cheap dish sets clearance image
Two Rays o
I have a 5 year old and a 14 month old and each month we spend what we earn and we live comfortably. However, we don't have enough to save money for Christmas or birthdays etc and end up being a little short on money on those months.
What are some money saving ideas?
I am already going to stop using the tumble drier to save on electricity and I already switch all sockets off when not in use.
Thanks.
(I have also posted in Newborn and Baby)
Answer
i know i save a ton of money on clothes & sheos for my kids by scouring clearance racks and sale racks all the time and buying bigger sizes and putting them away for the coming seasons. I always have a stock of clothes and shoes waiting for my kids to grow into.
Ebay is great for getting bulk lots of clothes as well and also op-shops/thrift shops too. Garage sales can be an absolute winner for picking up clothes as well.
For example my 11mth old has three pairs of brand new shoes for this winter; 1 pair cost $1.50 and another was $3.50, both were on the clearance racks at kmart, things they were just trying to get rid of and the third pair came from a friend whos daughter had never worn them once. So thats $5 for 3 pairs of shoes/boots!! They are all great quality too, not crappy shoes.
My retail motto is "never pay full price for anything!" and if someone offers you hand me downs never say no, you never know what gems you are going to find in there!
Also, every week/month make a full shopping list and meal plan. Find out what specials the supermarket has that week and make a meal plan for the week according to what you have on hand at home and what the specials are on meat etc.... Then make the shopping list so nothing is forgotten and buy only what is on the list. If its not on there (unless its something you forgot like toilet paper!) it doesn't get bought! Also set yourself a shopping budget and stick to it!! Buy 'homebrand' products if there is no difference to the name brand ones.
It saves a ton of money because you don't have to make trips midweek to the supermarket for bits and pieces and then buy another $50 worth of crap you didn't need!
Also never shop on a hungry tummy lol!
I also buy presents all year round for christmas and birthdays and don't leave it to the last minute. If i see something that would be appropriate and its at a great price i buy it and put it away for later. I also layby more expensive items and pay them off if i can't afford to buy it outright. I already have a couple of lil things for my son for this christmas! It really helps to spread out the costs
other simple ideas.....
wash clothes in cold water
hand wash dishes once a day, no dishwasher!
Make sure electricity tariffs are set to off peak times
Use a cheaper brand nappy that really does the same thing!
Use a wet washable chux cloths/face washer instead of baby wipes
Plan a whole day to do errands and visiting, saves on gas/petrol
Use an allpurpose cleaning product rather than a cupboard full of expensive cleaners....diluted bleach is as good as anything for cleaning!! and its so cheap!
Really research your internet, cell and home phone contracts. There are some amazing deals to be had for those that want to do the legwork.
Never use credit cards!!!...get yourself a debit card and if you can't pay cash/debit card then you can't afford it! Make use of layby/lay-away and pay things off!!!
hope that helps!
i know i save a ton of money on clothes & sheos for my kids by scouring clearance racks and sale racks all the time and buying bigger sizes and putting them away for the coming seasons. I always have a stock of clothes and shoes waiting for my kids to grow into.
Ebay is great for getting bulk lots of clothes as well and also op-shops/thrift shops too. Garage sales can be an absolute winner for picking up clothes as well.
For example my 11mth old has three pairs of brand new shoes for this winter; 1 pair cost $1.50 and another was $3.50, both were on the clearance racks at kmart, things they were just trying to get rid of and the third pair came from a friend whos daughter had never worn them once. So thats $5 for 3 pairs of shoes/boots!! They are all great quality too, not crappy shoes.
My retail motto is "never pay full price for anything!" and if someone offers you hand me downs never say no, you never know what gems you are going to find in there!
Also, every week/month make a full shopping list and meal plan. Find out what specials the supermarket has that week and make a meal plan for the week according to what you have on hand at home and what the specials are on meat etc.... Then make the shopping list so nothing is forgotten and buy only what is on the list. If its not on there (unless its something you forgot like toilet paper!) it doesn't get bought! Also set yourself a shopping budget and stick to it!! Buy 'homebrand' products if there is no difference to the name brand ones.
It saves a ton of money because you don't have to make trips midweek to the supermarket for bits and pieces and then buy another $50 worth of crap you didn't need!
Also never shop on a hungry tummy lol!
I also buy presents all year round for christmas and birthdays and don't leave it to the last minute. If i see something that would be appropriate and its at a great price i buy it and put it away for later. I also layby more expensive items and pay them off if i can't afford to buy it outright. I already have a couple of lil things for my son for this christmas! It really helps to spread out the costs
other simple ideas.....
wash clothes in cold water
hand wash dishes once a day, no dishwasher!
Make sure electricity tariffs are set to off peak times
Use a cheaper brand nappy that really does the same thing!
Use a wet washable chux cloths/face washer instead of baby wipes
Plan a whole day to do errands and visiting, saves on gas/petrol
Use an allpurpose cleaning product rather than a cupboard full of expensive cleaners....diluted bleach is as good as anything for cleaning!! and its so cheap!
Really research your internet, cell and home phone contracts. There are some amazing deals to be had for those that want to do the legwork.
Never use credit cards!!!...get yourself a debit card and if you can't pay cash/debit card then you can't afford it! Make use of layby/lay-away and pay things off!!!
hope that helps!
14th birthday party activity and decoration ideas?
Talia
My theme is "A Night Under the Stars," or "Reach for the Stars". I need help thinking of activities that aren't babyish for a couple of teenagers. We are doing things like paining our nails sparkly colors, like navy blue with gold sparkles on top, and we are turning the lights off and putting glow in the dark stars and christmas lights up. What else can we do for decorations and activites?
Answer
I like the navy blue! For an activity, you girls can make a souvenir project to take home like this:
Get a collection of glass bowls (Dollar Tree has them for $1, or check thrift stores odd glassware or garage sales..look for something like this>>http://www.dollartree.com/new-arrivals-seasonal/new-items/glass-bubble-balls/215c275c275p308126/index.pro?method=search)
Then buy a can of spray paint in a frosted gold--and one in navy, too, if you wish. Get 2 plastic tubs like the kind you wash dishes in. Fill tubs with water. Put everything on newspaper please and have lots of thick newspaper for drying the bowls after. This is what you do:
1. Spray a thick layer of paint on top of the water of 1 tub.
2. Take a bowl and holding it sideways (one hand on rim, the other on the bottom of bowl)...turn it swirling in the gold paint making a random pattern across the whole bowl as it turns (careful not to get any on the inside of the bowl...just go up 2/3 of the way).
3. Set bowl upright on newspaper to dry. When done: put a candle in it...makes for a very pretty candle glow effect. Use for your party, and everyone takes 1 home.
4.. Can do some in navy blue--or try half gold, half navy and see how it turns out. Remember..pattern in random. Keep spraying more paint in water when you need it to give a good coating for the next person. (Just have to eyeball it). Might want to wear some rubber gloves for this!
+++++++++++++++
Hang sheer navy gossamer fabric on doorways and wherever it gives a good effect--look in the clearance section of fabrics..get cheap, find one with sparkles. Doing gold and navy balloons? Have really long streamers floating amongst all of you at the party (if possible).
+++++++++++++++
Play a game where guests have to hand you a secret Hope, Wish, or Dream on a piece of paper...(get gold writing pens...pretty paper from craft store in scrapbook section)...they all go into a container...find something pretty and decorate it. They can't tell anyone what it is. You mix them up, and read them aloud and everyone has to guess and write down the name of who said it>>whoever guessed the most right, wins. OR..they can each take turns reading, but they might recognize the handwriting? you decide.
+++++++++++++++
Play a game where they have to think of as many words than contain the word STAR in them>>>here's a site with a long list>>>http://www.morewords.com/contains/star/.....naturally, they're not going to know many of them, but see how many they can come up with!
Can also do a Trivia game with songs or movies with the word Star ("Star Wars"..."when you wish upon a star" from Pinocchio, etc)
+++++++++++++++
Here's a site with some Mocktails from Seventeen: http://www.seventeen.com/fun-stuff/special/mocktail-recipes-0508... garnish with a slice of "star fruit"? Just cut a bit and sit on rim of glass----dip rims in lemon juice first and then in sugar before pouring liquid and garnishing.
Make star cookies, or sandwiches using a cookie-cutter for the bread...or star brownies with sparkly sugar on the frosting.
I like the navy blue! For an activity, you girls can make a souvenir project to take home like this:
Get a collection of glass bowls (Dollar Tree has them for $1, or check thrift stores odd glassware or garage sales..look for something like this>>http://www.dollartree.com/new-arrivals-seasonal/new-items/glass-bubble-balls/215c275c275p308126/index.pro?method=search)
Then buy a can of spray paint in a frosted gold--and one in navy, too, if you wish. Get 2 plastic tubs like the kind you wash dishes in. Fill tubs with water. Put everything on newspaper please and have lots of thick newspaper for drying the bowls after. This is what you do:
1. Spray a thick layer of paint on top of the water of 1 tub.
2. Take a bowl and holding it sideways (one hand on rim, the other on the bottom of bowl)...turn it swirling in the gold paint making a random pattern across the whole bowl as it turns (careful not to get any on the inside of the bowl...just go up 2/3 of the way).
3. Set bowl upright on newspaper to dry. When done: put a candle in it...makes for a very pretty candle glow effect. Use for your party, and everyone takes 1 home.
4.. Can do some in navy blue--or try half gold, half navy and see how it turns out. Remember..pattern in random. Keep spraying more paint in water when you need it to give a good coating for the next person. (Just have to eyeball it). Might want to wear some rubber gloves for this!
+++++++++++++++
Hang sheer navy gossamer fabric on doorways and wherever it gives a good effect--look in the clearance section of fabrics..get cheap, find one with sparkles. Doing gold and navy balloons? Have really long streamers floating amongst all of you at the party (if possible).
+++++++++++++++
Play a game where guests have to hand you a secret Hope, Wish, or Dream on a piece of paper...(get gold writing pens...pretty paper from craft store in scrapbook section)...they all go into a container...find something pretty and decorate it. They can't tell anyone what it is. You mix them up, and read them aloud and everyone has to guess and write down the name of who said it>>whoever guessed the most right, wins. OR..they can each take turns reading, but they might recognize the handwriting? you decide.
+++++++++++++++
Play a game where they have to think of as many words than contain the word STAR in them>>>here's a site with a long list>>>http://www.morewords.com/contains/star/.....naturally, they're not going to know many of them, but see how many they can come up with!
Can also do a Trivia game with songs or movies with the word Star ("Star Wars"..."when you wish upon a star" from Pinocchio, etc)
+++++++++++++++
Here's a site with some Mocktails from Seventeen: http://www.seventeen.com/fun-stuff/special/mocktail-recipes-0508... garnish with a slice of "star fruit"? Just cut a bit and sit on rim of glass----dip rims in lemon juice first and then in sugar before pouring liquid and garnishing.
Make star cookies, or sandwiches using a cookie-cutter for the bread...or star brownies with sparkly sugar on the frosting.
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Title Post: Ways to save money when you have a baby/ family?
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Rating: 93% based on 9658 ratings. 4 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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