I have emergency and non-emergency numbers for poison control, fire, police, and gas and electric. I have my home address and directions on how to get to my home. This might be especially helpful for a young babysitter who might need to tell an emergency service provider how to get to your home. I have The Boy’s name, birthplace, blood type, immunizations (I just pencil in “18 months immunizations complete” or something to that effect), age, weight and known allergies.

I have various family numbers listed, along with the names and numbers of our pediatrician, eye doctor, dentist and preferred hospital. At the bottom of the page, I’ve listed our medical insurance information and a brief, signed medical release statement in the event that The Boy needs medical attention and I cannot be reached. I’m happy to say (knocking on wood) that we’ve never had to use this information. It sure is nice to have all in one place though. I do leave a copy out when we have a sitter and I usually have a copy in the diaper bag for the rare occasion that I leave him at someone else’s house.

911
Poison Control
Fire Department Non-Emergency Number
Police Department Non-Emergency Number
PG&E Emergency Number

Home Address and Phone Number:
Directions :

Full Name:
Born at:
Blood Type:
Immunizations:
Age:
Weight:
Allergies to Food:
Allergies to Medicine:

Family Numbers:

Doctor:
Dentist:
Eye Doctor:
Preferred Hospital:

Medical Insurance Information:

Medical Release Information: I authorize any hospital or emergency facility to administer emergency medical treatment for my child, , in the event that I cannot be reached.

The bottom line here is that it is possible to start a family without breaking the bank. In fact, if you were to wait until you’re financially “ready” to have kids, complete with all the trappings that new parents often view as absolute necessities, you’d probably never start a family.

The book lists great deals and money-saving strategies for a wide variety of must-have items, from maternity wear, baby clothes, and diapers to furniture, bedding, and toys. Extensive charts allow parents to compare and contrast name-brand cribs, strollers, high chairs, child safety seats, baby monitors, and more. Now in its seventh edition, the book has been completely revised and updated to include new sections on toddler topics like potty training and booster seats;the latest news on hot strollers, including new models from Europe; new reviews on ultra-modern nursery furniture brands; extensive charts that compare and contrast name-brand cribs, strollers, high chairs, baby monitors and more; and a special section on Canada bargains, with expanded reviews on Canadian brands and discount sources.

Dr. Karp describes the first 3 months of life as the 4th Trimester. Evolutionarily, he explains, babies had to be born with smaller heads in order to not cause harm to the mother at birth. This 4th Trimester, then, is a time period in which babies should be treated to situations that are as womb-like as possible. Dr. Karp of course gets into much more detail in his book. He has developed 5 steps to create a soothing experience for your baby.

The 5 S’s are: Swaddle, Swing, Sucking, Side, Shush. We found that a tight wrap, or swaddle, on The Boy really calmed him when he was fussy and helped him to sleep through the night. We swaddled him during sleep times from birth until about 6 months of age. This gives the baby that tight, warm feeling of the womb. All during gestation, your baby was gently rocked by your movements. This is where the swing comes in. We used a musical swing for nap times for the first few weeks. Most infants need to suck. Many sucked on fingers in the womb and they instinctually need to suck in order to eat after birth. Dr. Karp recommends a pacifier for soothing infants. One position that babies often feel most secure is a side hold. We would sometimes swaddle The Boy and hold him ‘football style.’ Shushing (or a white noise machine) may sound like what the baby heard in utero. We also often shushed him loudly while he was falling asleep. In our own experience the white noise machine did not work as well as mommy or daddy.
Dr. Karp writes with humor and includes some funny cartoons. There are also many anecdotes and personal stories from his own patients included in the book. It is repetitive, but I believe that this just enforces the 5 S’s and other ideas that he has put forth in the book.

If you are watching your pennies, then check this book out from the library or scour your local garage sales for a copy.

NOTE: I was excited to read The Happiest Toddler on the Block when The Boy got a little older. However, I was not as impressed as I was with the first one. It is still an interesting read, but it didn’t hit home like The Happiest Baby on the Block.

We took a childbirth class (worth the $100 registration fee in my opinion) and received one free diaper bag there. The other one came home with us from the hospital when The Boy was born. Both free bags came with lots of free goodies, samples and information. They are both on the small side, but it would have been doable with just those two. I always over pack for every excursion anyhow. Another cool thing about the two free bags is that they both can double as a cooler bag. They are lined with easily-cleaned plastic and came with freezer ice packs.

*Note: Most of these cool things are not cheap. I like to look at them for ideas (clipping a baby blanket to the stroller so it doesn’t get kicked off) and I like to read about the new books and then request them from the library.

Being prepared for a disaster is nothing to sneeze at. We’ve seen so much media coverage of major disasters in the past few years. It is time to think about being prepared for the possibility of losing water or electricity for several days. I am a worrier. Having a 5-day disaster supply kit eases my mind a bit. At least in the “being prepared for a disaster” area.

There are many emergency preparedness websites out there. The Red Cross has an emergency supply list and there are dozens of 72-hour kit websites. My favorite, though, is from the East Bay Municipal Utility District. With this guide, you can assemble a 3-7 day disaster supply kit over a period of 6 months without going bankrupt.

The guide is broken down into 24 weeks; you collect all of your supplies and them rotate them over a six-month period. Each week there is a short shopping list for the grocery store, hardware store or first-aid supplies. You purchase and gather your supplies little by little and at the end of 6 months, you should have a comprehensive collection of food, tools, water and other emergency supplies.

Storing these supplies does take up room. Consider your storage area before beginning the buying process. Our supplies take up a 32-gallon garbage can (with wheels) and a cupboard that is about 3 feet wide by 3 feet tall by 18 inches deep. The water is, in my opinion, the most important supply to have on hand and it definitely takes up the most room. We also don’t keep many of the suggested tools and clothing in our specific emergency supply area. I keep a text document with the supplies that notes where certain tools and clothing can be found in the garage and the house.

Some of these supplies can be stored indefinitely (toilet paper, deodorant, toothbrush, etc.), while others should be used and replaced every 6-12 months. At the bottom of the above plan, there is a handy chart noting the typical shelf-life of your supplies. I have another handy word document that lists when I need to replace food items in my supply cupboard. I also label each box or can with the month and year that it was purchased.

Along with your ‘shopping list,’ there is a short ‘to do’ list for each week. This has suggestions
such as “Have a fire drill at home” and “Make photocopies of important papers and store safely.” There are also reminders such as checking and changing smoke alarm batteries.

In our emergency supply bin (e.s.b. as I like to call it), we have also placed copies of the kids’ immunization records and birth certificates and a list of phone numbers, out-of-state contacts, pet information, and some financial numbers (phone number of credit card companies, bank phone number, etc.) These documents are handy and could easily be tossed in the car if the emergency was such that we needed to leave the house and property immediately. The e.s.b. is on wheels and could (probably in a burst of adrenaline) be lifted into the trunk of the car.

I rest a little easier at night, knowing that our family has taken steps toward emergency preparedness.

But seriously now, one of the most important things that you will save money for will be college. I”m not sure I know anyone that would say that their kid is not going to go to college. Everyone wants to go to college! For a child born in 2007, college will cost anywhere from $150K to 200K depending on where they go. That”s right, $150,000 bucks for a good state school or state university. If you have your sights set on Princeton or Stanford, well, good luck!

There a few things that can help you save for your little one. The first is the 529 plan that has been around for a while but only recently has gotten really good. This plan allows you to set aside money that will grow yearly until it is spent for school. An advantage of this plan compared to mutual funds or other vehicles is that the money grows tax free! That means the government will just give you all the interest! Also, in these plans, the beneficiary is not the account holder. This means the account holder can change it at any time and it can be used at many different schools, not just a university.

You can also use traditional means of investment, be it stocks, bonds or mutual funds. Some of these are much more risky, yet can yield higher returns. You should contact a financial planner or accountant to really get more information about them. Some are tax free, some are not, it really depends on the method. Using the magical tool known as compound interest, you can really rack up some gains over the years by just putting in a few hundred dollars per year. And when your child is young, asking for money for their college fund at holidays and birthdays will really speed things along.

Also keep in mind that there are many loans, grants, fellowships and all kinds of other tools to use for funding college. Some require you to pay them back on very generous terms while others are just outright payments of cash for tuition, books and room expenses. In addition to federal and state money, there are also local scholarships and awards. Don”t forget to look around and apply for as many as possible. A $100 scholarship will buy at least half a book and maybe even more!

Even if you still fall a little short, your children can even work during college to help with the cost. This not only earns them some cash but allows them to get work experience. You could even make a deal where you pay for the college expenses, but anything extra, like the coffee bill, they will have to pick up by working.

• Sallie Mae Student Loans
• Financial Aid Calculators
• Saving for College
• 529 Plan Information

But, as a frugal parent, you realize most of the stuff you buy will be useless in a few years, if not months. So you decide to do it on the cheap.

Before you head out to the nearest garage sale and start buying willy-nilly, make a list of things that you will actually need. What To Expect The First Year has a fairly comprehensive list of items most new parents need. You could also visit Babies ”R” Us and look at their suggested registry list. Think carefully about what you need and talk to your friends with small children. They may have good suggestions for you on what items work best and which ones are useless.

You might be lucky enough to have a baby shower thrown in your honor. Many couples register for necessary items at stores like Babies ”R” Us and Target. Make a list and ask around before you do the actual registering and then save the receipts after you receive the gifts. I know one couple who scoured garage sales for several weekends in a row and ended up being able to take many things off their registry. This left the more important items, and ones less likely to be found used, on their registry like the car seat and breast pump.

One of the best paces to get baby items are yard sales. Look for neighborhoods with younger parents, yard sales by retirement homes probably will not help much. You may be able to find fantastic deals. Cribs for pennies on the dollar and more newborn toys than you actually need. Be sure that what you buy, though, is up-to-date with the current safety standards. Car seats and crib mattresses are often better found new.

Make sure to clean your items with anti-germ supplies, non-toxic for the baby, when you bring them home. You will be amazed at how much stuff you can find. Also, check out craigslist or ebay for other items. Sometimes parents sell an entire lot of stuff, enough to outfit the entire nursery for next to nothing. Be careful they don’t try to gouge you on shipping.

Another place to find used baby gear is a consignment store. Go to ones in nice neighborhoods and you can usually find trendy items for low prices. That Eddie Bauer diaper bag can be yours for a song!

The cheapest way to get those gently-used toys and other baby items is as hand-me-downs. Ask your friend with the two-year-old if they would be willing to do a baby-stuff swap with you. Call your cousin and ask her to send all of her kid’s outgrown clothes. Borrow a high chair from the neighbor who is transitioning her kid into a booster seat.

If that is your first reaction to the word BUDGET, you may want to sit down which unless you surf the web standing up, you probably already are.

You will need a budget to keep track of all your expenses and income. As Benjamin Franklin, who should be the patron saint of budgets said,

Annual income 20 pounds, annual expenditure 19. Result happiness. Annual income 20 pounds, annual expenditure 20.06. Result misery. Hopefully, that isn”t too much math for you.

You can use your budget to really squeeze every penny out of you salary and other income sources. You will probably be surprised by all the little things you purchase that you really don”t need and how they add up. Going out to lunch or just getting coffee everyday can start costing you $50, $100 or more a month! To start cutting down and prioritizing your expenses, let us start a budget.

An easy way to setup a budget is either in a spreadsheet on a computer, or in a notepad. You will want to make some categories. You can start with the basics. Housing, food, insurance, utilities, entertainment, taxes, one-time expenses and the ever popular, misc. Don”t get too crazy and make tons of categories. This will only confuse and annoy you and you will not want to make a budget and stick with it.

Once you have a budget set up, you have to put stuff in it! Keep track of what you spend in a month and use that as a baseline. The next month start averaging the previous months expenses and income to start getting a great picture of your situation. Once you have your expenses tracked, you can figure out how much you need to live on and what categories to really put the smack down on. One of the first to be lowered will probably be misc and entertainment. Obviously food and housing will need to stay the same because you can”t have a family in a tent. You don”t have to get it right quite yet, you have a little wiggle room. Try to aim for spending no more than 120% of your main income earner”s salary. So, if you make $3000 a month, try for a budget of $3600 a month. You will eventually have to tweak it down because debt is bad but you will have some time to get used to the fact you will not be buying those $200 shoes you wanted.

Hopefully you can have a budget for a year or so to really get a feel for the cost of your life. At the very least, you should have 9 months to figure it out. Don”t worry about keeping track of every penny, but try to keep it honest. You may not think those coffees are expensive, but over a year it will blow your mind.

After the baby is born, don”t worry about living in that budget for a few months or as long as you can. Since you will have a nice safety net built up, you won”t have to worry about going over budget (you will). Once you have had a few months, you can adjust your budget to make sure that it is an accurate representation of how much life costs. You will always find items that slipped your mind or those pesky one-time expenses you don”t normally think about. These include property taxes, life insurance, and holiday gift giving.

The first thing you should think about is can you afford it? If both of you are working right now, you will be living on half the salary you do now with one, two or many more mouths to feed. Now I know this is obvious, but you should really think about what this means. No more daily trips to Starbucks, no wild sprees at the mall or the home improvement store. It may take a little longer to get those granite counters you want and the latest Prada fashions. But with a little patience and some planning, you can still spend a little money when you want.

But how can you figure out if you can afford this lifestyle and then make it happen? Well, you will need a budget. A very strict budget that will allow you to see exactly where you money is going. It will probably surprise you to find out how much you spend on things you could do without. Just keep in mind that in come places, people get by on less than a hamburger costs.

After a budget, a big consideration in today”s world is health care. Do you have health insurance through a employer that will cover the entire family? Does it include vision, dental, and all the baby care you will need? Do you get disability insurance in case something happens to the main money earner? Medical costs are insane right now and don”t seem to be going down any time soon. They can put quite a drain on your finances with proper insurance, either through your employer or purchased by yourself.

Another item is how much debt you are carrying right now. If you have a couple car loans, some credit card debt plus a big mortgage with an adjustable rate, you may have to do something about that before you have a baby. The bills can add up fast and so can compound interest on your credit cards. With home values sinking and interest rates going up, without a locked in mortgage payment, you could be hurting when the bills come.

If you haven”t run screaming yet, that is fantastic. All of these topics and more will be covered here so hopefully you will get some good ideas. All of them are based on real experiences and are actually put to use on a daily basis. Which explains why there are 50 rolls of bath tissue in the garage, but more on that later.