As the cost of living continues to climb, many families are stretching their resources to cover basic necessities. To help alleviate financial strain for employees, the most forward-thinking companies now offer family stipends as part of their lifestyle benefits package.
Stipends empower employees to personalize their spending based on their individual family’s needs, recognizing that every family is unique. At Compt, we’ve seen firsthand the type of impact these benefits can have on employee wellbeing (see our 2024 Lifestyle Benefits Benchmarking Report for our full insights).
Our team combed over thousands of data points to curate a list of the most popular and interesting ways to spend a family stipend. From everyday essentials to special occasion items, you’ll find diverse examples of how people are supporting their family’s well-being.
Family Building
For individuals looking to start or expand their families, a family stipend can help offset the considerable expenses involved in the process.
Adoption Fees
Adoption can be a beautiful way to grow your family–but it involves agency fees, legal fees, and sometimes travel expenses.
Surrogacy Fees
For families exploring surrogacy as a means of having children, your stipend can help cover medical expenses, legal fees, and compensation for the surrogate.
IVF Treatments
In vitro fertilization (IVF) can be a costly but effective option for couples struggling with infertility. Using your stipend to cover the expenses associated with IVF treatments, including medications, procedures, and consultations, can make this path to parenthood more attainable.
Learn more: What are Family Building Benefits?
Children
The family stipend can be directed towards activities and resources supporting your child’s development, at any stage of childhood.
Newborn Photo Session
A newborn photography session allows you to preserve memories of your newborn’s early days that you'll cherish for years to come.
Baby Supplies
Consider using your stipend to stock up on items like diapers, wipes, or formula. Some other popular baby-related stipend uses include car seats, cribs, and apparel.
Back-to-School Supplies
Education is a top priority for many families, and using your stipend to purchase school supplies ensures that your children have the tools they need to succeed as they enter the new academic year.
Parent Consultant
Some parents benefit immensely from having the support of an expert consultant when it comes to challenges related to sleeping, breastfeeding, and behavior.
Childcare
With the cost of childcare skyrocketing, use your stipend to alleviate some of the financial burden.
Swimming Lessons
Children as young as 1 year old can start taking swimming lessons, equipping them with this crucial and potentially life-saving skill from an early age.
Summer Camp
Cover the costs of your child's summer camp adventures, ensuring they have memorable and educational experiences during their summer break.
Extracurricular Activity Fees
Whether your child could benefit from tutoring, wants to take drumming lessons, or is keen to join the local youth tee-ball league, your family stipend can be applied to any fees associated with their extracurricular activities.
Household
Invest in essential items and upgrades to create a safe, comfortable, and functional living space for all family members.
Home Supplies
Every household has its list of key supplies necessary to keep things up and running. Some common purchases from our customers include air filters, vacuum cleaner parts, cleaning supplies, and laundry detergent.
Emergency Preparedness Kit
Purchase emergency kits, first aid supplies, flashlights, batteries, and other essential items to ensure your family is prepared for unexpected emergencies or natural disasters.
Home Decor
Transforming a house into a warm and inviting home is all about the decor. With your stipend, you can add those special touches that truly make a space your own, from wall art to seasonal decor.
Home Renovation
With your family stipend, you can finally tackle those home renovation projects that have been put on the back burner, such as updating kitchens or renovating bathrooms.
Appliances
Invest in essential appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and ovens–or non-essential ones like coffee makers and popcorn machines.
Housekeeping Services
For busy families, a housekeeping service can be a welcome relief from time-consuming cleaning duties.
Entertainment
Consider enhancing your family’s home entertainment experience with streaming services or surround sound systems.
Home Security
Give yourself peace of mind with alarm systems or security cameras like Ring. These smart devices allow you to monitor your home from anywhere, providing added protection for your family and property.
Food
The family stipend provides families with the means to purchase nourishing food options in a variety of forms.
Dining Out
One of the simplest yet most meaningful ways to use your family stipend is to enjoy quality time together over a delicious meal. Many of our customers use their stipend to dine out at restaurants with loved ones.
Groceries
From fresh fruits and vegetables to pantry staples, allocating a portion of your stipend to groceries ensures that your family's dietary needs are met, promoting health and well-being for all members.
Meal Kits
Reduce stress and cleanup time by investing in a meal kit service. These convenient packages provide pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes, making dinnertime a breeze.
Food Delivery
Food delivery services like Grubhub and Doordash offer convenience and flexibility, allowing families to enjoy restaurant-quality meals in the comfort of their own homes without the hassle of cooking or cleanup.
Transportation
Whether your family uses a personal vehicle or public transit to get around, a family stipend can go toward ensuring reliable means of transportation.
Tires
Investing in quality tires on a regular basis is crucial for maintaining the family vehicle's safety and efficiency.
Car Repairs
Car repairs are inevitable as vehicles age and components wear down. Whether it's fixing a malfunctioning engine, replacing worn brake pads, or repairing electrical systems, a stipend can be used to maintain the reliability and longevity of the family vehicle.
Gas
Allocating a portion of the stipend to cover gas expenses ensures that the family vehicle remains fueled and ready for daily commutes, road trips, and errands.
Dependents
For some families, some of the most beloved family members are elderly relatives and pets.
Elder Care
Your family stipend can be used to hire professional caregivers, purchase medical supplies and equipment, modify the home for accessibility and safety, and provide for additional living expenses such as utilities and groceries.
Pet Supplies
Some of the most popular pet-related purchases are treats, food, toys, and grooming tools.
Pet Grooming
Keep your pet looking sharp with regular professional grooming sessions.
Pet Daycare
Whether you are traveling or just want to give your pet a change of scenery while you’re at work, doggie (or kitty) daycare can be an enriching solution.
Veterinary Care
Use your stipend to get them the care they need, whether they need a routine checkup or treatment for an injury.
Miscellaneous
Birthday Parties
Decorations, desserts, and entertainment are some of the most common expenses for birthday parties.
Theme Park Passes
Treat your family to a season of adventure with a theme park season pass.
Holiday Gifts
Families can use their stipends to purchase thoughtful holiday gifts for their loved ones.
Vacation Fund
Use your family stipend to fund a memorable family vacation. Our customers' most common vacation-related claims are for transportation, lodging, and activities.
Bereavement
A family stipend can offer much-needed relief from the heavy financial burden that accompanies funeral and memorial expenses.
Family Stipends Made Easy with Compt
A family stipend offers endless possibilities for supporting family wellbeing.
Ready to distinguish yourself as an employer by extending support to your team’s families? Schedule a demo to learn how to create a custom family benefits program with Compt.
