Oh Baby!

Baby scrapbooks don’t have to cost an arm and a leg to make.  While, there are dozens of budget-busting elements you can add to your memory book, frugal crafters have affordable options as well. For starters, the Internet is teeming with free items you can print in the comfort of your own home.  Scrapbooking websites are filled with an array of free baby book printables, including, but not limited to worksheets, special occasion pages, growth records, decorative paper, quotes and poems. Printable worksheets allow you to document your child’s milestones in an organized manner.  For example, rather than randomly jot … Continue reading

Used or New? Which Pre-Owned Baby Items are Best?

When it comes to baby, you want to make sure that everything that you have is safe and wonderful. Part of the excitement of having a baby is going out and getting lots of cute things in anticipation of the blessed arrival. And then, for some of us, reality sets in. Babies can get expensive. Baby showers can help, but sometimes you wind up with a lot of clothes that they outgrow within a few weeks or stacks of baby blankets, and you find yourself missing essentials, such as a crib or a car seat. To fill in the gaps, … Continue reading

The Babyccinos Trend

After a hectic morning of diaper changes, playtime and finger rhymes, you just need a little pick me up at your favorite coffee shop. After all, being a baby is hard work. Sigh. That is right, I said baby. One of the hottest trends in both urban and suburban parenting these days is to take your toddler out for a babyccino. While you indulge in your favorite coffee drink, you baby can stay happily occupied with his or her own. Babyccinos have been around since well, since the fancy coffee baristas. Parents have been requesting a shot of warm milk … Continue reading

How to Save on Baby Care

There are at least two facts about babies: They are awfully cute and they need a lot of things. All of the things that babies need cost money. If you are cutting corners and trying to be frugal, you’ll need to know the secrets about saving money on baby care. Baby Food There are two main ways to save on baby food. You can combine coupons and sales to get the baby food at the lowest possible price. Check out warehouse stores, too. Buying baby food in bulk can usually save you quite a bit. For more dramatic savings in … Continue reading

Frugal Dry Skin Soothers

One of the real downsides to winter is dry, chapped and cracked skin. Those little spots in your hands that get so dry that they actually bleed. Ouch. There are plenty of expensive creams out on the market that promise to solve the problem, but using them can create another one–a hit to your budget. Here are my best dry skin tips that won’t cost you a fortune. Humidity Needed Try putting some humidity back into the air. Growing up, we would place a pot on the heater, but that doesn’t work too well with baseboard heat. Instead, I simmer … 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

Frugal Guide to Helping Others in Need

Helping others in need is a difficult concept when you you count your pennies yourself. It is especially difficult when you know that the person in need of help is quite wasteful with money normally. You will feel it is their fault for ending up in dire straits and not want to help at all. Still, if they have children, or medical issues, your heart-strings will beg you to help. Here are some things you can do to help without compromising your ideals, or harming your own budget. 1. Cut coupons and get free coupons online: A person who is … Continue reading

Get Enough Sleep for Your Baby

It is no myth that one of the major side effects of having a baby is sleep deprivation. The people around you will tell you to make sure that you sleep when the baby does, but this isn’t always practical. After all, there is the laundry to do, meals to prepare, etc. And who is ready to take a nap just two hours after they get up anyway. But getting enough sleep is more important for a new parent than you might at first think. There are several reasons why your baby needs you to be well-rested. When you are … Continue reading

Frugal Guest at the Wedding

Wedding season is upon us, and you may be looking forward to attending several weddings in the next few months. Did you know that the average wedding guest spends somewhere between $200 and $500 just to attend a wedding let alone be part of the wedding party? Here are some ways to cut your spending without being cheap. Travel and lodging can be a big expense when it comes to attending weddings. There are several ways to cut costs. The bride and groom may have already made arrangements for lodging and transportation, but if they haven’t there are still some … Continue reading

Leaving a Baby for the First Time

There is nothing so heart wrenching or a new parent than the moment when you need to leave your baby with someone else for the first time. Whether it is to go back to work, out on a date with your spouse, or even in the nursery at church, handing your baby over to another’s care can be really tough. Here are some tips that may make it easier. Let go of the guilt and nerves I really believe that your baby can sense your guilt or apprehension when you have to leave him or her for the first time … Continue reading