{"id":15449,"date":"2024-09-03T03:34:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T09:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/?p=15449"},"modified":"2024-12-16T15:35:13","modified_gmt":"2024-12-16T21:35:13","slug":"7-ways-to-save-money-on-family-expenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discover.com\/online-banking\/banking-topics\/7-ways-to-save-money-on-family-expenses\/","title":{"rendered":"7 everyday budgeting tips for families"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Figuring out how to save money while raising a family<\/a> is no small feat. The average cost of raising a child born in 2015 through age 17 is $233,610, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture<\/a>. And that doesn\u2019t include paying for college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019ve got one child or a growing brood, it pays to consider ways to save money on family expenses. Check out these money-saving tips for families:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Focus on food costs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Figuring out how to save money while raising a family can seem difficult when your grocery bill is sky-high. Adding some structure into your family\u2019s eating habits and planning meals are two ways to save money on family expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"A<\/p>\n\n\n

Jessi Fearon, a financial coach, mom of three, and personal finance blogger, says she plans breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for her family weekly. She shops for groceries once a week, based on her meal plan, which includes salads and fresh vegetables. She also uses cash<\/a> for grocery shopping so there\u2019s no temptation to pick up extras. Giving yourself a cash limit can keep you from going over budget<\/a>, whereas it may be easier to overspend if you\u2019re swiping a debit or credit card instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re meal planning weekly, tailor your shopping list to what\u2019s on sale. Jennifer McDermott, a New York City-based consumer advocate with a personal finance comparison website, says your mobile device can be a way to save money on family expenses as you create your menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She recommends using an app that will aggregate sales flyers according to your zip code so you can search for the best deals. You can browse apps to see what\u2019s on sale and build your meal plan for the week or the month around those items. You can also search for apps that will allow you to take advantage of coupons after you\u2019ve paid for your groceries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll you do is buy the products on the list, snap a picture of your receipt and you\u2019ll get cash back in return,\u201d McDermott says. Some apps allow you to accumulate cash back in your account and once you hit a certain dollar amount, you can request a cash out payment, which is mailed to you as a check.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>