You know that feeling when you’re standing in the checkout line, watching the total climb higher than you’d like, while your little one clutches a toy they found three aisles back? Last week, that was me.
However, instead of the usual panic about our grocery budget, I watched my daughter happily put the toy back when I explained we were saving for our camping trip next month.
Just a cheerful “okay, Mama!” and excitement about roasting marshmallows under the stars.
It wasn’t always this smooth.
When we first started our family on Matt’s contractor income and my sporadic writing gigs, I worried constantly about what our kids might be missing out on.
Growing up as the middle child between an older brother and younger sister, I remembered how my parents managed to make our childhood feel abundant despite our modest means.
Now, I understand the quiet magic they worked behind the scenes.
The truth is, raising kids without a huge budget doesn’t mean they have to feel deprived.
In fact, some of the most content, grateful children I know come from families who’ve mastered the art of living well on less.
1) They create rich traditions that cost nothing
Every Thursday night in our house is “backward dinner” night.
We eat dessert first (usually homemade cookies or fruit), then work our way to the main course.
The kids think it’s the most rebellious, wonderful thing ever.
Total extra cost? Zero.
Total memories made? Countless.
My parents did something similar when I was growing up.
Saturday mornings meant pancake faces with whatever fruit we had on hand, and Sunday evenings were for living room picnics while watching old movies from the library.
These rituals gave our weeks rhythm and something to anticipate that had nothing to do with spending money.
Think about what free traditions might work for your family: Maybe it’s stargazing from the backyard every full moon, or having joke competitions at dinner.
The consistency matters more than the content.
2) They involve kids in family finances without causing anxiety
Here’s something that might surprise you: We talk about money with our kids as a natural part of planning our lives.
When my five-year-old asks why we’re not buying the organic strawberries this week, I explain that blueberries are on sale, so we’re choosing those instead to save money for other things we need.
We’ve even started a visual savings jar for family adventures.
Every time we choose the less expensive option at the store or skip eating out, we add a few dollars to the jar.
The kids can see it filling up, and they get excited about contributing to our next adventure.
They’re learning that money is a tool for choices, not a source of stress.
3) They prioritize experiences over things
Remember that camping trip I mentioned? That’s our big summer plan, and the kids have been talking about it for months.
We could probably buy them each several new toys for what we’ll spend on gas and campground fees, but which do you think they’ll remember in twenty years?
When I look back at my own childhood, I barely remember the toys we had.
However, I vividly remember picking blackberries with my siblings until our fingers turned purple, building elaborate fort cities in the woods behind our house, and the time my dad taught us to skip stones at the river.
Those experiences shaped who I am far more than any possession could have.
4) They master the art of creative abundance
Want to know a secret? Kids need is engagement and creativity.
We’ve turned cardboard boxes into spaceships, old sheets into elaborate forts, and pine cones into an entire miniature village.
Last month, my two-year-old spent an entire afternoon “cooking” with dried beans and old containers while I worked on an article.
The secondhand store has become our treasure hunt destination.
Except for car seats and mattresses (safety first!), we find almost everything there.
My daughter loves the thrill of discovering “new” books, and she has no idea they cost a fraction of retail price.
She just knows we always come home with stories to read together.
5) They cultivate gratitude as a daily practice
Every night at dinner, we share our “happy thing” from the day.
It might be finding a cool rock, getting to feed the neighbor’s chickens, or having extra story time.
This simple practice has shifted our family’s focus from what we don’t have to appreciating what we do.
I learned this from watching my mother, who would point out small wonders everywhere.
“Look at that sunset!” she’d say, or “Aren’t we lucky to have fresh tomatoes from the garden?”
She taught us to see wealth in different terms.
Now, I find myself doing the same with my kids, and their natural sense of wonder makes it even easier.
6) They build community connections
One of our biggest resources doesn’t cost a dime: our community.
We trade babysitting with other families, share garden produce, and organize toy swaps.
My daughter’s “new” bike came from a family whose child had outgrown it, and in return, we passed along outgrown clothes to another family with younger kids.
This network means our children see generosity modeled constantly.
They’re growing up understanding that neighbors help neighbors, and that sharing multiplies joy rather than diminishing it.
7) They teach skills instead of buying solutions
When something breaks in our house, the kids watch Matt fix it; when we need food, they help me cook from scratch.
These moments might take longer than buying new or ordering takeout, but they’re teaching our children competence and self-reliance.
My daughter can already crack eggs and measure flour for our weekly bread, and my son loves “helping” in the garden, even if that mostly means moving dirt from one place to another.
My children are learning that we can create what we need, and that’s an incredibly empowering message for a child.
8) They focus on presence over presents
This might be the most important habit of all.
Children would rather have your undivided attention than another toy to add to their pile.
When we’re at the park, I’m not on my phone; when we’re reading stories, we’re fully engaged in the adventure.
This presence doesn’t cost anything, but it’s what children remember most.
Finding your own path
Raising children on a modest income is about being intentional with your resources and creative with your approach.
Some days are harder than others, and sometimes I still feel that pang of wishing I could give them more in material terms.
Then I see my daughter teaching her brother how to make “soup” from flower petals and water, or hear them giggling together in their blanket fort, and I remember that we’re giving them exactly what they need: Security, creativity, and the knowledge that the best things in life aren’t found in stores.
Your version might look different from ours, and that’s perfectly fine.
Maybe you’ll find other habits that work better for your family.
The key is recognizing that children who grow up with less often grow up with more of what really matters: Resilience, gratitude, and the ability to find joy in simple pleasures.
