As a working mom, I have guilt. This often manifests itself as a compulsion to take my kids to “quality events,” like the circus. The day we went was a perfect summer day, but that didn’t stop me from blithely shelling out money to make the kids sit inside in the dark. And, in my defense, they were momentarily riveted when the first trapeze artist swung past.
“Whoa,” my two-year-old daughter commented. “That’s hard to do.”
Then the kids lost interest and all heck broke loose. They screamed. They ran in different directions. Ushers chased us. And I had paid $125 for this experience – money that I wouldn’t have spent if I’d been home with my kids all week instead of at work.
Although there may be a few reasons for working besides the money – that stellar office coffee, for example – ultimately, those of us that punch a clock do it to support our families. So it’s pretty ironic that working actually causes so many of us to waste lots of that hard earned cash. When it’s not the guilt making us spend, it’s the belief that we’re just too tired or busy to avoid it.
So how can we stop? One way is to adapt the savings tricks that stay-at-home moms use all the time. Below are a few great ones that don’t take much effort.
• Slash expensive activities. Remember that to little kids, a mud puddle is just as entertaining as the circus on a spring day. When you do decide to splash out on admission fees, plan ahead to secure bargains. Call the attraction you’ll be visiting and ask about discounts, or carefully review its Web site. You’ll almost always unearth coupons, library passes, or discounted dates or times of day that apply.• Don’t pay top dollar to eat. Food is a great place to start watching your pennies since working parents typically blow tons of money on convenience products.
- *Excavate a mystery container from your freezer instead of buying lunch at work today or calling for pizza tonight. Pretend you’re on Survivor!
- *Plan easy meals in advance so you have the ingredients on hand. Buy mostly frozen veggies though, or you’ll have to throw out produce if your good intentions of cooking don’t materialize.
- *Kick your spouse outside to barbeque dinner – it’s faster and cheaper than eating out. This still works fine in the winter as long as he can find the grill under the snowdrifts.
- *When you do find yourself at a restaurant, cut your losses. Make a game out of ordering as inexpensively as you can.
- *If you have a baby, breastfeed instead of using formula. Even if you buy or rent a high-quality pump for work, you’ll still save. Yeah, so a window washer swung by my office once while I was pumping. You get over it.
• Use your breaks wisely. After a morning of slaving away, it can be tempting to spend your lunch hour hitting Ann Taylor with your girlfriends or running into Target for that “one item” that somehow turns into half a cart full of stuff. Instead, seek out little ways to unwind that won’t break the bank. Take a brisk walk or a jog, head to the closest park and spend some time meditating, or put your feet up with a good library book.
• Network. Moms at home save simply by hanging with other moms. They form free playgroups instead of paying for Baby Gymnastics, they do babysitting swaps with friends, or they trade outgrown cloths or toys. Starting a parents’ group at work can help you achieve these same goals. Suggest small office initiatives like a kids’ clothing “put and take.” (If you bring in one nice shirt you’re allowed to take one shirt.) It’s beneficial for your employer too – for the small price of providing a closet, he/she earns points for looking family friendly.
With a little effort, it really is possible to waste less and start making our jobs pay for our families’ real dreams, like saving for college, buying a home, or traveling.
Then again, if I could score front row tickets next time, I bet my kids would really dig the circus! I’ll keep you posted.
Hybrid Mom,
