More and more young parents are experiencing financial problems. The percentage of young families that can afford their own home is declining. The increasing pressure of our consumer society makes raising children more difficult. In this article, practical tips on how to raise children on a limited budget.
Consumer society
In our society it is self-evident that children have piles of toys. The media tells us that our children still need this toy or candy to become happy angels. Parents who cannot afford the latest toys feel guilty. The pressure from peers has also increased due to the increase in contact with peers. Where in the past children mainly came into contact with peers at school, they now also encounter peers on the Internet, for example. Because children and young people want to belong, they want the same material possessions as their peers.
Parents also consume more than they need. Cupboards are often full of unnecessary items that were purchased without thinking. Because older people want to maintain their standard of living and do not want to give up material possessions ( and can buy less thanks to declining purchasing power ), they start borrowing. The number of short-term loans (such as credit cards) is increasing.
Consume less
By consuming less, parents can offer their children a higher quality of life without the pressure of financial problems. It takes a lot of effort to consciously distance yourself from all kinds of luxuries that are described as necessary in the media.
Consuming less does not mean that you have to live in poverty. Luxury is allowed, but may not negatively affect the quality of life due to additional (financial) concerns. For example, an expensive holiday is fun, but if you have to figure out how to make ends meet, the positive influence of the holiday quickly disappears and only worries are left behind. A cheaper holiday according to your own budget (with fewer worries when you return home) is an allowed luxury.
Tips
Nutrition and Health
- Children nowadays consume more sugar than they need. They are often also refined sugars. Refined sugars are unhealthy. In large quantities they can lead to obesity, concentration problems and hyperactivity. There is no need to eliminate sugar from your life: you can save sweets for the weekend. This way, candy remains something special. You can also replace refined sugars with, for example, cane sugar or natural sugar and sweets with dried fruit (raisins, apricots, banana chips, apple chips, dried mango, etc.). These are generally more expensive, but contain more nutrients than regular candy and are better for blood sugar levels, so your child is less inclined to snack.
- It is better to invest in high-quality foods such as organic vegetables. Cheap pre-packaged products are better for your wallet, but worse for your health. Organic foods also give you a feeling of fullness more quickly ( contain fewer ,hollow, sugars, among other things ), so you eat less of them and they are also better for your resistance because they do not contain artificial additives. You can buy organic products in supermarkets, health food stores, farmers or through food teams.
- You can also make your own snacks with what you have at home. For example, you can make your own chips or popcorn. This is cheaper and a fun activity to do together.
- You can replace soft drinks with concentrated juice. Thick juice is more expensive per bottle, but one bottle will last longer than a bottle of soft drink (depending on the brand, you can make 4 to 5 liters of drink). You can mix concentrated juice with water, sparkling water or fruit juice. You can also make your own popsicles with thick juice.
- You can make your own fruit juice or milkshakes with (old) fruit. This is often healthier than the varieties in the stores because it contains no artificial additives. For a milkshake you need milk, ice cream and fruit (and possibly sugar).
- You can also dry old fruit such as apples in the oven yourself. This is ideal as a snack.
- You can further process old bread into treats. In my article ,Recipes with stale bread, you will find some tips.
- You can also make simple cakes or cookies yourself with healthy ingredients, such as oats or grains. For a simple cake you only need eggs, milk, flour, fat (oil or butter) and sugar. You can add herbs, raisins, grains or fruit. You can also use healthy ingredients in pancakes. This way you have a nutritious and cheap meal.
Clothing
- Invest in decent clothing. Also buy some cheaper clothing items to romp around in.
- Buy clothes during bargain periods or sales. Decide in advance what your child needs and, if financially possible, also buy clothing items in 1 or 2 sizes larger.
Toys
- Invest in quality instead of quantity. Solid toys last longer and give your children more fun. When they have outgrown the toys, you can sell them to invest in new toys.
- Second-hand toys are often in good condition. After a good cleaning, it is as good as new. You can read tips on how to clean toys in my article ,How to clean toys,.
- Put away some of the toys and change the toys, for example, every 6 months. This way, your child will get tired of the toys less quickly.
- Observe your child and buy toys that he or she likes to play with. Sell the toys your child is not interested in and use that money to buy other toys.
- When there are sales or sales periods, you can buy longer-term toys and put them away until your child is ready.
- Does your child want a certain toy? Then save for it together. The toy will also have more value to the child if he has put in the effort.
- You can stimulate your child’s creativity by letting them make their own toys. For example, many children like to play with toilet rolls or branches or empty boxes. You can make certain toys such as musical instruments together. You can also replace bath toys with empty shampoo bottles, for example.
- You can also borrow cheap toys from toy libraries. You can find this in the telephone directory.
Spare time
- There are many free excursions possible. You can save expensive excursions such as amusement parks or tropical swimming pools for special occasions. Some examples of free outings are forests, playgrounds, beaches, parks and petting zoos (some petting zoos have a fee).
- Mandatory activities often lead to extra pressure and (financial) concerns. Give your child the opportunity to organize his or her own time (depending on his or her age) and, for example, to play around in the garden.
- Invest in some decent outdoor toys. A child does not need many outdoor toys.
- Many children like to help with all kinds of household chores. They also like to help in the garden.
- You can borrow books and DVDs from the library or video store or buy them together with other parents and exchange them with each other.
Other tips
- Start an exchange circle with some young parents or join a LETS circle (Local Exchange and Trading Systems).
- Don’t be tempted to make purchases with credit cards. This is just a short-term solution that pushes the problem forward rather than addressing it. For example, your children learn: if you live according to the budget you have, you teach your children how to deal with money and there is little chance that they will have financial problems in the future.
- Make a list of necessities and luxuries. Save for the necessities and occasionally give your family something from the other list (for example if you have been able to pay off 5 necessities).
- Experiences last longer than material possessions. A fun day with your children is worth more than a new Playstation, for example.
Finally
These are a number of options to avoid burdening your children with your financial worries. They may know that your budget is limited, but stressing it can lead to stress in your children and an obsession with money and material things. You can find more tips on consumer sites and forums.