Written by the Progyny Editorial Team — September 2025.
As the saying goes, sometimes the only constant in life is change.
This is certainly true with your family’s expenses over time. As kids grow and family priorities shift, childcare and other expenses change.
It can be helpful to start planning for your financial future and the unknowns ahead. Fortunately, small tweaks in how you save and spend can really add up.
Even small savings add up
It’s so important for all families to start saving, even in the early childhood years. This does a few things:
- It builds financial habits that can stay with you for a lifetime.
- The money will be set aside and can be used to gain interest or invest.
- Your savings will provide an emergency fund. An emergency fund should cover 3 to 9 months of living expenses.
To understand where you are today and make a plan for how much you can save, you’ll want to get an accurate idea of how much money is coming in – and how much is going out. Our article on building a spending plan will walk you through it.
Use these saving strategies
There are things you can do to start saving, and benefits from your employer that can help, too.
Here are a few ideas for things you can do to save:
- Review insurance policies. Request quotes from other companies. You may be surprised how much you can save by shopping around for auto and homeowner insurance.
- Cancel automatic subscriptions. Look at your credit card statements for automatic charges you rarely use, never use, or forgot you had. These may include streaming or digital services, memberships, or loyalty programs. Cancel the ones you don’t need.
- Chip away at debt. If you have any high-interest debt, try to pay that off as soon as you can. It will mean less interest you have to pay over time.
- Eat at home more often. If you can, eat fewer meals out. Eating at home tends to be cheaper, and as a bonus, is often healthier. When you do eat out, look for discounts, stick to water for your beverage, or think about splitting dessert.
Here’s how your employer may help:
- Get the 401k match. This is “free” money your employer provides to your retirement account.
- Enroll in tax-advantaged accounts. Health savings accounts (HSA) or flexible spending accounts (FSA) give you and your family a way to set aside pre-tax money for healthcare and dependent care expenses. Your employer may contribute as well. Learn more about tax-advantaged accounts.
- Check out wellness incentives. Some health plans reduce premiums if you participate in wellness activities.
- Review life and disability insurance options. Be sure you’re covered in case of a serious event.
Consider a financial advisor
Once you have a spending plan and savings habits in place, it’s a good idea to meet with a certified financial advisor for long-term planning.
Many employers offer free access to financial advisors through retirement plans. These professionals can help with long-term budgeting, estate planning and preparing a will, and personalized strategies for saving and investing.
This can help you meet your financial goals and gain peace of mind. Your Progyny Benefits Specialist is also here to support you along the way.
Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice. Always consult a qualified professional for financial guidance.