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We all want to save money. When you have a family, it can sometimes seem as though there isn’t enough of it go round. So, it’s no wonder we want to make the most of what we get. We go to extremes to save. From selling unwanted items, to

scouring the internet for vouchers and coupons. But, the odd saving won’t do any good when disaster strikes. And, in one form of another, it hits us all sometimes. Unexpected costs can be enough to send you overboard when your boat is already rocking.

The best way to avoid unexpected costs used to be keeping a rainy day fund under your mattress. For obvious reasons, that’s no longer advisable. Savings accounts have long since trumped that idea. They’re safer, and offer interest! Putting money into savings will leave you shorter each month, but it’s a commitment worth making. Work out how much you can afford to save. Be realistic; you don’t need to push yourself. You can put in as much or little as you want. Even so, having a set monthly amount is the best way to ensure you keep up with payments. Even $10 a month will add up.

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That said, it’s possible that savings accounts are going the same way as money under the mattress. No matter how much you save, one blow stands to empty your account. That’s why it makes more sense to familiarize yourself with payment plans. These aren’t practical for covering every eventuality. It may still help to have a savings pot behind you. But, for a lot of things, a payment plan is your best bet. Start on the right footing by

insuring your home and belongings. That way, you’ll be able to claim back should anything break or get stolen. Leak in your home? No problem. You’ll be able to turn to your insurance company without worry.

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It’s also worth covering yourself against illness and injury. The majority of us know the importance of health insurance to avoid medical bills. But, have you considered researching the best dental insurance plans? If not, it’s time to start looking. A toothache is bad enough, let alone when you have to worry about the cost, too! The problem is even worse when you can’t afford the treatment you need. You either have to scrape together money you don’t have or suffer the pain.

Of course, paying money out in this way has its problems. You’ll need to know what money is going out, when and where from. Else, you’re at risk of running yourself into debt. Keep on top of things by writing payment dates in your diary. You could even set up an account for the purpose. Done right, though, plans like these could be lifesavers. They’ll save you having to worry when something happens. They also stand to give you a return. You only have to pay in a small amount each month, but you could see a large payout because of it!

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A lot of people think that going green will be too much effort and cost them too much money, so they simply do not bother, which is a real shame because going green can actually save you some precious green and make your bank balance healthier than ever before! Don’t believe me? Here are several ways you can save green by going green:

Solar Panels

Although you will need to spend some money to have solar panels installed on your property, you should treat

it as a worthwhile investment because, depending on where you live, you could generate most of your electricity needs with them, which means that your energy bills will be slashed to near oblivion. Even when you factor in things like solar maintenance costs, you will probably find that, over their lifetime, you will save much more than you spend by installing solar panels.

Video Conferencing

Instead of paying lots of money to travel for business meetings, conferences and events, that are over in matter of hours, conduct your business through video conferencing services such as Skype and not only will you save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars and cut your carbon emissions, but you’ll be able to go home and sleep in your own bed at night.

Cloth Diapers

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Disposable diapers use a lot of resources in the manufacturing process, and when they are used, they end up in landf

ill, which means they are far from eco-friendly. By switching them for reusable cloth diapers, you could save upwards of $2000, and your baby will probably find them more comfortable too!

Tumble Dryer

Of all the appliances, we have in our kitchens and laundry rooms, nothing uses more energy than the tumble dryer. If you dry your clothes outdoors on a line or indoors using a laundry horse, you could save hundreds of dollars over the life of your dryer, and your clothes might just last that bit longer too.

Buy in Bulk

If you can buy food in bulk, you will cut down on packaging, your carbon footprint will be lower, because you will be making fewer journeys to the store and because it costs less to transport bulk food, and you will save money because bulk foods tend to be heavily discounted.

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Buy a Reusable Coffee Cup

If you drink a lot of takeout coffee, instead of getting a new disposable cup with each visit, buy your own reusable cup and have the barista fill that up each time to use less finite resources and avoid sending all those cups to landfill. Many coffee shops will even charge you a little less for doings o!

Upcycle

Instead of throwing things away when they start to be a bit worn and instead of buying lots of new stuff, try to recycle and repurpose as many things as possible. Paint old furniture to give it a new lead of life, use old t-shirts as dusters and, well you get the idea. Before you toss anything, try to think about whether you could use it in a new and interesting way to save money and the planet!