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Easy Ways to Save Money
When my oldest three daughters were 6, 4, and 2, it seemed like there were birthday parties to attend every weekend. The girls, of course, were thrilled to be part of the social scene, but all those presents were sabotaging our budget. To save money, I began stocking up on children's books that were on sale. When an invitation arrived, I'd "shop" through my stash. As the mother of seven, this tactic saved me tons over time! And birthday gifts weren't the only area in which I cut costs. I scoured secondhand stores for kids' clothes and skipped the gymnastics classes in favor of free story hour at the library.
Once you get into the swing of things, you'll be amazed by how much you can painlessly trim from your budget.
Gift Giving- Toys go on sale every January, so stock up after Christmas and keep items on a designated gift shelf. I found $25 Dora and Diego two-adventure deluxe activity sets for $6. I log the toys in a notebook so I know what I have "in stock."
- Savvy shoppers hit the stores when items are going out of season. At the end of July, you'll find 50 percent reductions on beach balls, pails and shovels, and assorted sandbox gear. Load up at summer's end for next year's warm-weather birthdays.
- Buy half-price Christmas wrap in generic solids like blue, gold, red, and green, and use it year-round. No one will be the wiser. And instead of shelling out $3 per birthday card, have your kids create them by hand or on the computer.
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1/30/2012 09:21:18 PM Report AbuseI liked this budgeting article.
1/30/2012 09:20:24 PM Report AbuseNot only is cub scouts not free but I think it is very expensive. Registration, uniform cost, sleep over costs, meeting supplies, banquet costs. I just wrote out two checks to scouts that totaled over $150.
1/30/2012 03:45:19 PM Report AbuseScouting is not free!! It's inexpensive to register and it's usually inexpensive to participate, but make no mistake, it's not free!!
1/30/2012 11:04:19 AM Report AbuseKid exchange!Offer to host someone else's kids for a "movie night". Most friends will then offer to host next time. Makes date night affordable and the kids have a great time hosting or visiting. If you are really tight, you can just stay in on your child-free night! (3 kids this is a life saver)
1/30/2012 09:56:44 AM Report AbuseGreat Ideas, but just so people aren't surprised when they sign their kids up for "free" Cub Scouts or Daisy Scouts -- they aren't free. There are membership dues (although most do offer help to those in need).
1/30/2012 09:51:50 AM Report AbuseThis is silly, but I always pack a sippy cup with milk for my son when we eat out. Often restaurants charge $2 for milk and a lot of time is is powered milk that they hydrate because they don't sell enough milk to justify keeping the real stuff in stock.
3/28/2011 10:56:46 AM Report AbuseYou should also try savvy mom deal/coupon sites like www.CrazyCouponMommy.com because not only because of the free printable coupons, but also the weekly lists of free items you can pick up at CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Target! This week there are 10 things for free at Walgreens...:)
4/26/2010 12:30:38 PM Report Abuse