How to Stay on Christmas Budget and Teach the True Meaning of the Holidays

How do you keep your children happy while staying on budget, curbing the gimmies and teaching the true meaning behind the holidays? Read on for some practical, easy-to-follow advice. Did you know that in 1977, the number one requested Christmas gift for children was slime? For those of you who weren’t alive in the 70s, or as a refresher, slime was this mysterious gooey substance, usually made of fluorescent green. It came in its own tub, but usually once it got out, there was no putting it back. Slime was a toy that lived up to its name. It oozed … Continue reading →

Earn Money Selling Children’s Clothing

Selling children’s clothing can be an easy way to earn money! You can make your own hours and work as much or as little as you like. Whether you need an income that will allow you to stay home with children, a fun project that will earn money, or some extra cash to put toward debt, consider earning money by selling children’s clothing. How to Get Started The nice thing about selling children’s clothing is that, if you have children, you can start with the items that they have outgrown! This means that initially, there is no cost to you. … Continue reading →

How to Save Money on School Supplies

Tis the season for back to school supplies. Parents everywhere are facing this time with a mixture of joy and dread. The summer will soon be over, and how on earth will they pay for all of the stuff that there kids need? If they are smart, budget-conscious consumers, they may try using the following strategies to bring the cost of needed school supplies down to just pennies on the dollar. Shop Multiple Stores Retail stores are fighting hard to get your back to school dollar, but not all sales are created equal. That is why if you want to … Continue reading →

7 Tips for Saving Money on Diapers

Many parents of young children struggle with the cost of diapers. While babies don’t really need as many things as new parents might think, they do need diapers, and they need lots of them. Diapers can carve out a significant amount of the grocery budget. That is why it is so important to use the following ten tips to save money on diapersMany parents of young children struggle with the cost of diapers. . Don’t have young children? You can still benefit when you purchase diapers for pennies and donate them to a shelter or other organization that helps women … Continue reading →

New Baby? Eight Ways to Save Money

Your little bundle of joy can wind up costing you big money. Here are eight different ways to trim costs without sacrificing all of the cuteness. Consider giving up the private room after the first day of your hospital stay. Private rooms can wind up costing you up to $500 extra a day, and most insurance companies will not pay for this privilege. If you have a c-section or complications, your stay could be up to five days long, and the costs will add up. Check into the fees and then make your decision. When you consider the parade of … Continue reading →

Eleven Ways to Save on a Child’s Birthday Party

How can you throw a great kids birthday party on a budget? Keep in mind the following 11 ways to save. Take an inventory When you are just starting to plan your child’s birthday party, first take inventory of what you may already have on hand. This can help you avoid unnecessary purchases and save money. Combine the craft with the take away Set up a craft that goes with your birthday party theme. Let the kids create or decorate it and then take it home. This way you can skip the goodie bags. Some ideas include sand art, photo … Continue reading →

Kids and Money: Anticipate the Unexpected Expenses

Kids are all about the unexpected, and that includes expenses. From an unexpected school fee to the discovery that braces are needed, these expenses can take you by surprise at best and leave you having to do without at worst. You can save yourself stress and even financial hardship when you take steps to be prepared. Another reason to anticipate the unexpected expenses related to kids? Things often wind up costing more when you don’t take care of them early. A cavity can turn into a root canal, a library fine can grow out of control, or you can lose … Continue reading →

How Much Will the Prom Cost You?

Young men and women everywhere are getting ready for what many of them have been looking forward to all year: The Prom. Unfortunately, along with rising expectations come rising prom costs. According to Time Magazine, attending a prom this year, 2013, will cost each student or attendee an average of $1,139. That is a 5 percent increase from last year, when the average cost was $807. Why will it cost more to attend the prom this year? Analysts say that as the economy improves, parents are willing to spend a little more. For teens, the prom is a “social arms … Continue reading →

Money Lessons by Age

Whether your child is two or 18, there are valuable lessons about money that need to be taught. Education about money is often neglected in families. Many times this is because parents just don’t know where to begin. Toddlers to Preschoolers At this age, the money lessons are pretty simple. Your child should know that you need money to buy things, and you can get this money by doing a job. When you are out shopping and your child is with you, you can pay with cash, so your child can see the actual money exchange hands. Talk about how … Continue reading →

Children’s Outgrown Sales: Six Strategies that Save Money

Cut your children’s clothing budget by at least 70 percent, and stock the playroom with a complete set fun toys that you can get for less than $20, when you take advantage of children’s outgrown sales. Here are six tips to help you get the most out of your experience. Finding the Sales Depending on where you live, finding children’s outgrown sales can either be easy or require a bit of research. I’ve found the best sales through word of mouth. They are usually the ones run my churches or other smaller organizations. The selection tends to be high, but … Continue reading →