Save some cash, Preggo!

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Your babies first year will cost $10,398, which breaks down to a whopping $866.50 per month.

Don't worry kid! Mommy's GOT this!

This, is according to an awesome calculator that I found HERE on BabyCenter.com, which allows you to enter in the value of everything from diapers and wipes, to formula, to toys and clothing. You will begin with their estimate, and can customize the figures to your actual usage, or estimated usage if you are still preggers!
Well for my family at least, another child would require another week in the month of Daddy working! Since that is not going to happen, (and neither will another child for just that reason), I've decided to throw out some money saving tips that have helped us get through, and shrink that number significantly!

Step #1: Write down your budget
If you haven't done so already, it is necessary to see where your money is going each month! Determine which expenses you can change, and which you cannot. I found that approximately 80% of my budget is unchangeable. (Mortgage, utility, car payments, etc) BUT there are areas that we can adjust, and those are the ones you will need to play with!

Step #2: LEARN to coupon!
Not everyone has to be a crazy lady like the TLC show, Extreme Couponing. But I will tell you this- 3 months into couponing (I consider myself a newbie) and no longer have to purchase non food items.

I no longer have to purchase NON food items! It was like a revelation when I realized how it was done, and I will save you the research and learning.

• Get a binder and some baseball card inserts
• Buy two newspapers (each week) and clip all of the coupons. I do not care if you don't need those items. Clip them all, organize to your liking into the inserts.
• Go to the following websites, where they have prepared specific shopping lists and the coupons you will need to get your items nearly free. HONESTLY!
  1. Addicted to Saving
  2. Fabulous Deals and Steals
  3. Thrifty Texas Penny

Basically how it works, is you will purchase only sale items that you have a coupon for, whether you need it or not. Drug stores such as Rite Aid, Walgreens, and CVS will offer you reward 'bucks' on specific items. The correct combination in the right order, makes everything free, you just pay tax. Getting things that you don't need yet, for free before you need them, will build a lifetime supply of toothpaste, shampoo, and laundry detergent before you know it!

Step #3: Cut your expenses
My 'changeable' expenses are- Cable, internet, and home phone, cell phones, grocery, pocket money, clothing, and extra-curriculars. Momma's got a plan for all of these, prompting a special 'Saving' series. Each week I will detail how to cut each expense in half. YES in half! Here's the schedule, in case you had a particular area of concern ;-)

1. Saturday July 30- Cut your cell phone bill in half
2. Sunday August 7- Cable, internet and home phone- Maximize your mullah
3. Friday August 12- How to feed a family of 5 on $80/week
4. Thursday August 18- Dressed and back to school for under $50
5. Tuesday August 23- Managing your pocket