How To Create A Family Budget

Be Open With The Whole Family

You might think that it’s best to hide financial matters from your kids but actually being open and honest about your finances can help you raise financially savvy children. Of course you don’t want to overwhelm your children with every detail of your financial situation but there is nothing wrong with including them in the budget process.

Have a Family Meeting

Set up a family meeting to discuss the budget. If you’ve never done a family meeting before, this is a good place to start. Money isn’t always a fun topic but your spouse and children will be happy to be included. Maybe you give the kids a few bucks a month in the budget for ice cream night.

It Affects Everyone

Be open and honest about how the family finances affect everyone in the household. Explain how your family finances affect everyone in the household. Be clear and specific, citing fees, tuition, allowances, groceries, etc. and how they all cost money. You don’t have to lecture the family but you also don’t want to sugar coat anything.

Cutting Back

If the budget involves cutting back, it’s probably a good idea to cut back in areas that affect the whole family rather than just one member. Maybe let everyone know that you are cutting costs 5% across the board or whatever % you’ve came up with.

Set Goals Together

When you’re looking at areas to cut back, get the whole family involved. Ask for opinions. Maybe no-one in the family has watched Netflix in the last six months and everyone is an agreement it can be cut. Try to consider everyone’s wishes and set realistic budgets. You can’t always make everyone happy but you can at least work as a team.

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Did you know that making your own bread is actually cheaper and healthier than buying store bread? Now I know you’re probably thinking that it takes time to mix, knead, let it rise and bake the bread. But with a bread machine, you can make home-baked breads quickly and easily and have the added advantage of making each loaf a healthy addition to your diet.

A bread machine allows you to skip the mixing and kneading. Even better, if you own one of the newer bread machines, there is a dough cycle which makes an even easier process. New bread machines even have dough cycles which stop the dough from processing after the first cycle of rising. You can then form the dough into shapes such as rolls, pizza crust or baguette loaves.

On a gluten-free diet? Not to worry, there are bread machines with gluten-free menu settings! You can use gluten free and organic baking ingredients that you couldn’t use with older models of bread machines.

You’ll also love the quick baking options which allows you to have hot bread in less than a couple of hours!

Now, bread machines do everything for you except slicing and eating it and in such a limited amount of time that you’ll be amazed. Bread machines are versatile, too. They’re not just for bread anymore.

I’m sure you can see how a bread machine would save you a lot of money compared to buying store bought sandwich bread but let’s step it up a bit!

You can also make homemade french bread. One of my favorite things to do is to infuse my bread with healthy herbs and spices. Add some garlic & freshly chopped rosemary to your bread. It goes great with pasta dishes!

You’ll also be saving money by using a bread machine. The cost of healthy loaves of bread in a supermarket has skyrocketed in the past few years and it seems the taste has deteriorated.

You’ll now be able to give your family healthy sandwiches and other baked bread with very little work on your part! Seriously, does it get any better than that?

Keep in mind that there are expensive models and less expensive models on the market. You’ll need to decide what is best for your family. Also, make sure to grab a good cookbook for bread machine recipes!

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Don’t get me wrong there is a part of me that wishes I could buy my kids everything their little heart desired but would that really benefit them? I strongly believe that by not giving into their every desire is teaching some life-long financial lessons and my goal is to raise financially savvy kids. I have put together some tips for raising financially savvy kids and I hope it helps you out within your own home.

5 Tips for Raising Financially Savvy Kids

1. Talk about finances with them. I know a lot of people say kids shouldn’t worry about adult stresses and while I do agree, I think kids should also have a basic understanding of adult finances. Now this doesn’t mean you have to tell them that you’re struggling to pay the mortgage. However, you can let them watch you pay the bills or watch you budget for the month. You can also explain that you only have a certain amount to spend on groceries which is why they can’t have 5 boxes of fruit snacks. The goal here is to get the kids involved.

2. Help them set up a budget for their own money. When your kids get money for their birthday, Christmas, graduation or any other event help them set up a budget. We all know how it feels to get some extra money and feel like it’s burning a hole in our pocket. Don’t let this happen! Sit down with your kids and come up with a savings and spending budget for their money.

3. Make them save for items they want. Does your child want the latest toy or video game on the market? Great, make them save for it! Typically, I only buy my children toys and electronics at Christmas and birthdays. Outside of those two occasions, they have to save for any wants they have. Not only has this made my children appreciate the items more but it has taught them the value of a dollar. Sometimes, I will have them save up for the whole item and other times I will pay for half.

4. Help your children set up a bank account. One of the best things I have ever done with my children is having THEM set up a bank account! They got to go through the process of being at the bank, setting up the account and depositing money into the account. One of my children is now 19-years-old and it’s awesome to see him pay his own bills, set up recurring payments and truly understand how to balance his money.

5. Teach them ways to earn money. Children are always going to have wants, as adults we always have wants but we have to find a way to pay for those wants. Teach your children age appropriate ways to earn some money. Even young children can earn some extra money by making and selling crafts, doing yard work, babysitting, chores or anything else they can think of.

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If you enjoyed this post on tips for raising financially savvy kids, make sure to check out my other posts!

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Along with all the emotions, you’re surely feeling, there also comes a wave of expenses. There are all the extra activities and dances seniors have to take part in and the portraits and cap and gown. After the expenses throughout the year, it may seem a bit daunting to have to think about planning and paying for the graduation party. But, there are several ways to save money on a high school graduation party. All it takes is a little planning and you can have the perfect party for a fraction of the cost!

After the expenses throughout the year, it may seem a bit daunting to have to think about planning and paying for the graduation party. But, there are several ways to save money on a high school graduation party. All it takes is a little planning and you can have the perfect party for a fraction of the cost!

How to Save Money On A High School Graduation Party

Party Invitations

The first thing to consider when starting to plan a graduation party is the invitations. While it may seem nice to send out paper invitations, this is expensive and in this digital age, isn’t necessary. Create an event on Facebook or, if you want to be a bit more traditional, send email invitations. There are several websites that offer beautiful and unique invitations for a minimal cost or even free. Most people don’t need anything more than an email, anyways. And if you have older relatives who aren’t online as much, a few handwritten invitations are still less expensive than the vast amount you would have to send otherwise.

Scale the Guest List

While this may not seem like a hugely popular idea, one way of cutting back costs is to limit the guest list. It’s very important to have those who mean the most to you and your new graduate with you on this important day, but you shouldn’t feel pressured to invite everyone. Family members and a few close friends will make the day just as special and provide an intimacy that larger groups lack.

Do You Really Need To Rent A Venue?

If you have a home that can fit the size of the group you’re inviting, opt out of renting a restaurant or hall and just have the party at your place. Or, if you have a family member or friend who have a good space, ask to use their home. This will cut back on huge costs and, with a few tweaks and decorations, it will be just as memorable. If your group is too large for a home party, look at local churches who might rent out their halls. These are usually much cheaper than other venues.

It’s All About The Food

Now that you have a guest list and venue, it’s time to start thinking about food. If you have the time and ability, consider making most of the food yourself. Look for sales at your local grocery store and start stocking up long before the party. If you have family or friends who can cook or bake and are willing to help, commission a few main dishes from them. Not only will this make it much cheaper for you, but home cooked food is always better. And this doesn’t just go for the main dishes. If you know someone who can bake and decorate well, ask them to do a cake or cupcakes for you. Paying a friend to help will be much cheaper than catering or ordering a cake.

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Meal planning is the process of picking what meals you’ll be eating for the next few days or even a week in advance. It involves making a list of what you’ll be wanting to cook for each meal and what ingredients will be needed for those meals. This means that you’ll only need to shop once during that time and you’ll already know exactly what you’re going to make.

How Meal Planning Saves You Time and Money

Meal planning saves a huge amount of time. You’ll no longer have to run to the grocery store several times a week, which can eat up time, especially if you have to drag your kids along for each trip. And, all those hours spent standing in front of an open fridge wondering what you’ll make? You don’t have to worry about that anymore, because as soon as it’s time to eat, all you have to do is look at your pre-planned menu and pull out your pre-bought ingredients.

This time-saving isn’t just for those with families, either. No matter what the amount you’re cooking, planning your meals out will save you just as much time. Meal planning works perfectly, especially if there are leftovers. They can be packed up for used for lunches or even be eaten at a later meal.

Not only does meal planning save time, it also saves money. By knowing exactly what you need, you won’t be buying extras or unnecessary items. When people grocery shop without a very specific list, they tend to grab more food than they need, some of which they won’t even use. Meal planning encourages looking at what you already have in your pantry, so you’re only purchasing the things you’re missing. When you take the time to really think it through, you actually have more food than you realize.

Meal planning also saves you from a bunch of stress. Organization can bring relief to an otherwise chaotic life. Meal planning is a way of creating a system, which will order your life in a whole new way. You’ll feel less worried about what you’ll be eating and what you’ll be spending on that food. And knowing those two things makes the rest of the stresses of the world seem just a little bit less.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out my weekly meal plans.

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There are quite literally hundreds of scholarship programs. And, as mentioned above, not all are based on grades or educational accomplishments. There are scholarships for athletics, religion, race, gender, and family situations. The first thing to do when looking for one of these scholarships is to make a list of your own personal accomplishments and reasons you might deserve a scholarship. This will help give you a clearer path on your journey to find a college scholarship.

How to Find College Scholarships

Once you know that you can qualify for several different types of scholarships, you need to begin looking. While most students searching for scholarships immediately go online and start applying for larger ones, there is an easier way. Start in your own town. Looking locally will cut your competition down dramatically. And there are hundreds of businesses who offer scholarships for people from their hometown to support learning.

Look at the businesses or companies your parents work at and see if they offer employee scholarships. Then, visit your local government office and ask for a list of scholarships offered in the area. They should be able to help you find hundreds or even thousands of dollars for school. Larger companies also offer scholarships. Organizations like Walmart and McDonalds might offer money to worthy students who qualify or are willing to intern for a summer or so.

Finding college scholarships isn’t hard! #teens #college
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If you’re a minority, there are thousands of scholarship opportunities for you. Unfortunately, many students don’t realize that being a minority doesn’t just include being a racial minority, though there are several scholarships for racial minorities. If you’re female, homosexual, bisexual, or transgendered, you are considered a minority. You can find these scholarships offered by states, companies, charities, and even by the federal government.

Scholarships are also offered for what degree you’re going to be working towards in college. These are typically offered by the colleges themselves and a simple phone call to the establishment you hope to attend will provide you with all the information you need. No matter what your grades look like or what you’re planning to study, there are more than likely scholarships available.

A large majority of schools also offer money for those in certain stages of their college career. So, whether you’re an undergraduate freshman or you’re going into your PhD, there might be money available to you. These can be found by speaking to an advisor at the school or online. Look up your focus of study and what year you are online, and you should find several results that will help lower the cost of your education.

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Resources: Ultimate Scholarship Book 2016

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Hosting a football party can be extremely expensive! The costs of drinks and food can really add up fast.

Hosting a football party doesn’t have to be expensive in fact, you can have a football party on a budget.

How to Host a Football Party on a Budget

BOYD – Let your guests know that your party will be BOYD (Bring Your Own Drink). You can of course offer water, soda or juice but any alcoholic beverages can be brought by the guests. Not serving alcohol can save you a ton of money! The costs of alcohol can quickly add up, not to mention you never know what type of beer your guests enjoy.

Pot Luck – When I think of football parties I think of lots of yummy appetizers. Thankfully, appetizers are more affordable than a full-course meal. However, if you’re offering several different appetizers then your costs will go up. In the past, I’ve asked each guest to bring an appetizer dish. Not only has this saved me money but it’s so much fun to try all the different dishes. You never know what someone might show up with!

Split the Costs – If you are set on serving alcohol and not asking your guests to bring a dish, then split the costs. Maybe you have a close friend or a neighbor that would be interested in hosting a joint football party. If so tag team the planning, cooking and costs.

Plan In Advance – The great thing about planning in advance is you can score some great deals on football-themed food! Watching for sales at your grocery store and pick up items as they are marked down. You might also want to consider using coupons to score some great deals! You should also keep a detailed list of what you’ll be serving and what items you need to purchase. This will help you stay on budget and make sure you’re not buying stuff you really don’t need.

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I’m not a stickler when it comes to healthy eating, but I do want a little control over what they eat every day.

Packing a lunch for three children isn’t always the most affordable option. However, I find when I pack their lunch, they come home less hungry. Below you will find 5 kid lunch ideas that will keep the kids happy and the budget in tact!

Below you will find some kid lunch ideas that will keep the kids happy and the budget in tact!

Budget Friendly School Lunch Ideas

1. Baby Carrots – I can purchase a large back of baby carrots at the grocery store for about a buck. A large back of baby carrots will last my three kids about 2 weeks, making this a great option for school lunches. Sometimes I will even send them with a dipping sauce. My kid’s love ranch so that’s always a great choice.

2. Raisins – Such a healthy snack that most kids will enjoy! Not to mention raisins are very affordable.

3. String Cheese – A bag of 12 to 16 string cheese sticks will normally cost me about $3.99. This lunchbox snack idea comes in at under 25 cents a serving! If you have some salami or lunchmeat, add that in there too!

4. Mio – Most days my kids get plain old water with their school lunch. However, for the now and then treat I will add a couple drops of Mio to their water. I end up spending pennies instead of buying juice boxes.

5. Apples – My local grocery store sales pre-sliced apples with a dipping sauce. This is a great snack option but each package costs me about $1.50…times this by 3 kids and I’ve blown my budget for the week! I cut up my own apple slices and give them a yogurt or caramel dipping sauce.

6. Eggs – Hardboiled eggs are a great school snack idea and it’s packed with protein! I did quickly learn that I had to send the eggs already peeled or else the kids didn’t eat them. Since they have a pretty limited time at lunch, they don’t want to spend time peeling them.

7. Granola – Something sweet is always appreciated by the kids but I don’t like sending candy in their lunch. I recently found a yummy granola that has chunks of dark chocolate in it. The kids go crazy for it! I love that it’s still a pretty healthy snack option.

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Additional Resources:

• Bento Boxes
• Plastic Containers for Lunch Boxes

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