Are you making the most of your money?

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Money is a big part of life for pretty much all of us. In fact, that may well be an understatement. The truth is that money is one of the biggest parts of life for a lot of people and it's something that many of us have hanging over our heads near constantly. After all, whether we like it or not, money really does make the world go round and being able to manage your money properly is one of the keys to living the kind of life that you really want. Sadly, a lot of people simply don't know how to do that. Luckily, it's something that you can learn quite easily. With that in mind, here are just a few ways for you to start making the most of your money.

Keeping your family afloat with better financial decisions

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There are some that say that raising a family and looking after children is one of the toughest jobs you can have. Well, we would say that without wanting to showboat or boast, this seems true. Raising a new human from complete scratch, trying to help them adapt as best they can to the world around them while also teaching the virtues and making sure they do not replicate your negative personality traits? That is a handful in itself.

Easy Ways to Save Money on Monthly Expenses

If you want to save money on monthly maintenance, then you have nothing to worry about. There are plenty of ways for you to cut back so that you can put yourself in a much stronger financial position.

Public Transport and own vehicle

If you have access to any kind of public transportation then you can save a good amount of money on things like gas, parking and even maintenance too. Every time you choose to leave your car behind, you will be saving and this can have a huge impact on your financial health.

Times when we've needed money fast

Being careful and wise with my money has always been important to me. I've always ensured bills are paid on time, kept an eye on unnecessary spending and saved towards a rainy day fund.

Once I became a parent the importance of being careful with money was more vital than ever. From the day I found I was pregnant with my first born I felt a responsibility to love and care for my bundles of joy. Whilst it means the world to me to give them love, attention and quality time in simple ways it is also extremely important to me that I care for them by keeping a roof over their heads, clothes on their backs and food in their bellies.

Even though money is not everything and does not buy happiness it is important for helping them have a safe home and a caring environment. As such over the years I've developed and honed my budgeting and saving skills so that we can live comfortably within our means and save for the odd treat. Keeping a very close eye on the family's finances and bills, spending wisely in sales, taking advantage of discounts and offers when making a purchase we need along with putting our children's needs before our own (no longer do I splurge on a brand new wardrobe just for the sake of it and the kids getting clothes comes first) and buying second hand items has meant that we always have enough money for day to day family life.

The costs of married life after you say I do

There is a lot of excitement, planning and expense surrounding a wedding. But what happens after you both say I do in front of your loved ones? Married life begins and it is surprising the costs that can follow the wedding.

Millennials, money and beating the January blues

January can be a month for reflection. It can prompt new beginnings. The new year often inspires resolutions and change. It can be a month of hope.

But it can also be a difficult month. The excitement and seasonal joy of December and Christmas is gone. Without Christmas cheer the temperamental, harsh winter weather can dampen spirits. With many people having being paid before Christmas - a week earlier than normal - the month is a long one financially.

Not only does the extra time between paychecks put a strain on our bank balances but the expense of Christmas can also have a negative impact on finances. Many people are left struggling with debt that they have built up over Christmas and festivities surrounding the holiday season.

Unexpected bills - how to deal with them?

As a family who live on a very tight budget and do not have much ‘spare’ money to play with from their low income after all bills and necessities have been covered, dealing with unexpected bills can be difficult.

Take for example when a couple of months ago our old, hardworking machine went bang! To be fair I can’t really complain as it had worked tirelessly for over 10 years without any issues, tackling mountains of washing for our family of four including at points in its life cloth nappies - but being so old meant it was out of any warranties. But with so much washing done in our household on a weekly basis it going bang and deciding to call it quits on washing our clothes was a big problem. Yes I could hand wash bits and pieces but there would be no way I could keep on top of the washing pile doing it by hand. Living away from family meant we could not pop round to a loved ones house to borrow their machine. And with no laundrette close by we were stuck and the washing was piling up.

Saving money for an emergency fund

Many people across the UK are living on low incomes and are living month to month. Incoming coming in is often already ‘spoken for’ and goes out as quick as it hits the bank to pay bills and debts. That leaves very little money to live on, with the end of the month being the hardest time as people struggle to survive until pay day.

For people, couples and families who have low incomes which leaves them with very little, if any disposable income having ‘spare’ money for treats and non-essentials can be difficult or even out of the question.

Voucher codes, avoiding the sales & meal planning - helping us to survive expensive January

Like most people across the country our family is one where we have a low income and live paycheck to paycheck with very little or no ‘spare’ money.

Following on from the expensive festive month of December and having had to overcome a long January when the last paycheck back in December seems like a lifetime ago, this month has been a very expensive month.

The 7 tips to help you buy your next family car

There are many purchases that become essential when it comes to having children. It’s amazing how the shopping list expands, and things you hadn’t even considered suddenly enter the fray. But one of the most significant purchases you can make as a young family is that of a new car. It is such a big part of family life that commonly we even take our car with us when we relocate. Thankfully if you need to move vehicles to go with your new life there are companies who move cars worry free, for more information click here. When it comes to buying a car, finding something that’s spacious, reliable, economical and, above all, good value for money is no easy thing, particularly when you consider the wider picture.

After all, it isn’t just about the cost price of the car. Running costs, insurance, servicing and depreciation are significant factors, and will use up a considerable amount of your budget. So the key is to get it just right. Many have a preference for buying new cars, with the guarantees and warranties that come with them firmly in mind. Yet while that is understandable, there is still good value to be had in the used-car market too.Whichever route you decide to go down, it’s vital to cover your bases, thus ensuring that the car you eventually choose is the right one for you. Here are some tips to help you get there.

1. Look at the one-year market

The downside to buying new cars, quite simply, is this: they plummet in value as soon as you drive them away for the first time. In fact, new cars lose up to 40 per cent of their value over the first 12 months. Certain brands hold their value better than others, but the bottom line is that you are dramatically slashing your upfront costs if you look within this particular niche – and should still be able to find something in great condition.

Managing Money: A guide for busy parents!

Family life is ultimately a blessing, and we should all be grateful for it. One area that it can cause trouble for some, though, is finances. With mouths to feed and bills to pay, this stuff can very quickly pile up!

So how can parents, and families, cope better? What systems are in place to help them in a pinch, and what tips and tricks can they adopt? From loans to luxuries to allowances, let’s take a look at a quick guide to help parents manage money.

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Pro-tip: Talk to your kids about money!

Assuming they’re at a suitable age, have a chat with your children about money. Help them understand how important it is, and how important it is to save. Tell them where money comes from, and how much your household runs on per month. This way, your children will be more appreciative of how hard you work for them, and the food on their plate.

Budgeting after babies.

Becoming a family and having children was truly life changing for Lee and I. From the moment we found out we were expecting our first baby our priorities changed and we embraced the responsibility of being parents.

Many aspects of our lifestyle and routine changed when we became parents, one being the importance of watching our finances and putting the needs of our children before ours. As our baby grew inside of me during the 9 months of pregnancy we swiftly realised that having a child would put a new strain on our finances, with our baby needing baby essentials many of which were costly. Not only would our money be needed for baby things it would be needed to accommodate our child’s growing needs beyond being a baby, from baby throughout childhood all the way to adulthood.

Our spending changed when we became parents, we said goodbye to reckless spending and luxury treats for ourselves and hello to a tight family budget where we had to manage our money carefully and devote our money to all things children related.