Money-Saving Tip – I Didn't Want to Be a Mother

Money-Saving Tip 3

October 2, 2019

When school’s in session; we go through milk and bread like there’s no tomorrow. I’m grateful for the local Costco with its bulk groceries. I’m ungrateful for their $300 impulse buy items, but that can be a money-saving tip for another day.

Until then, today’s money-saving tip is brought to you by Costco:

Buy in bulk when it’s cheaper and when you’ll use it.

Besides the cost working out about the same for us, my husband also prefers the taste of the Kirkland milk. I wouldn’t know or care, since I rarely handle plain milk without feeling sick.

We also purchase bread, meats, fruits, frozen vegetables, whole and grated cheese, sliced meat, string cheese, snack foods, and dry goods like vitamins and soap.

Fortunately, we live 15 minutes from that Texas-sized warehouse. If I’m laundry pile-deep in kids and dinner’s on the stove, however, my freezer is much closer than a half hour round trip.

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Photo Credit: Henry & Co.

Money-Saving Tip 2

September 25, 2019

Shortly after marrying, my husband said, “I need a haircut.”

“Okay,” I answered.

Then he sat there, giving me a look. “You’re going to cut my hair.”

I can’t remember if I was eating something at the time, but I would have choked if I had. I had no experience cutting hair. My own mother gave my sister and me the old cut-your-bangs-with-Scotch-tape drill; but, besides that, we and my younger brother always went to Great Clips or the neighbor’s house.

My husband demonstrated the ultimate in trust when he purchased a hair-cutting kit and sat down in front of me.

Fast-forward past how many years we’ve been married, and I’m still cutting his hair. I’m also the primary hairdresser for our four boys. Number 5 can look forward to a similar treatment.

Since boys need a trim every two months or so, the practice has really saved us money.

Since boys’ haircuts are like their clothes (simple and measurable), the practice has a low chance of failure.

Since the boys are young and haven’t been to a legitimate salon, the practice works to lower their expectations as well…

Photo Credit: CloudyPixel

Money-Saving Tip 1

September 3, 2019

I’m not big into organic foods, whole foods, saving the planet, or even saving money. Why? Time, mostly. Placement of impulse buys, mostly. But I do what I can.

Today’s money-saving tip is also a great planet-saver:

Purchase reusable containers.

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We eat a lot of sandwiches around here, because the boys attend a charter school with an über expensive hot lunch. About 3 years and a few hundred sandwich bags ago, I decided Mother Earth could use fewer plastic bags thrown away.

The variety of reusable sandwich containers pictured are also BPA-free and probably contain X% recycled materials. I bought them off Amazon and they do the trick.

I recycle and reuse as much as I have time and money for. If we all do at least that, I’m sure the world will be a cleaner place.

Shopping Tip 1

July 17, 2019

Today, I bring you a purchasing tip.

Wait and buy stuff on clearance, especially after holidays.

Now, you may be thinking that a gingerbread haunted house is not something you can use until the following year. True, so check the expiration date. With items like tablecloths, food dyes, sprinklers, pot holders, and baking cups (aka muffin liners); however, there is no expiration date.

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“But, what about when the cupcake wrappers literally say, ‘Valentine’s Day?'”

Dude; that’s when you use them for just your family. I pulled these puppies out for cornbread muffins. My kids don’t care; they just throw them away after sucking the crumbs out of them.

I’ve also found that holiday items that look like Christmas or V-Day or Halloween can be more versatile than I originally think. For example, some of the wrapping paper I bought last year (green and red) actually didn’t look that Christmas-y when I used it for a birthday.

Just shop smart. Look for universal colors and patterns.

And remember: chocolate is always in season.