Having children is the most beautiful thing in one’s life. Nothing can bring you joy as your little one can, just by watching them grow and develop, explore their personality and interests. Even though this is a big step in everyone’s life, it seems that today, people are more hesitant when making this decision.
This is entirely understandable, since raising a child is very costly, and every parent wants nothing but the best for their growing family. Generally speaking, people want to have their own home, fairly reasonable income that will enable them to put some money aside for the future and still get their little one everything they need and desire.
No one is denying that raising children is very expensive, but thankfully, there are tips and tricks that you can use to reduce this cost. Since we are going to mention only some general ones, you can learn more about these in great detail on loved.com.
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Be smart about housing…
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According to numerous home budget studies, the biggest portion of these goes on loan and mortgages, rents, utilities, and so on. It is natural that you want to upgrade your current home to meet all of your growing family’s requirements, but it is crucial to do this wisely.
The most common mistake that parents make is that they bit more than they can chew, i.e., they make investments that they cannot afford. Of course, you want each child to have their own room, and you also want a playroom for all of their toys, a large backyard, etc. However, it isn’t really a big deal if you cannot afford this. It can actually be beneficial for your kids to share a room and a bunk bed. It will help them sleep better, especially at a young age, and it will also enable them to develop a strong bond.
When it comes to home renovation, there are tips that you should follow. First of all, make sure that the monthly mortgage payment is less than 25% of your income. Secondly, don’t forget to calculate the cost of furniture, repairs, and naturally, utilities. Keep in mind that these are the expenses that you will be paying off in the future, money that not only you can save, but actually invest in your child.
… and education
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In a way, these two cannot be separated. Why? Well, when choosing the new neighborhood and purchasing a property, most people think about the school district. Naturally, you want your child to get the best education possible. When it comes to this decision, firstly, you have to think about what kind of education you want for your kid. Do you want to homeschool them, or do you have to choose between public and private schools?
If you are thinking about homeschooling or private schools, then it really isn’t necessary to pay a high premium for a home in a high-cost area. Another fact is that it is significantly cheaper to live in a rural instead of an urban area. Plus, don’t forget about all the benefits of living close to family and friends who can be of great help. Yes, we understand the urge to move to a well-developed area and into a large home as soon as your child is born, but the reality is that this isn’t necessary. You have enough time to plan everything before they start school.
Child care
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When it comes to the cost of daycare, kindergarten, and preschool, these can be astonishing. Generally speaking, the expense of child care is significantly higher when they are young. As they grow older and start school, they become more independent, meaning that you don’t have to watch over them every second of the day. Still, until this time comes, you have a few options.
Firstly, you can choose to be a stay-at-home parent. This is the most logical step if one of the parents’ income is fairly low. You will understand the reason behind this when you compare the income with the cost of child care. Nevertheless, keep in mind that you won’t be able to save a lot of money, in the long run, this way, meaning that you will have to go back to work eventually.
Moreover, you should consider working from home. Yes, it will take you some time to adjust to the new setting, but generally speaking, this way, you will reduce the cost of child care significantly. It doesn’t only mean that you won’t have to pay child-related expenses, but you will also save some money since you won’t have to commute to work, or for example, buy work clothes.
Finally, if none of these options work for you, you can always ask grandparents to step in. There isn’t a grandparent that would refuse a chance to spend the time with their grandbabies, and this method will not only allow you to go back to work full-time, but also save some money.
Food cost
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This expense is only going to increase as your kids grow up, which means that you should have a strategy when it comes to grocery shopping. One of the first things that you can do is to plan all the meals in advance. This will allow you to organize your shopping cart and buy only the products you will need for the following week. You would be surprised how much money people spend by going to a store every day and usually getting things they don’t need.
Another tip that we have is about cooking. You can start cooking more than you need. Why? Well, you can pack the leftovers and put them in the freezer for some other day. It also might be a good idea to plan one day of the week that you will spend cooking. This will save you a lot of time in the long run, and also money because you will have prepared meals and won’t have to purchase them when on the run.
Start a college fond
source:fortune.com
Without a doubt, the cost of college is the highest one. Even though it is not always possible, you should start saving money as soon as your kid is born. This way, you will have more than enough time ahead of you.
The most common advice for parents is to try to save one-third of the expected cost, and you can get the rest of the funds from scholarships, current income, and so on. Our advice is to calculate how much money you can put aside by considering your monthly income and expenses, and stick to that amount.
