Life is expensive. Life with kids is even more expensive. So how do some parents who rely on one income not only survive, but still find ways to create a happy, well-rounded life for their families?

Evaluate your biggest expenses.

According to Leah Ingram, a money saving expert and author of Suddenly Frugal: How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less, housing, transportation and education are the largest expenses facing today’s families. If you can reduce spending in one of those areas, you’ll live more comfortably on less, she advises.

“For most Americans, owning a home is the American dream. But for so many people, especially families with children, renting in a good school district makes more sense than buying a home in a lower-quality school district,” Ingram says.

Thinking about leaving your job to stay home with your children? First, create a spreadsheet that compares the costs of commuting and childcare versus how much you’ll save on those two expenses once you’re down to one income.  “Sometimes it actually makes more sense for both parents to continue to keep working,” she points out.

According to Pew Research, 31 percent of families live on a single income. Although many families make the choice, others are forced into the position.

Control your inclinations. 

Beth Beseau, whose children are ages 8 and 5, is the primary breadwinner in her family. “We’ve had to be flexible and willing to make adjustments in our lifestyle,” she says. She says her greatest challenge is controlling the urge to impulse buy.  “When you’re making a purchase, you have to ask yourself if it’s a want or a need. If you can do without it, then don’t buy it,” she advises.

Slim down your food budget.

Decide how often you can afford to dine out at restaurants as a family. Instead of hitting the drive-thru for coffee every morning, make your own at home. And brown bag your lunches for work and school.  

Planning your family’s meals ahead of time can help you save money by curbing the need to pick up unhealthy fast food on the fly. Try planning your weekly meals around whatever specials your favorite grocer is offering that week. Or, head to a bulk store like Costco or Sam’s. Take an afternoon to prepare meals that you can stick in the freezer and pull out on evenings when you don’t have time to cook.

Emily Cowden and her husband Jason have five children, ages 10, 8, 6, 4, and 2. Cowden left her job as a registered dietitian to stay home with her children and home school.  As a busy mom who is also committed to eating healthy on a frugal budget, she often skips time-consuming coupon-cutting, instead looking for sales at stores like Aldi and Sprouts that offer healthy organic foods. She found that eliminating processed snacks and cereals was especially helpful.

“This cuts out a lot of unnecessary foods and unnecessary spending, leaving room for more nutrient-dense fruits, vegetables and proteins,” she says.  

Get creative.

Many moms also turn to direct sales opportunities, like Pampered Chef, Mary Kay and Thirty One, as ways to pad their income. “Just be sure that stocking up (on product) doesn’t sack all of your earnings,” Ingram advises, adding “Also you have to have the right personality to do direct sales. Not everyone is outgoing and direct sales is not a path to easy money. These women work very hard, even if it’s at night and in people’s living rooms.” 

The Cowdens sell essential oils and other products through Young Living to help support their goal to live a healthy lifestyle. Rather than carrying an inventory, the couple works to educate others about the benefits of using essential oils properly.

The extra income helps cover extracurricular activities for their children, meals with friends and vacations.  “This winter we’re actually planning a trip to Europe for just my husband and me,” Cowden says. 

Beseau says she sells items that she no longer needs, uses or wants. “The pocket cash has come in very handy,” she says.  Other moms turn their skills into entrepreneurial ventures that they can run from home like freelance writing, photography or baking. 

Seek free or cheap family entertainment. 

Ironically, happy memories are usually borne from what seem like mundane family activities. Go on bike rides together, visit area parks, get out the watercolors and have a paint party, play board games, make homemade pizzas together or check out movies or video games at the library.

Also stay tuned for coupons and deals at area attractions for reduced price or free admissions.

Still struggling? 

“Make a list. Put your values and priorities in order. Budget around that,” Cowden says. “If you find all of your income going towards things that don’t bring you joy, it’s time to reevaluate and get creative.”

Additional resources

• Visit Emily and Jason Cowden at ourhobbyhome.com 
• Stock your freezer using the cookbook Fix, Freeze and Feast by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik.
• Plan meals on shoe-string budget. Visit 5DollarDinners.com.
• Learn more from Leah Ingram at www.leahingram.com. 

Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines and her husband are the parents of two boys. Christa is the author of Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World. 

9-year-old musical talent wows Toledo

Two-year-olds across the globe bang on pots and pans with reckless abandon while their bemused parents go about their business. Few do so with such inspired rhythm and passion as to compel their parents to actually go out and buy a drum set. For Elizabeth and Gregory Buchanan, there seemed no choice in the matter for their son Gregory Jr..

Early Musician

Mrs. Buchannan fondly recalls that no surface was safe: “Once little Greg got to the glass table, we knew we had to do something! My husband went out and bought him a $25 drum set from Walmart.” Within weeks, that set was played to pieces. At that point, Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan understood that their son was a musical force to be reckoned with.

Elizabeth recounts finding four-year-old Gregory hammering a little keyboard with remarkable accuracy to “I Can Only Imagine” playing on the radio. The couple decided that their son was more than just curious about music, and Mrs. Buchanan enrolled Gregory for formal instruction with Tammy Wooten, a Toledo music teacher.

More than a hobby

Mrs. Buchanan shared that as a new parent, she was concerned that her premature son would struggle, but seeing Gregory play music transformed her worries into awe. Young Buchanan quickly became proficient at piano, organ, guitar, and drums. Versed in multiple genres of music, including classical and gospel, Gregory recently added the trumpet and saxophone to his repertoire.

“When he is in flow, the music simply pours out of him,” explained his proud mother. With his full schedule, Gregory prioritizes his service as the minister of music at two area churches: The Ark and Joshua Generation.

Toledo Performances

The Toledo community at large benefits from Gregory’s talents; he has been performing at recitals since he was five years old. The young artist has played for crowds at the Toledo Museum of Art, the Lucas County Committee for Children Cares Awards, The Mary E. Singletary Vocal Arts Competition, and The African American Festival.

Recently, Gregory Jr. was the featured guest artist at the Great Lakes Jazz Festival held in the Ottawa Park Amphitheater. According to Ms. Cheryl Catlin, the event’s organizer for the last five years, “[Performances like Buchanan’s] showcase the power of putting musical instruments in the hands of children and why we are donating a portion of our festival proceeds to buy a piano lab for Central Academy of Ohio [a local K-8 grade school].”

We often wonder as parents how to best nurture our children’s gifts. Gregory Buchanan Jr. revealed his astounding talent very early, prompting his parents to advocate for his musical pursuits. The Buchanans found ways to encourage their son as he eagerly sought out instrument after instrument, thrilling in the challenge of a new format. With his parents’ support, Gregory graciously shares the transcendent gift of music with our community.

Q&A

What’s your favorite activity to do with your family?
Movie night and game night

What is your favorite type of music?
Gospel

Best holiday/Christmas memory?
Christmas when I got my Xbox

What’s your go-to activity for fun?
Xbox

Describe your life in five words or less.
Love, joy, peace, happiness, healthy

What is your favorite Toledo spot?
Guitar Center