Research Saved Me $170

   When considering any major purchase, I highly recommend doing your research. We need a dual screen baby monitor. I started by looking into the reviews on the equipment itself, regardless of price. I was torn between the Summer Infant and Motorola dual screen monitors. But many reviews for the Motorola model said they had issues with the audio and some had to be returned 2-3 times within the first 6 months of use! Many others said they had returned it multiple times, just within the warranty window. Let me just say, "Ain't nobody got time for that!"
   The Summer Infant model had pretty good reviews across the board so I decided on that one. Now to price shop. Target had the system we wanted for $279.99 and we were tempted to just get it when we were in there Sunday shopping for last minute needs. We decided to check around first. Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby also listed it for $179. Amazon listed it for $243. Jet.com listed it for $236. So, naturally I looked into the Jet site even though I haven't used them before. They offered free shipping AND 20% your first purchase. This brought the cost down to $189.19 total. Sold.
   Moral of the story - If we had just thrown it in the cart with the other baby items in Target, we would have $90 less in our budget. It pays to do your homework.
 
   Another quick example: A few weeks ago we were in Bass Pro. We had been looking for a behavior/training collar for our lab puppy. We really like this particular D.T. Systems electronic collar for outdoor dogs. On the shelf at Bass Pro it was listed for $179. Again, we were tempted to just throw it in the cart for convenience. I suggested we just look online before leaving the store. We found it on Amazon for $139. So at the register we decided to put it back. Then while we were standing there, my husband found it listed on the Bass Pro website for $99, the exact same model. After speaking with a manager - who tried his best to find SOME discrepancy in the model and bar code, but could not - we got it for $99. Saved $80 from the shelf price in the store.

What Is A Necessity?

   The holidays are coming. Now might be the best time to save a little extra money so you can enjoy the food and gifts without adding the expense to your surmounting credit card bill(s). Let's try a little experiment.

The struggle is real. 

   For the month of October, buy nothing that is not a necessity. What does this mean? Only consumables and things you run out of like milk, eggs, toilet paper and dog food. Vehicle fuel is included of course. But everything else you don't NEED, hold off for just a month. New shoes, a new phone case, the dollar spot at Target, give it all up. Pass on the jewelry catalog circulating around the office. Pack your lunch and sit under a shady tree enjoying the fall breeze instead of walking around the mall. If you can, avoid stores like Wal-Mart and Target that sell groceries and everything else that unexpectedly jumps in your cart. Stick to grocery stores to limit temptation.
   In fact, I bet you'll find that you can condition your impulse buying and eliminate it completely if you make the effort. Waiting a few days or weeks on an impulse buy usually squashes the desire and saves you buyers remorse in the end.

   This is absolutely possible. Check out this Tennessee family who did this for a whole year! A Year Without Shopping: The "No Buy": Experiment. I really like the ground rules they set:

• Don't buy stuff, unless it's something you can use up within the year, such as food and hygiene products.
• You can fix stuff that breaks, unless a suitable replacement is already available in the household.
• Spending money on gifts is OK, but only in the form of a charitable donation or an experience that can be shared with someone else.
  
  

To jump start the month of necessities only, try a "Fiscal Fast" - one week of no spending period! Check out my post on making the "Fiscal Fast" work for you.

In Mom's Defense: Understanding the Mom Brain

   I usually post about ways to save money but I was feeling inspired to write a little something for the moms out there who need some support. For our friends and family who are confused - even frustrated - with us at times, here's some insight.

7 Things To Know About Moms With Kids Under 5

Grooming. We rarely have time to wash our hair and shave our legs in the same day (week if I'm being honest). Hold your comments on our leg stubble. The "no shave season" is our best friend. And if we have the luxury to shampoo AND condition our hair, you can forget blow drying. The "mom cut" exists for a reason. There's no time for blow drying when there is french toast to be microwaved and lunch to pack. My towel-dried damp hair is hiding under a librarian bun or french braid at this moment. Today and every day. If our hair is blow dried/flat ironed, it's likely date night and we've asked the sitter to arrive 30 minutes early to allow time for this endeavor.

Phone Dates. If you miss your friend and "catching up" on life, chances are she does too. But there is literally not a moment of free time that is not scheduled. So, get on the schedule. This especially applies to working moms....Don't call a working mom during her career working hours expecting to chitty chat. She's busy. She has a boss who can hear the phone call and deadlines to meet. Rather you should text her and schedule a phone date at the convenience of both parties. It may be on a lunch break on the drive home or after bedtime. I have literally set a timer on my phone to call girlfriends whom I haven't spoken to in weeks/months. It's the only way I can make it work.

Tardiness. We are probably going to be late. To everything. This in no way indicates our lack of respect for whoever or whatever it is we're trying to meet or do. It is just our reality. Once a child is totally self-sufficient, I suppose this changes. But until then, everything is a gamble. We could wake up 2 hours early to still be 10 minutes late out the door. Perhaps you hit snooze too many times because you were awakened 3 times during the night by various family members and animals. Someone spilled cereal and milk all over the floor. Someone stepped in dog pee. The dog has taken someone's shoe outside into the yard that hasn't been mowed in 3 weeks. Good luck finding it. Or maybe you just could NOT find anything to wear that didn't need to be ironed or already have a stain on it. Once you're ready to go, you can't find your keys that you left in the fridge. You back over the trash can and have to stop to pick everything up, go inside to change your pants and wash your hands. I'm telling you the cosmos are working against us on being anywhere on time.

Mom Brain. It starts with pregnancy brain, which is not a myth by the way. It is legit. From the time you begin growing a life in your womb, they begin to eat your brain. And once they're born, it gets worse! You are a host to a brain parasite know as the human child. They literally suck the memory and reasoning out. Last week I went home on my lunch break and put my keys down in a compartment in the door of the fridge (where chocolate is hiding behind salad dressing). When I was ready to go back to work, I couldn't find them. I spent 20 minutes looking and got so stressed out I went to get a piece of chocolate. And there they were. Thank God I had and needed to eat chocolate or who knows how long I would have been looking. This morning I used my Keurig at work to make a cup of coffee. I set it to brew without placing a cup to catch the coffee. The drip basin completely filled with and overflowed with Pikes Place medium roast and I had a mess to clean up.

Coffee. I've never been one to post photos of my coffee cup, but I get it. In our world, hot coffee is a mythical unicorn. Sure it always starts that way, but then someone needs something. You leave the room, get distracted, find a new agenda and an hour later you find the cup of cold coffee. Stick it in the microwave. Take 2 sips. Repeat. The last time I drank a full cup of hot/warm coffee, I was on vacation. Which leads me to my next point.

Vacation. A trip and a vacation are 2 very different things. When you take children with you, it is not, in any way, a vacation. It is a trip. A vacation implies you had the ability to fully relax, choose what YOU wanted to do, do it at your leisure and get a full nights sleep. A trip on the other hand, implies you are going to a designated location for what has the potential to be a good time with small humans who will eat all your snacks, dominate your schedule and hog the bed. You will also spend most of your budget on things for them during said trip to maintain your sanity - like a souvenir size frozen lemonade in a dinosaur cup and a Micky Mouse pocket fan with candy in the handle. Good times.

Help. If you know a mom that seems overwhelmed, help a sister out! Maybe she just needs a thinking of you card or a hug to know somebody on the planet appreciates her. Children don't learn or recognize the need to appreciate acts of service until much later in life. Maybe she needs a night off or a meal cooked for her. Side note: Dining out with young children isn't easy or fun. Eating in our own home is significantly easier even though there is clean up involved. Perhaps a few hours of child care so she can shave her legs and run errands without tiny people in tow would rock her world. If you don't know, ask her. Something a mom rarely hears is "What do you need?"

Toddler Room Makeover

   Our little guy's room was in need of an organization overhaul. We have also been working on incorporating Montessori practices in our home and so I did some research on Montessori toddler spaces and bedrooms. I won't get on a soap box about why I think this method and practice is fantastic, just know that I think it is. It facilitates independence, responsibility, problem solving, organized creativity and many other characteristics that develop a whole-brained child.
   Of course everything we do is on a budget in our savings savvy house so I didn't want to spend a great deal of money on this makeover. I priced out some cubby bookshelves at IKEA and considered a new toddler bed. The rest was going to be thrift or repurposed.

   Here's a look at the toy/play situation before. A toy box is romantic and sentimental, especially since my dad made this one for G, but it wasn't functional for his needs. The toys just stayed in a pile and he couldn't see everything he has and if he did want to play with something on the bottom, everything got dragged out into a mess.
   Perhaps we can keep linens/pillows in it until he's old enough to use it as a keepsake chest.

   So the first thing I did was take inventory of things he still plays with. Then I made a list of containers and space I would need to organize everything. I found some inexpensive bins at Target for things that that would go in the closet, and repurposed some wire wrack shelving I previously used for baking and crafts. Then we hit up IKEA for the shelves and a few colorful bins for ready-to-play activities.

   One of the keys to keeping a child's room organized is to limit what's available and not overwhelm them with lots of pieces and options. Games and activities that require supervision or assistance with setting up/putting away are kept in the closet. I save these for extended playtime on the weekends, rainy days or when I need to keep G entertained for a while in one space while I clean or work on something of my own. Notice the bottom shelves he can reach are the safe and "clean" toys like train tracks, blocks, Legos and balls. The messy, supervision required activities like Playdoh, stamps and ink, paint and chalk are kept on higher shelves.

   Other things accessible to him in the closet are his shoes and hats - again, to foster independence and empower choice. He can choose what shoes he wears to school (even if they don't match his outfit ::cringe:: ) and he usually wears a hat to play outside or a fedora to church. My kid is stylish! 

   Our family has learned so many great things from G's school but one thing that will probably prove to be invaluable is the practice of playing with one thing at a time, in a designated space or on a mat/tray, and putting that item away before getting another one out. G started doing this on his own at home long before Ian and I would have expected him or tried to teach him to. So, in the play area, we have several different work spaces including a flat tray with sections, a table tray, a rug mat and the empty space between shelves at his waist level.

      The rest of his toys and books are kept in the cubbies and ready for him to work with as he chooses. Some are organized in bins to keep the pieces together and sorted by animals, things that go, toy car collection, music, drawing/coloring, sorting and building, fine motor skills, wooden puzzles and reading. He has a few imaginary play sets like fire/police station, which has its own bin for the small pieces that go with it; and 2 large train sets (in the closet). 

   The crib-to-toddler bed became an obstacle for us because he was climbing and jumping on the rails too much. We will also need the crib for the new baby in our room so we invested in a 2nd bed but I felt it was a great bargain. It was only $60 at IKEA and came in unstained, unfinished wood so we bought a can of stain for $8 to match his dresser and it was perfect. It's also lower to the ground and allows him to read, sleep and even play in it with much less worry for us. 

      His nightstand has bedtime books, a CD player with play and sleep music kept in the cabinet (he can pretty much change the discs unassisted now), his diffuser lamp and a flashlight. We mostly use the diffuser lamp as a nightlight but if I need to put water and oil in it, I move it to a higher place so he can't knock it over. I found the CD player at Best Buy for 70% off in the "scratch and dent" section when G was just a baby and we needed a sound machine to play classical music. It's been used every night for 2 years and it's still goin strong!
    A growth chart on the wall is a great way for kids to see how they have grown. This adorable owl and fox ruler was only $6 on Amazon. We also keep his hamper in there instead of the laundry room because he has learned his dirty clothes go in there and he's responsible for putting them there. 

  Because the room will still need to serve as a nursery for the new baby, the diaper changing/dressing area is still functional. We decided not to spend the money or space on a second room when baby will sleep in our room for many months anyway and the room is plenty large enough for both of their needs. We have also included a calendar to keep track of school events, family trips and special days so G can see what he has to look forward to in the week.
   The pegboard was an idea I found online when we did the original nursery and allows you to move hooks and change items displayed for interest and functionality. The lower basket has hair combing tools and hygiene items G likes to use and are safe for him to handle. 

And there you have it. A cost effective Montessori-style toddler room makeover for around $225. Because that money was spent on long-term use furniture and not trendy or themed decorating items, I think it's money well spent. The cubbies can be reused for almost anything down the road, and the bed will work for him for many years as well as our next son. Still on my to-do list is moving the framed pictures to his eye-level - this may include a puzzle we do as a family and turn into wall art - and finishing the play kitchen. Stay tuned. 

Learning by Play with a Fun Twist

   Learning doesn't (begin or) end at school for little ones. They are constantly learning and developing their mind. So I try to use toys and activities that encourage learning by play in our home. I recently found a wooden color sorting set when researching Montessori toys online....but it was $50. Here's my version using a bead/craft box and some colored construction paper.

   The craft box was $3 at IKEA and the construction paper was an assorted stack of 50 sheets for $2 at Hobby Lobby. I only needed one sheet of each color but you always need construction paper on hand for other projects so I'll use it 1,000 ways, I'm sure. I cut rectangles to fit the bins and used ModPodge to seal them down and coat them. G really liked helping paint the glue inside the box! 

The Fun Twist - To fill the box with small colored trinkets we went on a treasure hunt through the house. This is really exciting for a toddler and you can even dress up like pirates to go the extra mile. G had a blast. We sang the song from Jake & the Neverland Pirates as we "hunted". Great places to look for treasure:

• Kitchen junk (catch-all) drawer
• Bathroom junk (catch-all) drawer
• Laundry room jar of pocket collections
• Nightstand drawers
• Purses or coat pockets 
• Garage or back porch
• Bottom of the toy box
• Sewing Kit

We found an assortment of treasures including recycled caps, buttons, a key chain, magnet, small trinket toys that likely came from trick-or-treating or a party thank you bag, and an awareness wristband. I coupled these items with a bag of colored wooden blocks from Hobby Lobby for $3.

 

The final product was a color sorting box full of colorful knickknacks in various shapes and sizes. We can add to the box as we find more treasures from school, grandparents houses, parties and other adventures :)

Yo-ho mateys away
There'll be treasure and adventure today 
Heave-ho here we go 
Together as a team 
With Jake and the Neverland pirates 
And ME!

Thrifty Toddler Toys

   Kids are creative without much encouragement. They're just born that way. I find that by providing even the most simple toys and activities, they can have fun and develop remarkable skill sets. No need for elaborate toys with dozens of buttons and sounds (although we have a few of those). Many of our toys are Montessori-influenced but many others are thrift finds or hand-me-downs (hmd), which I love and welcome from friends and family. Here are a few of our favorite things!

   Beloved Hand-Me-Downs

   My amazing boss, a mother of 2 boys who have long outgrown trains and dinosaurs, generously brings in toys and clothes from time to time as she cleans and reorganizes the boys' rooms. The train tent above is one of G's favorite things. We fill it with ball pit balls (I snagged a bag of 100 for $10 a while back. Also great for pack-n-play turned ball pit!) and he has a blast. It folds up and hides behind the guest room door for rainy days or special occasions when I need to keep G in one place and occupied for a while like when I'm mopping. 

   The prehistoric tribe below, also a hmd gift from my boss, is another fav. I keep them in the diaper bag sometimes for waiting rooms or entertainment at a restaurant while mom and dad quickly scarf down food. They've been in the pool, the bath tub and sand box.  

   My brother played with these Matchbox cars 40 years ago and they are still in great shape. I've kept them all these years. The case they used to live in has now gone to toy heaven but the cars are going strong. G loves them and they are damn near indestructible. 

    The Lego tub on the right is filled with traditional Legos that my brother and I both played with. They spent many years in my parents' attic at my request, hoping I could one day play with them again with my kids. And here we are :) The MegaBloks I found at a consignment for $5, the whole bag with zipper. I have also invested in some Duplo (toddler size) Lego sets for G at this age. Let me say this about Legos...they are a fantastic buy. They last for decades, literally, and you can do so much with them. They withstand water, sand, mud, pets, toddler boy aggression...you get your monies worth!  

FREE New Toys & Books

   Our local library just had a really cool (free) "Ready to Read, Zero to Three" reading expo with a ton of reading and learning activities. Several of the booths were giving out free items like these cool board books. The Masonic Lodge was doing kid fingerprinting and giving wooden car toys to the kids. 

Thrifty Finds

   When I'm looking for something new to introduce G to, I try to hit the kids section of consignment and thrift stores. There are usually good finds for just a few dollars. My latest project is a DIY play kitchen which I'll post about later. I found an end table to repurpose and lots of tools and utensils for under $30. I also found this stellar wooden activity tray with 6 small compartments on the sides. It is perfect for puzzles and projects that involve small pieces that need to be contained. Also snagged 2 jumbo puzzles for $.50 each - Elmo and Spiderman (2 of G's favs).  

    For a few dollars more, I went to the craft section at Hobby Lobby and bought colorful pipe cleaners and alphabet beads for a fine motor skills activity. I'm also working on a color sorting box that I'll put together using colored beads and knickknacks found at thrift stores. Old costume jewelry beads make GREAT kid-friendly crafts when you take them apart to repurpose the materials. 

Healthy Bodies - A Goldmine for Deals on Vitamins and a TON of Other Stuff

   I recently learned about the amazing website, VitaCost. It is a total gold mine for vitamins, health food products, organic body care products and even pet food and supplies. The items they carry are a fraction of the price of general retail. Here's a few examples:

   I wanted to incorporate coconut oil in my diet but can't find the time or patience to include it in my daily meals. So I went on here to see if there's a coconut oil vitamin option and *bam*...softgels! I also recommended this to my dad for my mom because she has Alzheimer's and there's been a surge in research indicated coconut oil can really help stall or even reverse some of the effects of the disease. So now we all take it. $9.29 for 120 gels. This is 2/3 the price of most vitamin stores.

   My mom also takes B12 and I began taking it for an extra dose of energy while I'm fighting the woes of the third trimester and juggling life in general. The best way to ingest B12 is under the tongue. The body absorbs it much quicker and more efficiently. B12 drops are hellaexpensive. But, not on this site. There are drops and also quick dissolve tablets in a variety of dosage amounts but for comparison purposes, 1,000 mcg per dose 4 ml. bottle of drops is $11.50 here vs. $21.99 at other vitamin stores. I'm a gummy vitamin kind of girl so the berry flavored quick dot dissolve tabs are my choice for B12.

   My dad takes CoQ10 for his heart. This vitamin provides energy to large muscles like the heart, which my dad needs to battle Atrial Fibrillation. This vitamin is outrageously expensive. Before we found this site, my dad was paying $45 for 80 capsules, 200mg. We found them on here, 120 capsules for only $22.50. AND this one was free shipping. Read more about that perk below.

   My favorite find was Earth Mama Angel Baby organic herbal products. I LOVE these products but they can be pricey if you order them directly from the site, or even get them at Target. By chance I found them on here and they are 40% off retail price. EMAB brand carries every kind of body care product for expecting and postpartum mamas and for babies. There's even a morning nausea spray and a breastfeeding tea! You can use the products to remedy things other than what's recommended. For example, the C-Mama Healing Salve is also wonderful for any kind of scar, severe rash or burn. The Bottom Balm is not just for diaper rash but also soothing to thrush, itchy bug bites, scrapes, chicken pox, moderate rashes and burns.

I don't know how this site makes money but I know is saves me money!

A couple really cool things about this site:

• If you sign up (no cost) and place an order, please use my referral link. I get $10 off my next order and SO DO YOU! Then you will get a referral code to share with your friends and get another $10 off for each of you. 
• If you select the VitaCost brand, many of them are BOGO or BOGO 50% off. There are several brands of almost everything they carry. If the active ingredients are the same, get the deal. 
• Some items offer FREE SHIPPING. If you have just one of these "free shipping" items in your cart, your entire order receives free shipping. 

GET HEALTHY AND START SAVING!