Supporting Your Household on One Income? Your Workplace Discounts Can Help

Decades ago, single-income families were commonplace and relatively manageable due to simplified expenses. However, modern-day demands and advances have added several line items to the family budget. This reality makes managing a household on a single income especially challenging.

Whether you’re a single parent, single earner, or live solo, you face unique challenges. Help manage financial and lifestyle pressures through your workplace and employee benefits, or company perks program. These benefits can play a valuable role in your total compensation package, serving as a lifeline for your finances.

1. Stay Healthy and Manage Costs

A sick day or unexpected day off can be detrimental to your finances. That’s why single earners need to manage their health and well-being. Tap into more than just your basic health benefits with your employee perks to create a personalized wellness program that supports an active gym membership or work life balance solutions.

Corporate wellness solutions offer more than just online learning modules. Discount programs offer valuable savings on memberships, coaching, and services that help you and your family be well.

Access discounted healthcare essentials and stock your medicine cabinet at an employee-only rate. If your plan allows, utilize flexible spending account dollars to take your savings even further. Leveraging financial perks can improve job satisfaction, provide extra time for professional development, and help you plan for retirement.

Stay on schedule for your basic health and wellness check-ups and follow through with a physician's advice. When your doctor recommends that you track your sleep and activity, use your employee discount platform to purchase an activity tracker. With a discounted rate on health essentials, it’s easier for you to manage your well-being and your wallet.

2. Reduce Basic Expenses

A huge portion of your household budget is your non-negotiable basic expenses, like food, shelter, and utilities. While these expenses are unavoidable and can be difficult to discount, reducing your expenses isn’t impossible. Join your local warehouse club at an employee rate using your discounts.

Warehouse clubs offer discounts on nearly everything under the sun, layering your savings. From food to gas for the car to cleaning products, your warehouse has massive savings. Plus, most warehouses offer rock-bottom rates for things like contact lenses, vitamins, and even tires. Work perks like these can help fortify your budget, with the additional benefit of supporting your family's day-to-day needs.

With this membership in your wallet, you’ll save thousands of dollars every year. If you have children, employer discount programs can be a valuable partner in parenting. Shop for back-to-school essentials utilizing your discount platform and make the fall frenzy less expensive. Many perks programs offer reduced rates for childcare centers, which can be a big help on this high-dollar item.

3. Maintain Your Investments

Deferred maintenance on your home's mechanicals and automobiles is a costly and unwise move, even if your budget is tight. Stay current on your home and car maintenance tasks with support from your employee discount program.

Enjoy reduced rates for heating, cooling, and plumbing maintenance, checkups, and repairs. In some cases, your discount program may provide access to discounts on big-ticket items when it’s time to replace them.

When you maintain your investments, you extend their lifespan and can better project their end of service. This way, you can save money over time when your repair person has provided expert insight into its condition. By planning ahead, you can avoid unnecessary surprises and expensive fixes for your home and automobile.

4. Say “Yes” More

Most kids have a case of the “gimmies” when they want a lot, and it’s hard to always say no. Say “yes” to their earnest and reasonable requests more often with your employee discounts or wellness programs. The savings opportunities add up and are available for small and large-scale treats, giving you lots of options. Get tickets to the movies and use the savings from your Working Advantage perks on snacks.

Treat the kids to ice cream, make summer sweet with a trip to the water park, or enjoy dinner out. When you get to say yes, you’ll enjoy the rewards of your work and make great memories with your kids.

5. Take Time Off to Recharge

When you are the sole source of income for your family, it adds a lot of pressure to your life. That’s why it’s so important to take time off to recharge and rest. Employee discount programs can provide valuable savings on weekend getaways and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Allow yourself to utilize your paid time off for relaxation, not just household chores. Reports show that when employees skip time off, they’re less productive and less present. Prioritize restorative time so you can be your best self at home and work. But remember, these are voluntary benefits. It's up to you to utilize them to their fullest advantage.

6. Access Expert Support at a Discount

They say it takes a village, but when you’re going it alone, a village can be hard to come by. Through your discount program at work, you can create a village and save money along the way. Get expert support for your well-being and work with an online therapist using additional perks. Explore other support features exclusive to employees like caregiving support, financial counseling, and more.

When Your Employer Offers Employee Perks, You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

Work is an important part of life, and helps you provide for yourself and your loved ones. If you’re fortunate, your employer offers work-life balance benefits that support your life. Incorporate these benefits into your lifestyle to maximize your income, access memory-making experiences, and savor every moment.