7 Ways to Save Money

Lately we have be trying to faithfully live by a budget, which doesn't come naturally for me or my husband. BUT now that we are parents we must start planning for the future. I thought I'd share a few ways we've learned to cut back. Enjoy!!

1. We plan our meals in advance and only buy the groceries on the list!! (this is hard, but it is nice once you get used to it and it keeps you from buying on impulse)

2. Eat at home... which is much cheaper than eating out.  This one has been hard for us because we travel quite abit, but it is the best area to save the most amount of money.

3. Plan trips in advance... instead of running to the store every time you need something wait and make a list and get it all done at once. This helps cut down on gas expense.

4. Don't buy paper towels. This one was hard for me. I hate using a rag, but I have adjusted and we now use old rags to clean and just throw them in the wash and reuse them. This one is also ecofriendly.

5. EAT LEFTOVERS. My husband hates this one, but if you are throwing food away you might as well be throwing money away.

6. Learn to discern a Want from a Need.... we "want" alot of things, but do we really "need" it.

7. Evaluate your monthly bills and make sure that you are getting the best deal possible... (insurance, cell phone, cable, ect) We recently refinanced and cut 10 years off the life of our loan, saving us tens of thousands of dollars on our house.

Oh the things we learn!! If you've found other ways to cut back, please share!!

Baby Proof

I had no idea all the simple things that can be so dangerous, such as a table and chair, a toilet, a marble...

I've learned to make sure the bathroom door is ALWAYS closed!! My daughter loves to splash around in the potty! To bad she wont actually use the potty.

I've also learned that if I push the chairs all the way to the table she cannot climb ontop of the table nearly as easily.

I've learned that anything small enough will go directly in her mouth!! So gross. So gross.

No matter how much they want to stand up in the cart (buggy, basket, ecgt) this is a Very bad idea.

Mostly I've learned that no matter how much cleaning, organizing, and baby proofing I try to do my toddler WILL find something to play with that could get her into trouble!

Top 10 Things I've Learned as a New Mom

Now that I have survived motherhood a little over year... I have learned a few things:

10. Eating out is not always easier than cooking!! Trying to keep a toddler in a seat waiting for food forever probably isn't going to end well.

9. There is a difference between the cheap diapers and the expensive diapers! I think I save money on laundry by buying the better diapers! Seriously!

8. My mother was right about... well, almost everything! Sorry, Mom!

7. We can watch the same show over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over... you get the idea.

6. Little kids really do watch what you are doing and often copy you! I am afraid my child is turning out to be quite abit like me.

5. I can go without sleep, food, and anything else... if I have to.

4. I should probably pack myself an extra outfit in the diaperbag too! I've been stranded a few places with strange stains!

3. Grandma take their job (spoiling their grandbabies rotten) VERY seriously. A trip to grandma's house typically calls for some serious grandma-detox when we get home!

2. People will confuse the sex of a baby no matter how big and pink the hair bow is! Come on people!

1. No matter how difficult (9 months of being tired, sick, moody...) it is worth it!