OK, ok, maybe a little more detail would be nice. Saving for a big purchase can be really hard, especially in these days of high limit credit cards. A lot of people have $10, $20, even $50 thousand available on their cards. So why wait to buy anything? Just go out, purchase it and pay it off. That way, you get the item now and instead of saving a little every month, you’ll pay a little every month and already have the item! What a great idea, right?

Wrong.

The entire time you will be paying interest on your card, sometimes over 20%! In the bank, your monthly savings will actually grow a little. And, I do mean a little. But a little is better than a big negative something. Also, what happens if you have an emergency need for money while paying off the card, you might miss a payment and that adds to your interest payments! Another benefit is that you might actually find you don’t want the item after saving for it and you can spend that money elsewhere.

Once you have decided what you want to purchase, get a pretty good estimate of the costs and where you are going to buy it. Include taxes and shipping on expensive items or really heavy items. That UPS battery backup might be $100, but it weighs 120 pounds and costs $50 to ship! Then, once you have a final cost, begin the saving.

I find that a separate account is the best bet. It is too much of a temptation to spend from it if you keep it in your normal checking/savings accounts. You’ll say, “Oh, I just need an extra $100, I’ll just use some of what I have saved.” If your item is small and you won’t gain any benefit from having it in the bank, a plain white envelope works great. I know, crazy right? But, an envelope hiding in the drawer is fantastic, you never see it, it just collects money, you can even write on the outside the current balance which is fun. Also, holding a wad of cash in an envelope is lots of fun.

Break your savings into amounts that you can handle every month. A great way is to always save an amount of money and put it in an envelope labeled, ‘Big Purchases.’ Then you always have a little seed money. You can up the amount if you need more for a larger purchase. Set a time frame where the item won’t be obsolete before you buy it. Tech stuff is notorious for this, although a newer model will come out so you can always buy that one. Or buy the original at a lower price.

Then, when it is time, get out your envelope and go buy what you have been wanting and know that you haven’t gained any debt from it. You also may want to just put it in the bank if you used an envelope and use your credit card. Then you get the benefits of using your card without the interest charges since you can pay it off immediately!

• Diapers. I’m guessing that everyone would need diapers, for whatever sex. Even if they usually use cloth, disposables are so handy to have for travel, etc. When your own child grows out of a certain size, save the leftovers from the smaller size. You can put a nice gift bag together with diapers of all sizes. Babies might start with the newborn size diapers, but eventually they will need the bigger sizes.
• Clothes. Hand-me-downs can be made into a really nice gift. This is especially for moms who are having a different sex than they already have. Wash, dry and fold your nicest hand-me-downs and wrap them up for a shower gift. Maybe even attach a note telling about how some of them were your favorites or memories you have of your own kids wearing them.
• Toys. Chances are, second-time moms already have plenty of toys around. If their first child is much older, then baby toys are a good bet. Toys that will be chewed on are also a good idea. You can often find some of these cheaply at mega-stores like WalMart or Target. If you have toys that are in excellent condition, they might make a good hand-me-down too.
• Gift Cards. If your budget allows, the new mom might appreciate a gift card to the local grocery store or Target – somewhere that they can go to get their own necessities for the new baby.
• Meals. Another thing you might be able to do on a small budget is fix a meal or two for the family. One meal before the baby comes (when mom is getting too big and tired to cook) and one after the baby arrives.

1. Form a Playgroup. If you don’t know anyone in your area with kids, start hanging out at the park or another play area. If you already have some friends who are also stay at home parents, organize one or more day(s) per week to get your kids together to play. A park is an ideal place to start. When the weather turns bad, try a play area inside a mall or other free play area. This may not be a structured activity, but it will get your child playing with and around other children, an important part of early socialization skills.

2. Plan ‘Classes’ at Home. Plan an hour (or 10 minutes) every day (or once a week) to do some structures ‘class’ activities at home.

For Gymnastics: Put some pillows on the floor and let the kids do tumbling. Practice balancing on one foot, hopping and doing other stretching/tumbling activities.

For Art: Put a protective cover on the table and get out the paints. Use crayons, colored pencils, watercolors, scissors, glue, stickers and paper and simply let the kids explore different types of media.

For Music: If you are not a singer yourself, find a cd or dvd that has some good singing and encourage your kids to sing along. If you have toy musical instruments, get them out and have ‘band practice.’ Find songs that have a good rhythm for clapping hands and tapping toes. Sing songs that include movements like “Hokey-Pokey” and “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.”

We have one 50 lb dog that we budget $50 a month for and that seems to work out fine. You will have months where the costs will be higher, the yearly checkup is one that comes to mind, but it will usually even out in the end. One way to save money is to purchase any medicine like Frontline or anti-flea soaps or sprays online and NOT at the vet’s office. They can be almost twice as expensive in some cases!

We do splurge a little bit in this food category, buying the slightly expensive Eukanuba pet food instead of a generic product. They are probably all the same but we have been with Eukanuba for the dog’s entire life so why switch now.

If you have a baller like we do, you can find huge lots of used tennis balls on eBay for next to nothing. They usually come from a tennis academy or school and have plenty of bounce left in them. You can usually get them in lots of 50 or more that will last for many many years. Don’t buy fresh tennis balls just for your dog to slobber all over and chew through.

Just keep in mind that pets are quite content with only a few things and really don’t need that plush velvet bed.

This is a great time of year to bake cookies, breads or other treats for gifts. The oven will help to heat your house and you won’t have to run the heater as much! Wrap up a nice loaf of bread or plate of cookies for your workplace, or your spouse’s. Give treats to your neighbors and friends. Wrap a paper plate with saran wrap, tie a festive bow around it and, voila!, you have a lovely homemade, inexpensive gift.

Break out those craft scissors and some tape to create homemade cards or other crafts. Use old magazines or calendars to do collages. Four greeting cards can be made from just 3 or 4 pieces of 8 1/2 by 11 paper. Visit websites or a local craft store for ideas.

Buy an inexpensive photo frame and paint it or embellish it in some way. Glue on beads or shells. This could be a lovely gift for a grandparent, especially if your kids helped with the frame.
Cross-stitch or embroider on fabric to make a bread cloth, table cloth or napkins. Knitted and crocheted gifts are treasured keepsakes in our home. Keep checking garage sales and rummage sales for unused cross-stitching sets.

Offer to babysit or pet-sit as a Christmas gift. Give another Mom a day to do her Christmas shopping by herself. You know I’d love a gift of time like that!

Your kids can help with most of these projects. This is a great time to teach them about creative giving. Maybe they will even have some gift ideas of their own.

In the spirit of conserving gas and money, we are trying to cut down on those daily trips. Here are some tips:

-Keep a running shopping list near the door. Check it each time you go out to see if there are any errands you can combine.

-Look through your pantry and cupboards before running out to buy something. How many times have we come home with pasta or beans, only to find that we already had some in the cupboard?

-Shop with a friend when possible or have your friend pick something up for you when she goes out and vice versa.

-Plan out your shopping excursions. Take the most direct, sensible route. We live in a small town, so we try to drive the 20 minutes to the bigger city with major shopping areas only once or twice a week.

-Walk when you can. Park between Safeway and Target and get a little exercise instead of driving one parking lot over. *Remember to park in a well-lit area and to be aware of your surroundings, especially when shopping at night.

-During the nation’s busiest shopping season, bring your own shopping bags. Paper, plastic and cloth are all good; the latter two can be folded easily into purses and pockets until used.

-Rather than piling up “stuff” under the tree, think about what friends and family really want or need. Try giving gift certificates if you don’t know what someone wants, or simply make a donation in his or her name to a favorite charity.

-Get the kids to make their own tree ornaments out of things you already have around the house, or from materials they might find in the backyard: twigs, bark, flowers and herbs, pine cones, etc.

-Send e-greetings to family, friends and business associates who are on-line.

-Turn down the heat before the guests arrive. You’ll save energy while the extra body heat of your guests will warm up the room.

The US Environmental Protection Agency has another good list of ways to reduce, reuse and recycle this holiday season.

Following the three Rs of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle will not only help our planet, but will also help your budget!

There are plenty of worthy causes out there. Charity Navigator is one website devoted to helping you determine what charity is best for your own giving.

Our personal favorite charity is Heifer Project International. HPI has over 800 projects in 50 countries. They offer livestock, education and other resources to families facing hunger throughout the world. With each gift comes the requirement of ‘passing of the gift.’ For example, a family may be given a gift of a pregnant goat along with the education of how to care for the animal. This family, would, in turn, be required to give the next female goat born to another family, creating a positive ripple effect. The goat will provide milk and manure to be used as fertilizer. HPI focuses on sustainable agriculture development education for all gift recipients. There is a donation level for everyone. From a $10 donation toward a ‘share of rabbits’ to a $500 Heifer, you can help make someone’s life better. For each $10 donation you may receive an honor card to give to your relative or friend if the donation is a gift in their name.

There are many worthy charities out there. Find one that works for you. Here are some more ideas: Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, Toys for Tots, Cancer Research, Wildlife Conservation.

Or keep your donation local. Donate to your local Zoo, Animal Shelter, Library or School.

I am determined to be better about planning my meals for the week and only grocery shopping 1-2 times per week. For me, that is the key. If I go every day (and without a list), I tend to spend more and buy impulse items that we really don’t need.

We have a country bus service that we plan to try one of these days. That will be a much longer ride, but will still cost less than $2. Plan ahead and bring a diaper bag with a diaper change if needed, water and snacks. Check the schedule online, then confirm your route with the driver when you get on the bus.

Happy riding!

1. Find a spot that is suitable to your needs. For example: sunny, away from animals, etc.

2. Check the pH balance of your soil and compare it to the needs of your proposed veggies. Most seed packets have the necessary pH information. Add compost or potting soil to your growing area if needed.

3. Consider building a grow box lined with chicken wire. Especially if you live in gopher-prone areas.

4. Purchase seeds from a reliable source. Try to buy heirloom or non-genetically-modified seeds.

5. Set your seeds out in seedling trays. Grow veggies that are appropriate for your current climate/season.

6. Water your seed faithfully.

7. Transplant to your garden area when seedlings have at least two sets of leaves. Maybe more.

8. Continue to water and check for troublesome weeds daily if you can.

9. Harvest when ripe and enjoy!

I use Aleene’s Super Fabric Textile Adhesive. It can be found at WalMart for about $3.00. This stuff is amazing. (It is also very toxic, so use it carefully.) Once the glue dries, you can machine wash the clothing and it should stay adhered. I’ve used the stuff to patch clothing, put a skirt together out of old jeans, adhere a button to a pillow and ‘decorate’ clothing with beads or other ‘flair.’

2. Food: Cook It

Actually, I highly recommend all of her tips, also be sure to read her other articles, she has some good advice.

1. Clothing
Wash clothing in hot water if it is material that will not shrink or be damaged by the heat. If you don’t want to risk shrinking or bleeding dyes, wash on your long setting (if your washing machine has one) in cold water. Steer clear of used undergarments.

2. Shoes
Break out the lysol, baking soda, some newspaper and find a sunny spot. Spray the shoes with lysol and let air dry in the sun. Next, sprinkle baking soda inside the shoes and then stuff it with newspaper. I don’t know exactly why this works, but I’ve had luck with this method of getting rid of unwanted odors. Let them sit in the sun another day or so, then remove the newspaper and shake out the baking soda.

3. Toys
Give the toys a hot, soapy bath. Use a small amount of bleach in the water if you think it is necessary. Rinse well – this is important! You don’t want baby chewing on a soapy, bleachy toy. Let dry on a towel or in the dish rack. If the toy is plush, throw it in the washing machine.

4. Furniture, Bikes, etc.
Large outside toys (bicycles, scooters, swings, etc.) can usually stand a good spray with a hose. If you think they need it, use a bucket of soapy water on them or lysol spray. Furniture, such as a high chair or booster seat can usually be cleaned up pretty easily with your trusty lysol spray and a hose. I like to hose things down outside and then let them dry in the sun. Of course, I live in an area where we have dry heat for a good part of the year.

Or Rubbermaid or Glad or whatever brand you have. They often come in bright colors. The Boy always loved looking through them. I keep a drawer of lids in the kitchen and that was the only drawer that he could play in when he was a baby. He would pull all the lids out of the drawer, look through them, chew on them a bit and throw them across the floor. That would give me enough time to whip up dinner or empty the dishwasher. I have a mental note to rinse the lids before using them even now.

A great read, especially the last one.

If your primary goal in becoming a single income family is to stay at home to care for your children, consider babysitting or providing daycare as an opportunity to earn some extra money. Check with your state’s laws regarding child care. In California at least, you can care for one other family’s children with out a license. However, obtaining a license is not terribly difficult or expensive, if you think that becoming a home daycare provider is for you. Even a simple babysitting swap with another stay at home parent might provide you with some extra time to yourself. Time for myself, in my experience, is sometimes even better than money.

Are you a convincing salesperson? Perhaps try phone sales or appointment setting for a company.

Are you a former teacher? Most communities have many tutoring opportunities from adult schools, to English as a Second Language classes to K-12 students’ needs.

Try working for a secret shopper company. You have to grocery shop every week anyhow, right?

My personal favorite way to make a little extra money is eBay. I can sit down at my computer for one hour a week (assuming I’m not already spending that hour writing these articles) and post several items for sale. I’ve sold things for friends and family too. I take a small cut of the profits.

Which one of those doesn’t go with the others? If you are anything like me, you picked the 7 year old. These days, it seems kids never really go without anything and don’t understand how hard you and your family work to give them the things they have. Some people think we are raising an entitled generation and I would have to agree with them.

Make sure you talk to your kids about money and how you need to work hard for the things you want. They should understand that sometimes you have to sacrifice one thing for another. If they want that iPod, they should mow some lawns or weed the yard to help pay for it.

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.

Need some time talking to adults and a cheap way to do it?

By starting a book club, you can get out of the house, have a little fun and have it not cost too much in the process. Here are some great guidelines for starting your own book club.

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.

Wrapping Paper. If the calendar is large and you haven’t written any personal information on it, the individual pages can be used to wrap small gifts. Gently pull out the staples or stitches and cut each page apart. These colorful sheets are ideal for small packages.

Envelopes. Again, this is best with larger calendars (each picture page approximately 1 square foot). Cut apart each page. Trace around an envelope template, cut and fold. Use double-stick tape to secure the flaps. If you don’t have a template, you can find pretty much any size you need by doing a google search for ‘envelope template.’ Or you could make one yourself by gently taking apart an envelope and tracing it on cardstock or cardboard.

Kids’ Book. This is my favorite. Use the pictures to make a book for your kids. Cut out the pictures that you think would be of interest to your kids. (Animals, Cars, Nature, Cartoon Characters, Colors, Etc.) Paste the pictures in a blank notebook or on paper that has been stapled together. This could be a counting book with a different number of items on each page (one horse, two rabbits, etc.). You could make it a song book with each picture representing a song (lamb for Mary Had A Little Lamb, sun for You Are My Sunshine). If your kids are older, you could let them paste the pictures and make up a story to go with them.

Other Ideas. Calendar pages can be cut and used for cards or for a collage. Instead of cutting the pages apart, leave them large and they can be used as a table protector for kids’ art projects. Your kids can color in the calendar squares to make patterns or use them to practice counting.

Happy Crafting!