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When making New Year’s resolutions, parents, especially single women, will be wishing for new ways to save on time and money. They will want to cut back, spend more quality time with their families, and get organized, http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics. Here a few tips to help.
Meal Preparations. Grocery shopping and meal preparation are huge time consumers. Two or three times a week, you go the store, you forgot something or you need to plan for additional meals. Then you return again to make another grocery trip. If you watch Extreme Couponers, the extraordinary savers plan for each of their trip in advance. They cut coupons, they check weekly circulars, and they are willing to take other brands than they usually use to save money. It sounds trivial, but is worth the effort. No stockpiles needed, but the average cook will need some product that has a coupon, or is on sale during that particular week. Also, having a list in tow, you’re less likely to overbuy, and stick to a budget. Buy meats in bulk and then plan to make more than one meal at once. Freeze prepared meals or their preparations, like cut up onions or peppers or partially made soup.
Dining out. When short on time, it’s easier to order out, or to dine out, but for a family of more than two, it’s expensive. Again, great savers use coupons and plan their outings as well. According to Ginny Graves, writer of “How we saved $10,000 in just one year” (Graves, GH Magazine, 2012), cutting back on dining out for only special occasions was one of their ways to save. Last minute dining out decisions or even takeout, costs more money, more travel time and has the entire family waiting for a meal to be set before you. It’s okay to dine out regularly, just plan it and stick to your budget.
Physical fitness. Everyone who has ever used a gym finds it convenient, but can sometimes weigh on a budget, and also taking additional time from your schedule. In twenty minutes or less, try exercises using a video tape if needed, early in the morning that incorporate strength training and stretching of your leg, arm or abdominal muscles. This can be done 3 or 4 times a week without taking much from your schedule as opposed to using a gym 2 or 3 times a week and working out in time, your money’s worth. Walking, bike riding or swimming can be done as a family at home on the week-end or at your local gym or park as a family outing. Combining exercise with family time, and cutting out on hours spent at the gym are time and money savers.
Personal recuperation. This is a favorite for women who need some time away from their families more freqently. All the above suggestions will allow time for you to personal recuperate as well. Add in other tips like using your cell phone or smart phone for its scheduler, calendar and alarms. Taking an extra five or ten minutes in the morning to be alone ( when not exercising), will give you downtime. Use your lunchtime to pay bills, make needed phone calls or check email. The consensus now is to not check l your email before getting ready for work. Taking a walk at work will also help you de-stress and give you personal time. Not only buy masks for your face, feet and hands, make time for using them on a regular basis, instead of an expensive occasional spa. On holidays or time off, plan a creative activity that you enjoy with the time you would have used to get the kids off to school or while they are away with their other relatives. This should give you more free time and help you recuperate, when you need it.
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