Stay at home mom looking for tips to save money

Bhoomi808 - posted on 06/08/2012

Ideas, inspiration, information and opportunities for moms who choose to work at home, either part-time or full-time from http://fastincomeathome.com and http://workinghomejobs.com

Kelly - posted on 06/07/2012

I subscribe to items on amazon, you can get name brand items in bulk without going to costco or other store where it can be hard to stay in point and buy only what is on your list. If you subscribe then you get an additional discount and save on shipping so you also save on gas and time driving the kiddos to the store. I also find its easier to keep the "mommy I wants" to a minimum when you buy online. i also made a detailed shopping list for each store I go to so I only buy exactly what I need at each store. Send me a message and I'll give you some links to free programs that help me stay organized and on budget. Good luck. Kelly

Cina - posted on 06/06/2012

There are many ways to save some money.
#1 As you are a stay at home mom, you can try your best to search some part time job. For example, if you are good at writing or likes write something, you can build a blog or you can write articles for some companies. Earn some money is a good way to balance your budget.
#2 Spend less. When shopping food, drinks and something else, you should make a shopping list. And you can take advantage of printable coupons or online coupons, which will save you a lot. You can get them on Local Newspaper, Magazines, and coupon sites. Some sites I like are http://www.couponsnapshot.com, http://www.savings.com.
#3 You kid want to do gymnastics and dance. I think you can buy him/her some CDs and try to teach him/her by yourself at home.

Bhoomi808 - posted on 06/05/2012

In an economy in recession, it’s time to tighten the belt and look for more ways to earn money. Money-making tips and tricks will help you with your cash problems. Some do take time while others can provide quicker results. Running low on cash? Here are some helpful ways on how to make money quick, check http://fastincomeathome.com and http://workinghomejobs.com

Bsteinveg - posted on 06/02/2012

I have a great tip for you: Sell your old items that you don't use anymore, or stuff your kids have outgrown on online marketplaces like eBay and Craigslist. Some of your stuff can be worth more to others, maybe you have some collectibles or valuable items you're not using. I've started flipping items and actually earned money on it!
If this is something you'd be interesting trying, I would recommend this pricing tool for figuring out what your stuff is worth so you're not overpaying or underselling your stuff.
You should check it out, and I highly recommend this site for bargain hunters ;)
http://www.statricks.com/craigslist-used...

Good Luck Mary!

Kim - posted on 01/23/2010

some communities have programs for kids to get into sports for freee just do some digging from your local ymca they should know. If your community has this your child would be aloud to do one sport a season. if you r from Sarnia it is called the y-rasp program.

Jennifer - posted on 01/22/2010

Kristina, I want your job, it sounds way more fun than the desk job I have!!!

Kristina - posted on 01/21/2010

I am a Traveling Vineyard wine consultant. Getting those $100-$300 dollar monthly checks for VERY little work! I teach people about wine and food in their home and get paid! (and get to drink the wine too!) It's super fun and easy!

Kristina - posted on 01/21/2010

decrease the amount of meat you use in your recipes. Go meatless 1-2 /week. meat can take up a lot of a food budget. Beans are cheaper! I don't go as far as dried beans because I just don't have the time to soak them and cook them. Except for lentils (they only take about 20 min on the stove with no presoaking needed.) Try to find ways to home make some of your favorite prepackaged foods or find cheaper alternatives. Put left overs in single serve containers in the freezer instead of lean cuisines. Make coffee at home or if you do go out for coffee get tea or brewed coffee and not the expensive lattes. One of my favorite things...make a batch of dollar pancakes. Freeze the leftovers once they are completely cooled. Pull them out and pop then in the microwave or let them defrost slightly and toast in toaster. YUM! Easy peasy out the door breakfast. I have lots of other suggestions!

Jennifer - posted on 01/20/2010

I would love any non-business starting ideas as well, as a new mother, hoping to eventually be a stay at home mom, I would love help saving money, every penny brings me one step closer to being home with my family. Email me any suggestions YennyferDPalmer@yahoo.com

Lisa - posted on 01/20/2010

I would like those as well but I live in canada.

Monica - posted on 01/19/2010

I would love the number and link that you have

Crystal - posted on 01/19/2010

i hide the extra money left over

Jennifer - posted on 01/19/2010

I use coupons for all groceries and for a lot of places we go. I look for the local "Family" magazines they usually have a section of places where kids eat free or cheap.



Do you have a AAA card? Use it for discounts. I use it at Payless Shoes and ALWAYS ask if a business offers discounts for anything. I have even had supermarkets give me a discount when I spend a lot of money. Just ask. ...Military? Student? AAA? Frequent shopper? My kids have finally stopped being embarrassed, they are now just impressed.



I also use www.Retailmenot.com for online codes for discounts and free shipping at a ton of online sites. Don't make an online purchase without checking here first.



Upromise (Upromise.com) also tells you about discounts at various stores and gives you a percentage back of purchases you were going to make anyway towards college savings for your kids or even your college loans.



Did you know Amazon sells groceries as well as other household items? Save on things you use routinely you can buy in bulk with no shipping and tax. They are delivered to your door without the temptation that occurs when you go to Costco. You can subscribe so they come routinely. I get assorted individual cereals delivered right to my door so I always have some on hand for my kids.



Use your computer. Comparison shop. Google the business for the item you are looking for and look for coupons.

Lanna - posted on 01/19/2010

We live in MI and my husband was a UAW supplier. Well to make long story short the gov. bailed out the "Big 3" and we little guys were left behind. We have been living on Unemployment for over a year. Going from @ $4000 a month to under $1500 is mind-boggling!!!!

Thank God, my friend got me started coupon-clipping! I also have a 3-ring binder with the sport card plastic sheets. I have mine organized in the order I shop the main store I go to- Kroger. I drive to the next town to shop because the Kroger there will double up to $1 coupons. All the stores in our town only double up to $.50. I have saved $1000s, last year.

It is time consuming, but sooo worth it. I buy 2 Sunday newspapers most weeks. I also make my list according to what is on sale. I try not to buy anything that is not on sale and I don't have a coupon for. If I need an item that is not on sale I will compare prices. If a store/off brand is cheaper than I can get it with the coupon I will get the off brand. This is rare, because I will get things when they are on sale with a coupon even if I don't need them yet. This way I hardly ever run out of anything. I have enough personal care items to last a year, like shampoo, conditioner, soap, shaving items, deodorant, ect... If I can get an item for free (which happens every week) or less than a $1, I am gonna get it. This has been very helpful. I can afford to help others with my abundance of products. This past Christmas season I was able to donate items to some charities and friends that were in need. I would not have the resources to do this otherwise. Pretty much, the only things I don't buy with coupons are fresh meat and produce. I do only buy those products that are on sale.

There are quite a few websites out there that give great advice on how to coupon and also to print coupons. There are many tricks to use to get the most out of couponing. One of my favorite is to look for buy one get one offers and use a coupon for the one you buy. For instance I had a BOGO coupon and a $1 off 1 coupon for Listerine Agent Cool Blue prebrush rinse for kids. This stuff is over $5 a bottle, regular price. It was on sale for $3, using the coupons, I got 2 bottles for $1. This is over $4.50 savings per bottle.

Melinda - posted on 01/19/2010

I it a little hard at the beginning, but I make my own food. Instead of buying bread, I make it from scratch. It also give the the children something to do with me, which they love to help out.

Nichole - posted on 01/19/2010

That is a pretty neat site. Unfortunately it doesn't work in my region. I guess I will have to stick to the shopping blogs.

Jeannie - posted on 01/18/2010

www.grocerygame.com I LOVE THIS SITE, coupons made easy! If you join, tell them I sent you, I get a week free. gknee424@hotmail.com I have saved soo much. 100 off of 188 grocery bill. we have a huge family, so it is sooo worth the 15mins it takes to clip. Also, plan your meals. This is the single biggest thing that has helped.

Heather - posted on 01/17/2010

My Hubby used to buy 2 to 3 iced coffees from DD every day at $2.50 a pop. that totals at least $25 a week. We bought 2 thermos's. 1 hot & 1 cold (yes the hot one keeps things cold, but not as much coffee in it after you add the ice). I make 1 pot of coffee every day, and either he takes it hot in the AM, or I make it at night and put it in the fridge overnight. I do watch the sales, and coupons, and a pound of New England coffee usually costs about 3.99-4.99, and will last us at least a week. that's at least $80.00 a month saved. We also now buy meat such as Roast beef when it's on sale (sometimes 1.99 a lb) and slice it up for sandwiches. that's a heck of a lot better than the deli stuff at $6 to 10 a lb. SO you have to cook it.. I have an oven... hope this helps!!

Elizabeth - posted on 01/17/2010

Three books, all available thru most Libraries, but I love them! Good.Fast.Cheap, by Ross, and someone else, The Complete Tightwad Gazette (Really do the grocery food list. And don't forget, sometimes, to go to three stores that are half a mile from each other, but a little farther then your closest store may actually save you money!) Oh, and Green Clean, a book on cleaning your house with esentially five things. And make the Fels-naptha laundry Detergent. I make the Liquid version, with is grated bar of soap, melted mixed with 1 C. each Washing SODA, not Baking Soda, (yellow box) and Borax, with 5 Gallons water, dilute 1:1 with water later. Full directions thru the duggars website in their recepie section.. Oh, and Castile soap is great for all your personal hygiene needs. Serious allergy issues in the family, so it's what I have always used on my babies. Hope this helps. These are how I save over $1,000 per year. Oh, and have a good basic knowledge of cooking and a better crocker or BHG red Cookbook for basics.

Nichole - posted on 01/15/2010

You might have seen this in another thread, but I have been subscribing to a blog in my area www.stlmommy.com and it is REALLY helpful. There is probably something like it in your area dealing with your stores.

I have a three ring binder and I bought colored clear pocket dividers and baseball card sheets. Total, like $13. It is my coupon BIBLE! I can see everything, layer, organize by store and so on. Took me like 2 hours the first night, but it has been so worth it. Especially with stores like Target. Target has their own coupons that you can layer on top of the manufacturer's. So you have a $1.50 Target coupon for Charmin and a $2.00 Manufacturer Charmin. Total you save $3.50. This binder has saved me at least a 1/3 of my bill everywhere I shop. It forces me to be more disciplined with what I buy, where, and how often. If you are serious about saving, this might be a real help to you.

Li - posted on 01/15/2010

Hi Mary,

I try to sell things we don't need/use anymore e.g baby things etc that we don't need/want anymore, books/dvds etc etc that we've finished with........ I also find that doing a monthly shop saves on money as I look at meal ideas and recipes in advance, seeing which meals I can cook and freeze or cook in big batches.

Hope that helps a bit! x

Cathy - posted on 01/14/2010

I save a ton by making my own laundry soap. I use 2 bars of Fels Naptha bar laundry soap, one box of Borax and one box of Arm & Hammer Washing soda (found in the laundry aisle). Chop the bar of soap into chunks and then run it through your food processor until it's powder. Mix it w/the Borax and Washing soda in a bucket or large container. I use 1/4 cup per load and it lasts our family of 4 at least two months. It even gets the smell of gasoline and diesel fuel out of my mechanic husbands clothes! It saves me a ton over regular soap and has no fillers or harsh additives in it. I even used it in my front loading machine before we moved. Hope this helps. --Cathy

Leanne - posted on 01/10/2010

did u try discount grocery stores? i save so much shopping that way just have to watch the exp dates, hope that helps

Tally - posted on 01/09/2010

I shopping online at wholesale, factory direct for all my household and personal care items. The products are eco- friendly - and safer for my family. I've also been able to get many of my products free - by participating in the revenue sharing program that this store offers. This has saved me over $2500 in 2009. I will message you the link and the tel #... check it out.

Beth - posted on 01/09/2010

Here's some of the following things that I do (and I've got three children who are growing rapidly):

Buy larger packs of things that make sense (cereal that will get eaten, pasta etc) as they tend to last longer and work out slightly cheaper as well.



Use money off coupons/BOGOFS (Buy one get one free) - as appropriate, but don't get things that you won't use!!!



If there is a shop's loyalty card (NOT a credit/debit/store one) that earns you points that you can then 'spend' at a later day then use it. They add up over time.



Pass down clothes as you can. Also talk to other parents you know and see if there is a group of parents that pass on clothes/shoes etc. that their kids have grown out of. You can do the same with the clothes that your's have to another family who have younger/smaller kids.

Amy - posted on 01/07/2010

i suggest buy in bulk. it may cost a little more but it lasts so long. places like cosco and sams club are great for that. and plan your meals around whats in he sale bill for the local grocery stores. and buy the "cheaper" products. my husband actually like the taste of the cheaper cereal, bacon, peanut butter and many other things. most people cant tell the difference so why not save a few pennies. if your store has a savings club join it and that will give you specials such as 2 for 5 dollars instead of 2.99 each plus if you find a coupon for that then it makes it even cheaper.

Cari - posted on 01/01/2010

I will send you some info on how I have been saving money for over 8 years...free products, better quality items, discounts on so many services....you will love it!