We all know that running a family home adds up. Every single day, more and more expenses sneak in and drain away at our budget.

Whether it's forking out for new school books, spending money on daily essentials or unexpected bills, sometimes it can be hard to save anything. We understand. But what if there was a way that you could still enjoy family life and save those all-important pennies?

For the next four weeks we'll be giving some simple tips on how you can get the best bang for your buck when it comes to running a family home.

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Swap the weekly takeaway for a night of homecooked heaven:

Instead of spending money on a takeaway, why not save pennies by making your own?

In many Irish households, the weekly takeaway on a Friday or Saturday night is a treat that everyone looks forward to. However, depending on the size of your family, a takeaway could cost you anything from €20 to €40.

Now we're not saying that you have to deprive the kids of their weekly treat but how about changing things slightly so your children eat better and you save some cash?

Why not try designating Friday or Saturday evening as a special 'homecooked' evening? Sit down with a cookbook and ask your family what they'd like. If they fancy a pizza, try making a homecooked one for half the calories and half the price. If they fancy a curry, put on your chef's hat and see what you can accomplish in the kitchen - you never know, you might find a new signature dish for yourself!

The best thing about this exercise is that you'll still be getting your weekly treat and you can get the children involved as well. See how much fun they have when you ask them to bake some cupcakes for dessert or ask them to help you as you cook.

The recession has hit a lot of families in Ireland very hard but by making simple changes you'll be surprised at how much you can save without giving up the small things that provide valuable family time on a weekly basis.

You could even go one step further and use €5 out of the money you've saved to rent a DVD that you and your family can watch as you enjoy your homecooked meal. It's a win/win situation and your purse will definitely thank you for it!

 

With thanks to our friends at PINERGY - No Bills. No Fuss. Just Top Up! Check out PINERGY.ie