A parent who has three children asked for advice on the Internet to manage to reduce expenses, confessing that he would like not to deprive his children of certain courses. “Anything you reduce the standard of living,” netizens told him, while other people consider the budget excessive.
Swimming lessons require expenses that few families can afford PHOTO: Pixabay
On a public group on a social network, a parent asked for advice in order to manage to reduce the monthly costs that sometimes approach 20,000 lei. The family has three children, the parents make the budget every month, keeping track of expenses, but it still adds up to considerable amounts.
“Something seems to pop up all the time”
Here is the list of expenses, as presented by the parent:
“– Food – I cook, I don't order -2,500 lei;
– Clothes – I buy from Pepco, Lidl, Carrefour, nothing expensive, sometimes we get clothes from acquaintances – but we still give 400 lei a month;
– shoes – casual 800 lei a round to buy shoes (and you have to often);
– bills 1,500, petrol 1,000 etc.
We don't spend crazy and I still can't get below 12,000 – 13,000 lei per month + almost 6,000 lei for the house.
All the time something seems to appear (for 4,000 lei for two meals, for kineto + orthopedist 1,700 lei, for braces – I won't say anymore). Children want robotics – 500 lei, swimming – 1,800 lei per month, dances and so on). I don't want to limit them either, but I don't know how to reduce expenses anymore. If you have any suggestions, recommendations, tips, smart money management models, anything, I'd appreciate it.” wrote the author of the post.
And the opinions started pouring in. Most parents talked about how important it is to make food at home (although the author of the post mentioned that he does), thus saving considerably. Limiting activities in which children are engaged and for which fees are paid to no more than one per child was another piece of advice.
“I've saved a lot of money since I've been looking for good doctors but who work with the Insurance House, sometimes I couldn't believe how just with a referral I don't pay anything”someone wrote.
“I have two children myself, but I dare to write – my boys were taught that clothes are a necessity, not a fad or a fad. So I picked them up many times from more budget friendly stores. (…) Regarding the extra activities, I tried not to frustrate them, but there are things that we can afford (genre 1 optional/extra paid activity per child) and others that we prioritize. I don't discount food and health. With us, the children are in my care 95% of the time, and for half a year I have been living with them. Before that happened, I started putting all my expenses on paper, by category, on a monthly basis, so I could see exactly where the money was going and what the priorities were”someone else wrote.
“Try to “no longer have”. Build a budget at the beginning of the month that is reasonable but also realistic for you. You deposit the extra earned money difference in a savings account with a maturity period of say 1 month.
Now you have to stay within budget. Don't use credit cards so you can stay on budget more easily.
Write down the expenses in each category in an application. I use Apple Pay and it's easy for me to see them afterwards and write them down – for the budget I use Buddy. Try to write down daily or every few days, then it becomes difficult because you no longer know exactly what you bought.
ITnext one you can help budget based on what worked and what didn't this month. It won't be perfect but it will help you be in control of your money. It's hard when you have a more generous income to deny yourself things, you think “I worked, I deserve it” but it's easy to fall into a vicious circle”was another piece of advice.
“Actually, everything is too expensive”
Most parents said that they make serious savings by buying clothes during sale periods and from stores that are not very demanding, considering that it is not necessary to invest in products with a certain label. A parent who also has three children said that he made the adults responsible and that they buy clothes with their own money, and sometimes he also shops on a website with second-hand clothes.
“The big ones: if they want clothes, since they have scholarships, they buy them with that money. Each has about 1,000 lei per month, if we include the allowance. It's enough and I don't give them any more money, it's enough for any outing, school money or something else. (…) Darrrrr! We spend a fortune on food and never even go out. So actually everything is too expensive! We don't have any problems with other emergencies, we do tests about twice a year and that's all, the rest of the conditions are solved by me or by the family doctor. I don't go to the pediatrician anymore because it's actually a waste of money, and I get normal treatment there, just like at the family doctor. What's more expensive at the moment is with my dentist, but it's something finite, I can't pass it like the monthly expense forever.
Money for diesel is not that much, we now use only one car and spend maybe 300-500 maximum per month on fuel”, his father presented the situation.
“I've always only bought things in February and August”
“If you spend this much on clothes at 7 years old, prepare for much bigger amounts for adolescence. I've always bought things only in February and August, with small variations, because that's when stocks are liquidated, especially for seasonal clothes, for the following year. I'm only looking for clothes made of durable materials, 100% cotton, and only discounts of at least 50%. That way I don't stress about something breaking”, another parent opined.
“The refrigerator saved me”
“The refrigerator saved me. I buy meat every 2-3 months wholesale, when I see vegetables on offer I take and put in bags. I always have a stock of oil, pasta, rice, lentils, beans so that I have something on hand. I buy clothes in the summer for the winter and vice versa.” is another tip.
“One more thing, I make a list of what I'm making for food this week, for example, then I put the products on the sheet. And next to it, a sum of money. For example, 10 lei next to potatoes. At the end, I write the total down. Then I try not to exceed that amount, and from time to time I have a little “left” for many products. And it's very good at the house when instead of 400 lei you give only 350, for example”, someone else writes.
Many parents said that they are not ashamed to buy clothes and even shoes from thrift stores. Moreover, sometimes they wait for discounts in such stores as well. “We are waiting for the discounts at SH to make it worth it”the parents wrote.
Other parents said they organize their activities close to home so that children can walk, opt for extracurricular activities organized at the Children's Palace, which are free of charge, look for the best deals with electricity and gas suppliers, at they did the same with banking services, they lowered the temperature in the home in winter by two degrees Celsius, etc.
“What is still a challenge and we are looking for convenient solutions – the health side. When there is an episode of illness, we end up spending a lot because we need urgent control/urgent analyzes and we don't have time to wait for appointments in advance, etc.”, another parent wrote.
Other parents say that they hunt for discounts not only on clothes, but also on detergents and cleaning products, and they also accept help from their parents, buying vegetables and meat and even receiving financial help. Those with small children are looking to hire young female students as babysitters, sometimes the rates are lower.
“Life is very expensive in Romania, compared to income. Basic things: food, clothes, cleaning and hygiene products have the same price, if not even a little higher compared to other European countries, where the average salary is higher, where parents receive subsidies, free classes for children. I don't see where you could cut any more without lowering your standard of living”concludes one parent, while others, who have settled abroad, are simply outraged by the high prices for swimming lessons.
“Holy God, how much does it cost to swim! In Belgium we pay about 300 euros a year or something like that”, writes another parent.
“Yes, it is a significant expense. In my city, 2 sessions/week × 2 children = 1,000 lei/month”, “300 lei x 3 children = 900 lei. 1,800 seems enormous to me”, “I pay almost 200 euros per month for two children”, “570/month 8 sessions. Bucharest, not central, not fitze, bordering area as much as possible” there are other rates presented by parents for paid swimming lessons for children.
