The fast paced lifestyle we lead makes finding time for housework and other chores near impossible. It’s definitely easier to pay a small fee for services that you don’t have the time or energy to do yourself. Unfortunately it are those luxuries that have to go when financial times get tough. But don’t get discouraged- if everyone in the family does their part, the burden shouldn’t fall on one person alone. And it will give you the opportunity to teach your children the value of making sacrifices and supporting one another in times of hardship.

Start by creating a household chore chart and hang it in a common area of the house- the fridge is a great place. It is best to divvy up the chores by age, giving younger children easy tasks such as retrieving the newspaper in the morning or setting the table for dinner, and leave more difficult projects, like unloading the dishwasher and vacuuming the playroom, to the older children. Consider providing the kids a small allowance at the end of each week if their chores are completed. Some people want to teach their children the value of money at a young age, while others prefer their children participate in household chores without compensation to instill in them the values of cooperation and family obligation.

Cancel extra services to which you have routinely subscribed in the past such as lawn care, cleaning, snow removal, dog walker, dry cleaning, among others. Distribute these chores between family members, pairing younger children with older siblings or yourself and your spouse. Maintaining your own lawn will give you the chance to share the joy of gardening with your young children. Let them pick out an herb or flower seed at the greenhouse to grow in the backyard, and show them how to nourish and water the new plant so it will grow.

Share walking the dog with your younger children- the chore will give you rare time to spend together, just the two of you. Take advantage of the opportunity to ask your child about his/her schoolwork, friends, and sports team. Not only will you save money by walking your dog yourself, you’ll get the chance to bond with your children on a daily basis.

While dry cleaning is much more convenient, especially for delicate items, the price can quickly add up. Instead of taking dress shirts to the cleaners each week, switch to washing them in your home washing machine on delicate settings. Shirts can be dried with air only and ironed with starch to achieve that crispness in the collar that dry cleaners do so well.

Making sacrifices are part of saving money, and the transition period can take some adjustment. But in this case, giving up time and convenience can turn out to be a good trade for more time with your family and the opportunity to teach your children valuable life lessons.

Posted in Pregnancy

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