Pearly Whites

Since I have been focusing a lot of my posts on saving money, I decided to take some time to write about issues and topics in parenting. Along with sharing how to save money, I also like to share my experience as a mother. One such joy & trial we have been experiencing lately is the milestone of teeth.

 It seems like my baby was teething for months and month without the sign of pearly whites. Looking back I wonder if the reason for her sleeping pattern changing was due to the fact that she was preparing for teeth. Around 3 to 4 months, my once sleep-through-the-night baby, was waking up multiple times during the night. This has lasted for about 4 months now until last night. For those 3 months, she had every sign of teething possible. Just when I thought, "Maybe she'll get a tooth soon," the symptoms stopped and nothing happened. Until about 1 week and half ago, we spotted her first tooth. It was just barely there and looked painful. Not long, like two days, after her first tooth, she got her second tooth. And somewhere inbetween, she got a third. Now she is working on her fourth one. Which means that she will have went from 0 to 4 in about 2ish weeks!

Teething can be stressful & painful for both parent & child. I found myself getting up more at night & being less patient with all the crying. My daughter is a pretty good baby. She hardly ever cries or fusses, but teething has changed that--but only for a few days. I kept asking myself, "How much medicine should I be giving her?" or "What can I do to help her?" When babies are getting teeth, you truly feel helpless. There are lots of remedies out there for teething, but it's so hard to know which ones are best for your baby. Here is some helpful information about teething and teething products that I have found helpful:

• Children's Tylenol--I only gave to my child right before bedtime or when I could tell nothing else was helping.
• Baby Oragel--Use on baby's gums to numb them. I like this and it worked for a while.
• Cold Teething Rings--old trick but it does work. Place teething toys in the fridge for an hour or two. Then give to baby.
• Something Cold--I have given my baby Italian ice a few times (very, very tiny bites) or ice cream to help soothe her. Even a metal spoon that is cold feels good on their gums. Or try cold baby food-like applesauce.
• Teething pacifier--This I have yet to try, but have had people recommend that it works.
• Cold wash cloth--another old trick, but works well.
• Teething crackers--they now make crackers just for teething. My baby liked these.
• Teething tablets--Most stores carry teething tablets that are homeopathic and 100% natural. I have used these a few times & they seem to work.

Substitute

How often do you cook with or eat meals with meat? In 2007 a report found that these are the amounts of meat the average American consumes each year:

Chicken: 84.9 pounds
Beef: 63.5 pounds
Pork: 48.2 pounds
Turkey: 17.5 pounds
Lamb and Mutton: 1 pound

It's not hard to believe that the US is the number 1 consumer of meat in the world. Not only are we the largest consumer of meat but meat production has increased by 500% since 1950. Since 1961, we have almost doubled the amount of meat we consume each year. Now, don't take this the wrong way because I enjoy meat; but, we consume too much meat.  The portion of meat we should be eating is 3 oz but in reality we are eating much bigger portions of meat than that. Most meals we make or eat at a restaurant, the meat is the main dish with tiny sides of a starch or vegetable. Research & studies have shown that Americans eat way more meat than fruits or vegetables. In fact, only a small percentage of people actually eat the suggested amount of fruits & vegetables each day. So, you might be asking yourself, "What's your point?' My point is that if we reduce the amount of meat we eat at each meal, we could not only save money but we could also become healthier.

Meat can be expensive, and if you are using it as your main entree it can cost even more.  When buying meat, I almost always buy it on sale. If there is a really good sale, I buy multiple packages and freeze them. I've read books and articles that show what a good price is for different cuts & types of meats. So, before going to the store, I set target prices for the meats I buy. If it's not within my target price, I don't buy it. I will shop around or wait for a sale. If I were to use meat--beef, chicken, poultry--in every meal, everyday I would be spending a lot of money. Instead of using meat in every meal, I have begun to substitute.  There are several other choices for cooking that do not involve meat. Here are some examples:

-Beans--black, pinto, letil
-Rice
-Pasta
-Tuna
-Eggs

Now, I am aware that tuna is a type of meat, but it is usually much cheaper than other meats. Most of these other options have a lot of protein in them which will make you full.  If you do use meat often, try using recipes that call for smaller amounts of meat, like stir-fry. You can also substitute meat meals by insterting the following:

-Nacho night
-Soup & salad night
-Cereal night
-Baked potato night
-Pancake/Breakfast night

These are all meals that will save you money and usually time as well. Some of these might not be "kid friendly" but you can adjust accordingly to what your family prefers.

Sources:
 -Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), FAOSTAT on-line statistical service (FAO, Rome, 2004). Available online at: http://apps.fao.org.
-http://www.worldwatch.org/node/1495
-National Turkey Federation: http://www.eatturkey.com / http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-11-14-3913750537_x.htm

Free Treat

Taco Bell currently has a coupon for a FREE Fruitista Freeze at coupons.com with the purchase of anything on the menu. That means you could buy something off the value menu for $1 or less and still receive this freeze drink for FREE! To find out more & get your coupon, click on the link above.

Cut the Clutter: Dishes

http://www.rubiconcoaching.ca/wp/?tag=proactivity

The other day I came across an article about cutting down on the clutter in the home.  This article has several tips on how to cut the clutter & live more simply. As I was scrolling down to view the comments on the article, I came across an interesting comment. I haven't tried this idea yet, but find it fascinating. Here is what the lady suggested:

"I have more space in my kitchen cabinets because each family member has 1 dinner plate, 1 bowl, 2 cups, 1 salad plate and 1 tea cup. We keep a set of dishes for entertaining too, but that’s it. I can remember when I had several sets of dishes and my sink was overflowing and my cabinets were cluttered. Not anymore."
Saidah @ AProverbswife.com

This idea is interesting because it would save in so many ways! First, on dishes. I don't know about you, but it seems like I am always doing dishes. Just when the sink is clear, more dishes start to pile up. So this idea would eliminate the big pile of dishes in the sink. Second, it would clear up cabinet space--which would be nice. This would allow room for groceries or storing other things you cannot find a spot for. Last, it would save on water & energy because you wouldn't be doing loads & loads of dishes in the dishwasher. The downfall is that you would have to wash the plates, bowls and cups each time you used them. I would tweek this idea just a little bit. What if each family member had 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 cups and 1 salad plate instead? I think this would allow for less washing throughout the day. It would still serve the purpose of less clutter & less dishes. See more on cutting the clutter here:  

http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/04/get-rid-of-clutter.html

Cut the Cost: Laundry Detergent

Laundry is one of the essential things in life. If you have multiple children or people living in your home, the loads of laundry can add up fast. Pouring in detergent each time adds up too, and fast. Here is a fantastic resource/article by Money Saving Mom on ways to save when buying laundry detergent. There is even a video which shows how to make your own laundry soap:

http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/03/four-ways-to-save-money-on-laundry-detergent.html 

Sweet Deal

Copyright Dairy Queen

I don't know about you, but I LOVE Dairy Queen blizzards! Although they are a little pricey, I still crave them often. So, to feed my craving I decided to search for blizzard coupons online a few years ago. I eventually came across a way to buy one blizzard, get one free. Below is the link to Dairy Queen's website where if you become a blizzard fan club member, you can receive 2 BOGO free coupons. You will earn 1 just for signing up & 1 when it's your birthday. It's a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. Especially when you are craving a blizzard on a hot summer night.

At the bottom of the page, there is a box that says "Blizzard Fan Club" and a place to join by entering your first & last name. Then that will take you to a page to fill out a few more things about yourself. Enjoy!!!

http://dairyqueen.com/us-en/

Weekly Wisdom

Although I love to save money, I have learned that being too frugal is not always a good thing. Here is my weekly wisdom for the week:


Some things are worth buying new. This lovely tip comes from a very wise man, my husband. As sad as it may sound, my husband has had to remind me a time or two, that sometimes it is better to buy new than used. For example, some people might feel comfortable buying a used pair of underwear. I, on the other hand, do not. Some things are worth buying new. Need another example? Baby bottles--You never know where the bottles have been, honestly. Your baby’s health is more important than saving a few dollars. Although baby bottles can be pricey, some things are just worth buying new. Being frugal can be helpful in some areas of life, but it is okay to buy new too. Saving money is a good thing, but it’s okay to splurge every once in a while.


More weekly wisdom next week!

Weekly Menus

Before going to the grocery store, I like to plan out the meals we are going to eat for the week. I create a weekly menu & pick out the recipes I plan to use. Below I've created two versions of weekly menus. Each have a plan to write the recipe you plan to use, the ingredients it calls for & a spot to write the items you will need to purchase from the store. One menu has just a single blank weekly menu on the page. The other one has 2 weeks of blank menus. So, save them to your computer, print them out & plan out a week's worth of meals!

Dave Ramsey "Budgeting" Money Makeover - 1/10

Need to budget your money? This video gives simple suggestions on where to start.

Less is More

A while back, I decided I had way too much stuff. Stuff in the closets, stuff in the drawers, stuff under the bed, stuff downstairs, upstairs, in the garage and everywhere. Too much stuff. I found myself wondering, "How did I end up with all this stuff?" In the next moment I decided all this extra stuff had to go. I don't know how or why we feel the need as humans to buy, buy, buy; but, we do. We then end up with stuff, stuff, stuff. Some stuff we need and must have. But some stuff just takes up space and energy. Sometimes when I purchase something, I do not think about the simple fact that I will have to find a spot in my house for that something. In fact, I think many times I forget this and that is why I have ended up with stuff I do not need. When I realized how much useless stuff I had and that I had no good place to store it all, I decided to prioritize and declutterize---if that's a word. I began throwing gobs and gobs of things away or placing them in a pile for give-away. If you have ever done this before, than you can attest to how good it feels to get rid of things you don't use or have any use for. Then I began organizing the stuff I needed or wanted to keep. This is still an on-going process. I cannot fully express how refreshing it is to have less. If I did not have such emotional attachments to some of my belongings, I would get rid of more. The simple fact is---less is more.  Not just more space, but more in the sense that it reminds you of what is really important in your life. Stuff is just not important. It is exactly what I just stated--stuff. It can't make you happy and it can't do much for you but sit and gather dust. I'll tell you what can bring joy and happiness and worth to your life---faith, family & friends. So, instead of collecting stuff, try collecting people & relationships. They last a lot longer & the space they take up will be in your heart.

If it Ain't on the List...

Since I have several ideas on ways to save money, I decided to just start posting them like this instead of constantly writing "Way to Save # so and so." It just seemed like a better idea.

If it ain't on the list, it doesn't come home. This applies to all forms of shopping, not just grocery shopping. I must admit, I am horrible about following this way to save money; but, I believe it's a handy one to know. More often then not, when I come home from the store, I end up with several items I had no intention of buying. I then begin asking myself why. Then I beat myself up for spending way more money than desired. Followed by the "I will not let this happen again" self-talk. Sadly, I must inform you that my self-talks do not last very long. I soon find myself standing in my kitchen with bags and bags of groceries and a less than desirable 2-foot long receipt of items I did not really need.

Sticking to your list will save not only money but also time. If you make a plan before you go to the store, you are more less likely to impulse buy. In case you do not know what an impulse buy is, it is anything you buy that you did not intend to buy. For example, you go to the store and see a cute, little to-go mug that you don't really need & that you didn't come to the store for but decide to buy it anyway. My husband used to say I did this type of shopping a lot. Almost everything I bought was an impulse buy. Impulse buys are not wrong, but should be done in moderation. Having an idea of what you are going to buy helps you stick to your budget and save money. Also, take the coupons and/or ads with you so that you remember what you are going to buy. I not only take a list, coupons & the ads but I also circle the items on the ads that I am going to buy. I then write down the items I am going to buy with the coupons and the items I circled on the ad. This saves me time. Then I only have to look one place to find everything I am going to purchase. I take the ads with me just in case. The times I do not go to the store with a list, I end up spending over an hour looking for things I think I need. Then I end up with odds and ends items and a bill that I never wanted. When I shop with a purpose and stick to the list, I end up with the items I needed and money still in the bank. Not only do I save money by sticking to what is on my list, I also save time. Trips to the store have to be semi-quick these days with a little one that comes with. Her battery expires within a half-hour so I know that I must be quick. I must say that having a little one helps you to be intentional & purpose minded when going to the store.

So, before you step out the door---make a list, gather coupons & ads and when you get to the store, stick to what you had planned before.

Diaper Dilemma

Who knew ten years ago I would be writing about diapers! When you are young you fantasize about what your life will be like when you grow up, who you will marry, the beautiful house you will have and the many children you will raise; but, rarely does one think about which diapers they will choose. At least I never did! And here I sit writing about diapers. Not only am I going to tell you about diapers, but I am actually excited to do it. Sad as it might be, I like to educate people on saving money, even if it's about diapers.


So if you are a mom, you might know that diapers are not only a necessity but diapers are costly. The decision of buying diapers comes with consequences. Buy the wrong ones and anything from explosions to hurricanes might occur. When my daughter was first born we bought one of the more expensive brands of diapers--Pampers Sensitive Swaddlers. I had every good intention when buying these diapers. I wanted my newborn to have a comfortable experience when she went to the restroom and I wanted her to have protection against leaks. These diapers were great....until she needed more & the lady at the register told me the total for 70 some diapers---which would only last for a week, if that. At first, we could get buy on the overwhelming supply of diapers kind friends and family had purchased for us. But when that supply ran out and we were left standing at the register forking over lots of money for diapers. I knew there had to be a cheaper way.


We have tried almost every kind of diaper there is. Pampers--in various versions, Huggies, Walmart's brand--Parent's Choice, Luvs and Baker's brand. When it came down to it there were two things I wanted out of a diaper--lost cost & leak protection. I never thought in a million years that I would go to a store and calculate how much each diaper would cost. I would take the price of the box of diapers & divide it by the number of diapers in the box. This is how I compared diaper cost. It really is incredible how much each individual diaper costs! Some are 22 cents a diaper! What becomes even more difficult is putting a fresh 22 cent diaper on your child, and two minutes later you are changing it. Sometimes I would think, "Well, looks like 22 cents is going to have to come out of your college fund." Sad, really, but oh so true. Diapers are pricey. We once tried Sam's Club to see if diapers would be cheaper there. We purchased Huggies Snug and Dry diapers--a huge box of like 202 diapers I believe--for about $37. This equals out to be 18 cents a diaper--possibly more with tax. The downfall of Sam's Club is that they only offer a few brands of diapers. The good thing is that you get a lot of diapers for a decent price. Another handy tip is to look online and sign up for coupons. So, if you take the coupons with you, you might be able to save a few dollars more.


Overall, brand name diapers will always cost more, even with coupons; however, brand names do come in handy for quality. I have put a lot of faith and trust in Pampers Baby Dry. They offer 12 hour leak protection, which I can attest is true, so far anyway. Other brands have leaked during the night, but these diapers stand above the rest. I love these diapers for nighttime, but I do not love the price. My daughter was wearing these diapers all day and all night which ended up costing us an arm and a leg. We were paying about 20-21 cents per diaper. Which might not seem like a lot, but it sure does add up, especially when you are using 6-10 diapers a day. In order to solve this diaper dilemma, I had to find a quality diaper that was easy on the wallet. Target. I found that Target makes inexpensive, quality diapers. Target's brand Up & Up makes diapers that are pretty cheap & also pretty good. I have several friends with children newborn to toddler who trust this brand to cushion their babies to buns. I have used Target's diapers for many months now and have not had any issues.


In the end, I decided to rotate between 2 diapers--Pampers Baby Dry & Target's Up & Up. During the day I use Target's brand. At night, I trust in Pampers Baby Dry. It's a great compromise & it saves money too! Here is a look at how it breaks down---for Target's brand I get 96 diapers for about $13.60ish so that's 14 cents a diaper. For Pampers Baby Dry I get 96 diapers for about $19.99 (sometimes less if I have a coupon) so that's 20 cents a diaper. Since I only use Pampers at night, one box of 96 can last around a month and a few weeks. I highly recommend rotating diapers. You still get the quality and name you trust while saving money at the same time.


Tips:
-Buy on sale & with a coupon if you are choosing name brand diapers
-Try different store brands to find the ones you love
-Trust brand name diapers for overnight protection
-Price it out before you buy--how much are you spending per diaper?
-Watch for rashes caused by cheap diapers
-Trust you gut--you will know when you've found the diaper that works for you