I was asked to speak!!!

[Shelli_wnj]

First off, sorry I haven't been around in a while. My mom fell very ill while here for a visit. I had no idea what weather can do to already poor health. She's from sunny texas and was attempting to spend the holiday season up here in the mountains. It was a no-go. She made it through Thanksgiving ok, then got sick. As soon as she was well enough to travel we "shipped her off" as she lovingly jokes back to texas and her own doctors. Anyway, she is doing well now and I can think straight enough to do more than just the basics.

So, I went to a mother's meeting the other day, and it seems *feigned shock* that others are having as hard of a time as we are financially (although not all are easy to admit it.) Apparently I am the resident expert on frugality (is that a good thing?) and was asked to speak on the best and quickest implimenting money tips I have for approximately 20 minutes. 20 MINUTES??? I could speak for a hour at least, and still only cover a few things :-D

So, if you would like to help *smiles brightly and innocently*, could you tell me what your favorite EASY frugal tip is?

The ones I KNOW I will talk about are
1. no disposables
2. a quick overview on how to meal plan
3. another quick overview on grocery shopping

do you think these are things other moms already know? I can say I didn't always... some of them will be quick. I can mention the no disposables in a minute or two making note of napkins, paper towels, paper plates, plastic bags and alternatives rather quickly.
I will have notes, I could do a quick verbal overview of a basic meal plan and then give them a chart and grocery list example of my own...

Just thinking out loud here... Any ideas??? Pretty please???


Shellie

[Greebo]

Live. On. A. BUDGET.

Manage your money proactively or it will walk away and find someone who does. You cannot be frugal if you do not know what's happening with your money.

[lotsadebt]

You said this was a mommy group, right?

Here's some of my baby favorites:
1. Breast feeding. Saves big time, if you are able. Buying a good double pump will still save money. I went back to work full-time at 9weeks and 12 weeks and pumped milk for them both. Longest I breastfed was 11months.
Formula is expensive.
2. No disposable wipes for us. I used water and those baby washcloths that come in packs. Started with the kids bottoms being all messed up from the chemicals. I had a used diaper pail from a friend and placed all the dirties in there. Then washed and bleached them over and over. I still use them as rags.
3. no expensive butt cream for us either. Generic A&D ointment. One tube lasts a long time.
4. Hand me down clothes. My son looked very handsome in his sister's old pink jammies. I told anyone if they had a problem with a 3month old boy wearing pink jammies at home, they were welcome to buy him other ones. I still scour the used sales. There are groups here that put sales on in community areas. Gently used baby/toddler/children's clothes, equipment and toys.

[TigerGirl1226]

Remember to think outside your comfort zone. Just because your family have always done something a certain way doesn't mean you can't change. Just because you normally eat out once a week doesn't mean you can't cut back to once a month or less, or better yet have make your own takeout night.

[miss_thrifty]

tell them simple cleaning products- vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice etc and bleach to disenfect
using old face cloths for swiffer to to do quick scrubs with spary water bottle - dont need alot product and quick and not rubbing dirt back on floor.
deffenlty budget like others said and keeping to it and writing out how much u need to pay bills food etc. making one trip per week not every second day wasting gas to store.
maybe the moms share rides to work or pick ups to save on gas.
2 week grocery list meals planned up ahead

[Shelli_wnj]

Live. On. A. BUDGET.

Manage your money proactively or it will walk away and find someone who does. You cannot be frugal if you do not know what's happening with your money.

Greebo - I knew I was forgetting something BIG! Thank you!

You said this was a mommy group, right?

Here's some of my baby favorites:
1. Breast feeding. Formula is expensive.
2. No disposable wipes for us.
3. no expensive butt cream for us either.
4. Hand me down clothes.

All excellent ideas! I actually took it one step further and actually did cloth diapers, too. If you are already doing the wipes, what's the difference, right? I don't know how much time I will have, but I will incorporate this in best I can. I love the hand me down clothes story - I have been doing hand me downs so long I forget others don't do it!

Remember to think outside your comfort zone. Just because your family have always done something a certain way doesn't mean you can't change. Just because you normally eat out once a week doesn't mean you can't cut back to once a month or less, or better yet have make your own takeout night.

So true! I will try to add this in as well!

tell them simple cleaning products- vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice etc and bleach to disenfect
using old face cloths for swiffer to to do quick scrubs with spary water bottle - dont need alot product and quick and not rubbing dirt back on floor.
deffenlty budget like others said and keeping to it and writing out how much u need to pay bills food etc. making one trip per week not every second day wasting gas to store.
maybe the moms share rides to work or pick ups to save on gas.
2 week grocery list meals planned up ahead

Yes, yes and yes! You guys are great! I think I could probably write a dissertation on frugality, however 20 minutes will be hard. You help me touch on the most important points. Time to get going on this, I need to have it done by next tuesday.

[shoiji]

Other than living on a budget, keep a spreadsheet for one month, and everytime a purchase or bill is paid right it down. Really is an eye opener on how much money is spent and where it is going to and where money can be saved.

Take really good care of what you have. The throw away mentallity is partially what has gotten us where we are now with the economy.

When you feel deprived from all the cut backs on spending, shop your own house meaning, closets, drawers, boxes. It can be amazing what you forgot you already have.

Always remember the basics, roof over your head, food on the table, bills being paid, and clothes on your back are what is most important.

On a calendar write down when big purchases are made, when doctors appointments are made, eye glasses purchased, clearance sales at favorite store, birthdays, etc. This will help you next year when planning a budget. Instead of thinking I need new underwear and running out and buying it. Think when is the next good sale and can I wait until then. Or I can get x amount now and the majority of them during the sale.

Think of bargain hunting more as a game than a chore. Not the I only have this much to spend, but I only spent this much. Makes the bargain hunting more fun.

[ml2620]

Having a gift stockpile, especially for all those kid birthday parties!

[frugalwarrior2]

Resale. Buy new or used at resales and resell again. toys and clothes. Back in the day I made $1000. in a calender year just taking from garage sale to resale. No washing or prep. everyone did that for their garage sale.

-Start a borrowing club. Don't lend it if it's precious.
-Use the library.
-Babies don't need every little thing.
-Dr.'s are given free samples of meds and otc meds-ask
-Always keep a bag w/ extras in your trunk in a bag-clothes,socks,shoes,diapers,snacks,meds. Spur of the moment emergency purchases add up.
-If a product breaks or doesn't perform as promised make them exchange or credit. Manufacturers will replace parts.
-health dept. can give free immunizations.

[monkeywrangler71]

Baby wipes and household cleaners are the two biggest money wasters that are the easiest to do without. A lot of people just won't do cloth, but homemade disposable wipes are a big savings over storebought without any change in lifestyle. Same with homemade cleaners and disinfecting wipes. I don't know how many people you have, but I would make a handout with recipes and instructions for cleaners and wipes, otherwise they won't remember how to do it.

The most useful information would be the web address of a frugal living board like this one, as well as a board which specializes in shopping deals in your area. I don't know what you have available, but we have a number of boards where people post the week's deals, what coupons are about, rebates, etc.

A lot of people don't understand how to compare prices on different sized products. Talk about unit sizes, bring in some different flyers and show them how to do the math.

Twenty minutes really isn't much time, I don't think you'll be able to get into any useful discussion of actual money management. Just stick with easy tips for spending less, then give them some names and websites where they can follow up for advice about budgeting.

[Judi Dial]

Tell them that little savings add up to big ones, not to dismiss doing something because it will only save them "a cent or two."

Judi

[NikoSan999]

That electrics off peak hours are after 9PM until 7AM. That is when it is cheapest to do laundry and dishwasher. About 40% cheaper. Adds up in a months time.

[Luckybustert]

Agree big time with Greebo about living on a budget. You might also mention elimination of debt and could suggest Dave Ramsey's books and this site as follow-up resources. I was amazed at how listening to the Total Money Makeover book made my hubby take a step back and think before he spends. Equally amazing is this happened even though he doesn't agree with all of DR's points. Good luck with your talk - what a great opportunity to share your knowledge!

[gottadance]

Live within your means. Make a list of necessities: Food, water, a place to live, clothes and money to pay bills. These are the things you NEED to live. If something is not on this list, you don't NEED it. When you feel like you must have something, don't buy it. Go back and look at your list, if it's not on the list, take a couple of days or weeks to think about whether you have the money and can truly afford to purchase it. If you have the cash and you have emergency savings, retirement money saved, etc., then purchasing it may be an option. If you have credit debt, no savings, can barely pay your bills, you can't afford it.