Swapdom Lets you Swap Kids Clothes with other Parents

Are you looking for used baby items? The traditional way to find them is to ask your friends and neighbors if they are willing to give you the baby items that their children have grown out of. This method is generally “hit or miss” and requires a bit of networking skills. Swapdom.com offers a more efficient method for finding free baby items. There are many different methods that a parent can use if he or she is looking for free baby clothing (and other baby items). You could let your family members, friends, and co-workers know that you are in … Continue reading →

Spring is Consignment & Outgrown Sale Season

To save money on children’s clothing, I make sure to shop the large children’s outgrown sales (also known as consignment sales). There I can pick up a fancy Easter dress for $5, boys jeans for $2, and an assortment of other clothing to outfit my three kids. I’ve been shopping at outgrown sales and taking advantage of community swaps for a long time now, ever since my now middle school child was a baby. I have the say that things have certainly changed with outgrown children’s sales since that time. First of all, the prices are much higher. What was … Continue reading →

The High Cost of School and Activity Fees

This year, our school district is charging activity fees for its students. This means that if any students want to participate in after school sports or other activities, they must first pay a fee. The amount of the fee depends on the child’s level in school. So, an elementary student who wants to participate in a school activity must pay $25, a middle school student must pay $50, and a high school student must pay $75 per year. Granted, these aren’t astronomical fees, and this particular fee gives a free pass to all activities, but they aren’t the only fees … Continue reading →

Tackling School Related Expenses

During the school year, families can find themselves running into unexpected school-related expenses. These expenses can really add up. Fees and requests for money can range from $5 to hundreds of dollars per kid per instance. The best way to tackle these expenses is threefold. First, make sure that you have a savings or budget plan that will include these expenses, so you won’t be surprised; second make a decision on what you can or can’t do or support; and three, figure out if there are any cost saving measures that can be applied for these expenses. What types of … Continue reading →

How to Save on Baby Care

There are at least two facts about babies: They are awfully cute and they need a lot of things. All of the things that babies need cost money. If you are cutting corners and trying to be frugal, you’ll need to know the secrets about saving money on baby care. Baby Food There are two main ways to save on baby food. You can combine coupons and sales to get the baby food at the lowest possible price. Check out warehouse stores, too. Buying baby food in bulk can usually save you quite a bit. For more dramatic savings in … Continue reading →

Cheaper Kids Pajamas

There is nothing more cuddly then a sleepy child in soft fuzzy pajamas first thing in the morning or right before bed. I like to have a lot of extra pajamas available, especially in winter, to make sure the kids stay warm and snugly. I also like to get great deals and spend less on them, so here are my tips. For older children, instead of pajamas, try warm oversized sweat pants and sweat shirts. You can reuse them for up to three years (I can usually get four). When they are large, wear them as pajamas, when they fit … Continue reading →

Baby Buy This Not That to Save

Among all of the advice that you might get when you are pregnant, there is very little that concerns the things you should and should not buy when preparing for your baby. There are some winners and some wastes of time and money when it comes to preparing your nursery. Use this guide to save your new family some money. Diapers Don’t: Newborn diapers in bulk. Most babies grow so quickly that they will soon outgrown the newborn diapers within days. Some babies are even born too large to fit the newborn size. Do: Size 1 and 2 diapers. You … Continue reading →

Frugal Baby Gear

Last night, my husband and I said goodbye to our baby crib. I admit that we were a bit sad, after all, that crib represented our first major purchase as a family, and at the same time, letting it go signaled that we were all done with babyhood. Still, we were happy to know that it was getting a good home and would bless a young couple just starting out. Being the older and more experienced pair, my husband and I couldn’t help spouting out all kinds of baby advice. “Don’t buy a wipe warmer!” The couple was polite enough … Continue reading →

Save on Baby Items

It is a fact that babies need stuff, lots of stuff. And all of that stuff winds up costing lots of money. Fortunately, with a few frugal practices, you can spend much less. Here are some ideas on how you can save on baby items. Announce it to the world If you are lucky, as soon as you announce that you are expecting, you will be inundated with offers for free baby stuff, such as equipment, clothes and toys. Friends, family and even casual acquaintances often have a ton of baby stuff that is sitting there waiting to be used. … Continue reading →

Cloth Diapering Tips

Cloth diapers can save quite a lot of money when you use them instead of disposable diapers. But sometimes they can actually cost more. This occurs when people purchase extra equipment or accessories to go with the cloth diapers, use cleaning practices that cost more money, or when they give up on cloth diapering because of the inconvenience. So, I thought I would include some money saving tips about using cloth diapers. The way to get the poop out of a diaper is to rinse it in the toilet. Some people simply grab and end of the diaper and swoosh … Continue reading →