It’s been estimated that it can take $284,000 to raise a baby to adult hood. That’s a pretty flipping high number. I’m betting you can lower it with some planning. Here are some general tips…

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 …read more

Very few baby items you see online are actually free.When you see sites that promote free baby gear, it’s almost always because they want you to buy something, sign up for something, call someone or do some other obnoxious activity. My best advice is to save on baby items using other tactics. Such as…

Borrow baby items
Don’t tell anyone the gender
Don’t buy useless items

IF YOU DO WANT TO LOOK FOR FREEBIES:
It’s hard to find actual free baby items on the Internet but not impossible. Sometimes a company will offer something as free and then re-direct you to another much more annoying …read more

There’s lots of free fun to be had if you happen to be under the age of one year. That’s the nice thing about babies. They’re easy going and like lots of cheap stuff that older kids aren’t impressed with. For example…

Clean laundry: Clean laundry engages all your baby’s senses for FREE. I mean you have to fold it anyhow, so toss a warm load right over that baby while you sort and fold. Laundry is warm, smells nice, and is full of textures and colors giving your baby a full on fun experience. My son loved clean laundry as …read more

One major way to cut down on baby costs is to borrow like there’s no tomorrow. However, some items are better purchased new, like a car seat and some research notes that baby crib mattresses are safer new. You can likely buy both a car seat and crib mattress used (or borrow one) but if you’re going to save money by borrowing other items you may as well buy these new.

Baby items you can safely borrow:

Baby clothing
Blankets, burp cloths, and other baby textiles.
Cloth diapers. If washed and dried these are perfectly safe and clean, even used.
Baby toys, books, and other …read more

I saw this story a few days ago and couldnt’ believe my eyes.  Now, I am all about good time management and multi tasking but I don’t think this mom was going about it in the right direction, no pun intended.
Genine Compton of Ohio was arrested at the beginning of the month for driving, breast feeding, and talking on the  phone.  Now, I am a proponent of all 3 but not at the same time.  There has to be another side of this story.  Anybody know it?  Because I am not getting it?!?!?!

At my mall, this weekend, the Disney Store was having a great sale on its pajamas.  I am so cheap, I left brand new Disney PJ’s for $5 and $6 only because I knew I could get PJ’s for less than $4 at my consignment sale or at the great yard sales coming up.
So was I cheap or frugal?  I want to hear from you.

I love Pottery Barn but will never pay full price for their stuff.  I think it is great quality but too expensive.  Maybe I’m just cheap.  But I was cruizin’ around and saw some great deals in their Clearance sale items.  You should check it out.  I love their Pink Patchwork Stars Nursery Bedding.  It’s so sweet!

Turkey Butt has been very sick with the stomach flu. Her doctor gave her a prescription for anti-nausea that has helped but we are still trying to get Gatorade and Pedialite down her. Her favorite drink is strawberry milk and I can’t let her have that on such a queezy stomach until she is better. Our doctor says if she isn’t better by tomorrow, then she iwll have to be hospitalized. Not exactly what I wanted to hear.
So here is what I am trying and I hope it will help you as well to be mindful …read more

I love personalized burp clothes.  When I take my infants to church, I don’t have to worry about sharing snot rags and spit rags since they have their names on their burps.  So when I decide to buy personalized burps, I go to Bibs, Burps, and Beyond.  I do think $9 a burp is a little much but now they have a sale going that if you spend $25 or more, then you get a free burp or bib.  Also, if you spend $100 or more (way more than I could recommend) then you get free shipping.  I have always …read more

So I went to Sam’s Club today and tried to comparison shop.  I have always heard how much cheaper their diapers were so I made a list of my usual regular items and then went to Wal-Mart and figured out how much they were per unit.  I checked a few items I use regularly and usually cost me an arm and part of a leg.  I thought I would let you in on a little secret…
Huggies Diapers: Sam’s  $.2373/ diaper  Wal-Mart  $.2936
Clorox 2: Sam’s  $.1692/load  Wal-Mart  $.1970/load
Oxiclean: Sam’s  $1.162/lb  Wal-mart  $1.96/lb
Surf:  Sam’s $.087/load  Wal-Mart  $.0993/load
Downy:  Sam’s $.0726/load  Wal-mart  $.075
Gain:  Sam’s  …read more