How to Get Your Family to Make and Save Money

This week is all about getting your family on board with making and saving money plus how you can do it in different areas of the budget.

Sometimes parents or couples are not on the same page financially; sometimes kids want EVERYTHING and it's hard to say no. Sometimes we simply aren't making enough or are trying to keep up with the Joneses etc.

This time of year I feel is even worse for the wanting everything attitudes due to all the advertising for Black Friday and Christmas etc.

Everything in here will be all about getting your family on the same page and excited. A lot of the content here I haven't shared elsewhere.

I've been married, divorced, homeless as a single mother, reliant on Centrelink then became a multiple international award-winning CEO and advocate to end homelessness and domestic violence. When it comes to life and money, we have kind of experienced it all so the tips in this email are from a variety of experiences.

What to do When Your Partner is Hopeless With Money

This is a common reader question that comes in various forms. Having had a partner who was hopeless with money, I know how difficult it can be to get on the same page financially.

I share my tips here but also want to say, tread carefully. If there is any form of financial abuse, get out. That is completely different to someone being financially illiterate or simply having different goals.

How to get Your Family on Board to Save Money

Being frugal is tough if the family are not on board. Here are my tips to get them involved and excited. In our home, we discuss our savings goals, the life we want, have visual reminders and are open about our budget.

With these discussions, we are open, light hearted and positive. It's not about dumping financial woes on the kids, it's about having a family goal and purpose.

How Australia's Top 1% Manage Money

Have you ever wondered how the wealthiest in Australia manage their money? A while back, I interviewed a few and the similarities were interesting. It's a long post but worth the read.

Budgeting

Setting a budget or having a plan is crucial for success with your money. A budget can be as simple as knowing your expenses and income, ensuring you spend less than you earn and are actively saving.

Check out how to create a budget and stick to it. Also, if you are a single income family or single parent, there is even more in this post for you.

Family Freebies

While you might think it's easier to get freebies as a single person, thre are lots of ways families can too. Check out how a family can live for free which has tips on everything from accommodation to food. When it comes to travel, I share my tips on how to do it for free or cheap here PLUS how to make money as a family while travelling.

Also, check out all the free vouchers and discounts by state here and 50 ways to live for free.

Education and Entertainment

When it comes to education costs, they add up quickly! I've shared how to save money on education/school here including everything from uniforms to technology.

As for entertainment, check out 37 frugal activities for families as well as 25 frugal date night ideas.

General Money Saving Tips for Families

There are so many other areas of the budget and life to cover. Here are a few useful articles I have written.

​Complete list of everything you can use your pension/health care card for​

​How to get your kids to help at home - applicable because the more they help the less dependent they are on you as they grow

​How to be close to your kids without spending a fortune​

​How to have a baby on a budget​

​How to teach your kids about money​​

​How to manage expensive invitations when you can't afford them e.g. weddings, parties etc. ​

​H​ow to save money on kids birthday parties​​

​43 ways for single mums to make money​

​7 tips for beauty on a budget​​

​11 things that will make your life more eco-friendly on a budget​

​The real cost of raising kids and how to reduce it​

​How to save money on groceries

Our Meal Plan

This week we fly from Tonga to Vanuatu so our meals will change slightly. Once we get to Vanuatu it will be smoothies or rice, eggs and fruit for breakfast. Sometimes tuluk as it is my favourite. We will also have lap lap regularly and whatever is in season.

You can find a few traditional foods here but I'll share more of what we are cooking/eating and how we live on my other channel - Kylie Travers and @kylieleetravers on all social channels Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Threads.

To help you save money on groceries, I have 20+ tips to reduce the cost of groceries plus how to reduce waste/what to do with scraps and leftovers.

What I Am Reading

Talking with and learning from women is something I truly love. A Wisdom Of Age: An uplifting and inspiring book about the wisdom of older women, from the bestselling author of A Question of Age fits with that passion perfectly.

Wisdom of Age was sparked by the many conversations Jacinta Parsons has had recently with older women right around the country about the experience of being a woman and ageing. Over the course of these encounters, it became clear to Jacinta that the conversation about ageing for women is alive and bubbling with a kind of excitement - that is, women are ready to do ageing differently.

For this book, Jacinta mines wisdom directly from those who know how to do it well, those older women who say, This is what feels good.

Capturing the brewing tone of revolution that sits in the hearts of middle-aged and older women, A Wisdom of Age tells a different story about ageing - a story about reclaiming the fierce girl we have inside us; about an unapologetic taking up of space; about speaking out and re-finding our confidence; and finally, about wisdom.

The Thrifty Issue Community

For more and to connect with others check out The Thrifty Issue Facebook group, Facebook page, Instagram, Pinterest.​