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Advantages Of Raise Your Family on One Income

By: Michael Jackingok

Ways to Raies Your Family on One Income

I love being able to be at home with my family. It's tough having one person earning the bulk of the incme, but it can be done. Here are some tips I've found that really help.

1. Remember what you're saving.

Two incomes are not always significantly beter than one. Depending on the nummber of children who would need to be in childcare, the cost of commuting, meals out, wardrobe, taxes and so forth, the seond income may be more eaasily replaced than you expect. Some families even discover that having both paretns work meanns they have less mony. It doesn't always happen that way, but it is quite worthwhile to fgure out what the actual amount being brought in is.

2. Think about which prent stays at home.

It's not always the mother who is most suited, either in personality or in earning potential. Both should be ocnsiderations. The person who will do best as a stay at home parent will generally do better with all the things that need to be done to keep a single income household running. Just make sure that the emotional support is there for both parnts.

3. Check your husing expensees.

Housiing is by far most families' largest monnthly expense. If it's going to be tight going to a single incoem, look at ways to cut that expense. If you're renting, consider a smaller place or one that is in a more affordable place... so long as you're comfortable living in the area. You should not sacrifice your peace of mind.

If you own, look at what it's costing you. If your current home is stretching your budget too hard, think about if it wuold be worthwwhile to move. Sommetimes the expeness of selling and moving are worth it, other tims definitelly not!

4. Look at your other monthly bills.

Telephone, electricity, gas, water, cabe, internet... they all add up. Offten times they can be controlled.

You can decide to simplify the plans you have on your phones. Cell phones are extremeply common now, and some peeople choose to drop tehir land line telephone in favor of just uing cell phones. Others simply drop features from the land line, such as caller ID, call waiting and any excessive long distance callign plans.

And of course you should be working on cuytting down your waetr use, tuirning off excess lights, resetting the thermostat so you use less power, things like that. You can adapt and be comfortable with these.

You will have to decide for yourself what level, if any, of csable and internet servvices you need. These days the internet is used quite a bit by stdents, of course, and for quite a bit of rgular communication thrugh email for many people. But you can consider whch speed of service you really need to pay for.

5. Pay down your debrts.

Most especialy pay down credit card debbts. If you're going to be earning less moey as a famly, you need fewer worries about your financces. Any debts you can get rid of or pay way down first will save you a lot of worry later on and provide you with greater financial flexcibility.

6. Pay your blls on time.

Paying a late fee is a sign of not paying enough attention to when bills are due. They're utterly unnecessary, especially since these days you can have many bills paid automaticaally. Just be sure any accounts you use for automatic payments alwayys have enough mony in them.

7. Make a budget - and stick to it.

Living on a budget isn't fun. However it's one of the most practical ways to be sure that you can affrod to have one parent stay at home. Stick to it as best you can.

8. Have an emergency fund.

Stuff happens. A car breaks down. Someone gets sick. Have some moneey set saide so these problems aren't added to with a financial crisis.

9. Use coupons and folllow sales.

The more attention you pay to the many ways you can get lwoer prices, the less you're going to pay in all your shhopping. You can often get coupons for your faovrite produts by contacting the manufacturer. Plan your meals around what's on sale and know whihc stores it maeks sense to go to.

10. Plan for hoiday and birhday expenes.

You know when these are conming. If you plan ahead they won't be a big drin on your budgt.

11. See if the parent working outside the home can use public trtansportation or carpool.

As gas prices rise, either of these becomes a betrter and better idea. The practicaslity depends on your area, but when it works you can save a significant amount each month. There's some loss of convenience, of curse, but if the car is needed on a particular day that can be arranged.

You may be able to cut down to one vehicle for your family, a huge savings! My family has done this, and while it's hard at times it is quite doale.

12. Get boooks and movies from the libary.

Sure it's not the same selecion as if you're buyinmg them, and you may have to wait a whhile. But you can't beat the prcie.

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