Never tell anyone your baby’s gender-to-be.

Start an emergency fund asap, I mean the second you find out your expecting, if you haven’t already.

Borrow most of your baby items. Regardless of what you may hear, it’s safe to do so.

Talk with an expert about the big issues. A good tax accountant should be able to help you plan for college, get the most tax returns on that baby, and help you plan for future needs.

Skip the baby life insurance, but review your own coverage and your partners to make sure your family is covered if the worst should happen.

Budget smartly for baby toys – this is basically one non-essential that’s money wasted if you go nuts.

Breastfeed – not only is it a HUGE money saver but it’s green too.

Plan ahead (WAY ahead) for maternity leave. Most Americans can’t afford to even take a decent amount of maternity leave, but if you plan you’ll be ahead of the curve.

What else can you think of?

[image via stock.xchng]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1 lb hamburger meat

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp Ms Dash extra spicy season salt

1 tsp pepper

1 cucumber, chopped

1 cup chopped carrots

1 bag shredded cheese

1 pkg taco seasoning

8 oz rotini noodles

1 bag Tostitos chips, a regular size bag

Season the hamburger meat with the chili powder, Ms Dash, and pepper and brown. NOTE: the original recipe did not include this step. I just like it better this way so you could leave this step out.

Boil noodles.

Chop veggies.

Tear a small whole in the chip bag and crush the chips in the bag itself. No cleanup required.

Mix the meat, noodles, and taco seasoning until well mixed.

Add veggies and mix.

Add cheese and mix.

Add chips and mix.

Serve warm. Better warmed up as leftovers.

I love this recipe and my husband would be happy if I made 2-3 times a month. It is great for leftovers to take to lunch the next day.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

• We are staying at my BIL’s house so watching my little girl play with her cousin that she doesn’t get to see very often has lifted my heart.
• Sidewalks!  We live on the side of a mountain so walking on a somewhat flat surface with sidewalks has been awesome.
• Hanging out with my daughter.  I don’t have to work and feel like laundry is ganging up on me.

That has been the best part of my trip and they don’t cost a thing!  Even on business (granted, my husband is working like a dog) you can have a great time without spneding any money if you look for it.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Thanks, frugal families for the tip.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

TM: What has inspired you into the frugal lifestyle?

Pat: Actually, I think I was born frugal, but when it really started in earnest, I was a single mom with very few work skills and found out that I could still live comfortably with a little effort and that inspired me to go further with it.

TM: What are the easiest areas to stay frugal in? What are the hardest?

Pat: The easiest area for most is food because it’s so controllable. You can choose what to eat and how to prepare it. It’s a good place to practice self discipline and most people can handle that.

I think for many, the hardest part is impulse buying. People have bought everything from chewing gum to houses on an impulse. That can be disastrous. The hardest for me personally would have to do with music and books. Put me in a book and music store and I begin to cringe, but not enough to keep me from buying.

TM: Is there anyone who encourages you in your frugal lifestyle?

Pat: Right now, those who leave comments on my blog encourage me. Before, the readers at About did. Before the internet, I knew no one who had a clue as to why I would even want to wash out plastic bags.

TM: What has been your best frugal buy lately? What about your worst?

Pat: As I said, I don’t enjoy shopping, so I just don’t buy a lot of things. I did do pretty well on a music CD (!) from Amazon, though. I got a used one for less than three dollars and it was paid for with the remains of a Christmas gift certificate. It’s in great condition.

My worst was probably a Geo that I bought when I was pretty broke after a divorce. I got hit with a really high finance rate and it developed problems that I couldn’t afford to fix. Now, it’s funny, but at the time it was painful. I did manage to pay it off early, though.

TM: What made you decide to leave About.com?

Pat: I had been burned out for sometime because of the schedule that was required, although I had done part of it to myself. When New York Times bought About, there were some changes in direction (which is to be expected) and after awhile I just couldn’t make myself do it any more.

TM: Now that you are venturing out on your own, what are your plans?

Pat: I thought you’d never ask. I have a blog Pat Veretto’s Frugal Living which keeps me going, and I write here and there around the internet. The biggest thing that’s happened, though, is that Gary Foreman of Dollar Stretcher called and has some ideas he wants me involved in. I’m excited about it. I know that phrase is overworked, but I’m truly excited. It’s going to be wonderful addition to his site and a great service to the frugal living community on the internet.

TM: Do you feel that your family has suffered from your frugal lifestyle?

Pat: No, I don’t think so. The kids grew up with it, of course, and when they went through the rebellious stages of growing up, they disagreed, but have since embraced the idea. Other than that, we’ve benefited rather than suffered from it.

TM: How often do you use coupons or do you just shop around and know where to go?

Pat: I hardly ever use coupons. Coupons aren’t issued for most of the things I buy and the things they are issued for can usually be had cheaper if you buy generic. Some people can do well with them, but I can’t.

TM: What is your favorite website to visit regularly and why?

Pat: I like Dollar Stretcher and always have. There’s so much information there that you can get lost in reading things that really make sense in real life. I still visit About, too, because it covers a lot of topics that interest me.

TM: Who do you think runs the best sales? Who do you think has the best deals on a regular basis?

Pat: That depends on what kind of sales you’re looking for and, I think, the area you’re in. Here, Albertson’s grocery (which I understand has been bought out) run very good loss leader types of sales. I don’t often buy new clothes, so I don’t keep an eye on that. For best deals on a regular basis, I have to say there is no one store that you could point to. If you’re looking to get the best deals, you have to shop around and keep on shopping around.

Pat has so many good ideas that it makes this mommy jealous. I guess I will just keep learning and sharing. Hope Pat will inspire you as well to save time and money by living the frugal lifestyle. She has helped me in so many ways!

Thanks, Pat, and great luck on your new endeavors. We are looking forward to all you and the Dollar Stretcher have to offer in the future.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Well be sad no more my friends.  She has arisen with frugal fervor at her own frugal living blogsite and I want to let her know how much I love her stuff!  So Pat, welcome to the individual’s world of blogging and we at Thrifty Mommy are so excited to see what you have in store for us next.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Take a look at the article and see what you think.  They would appreciate the conversation.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Five young and thrifty Vancouver women were chosen to appear on the Oprah Winfrey show for their money saving habits.

After seeing Oprah’s Debt Diet show, Katie Dunsworth decided it was time for her and her friends to stop spending, start saving, and get richer. The show motivated Katie and four of her friends to start a money group and get smart about their spending, saving and investing.

These four women call themselves the Smart Cookies.  They meet weekly to confess their debt, make plans to pay it off, and start investing.  Their group serves as a way for them to hold one another accountable.  

The Smart Cookies are successful because they rely on one another.  They talk to each other on their cell phones.  When they are tempted to buy something, they call another person from the group.

Some of the things the women have done to save money are cut off the cable, get rid of their car, share clothes with one another, share magazines, and live on a budget.  One of the women sold her car and now takes a bus.  She saves over $700 a month in parking tickets, gas, and car insurance. 

For more information about the Smart Cookies, visit Oprah.com.   

Post from: Thrifty Mommy