saving money for your family - adding in the "What-Ifs" (2024)

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Welcome back to our week-long series on saving money! Today is DAY 3.

Day 3- Saving money for your family -adding in the What-ifs (& they will happen)

This information is inspired from my post: HOW TO BECOME A STAY AT HOME MOM ON ONE INCOME.

So, if you followed the steps on day 1- Can I afford to quit my job and day 2-how to transition to staying home, you have figured out where your money is going, how much you have to work with and what you need to live off of, comfortably.

Now it is time to jump into the “what ifs” – or should I say “when-it-happens” and how saving money for your family NOW will be what you will need THEN:

There are always times when you spend more than you anticipate. Our family of six found that one month we paid $1,600 in medical bills and the next month it was $1,400 in medical bills. A month later it was $60. Those first two months, we spent a LOT, but it wasn’t our normal spending. This put a damper into our idea of how much we had to spend (and this is where our savings came into play. We save for things like this.) Those months were out of the ordinary… two of our kids had tubes put in their ears. A week later, our other son developed pneumonia and had to be hospitalized for four days (he has asthma). It was a rough month, but it wasn’t the first time this had happened. A few years ago, we were paying $1200 every two weeks for our sons asthma medicine (thatdid not have a generic version). Thankfully they have a generic now!

This just brings my next point to the table…You need to know that expenses like this CAN come up and you need to be prepared. Normally, we spend less every month for routine visits to the Pediatrician, ENT, Dentist, etc., but that can be thousands, even with good health insurance (Our health insurance is the best that my husband’s company offers through United Health Care, but 20% of any bill still adds up to a lot when you have large bills or a large family). If you’ve read our son’s story, you know that we see specialists a lot. Sometimes we will go six times a month to specialists and physical therapists, etc… (ps-here is the good outcome!) At one point we were paying $1000 a month for therapies.

So, when adding up the numbers, be sure to highlight the abnormal payments, as well as your normal payments. (Car tires, car repairs, house repairs... calculate all of these things because they can happen againand probably will.) Do you foresee a new heater or a new roof?

If you feel like this is more than you would normally spend,highlight it.Next, take that highlighted number and divide it by 12, giving you an idea of your “abnormal spending” per month. You can save money for these things and keep it in your savings account. If you don’t think that anything will happen, it is a safe bet to just add in a couple of hundred a month for these things, just in case. You want to be prepared when these cases arise.

Next, you want to try to decide how much money you can save by cutting back on certain items.

  • Would keeping your child home from daycare or preschool save you enough money to allow you to stay home?
  • Would eating at home every night instead of eating out be all that you need to do?
  • Do you need to work enough to make $200 a month to be able to stay home?
  • How can you do this? (I have several ‘at home’ job ideas in my ebook: You Can Be a Stay at Home Mom on One Income).
  • Look at your outgoing payments compared to your incoming payments and see where you stand.

Ok- so today, go back to your ingoing/outgoing tab and look at this, adding in these “extra” payments.

You can head over to Paula at Beauty Through Imperfection to see her Day 3 – How to make more money in 2014.

When you are ready, you can move onto to DAY # 4… here it is… HOW TO QUICKLY BUILD UP YOUR SAVINGS ACCOUNT.saving money for your family - adding in the "What-Ifs" (3)

PS-If you need more money-saving tips, here is my ebook,You can be a Stay at Home Mom on One Income.

Categorized as: Saving Money, YourModernFamily

saving money for your family - adding in the "What-Ifs" (5)

Hi there!

I’m Becky, a former elementary school teacher turned certified child development therapist and blogger. I work at home with my husband and together we are raising (and partially homeschooling) our four children in the Carolinas. I love diet co*ke, ice cream, and spending time with my family.

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saving money for your family  - adding in the "What-Ifs" (2024)

FAQs

What is the percentage of saving for the family? ›

This budgeting rule states that you should allocate 50 percent of your monthly income for essentials (such as housing, groceries and gas), 30 percent for wants and 20 percent for savings.

Why does a family need to save money for? ›

Long-Term Security

Saving money allows you to create a safety net for your future expenses as well as unplanned financial needs. The more you save, the more peace of mind you have, as you are better prepared for anything life throws at you.

Why is money important in the family? ›

Money can't buy happiness, but it can buy security and safety for you and your loved ones. Human beings need money to pay for all the things that make your life possible, such as shelter, food, healthcare bills, and a good education.

What is the 70 20 10 money rule? ›

The 70-20-10 budget formula divides your after-tax income into three buckets: 70% for living expenses, 20% for savings and debt, and 10% for additional savings and donations. By allocating your available income into these three distinct categories, you can better manage your money on a daily basis.

What is the 70 15 15 rule? ›

She suggests that your Essentials should be about 70% of your budget and your Extras and Savings should each be 15%. This is a great plan if you live in a city where the cost of living is high or if you and your family's essentials are just more than 50% of your budget.

How much money should a family have saved? ›

It depends on your individual situation. Aim for at least three to six months of living expenses as part of an emergency fund.

How much money do you need to sustain a family? ›

The Living Wage For a Family of Four in All 50 States
RANKSTATELIVING WAGE
47New York$118,127
48California$130,239
49Massachusetts$142,341
50Hawaii$182,900
46 more rows
Sep 12, 2023

How to budget for a family of 5? ›

We like the 50/30/20 budget as a place to start. It splits your income three ways: 50% toward needs, such as groceries, housing, basic utilities, transportation, insurance, child care and minimum loan payments. 30% toward wants, such as travel, gifts and meals out.

What comes first, family or money? ›

In today's society, money is a necessity for living a comfortable life. Families need to have both family values and money in order to be successful. While it is important to teach our children the importance of family values, we also need to make sure that they understand the importance of money.

How does money affect family life? ›

The stress of financial instability can also lead to one or both partners feeling overwhelmed and unsupported, further driving a wedge between them. Kids, too, aren't immune. They might sense the tension between their parents or feel the impact of financial constraints in their daily lives.

What's more important, money or family? ›

You need both money AND family to get somewhere in life. Family is nice and all, but money is something you need to survive in the world. And money can't buy you the love that family and friends can give you. If you don't care about family—and are selfish, then money is far more important than anyone else.

How much cash should a family keep? ›

While you're working, we recommend you set aside at least $1,000 for emergencies to start and then build up to an amount that can cover three to six months of expenses. When you've retired, consider a cash reserve that might help cover one to two years of spending needs.

How do I help my family financially? ›

Give Non-Cash Assistance

If you're uncomfortable or unwilling to give your family member cash, consider giving non-cash financial assistance, such as gift cards or gift certificates. You'll have more control over what your money may be used for, and you can easily buy gift cards in varying amounts at most stores.

What is a good savings rate for a family? ›

Here's a final rule of thumb you can consider: at least 20% of your income should go towards savings. More is fine; less may mean saving longer.

How much does the average family have in savings? ›

Average savings account balance by household size
Type of householdAverage savings balance
Single, no children (over the age of 55)$37,220
Single with one or more child$16,800
Couple, no children$103,140
Couple with one or more child$73,890
1 more row
Jul 22, 2024

What is the 70 30 rule? ›

In doing so, they miss out on the number one key to success in investing: TIME. The 70/30 Rule is simple: Live on 70% of your income, save 20%, and give 10% to your Church, or favorite charity. This has many benefits in addition to saving 20% of your income.

What is the 50 30 20 rule of money? ›

Key Points. The 50-30-20 rule is a simple guideline (not a hard-and-fast rule) for building a budget. The plan allocates 50% of your income to necessities, 30% toward entertainment and “fun,” and 20% toward savings and debt reduction.

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