How do you all budget with kids? I have 3 kids, 4 year old twins and an almost 2 year old and I feel like I spent all of my money on them and have no money to buy things for myself, I don’t think I’ve bought myself anything new like clothes and things in a really long time and I think it’s just got me in a unhappy with myself state of mind, I’ve never been good with money but I feel like I’m just filled with unhappiness because of it. My husband pays most of the bills, I pay a few of the small bills, does anyone have any tips that have worked for you
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I start with writing it down and then it goes out the window
That’s reality when you have young kids. I’m so glad mine are now young adults.
I make a budget in a notebook ,I get paid weekly , so every week I write down what I have to pay with a month in advance , that way I know what I will have left .
Just stop buying stuffs for the kids that they don’t really need, I love to buy me clothes on SHEIN and stuffs for my daughter on Temu , both sites have so many payments options like Afterpay , Klarna and Affirm , those are great options when you have a limited budget , you can pay every two weeks.
Try some of the local thrift shops.
Set up a budget for everything: income & outgo. You earn or have X amount per month. Allocate to what you HAVE to pay for first: the small bills for which you are responsible, any school fees, an allotted amount for groceries, medical, any credit card debt.
Cover needs first, before wants. Determine in advance what your kids need in terms of clothes and shoes. Each child should have a pair of sneakers, winter boots if you live in a place that gets snow, maybe dress shoes, sandals, and/or another pair of everyday casual shoes.
Shop thrift stores, buy nothing sites, Freecycle, Facebook Marketplace, etc. for basics like jeans and T shirts, maybe some coats depending on the climate. Fill in the rest with trendier new or secondhand items. Each child should have enough outfits to last 2 weeks. Don’t buy anything unless it’s a need, not a want. Budget for some new clothes and experiences for yourself, but also look at Thrift stores and consignment shops.
I feel your pain! I’m a single mom and I only buy myself something new when I get income tax or after a major holiday sale (Christmas and thanksgiving usually). If I need something and it cannot wait, I’ll usually see if I can sell something I don’t need or sacrifice a bill. I also ask family for things on Christmas and birthdays.