1. Start by planning and managing your family budget.
The main enemy of a family budget is uncontrolled spending, so experts recommend planning a monthly family budget. This process involves all family members, including children, so you must distribute money together. If at least someone refuses to participate in this process, you will not get the desired result.
A family spending plan should have a visual representation in a notebook, a notebook, a computer or a mobile device. If you use a computer, you can use Excel, there are special applications for tablets and smartphones.
We start planning with the "income" item. This includes:
Salaries of working family members;
Your parents' pensions, if they live with you;
all payments and allowances;
interest from deposits;
All household income, if you have any;
Any other income that you are guaranteed to receive.
You won't be able to reduce household expenses if you don't carefully fill out the "expenses" line. It should include absolutely all expenses, even the most minimal ones. Often in the beginning, many expenses go unaccounted for because the family does not know how much they are spending. At first, you can collect receipts from stores to understand the real picture.
Once you have a large sum of money, it is difficult to refrain from spending large sums of money and not to start buying everything. Be patient, make a list of what you need and start shopping the next day. This is important if you have decided to reduce family expenses.
There is a fairly universal algorithm for allocating expenditures:
10% of income is savings for a major purchase or a family goal;
all mandatory payments - utilities, kindergarten fees, school fees, school fees, mortgage or loan payments, etc. - are counted;
Whatever is left after you distribute it is the amount you will live on during the month. It is divided into 4 by the number of weeks, spread out separately, such as in envelopes. The family expenses should be "one envelope" per week.
If you decide to reduce the family expenses according to this algorithm, there is a high probability that in the beginning it will be difficult for you. But you will see the first result in 3-4 months, when you will be able to make the first serious purchases.
2. Make rational purchases.
If you think about how to reduce family expenditures, think back, how often do you make ill-considered impulse purchases? Of course, it's nice to buy something you don't need too much, but really like. But such a purchase will be happy for a very short time, and the money spent will not return. Here are some tips on how to reduce costs and avoid unnecessary impulse spending.
When going to the store, make a list of products that you need to buy. Also, do not take with you a large sum of money, so as not to buy unnecessary things. Do not take additional items at the checkout, as a rule, there are chewing gum, candy, chocolates, crackers and other things. An interesting fact is that of those who owe credit cards, 2/3 of debtors tend to make impulse purchases.
When shopping for groceries, choose quality over brand. Often you overpay up to a third of the cost of goods just for the promoted brand in a familiar package. And you could buy the same quality products from local producers, and much cheaper.
Planning to reduce family expenditures, learn to choose products in supermarkets - at eye level are always the most expensive products, often manufacturers pay extra for favorable placement, and that too, one way or another, is included in the cost of goods. Better pay attention to the lower shelves - there, as a rule, there are products that are not inferior in quality, but at a more reasonable price. Do not go shopping on an empty stomach to avoid unnecessary spending. And take bags or bags with you.
To cut down on family expenses, shop one or two weeks in advance - the less often you visit the outlets, the less temptation there is. At the market you can save in the afternoon, when vendors are willing to discount the price, especially if you haggle. It is advantageous to buy groceries in bulk.
Semi-finished products are quite expensive. They can make their own, so you get not only more economical, but also tastier. Significantly reduce the family costs help a variety of preserves, canned foods, frozen vegetables, berries, fruits.
3. Use your car properly.
If a family has a car, over time it becomes used even when it can be avoided, such as driving to the nearest store. If you choose to reduce family expenses, you must also reduce the cost to maintain and service the car.
Use your car wisely. If there are 2-3 kilometers to work, you can walk, and 4-6 kilometers by public transport. It is reasonable to use the car only for long distances.
The car requires attention and timely maintenance. Flat tires, unbalanced wheels, clogged filters, clogged injector, faulty catalyst - all these, it would seem, little things significantly increase fuel consumption. Keep your car in order and use only the proper gasoline, otherwise a small savings will not only help to reduce household expenses, but will lead to large expenditures later.
The less the weight of the car, the less will be the consumption of gasoline. That's why in the trunk there should be only the most necessary things - a spare tire, a tool kit, a child's seat. Also refrain from spoilers - they increase air resistance and consequently gasoline consumption.
Fill up at gas stations with loyalty programs, discounts, lower gasoline prices. To cut fuel costs, try buying coupons six months to a year in advance.
It is also a good way to save on gasoline and family expenses. Choose the shortest route if you are planning a long trip to an unfamiliar place. Avoid traffic jams, sudden braking, and acceleration. You can easily find out about traffic jams on the Internet services "Yandex.Traffic" or Google maps.
4. Eliminate debt and create passive income.
If you're already seriously in debt or having trouble paying off a loan, saving and making serious purchases is out of the question. It's hard to plan big purchases if you don't know if you can pay off the next installment on your loan. This is all the more frustrating because the main loan is repaid very slowly at first, since the lion's share of the payment is the interest on the loan.
In order to make savings, you need to pay off your debts and loans first. This can be done more quickly if you take an extra job for a few months and deny yourself literally everything. It is important that all family members understand why such austerity is imposed, otherwise there is no way to avoid resentment. And it, in turn, will lead to the failure of the whole endeavor.
Not everyone can save money, in cash or on a card. Make a term deposit, which can be replenished, but you can not withdraw.
When choosing a bank, first of all you should pay attention to its reputation, and only then to the interest on the deposit. It may be lower in reliable and trustworthy banks, but you can not fear for the safety of your savings. If you still decide to take the risk, then do not place on deposit more than 1 million 400 thousand rubles. Such a deposit will be at least insured by the state.
5. Adjust your habits.
Wondering how to reduce your family expenses? Do an analysis of your habits, which over time begin to govern you and demand certain expenses.
Smoking. Every smoker "wastes 10 to 30 thousand a year. It is clear that to give up a bad habit at once not everyone under force, but at least try to reduce the number of cigarettes that you smoke per day, week, month. To start you can give yourself a certain number of cigarettes a day and gradually reduce the figure. The main thing is that you do not ask for cigarettes from friends, acquaintances and colleagues. Of course, you will have a hard time and you will have to strain your willpower to the full program.
Alcohol. The less of it will be in your life - the better. A couple of glasses of wine at a celebration or with guests will be enough, and certainly no daily libations.
Life habits. These can include, in particular, dependence on brands. For example, some people prefer to buy only branded clothing, go to the most expensive and flashy gym, etc. Analyze your expenses if you think about how to reduce family expenses.
You must be logged in to post a comment.