Let's face it, we're all trying to save a buck these days and most of us are not shy about it. So I thought I'd share with you some tips on how I save money.
1) Buy
used clothing - My girls' wardrobes are a mix and match of new and used finds. I love buying the newest looks, but I supplement their wardrobes with gently used items as well. Children grow up so fast, so a lot of used clothing is still in excellent shape and has tons of life left. That's why we have our Sweet Finds at Gumdrop Lane, so you can find high-quality used clothing and still dress your lil guys to impress. I also find shopping for second-hand items satisfies that "retail therapy" need we all have without breaking the bank!
2) Follow cost-conscious moms to learn about great deals on their blogs and via Twitter. One of my favorite blogs is
Stretching a Buck. There you can find all kinds of coupons, weekly sale announcements and free samples. She also has great articles like
"5 ways to Stretch a Buck - Birthday Parties." Some of the new money-saving mom's I've met on Twitter include
@couponchic,
@DIYfrugal and
@smartmomsavings. And don't forget to follow
Gumdrop Lane on Twitter to learn about out latest deals and discounts.
3) Find some friends and do a babysitting exchange. Each of you gets a date night one night a week in exchange for watching the other's kids one night each week. When you do get to go out for date night, remember there are lots of inexpensive activities you can do. My husband and I like to go for walks at the beach or go to discounted movie theaters in the area.
4) Take advantage of free community activities with the kids. We're very lucky in my community to have a great library system. My girls love going to the library to check out books and there are story time readings that keep them entertained. We also go to local parks and museums. Join a local mom's group using
Meetup.com so you can be aware of kid-friendly activities in your area.
5) When catching up with friends (we all need our "me" time), opt for chatting over coffee/tea or taking a walk rather than meeting for lunch or dinner. You'll save money and shrink your waistline as well!
We'd love to hear from you. What are some of your best money-saving ideas?