Archives for November 2010

Year-round Money Saving and Fun Activites for Parents and Kids

November 3, 2010 | Leave a Comment

More and more parents are having to work harder to make that extra buck so not only is saving money a concern but also making sure the time you have to spend with your family is maximized. As a parent, I am constantly challenged to find interesting and cost-effective ways to have fun with the kids. This can be tough considering how technology makes it tempting to spend and use expensive outlets for fun. All is not lost though as there are still lots of ways to spend qulity time with the kids and save at the same time

Here are some year-round activities you can engage in that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

For the indoors:

1. You can build your kids’ creativity and imagination by creating an art wall that can display artwork made all times of the year. First, allocate a part of the wall in your kids room for this. Mark it off by sticking letter cut-outs of thier names. You can make this from old magazines or use stencils to cut out handy art paper. Have your kids join the fun by having them sitck their names themselves. This can be educational too! Next, have them draw anything they want to display on the wall. It can be a drawing of your family, a cartoon character, a lesson in school, the ideas are limitless. And you can recycle these works of art to keep it fresh.

2. Have a rewards chart that you can make a household activity fun and a lesson at the same time. You can use old cardboard and markers to create a billboard that you can prop on the side, hang on the wall, or stick near your art center. Take a photo of each child and place it on the top and bottom or left and right side of the chart. Decorate the chart sides to match the personalities of each child. You can again use handy art material or old magazines. Every day, set aside times where you have them do easy chores like fixing their toys, or cleaning their room. Activities done successfully can be rewarded by a star or a picture tacked to the chart. At the end of the week you will have collected a number of markers. Set a limit and make this limit rewardable with a favorite snack or a favorite show or a favorite outdoor activity. Your kids learn how to be responsible, you have fun with them while doing chores, and you save money.

For the outdoors:

You can extend the rewards to the outside and make these money saving activities as well by choosing the places you visit.

1. You can have a picnic in the park on nice, sunny days. You have full control over what food you bring and the kids have access to a free playground.

2. You can visit the bookstore and take advantage of the kids section which allows free reading of kids books.

3. You can go to the local indoor pool for cold and overcast days and have a small swimming party.

4. And, if you really want to keep it simple, and multi-purpose, you can go grocery shopping and make it an adventure by having your kids help choose your grocery items. They will learn all about “good” food and how to budget as well. My kids love our Saturday afternoon grocery trips.

Remember that kids don’t mind simple activities as long as they are able to spend fun, quality-time with you. So saving and being with your kids need not be opposing activities.

Make the most of the simple things offered out there and you can’t go wrong!

What cheap and fun activities do you do with your kids?

Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

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How to Make the Most of Your Baby Registry

November 2, 2010 | Leave a Comment

One of the most exciting things about having a new baby is preparing for their arrival. Suddenly, you have to prepare your home, as well as yourself and for family, for an extra person. The best tool that new parents have at their disposal is the baby registry.

Whether you have been looking forward to this moment since childhood or find it a tacky practice, a baby registry is an excellent way to get the things you need. People want to give you gifts, whether you like it or not. Think of a baby registry as if all the people who will buy you gifts got together and decided to get things that matched, things you wanted, and just enough of what you need.

A baby registry can be a lot of fun, but if you fill it with impractical things, you will get less of what you actually need. Here are some tips to make the most of your baby registry:

Figure out what you’ll actually need

There are lots of adorable and completely impractical things for sale in the baby aisle. These are things that you and your partner can buy the baby yourselves.

Furniture

You will need a place for the baby to sleep, for example. Don’t forget crib sheets and bumper sets. You will also need a car seat (you often can’t leave the hospital without one) and a safe place to set down your baby during the day.

Clothing

Only register for the bare minimum. Some people will not buy off of your registry. Those people will buy you clothes. If you register for as many clothes as you’ll actually need, you’ll end up with a lot more than you need.

Diapers

This includes wipes, diaper cream and other diapering aides. Decide on a brand, and register for a couple bags of each size.

Food

Whether you plan to breast feed or to bottle feed, you will need some stuff. Bottles, nipples and formula are basic for bottle-feeding, and breast feedings moms might need a pump and storage containers. Once the baby is used to eating solids, Hipp baby food and similar products are also something to look out for.

Start Researching Early

You’ll want to have your baby shower a month or longer before you are due. You’ll want to give your guests at least four weeks to buy a gift. And it might take you a month to decide on all the brands you want. So you should start this process as early into your pregnancy as possible.

When deciding on what store to register at, there are several things to keep in mind. You want a store that is accessible not only to you but to your loved ones as well. Online shopping is handy as well. A large chain store might be your best bet if your family is spread out.

Talk to Other People

Ask for suggestions

A pregnant woman is inundated with “helpful” tips by nearly every other woman on the planet. It becomes hard to keep track of who suggested what, but try to steer these conversations towards what you should register for. Fellow moms will help you remember the little things that you might not realize you need: like a bottle brush or gas relief medication.

Tell People

The whole purpose of having a registry is to tell people what you need for the baby. So you have to make sure you tell the people where it is! Have family and friends spread the word for you, post it on social media networks, and add the information to your baby shower invites.

Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

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Go Green and Save Money

November 1, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Many folks mistakenly believe that going green around the home means having to buy expensive products and make costly conversions of electronics, appliances, etc. However, there are many small things that you can do at home that really add up to a savings for you as well as for the environment. For starters, there are a few easy ways to be green and save money at the same time….

1) Charge It

And I don’t mean with a credit card. Cell phones, remote controls, hand held gaming systems, cordless phones, etc. all have their own chargers that eliminate the need for repeated battery replacements. After an initial investment, chargers pay for themselves while saving an infinite number of batteries. There is even a handy-dandy new contraption that will charge multiple items all at once (like your phone, iPod and Nintendo DS) on the same power pad. If you’d rather not buy a new charger, you can settle for rechargeable batteries instead that can be reused again and again. When it is time to get rid of old batteries, make sure to dispose of them properly and do not throw them in the trash as they contain toxic materials that are harmful to the environment. Usually, hardware stores, home improvement stores and even some libraries have receptacles for old batteries.

2) Take a Coffee (Filter) Break

Another small but meaningful change is switching to a reusable coffee filter. Many electric coffee makers come with their own permanent filters that replace the paper kind. You will save paper (and trees) and…you guessed it, you will also save money. Don’t forget to unplug your coffee maker when it is not being used because otherwise, it will still use energy, called “phantom electricity.”

3) A Light Bulb Moment

Switching to CFL bulbs is costlier at first than traditional bulbs, but they last considerably longer, which is better for your electric bill and the planet. Watch as your electric bill goes down after changing to CFL’s and you will also find yourself buying bulbs much less frequently.

4) Bottle Programs

Another way to save money while being green is to collect your bottles and cans and return them to a redemption facility or at the grocery store. If your state has a bottle bill, you will earn money back (up to 15 cents) on every bottle or can that you turn in. In my state, I can return my bottles and cans for a credit that I can use toward my grocery bill.

5) Plan Your Meals

When you plan your meals ahead of time and create a shopping list, you will actually spend less at the grocery store than if you buy on impulse or without a carefully thought-out plan. Menu planning will also cut down on the number of trips you have to make to the store each week, saving you money on gas while releasing less pollution into the atmosphere.

Making green lifestyle changes can be done in baby steps or big steps, depending on what works with you and your family. No change is too small, however, as when we all pitch in, it can really make a difference. You might be surprised how easy and affordable it can be.

Do you have any other environmentally and budget friendly tips to share?

Brian

Brian is the founder of Kids Ain’t Cheap and is now sharing his journey through parenthood.

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