The Mom's Cheat Sheet » Your Money

Pedipeds – Up to 40% Off, Benefits Make-A-Wish Foundation

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:10:04 +0000

If you love Pediped shoes, make sure and check out their current promotion! From now until February 4^th, you can get select styles of Pedipeds at a discounted price. And best of all, 50% of the purchase price will go to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

http://www.pediped.com/product/categoryinfo.aspx?cid=58

10 Great Etsy Gifts for Pregnant Friends

admin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:13:02 +0000

I absolutely love Etsy, and can often find some pretty amazing stuff there. I thought I would compile a few of my favorite things for those of you who are pregnant (or know someone who is expecting). Whether you’re dropping hints for your husband, or buying a gift for a pregnant friend or family member, here are a few great gift ideas from Etsy this season.

1. Watchful Owl Maternity T-shirt: $23 from Jellybean Apparel. This is just one of the many cute maternity t-shirts you can find on Etsy. The whimsical little owl is just too adorable! Find it here.

2. Hospital Gown – Zebra Print: $36.50 from Forever My Baby. When you’re in the hospital during labor and delivery, even the little things can make a big difference. Once I realized that you can buy your own hospital gown (rather than wearing that horrible sheet the nurses give you) I was instantly excited. I remember feeling terribly frumpy and unattractive in the hospital, and perhaps giving birth in style is one way to help with that feeling. It’s worth a shot, right? Find it here.

3. Expecting Parents Christmas Ornament: $12 from The Urban Garden. Now, this is a great idea for yourself or as a gift. What a wonderful keepsake to remember this holiday season. Each year as you unpack your ornaments and decorate the tree with your family, you can look at this ornament and remember back to when you were pregnant with your child. Find it here.

4. Retro Metro Belly Band: $10 by Cutie Fruity. Belly bands are a maternity must-have, since you can extend the life of your pre-pregnancy jeans as well as ease back into them after the baby is born. I remember looking around for one when I was pregnant with my last daughter three years ago, and I only found expensive ones in solid colors. Now, it seems they are growing in popularity as well as availability. You can find them in cute patterns and fabrics, not just white or khaki. Find it here.

5. Custom Due Date Necklace: $24 by Julie The Fish. This is an adorable necklace that is hand stamped with the baby’s due date, and comes with little baby feet charm. Perfect gift for an expecting mom! Find it here.

6. Nursing Cover: $20 by TAG Line Designs. I’ve seen plenty of nursing covers out there, and this one is particularly adorable. Find it here.

7. A Print On Wood: $35 from Sascalia. This is something that caught my eye, so I thought I’d include it. Wouldn’t this be beautiful in a nursery or sitting room? Find it here.

8. “If you can read this, then you’re too close” Maternity T-shirt: $25 by Baby Bubble Clothing. How many of you have had strangers come up and rub your bump? I’m not sure what that’s all about, but some of us aren’t so keen on getting our bellies patted while we’re in line at Starbucks. This T-shirt is a cute, polite way to make a statement! Find it here.

9. Scrabble Pendent – PSST… I’M PREGNANT: $5.95 by Pieces of Me Pendants. I saw this and thought, “What a fun way to announce your pregnancy!” Whether you wear it yourself, or give it to your mother-in-law on Christmas morning, you could really have some fun with this. Find it here.

10. Nursing Bracelet: $15 by Organic Mamas. What a clever idea! Those early days of newborns can be so hard, what with sleep deprivation and the adjustments of a new baby. Nursing is just one of the many things a new mom has to keep track of. This bracelet is a cute and clever way to help out with that. Find it here.

There are many more of these finds on Etsy, so have some fun and look around their website when you get the chance. Happy shopping, and have a Merry Christmas!

-Grace

Make Your Own Natural Deodorant

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:37:01 +0000

I’ve been hearing now for a while that deodorants contain aluminum, which is apparently bad to be lathering all over yourself day after day. I put that in the category of, “One day I’ll look into that… but I don’t have time today.” Oh, there are so many things in that category….

So there it is, filed away for a later day. I was reading Simple Mom’s blog today and I came across her post on her own quest to make natural, aluminum free deodorant. And yes, I know you can buy it at the health food store… but I always shy away from spending so much on something just because it’s organic. Well, after reading her post, I realize just how easy it would be to mix up a few things and make my own natural deodorant. Although I’m not the most organic, do-it-yourself kind of gal, this idea just seems too easy to not at least try. And if summer rolls around and my family starts to sit on the opposite end of the couch from me, I can always switch back to my favorite deodorant from Target.

Simple, Homemade Deodorant: an Effective, Safe Alternative [simple mom]

Save Money at Restaurants

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:37:30 +0000

My husband and I used to eat out frequently, but these days we’re really trying to scale back. Not only are our kids eating more (they can still usually split a kid’s meal, but it depends), but in these economic times I think that everyone is on a tighter budget.

I’ve already mentioned my love for restaurant.com, but there are even more options out there than that. Something I was not aware of –

“These days, even restaurants are on Facebook. Take advantage of the social networking trend and friend or fan your local restaurant chains. TGI Friday’s is just one example that recently offered up menu coupons for the first 500,000 people who signed up as fans of its advertising spokes-character online. Once you sign up and register your email, the restaurant will likely enroll you in their rewards program and update you with any deals or promotions.”

Check out more good tips from the link below, and enjoy your weekend!

7 Small Ways to Save Big When You Eat Out [savvy sugar]

The Importance of Menu Planning

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:34:41 +0000

Do you plan your meals, or do you just throw them together? I don’t know how I managed before I started menu planning, but I’m certain that I spent more money at the grocery store. Since I’ve started menu planning, I’m finding it’s making a huge difference in many areas. Not only am I less stressed and more organized, but I am finding that my grocery shopping is much more efficient.

If you don’t menu plan yet, consider the following:

Knowing what is for dinner (and how long it takes to prepare) helps you plan your day. If you make a crock pot meal in the morning, you can hang out at the park until dinnertime without having to be home to cook. It’s also helpful to plan ahead, so you can give yourself plenty of time to cook and dinner doesn’t sneak up on you.
Menu planning helps space out what you are eating, so you can avoid eating chicken three nights in a row or cooking spaghetti too often.
You save time when you plan your meals all at once. Each week, I take a few minutes and plan out each meal. Taking this time all at once is much better than wondering each night, “What am I going to make for dinner?” as you rummage through the freezer and the pantry.
By planning your meals, you can control your diet better. There are certain dishes I love that contain a lot of pasta and cheese, and I want to make sure I’m not serving them too frequently. By writing out what you are making each night, you can also plan for vegetables and salads, rather than forgetting about them.
Making a meal plan and one trip to the store will save you money. If you run to the store every few days for “just a couple of things,” you’re bound to spend more money. Sometimes it can be hard to stick to your grocery list, and cutting down the times you hit the store will reduce the amount of extra stuff you end up buying over the course of the month.
Your groceries stretch longer. If you plan a meal using fresh cilantro but know you’ll only use part of the bunch, plan another meal for later in the week using the same ingredient. This way you don’t waste leftover cilantro, which will wilt before too long.
You will eat out less. I love to eat out, don’t get me wrong. What I don’t like is eating out because I don’t know what else to make for dinner, and it’s 6pm. Save your restaurant money for dates or fun family outings – not because it’s the natural result of disorganization.

If you don’t plan your weekly meals in advance, I encourage you to give it a try. You’ll save time, effort, money, and resources. And hey, if you’re looking for new menu ideas, check out my recipes!

- Grace

Cutting Back on “Essentials”

admin — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:00:06 +0000

I have one guilty pleasure, and it’s Starbucks. I know it’s ridiculous to pay over $4.00 for a drink (my Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte… so good…), and yet I pull up to the drive-thru with a big grin on my face every time, excited for that first sip of seasonal deliciousness.

The Simple Dollar featured a post tonight that I really enjoyed and identified with. There are so many things in our lives that we deem “necessary” or “essential,” when in reality these things are luxuries. I talk to women who are amazed that I want more than two children – how can I possible afford more kids? When I ask what they are referencing, they immediately talk about the cost of expensive preschools, summer camps, etc. Are these things really necessary, or just a lifestyle choice? Is it something we can’t live without, or is it a luxury?

There are many ways to cut back on things one would consider “essential” to their lifestyle. For me, I try to brew more coffee at home and use special creamers (Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread, Caramel Apple…) instead of swinging by Starbucks every time the mood strikes me. I am still able to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee (something that’s important to me) but I can do it a lower cost.

I encourage you to read this post from The Simple Dollar… I found it very helpful, and am brainstorming more areas in my life that I can use this approach on.

The Challenge – and the Advantage – of Going Minimal [the simple dollar]

Do You Save Money by Shopping Around?

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:29:12 +0000

Let me ask you a question: Do you do your grocery shopping at two or three different stores, or do you go to one place for convenience? Perhaps diapers are cheaper at CVS, but meat is cheaper at Costco? Do you get it all in one place, or do you shop around for the best deals at each store?

Personally, I go back and forth. I have been known to hit up multiple grocery stores in one week because of the sales and the coupons I have. Sometimes I save a bundle, while other times I start to question whether or not it’s worth the extra time I’ve spent. I often wonder just exactly how much money I’m saving by going to two or three stores, and if that money is worth my time.

This is a very interesting post from The Simple Dollar, which breaks down the math for you. If are curious about whether or not it’s worth it to run that extra errand to save a couple of dollars, read this post and see for yourself.

Gasoline, Groceries, and a Simple Look at the Cost of Time [the simple dollar]

Halloween Costumes – Could I Have Done This Differently?

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:57:09 +0000

Oddly enough, the only Halloween costume I’ve ever bought for my kids was a giraffe outfit last year for my older daughter. My girls are two and four, and somehow we’ve managed to receive Halloween costumes as gifts in past years, so there hasn’t been much need to go out looking for costumes. I save and organize everything, so my plan this year was to buy one costume for my four year old, and have my two year old wear a hand-me-down.

While I was at Costco today for groceries and diapers, and I thought I’d go ahead and buy my daughter her costume before all the good ones were snatched up. I figured it would be simple enough, since she had already told me she wanted to go dressed as Tinkerbell. And since her little sister is only two, I assumed I could get away with dressing her up in the giraffe one that my older daughter wore last year. Ah, I was mistaken.

As soon as we turned our cart into the costume aisle, they were like sharks in a feeding frenzy. The first thing I realized was that my older daughter was changing her mind over and over again, no longer satisfied with Tinkerbell. (Thankfully we narrowed it down easily, and I explained that once she chose a costume, that was the final decision.) The second thing I realized is that my two year old wasn’t going to sit by idly and watch her older sister have all the fun. Before I knew it, I was spreading out several costumes for my kids to survey, as they discussed which ones were their favorites. In the end, my older daughter fell in love with Thumbelina, while my younger daughter was bouncing up and down with the Little Mermaid costume in her hands.

I drove home, wondering if I could have gone about that differently. Thankfully, Costco doesn’t charge much for costumes – but I still hadn’t planned on buying two of them. I’m may want to come up with some more creative ways to obtain Halloween costumes, or else resign myself to shelling out for the cool costumes in the stores (which I love doing, but I’m curious see if there may be other ways).

Here are 5 ideas I’ve come up with, things I may try in the future.

I could hit the clearances after Halloween, and buy two or three costumes in various sizes. In the following years, I could just pull out a bin of Halloween costumes I’ve compiled, and let my kids choose from them.
I may try to make their costumes. Even if I can’t sew, I know I could pull something together if I were creative enough. There are plenty of great ideas out there.
I could leave the kids at home with my husband next time I go shopping.. Next year, I could buy only one costume for my older daughter in a size we don’t have, but not when the kids are with me. Before Halloween I could pull out her new costume, as well as a hand-me-down for my younger daughter. If they are both surprised with a costume at the same time, my younger daughter won’t care (or notice) if her sister wore it a year or two earlier.
I could swap Halloween costumes with friends. If your friends have kids, suggest swapping costumes from previous years with them. Make it a fun fall play date, and have everyone bring their old Halloween costumes. I know we have a collection of costumes in different sizes. If several moms came together with a bunch of costumes each, there would be plenty to trade around.
If all else fails, I could raid the dress up bin. We have plenty of princess paraphernalia in our toy room, and I’m sure if I picked up some fairy wings at Target we could put together some pretty cool costumes.

What about you? How do you go about shopping for Halloween costumes? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments section below. I’m eager to hear how you other moms prepare for Halloween!

- Grace

Volunteers Receive Free Day at Disney

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:50:56 +0000

Have you ever considered volunteering? Disney is providing extra incentive to give back to your community next year by rewarding free one-day passes to 1 million folks who take a day to volunteer.

“The “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program will provide certified volunteers with a one-day ticket to any park at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., or Walt Disney World near Orlando, Fla., in 2010.”

This sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me. If you live close enough for a day trip to one of the parks, why not participate in this program? Volunteering in your community is a great experience already, and this makes it even more rewarding.

If you are interested in this program, check out Disney offers free entry to 1 million volunteers. [yahoo news]

Are Coupons Mostly for Junk Food?

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:34:11 +0000

As I was putting away some things my husband picked up from the store last night, I saw the spaghetti noodles he had purchased. He was excited about the “buy one, get one free,” and so now we have several packages. My gut reaction was, “Uh-oh, these are regular noodles instead of Barilla Plus or whole wheat ones!” Then I stopped and considered the benefit of saving a few dollars and being stocked up for a few weeks. Yes, I prefer getting the healthier noodles, but getting a bargain on the regular ones was a smart choice on his part.

We all try and balance saving money with buying the healthiest, best groceries for our family. I’m not going to buy all organic, or shop exclusively at Whole Foods, because we flat out can’t afford that. It’s just too expensive, and I have to balance grocery shopping with every other aspects of running my home. I do find other ways of shopping for healthy foods on a budget, like buying organic yogurt in bulk from Costco. I also enjoy finding good deals at the grocery store down the road, and I try and use coupons for things or focus on the items that are on sale that week. I’m finding my own balance with my grocery shopping, one where I can feel good about the foods my kids eat, but also know that I’m taking advantage of store specials and opportunities to cut the grocery bill.

One thing I’ve noticed about a lot of coupons in particular is that they tend to be for junk foods, or processed stuff that I don’t buy at all. I keep saying to myself that I’ll start cutting more coupons, but when I sit down with the paper it seems like all of the offers are for items I don’t need. I do try to find other ways to save money on groceries, but I’ve often wondered if my sweeping judgment that “coupons are for stuff I don’t buy anyway” is valid or not. I do know plenty of moms who save money using coupons – and I know they value eating healthy foods.

The post below from Money Saving Mom is great. She answers the same question I have often asked myself when it comes to coupons and their relationship to junk food. She also has some good insight into balancing eating well with saving money, and how you need to do what’s right for your family. Balance is the key, and this is a point that Money Saving Mom drives home.

Q & A: Does Couponing Only Work if You Eat Junk Food [Money Saving Mom]