Finding precious time as a parent can be tricky when it comes to sitting down and focussing on the weekly finances. Whether it be putting the newborn to bed or just making sure you have some alone time with your husband. It can be a balancing act. We understand how often when we are putting the people who need us most first, it’s easy to forget about our earnings and the growth of our own income.
As a mother, it’s easy to forget things. During the first initial months of pregnancy, we are focusing on what matters most.
Have we eaten even pregnancy vitamins?
Have we gotten enough sleep?
Is my husband going to wake me up with his snoring?
Has the baby eaten enough food?
The list goes on and we make lists in our heads.
We have all heard about the old wives’ tale of the so-called baby brain. Is it really an old wise tale? Women say that the baby brain not only inflicts a lack of concentration but also makes us so indecisive that we spend over six hours mulling over a pram choice.
With this happening it’s easy to see why we get so lost and become indecisive and overwhelmed by all the financial choices we have to make.
We all aim for guilty pleasure as human beings, but as a Mum, we aim at what works best not only for our children but for our family. When it comes to financial matters it’s no wonder why just like the families, kids and home life it can become a struggle. It can be a battle to focus on the plan for financial growth and it can become as untidy as our laundry baskets. In between nap times and driving the children to school, feeding and cooking dinner there can be little time for connecting with our finances.
Here are five easy steps you can implement as a Mother to make your finances easier:
- Saving is a good thing. Create two accounts, one for spending and one for saving and set an automatic transfer into the accounts of 10% of your income so it grows when you are asleep.
- Don’t use a credit card for initial purchases use it for emergencies only this can become a habit as a Mum and get you into hot water as the interest rates pile on.
- Take advantage of parenting benefits from the government, there are so many great initiatives including the 2020 child care subsidy and rent assistance for parents out there.
- Look into advice from a financial planner who suits your lifestyle and stick with them on the journey, it’s easy to chop and change but seeking wisdom when we don’t always understand an area can help a lot when it comes to planning.
- Set a money goal. Whatever it is you want to achieve financially, make it a goal. Plan it out. Then you will have an emotional connection, rather than simply saving for saving’s sake. When it’s something you want, you are more likely to achieve it.
