• Home
  • About
    • DISCLOSURE POLICY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
  • AMAZON STOREFRONT
  • MY LTK SHOP
  • Contact Us

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MeatballMom

  • FASHION
  • DECOR
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • HOLIDAYS
  • ETSY SHOP
  • SHOP
    • MY LTK SHOP
    • ETSY SHOP
    • AMAZON STOREFRONT
    • SHOP MY HOME FAVORITES
      • PANTRY
      • ENTRYWAY CLOSET
      • KITCHEN
      • LIVING ROOM
      • LINEN CLOSET
      • PATIO
      • BEDROOMS
      • BATHROOMS
      • HOME OFFICE
      • GUEST BEDROOM
  • Show Search
Hide Search

30+ Awesome Money Saving Tips SAHM’s will Love

As moms, between our Amazon Prime shopping sprees, trips to Target and Starbucks selfies, it’s easy to spend a little here and a little there. We convince ourselves “But we got such a great deal!” or “It was on sale!,”  but all these items add up.  Just filling up a tank of gas and one stop at Walgreens, and it’s easy to have spent $100 before noon! So, I’m here today to share some money saving tips you’ll love, especially if you’re a stay-at-home mom, like I am. 

 

hands-around-piggy-bank

You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you.” —Dave Ramsey

 

In many households both parents work.  They do so sometimes because they choose to, but often because they have to. 

They’ve committed to big car payments, and even bigger mortgages.  There are tuitions, kids activities, and family vacations.  

Being a stay-at-home mom can be viewed as a luxury, and for some it is. 

For my husband and me, it was important for us that I be able to stay home with our kids; but it wasn’t without sacrifice.

To name a few, we’ve created a budget; my husband and I talk about finances and don’t make big purchases without consulting each other.  We also utilize most of these money saving tips on a regular basis.

We sold my BMW and bought a sensible no-frills car which we share, and we don’t splurge on little luxuries like regularly buying coffee. 

And the twice a month trips that I used to make to the nail salon happen maybe once or twice a year now.  

If you’re a stay-at-home mom and don’t think you’re good at saving money or don’t know how to save money, these small and specific money saving tips can really help you save money (or even make a little), contributing to the financial health of  your family.

mom-dad-daughter-sitting-at-table-behind-piggy-bank

[post contains affiliate links; if you click-through and make a purchase, I may be compensated.]

 

Money saving tips as a Stay-at-Home Mom

 

Home/Budget Money Saving Tips

 

Budget:

While this doesn’t sound like fun, it’s often necessary.  Especially when you have kids, expenses can add up quickly.  

Make a budget with your spouse and stick to it.

This way, you’re both working as a team and on the same page with your finances. Budgets can help you see where you’re wasting money and help hold you accountable to stick to your plan.

 

Run appliances at night:

Running your dishwasher at night and tossing clothes in the dryer before bed may help reduce your utility bills. 

You can always check rates with your utility companies and see if off-peak hours are in the evening. 

 

Meal plan:

Meal plan for the week or month to make sure you don’t overspend at the grocery store or waste food.  Making the most of leftovers (using them or freezing them) can also help to stretch your grocery bill. 

Planning ahead will make you more efficient and set you up for having a great day or week ahead!

 

Utilize You Tube and Pinterest:

Watch YouTube for tutorials for how to fix or make things.  Pinterest is filled with DIY tips and ideas. You can save money by not paying for services that you can do yourself. 

I was able to learn how to take links out of a watch on a YouTube video, my dad was able to fix his iphone, and my mom figured how to keep her straw hat from blowing off (so she didn’t have to buy a new one.)

My sister also learned how to fix her own kitchen disposal from watching a video, thereby saving a call to the repairman.

Pinterest is a great resource, especially for Holiday and DIY ideas.  Last year, I used an idea I found on Pinterest to make my daughter’s Halloween costume instead of buying one.

 

Save on electricity:

Keep lights/appliances off in the home when not using them.  I used to roll my eyes at my parents for yelling “Turn the light off upstairs!” once we came downstairs to play or hang out.  Now that I’m an adult with my own family, I get it. 

 

Save water:

Keep the water off while brushing teeth. This simple action, especially in large families, can add up to a lot of savings.

 

mom-holding-coupons-and-money-with-bag-of-items

 

Utilize coupons:

Clip coupons in ads or use coupons in the store.  Also compare prices of items at the grocery store vs. drugstore, as the grocery store pricing is often cheaper.  Pro Tip: keep paper coupons in your car so you don’t forget them!

And shopping for gifts and everyday items,  I often compare store prices to Amazon prices. I  saved $10 on a book by purchasing it on Amazon instead of the department store where I initially  found it.  

 

Grocery list:

Make a list and stick to it when grocery shopping.  This will prevent overbuying or impulse buying, which is so easy to do in the grocery store with so many goodies staring at you while you stroll the aisles. 

 

Save plastic grocery bags:

We use these to line waste baskets in the bathrooms and other rooms of home so you don’t buy small trash bags. 

Before potty training, we used these plastic bags to tie up poopy diapers, too.

 

Grow an herb garden:

You can spend and waste a lot of money on fresh herbs. Parsley and basil are staples in our kitchen, so we keep them in potted plants on our patio and snip them when needed. 

 


 

 

Money Saving Auto Tips

Share a car:

Share a car (if feasible) with your spouse, or at least  keep your car longer if you own it.  My husband and I have shared a car for 4 years, saving money on the car payment and insurance which having a second car would cost.  This isn’t always easy, but it’s doable, with careful planning, communication, and some sacrifice.  On rare occasions when we both really need the car, he will catch an Uber.

 

Compare car insurance rates:

Every few years, compare the rates and coverage of different insurance companies for car insurance.  We did this and have saved hundreds of dollars a year. 

 

Save on gas:

Group your errands together so you save on gas instead of driving all over town.

 

 

Lifestyle Money Saving Tips

 

Trips to the salon:

Make trips to the salon a special occasion not a regular occurence.

 

mom-and-daughter-in-hair-rollers-putting-on-lipstick

 

Skip Starbucks:

Make coffee at home vs. buying out on your way somewhere.

 

Have on-the-go snacks in your purse:

A few minutes of planning at home can keep you from stopping at the drive through and spending extra cash.  

 

Limit dining out:

Dining out is fun.  But eating at restaurants should be treated more like a splurge or special treat, especially if you’re paying for a family. 

When you do go to a restaurant, check to see if there are specials like “Kids eat free. . “ or any other deals for families. 

Or dine out when you get your kids a sitter and take that overdue date night you’ve been dreaming about. 

 

Buy Self tanner vs spray tan: 

Being super pale skinned, I love a good self tanner, especially in the summer months.  Spray tans at salons aren’t cheap, and if you get them regularly it can get expensive.

I found a self tanner I LOVE, and it’s so easy to apply with this mitt. 

One bottle is the same cost as only one spray tan, and you will get multiple uses from the bottle.

 


 

Get a side hustle: 

There are countless ways to earn some money on the side while you’re at home with the kids.  Look online for stay-at-home mom jobs like freelance writing, website testing, or by selling items on Poshmark & Ebay.  

As a stay-at-home mom,  my mom was ahead of her time back in the early 1980’s  before the term ‘side hustle’ was even a thing. 

She was pulling in anywhere from $50-$100 a month doing coupons/rebates here and there when she had some free time.

 

 PIN IT FOR LATER

Just filling up a tank of gas and one stop at Walgreens, and it’s easy to have spent $100 before noon! So, I’m here today to share some money saving tips you’ll love, especially if you’re a stay-at-home mom, like I am.  #moneysavingtips, #stayathomemoms, #momssavemoney, #stayathomemomtips, #budgeting, #moneysavingideas, #moneysavingtipsformoms, #SAHM

 

 

Breathe new life into your clothes:

Make old clothes new again by finding different ways to style them. 

A new scarf, pair of shoes, or new jewelry can update a look instantly.  Hey, if Duchess Kate can do it, so can you! 

 

Save on food during family outings:

Bring your own food or drink for trips to the zoo, ballpark or other family outing. 

When we took the kids to a local baseball game, we looked online ahead of time to see what was allowed.  We brought snacks and bottled water for the kids, saving a lot in concessions.

 

 

Money Saving Tips When Shopping

 

Get a Target Red card:

“Honey, you got the Red card?!” That’s what you’ll hear my husband yelling to me as I’m hustling out the door for a Target Run. 

Having a Target card has saved us so much money. Signing up for a Target Red card (debit or credit card) gets you 5% off of your purchases in the stores and online.

We signed up for the Target Red card debit card so the money comes right out of our account. You also get other perks such as free 2-day shipping and extended returns with the Red card.  

 

 

Buy fresh & freeze:

Buy fresh meats you use a lot (for us it’s chicken) at the grocery store when on sale and freeze for when you need.  We get amazing deals when we look for the managers’ specials and buy what they have on sale.

 

Stick to the Classics:

Buy classic wardrobe pieces that will be staples in your closet for several years instead of trendy pieces you won’t wear next season.

You can always find inexpensive pieces at places like Target and Amazon to supplement your wardrobe with some trendier items when you feel like spicing things up.

 

Buy in bulk:

Buy certain items in bulk depending on size of your family may save your family money.  Raising 5 kids, my parents would buy milk and other certain items in bulk at Costco, but would use the regular grocery store for the rest. 

Not all the prices made sense to buy in bulk so check to see what’s more reasonable.

 

Buy Generics:

Buying store brand vs. the brand name items will often save a lot.

 

 

Money Saving Tips Regarding the Kids

 

Family memberships:

If there’s a place you frequent as a family like your local zoo or children’s museum, see if they offer family memberships. 

Calculate how many trips you’d need to make per year to make the membership worth it. If you go there at least that many times (or more), then a membership is definitely the way to save money.

 

Free activities:

Find free activities for kids to keep them occupied.  Besides the usual playing outside with friends, in parks, writing on the sidewalks with chalk or bike riding, check your local township website or newsletter. 

See what free activities are going on for the month–you can usually find holiday or seasonal activities that are kid or family friendly.

 

free-activities-for-kids-concept-two-kids-painting-at-home

Visit your local library:

Besides checking out free books, we use our local library for playing.  The library has a special section for kids to play with toys.

My kids really love the toy kitchen, puzzles and cars they have there.  They also enjoy being entertained on the special kids’ computers that offer many learning programs.

 Kids often tire quickly playing with their own toys, so this keeps it new and fun for them. It saves parents money on buying new toys and saves space in your house. 

It’s a great family outing where the kids aren’t messing up your house, for once!

 

Keep the kids at home:

If you stay at home, don’t send kids to daycare.  Although daycare can be useful if you need to get things done or want to help your child socialize, it can also get costly quickly. 

Maybe, consider starting your own playgroup with a group of moms.  Or take turns with a good friend watching each others’ kids if you need an hour or two to run errands.

 

Second-hand clothing:

Using hand-me-down clothing for your kids will save you loads of money.  Ask relatives/friends if you can take their kids’ old clothing off their hands. 

Shopping at your local Goodwill is also a  great place to find gently used kids clothing for a fraction of store prices. 

Kids grow so fast and don’t wear sizes usually for very long, so you don’t want to invest a lot of money into clothing they won’t wear for long.

 

Shop at Dollar Tree or Dollar Store:

Shopping Dollar Tree or Dollar store is a great place to save money anytime, but is especially great for holiday savings.  I like to find stocking stuffers or items for the kids’ Easter baskets there. I also shop there for holiday decorations that the kids can help make or help me display.

 

 

How do you save money for your family? Which money saving tips did you find most helpful?

 

Leave me a comment and let me know!

 

You May Also Like:

  • Sure Fire Tips You Need to Become a Potty Training Rockstar
  • An Open Letter to a Military Mom
  • 11 Ways for Moms to Have a Better Day
  • Amazon Echo: “Alexa” The Best Friend Every Mom Needs

 

  • 6 Tips to Cleaner Home While Raising Toddlers
  • Songs For a Fun Dance Party With Your Kids [PLAYLIST]
  • 10 Amazing Reasons Pure Barre is the Ultimate Workout

 


 

Tweet
Share
Pin224
Share1
225 Shares

Filed Under: LIFESTYLE, MOM LIFE, STAY-AT-HOME-MOMS Tagged With: budgeting, mom life, money saving tips, stay at home moms

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

WELCOME!

Hi! I’m Janine–and I’m SO happy you’re here! I’m a mom who loves affordable style,  easy Seasonal & Holiday decor & recipes, and healthy living.  I enjoy a good cup of coffee,  making the most of time with family, and laughing until my face hurts:)  Life is short — let’s celebrate in style!

PLACES I SHOP

  • Spanx
  • Old Navy
  • Target
  • Amazon
  • Nordstrom
  • Etsy
  • Wayfair

SHOP THE FEED

AMAZON ASSOCIATES DISCLOSURE

MEATBALLMOM is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

TRENDING NOW

Footer

MOTHER’S DAY

PATIO FAVORITES

RECENT FINDS

Copyright © 2023 · Meatball Mom

meatball.mom

Janine Gravino
❤️ With Mother’s Day coming up, I wanted to ❤️ With Mother’s Day coming up, I wanted to share a fun and elegant way to celebrate with your mom or any special woman in your life - hosting a tea party! 

🫖🥮 Check out my latest blog post for all the details on how to throw the perfect tea party - from choosing a theme to setting a beautiful table and serving delicious tea sandwiches and desserts. 

🥪 And if you want to see me in action, I’ll be sharing some of my tips and making tea sandwiches live on Pinterest TV on Monday, May 8 at noon CST. 

🎉 Join me for some tea party fun! 

And if you want  to shop the items I featured in my video and create your own stunning tea party, they’re all listed in my LTK shop. You can find the link in my bio!

https://liketk.it/48sgY
#mothersdaybrunch #teapartyideas #throwtheperfectteaparty #teapartydecor #ltkhome
‘Some-bunny’ wanted to wish YOU a ‘Hoppy’ ‘Some-bunny’ wanted to wish YOU a ‘Hoppy’ Easter! Have a great weekend! 🐰🧁

#liketkit #LTKSeasonal #LTKhome #LTKunder50
@shop.ltk
https://liketk.it/46hm2
.
.
.
.
.
.
#easter #eastersunday #happyeaster #hoppyeaster #hoppyeaster🐰 #bunnycupcakes #eastercupcakes #easterdessert #easter2023
BUNNY CUPCAKES Here’s an EASY last minute desse BUNNY CUPCAKES

Here’s an EASY last minute dessert idea for Easter. These bunny cupcakes are so much fun and super easy to make!

First bake your cupcakes and ice them. I used boxed cake mix and iced them as I normally would. 

Next gently roll the cupcake icing in coconut flakes to look like bunny fur. 

Cut a large marshmallow in half on the diagonal and dip the sticky sides in pink sugar sprinkles. 

Place marshmallow “ears” on top of the cupcake. Bunny cupcake complete! 

Enjoy! 

Save this post for later and follow for more easy Holiday ideas! 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

#bunnycupcakes #eastercupcakes #cupcakes #easterdessert #easydessert #easterfood #easterideas #easterideasforkids #cupcakeideas #cupcakedecoratingvideo
3 INGREDIENT FRUIT DIP 🍉 My mom made this frui 3 INGREDIENT FRUIT DIP

🍉 My mom made this fruit dip for SO many of our Easter and Spring parties growing up. 

🍍 It was a childhood favorite and still one I love to this day! 

🍈 It’s so easy to throw together - 3 simple ingredients and so tasty!

🍓 Pair with your favorite fruit like strawberries, melons or pineapple — and enjoy!! It would be perfect this weekend for Easter or for any of your Spring and Summer gatherings or days by the pool! 

So make sure to save this post for later and follow along for more Seasonal & Holiday ideas! 

FRUIT DIP

Ingredients: (I’d double this if entertaining a larger group)

* 7 oz. marshmallow fluff
* 8 oz. cream cheese
* 1tsp vanilla
​

Directions:

* Whip until fluffy (I use a hand mixer) That’s it! 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#fruitdip #appetizerideas #appetizerrecipe #easyrecipesathome #easyrecipe #threeingredients #3ingredientrecipe #3ingredients #easterrecipes #easterideas #easterdessert #easydessert #dessertrecipe #nobakedessert
3 Carrot Themed Easter Ideas: Here are some last 3 Carrot Themed Easter Ideas:

Here are some last minute EASY Easter Ideas: 

1) Orange napkins wrapped around green cutlery to create the look of carrots when entertaining. You can secure with cooking twine and display in an empty terracotta pot for a festive touch, or on my favorite bunny cake stand!

2) Carrot shaped treat bags: fill cone shaped bags with cheese balls or goldfish crackers; secure with a twist tie and tie a green ribbon around the top. The treat looks orange like a carrot and makes a fun snack or party favor!

3) Mini pepper ‘carrots’: I buy bags of mini peppers and use the orange ones for this appetizer or snack. Slice peppers in half lengthwise and fill each pepper half with cream cheese or  ranch dip. (I use the ranch packets and substitute plain yogurt for the sour cream.) Finally, place a sprig of dill at the wider end to make the mini pepper look like a carrot. These are a cute and tasty appetizer or snack!

Save this post for later and follow along for more Seasonal and Holiday Ideas!

I made all of these Easter ideas LIVE on Pinterest a few weeks ago; the episode is saved on my pinterest profile if you want to watch the replay!

https://liketk.it/467mK
.
.
.
.
#easterideas #easterappetizer #easyappetizers #easysnack #easterentertaining #carrots🥕 #easterfood #easterdecor #ltkfamily #ltkhome #ltkseasonal
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! May your day be fille Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 

May your day be filled with Luck, Laughter, and Love! 🍀

We are wrapping up a great Spring Break week with the kids - many memories made especially with my mom visiting:) 

Mom even made an appearance on my St. Patrick’s Day Livestream episode on Pinterest TV last week after she arrived. The viewers loved ‘Meatball Mimi’! 

We are off to watch some Irish Dancers today and I hope you enjoy your day and weekend too.  Cheers!
.
.
.
.
.
#stpatricksday #stpattysday #stpatricksday☘️ #stpattysday🍀 #thatmomlife #justmomlife #momlifebalance #momsoflittles #momlife #momlifestyle #momcontentcreator