One of the BEST ways to save money, is to avoid spending – and the best way to do that, is to stay home and enjoy being at home.
That can be really hard for some people though, at times – especially when the majority of America is driven by consumerism (grocery store ads, fliers, store fliers, sales, even trips to Target).... or when we spend time on Pinterest and see images of perfect homes.
When that happens it’s hard to make the most out of our own homes – but if we can, it’s a great way to save money. Do you like staying home?
I have to say I LOVE staying home. The thought of leaving the house for me is just daunting – I’m not sure if it’s because here in Arizona it’s hot in the summer (and right now it’s April and so hot already)… or it’s traveling with all of the kids. Or, it’s the risk of traveling with the kids and 2 of them falling asleep before we get to the destination (because, that can be just as hard!)
I hate going to any store – whether it be Target (honestly haven’t been there in probably 6 months or more..), the grocery store (haven’t been since… maybe December or Jan?), and I just despise any store. If I have to get something I’ll make my husband do it .. but that’s a rarity. I force myself to use what I have and make do and it works out well.
Plus, I could spend all day in the kitchen. I love to cook. I enjoy to bake. I might not *love* to clean, but once you get me on a roll I just don’t stop…. with 4 kids I can always find can room to clean or organize and laundry is always readily available.
So why stay home?
Staying home saves you some pretty nice cash – especially if you have a pretty big vehicle to haul around your children. It also saves you from the temptations of buying things.
All kinds of things.
Things like stopping at SONIC for Happy Hour.. or, stopping at the grocery store for something relatively low in cost. The MINUTE you pull out of your driveway you are inundated with marketing – from signs to stores, flashing lights, and even on the radio.
You suddenly feel the need to quench your thirst at the drive through; your kids feel the need for ice cream. A slight pit stop at the grocery store or craft store can add up to be a pretty big expense, especially if you are shopping with a debit card and you take kids in with you.
Being at home forces you to use what you have available. NOT giving yourself an option to stop at the store for one thing forces you to make dinner with what you have in your cabinets, pantry or even fridge/garden. Staying home forces you to find enjoyment with what you have versus finding enjoyment through retail therapy.
Save Money by Multi-Tripping
When we say multi-tripping, we want to help you save by making your trips intentional. Although we aren’t too far from the closest store, we always try to combine trips when we do go places.
If we have several places to stop while we are out, we will try to plan it all for the same day – it’ll help you stay focused, and hopefully spend less. One afternoon out with the kids is definitely a cost saver versus 4 different trips on 4 different days – right? Your wallet will thank you.
Make your Home Enjoyable to Spend Time
By making your home an enjoyable place to spend time, you might actually find it enjoyable to stay home – especially when it’s hot outside or once Monsoon season starts and it gets dusty/rainy.
Find ways to create a comfortable space – pull out all your old fabric and sew up some throw pillows – re-do the bedroom, have your children help you redo their rooms with items you can dig up from around the house. Find ways to keep your kids busy beyond screens – invest in a waterslide and sprinklers for them for the backyard with a Summer Slush Fund. Have an art station set up … keep bins of craft materials handy for your kids who love hands on projects.
Do things and find things that will help you fight boredom and encourage you to forego the need to spend for enjoyment. You might just find that you LOVE staying home when you have lots of opportune ways to keep busy.
Find Balance
Obviously staying home every day is not an option for most of us – but learning how to find balance is something that we can all do. I don’t think any of our kids would love staying home every day… they would be bouncing off walls.
But it is possible to set a schedule to go on planned trips – then stay home for other days. By setting a schedule you’ll have some predictability with your children and can give them an idea of what they can expect each day. My kids do better with a schedule, I’m sure yours do too.
Find places to go that don’t require a cost for admission – take advantage of local activities that will help you avoid spending – there truly are plenty of things out there to keep you and your family busy that don’t involve swiping a debit card at each location.
Here are some ideas:
- Over 30 Fun Free or Low-Cost Summer Activities for Kids in Phoenix
- Museums with FREE Admission in Phoenix, AZ