Saving money is a tough enough feat when you’re only looking after yourself. It gets even harder when you add a family into the mix. That’s not to say that we should all give up on having children if we want to have extra cash in our wallets, but you’ll need to expect that looking after more than one person will have an impact on your financial situation.

The good news is that there are ways you can cut down on your expenses and continue to enjoy the wonder and excitement of family life. From making sure that you get the right loans to shopping online, here are a few tricks that could help you to manage your monthly expenses with less stress.

1.   Borrow Money with Caution

All families should be cautious when it comes to borrowing money. Getting yourself into too much debt too quickly could mean that you end up in a difficult situation that’s tough to get out of. However, it’s important to note that we all need the support of loans and credit cards at times. The key to success is making sure that you get the best loan available on the market.

Just like any other product, a loan can come in many different formats, with unique benefits and deals offered by specific companies. Comparing your options online before you commit to anything makes sure that you won’t end up over-spending on interest in the long-term.

2.   Shop Online

Throughout the world, the popularity of online shopping has helped to make life simpler and more convenient for many families. Not only does shopping online help you to save some valuable time (and petrol), but it also means that you can find deals with relative ease too.

There are literally endless coupon sites out there to help you find vouchers and money-off solutions for the items you want to buy. On top of that, you can also sign up for cashback websites that track your spending and reward you with money back every time you buy something on an affiliated website. Signing up for the right online experiences is a great way to reduce the amount you spend each month.

3.   Switch Providers

If you’ve ever found yourself searching for ways to save money before, then you’ve probably come across this suggestion once or twice. Switching providers for your gas, your electricity, your broadband, and even your TV channels is a great way to cut some serious cash out of your monthly bills. You might be surprised how much you spend just by moving over to someone new.

In during the course of switching you might even find that you can cut certain things out of your “packages” that you’re not using. For instance, if you watch Netflix more than you watch television, there’s no need to pay for an extra 70 premium channels.

4.   Do It Yourself

Remember when you first moved into your home and it all seemed perfect? Then you had a couple of kids, and suddenly the tap doesn’t work properly, the handles are squeaky on your door, and your bathroom tiles look as though they’re about a century old. Rather than seeking the help of a professional, why not manage some of these jobs yourself?

Though you shouldn’t attempt any DIY tasks that might put you in danger – like changing out your electrical wires or repairing your roof, there are plenty of things you can do with just a little bit of guidance from a YouTube video. There are plenty of guides out there that can help you to sort out some difficult challenges without putting yourself in a sticky situation. Committing a little time to learning how to “do it yourself” can be a great way to save money.

5.   Grow What You Eat and Eliminate Waste

How much of the food that you buy each month or week goes into your belly, and how much ends up in the bin? In an ideal world, we would never waste any food, but the truth is that we actually throw away a serious amount of fresh produce and other items every year. If you want to cut down on the amount of money you’re spending on food, a good way to do that is by growing the items you rely on for your favourite recipes instead.

Growing potatoes, carrots, and other essential vegetables is much easier than you think – and you can even grow things in a window box if you live in an apartment without your own garden. Don’t be afraid to break out your green fingers.