend Barre, and of course,ย fashion!

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Work from home? You need @flexispot_official The Work from home? You need @flexispot_official 

Their standing desk and exercise chair is a GAME CHANGER!! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

Whether you have a laptop or a desktop pc, being able to adjust your desk at the push of a button and stand for a while is absolutely essential to working long hours at a computer. 

This bicycle chair is designed specifically for this desk and a great way to keep your body moving. You could also use an under desk treadmill like @superun_fitness for even more flexibility! ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿผ

Just because you have to work at a desk all day doesnโ€™t mean you need to be out of shape. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

Motherhood and working from home is hard. FLEXISPOT makes it easier. 

Check out my blog and search โ€œFLEXISPOTโ€ for more info!!

Comment and tell me how many hours a day you spend sitting! Be honest! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #workfromhome #athomeworkouts #athomefitness #fitmoms #fitmomsofig
If putting up your Christmas tree brings you joy, If putting up your Christmas tree brings you joy, go for it!! 

Our new @kingofchristmas 7.5' Queen Flockยฎ Artificial Christmas Tree is absolutely amazing! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

The kids couldnโ€™t be happier so I have no regrets putting our tree up before Thanksgiving. ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ’๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

Follow my shop @fashionablewife on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!

#liketkit #LTKSeasonal #LTKHolidaySale #LTKHoliday #kingofchristmas 
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https://liketk.it/4n9gW
Loving our new 5 bin storage unit for the playroom Loving our new 5 bin storage unit for the playroom from @guidecraft_official !!

The bins hold a surprising amount and I love how solid and sturdy this is. Perfect for organizing toys at kid eye level. Itโ€™s also great for seasonal home decor! ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚

Whatโ€™s your favorite piece of furniture in your house?! 

Tell me in the comments! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

#homedecor #momlife #homeorganization #playroomorganization #playroomdecor #homedecorideas #fallhomedecor
An often-overlooked element to planning your perfe An often-overlooked element to planning your perfect hiking outfit is finding the perfectย minimalist backpack! 

You donโ€™t want to be weighed down by an oversized, clunky backpack that boasts all the bells and whistles but delivers nothing more than unnecessary muscle strain. You want a backpack that is minimal on the outside, functional on the inside, and sustainable all around. Waxed canvas is always a top choice for me!

Iโ€™m obsessed with this backpack from @hellodayowls ๐Ÿ˜

It has that perfect boho minimalist look that I love, in the perfect color for fall. This has become my go-to handbag for autumn. 

Perfect for all our outdoor adventures, hiking in the mountains, exploring the woods with my kids, and everything motherhood throws at me! ๐Ÿฅพ ๐Ÿง—๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ ๐ŸŒฒ 

Learn more about this bag on my blog ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿป

#backpacking #outdoorfashion #wildandfreemama #mountainmama #motherhoodjourney #minimalfashion
I miss summer already ๐Ÿ˜ญ Take me back to a bett I miss summer already ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Take me back to a better place ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿป summer time at @storylandnh !! ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t wait to go again next year! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿปโœจ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

#summertime #familytime #familyadventures #motherhoodunplugged #childhoodunplugged
What they remember about their childhood is in you What they remember about their childhood is in your hands ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿป

#motherhood #motherhoodrising #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodintheraw
This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t believe my oldest son is 13 and outside helping dad do home projects like building a new deck. ๐Ÿคฏ Seems like yesterday he was in his walker on this back deck and it looked a lot better ๐Ÿ˜‚

Thankful that @homedepot has great prices so we could finally afford to do this home reno project! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐ŸŽ‰

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #hereisourhomeschool #motherhoodthroughinstagram
My first born son turned 13 years old today. ๐Ÿ˜ฑ My first born son turned 13 years old today. ๐Ÿ˜ฑ

Somebody hold me. ๐Ÿ˜ญ

I asked him if he could stay 12 for one more year but he didnโ€™t like that idea. ๐Ÿ˜’ Was worth a shot, right? 

Scroll for the outtakes ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

This kid blows me away daily and makes me so proud to be his mom. I donโ€™t have enough words to describe how much I love this child. ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Drop a comment and wish this boy a happy birthday! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‚ 

#homeschoollife #homeschoolfamily #momlife #momlifeunfiltered #momlifeunplugged
Being a mom is hard. Being a mom and trying to sta Being a mom is hard. Being a mom and trying to stay healthy and fit is harder. ๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿฅต

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Their primary focus revolves around offering hormonal support, a vital consideration given the prevalence of endocrine-disrupting compounds in today's world, although their scope extends beyond this singular realm. ๐ŸŒฑ 

I'm genuinely enthused about the prospect of trying out their products, eagerly anticipating the chance to personally experience the transformative effects of these wellness herbs. The brothers' evident passion and expertise have left me intrigued and eager to embark on a journey towards total wellness, guided by the offerings of Lost Empire Herbs.

@lostempireherbs #lostempireherbs #holistichealth #holistichealing #holisticwellness #holisticlifestyle #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodjourney #motherhoodthroughinstagram #unleashthepowerofnature #rootingforyourhealth #hormonehealth @apexdropofficial

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Work from home? You need @flexispot_official The Work from home? You need @flexispot_official 

Their standing desk and exercise chair is a GAME CHANGER!! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

Whether you have a laptop or a desktop pc, being able to adjust your desk at the push of a button and stand for a while is absolutely essential to working long hours at a computer. 

This bicycle chair is designed specifically for this desk and a great way to keep your body moving. You could also use an under desk treadmill like @superun_fitness for even more flexibility! ๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿผ

Just because you have to work at a desk all day doesnโ€™t mean you need to be out of shape. ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‹๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

Motherhood and working from home is hard. FLEXISPOT makes it easier. 

Check out my blog and search โ€œFLEXISPOTโ€ for more info!!

Comment and tell me how many hours a day you spend sitting! Be honest! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #workfromhome #athomeworkouts #athomefitness #fitmoms #fitmomsofig
If putting up your Christmas tree brings you joy, If putting up your Christmas tree brings you joy, go for it!! 

Our new @kingofchristmas 7.5' Queen Flockยฎ Artificial Christmas Tree is absolutely amazing! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

The kids couldnโ€™t be happier so I have no regrets putting our tree up before Thanksgiving. ๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ’๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ

Follow my shop @fashionablewife on the @shop.LTK app to shop this post and get my exclusive app-only content!

#liketkit #LTKSeasonal #LTKHolidaySale #LTKHoliday #kingofchristmas 
@shop.ltk
https://liketk.it/4n9gW
Loving our new 5 bin storage unit for the playroom Loving our new 5 bin storage unit for the playroom from @guidecraft_official !!

The bins hold a surprising amount and I love how solid and sturdy this is. Perfect for organizing toys at kid eye level. Itโ€™s also great for seasonal home decor! ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ‚

Whatโ€™s your favorite piece of furniture in your house?! 

Tell me in the comments! ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป

#homedecor #momlife #homeorganization #playroomorganization #playroomdecor #homedecorideas #fallhomedecor
An often-overlooked element to planning your perfe An often-overlooked element to planning your perfect hiking outfit is finding the perfectย minimalist backpack! 

You donโ€™t want to be weighed down by an oversized, clunky backpack that boasts all the bells and whistles but delivers nothing more than unnecessary muscle strain. You want a backpack that is minimal on the outside, functional on the inside, and sustainable all around. Waxed canvas is always a top choice for me!

Iโ€™m obsessed with this backpack from @hellodayowls ๐Ÿ˜

It has that perfect boho minimalist look that I love, in the perfect color for fall. This has become my go-to handbag for autumn. 

Perfect for all our outdoor adventures, hiking in the mountains, exploring the woods with my kids, and everything motherhood throws at me! ๐Ÿฅพ ๐Ÿง—๐Ÿผโ€โ™€๏ธ ๐ŸŒฒ 

Learn more about this bag on my blog ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿป

#backpacking #outdoorfashion #wildandfreemama #mountainmama #motherhoodjourney #minimalfashion
I miss summer already ๐Ÿ˜ญ Take me back to a bett I miss summer already ๐Ÿ˜ญ

Take me back to a better place ๐Ÿ‘‰๐Ÿป summer time at @storylandnh !! ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t wait to go again next year! ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿปโœจ๐Ÿคธ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ

#summertime #familytime #familyadventures #motherhoodunplugged #childhoodunplugged
What they remember about their childhood is in you What they remember about their childhood is in your hands ๐Ÿซถ๐Ÿป

#motherhood #motherhoodrising #motherhoodunplugged #motherhoodthroughinstagram #motherhoodintheraw
This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. This is what our homeschool looks like sometimes. ๐Ÿฅณ

Canโ€™t believe my oldest son is 13 and outside helping dad do home projects like building a new deck. ๐Ÿคฏ Seems like yesterday he was in his walker on this back deck and it looked a lot better ๐Ÿ˜‚

Thankful that @homedepot has great prices so we could finally afford to do this home reno project! ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿป๐ŸŽ‰

#motherhood #motherhoodunplugged #hereisourhomeschool #motherhoodthroughinstagram
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