Since Mommy has been staying at home with me this year, our family has had to come up with lots of creative ways to save money. These are the 6 tips at the top of our list:
1. When shopping at the grocery store, buy the store brand. Even if you have a coupon for a national/regional brand, the store brand is almost always a better deal. Occassionally you'll find a store brand product that is truly inferior in taste or quality (toilet paper, for example), but most of the time you won't even notice a difference.
2. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are needing baby gear for any other reason, try to purchase big items at the beginning of the year. That's when many companies debut their new lines, and you can often find last year's model at a great discount. When Mommy was shopping for my convertible carseat this January/February, for example, there were many 2009 models on sale for 30% off.
If you're planning to give this tip a try, you'll probably find that it applies more to online retailers than brick and mortar stores.
3. Sell your kiddo's gently used, quality brand clothes to a children's resale shop! Mommy and I like the Kid to Kid franchise. Most resale shops will give you more for your items if you choose store credit over cash (which we always do).
In case you're wondering, Mommy and I only sell trendy clothes that don't hold sentimental value. We save the classic and sentimental pieces for the baby sister I may have some day.
4. Shop children's resale shops for clothes, shoes, toys, and even baby gear. Some of the cutest clothes I own have come from Kid to Kid. We always look for BabyGap, Gymboree, and boutique brands first. Those give us the most bang for our buck. Last month, we bought a pair of "like new" Pediped boots (for the fall) for $20. They would have cost $57 if they were brand new.
5. Don't Go Shopping!
This may be the biggest money saving tip Mommy has learned this year. If you're really serious about curbing your spending, do not go shopping unless you truly need something.
Otherwise, your mommy is bound to find the most adorable pair of Robeez shoes for only $14 while the two of you are "just looking" at Marshalls. And she will feel like she can't afford not to buy them. So she will. And then your daddy will remind her that she didn't save money if she didn't intend to spend money. And he will be right.*
6. This last tip is offered by Daddy.
Don't put electronics in the washing machine.**
Want more tips? Head on over to Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.
*Since I'm sure you're wondering, please believe me when I say that these exact events did not take place in our home this year.
It was not a pair of Robeez shoes.
**Unfortunately, this event did happen in our home.
11 comments:
Your pantry looks a lot likes ours! (Great Value)
Sorry it's 11pm and I guess my grammer goes out the window after 10! Should be "like"
Aluminum foil and marshmallows - 2 more things that should never be bought in an off-brand!!
I love your posts, Katelyn. I think it's so neat that you have a theme for each one, instead of day-to-day happenings like me. How do you come up with them all?
We have a Kid to Kid too and I love it. I also do consignment sales. We have a ton of really good ones in my city and I have saved so much money for my girls clothes. It helps that they are both girls so they get passed down.
I also shop the 75% off rack at Target.
I will be a SAHM with no salary beginning in September. These tips are going to be very helpful. Thanks!
Love your list! Dont go shopping pains me but I am getting better at it! Love your blog, too cute!!
Or Saran Wrap.
You are living my parallel life. My whole money saving blog was about "not going shopping!"
I like your list! It's a great place to start off. I discovered your blog on works for me wednesday- if you can hop on over to my blog to see some more money saving tips, I'd love that. I'm your newest follower.
Great post!
I do a lot of our shopping at Aldi which has a double money back guarantee on their products. I haven't found any that I didn't like though. LOL! :D
We love to look at thrift stores for clothes, too. My son goes through pants all the time. I think he has a moth in his knees. LOL!
Uh, oh on the shoes and electronics! :(
I love the Don't Go Shopping one. That's one I need to learn and practice!
I'm working the resale shops for my son's clothes and I find great deals and great clothes too!
You are a very smart baby!
Another way your family can save money is to reuse things, either using something you'd throw away for a new use, or using a durable thing instead of disposable things. Here is one idea I bet you'll love: When your parents finish a food that comes in a canister with plastic lid, tell them to wipe it out with a damp cloth and then put something hard in there, such as a bottle cap, and put the lid back on and give it to you. Shake, rattle, and roll!!!
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