No, you can't have your own car. Dad’s on a budget.

Before you start pouting, throwing tantrums and taking out your ultimate don’t-you-love-me-daddy look, please do understand: it also pains Daddy to not be able to give you what you want, sweetie. You see, Daddy has to deal with all these fluctuations in the economy and all those money issues so we could live a life away from poverty.

I’d bet you’ve at least wanted to say these things to your child/ren. I have—over a gazillion times. And as long we don’t get those extra funds for our children’s cute little whims, we’d really have to say those lines to them over and over, much as we hate to. What with all the expenses for their education, our food, mortgage, house repairs and the family’s health, becoming that doting parent would really be too far off.

The good news is, we could actually have that cash to spare if only we knew how to spend our money wisely. Without realizing, we actually spend way more than necessary, making it look like we only have enough (if not less) for our necessities. Here are some money-saving tips my wife and I were able to collect from our experiences. I’d say some of these are less important things from which we could scrape off unnecessary expenses to reserve for more important ones.

1. Don’t go shopping on an empty stomach. This includes grocery shopping. When you’re hungry, everything seems delicious and enticing that you could end up buying too many things that you wouldn’t really use or eat. By taking out purchases that you don’t really need, you will be able to save off grocery expenses.

2. Minimize dining out. While it’s nice to be able to take your family out to dinner, don’t do it too often. Reserve most days to eat Mom’s home cooking and get the whole family helping out whenever possible. Aside from getting to spend a fun and productive time together, you will also be able to save a lot of money that usually goes to restaurant and fast food chains’ venues and facilities, not really food.

3. Let go of your vices. Give up your smoking, drinking, gambling, and all other vices, especially those that are bad for your health. While you could say that cigarettes and liquor aren’t really that pricey, their cost can accumulate over time and cause you to shell out more on medical expenses. Even dental expenses are high in these times, so better stop smoking early than have the cost of having nicotine cleaning on your teeth come knocking on your pockets later.

4. Prep up old clothes. Let you’re creativity help you save. Redesign those clothes that your children no longer want to wear instead of buying new ones. For example, take those trousers or shirts with holes or iron prints and sew colorful design patches on them for a more hip look.

5. Don’t rely on credit cards and checks too much. As much as possible, use cash. This will keep your spending in control and prevent you from paying all those bank fees and dues. You can use credit cards and checks online for such purchases, but for over-the-counter, opt for cash. If you really have to, buy cheap personal checks so you could always save more. Several websites offer these kinds of items, so seek them out instead of just opting for the fastest yet ridiculous way of spending.

6. Resist the temptation of giving in to your children’s every whining. Make them understand in a nice way that your family’s needs must be prioritized. Request your spouse, parents, siblings and friends not to spoil your children too much.

7. Save. Always set aside a portion of your regular income for emergencies. You and your spouse should do it together. Make arrangements with your spouse such that one checks unlimited spending on the other’s part. Get health insurance for your family so you wouldn’t have a hard time looking for money should there be—knock on wood—an unfortunate situation. Remember: Don’t dip into this fund for non-emergencies.

8. Refrain from using your car when going on short trips. You don’t really need to drive your car ever so often, especially when you just need that wrench borrowed by your football buddy who just lives  a couple of blocks from you. Gas prices have been rising so much, and if you don’t know what is happening around the globe because of this, better start reading on what you actually need to know about gas. Anyway, use the bicycle, walk, or jog; just don’t use that car unless you really need to. The above said activities not only save money, but promote a healthy well being for you as well (thus cutting down more on your medical bills).

9. Finally, teach your children how to save. Teach them how to acquire what they want with their own power by saving up to buy it. Teach them how to spend their allowance wisely and train them on effective budgeting. This will help them become wise on their finances as they grow up.

Raising kids really isn’t some walk in the park. It is hard; and it is expensive. They say that budgeting for your offspring always requires some extra: if you have one child, allocate for two; if you have two, budget for three. This way, you will have leeway for your children’s needs, some of their wants, their future, and even their future siblings.

About the Author: Elston Marcelo is a marketing consultant by day, and a blogger by night. He works for Purechecks.com, a leading site that offers designer checks unlimited at low prices. Check his Facebook account to know more about him.