Indeed, it takes a family to become a frugal household. Every member of the family – except the infants and toddlers obviously – should be aware of their roles and responsibilities when it comes to frugality, which is defined as avoiding unnecessary expenses and eliminating waste.
Here are ways that children from the school-age kids to teenagers as well as parents can contribute to frugal living without sacrificing on modern conveniences and comforts.
Turn Off the Power
Electricity bills can cut into the household budget especially during the summer and winter seasons. Making a few simple changes will have a positive impact in the long-term period so start adopting these tips now:
- Turn off the lights, appliances, and electronics when these are not in use, a habit that even children can learn.
- Enjoy the company of your family during dinner time, summer barbecues, and parties by turning off the entertainment system, such as the television.
- Turn down the HVAC in areas that are not being used often.
Make Homemade Meals
With the busy schedules of your family members, you will often be tempted to eat in restaurants or have food delivered to your home. While these may be convenient, these are also considerably more expensive than dining in.
Enjoying savings of up to $1,500 a year is easy with the following tips:
- Plan your meals. You can prepare meals in advance, place them in the freezer, and microwave just before serving.
- Buy fresh produce in season. You will not only save on costs but you will also get the best meals from the fresh ingredients.
- Get everybody in on the meal preparation. When everybody pitches in to make the meals, you will not be as tired as you once were so the temptation to dine out will be reduced.
Be sure to use coupons for discounts and freebies when grocery shopping. You can find coupons in printed and printable forms on magazines, flyers, and websites, which can then be used in major retailers like Target, Whole Foods, and Meiji.
Let Everybody Do Their Part in Household Chores
While paying the children for performing household chores is an American family tradition, you can skip on it. You will not only save money but you are also teaching the kids about doing their share for the family (i.e., a strong sense of responsibility and camaraderie).
Becoming a frugal family demands the cooperation of every family member – and it starts with agreeing about the ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle as well as accepting responsibility for your role in these efforts.