Freebies!

There are lots of freebies available to you, if you know where to look. My most recent favorite is signing up for free pictures. When you sign up with CVS.com in their photo department, you get 50 free prints which you can pick up free in your local CVS store. Also, when you sign up, opt to have them send you email updates, which often give you the details of special deals in advance, before they are posted on blogs. I did this when I signed up for Walgreens pictures, and have scored some really cute collages for free for Mother's Day. Yes the codes showed up on Walgreens website itself, but I still had the email before it was announced on any blogs.

Another freebie I am taking advantage of is Kindle for PC. Amazon will mark down ebooks to free on occasion, which you can download to Kindle for PC for completely free. Kindle for PC is free itself, which makes it an easy way to enjoy books without having to buy them, or finding ways to re-sale them or anything else of the type.

Saving on Clothes for Kids Part 2

Clearance racks are an amazing place to find clothes for your little ones. I can normally find the items I am looking for, at prices I can afford. Walmart will mark down their seasonal items, right before they get their new shipments in. This can mean major savings sometimes. Other times, just enough savings to get a few extra items. Besides just clearance racks, I also shop at Goodwill. Their infant clothes up to size 24 months are only .99 per piece. If you live close enough, you could go once a week, or even 3-4 times a week, and find some really good pieces in good shape that your child can wear.

Another thing to consider is to watch for the Just Between Friends sale. They almost always have a half off day (usually the last day) where it turns into basically BOGO sometimes (buy one get one).

Look up your local Moms of Mulitples group even if you don't have multiples. Moms who are part of this one always have doubles of everything, and just want to sale it. This can range from clothing to toys, to items for nursing. They also sell toys at both of these sales.

Saving on Clothes for Kids Part 1

My son is growing so fast. As he grows, I have learned to start shopping in advance of sizes and what size he should be wearing during which season. For example, I have already started buying winter clothes for him in the size 12-18 months, since he will be a year in January. I have also started looking for toys in advance of what he needs. All of these things I am buying on sale or at garage sales. This will save money, and I can usually find good stuff at amazing prices at garage sales.

The main thing I have been looking for are zip up sleepers with feet. They are normally around $7 minimum in stores, all the way up to $20 or so. When I can find the top brands at garage sales for these items, they are almost always $1 or less. I have found these sleepers for my son, all the way up to 18 months at $1 or less a piece. Now consider the math. Let's say each sleeper costs $10 in the stores, and you need 4 sleepers a week, for each size range. That's $40 per size up to 18 months. If your child is in 3-6 months (like my son) you still have the 6-9, 9-12, and 12-18 month range that you would want sleepers for (3 size ranges). 3 x $40 = $120 you could easily spend on sleepers alone! Buying these at garage sales for $1 each, for 12 sleepers that is only $12! That is a savings of 90% by buying used at garage sales!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post on saving money on clothes for your kids!

Sad Times

When taking a child to a funeral, take the time to explain to them as best as you can what is going to happen, or why you are there. My son is only 3 1/2 months, and this is his second funeral. At this time I do not need to tell him what is going on. However, for toddlers and older that have never been to a funeral, or may not understand death, take the time to explain. They may have questions. Answer as best as you can.

Tip#2 for today

Have 2 places where the kids can sleep. Whether it be a bouncer, swing, crib or pack n play, have 2 different places. This way they can both sleep at the same time if need be. When one is asleep, play with or take care of the other. If they both are sleeping, take a nap yourself if you can or need one. If you can't take a nap, do some household chores really quick. Load the dishwasher, fold a load of laundry, or wipe down the kitchen counters. If you have all of that done, but still can't sleep for one reason or another, take time for yourself by reading, watching a show, or cutting coupons! I usually do a combo of these all, since I always have some sort of cleaning to do. I leave the tv or radio on in the background, and clean away. Or I turn off the tv and read, or catch up with friends online.

Taking Care of Multiple Young Children

Whether it is in a daycare setting, or in your home, more often than not, you will end up caring for more than one child at some point. Today, I have my 15 month old niece and my 3 month old both in my apartment. To keep my niece busy, I have her in an activity center (which I found at a garage sale for $6) and my son in his bouncer. This way, they are both up off the floor, which I still need to baby proof. I would've had the apartment clean by this point, except that it was a last minute babysitting thing for a good friend who may as well be my sister. Throughout this blog, I will have more tips on how to care for multiple young children. The tip for today is- always have more than one place, whether it be bouncer, activity center, walkers or wherever, that you can place the child(ren) as you are cleaning your house, or the room if you are in a daycare setting.

Coupon Tip of the day

Buy the Sunday paper! The coupons in there alone are worth the cost of buying the paper, even if the coupons are the only thing you buy it for! I personally read the comics as well for a laugh! Every Sunday there are quite a few coupons in the paper, everything from pet food to diapers/wipes and groceries! Save these for a day you really need them, or for the double coupon event at your local grocery store. In Tulsa for example, there is a store, Harps, that once a month has a double coupon event up to $1. This can really add up if you have the right coupons! For example, last month, I had a coupon for $1 off honey mustard, one of our favorites! The original price was $2.35. After doubling the coupon, this means I only spent .35 for a container of honey mustard sauce! I only wish that I had 2 of those coupons that day so we could really stock up!