One-income families know just how hard it can be to make ends meet. This is especially true today, with necessities becoming more expensive. Though it can be challenging, it is possible to make ends meet with just one income.

Keep reading to learn about some of the best money tips for one-income families.

1. Create a Budget

Having a budget is the best thing you can do to improve your financial footing. Taking charge of your finances starts by understanding how much money you’re bringing in and where that money is going.

To get started on creating a budget:

• Write down your income
• List your expenses
• Prioritize and categorize your expenses
• Put money aside to save
• Make plans for any money left over

Once you see where your money is going, you can figure out areas that need to be addressed. Most families find that a lot of their money goes towards food and entertainment costs.

2. Trim Your Expenses

After creating a budget, you’re better positioned to find ways to cut down your monthly expenses. Chances are that you pay for things that you don’t use anymore.

Gym memberships are the most common example. If you only go to the gym once or twice a month, you aren’t putting your money to good use. Save some cash by cancelling your membership and working out at home.

Another common expense are entertainment costs. Do you pay for TV, internet, and phone service? Did you know that by bundling these services, you can save possibly hundreds of dollars?

Trimming your expenses is all about figuring out how to cut down your costs without feeling deprived.

3. Create an Emergency Fund

Living on a single income is stressful. Having an emergency fund can help to ease your financial worries. It can also protect you from unexpected and unforeseen expenses, such as car repair or medical costs.

Ideally, your emergency fund should contain enough funds to cover at least six months’ worth of living expenses. To effortlessly grow this fund, allocate a portion of your paycheck to go directly into a savings account.

4. Shop for Good Deals

Do you tend to buy something from the first store that has it? What if you could have bought the same item from a different store for less? Living on a single income means stretching your dollar as far as it will go.

Instead of buying things out of urgency, shop around for the right deal. With a smaller budget, it’s important to get the best bang for your buck.

When grocery shopping, use coupons and buy in-season produce. When shopping online, use price comparison tools to see which seller offers the lowest price.

5. Spend Time, Not Money

Living on a single income doesn’t mean that you can never go on another family vacation or that random adventures are things of the past. With less cash flowing in, you’ll quickly realize the importance of spending time together versus spending money.

Instead of ordering delivery, cook a meal together as a family. Paying for housekeeping services? Make it a family project to keep the yard looking beautiful. There are expenses you need to cut to save more money.

Find ways that you can save while also spending more time with those most important to you.

Final Thoughts

While one-income families do face unique challenges, living happily on one stream of money isn’t impossible. Use these five tips to get your spending and finances in check to minimize money woes and fears.