Few will fault a busy parent for relying on quick fixes to get through the week. A takeaway meal here, a handy online order there. But while these small decisions can make day-to-day life easier, they can also put undue pressure on your budget.
Below, we look at some common shortcuts and oversights many parents are guilty of and how you can stay in control of your spending without adding more to your already full plate.
Falling back on food deliveries
After a busy day working or wrangling the kids, being able to tap a few buttons on your phone and have dinner arrive at your door feels like a blessing. But relying too much on takeout has its downsides. Depending on how often you're ordering each month, your deliveries could be costing you more than a full grocery shop.
You don't need to swear off takeout completely, but it might be a good idea to have a list of low-effort homemade meals that you can fall back on when you're short on time and energy. Tray bakes, pasta dishes and stir-frys can be healthy and easy to throw together and batch cooking can also help you cut down on time spent in the kitchen.
Multiple subscriptions to keep kids entertained
Are you paying for streaming services that you rarely use or have forgotten you even had? One way to stay on top of your subscriptions is to rotate services instead of accumulating them. So, if you're thinking about signing up for a new platform, first cancel one you and your kids use less often. You can also choose ad-supported plans if they're available — these are usually cheaper and offer the same shows and movies your family enjoys.
Going overboard with online shopping
Like food deliveries, online shopping has made it easy to tick items off your to-do list without leaving the house. But many people find themselves buying items they don't really need or opting for higher-end versions when a more affordable alternative would do the job just as well.
This can be especially costly for new parents, who need to clothe, entertain and shuttle around a rapidly growing bub. Before buying new things, check if friends and family have items that they're happy to pass on and browse online marketplaces for quality second-hand items like prams, high chairs and toys.
Over-relying on BNPL services
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services can be a practical way to spread the cost of larger purchases. But the benefit of these services — making things that would otherwise be unaffordable seem within reach — is also their downside. If you overdo it and have multiple purchases running at once, you might be putting more pressure on your finances than you realise.
Before turning to BNPL — and the same goes for credit cards — first ask yourself if the purchase is really necessary and then try to work out how the repayments will impact your cash flow in the near term. You might realise you'd be better off saving a little longer and paying upfront or even not buying that item at all.
Too busy to review your home loan
With everything else on your plate, it's easy for your home loan to slip down the priority list. But if you can find time in between the school drop-offs and weekend soccer matches to review your interest rate and repayments, it could be well worth the effort.
If you feel like you're paying too much, take some time to scan the market for an idea of what other lenders are offering. Taking your findings to your current lender might compel them to offer you a better deal. And even if you don't have any luck, you might be able to refinance to another lender.
Don't underestimate how much difference a lower interest rate can make. You could be looking at immediate financial relief (in the form of lower monthly repayments) and potentially thousands in interest saved over the long-run.
Parents — especially new ones — have their work cut out for them tending to their family's needs. But with a few small adjustments, it's possible to ease the strain on your budget without making life any harder.
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Disclaimer
The information and any advice in this article does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and so you should consider its appropriateness having regard to these factors before acting on it. When considering whether to acquire a financial product, before making any decision, you should obtain the relevant product disclosure statement.
