Search Results for: blog baby buying on a budget

How to Build a Grocery Stockpile on a Tight Budget

I recently received the following question from one of the Families.com readers about building a stockpile. “I know that buying things when they are on sale and building a stockpile saves money, but how can I do this when the normal groceries cost so much?” Sophia. Sophia has a really good point (hi Sophia!). It can be tough to build up a good stockpile when there isn’t any extra money to do it, but it can be done. You can start out small. Even an extra $5 a week toward a stockpile item will help. With $5, you can buy … Continue reading →

Baby on a Budget

Your new bundle of joy could make more than a significant dent in your finances. Establishing a solid budget for your baby can help you keep everything under control and leave you with enough money for your baby’s future. You might be interested to know that according to the US Department of Agriculture, it can cost up to a quarter of a million dollars to raise a child through age 17! This doesn’t take into account children living at home past age 17, college costs or significant medical expenses that could arise. That is why it is important to establish … Continue reading →

Prepping for a Hurricane on a Budget

If you are in the path of Hurricane Sandy, the Frankenstorm as many are calling it, then hopefully you are safe and secure and well prepared. My home is right in the path of the storm, and we are just a few minutes away from landfall of this historic hurricane. I’ll keeping writing as long as I have power or until the time that I have to take further action. The wind is definitely picking up to scary proportions. While we aren’t too concerned about flooding of our home, except for maybe some water in the basement, we are concerned … Continue reading →

Choosing A Stroller For Your Baby

One item that you might be thinking about including in your baby registry is a stroller. I struggled with the decision to add a stroller to my baby registry because it is a larger gift than most people’s budgets could accommodate. I added one after my mother pointed out that with many stores that have baby registries, you can purchase items from your registry at a discount if you do not receive them as gifts. A group of my aunts surprised me by pooling their resources to purchase my stroller as a baby shower gift. The variety of strollers that … Continue reading →

Baby Buying On A Budget

Now that you are pregnant, you are probably thinking about what you will need to have on hand to take care of your baby’s needs once you bring him home. If you are on a tight budget, you may wonder if you will be able to meet all of baby’s needs because there is so much advertising out there that could lead a person to believe that they need to buy many different items in order to be ready to care for their new arrival. The truth is that babies, especially brand new ones, need very little in the way … Continue reading →

Gift Giving on a Budget

As a single mom sometimes I need to get creative with gift giving. My budget is always tight so I try to look for bargains all year long but most of the time I just have to try to give from the heart. Other adults are usually the hardest to buy for, they usually already have everything they need. Here are a few ideas for a budget friendly holiday. *Use your kid’s artwork instead of buying Christmas cards. Even if the artwork is not holiday themed you can still turn it into a card, write a personal message on the … Continue reading →

Raising Kids On a Budget

Money is always a concern, even more so when you are a single parent. Kids need lots of stuff. They start off so small but quickly seem to take up so much space and need so many things. Some things you should not scrimp on, car seats, cribs, things that are important for your child’s safety. There are plenty of other areas to save money. Let’s start with clothes. Babies and toddlers in particular grow so quickly, clothing is usually outgrown long before it is outworn. Take all the hand me downs that are offered. They won’t all be to … Continue reading →

Why Home Cooking is So Important to the Budget

I know you have heard it before…cooking at home from scratch will make a real difference in the amount of money that you spend on food. It is probably the number one way to start seeing money left over at the end of the month. It isn’t always easy to keep the motivation up for cooking at home, but like anything, you can get into the flow and the habit of it. First start with the baby step of preparing meals at home. You can get started by using some convenience items. Once you get used to the idea of … Continue reading →

How to Throw an Inexpensive Baby Shower

Times are tough, but having a baby is a big deal, so when it’s time for your best friend, sister, cousin, or colleague to deliver, you don’t want to short change her on a shower. Fortunately, there are ways to save on baby showers, despite society’s push to host elaborate bashes for the expectant mom. Forget about renting a hall, having a catered spread, and hiring a DJ. Rather, stick to the basics and keep those baby shower costs under control. Your frugality doesn’t have to mean hosting a cheap affair. You can still have a shower to remember without … Continue reading →

Easy Budget Breakdown

Wondering what you should be spending in each category of your budget? Here is an easy breakdown that makes budgeting a breeze. It is just a matter of putting the following percentages into each category. Total up your available income after taxes (take home pay) and then divide it up as follows. One thing that is nice about this method is that you don’t have to agonize over little things, and you can shuffle money around as needed for unexpected expenses or gains. Here are the recommendations inspired by M.P Dunleavey, who writes a column for MSN Money. Ten percent … Continue reading →