For most of our marriage we have lived on a small budget. When we were first married we worked for a Christian ministry and I was still working through my immigration and couldn’t work for nearly 6 months.
Once I was eligible, I worked for about 2 years until we had our daughter in 2015. We went down to one small income and we had to make a lot of adjustments to afford for me to stay home.
We have now been parents for nearly 6 years! We just had our 4th baby and have had our income go up and down over the years.
Cost of Raising Kids
According to this article it says,
The USDA figure for a middle-income couple raising a child to adulthood equals out to nearly $13,000 a year, or $1,081 per month.
There is no way that it costs our family nearly that much to raise one child, let alone four of them!
There are many ways to save money while raising a family. Here are some of the things we have done over the years as our family has grown.
1. Shop Second-Hand
I know every family’s situation is different but we have access to many second-hand clothing stores here. One of the best is Once Upon a Child. I have been able to find fall/winter jackets for $8 that look brand new. Dresses for $4-8, and tops for $3-4. I don’t typically find their shoe selection very good as kids tend to destroy them so fast.
We have used Facebook Marketplace to shop for a bunk bed that we scored for $75 and two free kids bikes as well as other items.
2. Driving One Car
For 6 years of marriage and 4 years with children we only had one car. This saved us a ton of money. We always purchase our cars with cash so we never have payments, but it saved on insurance and cut down on extra gas costs that come with having “freedom”.
If I needed the car I just drove my husband to work and picked him up.
I will say there were definitely days that were challenging that I wished I had my own vehicle. But, as a stay at home mom on a budget, we weren’t running around to various places all day. We spent most of our days at home and going for walks.
3. Learn How to Cut Your Family’s Hair
When my husband and I were dating, his sister taught me how to cut his hair and I have been doing it ever since.
Most men need a trim every 2-4 weeks to keep it looking neat. Depending on where you go this could cost $10-$30 or more every time. And that’s not in our budget.
We have had girls for 6 years. For my oldest, I just let her hair grow and didn’t even trim it until she was closer to 3. My second daughter’s hair was a bit different and I cut her bangs at 15 months old. My third has very curly hair and it’ll be a long time before I need to cut it.
We just welcomed our first son and when the time comes, I’ll cut his hair too!
4. Look Into Scholarships
I discovered last year that even preschools and dance studios offer scholarship opportunities. We were blessed to receive a partial scholarship for our middle daughter to attend preschool this school year.
Many camps and kids programs also offer full or partial scholarships, you just need to ask!
The YMCA also offers financial Assistance with a reduced monthly cost.
In North Carolina there is The NC Opportunity Scholarship. It’s a program that if accepted and given the scholarship, it may be used for your child to attend a non-public school (on their list of participating schools). The full scholarship amount for 2021 is $4,200. For some schools this may cover the cost or possibly half the cost of the tuition.
So if there is something you’d like your child to participate in, reach out and ask if there is a scholarship or financial aid!
5. Shop at the Dollar Store
We typically buy crafting supplies, gift bags and cards! The Dollar Tree is a true dollar store where everything really is $1 or less. They have a good selection of kids crafting stuff that keep our girls busy! It’s also great for Easter baskets and stocking stuffers.
These are some of the ways we save money while raising our children. For ways we save on groceries, click here! I hope it helps!
