Even during the best of times it can be difficult trying to make ends meet on one income. Saving a few cents here and there can make a big difference at the end of the month. In previous articles, our readers shared their money saving tips. I would like to share a few more money saving tips that parents have submitted. Thanks to everyone who has sent in their frugal hints.
Money Saving Tips
From Amber:
For baby coupons make sure you go to EVERY manufactures website. Most will send you great coupons. Including Gerber, Pampers, Huggies, etc. Also, sign your mother up for them and she can give you the extra coupons as they come in and you save that much more.
From Susan:
Buy as much Wal Mart brand as possible. The ingredients are the same as name brand items. The cost is a lot less. Also, don't eat in every night. Give yourself/family a reward for saving. Have a special eat out night EVERY week. You all will look forward to this and you deserve it- even if something else has to be sacrificed.
From Cheryl:
I have a 9-year-old boy, a 7-year-old boy and a girl 4 years old. They play sports "boys" and my girl just started dance. Everything they need I found on eBay! We, "my husband" and I, found things at yard sales to sell on eBay. We have made hundreds of dollars.
Also I only dry my whites, towels and P.J.s in the dryer. Everything eles gets hung up. I put it in the dryer for just a minute or two then hang them to dry. Yes, the jeans can get hard. Nobody complines and I never have clothes waitng to get washed. Also each of my kids have their own basket and they put their own clothes away.
My boys' birthdays are 2 years and a day apart, so they take turns picking out a cake. Last year we put the tent up in the yard had their friends over. At the dollar store, I found the glow sticks. I don't get the goodie bag thing. Order pizza. The kids had a ball. They just asked me if we could do it again this year. YES it did rain! I can't see spending 8 bucks a kid for Chucky Cheese - that to me is a zoo.
From Tammy:
When putting my budget together I left about $30 a month for layaway at Wal-Mart. This way I can replace any worn out household items such as towels, vacuum cleaners, etc. and I don't have to come up with the money all at one time. I also like to use layaway at Christmas time.
From Laura:
I used to wash my dishes with liquid soap, and since I wash a lot of dishes everyday, I have decided to try something new that works great! There is this soap, that is called Lido. It comes in two colors, white and pink. Most people think that it's just for laundry, but it's not. So what I do, and thanks to the help of baking soda, I wash my dishes, save money and in the end i have a sparkling clean load of dishes. When washing the dishes, I use the pink soap bar, rub my sponge across it a couple of times, and then I take some baking soda, rub that on the sponge as well, and it makes for beautifully clean dishes that are squeaky clean, no grease stains, or greasy feeling. And it even helps my sink stay white while I'm washing my dishes. Just remember to use the pink colored Lido soap, to put the baking soda in a glass or plastic container and you are off to saving a ton of money. I saved over $50 just this year that passed by using this method!
From Sharon:
I do all my grocery shopping at Walmart, but I take all the flyers from the surrounding area grocery stores and pharmacies with me and make them meet the prices. This way I get the lowest possible price on most of my groceries along with coupons.
From Kim:
Thrift stores are the best place to buy children's and women's clothes. I save a bundle buying clothes there. Sometimes you have to dig a little but you can do it. Children don't wear clothes for very long and women buy clothes all of the time and throw out the ones they are tired off. I always get compliments on my wardrobe.