How can I cut monthly costs?

[DisGirl819]

You want to be a stay at home mom and I respect that (I was one too). But did I read correctly that you are putting your child in pre-school? I'm not seeing the link there. Isnt the point of being a SaHM so you can be with your child all day, versus them being at a pre-school? Not being mean, just was wondering if I read something wrong.

I simply don't feel that I can provide everything my daughter and son need to get them prepared for life in school once they hit kindergarten. Yes, I'm a teacher but I taught HS and Middle schoolers. I know nothing about teaching little kids useful skills for kindergarten. Therefore, preschool is very important to me and I think a great place for my daughter to go. However, I think I might be home schooling her this year since she's on teh waitlist and I haven't heard back from them yet, I'm not expecting her to get a spot really since its a tiny town and one school. I appreciate the question though, but I feel I can provide my children with all the parenting things they need, but they need skills that I can't provide that a classroom can. Does that make sense?

And thank you to everyone else who came back and read my responses. I will definitely be working that advice in once we get settled. We just completed the cross country drive with our LOs (man that was tiring) and are working on getting settled.

 

[SLM]

I simply don't feel that I can provide everything my daughter and our son need to get them prepared for life in school once they hit kindergarten.

I'm sure you know more than you give yourself credit for! Do you read to them? Just talking to children "today you're wearing blue shorts, and your red sneakers, etc.". There are summer library programs going on right now just for small children. Storytimes and programs during the school year. Alot of preschool is socialization-play dates and Sunday School. They learn to share and take turns. I was also a SAHM (until the "baby" went to HS!) but didn't send her preschool until she was four. Our church had a co-op nursery that was very reasonable if I volunteered a few days a quarter. Moms with younger sibs shared childcare so they could take their turn. They will be fine with a smart, caring mom like yourself if they stay home another year!

 

[williamson_ja]

It's really easy to do "preschool" at home. My daughter never went to preschool and she scored the highest on her prekindergarten test in the district. I was really shocked because I only spent about 15 minutes a day working on stuff with her. I'm sure you could do a little research and find that you are completely capable of doing it. Look into online homeschool resources. They will tell you things you should be doing in preschool. I spent about $30 on books for the year and went to the library a lot. We used Singapore Math and Explode the Code books to help her learn how to read. Besides that, you just need to read out loud a lot. Good luck. Do look into taking her home to preschool though. It's really easy and fun!

 

[blondietink]

It isn't rocket science to teach your child preschool aged skills. When I taught Kindergarten, the children academically ahead of the other children were always the kids that were with SAHM's, not the ones who went to preschool or Head Start. Best best is to read a lot with your child.

Agree with others at the beginning of the posts .... ditch the hybrid car and get a cheaper used car. Ditch the expensive cell phones, cable tv, even internet service. You can go to the library and use their free internet most places ... and take your preschool aged child with you and check out some books! I am known around my house as the "Light Nazi". I go around the house all day turning off lights, computer screens, TV's, etc. Our electric bill, as a result, is ALWAYS less than $100.00 per month and we live in one of the highest cost electricity grids in the country. (Go figure, we live 30 miles from Niagara Falls and it's power, but have the highest electiricty rates in the country). Last month our bill was $63.00. Hang your wash out on a clothesline instead of drying it in a clothes dryer. If you hate stiff clothes from the clothesline, then you have my permission to take them off the line when they are dry and put them in the dryer on "fluff" setting for a couple of minutes.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Just want to say welcome to Missouri. I hope you get settled and enjoy the time here. Also I appreciate what your family is doing to ensure our safety!

From Ft Wood it is only about 2 hours to Branson and Silver Dollar City. Always a fun family trip. Perfect for a weekend. Check it out while your here.

 

[DisGirl819]

Just want to say welcome to Missouri. I hope you get settled and enjoy the time here. Also I appreciate what your family is doing to ensure our safety!

From Ft Wood it is only about 2 hours to Branson and Silver Dollar City. Always a fun family trip. Perfect for a weekend. Check it out while your here.

Thank you! I'd like to check out Branson and Silver Dollar City sometime while we're here. I hope DH's training schedule allows for a tiny bit of time off, otherwise we are postponing the WDW trip again.

 

[furb & dez]

It isn't rocket science to teach your child preschool aged skills. When I taught Kindergarten, the children academically ahead of the other children were always the kids that were with SAHM's, not the ones who went to preschool or Head Start. Best best is to read a lot with your child.

Don't forget the power of older sisters; mine taught me to read well before kindergarten... they were tired of me demanding all the time that they read to me!!