As you guys know, I’ve been all about finances lately. Something about Des starting kindergarten made the rest of my life flash before my eyes! That’s a slight exaggeration, but I do think about savings now more than ever. That’s why I love giving financial tips. I like to believe I’m learning so much as I share, or sharing so much as I learn. Either way works. Enjoy!
Let’s face it, no matter what you’ve got going on in your life, there is always going to be one thing that will cause just about anyone a pretty hefty amount of stress and anxiety. That thing is, of course, money. It doesn’t matter who you are, you’re always going to end up having to build a lot of your life around your finances. This can be especially tough if you’ve got a family to look after. After all, you want the best for your family but when you’re constantly worrying about money, it can often feel impossible to do that. Not only that but no matter how much you might want to avoid it, it’s incredibly easy to let your money worries bleed into the rest of your family life. Luckily, that’s not the way things have to be. With that in mind, here are some things that you can do in order to stop your finances from impacting your family life.
A clear budget is your best friend
If you want to avoid letting your finances reach a point where you’re constantly worrying about them then the best thing that you can do is to keep a clear budget so that you don’t end up spending more than you can really afford. Keeping track of all of the expenses both big and small is the only way that you’re going to be able to avoid falling into the trap of emptying out your bank balance without realising it.
Make time for each other
If there’s one cliche that you’ve probably heard a million times it’s that the best things in life are free. Well, it turns out that, like most cliches, that’s pretty true. If there’s one thing that’s more valuable than anything else, and won’t cost you a thing, it’s the time that you and your family spend together. Going for a walk in the woods or curling up under a blanket to have a movie night are great ways to spend quality time with your family without spending any money.
It’s okay to treat yourselves
Of course, you shouldn’t feel as though you should never spend any money. After all, that’s just going to end up making life more stressful than before. It’s okay to treat yourself and your family, even when you’re living on a budget. The best thing to do is to look out for the best possible deals. Things like Smyths Toys voucher codes or discounts at your favourite stores are a great way to treat yourselves without spending huge amounts. forcing yourself to never buy anything you want is just going to make you all feel miserable.
You might be tempted to try and keep your money worries from your partner and your kids but the truth is that trying to take on everything yourself is just going to make your life a lot harder than it really needs to be. Make sure that you and your partner talk about your finances so that you can support one another. And you might think the kids aren’t ready for that sort of thing but being able to talk to them openly about money is going to help prepare them for adulthood and avoid falling into the same problems that you might be facing.
