a SAHM thread - please share your ideas!

[Grumpy's Gal]

Hello! Any SAHM 's out there? Please share your tips on saving $$ and making it work.

 

[wide awake]

I haven't been a SAHM for about 10 years, but I doubt the stategy has changed that much. Budget all your bills, plus whatever clothes, activities, etc...for your children. Example...my DS went to Gymboree once a week...not only was the Gymboree figured in my budget, but the meal at IHOP or McDonalds too. Cook at home, w/o convenience foods. Understand that you don't need many clothes...jeans, shirts, sweats, shorts, and maybe 1-2 nice outfits and you are good to go. If you buy classics and are careful w/ the laundry they'll last a long time. Use the library for books and videos. Do not buy the latest tech stuff, anything but basic cable or phone, etc...Spend some of your Christmas/Birthday budget on frills...for example go to a holiday show, buy fun decorations or food...you'll be surprised, your children will remember that long after they've forgotten the gifts. Expand your eating habits...I love beans or split peas cooked w/ a ham hock, along w/ cornbread or tortillas...it is cheap, healthy, and easy...learn to like this type of food. If you smoke or drink...it adds up. Grow a garden. Always remember that time w/ your children is the most wonderful thing in the world...once a day is over it is gone forever, and all the jewelry, clothes, dinners, keeping up w/ the Jones will not bring it back.

 

[crazymomof4]

A job SAHM's might not think of--

DH's family owns an Italian restaurant. I have, on occassion, "worked" there as a lunchtime delivery person. It was only 11am-2pm so that works perfect if you have little ones in full-day school. If you have a pre-schooler, it's usually not too difficult to find someone to watch the child for just 3 hours, maybe 2 days/week. Maybe do a co-op with a relative or neighbor who also has a pre-schooler or toddler.
Look for a restaurant/pizzeria that only delivers to businesses. Not only is this safer for you but the tips are bigger.
Last week I filled in for the regular delivery guy while he went on a trip. I worked a Thurs. and a Fri. with tips and the modest pay ($4/hr) I made $122 in those 2 days!

 

[kimisabella]

Shop with coupons and use competitor's coupons and grocery stores - they usually take them.. Look at the weekly grocery store flyer to plan meals using the sale items and when things go on sale, stock up, so you don't have to pay full price for them in a few weeks. Also, I always buy the girls clothes a year ahead. If you buy summer merchandise at the end of summer, it is on sale and will be good for the next year. This works out really good for brand name things that are a fortune full price. Although it is VERY difficult to maintain a house, utilities, ect, on one salary on LI - I wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

ill take all the help i can get
i just started staying home with my boys last week
so i dont have any g reat tips tp share yet

 

[Nik's Mom]

I make a list when going to the grocery store. That seems to really cut the costs of the grocery bill. Without a list, I roam the aisles trying to figure out what I need. This causes me to buy what ever looks good, instead of what I need.

 

[donnajon]

I just joined www.thegrocerygame.com. I am so excited. I went to the grocery store yesterday with "the list" and spent $83 and saved $52. She puts out a list every sunday with what you should buy - she uses only coupons from the sunday paper and tells you what coupons to use when. She says most families will save an average of $350 per month on their grocery bill. It is $1 for a four week trial and after that it is $10 for 8 weeks. I only had 2 sundays worth of coupons with me when I went yesterday. I can't wait until I get a lot. She says it takes about 12 weeks for a full cycle to get fully into the game and get a complete stockpile of groceries.

 

[AlexTina]

I just started staying home about 6 months ago when my son was born and have had to learn a lot in a short amount of time (we lost my $35,000 salary). I have always done ebay a here and there and I have just kicked that up. I buy things wholesale and sell them at a great profit, I have averaged anywhere from $600 to $1000 per month on ebay for the last 6 months and that's the profit portion once I've deducted what I spent to buy the items I sell. Another thing is if you have a Super Walmart buy your groceries there, I personally hate going to Walmart because it is always so packed but if get there early on a Saturday or Sunday morning it's not so bad and I spend an average of about $35 - $50 less than if I had gone to the regular grocery store. Finally if you have any debts like I do I recommend reading Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey which I highly recommend, it's around 230 pages and I read it all in about 48 hours this weekend, it's very inspiring and I have already begun my makeover. There are lots of good tips to live below your means and still be very comfortable, once your completely out of debt then you will be a worry free SAHM. Good Luck I love staying home with my kids and I know you will too.

Tina

 

[grlpwrd]

An alternative to thegrocerygame.com is www.couponmom.com (formerly www.cutouthunger.org) which is free and dedicated to helping ourselves as well as food banks.

Also, check out other sites like

www.miserlymoms.com for more info, calculators, recipes, etc.
www.cindysporch.com
www.stretcher.com
www.simpleliving.net/forums/simpleliving

HTH and GL!

 

[my3kids]

Look into your public library for story hour or some such program. Gives the kids a time each week to be around other kids and moms a chance to get together also. The kids will probably do crafts also and it is a nice free activity.

Try to use store brand items whenever you can. They are usually just as good.

If you have a Costco they seem to be much lower on OTC medicines and bathroom stuff like shampoo and contact solutions.

Pick your vacation early and pay a bit each month so you never feel a large hit come out of your checkbook.

Many public school systems offer regular preschool to district children for free. Some only offer to special needs, or economically disadvanted, but many are now opening preschools to all children. These free programs are great and are always staffed by certified teachers with appropriate training for the developmental ages of the kids they teach.

 

[jennifer293]

I have been at home almost 5 years with my girls and even before I had kids I ALWAYS planned my meals out for the month as DH only gets paid once a month.

I sit for about 3-4 hours looking on the internet or in cookbooks until I have enough meals listed and all the things that go with it on my list. DH is a firefighter so he works every third day so I don't have to cook a "dinner" the days he is not home and we usually end up eating something quick and easy those days.

When we first got married I could buy all of our groceries for the month for 95-100$$ (at a military commissary), then as the first baby came it got jacked up to about 200 a month, now there are 4 of us and I spend about 320 a month on us now only because I include diapers and wipes in that budget.

We eat really good and always have healthy snacks around the house and by no means are we starving...My waist line is solid proof of that!! LOL

As far as bills go I pay them as soon as I get them the quicker it comes out of my bank account the better it makes me feel good when everything is paid for.

We own a small chimney cleaning business which serves the Cleveland, Chattanooga, and Athens area. DH is the only one who works so it has to get planned around his FD schedule and just by doing this little bit of work we have managed to get out of debt all together except for our house payment.

Other than that the only advice I can give is don't buy things on impulse..if you don't really have to have it then don't get it you will regret it later!!!!

 

[ajksmom]

For the better part of the last 22 years I've managed to be a SAHM. It is wonderful to be able to do this, and I'm amazed at those who think my DH must make xx of $$ to allow us this comfort. I've seen many jaws drop to the floor when I give them a clue of what he makes....HOW DO YOU DO IT, they ask. We just do cuz we think it's important.
It all amounts to keeping the income up and the expenses down.
In terms of income - keep your ears open to any opportunity that may allow you to make an extra $ - childcare, subbing in the school system, selling products (avon,pampered chef,etc) perhaps a PT job just a few hours a week when DH is home with the kids, offering services - housecleaning, garden care, etc or selling on ebay. Even a small amount a few times a year is a real bonus!!
In regards to the expenses in your household - make a list of them, and routinely assess the list. Can you go without some extra channels on cable or without it altogether? Do you need/use all the extras on your phone that you pay for? Check with your car insurance and see if by taking your commute off the policy that you see a reduction in the rates. Price shop all insurance policies regularly, it's amazing the difference in quotes you will find. As for gas for the vehicles - make lists of errands that you need to get to. Stop at the bank on the way to the grocery, and pick up books/videos (from the library for FREE) on the way home instead of making three separate trips. While you're at the library look into whether they have discount passes to museums and attractions nearby. Assess whether you need to keep two vehicles, I know we don't need mine but DH insists that if we can afford it we'll keep it. Pay attention to your electricity usage, try to cut down wherever possible. We have a pool and to negate the energy usage in the summer months I try to hang all laundry outside on the clothesline, I don't see any spike in the bill this way.
Just keep checking into each and every one of your expenses, thinking of ways to reduce the outflow of cash. I found that by earmarking the savings I come up with (a trip to disney, new furniture, more craft supplies, funding christmas shopping, etc) I'm always very productive at finding all the holes in the budget!!!

 

[Clancycat]

I just joined www.thegrocerygame.com. I am so excited. I went to the grocery store yesterday with "the list" and spent $83 and saved $52. She puts out a list every sunday with what you should buy - she uses only coupons from the sunday paper and tells you what coupons to use when. She says most families will save an average of $350 per month on their grocery bill. It is $1 for a four week trial and after that it is $10 for 8 weeks. I only had 2 sundays worth of coupons with me when I went yesterday. I can't wait until I get a lot. She says it takes about 12 weeks for a full cycle to get fully into the game and get a complete stockpile of groceries.

I've been doing the grocery game for a several mos now too. I have saved so much money on not only food but also health/beauty, cleaning supplies & cat food/litter. I spend less money and at the end of the week, I still have a full pantry of stock piled items.

I not only get a good amount of my kids clothes at consignment shops or on ebay, I also sell many of my kids old clothes at the consignment shop. I also shop at end of season sales for next year's clothes for the kids.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Consider getting a zoo membership or something similar. When mine were little I would get antsy and want to get out of the house. If we had already paid the admission it was no problem. I could just go without any cash. We had some wonderful days at the STL Zoo. It also kept me from useing the mall as my outing destination. Even if I said we would just go to the mall and look around I know I would have ended up buying something, probably something I didn't really need! Lots of places have yearly memberships that are surprisingly less than you'd think. Think of childrens museams, zoos, depending on where you live pools or the Y.

 

[THEDISFANS]

We don't have children but these are some of the things we do for our Disney budget. First we decide how many days we are going to be there. Then how much we want to spend on food,breakfast is always ceral or toast in our room. Then we get an envople for each day. write how much we have in our budget for food and what we want as spending cash on the envelope. then each week we buy a few Disney Dollars, and before you know it our envelopes our filled with our vacation money. Every day before you leave the hotel take out that days envelope.

Another good idea is to give Disney dollars as gifts throught the year and then everyone has there own spending money.

 

[ZanneMarie]

If you have a Rite Aid nearby begin doing their Single Check Rebates. Basically they have several products each week (or at least several times a month)that are free after rebate, if you use coupons in conjunction with the rebates you can even 'make' money!! These rebates are the easiest because you just enter your receipt numbers online -no cutting upc's or mailing stuff in. You request a check once a month. In the 2 years or so that I have been doing these I have not had to buy shampoo, toothpaste. toothbrushes, hair gel, hair spray and very little deoderant as well as very few cleaning supplies - they have all been free through this.

I also have so many of certain things that I sell the extras at my summer garage sale and donate extras to charity at Christmas time. There are websites that can help identify the items to make it easier -less time spent looking at the ad and the Single Check Rebate catalog. My favorite one closed but I now use www.dealagogo.com. There may be others. Dealagogo also talks about coupons and deals at grocery stores. I check my local stores 'deal guides' out regularly and have saved a ton doing that too.

You can learn about Rite Aids program at www.riteaide.com. This has been a great way for me to help our budget and have a little fun -I love a good deal!

 

[starwood]

I do online surveys that pay and some of the reward programs that pay to my paypal account. I also sell items I don't want anymore on e-bay. Coupons are a definite must. I also got a Discover card for gasoline purchases. I now get 5% back when I buy gas.

 

[Nini]

First of all, let me commend you on your choice. Not all moms are able to (for various reasons) to make that choice. I have to say that one of the most difficult aspects of being a SAHM was the feeling of losing my identity. When I worked, I was a person with a job and a voice in the world. It just felt like that changed greatly. HOWEVER, it is different for me now in the last year.

We struggled for two and a half years to pay bills and deal with my dd3's hospitalization (seizures). Now, I have started a Wedding Planning business since I love to plan events it seemed logical. I had also gained experience through my previous work history in planning corporate events. I can make a few extra thousand per year after expenses. I am able to work on weekends when my dh is around to take over care for our dd.

I have also gone back to work at a fabulous company (office work) for 15 hrs per week and the days I work are flexible so if my dd is ill or needs me to attend a function, I can switch my work days around!!! I work on days that she normally attends pre-school (ie: Mon, Wed, Fri ...now that she will be in the 4yrs. program next fall). This nets me approx. $166.00 per week which is nice since my dh only gets a paycheck on 1st and 15th!!!!

I agree that you should watch your expenditures VERY closely and make sure that you have the money available for expenses you know will happen like Amusement Park Season Passes, Movies, Outings. These things creep up rather quickly and you can find yourself short of money when they do!!!

I do use coupons, not as much as I used to since my local discount grocery store is SOOOO discounted they don't allow coupons!!!

I look for the freebies or the very inexpensive things to do. I LOVE the free movie that was posted in this budget board as now my dd3 and I enjoy a movie every week w/a playgroup friend.

That is another great thing with little ones, Playgroups that can be found through your public schools. They are free and some (like ours) even have a lending library for you and your children!! You have a snack, playtime, storytime and time for moms to get to know one another...it's win win!!!!

I agree with another poster that the library is a great resource for entertainment.

For money, there's dh's job, my business and now I am developing a book for brides, I am working with my mother to create a couple of other income streams as the wedding business is mostly seasonal in CT.

Best of Luck to YOU!!!!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I just started staying home about 6 months ago when my son was born and have had to learn a lot in a short amount of time (we lost my $35,000 salary). I have always done ebay a here and there and I have just kicked that up. I buy things wholesale and sell them at a great profit, I have averaged anywhere from $600 to $1000 per month on ebay for the last 6 months and that's the profit portion once I've deducted what I spent to buy the items I sell. Another thing is if you have a Super Walmart buy yourgroceries there, I personally hate going to Walmart because it is always so packed but if get there early on a Saturday or Sunday morning it's not so bad and I spend an average of about $35 - $50 less than if I had gone to the regular grocery store. Finally if you have any debts like I do I recommend reading Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey which I highly recommend,
it's around 230 pages and I read it all in about 48 hours this weekend, it's very inspiring and I have already begun my makeover. There are lots of good tips to live below your means and still be very comfortable, once your completely out of debt then you will be a worry free SAHM. Good Luck I love staying home with my kids and I know you will too.

Tina

hi...what things do you buy wholesale and where do you get these items I am wondering?? Any ebay advice appreciated here@@ SAHM trying to get into the ebay business, my dh has huge success in ebay motors but I know nothing about cars so I need to find a product!!
thanks!!

 

[rockyroad]

Consider getting a zoo membership or something similar. When mine were little I would get antsy and want to get out of the house. If we had already paid the admission it was no problem. I could just go without any cash. We had some wonderful days at the STL Zoo. It also kept me from useing the mall as my outing destination. Even if I said we would just go to the mall and look around I know I would have ended up buying something, probably something I didn't really need! Lots of places have yearly memberships that are surprisingly less than you'd think. Think of childrens museams, zoos, depending on where you live pools or the Y.

Also, some museums and zoos have a free afternoon.
Some theater groups have a "pay what you can'" night too. I took my kids several years to see Peter Pan at Christmas. I just had to know when the tickets became available and be there early.