As a large family it is so easy to spend lots of money. Today I’m going to share some tips and tricks I’ve learned to live frugally as a large family.
Because my husband is in seminary full time, our income is very limited. We live well below the poverty line, yet we still have everything we need. The Lord has been so kind to provide all these things and we have learned several ways to make our dollar go farther.
Tip #1 – Learn to cut your families hair
In our 21 years of marriage, my husband has never been to the barber. Before we got married my mother-in-law taught me how to cut his hair. As we have added boys and girls to our family, I have watched numerous YouTube videos and tutorials to learn how to cut their hair into the styles that they enjoy. By doing this I have saved our family hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars over the years.
Tip #2 – Stay off of social media
Facebook, Instagram, Tik-tok and all other social media platforms are consumerism traps. Their goal is to keep you online as long as possible, tempting you with all the products you’ve been wishing you had but don’t really need. In my own experience, I have found that when I spend much time on social media I start to doubt that what I have is sufficient. Then I start to covet the things I don’t have. I end up thinking I’m not doing something right and the grass is greener on the other side.
Of course, this is not true. By avoiding social media, I am not even aware of the things I think I “need” to be happy. Spending my time on better activities has made me more content and kept me from spending money on things that I don’t really need.
Tip #3 – Stay out of the store
My third tip to live frugally is to stay out of the store. Too often I find myself wandering around the store because I am bored. Usually the store is a thrift store which can be good and bad. Good because the prices are cheap so if I buy something I’m not spending a crazy amount of money. But bad because the prices are cheap. This makes it easier for me to justify buying something I don’t really need. If I can find better activities to spend my time on, I am less likely to spend money I don’t have.
Some of my families favorite things to do are to go to our local recreation center where we have a yearly pass. Here we can swim, play basketball, talk a walk or workout. We also like to visit all the different outdoor parks in our area. We often visit local lakes and ponds and enjoy frisbee golf. There are also various hiking trails throughout our city that we like to go to. Of course you can always invite some friends over for games and a BBQ too!
Tip #4 – Make a list and stick to it
When I do have to go to the store I make a list before I go and stick to my list. The items in the store are strategically placed to entice you to buy things you don’t have on your list. It’s so easy to see all the cute clothing for the season and think that the clothes we have aren’t good enough. Grocery pick-up has been a life saver for me. Not only can I add and take away products to fit in my budget but I can get everything I truly need without stepping foot inside the store.
I hope these tips to live frugally are helpful and encouraging for you! Thanks for stopping by!
Need some from scratch, frugal meals ideas? Try these delicious homemade dinner rolls!
Leave a Reply