“I don’t have a 9-5 job. I have a when I get up until when I go to sleep job.”
~Anonymous
Moms are busy! I mean, can you even count the number of things on your to-do list every day?
First, you make breakfast and get the kids off to school. Then, you need to run an errand before work. After work, there’s laundry, housework, paying bills, soccer practice, homework, etc.
Plus, in the midst of all that chaos, you’ve still got to get dinner on the table, and you have nothing to cook.
So you head to the grocery store. Make a mad dash through the aisles. Then, you reach the checkout…and your card gets declined UGH!
Now, you’re standing there looking like a deer caught in the headlights. And you’re wondering — how did this happen?
You know that you need to do a better job of keeping track of expenses but — you-just-don’t-have-time.
After all, clipping coupons, searching for sales ads, and snapping pictures of receipts for shopping apps are out of the question.
There has to be a better way to save money for busy moms without any extra hassle, right?
Well, the good news is, there is!
And don’t worry! I’m not going to tell you to give up your weekly coffee fix.
Because, for die-hard coffee lovers, that may be the only thing keeping you sane!
Table of Contents
1. Use Automatic Ways To Save Money
You may have heard that a great way to handle your finances is to automate your bills every month.
And guess what? It’s true!
I have practiced this successfully for years. I automate all my fixed expenses such as housing, car loans, insurance, and cell phone bills.
To be clear, I don’t personally recommend automating variable expenses like electricity, gas, or water.
But, you could consider automating a credit card payment IF you’re paying a fixed amount every month. This is especially helpful if you have set a goal to pay off debt.
Now, if you’re reluctant to automate your fixed bills, don’t be! Keep in mind that these are necessities that you must pay for anyway.
So you certainly don’t want them to fall behind.
And once they’re automated, you don’t have to worry about late fees or missed due dates.
That will give you one less thing to do each month, and it helps take the pressure off your already hectic schedule.
2. Stick With Cash
It may sound a bit old school — but like the famous quote says:
“There’s no school, like the old school.”
So if you’re looking for pain-free ways to save money, then using cash is the way to go!
Just think about the way digital money has made buying stuff ridiculously easy. In fact, the whole process actually encourages consumers to shop mindlessly, and quickly lose track of spending.
Think I’m exaggerating?
Well, have you ever noticed charges to your bank account that you actually forgot about?
Yeah, that’s a problem! And what’s worse is that it can lead to an even bigger financial headache, such as an overdraft on your account or additional fees.
Now, that sounds like a whole lot of unnecessary pain to me!
But if you still need convincing, then here’s why using cash is best:
You can never spend more money than you have on you!
There are never any fees or interest!
You’re more aware of what you are spending when you can visibly see your money disappearing.
More importantly, it helps you avoid getting caught up in the whole digital spending whirlwind.
After all, when everything is said and done…who will be the one that has to suffer the consequences of overspending? Yep, you guessed it. YOU!
3. Eat Here Not There
Where should you eat? At home, of course!
You may be thinking that this can’t be pain-free since it involves cooking?
That is true! And when you’re a busy mom cooking can quickly become an unwelcome chore!
But fortunately, there is a solution.
First of all, do you have a crock-pot?
If not, then get one immediately!
This one amazingly simple kitchen appliance can be a lifesaver for busy moms!
I’ve learned that you can throw almost any meat and vegetables, frozen or unfrozen, into a crock-pot. (In fact, I haven’t come across any meat or vegetable that you can’t use in a crock-pot).
And all you do is add a little bit of liquid and some seasoning, then turn it on and get on with your day.
No prep, no monitoring, and no standing over a hot stove for hours required.
Perfect! Now, you have a healthy, stress-free meal ready to go. And things can’t get any more pain-free than that!
Plus, did you know that the average family spends at least $3,000 per year eating out?
Now, just think, what could you do with an additional $3,000, hmmm?
4. Skip The Name Brands
So when you’re looking for more pain-free ways to save money, this is definitely a must-do!
Nowadays, nearly every grocery store has its own store brand of products to sell.
And if you think the store brand is a cheap imitation, then you couldn’t be more wrong.
In fact, studies have shown that store brand products have the same or better quality than their name brand counterparts.
Plus, you’re paying an average of 33% less for the store brand. And that means more money in your pocket.
So, you’re getting the same high-quality merchandise at a lower price.
And if that’s not pain-free, I don’t know what is!
5. Shop For Second Hand Clothes
Now, before you turn your nose up at this suggestion, there are some things you should know.
Shopping for second-hand clothes does not mean you’ll be getting bargain-basement throw-aways!
In fact, it’s often just the opposite.
You can find a treasure trove of good quality, even designer name apparel, at discount prices.
And, places like consignment shops often inspect the quality and the condition of the garments before agreeing to sell them in their stores.
Personally, I always found consignment shopping to be fun! It’s like going on a treasure hunt for valuable merchandise at an affordable price.
And here’s the thing, no one knows where you bought the clothes from anyway…unless you tell them.
Plus, you can even sell your own gently used merchandise on consignment and make a tidy profit on the side.
Ha…no pain there!
6. The 24 Way To Save Money
Remember the old bible Proverb that “haste makes waste?”
Although that statement was written thousands of years ago, it is still just as relevant today!
Many times we often make hasty purchases on an impulse.
Something catches our attention, and we immediately want it (squirrel).
Well, if you’re looking for another pain-free money-saving tip, then here’s a good one…wait at least 24 hours before buying something new.
This allows you time to mull it over, ponder, and re-evaluate whether or not you really can afford to spend the money.
Chances are that after you’ve had time to think about it and assess your budget, then you’ll realize you don’t really need it after all.
And if you decide that you DO still want it…and it fits into your budget — then there’s no pain in waiting a day before buying, right?
If you have any credit card or student loan debt then you’re probably always on the lookout for new ways to save money and this is definitely the tip is for you.
First off, if you have more than one credit card, you could consider consolidating the balances to a single card.
Many credit card companies will offer balance transfers at 0% interest for 6, 12, or even 18 months.
And even if your FICO score doesn’t qualify you for zero percent, don’t give up!
You could still at least try to negotiate for a lower rate than you currently have.
Now, as for your student loans, you can check out this link from NerdWallet to learn more about how to refinance and compare interest rates.
So if you haven’t already taken these steps to lower your interest rates, then don’t wait for a second longer!
One of the most effective and painless ways to make a positive impact on your finances is to cut those interest rates today!
8. Stay On Track With Little Effort
As we’ve already acknowledged, you’re busy!
And, you don’t have time to work on a budget.
Not a problem!
What you need is to let someone else do all the work for you, while you reap all the benefit.
And that’s where sites like Personal Capital and Mint can help.
The sign-up is free. Next, you simply link all your accounts.
Then you’ll be able to effortlessly view and manage everything in one place.
They can help you monitor your budget, set up bill pay, send you alerts, track your expenses for you, and more. No-fuss, no muss!
So, in the world of busy moms who need simplified budget tracking, that’s about as pain-free as it can get.
9. Scale Back Whatever You Can
Have you ever heard the phrase that less is more?
So, when did more become not enough?
It’s very common to get carried away with trying to keep up with all the newest and the latest everything.
But, when you’re a busy mom, then chances are that you don’t even have a lot of time to use all that extra stuff anyway.
So another awesome pain-free way to save money — is to use less of it!
Think about it? Do you really need the latest iPhone, or will any Smartphone help keep you in touch with your family?
And, how much cable or satellite TV do you really have time to watch?
Truthfully, most TV programs are not kid-friendly anyway. So perhaps a streaming service like Netflix or Hulu is all you need.
Also, if you have any memberships or subscriptions, get rid of them! You don’t even have time for that! And it’s just wasting money.
