Oh man, family life can be pretty expensive! In times of rising living costs, it is more important than ever for families to make smart purchasing decisions and save cleverly. Especially if you are saving for a home of your own, those few euros make a difference. My father said the other day when he was shopping with me: "If we had shopped like you, we wouldn't have a paid-off house today." And you know what? He's actually a little bit right. So here are our saving tips, which don't offer specific instructions, but rather inspiration.
Create budget:
People are often still used to consuming the way they used to when they had a double income - no kids, and often have no overview of their actual spending. There are apps to help you keep an eye on your spending. Because let's be honest, who will still sit down at an Excel spreadsheet in the evening in 2024?
meal planning:
We are also familiar with the issue of food waste. This is not only bad for the environment, but also really bad for your wallet. Create a meal plan WITH the kids. This way you can be sure that there is something for them too and that you don't cook too much.
Buy regional and seasonal food and take advantage of discounts:
Compare offers in brochures and take them into account when shopping.
Buy second-hand:
OK, that sounds simple, but in everyday life you often need something quickly. You don't drive halfway across town to be ghosted or negotiate a good price online only to have the item never arrive. That's why Tildi is best for children's products. It's quick, easy and cheap AND it saves resources. We also have discontinued models and things that have been returned. So it doesn't always have to be second-hand.
Buy countercyclically:
You can save a lot by planning - and that's if you buy countercyclically. The winter suit in summer and the swimsuit in winter. You'll have less choice, but the prices are almost always right.
Save energy:
Such things are often put off, but it is worth it: replace light bulbs with LED lights, switch off devices in standby mode and use multiple plugs with a power button.
Bring your own drinks:
We all know this: your child is thirsty and you are 4 euros poorer because there is only one kiosk nearby that takes advantage of this. A Capri-Sun in your bag and a water bottle can quickly save 10 euros per trip for two children. And yes, even as an adult you can take coffee from home in a thermos flask.
Use public transport:
I admit that in many regions this is easier said than done, but it is also a question of habit. The best thing to do is to buy a monthly ticket for the whole family and change your habits. And if you can, take the bike more often.
Check insurance:
Especially if you have had insurance for a long time, you should check it and make sure to adjust it if you move or have a new family.
Cancel subscriptions:
We all know the situation: the free subscription that you only wanted to use for a short time has been running unnoticed for two years. So cancel streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime if you rarely use them. I'm sure everyone has a subscription like that in the closet. Incidentally, it's worth sharing these subscriptions if you really want them. Also popular: the gym membership that is rarely used. In that case, it's better to use the Urban Sports app, because it includes the pools, and you're sure to use them with children.
Cooking yourself:
Simple and inexpensive dishes like soups or stews are completely underestimated. You can cook something in advance and it's healthy too. Baking bread and cakes yourself instead of buying them ready-made is also a good tip, but you have to have time for that. So maybe use the ToGoodToGo app, then you can get something tasty and inexpensive.
Use the garden:
Plant a small vegetable patch with tomatoes, herbs and lettuce. This is especially fun for the children and a good tomato plant or cucumber bush will produce quite a lot.
Organize leisure activities inexpensively:
Many museums have family days where admission is free, and all children love playgrounds. And who has ever experienced this: you pay 16 euros for the zoo and at the end the children just hang out at the playground?
Visit libraries:
Have you ever been to the library? There are not only books there, but also Tonies and other toys. Children often have a good time there when there is a reading hour.
Use reusable products:
Cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers are not for everyone, but they are good for your wallet and the environment, so you should give it a try. But there is more: for example, gift bags instead of wrapping paper, beeswax cloths instead of cling film.
Save water:
Install water-saving shower heads and faucets, if only for the sake of the environment. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. And don't shower for too long. Explain to the little ones, who have so much fun at the sink, from an early age why you should save water, so that they really understand.
Refinancing loans:
Compare offers for building financing once a year and change if necessary. Combine small loans at a cheaper interest rate and do not take out loans for mere consumption or travel.
DIY projects:
Do small repairs around the house yourself, refurbish or repaint furniture yourself instead of buying new ones. AND maybe cut your children's and husband's hair yourself. And maybe dye your own hair with the help of friends.
Discuss saving tips with children:
We often think that children don't understand this, but that's not true. They learn from what they see. If you explain that you are not going to buy this or that so that you can put up a tree house in the garden or buy them a new bed, they are happy when the time comes and feel like they have contributed something.
