Anyone is free to join in and try this.  You can view the rules, join a support group, and review FAQ.  For more information, go on over to Frugal for Life.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Kelly and I believe these projected amounts can be seriously reduced.  For instance, their calculator estimates that clothing will cost $1,129 per year.  I can assure there is no way that I spend nearly that much per year, not even on both of my kids combined.

We hope that you will check back often at Thrifty Mommy for ideas on how to save time and money.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1 Aleve Liquid 20 ct (sale price $4.00)
1 CVS maxi-pads 24 ct (clearanced 40% off)
5 Softsoap Cashmere bodywash ($4.49 each)
1 CVS cotton balls ($1.49)
1 Real Simple magazine ($4.50)
2 Oral-B Pulsar Pro-Health toothbrushes (sale price $4.99 each)
1 TRESemme styling product (sale price $4.27)
1 Excedrin Back and Body 24 ct (sale price $3.00)
1 package Peeps (50% off)

So, I’m sure you’re wondering how I got over $50 worth of stuff for $8.  Here’s how it works:

Each week, check the CVS flyer to see if there are any items that you can get for free.  If there are items, then first you must invest a few dollars to get that item.  Instantly your CVS Extra Care Bucks (ECB) will print off for the price of the item and then you can use them to get more stuff. 

These are my transactions:
1. Aleve
2. 1 Softsoap – I used my $4.00 ECB and spent 52 cents (including tax).
3. 1 toothbrush – I used the $4.49 ECB from the Softsoap and spent .53.
4. 1 toothbrush – I used the $4.99 ECB from the toothbrush and spent 0.
5. 1 TreSemme produce, 1 Excedrin – I used the $4.99 ECB from the toothbrush and I had a $2 ECB that printed when I bought the Aleve (I guess from some purchases I made a few weeks ago) and spent .30.
6. 2 Softsoap – 1.83
7. 2 Softsoap – 0
8. 1 pad, 1 Softsoap, cotton balls, 1 Peeps (I needed to buy the Peeps because I had a negative balance) – $1.06
9. Real Simple Magazine – .01 I used my remaining ECB of $4.49 to get something that I wanted.

Have you had much luck using the CVS Extra Care Bucks?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

2)  Register for your shower.  People will be more likely to get you what you need.  Also, if you are registered at Target, they have a more flexible return policy.

3)  Nurse if you possibly can.  Formulas can cost a lot of money.  If you’re lucky, formula will cost about $1200-$1400 a year.  If you child has colic or some other tummy problems, the more expensive formulas could cost double that amount.

4)  Check the consignment store for breastpumps.  The consignment store where I shop usually has a nice Medela single or double breastpump for sale.  You’re going to sterilize a new one or used one anyway, so get the used one and save $100 or more.

5)  Find out where you can get free breastfeeding advice.  Some hospitals have a free lactation center and others have lactation nurses that will call and check up on you.  You could also check with your local La Leche group for help.  Finding support is important if you want to continue breastfeeding.

6)  Don’t rush out and spend lots of money on a breastfeeding wardrobe.  More than likely you’ll spend the first two weeks inside resting and breastfeeding anyway.  After that time you can see what your needs really are.  Many times we overestimate what we’ll need and we buy too much.

7)  Don’t worry about brand names.  Wal-Mart and Target have come out with some cute lines of clothing.  You don’t have to have the most expensive name brands.

8)  Accept hand-me-downs.  Don’t give people the idea that you’re too good to take second hand stuff. 

9)  Be sure and tell people how much you appreciate the things they’ve passed down to you.  If you don’t seem thankful, then they may find someone else to give their stuff to.

10)  Shop thrift stores, consignment stores, and yard sales for baby clothes, baby equipment, bottles, toys, and more.  I can’t say that one enough.  Two weeks ago I was at a yard sale and picked up some Avent bottles for 25 cents each!  I don’t have any babies, but we have some friends that use these bottles with their baby.  I spent just a few dollars and they will be happy to get the extra bottles. 

I think this picture speaks volumes about why you should shop at consignment stores. 

11)  Buy some neutral things so that they can be used by your next baby, no matter the gender.  I have been saving a lot of my daughter’s jeans and denim overalls for my son. 

12)  Make your own baby food.  Parents.com has some recipes to get you started.

13)  Only buy what you need.  There are so many gadgets and products on the market.  Many of these items are unnecessary.  Talk to some of your friends and find out what their favorites are and why.

14)  Say “Yes!” if your doctor asks if you want to be added to a mailing list.  You will get lots of freebies in the mail.

15)  Keep those samples of formula the doctor gives you or that you get in the mail.  Even if you plan on breastfeeding, you might still need them.

16)  Visit websites and get put on their mailing list.  I did this with some formula and diaper companies.  They will sometimes send free samples and coupons.

17)  Before leaving the hospital, make sure they give you your free stuff.  Usually Similac or Enfamil provides hospitals with a diaper bag full of goodies for all new moms.  Inside, you will usually find diaper cream, lotion, coupons, and all sorts of great things.

18)  Forget about buying expensive shoes until baby can walk.  Unless your baby can walk, there really is no need to buy the $35 shoes.  All your baby needs is some socks or booties. If you want your baby to have on shoes, then go for the less expensive pair or a pair from the consignment store.  More than likely, your baby will kick them off anyway and you certainly don’t need the more expensive ones since your baby won’t be walking.

19)  Set up a photo website, email pictures, or make photo cds for everyone.  Making copies of photos can be really expensive.  I learned that lesson early.  Now I email pictures of the kids.  It’s less expensive and everyone gets regular updates.   Family members and friends can print off their favorites or save them to a cd.  About once a year, I make a photo cd for the grandparents.  Speaking of which, it’s time to do that again!

20)  Test drive a stroller before you buy it.  This one saved us at least $200.  My husband and I thought we would need a double stroller.  Thankfully, we test drove them around the baby store and realized how difficult and awkward they were.  Plus, I don’t think it would have fit very well in our van.

21)  Use cloth diapers.  Cloth diapers aren’t what they used to be.  Cloth diapers now come with elastic legs and snaps or velcro closures.  You can even buy them used or new on ebay.

22)  Make your own baby wipes.  Here’s my post on how to make them.

23)  Use bibs!  I am a firm believer in the use of bibs.  Bibs will save you money since you won’t be ruining good clothes and they will save you money because you won’t be washing clothes so much.  When my kids eat spaghetti, I usually take off their shirt.  It seems spaghetti always gets everywhere.  Another alternative to bibs is to buy larger shirts at a yard sale.  Put the oversized shirts on your baby when he eats.  You will get more coverage that way.

24)  Try out generic diapers and see which ones work for you.  Some people say generic diapers didn’t work for their children, but I’ve never had any problems with my two kids.  I’ve tried Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Food Lion, Sam’s, and more.  Never any problems.  I think it depends on the child.  Give them a try and if they don’t work then take them back to the store.  Most store brands have a guarantee statement printed on the package.

25)  Shop the clearance rack frequently.  I once got a $100 stroller at Target for $22.

Well, there are the 25 ways I could think of.  That’s certainly not every way to save money with a baby.  Perhaps one day in the future I could post another 25 ways to save.  Do you have any ways that you save on money on your baby?  Let us know!

Images from morrisons.co.uk, tgtbt.com.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

13 Steps to Profitable Auctions from Get Rich Slowly

A Simple Way to Cut Your Monthly Expenses from Christian Business Daily

Shower Monitor Cuts Water Bills.  I wonder if they have these monitors in the United States.  Does anyone know?

The Do-It-Yourself Home Spa Party written by Shelly Ballestero, a licensed esthetician, make-up artist, beauty editor of Lifestyle Magazine, and author.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I was visiting Dave’s site last night because I wanted to give you some tools to use that are for public view.  Fortunately, Dave has graciously put a  lot of information on his site.

Here are the 6 steps:

1.  Save $1,000 to start an emergency fund
2.  Pay off all debt using debt snowball
3.  Save 3-6 months of expenses (This does not mean 3-6 months of income.)
4.  Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
5.  College funding for children
6.  Build wealth and give!  Continue to invest in mutual funds and real estate.

More information will follow to let you know what these baby steps mean.  Until then, begin saving $1,000 for an emergency fund.  You may think that you don’t have $1,000 and can’t get $1,000, but really the majority of us can get that money. 

Sell something, have a yard sale, take and extra part-time job, quit going out to eat.  These are ways to set up your emergency fund.  I’ve been using my blogging money towards getting us debt free and having an emergency fund.  You know what it takes.  It may take you having money drafted from your savings account.  This works because with a savings draft, you don’t touch the money.  You don’t see the money and that makes it easier to forget that you have the money so that it doesn’t get spent.

I hope this has inspired you to think about how you can enjoy financial freedom.  I hope you’ll stop by for more tips on saving time and money.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

5 Do-It Yourself Home Repairs – The Charlotte Observer tells us how to fix some common household problems.  Some tips include how to relight a pilot light, how to install a toilet, and more.

Thanks to Simply Thrifty for the tips.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1)  Check the weekly sales flyer.  Usually the items on the front page is where you’ll save the most.  I mostly try to shop the sales and for a few things that I really need.  It seems when I shop this way, I don’t need as much stuff because I’ve stocked up when the items were on sale.

2)  Make a list. Include the sale items on your list.  Making a list will help keep you focused and help you not to splurge on other things that you don’t need.   If I don’t make a list, then chances are I will forget something.  When I forget something I end up going back to the store to get that item and then I spend more money.

3)  Eat before you shop.  If you shop on an empty stomach you will more than likely spend at least $20 (maybe even $50) more than you had planned.

4)  Go alone.  You know you’ll spend more if the husband and kids are with you. 

5)  Use coupons.  Some people are embarrassed to use coupons and I can’t figure out why.  It’s like cash in hand.   I remember times when I went to CVS with my manufacturer’s & CVS coupons and saved more than I spent.  Use coupons!

6)  Buy store brands.  There are some name brands that I must have.  I must have my name brand ketchup and tea bags, but for other things, such as crackers, buy store brands.  I buy the Wal-Mart brand graham crackers for my kids and save over $1 a box!

7)  Avoid buying check-out items.  Those magazines and candy are there to entice you.  Don’t spend 85 cents for a pack of gum when you can get a multi-pack for just a little more.

8)  Check the prices per pound on items.  Just because it’s a larger size doesn’t mean it ends up being cheaper.  FYI, I get really annoyed when some grocery stores tell you the price of Heinz ketchup in ounces, but the Hunt’s ketchup price in pounds.  It certainly makes it hard to compare.

9)  Don’t buy toiletries and health items at the grocery store (unless they’re a good deal).  Sometimes medicines, hairsprays, razors, etc can be a couple dollars more per item.  Sometimes you can find toiletries buy 1 get 1 free, but that is the exception. 

10) Stay away from convenience foods.  Prepared foods can be very costly.

11) Look below eye level.  Usually the cheaper brands are on the lower shelves.

12) Buy meat when it’s on sale and store it in the freezer.  About once a year I pay full price for meat and about makes me sick.  I buy my boneless chicken breasts when they are less than $2 per pound.  All my meat is bought on sale and frozen with the purchase date written on the freezer bag. 

13) Get a raincheck for out-of-stock sale items.  I probably have 10 rainchecks in my purse right now.  I have one for hamburger for 99 cents/lb.  I’m waiting to use the raincheck for when I need it.

14) Check out the dollar stores.  Sometimes you can find some pretty good stuff in there.  I found some really great volumizing shampoo and conditioner at our local Dollar Tree.  Later, I saw the same brand at a drug store and it was expensive.

15) Shop during off-peak hours.  I get so annoyed when the grocery store is busy.  I can’t find what I need, I can’t seem to comparison shop because of all the people, and then I usually forget something (which means another trip to the store which costs more gas and more buying).

16) Buy produce from local farmers.  These are usually cheaper unless your local store is having a good sale.  Check the sales paper.

17) Check sales papers on-line if you don’t get the paper.  I do not subscribe to the paper, so I check the weekly CVS flyer on line.  (I’m looking for a good diaper sale.)  I also subscribe to the weekly Food Lion flyer.

18) Try to buy your produce when it is in season.  Yes, I know there are some things that you have to have, but otherwise buy the produce when it’s the cheapest.  If strawberries are buy one get one free, then freeze them for a cake.

19) Pay attention to the banners/signs above each aisle. Avoid aisles that don’t have something on your list.  I’ve been trying this one lately.  It seems to be working for me.

20) Make mental notes.  When shopping I make mental notes of how much my regular items cost.  I know that at Food Lion the applesauce is $1.99, but at Wal-Mart it is $1.35.  I avoid buying applesauce at Food Lion and then when I make my rare trip to Wal-Mart I buy 3 packages of applesauce.  (FYI – Food Lion is my store of choice.  They have great sales.)  Making mental notes keeps you aware of what a “good buy” really is.

21) Check your receipt before you leave.  As soon as I check-out I look over my entire receipt before I leave.  I can’t begin to tell you the number of times I have been overcharged.  I try to watch as my stuff is being rung up, but with all the MVP stuff, sometimes it is hard to know what’s going on.

22) Buy your candy and chocolate after a holiday when it’s really cheap.  Stock up so you have enough until the next after-holiday sale.  Who cares if the M&Ms are red and green?

23) Check to see if your favorite store offers price matching. 

24) Look in the discontinued or reduced carts.  Sometimes you can find some really good deals there.  Sometimes the store manager will make a deal with you if you buy all of the cereal that is in the reduced cart.  Recently I had a grocery store manager offer me a deal on some things he saw me buying from his cart of reduced items.  Usually, they just want to get rid of the stuff.

25) Freeze leftovers and use them for lunch.  I’ve done this with pintos, spaghetti sauce, soup, etc.  You can freeze a lot of things.

26) Look for double and triple coupon sales.  If your store has one, then make sure you go at the beginning of the sale week before they run out of the items you have coupons for.

27) Pay attention to expiration dates.  Sometimes you can find an item that has a shelf life of 6 months longer than the others.

28) Buy store brand milk.  I can’t imagine paying 50 cents or more per gallon for a name brand milk.  Check your gas station for milk prices.  Sometimes gas stations have the best prices on milk.

29) Keep your emotions in check.  Sometimes people buy things just because it feels good.  Stick to your budget and your list.  If you have to, find an accountability partner.

30) Try to limit your grocery shopping to only 1-2 stores.  Driving around costs money.  If you’re only saving a few dollars, then it’s probably not worth your gas and time to go to another store.  Plus you know if you step foot in another store you’ll probably buy some other things not on your list.

31) Stock up on paper items while they’re on sale.  I never buy my toilet paper or paper towels from Sam’s.  I get those items when they go on sale at the grocery store.  I buy enough to last me a while.

32) Look your cart over before you leave to make sure you’re not being excessive with your purchases.  Do your kids really need a bag of chips, pretzels, and Doritos?

33) If you’re only shopping for a few items then get a basket and not a cart.  It will be hard to overshop this way.

34) Plan your meals according to what’s on sale.  If taco shells and lettuce are on sale, then you know we’ll be having tacos.

35) Plan your meals ahead.  Put your meat in the refrigerator to thaw 1-2 days before you need it.  If your meal is already planned then you avoid stopping by the store and paying full price for something.

36) Call food companies.  If you get something that’s bad, then call them and let them know.  They’ll send you a replacement coupon.  If you get something that’s great, then call them and give them a complement.  Sometimes they’ll send you some coupons for that too.

37) Check the produce to see if it’s in good condition.  Dented and scratched produce will go bad faster.  Also, don’t buy more produce than your family can consume within a reasonable amount of time.

38) Store perishable foods properly to avoid them going bad faster.

39) Shop with cash.  You can only spend what you have and you’ll definitely stay in budget this way. 

40) Consider how you’re going to use the item.  If you’re making a stew, then you can buy a cheaper cut of meat.  If you’re making a meatloaf, then you can use the generic brand of crackers or cereal.

41) Know what you have.  How many times have you bought a jar of Miracle Whip, but already had a jar at home?  Miracle Whip doesn’t have a long shelf life.

42)  Try not to shop when you’re tired.  Chances are you’ll buy chocolate and other carbs that will make you feel good.

43) Avoid your weak spots.  If you have a weakness for junk food, then stay away from that aisle.  If your weakness is expensive cheese, then stay away.

44) Avoid pre-packaged snacks.  I just can’t bring myself to buy these, even when they’re on sale.  I’m thinking in my mind, ‘Oh, these are on sale for $3.99.  Well, even at $3.99 that makes these snack packs about 35 cents each.  Geez, I can buy several boxes of cheese crackers for that amount and just put them into baggies.’ 

45) Try to cut back on your beverage bill.  Filter your water instead of buying bottled.  Make your own kool-aid instead of buying those individual bottles.  Add your own sugar to your kool-aid instead of getting the kind with sugar.  Buy generic soda.  Comparison shop. Buy what’s on sale.

46) Look for reduced meat sales.  Most grocery stores reduce their meat the day before it’s sale-by date.  Sometimes I use this opportunity to get meats that are already seasoned or things that I normally would not buy.  I get a splurge item at a sale price.  Of course, I use the item right away.

47) Bigger is not always better.  Sometimes economy size packages do not save you money.  Even if they are cheaper, you need to decide if it’s worth the extra money.  If you’ll use it then it’s a good buy, but if it will go to waste you need to rethink your decision.

48) Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale or because you have a coupon.  Sometimes it’s easy to get on a bargain high and buy things that we just don’t need.

49) Shop at bag-it-yourself stores.  We just got one here.  The stores don’t have to pay baggers and they don’t buy bags, so the food is cheaper.  Just remember your mental notes.  Always know if something is a good price.

50)  Get creative with leftovers.  If you have corn left over, then mix it with green beans to have another night.  If you have leftover grilled chicken, then have grilled chicken salads.

I hope that these thrifty tips have been helpful to you.  These are things that I was taught from my very frugal mother.    I have to confess, I do all of these except #39.  I use my debit card when I shop.  I am very thrifty, so this one is not a problem area with me.  If you can take a few of these tips away and apply them to your shopping, you should be able to save a lot of money.

For more money saving tips, check out my posts below.

25 More Ways to Save Money

Top 25 Ways I Save Money

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

Instead of dialing 411, try dialing 800-FREE-411.  You’ll have to wait through a short ad, but at least it’s free.

Another alternative is to look the number up on the internet.  I’ve used this method many times.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy