This question comes from Amy:
I have an outside my home job that requires 40 to 50 hours per week. I try very hard to save money. We use coupons, cook at home (most of the time) and various other things to save money. I would like to hear from other moms who work outside their home on how they get it done.
I rarely have time to go to the store more than once every couple weeks, so I can’t really plan around sales. I try to go to Walgreens over my lunch hours, but I would like to know if anyone else has tips for how they get in on the deals and stay organized enough to cook dinner every night. Thank you! -Amy
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I wish I had ideas for the original questioner. However, as a older mom, the comments about working/nonworking moms have been interesting. I was a young mom when womens lib came crashing into our existance and mothers everywhere were put to shame for staying home and being slaves to hearth and home!!! We were hit hard with tv, magazines and books who jumped on that bandwagon. Talk about guilt. For years my generation struggled to have “it all” because women in the know told us we could/should!! Many, many arguments ensued between couples, use of antidepressants increased and divorce began its ascent. I guess what I am saying is to examine yourself, communicate with your husband as to the goals the two of you would set for your family and do your best to stay on track. There will always be naysayers. Every six months or a year, revisit your goals and never hesitate to change course if need be. Childhood is short and life is fluid, so be open to change if it is necessary. It may be interesting to talk to your grandmothers about that time in their lives. May God bless each of you on this most difficult and rewarding journey.
@nanasewn,
I just have to thank you so much for your comment. I needed to hear it today, as it’s been a challenging one.
@nanasewn, WOW! Thats a fantastic comment. Thank You
I have a few tricks for you. Keep your coupons in a binder in catergories in the clear baseball card sleeves. A little work at first getting it together, just update each week when cut out coupons. Keep this with you in case you have a chance to stop on way home or at lunch. Plus real easy to check to see if you have that coupon.
When cooking make an extra serving or two and freeze. The days I was to tired or busy to cook everyone gets to pick out what they want and make sides.
Mix and cook up a big batch of taco meat and freeze in smaller portions. This can be taken out in morning to thaw and then that evening you can have tacos, taco salad, enchiladas, taco soup, whatever.
I have a few tricks for you. Keep your coupons in a binder in catergories in the clear baseball card sleeves. A little work at first getting it together, just update each week when cut out coupons. Keep this with you in case you have a chance to stop on way home or at lunch. Plus real easy to check to see if you have that coupon.
When cooking make an extra serving or two and freeze. The days I was to tired or busy to cook everyone gets to pick out what they want and make sides.
Mix and cook up a big batch of taco meat and freeze in smaller portions. This can be taken out in morning to thaw and then that evening you can have tacos, taco salad, enchiladas, taco soup, whatever
I know the struggles of working and keeping up with a family. I am finishing my degree now instead of working and this job of staying home, balancing school and such. I find staying home harder. Most husbands and others think you have all this free time and no longer help out which makes it harder. I think you can do great no matter what. Stay at home moms have their issues and so do working ones. We should work together. We all have something great to bring to the table. Just organize. Thats the key
I’ve read some great ideas here! I think the main goal/reason for saving is to live within your means. Sit down with your husband and work out a realistic budget. Maybe with your work schedule, it’s not possible to cut back very much on the groceries – but you might find other places you can. For instance, maybe with busy schedules, you don’t watch much TV and could switch from cable to netflix. This is just an example – a budget must be tailored to your family’s needs. I would love to cut the cable; unfortunately, my husband is a sports fan and we have not found a way for him to get sprrts without at least basic cable. There are budget guidelines out there, but remember that they are only guides; the main thing is that your expenses be less than your income. My husband actually does some budget counseling, and he believes people can make a budget work no matter what the income level. They can also blow the budget, no matter what the income level. It’s all about being aware of what’s coming in and going out, and not fall into debt. Don’t stress about every dollar you “could” save – just find a way to live within your means and feel good about that!
I just wanted to say this is probably the best post I have ever read on this blog. So many of these “money saving” blogs are directed toward SAHMs because these blogs are usually written by SAHMs. But I have found that if you are leading a different type of lifestyle – ie, working mom, single, etc – it is hard to incorporate many of these suggestions and ideas into your life because they are not practical.
Thank you for posting something that reaches out to others in different situations!!
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