With me working part-time from home and having three little kids, my husband and I are looking for ways to save money on dates.  We need some time alone!

Here are few ways to save on babysitting.
1)  Go on a lunch date. This is our newest way to save.  Our three oldest children are in school and our youngest is in preschool part-time.  We finally have a consistent time that we can get out together.
2)  Trade babysitting with others.  If you know of other parents that have kids, offer to trade with them.  Everyone needs some time alone and they would …read more

Recently at Keeping the Castle, I told about my decision and journey to switch to cloth napkins. The switch has gone well and the family is accepting of the napkins.

One concern that some have about switching to cloth napkins is the cost involved. Here are some ways to save.
1)  Shop for used napkins.  You can find napkins at thrift stores and yard sales.  Many times you can find interesting fabrics and laces that you can no longer find in the stores.
2)  Make your own.  Use scrap fabric that you already have or make them from an old sheet.
3)  Check the …read more

Earlier this week, I posted about some ways to cut out some of your Christmas expenses.  One of the ways listed was to cut down your Christmas gift list.  It’s simply not necessary to buy for every aunt, uncle, and cousin.  That’s not what Christmas is about anyway. 

Tiffany from Stuff Parents Need commented with a great question.
Do you have any tips for how to tactfully remove people from your list? We have a few aunts and uncles that I’d like to stop buying presents for, not because I don’t love them, but because I think us continuing to exchange presents is …read more

The National Retail Federation reports that Americans spend nearly three billion dollars on Halloween. Three billion dollars?!? :gasp:
Here are some money saving tips to help you enjoy Halloween a little cheaper.

7)  Do it yourself.  There are lots of costumes and decorations that you can make yourself.  I like this idea because it means that your costume will be unique and not like everyone else’s.  Check out this list of 50 do-it-yourself Halloween ideas.
8)  Look online or in magazines for ideas.  Sometimes I have a hard time getting creative but it’s easier with the help of others.  Some of the sites …read more

I have read that the average family spends about $40-50 on Halloween. Of course, this is an average and it varies upon where you live and how many children you have. I’m sure there are some people that spend way more than this amount.
It doesn’t take long for Halloween expenses to add up. Here are some ways to save.

4)  Shop yard sales.  When I moved last year, I had an entire table of holiday decorations.  There were Christmas ornaments and decorations and Halloween costumes.  These unused items frequently turn up at yard sales.
5)  Shop after-season clearance sales.  Of course, it is …read more

It doesn’t take long for the cost of Halloween decorations and costumes to add up.  Although it may not seem like it, Halloween is just around the corner.  Here are some tips to save.

1)  Check out the selection at close out stores.  One year my husband stopped in a close out store and found Spiderman and Backyardigans costumes for only $5 each.  Those costumes would have cost us at least $40. The kids were thrilled!
2)  Borrow from a friend.  Check with your friends to see if anyone has any costume pieces that you can borrow.  Sometimes you can borrow enough for a whole …read more

The season is changing. The air is a bit cooler, the days are getting shorter, and I’m feeling the need to see the colors red, orange, and yellow.  Here are some tips for keeping the costs down with your fall decorating.

7)  Grow your own.  It’s a little late in the year for this option, but next year you might want to consider planting some things that you could use for decorating.  Perhaps you could have a garden with pumpkins and gourds.
8)  Take something you have and give it a new purpose.  That plain glass bowl you have would look great …read more

It’s time for another season of the year.  Why not bring some color to your home with some fall decorations?  Here are some ideas for saving money while decorating for fall.

4)  Look for sales.  A few years ago, I needed to plan an inexpensive fall craft for our women’s church group.  I found that some craft stores have their fall flowers and accessories 50% off at the start of the season.  I bought bunches of fall flowers and we made fall wreaths.
5)  Check Craigslist or Freecycle. People are constantly getting rid of things and you never know what kind of …read more

Fall is my favorite season. I just love the smell, the crisp air, and the beautiful bright colors. If you’re looking to bring some of fall into your home or work place, you might try some of these tips for saving money on your decorating.

1)  Do it yourself. I’m certainly not the most crafty or creative person, but many times if I can see an idea I can copy it or make it my own.  There’s no need in paying $50-60 for a fall wreath when you can make your own for $15.  Look online for do-it-yourself fall decorating ideas.
2)  Check …read more

We are still in the process of making a local move to the house we just purchased.  Naturally, I have moving on my mind.  Last week, I pointed out a few ways to save money when moving and today I’ll add to the money saving tips.

4)  Don’t buy new boxes.  The last time my husband and I moved, we bought about eight boxes.  The rest were boxes that we picked up from grocery stores, Wal-Mart, and other places.  If you like for all of your boxes to be the same size, then try purchasing used moving boxes.  I’ve even seen …read more