Mom’s Toolkit: Frugal Tips that Work
When you put your little one to bed, they were still little. The next morning they are standing taller and their pajama pants are now high waters. Every parent has experienced this. As they get older, it gets harder to stay on top of their unpredictable growth patterns. There are some telltale signs – increased appetite, sleepiness, moodiness –, but we often don’t realize what’s happening until too late. And then we have to make a quick run to the store.
How do you keep your kids in clothes that fit without breaking the bank? How do you find deals on the extra food you hadn’t expected to buy? Here are some tricks for ushering your kids through growth spurts without breaking the bank:
Outlets
Outlet malls aren’t what they used to be. While the irregulars you could get for dirt cheap are a thing of the past, you can still get styles from seasons past at a discount. Your two year old won’t care if her sweater is from last season.
Consignment Stores
We spend money on clothes that are worn only a handful of times before they are too small. That’s where consignment shops come in. Parents sell these items at consignment shops for a fraction of their original cost. The shop itself only allows consignments that are in good condition, so you can shop confidently and get some great deals in the process.
Sales
There’s always a sale going on somewhere. There’s a sale when the seasons change, a sale for back to school, heck, a sale because it’s Tuesday. Take advantage of these opportunities. Shop a size or two ahead and stock up for next season. Weekly ads from Wal-Mart is the best place to find cheap deals.
Yard Sales
Many people swear by yard sales. A quick sort through might yield you some much needed play clothes for next to nothing. If you look closely, you may find some hidden gems with the department store tags still on!
Hand Me Downs
Getting a lightly used item from a friend or family member is like getting a bonus at Christmas. Or finding that the frilly dress your oldest wore to graduation fits your youngest when she needs it. These unexpected goodies just make you smile.
Join Store Clubs
Several stores will give you discounts off your purchases throughout the year because you are a member of their club. Some will give you free stuff too. Join every club you can. It doesn’t cost anything to sign up and it will get your rewards every time you shop.
Use Cash
If you’re like a lot of people you rarely come home with just the item you set out to get. This can add unforeseen costs and wreck your budget. If you want to reduce impromptu spending, think about using cash when you shop. This might be the best deterrent to spending more money than you can afford to. If you use cash for everything, you can only spend as much as you have in your pocket. You are not as likely to go back for an item after leaving a store, so most times what was considered a “nice to have” as opposed to a “need to have” will stay right there on the shelf and the money will remain in your pocket.
A Word about Coupons
These little gems are lifesavers. It doesn’t matter if you physically clip them out of the paper or print them from a coupon repository online, the result is the same: more money in your pocket. Coupons can be printed and taken with you to a store or scanned from your phone at check out. There are even coupon codes available to use when shopping online. Check the coupon sites before you hit the stores and save a little money.
Saving money on items that you would buy anyway is one of the smartest things you can do for your bank account. And here’s another trick: put the money you saved in the bank and actually save it. To really make this work for you, figure out the difference between the retail prices and the total you actually paid. As tempted as you will be to do so, don’t pocket the difference and consider it found money. Make a b-line to the bank and save it. You’ll be surprised at the amount of money you’ll save in a month.
Try these tips to combat the growth spurts, the ‘I don’t know how I got that hole in my knee’ moments, and any other gotcha that comes up. Happy shopping!
