Mommies Magazine

Saving Money with Twins

Posted on 29. Jul, 2009 by Cheryl Maguire.

My twins were also my first children which caused me to purchase many unnecessary items. I only wish someone had told me the following:

#1 You Don’t Need 2 of Everything Just because you are having 2 children at the same time does not mean you need 2 of everything. I got 2 bassinets (which you only use for the first few months), 2 pack and plays, 2 bath tubs, 2 diaper pails, etc. I did not need 2 of any of these things. If I would do it over again I would not even use a bassinet rather I would put my twins together in a crib. I also would not purchase a diaper pail again since I didn’t think it worked and it is just as easy to throw it away in an outside garbage. So what do you need 2 of? You need 2 cribs and 2 car seats.

#2 Twin Discounts If you do purchase 2 of the same item, always ask for a twin discount. Toys R Us and Babies R Us both offer 10% off for 2 of the same item purchased at the same time. Some companies such as Enfamil, Pampers and Huggies have twin programs which offers either free products or coupons. I received a month of free formula and a coupon for free diapers. I also always ask about twin discounts for any classes they enroll (i.e. soccer, music, and preschool).

#3 Ask Friends and Family for Unwanted Items If you need specific baby equipment or you are willing to accept any free kid/baby things, inform everyone you know. Most kid/baby objects are large and take up a lot of space. Some people are only too happy to pass along their things to someone else especially if they are able to get much needed storage space back. I have received lots of free toys and clothes from my sister’s friend, a person I have never even met!

#4 Go To Yard Sales Check your local paper to find out when and where the yard sales are being held. Sometimes home day cares also have yard sales. Many yard sales are filled with kid or baby items. One time I got a Cozy Coupe Car for $1 in like new condition. The regular retail price is $50!

#5 Sign Up for Coupons You can sign up through the company’s websites (i.e. Pampers) to receive coupons for formula and diapers. If you combine the coupons with sales and rebates (Huggies has a rebate program though The Caregivers Marketplace and Rite Aid has their own rebate program) you can get these items for half price and then stock up.

#6 Use the Library Instead of purchasing books, magazines, DVD’s and CD’s borrow these items from the library. Many of these items your children will outgrow and the library offers all of these items for free. Most libraries also offer children programs or activities. We started going to the free library story time when my twins were only 6 months old and they loved it. My library also has a play room with tons of toys. When we used this play room I often met other mothers. The room was also a great place to meet for plate dates. Besides being able to play with new toys, I could contain my twins by closing the door which I could not do at a playground.

For more money saving articles visit  Swap Savers

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Money Savings Travel Tips

Posted on 04. Jun, 2009 by Cheryl Maguire.

You can save a significant amount of money when traveling by doing some research before you book your trip. Here are some tips to help you save money during your next weekend or week long getaway.

Ask Friends and Family Before you Book The best way to find out information about an area you plan to visit is to ask people who have been there already. They can let you know what they liked or disliked about the hotels, sites or other relevant information. Compile a list of questions and ask as many people as possible.

Research Transportation Options Most people would assume driving to your destination is the most economical way to travel and flying is the most expensive. However you should research your options before you make your final decision. For example you can find bus fares for as little as $1 from NY to Boston. Also if you are willing to fly as a courier you might be able to fly for free.

Travel Off Season The day and time of you year you travel will influence the price of transportation, hotels and restaurants. Sometimes if you are able to travel on a Wednesday instead of a Saturday you can reduce your expenses. Even if you travel during the expensive season rates, these rates can vary according to the time of day, day of the week (weekend vs. weekday) or month (May vs July). Ask travel agents, hotel staff, or airline representatives when the least expensive rates are available. You can also do an on-line search with different dates to compare prices.

Purchase Souvenirs and Other Items Before you Travel The more preparation and items you purchase before you travel, the more money you can save. Souvenirs and other items are expensive at tourist location. You can purchase souvenirs before you travel and you children will never know the difference. You can also purchase restaurant gift certificates and attraction fees prior to your travel to save money.

BYO Drinks and Snacks Even if you are traveling without children, when you bring your own snacks and drinks you will save both money and time. If you are driving, you will avoid the need to stop to purchase these items if you already have food and drinks in the car. Ideally bring food items which could be a snack or a meal such as cereal bars.

Ask Your Hotel About Amenities If you are staying at a hotel when you check in ask about the hotel amenities and if it is possible to get a free upgrade. Some hotels offer free Internet service, free movies, free childcare/children’s activities or free toiletries upon request. Also if you become sick ask if the hotel offers medical services or medicine before you purchase it.

Browse Local Guides and Newspapers Local newspapers will list events or activities (which may be free) available while you are visiting. Both guides and newspapers also contain coupons for restaurants, activities or site-seeing.

For more money saving articles visit  Swap Savers

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How to Find Free or Frugal Kids/Babies Items

Posted on 11. Feb, 2009 by Cheryl Maguire.

Kids and babies require everything from clothes to car seats and much more.  Most of these items are expensive and are only used for a short period of time.  Here are some ways to find free or frugal kid or baby items.

Ask Friends and Family  If you need specific baby equipment or you are willing to accept any free kid/baby things, inform everyone you know.  Most kid/baby objects are large and take up a lot of space.  Some people are only too happy to pass along their things to someone else especially if they are able to get much needed storage space back.  I have received lots of free toys from my sister’s friend, a person I have never even met! 

Consignment Shops  There are consignment shops which only sell kid or baby used clothes and gear.  Even though it is considered used, you can often find items in like new condition or clothes with the original sales tags still attached.  Another benefit to shopping in a consignment shop is often you can also sell your used belongings or use it as credit to purchase new things.  I am a member of a group for mom’s who have multiple (twins or higher) children called Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles (KPMM).  KPMM is a non-profit organization and they have a store where they sell used or like new baby and kid items http://www.keepingpace.org/

Yard Sales  Check your local paper to find out when and where the yard sales are being held.  Sometimes home day cares also have yard sales.  Many yard sales are filled with kid or baby items.  One time I got a Cozy Coupe Car for $1 in like new condition.  The regular retail price is $50!

Freecycle  Freecycle is a network of people exchanging items for free.  It is now present in 85 countries.  You can join a Freecycle group in your area by going to the main website.  I have given away a lot of items I would have had to pay to throw away.  I have also received a free crib and toddler bed in like new condition.  http://www.freecycle.org/

Craigslist  Craigslist is a classifieds page found in 50 countries.  You can find items for free or for a fee.  In addition to searching for items you need, you can also sell your used kid/baby items through Craigslist.  My friend was able to purchase a like new outdoor play set for a fraction of the price if purchased new.  http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites

eBay  eBay is a place where you can purchase or sell your used baby/kid items.  eBay also has small businesses on their site.  As I mentioned previously KPMM has a store and they also have on-line store through eBay selling used kid and baby items.  http://stores.ebay.com/Keeping-Pace-Childrens-Boutique 

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How to Save Money in the New Year

Posted on 24. Jan, 2009 by Cheryl Maguire.

Use Coupons Coupons can save you a significant amount of money during the year.  You can find coupons for almost any product or store/restaurant in a multitude of locations such as the Sunday paper, printable on-line coupons, magazines, email coupons sent to when you register with a manufacture or restaurant, coupon dispensers (in-stores), and coupon swap boxes in the library or workplace just to name a few places.  You can definitely save well over $1,000 by using coupons on an every basis.

Go Green You can save money and the environment at the same time by practicing “green” routines.  Some examples are conserving energy or water, walking instead of driving, using Reusable Bags (my supermarket pays 5 cents per bag), and recycle cans.   

Savings Account If you don’t already have a savings account, you should open one.  There are a variety of savings accounts with different interest rates and rules.  Shop around to find a savings account which will offer you a high interest rate and also allow you to access the account without a hassle or fees.  A savings account is a risk-free, easy method to earn money.  You can directly deposit your paychecks to your savings account and then transfer the money you need to pay your bills to your checking account.  By doing this, you will be more aware of the amount of money you are spending and earn interest in between bill payments.

Create a Budget The main goal of a budget is to prevent you from overspending so figure out a budget which works for you.  Ideally a budget will help you to achieve your short and long-term finical goals.

Create Realistic and Concrete Savings Goals The main reason people are unable to accomplish their goals is due to the fact that the goals the people created were unrealistic and/or intangible.  When you are creating goals you should make sure to include specific numbers and timelines with measurable quantities.  You should also have realistic expectations.  Start out with achievable, short term goals which you can later turn into long-term goals.  For example, “I am going to deposit $5 into my savings account every Friday”  

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Forgotten or Expired Coupons

Posted on 09. Dec, 2008 by Cheryl Maguire.

Nothing pains me more than to realize my coupon is expired or forgotten at home.  If you forgot your coupon or have an expired coupon, here are some tips to prevent or correct this situation.

Preventive Tips:

Mark your Calendar  If you have a great coupon or rewards coupon (such as CVS Extra Bucks or Best Buy Rewards) mark the expiration date on your calendar.  You can also make a notation to use the coupon at least a week or two before it expires.

Use the Coupon Immediately If you use the coupon as soon as possible you decrease your chance of forgetting or losing it.  Also if you wait until the last minute to use the coupon you may be unable to make it to the store (if you get sick, etc.)

Coupon Organizer If you use a coupon organizer you can identify coupons which may expire soon by placing them in a certain location or using a sticky tab on the soon to expire coupons. 

Coupon=Wallet Treat your coupons like dollar bills and bring them wherever you would bring your wallet.  Using a coupon organizer makes it easier to transport your coupons in the car or store similar to a wallet holding your dollar bills.

Corrective Tips

Ask if Store Accepts Expired Coupons Some stores will accept expired coupons, especially if it is a store coupon such as Bed and Bath.  If a manufactures coupon is only a day or two expired, some stores will also accept the coupon.

Ask about Coupon Reimbursement If you forget your coupons, ask if the store will reimburse you the next time you shop.  Most stores will reimburse you the coupons amount if you bring the coupon and receipt to customer service the next time you shop.

Call Customer Service If you let a rewards coupon expire (such as CVS Extra Bucks or Best Buy Rewards) and the store will not accept the coupon trying calling customer service.  One time my Best Buy Rewards coupon expired and the store would not accept it.  After calling customer service, I was sent a “one time re-issue” of the rewards coupon.

Other Suggestions

Donate Expired Coupons U.S. military families stationed overseas are able to use expired coupons on base for up to six months after the manufacturer’s expiration date.  You can adopt a base.  Here is a link http://www.ocpnet.org/base_list.htm

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How to Find and Use Coupons

Posted on 05. Nov, 2008 by Cheryl Maguire.

Places to find coupons:

1.  Sunday Paper—The paper has coupon inserts called Red Plum (RP), Smart Source (SS) and Proctor and Gamble (P&G)
2. Printable coupons.  The following websites have printable coupons: Coupons.com, SmartSource.com, Red Plum.com, You can also find printable coupons on your local newspaper’s websites.  
3. Manufacturers Coupons–Go to the website of the product you plan to buy, often you will find printable coupons.
4. Coupon Swap Box–See if you library has a coupon swap box.  If they don’t have a box ask if you can put out a box with a sign saying, “Take or Leave coupons”.  You could also put a box out at your place of work.
5. Friends or Family—Ask friends or family to save coupons for you.
6. Coupon Train—Join a coupon train which usually consists of 4-5 members who mail each other approximately 40-50 coupons.
7. Coupon Dispensers–You can find in stores next to the product which often don’t expire right away.
8. Magazines—Many magazines have coupons for a variety of products.
9. Email Companies—Ask for a coupon for the products you like and tell them you love their product, usually they will send you a coupon.

10. Weekly Circulars—You can find store coupons ($5 off $25 purchase) or manufacturer’s coupons in the weekly circulars sent to your house.  Be sure to look through even stores you don’t shop at since most grocery stores will accept competitor coupons and manufacturers coupon can be used anywhere.

How to use coupons:

1. Combine Coupon—Combine coupons with sales, in-ad coupons (from the store), and rebates.  You can use an in-ad store coupon, a manufacturer’s coupon and a rebate (Walgreens or Rite Aid which has their own rebate programs or a mail-in rebate through the manufacturers) all for one product.  When you do these you can get items for free or almost free or even earn money if the store allows.

2.  Buy One Get One Coupons (BOGO)—If you combine a BOGO coupon with a BOGO sale you can get two products for free since it is actually two different sales, one from the manufacturer and one from the store.

3. Save Coupon Inserts—First clip coupons you need and then file all your coupon inserts with the date on top.  If you see deals (posted on my site http://www.swapsavers.com/ or elsewhere) with the coupon insert name (such as Red Plum) along with the date of the insert you can then easily refer back to the insert and get the great deal.

4.  Use Coupons with BOGO sale—If you use 2 coupons during a BOGO sale you will can get items for a great deal or free.  For example if a product is $3 and it is BOGO and you have 2 coupons for $1.50 off each product you can get both items free.

5. Double or Triple Coupons—Some grocery stores will double or triple your coupons.  The rules for this vary with stores so check your grocery store to find out the rules regarding double or triple coupons.

6. Buy the smallest size—Some coupons do not have a size requirement so if you buy the smallest size with the coupon you usually get the best deal.  You should do the math first to figure out the best deal per unit.

7.  Coupon Organizer—In order to see all your coupons and use the coupons before it expires, you should organize the coupons any way which works for you.  You can read my post about purchasing a coupons organizer.

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How to Lose Weight and Save Money

Posted on 17. Oct, 2008 by Cheryl Maguire.

Cook your own meals: The only way to truly know the calorie content of what you eat is to prepare the meals yourself.  By cooking your own meals you can substitute for less fattening or lower calorie choices when necessary.  Most recipes list calories, fat grams and other useful information to help you keep track of your daily intake.  When you eat at restaurants or fast food places you eat more calories and fat grams since the portions are typically larger then what you would have at home. Furthermore it is difficult to keep track of calories or fat gram intake.  Cooking at home is significantly less expensive then eating at restaurants or fast food places.

Drink Water: Tap water is free and free of calories.  If you were to only drink water for a week you could probably save at least $20 or more depending on your current drinking choices.  Most drinks contain 200 calories or more, whereas drinking water has zero calories.  Water has numerous health benefits.  By drinking water you eat less since people tend to think they are hungry when they really need water.  Water helps your body to break down fat which increases fat loss.

Turn off the TV: If you eat meals while watching TV, you are often unaware of how much you eat.  Research by Eliot Blass found, people eat between 31 and 74 percent more calories while watching TV.  Most people watching TV are motionless which burns few calories.   In terms of energy consumption, watching TV will cost you about $100 per year in your electric bill and your cable bill about $600 per year.

Workout with a friend: Working out with a friend will help you stay motivated and provides extra support or new ideas to keep your workouts interesting.  You can carpool with your friend to the gym to save on gas.

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