Being a mom is the best job in the world, so focus on building memories and not fretting about money. If you manage your money well, the rest will fall into place. Here are some essential money saving tips for working moms.
Essential money saving tips for working moms:
GO UNDERCOVER FOR CASH
Going undercover as a mystery shopper is an easy way for busy moms to make extra cash, or get free meals or activities. There are different options: You can work from home completing mystery calls or emails, or pay mystery visits to local shops. There are a number of ways to get started. Register online at ishopforipsos.com/ en_ZA and set up your mystery shopper profile. You’ll receive tasks in your area that suit your interests on the iShopFor Ipsos app. Or you can download the Secret Agent app and sign up. Once you’re registered, you’ll be able to access jobs and get paid via an app wallet.
LITTLE EINSTEIN?
Just getting your brood through school can cost an arm and a leg these days, and with a university degree expected to cost around R165 000 per year by 2030, you may need to sell your house if they want to study further! Even if your little one isn’t a bookworm, you may want to set them up in a small business, or have the cash so they can travel and take a gap year. To get a rough idea of how to make this a reality, use this flexible calculator at liberty.co.za/
education-calculator. Then get started. There are many options, including unit trusts, tax-free
savings plans or even bank savings accounts that offer good interest rates long term. Remember to always invest so that you beat inflation. Whether you have a budding Picasso, fervent fashion designer or wannabe Kamala Harris, ensure that money is the last thing that stands in the way of their success.
BYE-BYE CHAOS!
Ever find yourself scrambling for your sanity as you juggle being a mom, running a home and building a career? With the Cozi app those days are over. It can be downloaded by the whole family, and there’s a colour-coordinated calendar showing everyone’s activities including meetings, school events, lessons and games. You can create to-do lists, which you can see as part of your daily agenda, so you can schedule account payments, appointments and create shopping and gift lists. It includes an easy menu planner and recipe index, so you can plan dinners for the week, and add the ingredients to your shopping list. No more wasting money trying to remember what you need to buy or scrambling at the last minute to fi gure out what to cook. You can even email the list to someone else to buy the groceries. You’ll save yourself mountains of stress and a bucketload of money.
PAY IT FORWARD
How cool is it to inherit from your parents? Not everyone is so lucky but by paying it forward, you can leave a lasting legacy for your kids – perhaps a property, a business, money or even a rare family heirloom. And if you have taught them good money habits, they’ll pay it forward to their kids in turn, creating an ongoing stream of intergenerational wealth. It starts with having an up-to-date will and making sure that there will be enough cash in your estate to cover all your debts and then some! At capitallegacy.co.za, you can get it sorted out in one foul swoop – they will draft and store your will and advise on life cover. It’s easy, cost-effective and gives you complete peace of mind.
ALSO SEE HOW TO BE MORE MINDFUL ABOUT YOUR MONEY