Saving Money on Baby

Times are tough and everybody is trying to save a dollar wherever they can. Many households have developed a rather strict budget that they must stick to and with good reason. With things being so unstable, it’s important to make the most out of your money. If you have a baby you know just how expensive it can be to take care of them. With the diapers, formula, food, clothes, toys–it’s almost never ending!

There are some simple ways to save money when it comes to taking care of your baby’s needs. You can still get what you need but pay a fraction of the price if you make a few minor adjustments:

-Shop at membership clubs for items that you need in high volume and purchase frequently. You can get some great deals on diapers, formula, and wipes if you buy in bulk. This will also save you from making multiple trips to the store as a case of diapers can usually last you a month. Using the store brand can save you even more money, and the reality is that the items are made exactly the same way as the name brand. Do we really need designer diapers after all?

-Shop mom to mom sales whenver possible. These can save you a bundle and you can find some really cute things. Mom to mom sales are offered across the country and are like a huge garage sale where moms are selling their gently used clothes, toys, and supplies to other moms shopping for these items. Sure you’re not necessarily going to get everything from these sales, but when you consider how quickly they outgrow or become uninterested in things, this can save you a bundle.

-Trade off with friends that have kids the same age. Hand me downs in toys and clothes can be very welcome when you’re trying to keep up with baby’s constant growth spurts. It can be a fun way to get together and trade items that you can no longer use, knowing that they will go to good use in somebody else’s home.

You don’t have to go broke in taking care of your baby! Getting creative in obtaining all the items you need can save you a bundle and get you everything you need for your little darling.

Maximize your Online Calendar Use

We can manage the battle of too-many-things-to-do, by becoming more efficient at using our calendars. Many of us have moved beyond the paper calendars and now have our alerts, birthdays and more scheduled in an online calendar. LifeHacker has put together a list of 10 Tricks so we can optimize our online calendars with several helpfull ad-ons. The best part: most of these are free!

The Web 2.0 social-site explosion has created a wealth of scheduling services, but we’ve always liked the simplicity of tools like Doodle, where you just ask folks via email what times work for them, and the site returns the most compatible matches. Need more than just a time slot? fasterPlan creates web-based, customizable billboards, so you can ask which park works best for a reunion, who’s a vegetarian, and so on. If nothing else, your over-burdened inbox will thank you.

Tips for a Happier Holiday with the Baby

It’s that time of year again! Hard to believe, but the holidays are upon us. This time of year can bring much joy–it can also bring a great deal of stress! With all that has to get done and fitting it into a short time period, the anxiety can raise every day. So too can the concern about how to get your baby through all the family fun time. While it’s wonderful to engage in family traditions, sometimes your baby has a different idea.

So how can you plan for your baby’s reaction that may be less than favorable at the next holiday gathering? First and foremost you have to roll with the punches. Anybody with kids knows that every time you go out with your baby, the experience can be unpredictable at best. Most people understand that and getting upset by your baby’s temper tantrum or crying fit won’t help the situation, but only stress you out more. Go with whatever comes your way and know that most eople will be more than understanding of your circumsance.

Come prepared! This seems obvious, but when you already have so much to think about it can go by the wayside. Bring whatever bottles, sippie cups, and food that you may need for the amount of time you’ll be gone–packing a little extra can be helpful if you run into any unexpected circumstances. Be sure to pack any favorite toys or blankets that can offer comfort. It’s essential to leave the house will a well stocked diaper bag as well, pack all the basics and then go above and beyond. Having an extra outfit or pajamas for a long day can make things much easier on you.

Bring a pack and play so that you can set it up if it will be a late night or you are working around baby’s nap time. Whenever possible, try to plan around this so that the baby can still get in a nap or some sleep time in the car. A tired baby is a cranky one, so if you have to be a few minutes late in the name of sanity, it’s worth it!

Enjoy it! The minor setback or crying fit is short lived. The holidays are a time of year for everyone to come together and celebrate. Any fit that your child throws will be temporary and you want to make some great memories for the whole family to look back on.

Working from Home with Baby

Many of us dream about what it will be like when our baby arrives and how we will find a work situation that is conducive to our wants and needs. Focusing on what you enjoy doing or what you are good at and then looking for something that allows you to either work reduced hours or from home is a popular choice. So you get a situation where you are lucky enough to work from home, it’s a dream come true! Then the reality sets in–how in the world will you get it all done with baby underfoot and tending to their every need? Here are some tried and true tips to help keep baby as your number one priority while allowing you to keep your sanity.

*Develop a more creative work schedule. The regular 9-5 schedule that you used to keep may no longer be a reality. Once the baby is mobile, your dreams of putting baby next to you and jumping on the laptop are short lived. It helps to be able to get up early to get some work done, or to focus on your job after you’ve put the baby down for a nap. Getting work done in the evening in front of the tv works well, and it’s worth noting that you are still doing all of this from the comfort of your own home.

*Learn to make the most of your time. This sounds obvious, but it really helps to make a list and prioritize every item on it. If the baby goes down for a nap or daddy is spending some quality time with her, then use that time to cross off the higher priority items. Just keep chipping away at it little by little and you will be amazed at what a multi tasker you’ve become. It happens to every mother, you learn to manage your time and multi task–both of these skills will help you in getting work done while still taking care of baby.

*Keep things in perspective as it helps you from getting stressed out. You are still home with that little darling and that’s the most important thing. You’d be amazed at what a couple of hours on the weekend or in the evenings can do for your workload. Even if the days get crazy or you don’t get as much done as you’d like, remember that you’ve still managed to find a situation that allows you to be home with your baby. A dream come true!

Working from home can be possible if you make some slight adjustments in your mindset and priority list. If you are lucky enough to find something allowing you to work from home, keep in mind how lucky you are and use that positive energy to help you get through the craziest of days.

Balancing Your Time with a Baby

Having a baby is one of life’s greatest joys, there’s no doubt about it. Most moms would agree though that once that baby arrives, their time is no longer their own. First you go through the huge adjustment of having a newborn and never knowing when you might be feeding or have a clue as to when they will sleep. Then you start to get a little more adjusted and then it’s time for the baby to be mobile, and the cycle goes on. It’s safe to say that every mom goes through a period of time wondering when they might get some “me time” back.  I’ve found that a few minor tweaks in the daily schedule can help a bit and hopefully these tips will help other moms out there that have struggled with the problem of how to get everything done in a day when you have a baby.

*Work while you can around the baby’s schedule. Once the baby goes down for a nap, use that time to get the necessities done that day. Recognizing that you will never get every little thing done, make a list and work through it in order of priority. There are many days that I have to let some tasks go as I have to be realistic about how to use any free moment that I have.

*Let some things go and know that it’s okay. There’s no such thing as a super mom and trying to be one will only stress you out. If you only threw in a load of laundry but couldn’t quite get to dusting, let it go. The chores will always be there, and you just have to know that you can’t get it all done like you used to.

*Remember your number one priority. Even though it’s tempting to try and breeze through a huge to do list like you used to, your new and most important focus is the baby. You are taking care of that little bundle of joy and that’s the most important way to spend your day. If you get nothing else done in a day but ensuring that the baby is well fed and taken care of, then that’s still a very good day.

Learning to focus on your high priorities and sometimes let the rest go can make your days with baby much more enjoyable. Every time you feel stressed out and as if you can’t get it all done, take a look at that sweet little face and remember what it’s all about.

Just Say No

WorkingMomsAgainstGuilt put together a list of small things a person can do during the course of the day to increase efficiency. Ways to multitask represent the majority of the tips both at home and the office. A couple rang true for me, while some seemed more difficult to undertake. The tip below is my favorite tip from their article and one I hope to implement - at home and work:

Say no to things that do not contribute to your objectives. If that’s hard for you to do, ask for some time to think about it, compare it with your priorities, and then say no.

Last Minute Christmas Shopping

Another quick tip from Lifetips.com. (Thought I’d squeeze this one in before the big day!)

Know what gift(s) you are shopping for before you leave the house. Review with the kids before you enter a store, exactly what you are getting and for whom. No side trips, no fuss, no gawking, no candy. It is extremely simple to keep the children on track if you can distract them by enlisting their help in finding the section or item needed.

The flashing lights and over the top display of their favorite goodies is sure to make them a bit giddy before the big day. If they still have to pick out a gift for Dad, make sure they come prepared… or you’ll be stuck in Holiday traffic forever!

Junk Drawer Wars

Admit it… you have a junk drawer. Is it in the kitchen? Or hidden in your bedroom? Junk drawers are notorious for growing and taking over other drawers. You can combat junk drawer migration by following these suggestions:

Sort: First, you have to know what’s in it. Find a space to dump it out and sort it. There’s stuff that should go in there (in ours: extra batteries, spare keys, friend’s keys, parking permits, a small accordion file for museum membership cards and takeout menus) and stuff that shouldn’t (screws, tools).

Return: stuff that should go elsewhere should go elsewhere. Put the screws and tools back in the toolbox, the working pens in their place, the broken pencils in the garbage, donate the old eyeglasses.

Rethink: for items that should go elsewhere, make sure there’s a place for them so similar items don’t end up here a few months hence. For example, have a place to put items you need to keep for your taxes so old movie ticket stubs don’t end up here again.

Head over to the Unclutterers blog to learn some more great tips to tame those wily drawers!

Become an Organized Parent

We know that being organized will help us get through the day, but sometimes it’s forgotten on a hectic day. In order to regain control of our home lives (and for some of us our work lives!) we need to discover how organized we actually are and where we need to improve. Jen over at Handytipsandhints.com has put together a list of 14 questions every mom should ask herself to determine how organized they really are. Check it out and see how you rate! For example:

…
5. Do you have books and magazines piled up that you have meant to read?
6. Do you usually put off work assignments until the last minute and rationalize as you are better at rising to the occasion during crunch time.
…

Toy Clutter - Begone!

Do you find yourself trying to pick up after the kids? The folks over at HowToMe.com put together instructions on creating your own storage sack to help fight the battle. Maybe if you add a bit of personalization your children will feel inspired to clean up. Not your kids? Well, at least you can make it a bit easier on yourself then.

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