As a single twenty something recent graduate, I was
committed to spending money; whether the cash was spent on buying new
extensions, shoes, attending the latest events or traveling; budgeting was out
of sight and definitely out of mind; along with the idea of paying off my
school debt.
When I became pregnant, the
things that I considered luxuries were replaced by new things. Nothing tests
your desire to spend like having a child, because now everything is a must
have. My daughter must have six different diaper bags, cute pink sun shades, a Dora
blow up toy, 25 sing-a- long cds (she is two and have only listened to one), and
God forbid, I would never let my kid wear hand me downs, are you kidding me?
As Adaya got older, I realized how my luxury spending now became
necessities; “I have to buy her fast food everyday because I am too tired to
cook a meal” $$ can you hear the money adding up? Well I heard it but
definitely ignored for quite awhile until broke met baby!
There are plenty
reasons why people make the decision to live a more frugal life, my reason was
not a choice and believe me it surely was not welcomed. The first frugal living decision I had to
make was hard but I had to be able to identify wants and needs. Only spend on what matters.
Today, I consider myself to be fairly frugal and to be
honest, I think I take it too far and cross into the realm of cheap! For
example, I have a pair of black shoes that I got about three months ago that
were $35.00 and they are busted! I know they are busted, I can see it, people
comment on it every day, yet I won’t invest in a new pair; mainly because it’s
a shoe and in my mind it really doesn’t matter!
Now, I am not suggesting that you live a pauper life like this, however
I would suggest as a mother, father or family with kids (especially the younger
ones) it is important to take on a more frugal lifestyle.
Frugal Living is not suppressive! In fact it is the complete
opposite. Here are a few ways that you can live a more frugal life:
· Track
Your Spending and I mean everything. See where you can cut back and find
ways to eliminate unnecessary spending
·
Attack
Your Debt easier said than done right? Nope. Take it from me, it’s much
more rewarding to pay off your car loan than to have $800.00 in your bank
account and have bill collectors calling.
·
Buy in
Bulk. My parents together have six kids, so it was necessary that they
purchase things in bulk. From toilet tissue to snacks and even kool-aid, every
couple months, we would get a shipment. Learning from my mom, I found the
saving sense in bulk buying. Not only are you saving lots of money, but you
also eliminate the hassle of going to the food store every week! For you new
moms, I am sure you understand the importance of this.
·
Think about
Why You Buy. Every parent wants the best for their child. But are what we
considering “the best” really necessary?
When I had to return to work from maternity leave, in selecting a school
for Adaya I wanted the best. In my mind, the best meant more money. That being
said we opted for a nursery that was said to be “one of the best” on the
island, four days into nursery, $745.00 spent (uniform, registration, seat fee,
and a month of care) Adaya got really
sick and had a diaper rash that was so bad she lost skin! So much for “the
best”. Needless to say, I have learnt my lesson. Big bucks don’t always mean
the best.
Frugal living means spending considerably less than what you
earn, which equates to unlimited opportunity for saving, creating memories and
following your dreams. My tip to all parents and families, spend when needed
and enjoy the best that life has to offer; most of which are free!
Written By
Ms. Worrell
Ms. Worell is a freelance Public Relations & Creative Guru, blogger, and JazzyMOM. Born and bred in Nassau, Bahamas, studied International Business and Marketing at Saint Leo University,Tampa Florida and is now completing her MBA. She has one little princess buttercup that has made her life complex, entertaining and most of all AMAZING! She loves makeup, fashion, hair (particularly extensions), blogging,and all things girlie!
Visit her blog at: http://annisbuble.blogspot.com
Twitter Handle: @annisbubble
Instagram: annisbubble
Instagram: annisbubble
9 comments:
Miss Worell,
Thank you for your post. If we are honest, we can all confess to having 'to cut back on our spending' after becoming mothers. One time ago I used to go to the hairdresser every two weeks. Now I am my own 'kitchen beautician'. I totally related to this post.
Tiffany
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for your comments. Agreed, it seems as if we have all been there and done that! Sometimes the alternative living isn't so bad and I am sure the kitchen beautician final products have been amazing!
Keiani (Anni)
Great information. It is hard saying no to your kids but it is very important to teach them at an early age that money doesn't grow on trees.
Very interesting article by your guest blogger, Ms Worrell. I am happy that she caught her spending in time regarding her Princess Cupcake. As my generation would say, YOU MUST SAVE FOR THE RAINY DAY. Even if she does not have any rainy days, she will soon realize that as Ms.Princess grows, so will the expenses. Ballet, costumes for the school plays, money for the birthday parties she will get invited too, money for no uniform day, money for the school fairs, money for the field trips and don't even mention braces for the teeth, tooth fairy money, Santa money and these are only few of the expenses before she becomes a teenager.
I am not going to mention education money.
Children prevents some of us from becoming millionaires, but I guess my generation would say - what's money compared to the joys children bring...........oh I almost forgot stress too!
Signed
Geneva Roberts
Tiffany's Mother
hi Keeks this is an awesome article be encouraged stay focused & be Blessed
They're super stretchy and the softest diaper I've felt. Nothing scratchy touching the baby, and since they stretch and fit comfortably snug no matter what, you never have a pile of left over diapers that don't fit him anymore, when they go up to a new size. They fit till the end, and they overlap each other in size rage so there are no weird periods of growth when he's an 'in-between' size.
@Christy Garret: Amen to that! That is what I was taught as a child and it sure worked for me!
Thanks for reading and be sure to stop by http://annisbubble.blogspot.com
@Geneva Roberts, Thank you for your comments and yes.. "your generation" is so much wiser! My mom constantly reminds me to prioritize and do what is needed first, everything else will come. Education is priority now ... Barney, Dora and Winnie will simply have to wait!
@Keith Worrell ( my dad :) ) thanks for the kind words! Love ya much.
I am very frugal and to be honest, almost borderline cheap. My husband would say the opposite. He calls me "Mrs. Tightest"...lol. I think when you become a mom, you realize the real value of money. You start thinking beyond today and yourself and start thinking long-term and for your family. I have several pairs of run down, beat-up looking shoes. I deserve to go out and go "shoe crazy", but I haven't and I won't until every pair bust. I am beyond living to impress others. I dress the part when necessary or when I feel like it. But in the meantime, the money I can spend on fancy shoes (or clothes) can go towards something way more valuable and important to my family than dressing to impress others whose opinion of me have absolutely no value. I do not have a mortgage as yet, but I am preparing for when that time does come.
Love this article. just getting frugal now after second child and marriage and wish I had started sooner....but better late than never.
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