I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie - Ode to Cloth Diapering

I don't currently cloth diaper, but I know some that LOVE it. If you are even a tiny bit interested, visit this Cloth Diapering 101 tutorial by Little Bean Tree. She does a great way of explaining everything with several breakdown links.

There are several reasons to cloth diaper. It is environmentally friendly, safe for your baby, and... you guessed it, thrifty! You buy products that grow with your baby so you use them over and over again. Want to see real savings? Use them with a second baby. You can even buy stashes on Craigslist and Ebay. It can be addicting to get that new cute cover or scoop up that sale off the internet, so watch yourself. It still probably beats buying diapers by the box every month.

Saving on a Hospital Bill

I have been having major issues with my lower back. I missed yesterday's post because I was busy getting x-rays and having way too much fun filling prescriptions. (kidding) With that experience, I thought of a great tip for saving on medical expenses.

It doesn't ever hurt to ask for financial aide at a hospital. Even if you can pay your bills and have insurance, you can see if there is a way to lower the out-of-pocket expenses. I had to do that when I had an ER visit in February. I brought up my financial aide approval yesterday with the lady at registration. What was going to cost me $450 oop right there ended up costing me $0.

The hospital won't grant you assistance if they don't think you need it, so don't try to take advantage of the system. There is no reason, however, for you not to try if you really do need the help. Many people are not aware that this is even available and end up not seeking treatment because they can't afford it. Don't let that happen to you.

Thrifty Reader Request: Moving Tips

A big thank you to Thrifty Reader Katie for requesting this topic. She will be moving soon and she wants to know how she can save a few pennies in the process.

Moving is a huge deal. You are completely uprooting yourself and continuing your life in a new location. Just like plants, if it isn't done correctly, it can be a traumatic experience. Let's save you from that, shall we?

Whether you are moving 3 miles or 3,000 miles, there are ways to save money. I've only moved 3 times in my entire life, and 2 of them were in the last 4 years. I don't, by any means, think I have all the answers. My husband, however, has moved more times than he can count in his lifetime, so I'm drawing on his expertise. We brainstormed and thought up several ways for you to cut the budget.

Before You Move:
Preparation is the key to making this cheap and as easy as possible. Plan routes and what all needs to be moved and what can be donated/given away/sold. Taking care of this now will obviously give you less to take with you. Let's pretend you have a dining room table that just won't fit in your new place. Give it away, sell it, or donate it BEFORE you move. Simple as that. My in-laws moved one time and they knew they couldn't afford a big move. They sold or gave away nearly everything they owned in order to make it happen.

If you have a chance to get into the new place before you move, make sure you have everything ready for when you get there. You don't want to have to paint the bedroom around a bunch of boxes or furniture. It's a lot easier to clean up your messes if that stuff isn't in the way yet.


Moving Boxes:
There are two places where you can get FREE moving boxes. Do NOT pay for them.

The mall (or any big store for that matter) has flattened boxes by their dumpsters. It's a whole separate pile so you don't have to worry about food and whoknowswhat covering this stuff. Since it is in the trash, it is free for the taking.

These boxes are generally broken down properly as a way to save space. If you go to the mall for them, and you encounter one store that just doesn't have anything, you just go to the next store. This is part of the beauty of this location. You have your pick of the litter.

To ensure nice ones, don't try going in or just after a good rain. Most people know a few weeks ahead of time that they are moving, so plan your box excursion on a sunny day.

The second place is Craigslist. If you have a smart phone, I strongly recommend downloading the CL app (whether you are moving or not). You can set up a notification to alert you whenever someone posts "Free moving boxes" in your area. I see this all the time. It's not everyday, but if you plan ahead, you have better chances of catching a post or two.

Just remember that boxes, even when they are flat, are not tiny. Make sure that when you go to pick them up that you have enough space in your vehicle.

Packing:
Make sure you grab and pack smaller and lightweight boxes. This will help you when you go to move it. You might think that you are getting more bang for your buck if you use bigger boxes. You are wrong. If they are too big/heavy/awkward, they will be too hard to carry and you'll be at risk of dropping it. If you are petite like me, test it out when you are packing. If you can't lift it and it can be easily divided, go ahead and split it up.

BE SURE TO LABEL. Moving places will generally try to sell you stickers that list items inside the box, where it is supposed to go, if it's fragile, and possibly even how heavy it is. You know what? You don't need fancy stickers to do that. You just need a permanent marker. Label label label! It will save you SO MUCH TIME if you do this ahead of time. Try to make sure that all of the kitchen stuff stays together, all of the clothes stay together, etc. Label everything you put in there. You can totally get away with putting candles, games, and dog toys in the same box as long as you list it on the outside of the box. That way, when you get to the new place, you can look at the box and know exactly what is in it. I recommend labeling all 4 sides and the top as much as possible. At the very least, label what room it goes into at the new place. And label according to the new place. We added an extra bedroom and bathroom when we moved. If I just labeled it "Bedroom," no one knew which one or where to put it. Be specific. Also on this note, try to keep the rooms together. Organization is a huge help in this time of chaos.

Enlist Friends:
You know what is cheaper than a moving company? Volunteers. With moving companies, you typically are paying by the mile and by the minute. You may think you are saving yourself a headache, but when you realize that if a worker stops to blow his nose, and you have to pay him for a minute extra, you might change your mind. Think you can't find enough volunteers to just do it out of the goodness of their own hearts, buy them lunch. Pizza for a bunch of people is still cheaper than a moving company.

A free and effective way to enlist your friends is through a Facebook event. This will help everyone understand that you are in need. Feel free to upload a picture of yourself with puppy dog eyes if you think it will help. Be sure that you point out all the incentives like free food or you'll love them forever. Maybe even offer to give away your stuff to those that help. If you go this route though, make sure you contact each of them individually. It will help them know that you need their help and know that it isn't just a mass invite.


The Actual Move:
Instead of renting a big truck, see if you can accomplish it with pickups and trailers. (These are the people you think of when you want to enlist friends) Doing a few trips with smaller loads may take a little longer, but it's far cheaper than getting a big moving truck.

If you do find yourself needing a big truck, say the distance is much too far to allow for quick trips back and forth, call around for the best price. Some companies aren't open Sundays, so you'd get an extra day's worth out of it for free. Also, make sure you pack it correctly. My husband loves to play Tetris in the back of a truck when packing it. If you pack it correctly, you will utilize the space as much as possible, you will be at less risk of breaking something, and you'll keep the gas mileage higher by packing the bulk of the weight in the right spot. This tip is useful for a big truck or the smaller pick up loads.

If you need overnight accommodations, figure out if you need a motel or if you can simply "rough it" in your new place. If it is a long distance move and you need a motel along the way, price around and see if you can get a discount through anything (ex: drivers club, AARP, military, etc.). When you book a motel, try to make sure that a breakfast is included in your stay. It will save you time and money in the morning.

When unpacking the truck, bring each box to its specific location. You and your movers should be able to tell exactly where it is based on your labeling. If your helper doesn't know where "So and so's bedroom" is, take a quick minute to show them or give them easy directions. When the Move is done, all of your boxes should be in the right room where they need to be.

After the Move:
Take care of any of the bills you need to take care of right away. If you used a moving company or a box truck, pay them as soon as you are done. It will help make sure the time paid for is as short as possible and it will help prevent against late fees.

Unpack as quickly as possible. If you labeled everything correctly, you should be able to go to each room and know exactly what is in each box. You can easily glance and have an idea for where a happy home is for that item. Anything you don't unpack should be something that can go in storage. Don't be one of those people that still have your stuff in your moving boxes two years after you move. Our house was box free after a day. When you are done with the boxes, give them away on Craigslist.

After it is all said and done, throw a housewarming party! Invite all of those friends that helped you move to further repay them.

Drink More Water!

I was at lunch with some friends the other day at a chain restaurant. My friend's drink cost him $2.29. TWO. TWENTY. NINE. I'm sorry, but that is just ridiculous. I know he had free refills, but it helped me realize some math. Bear with me for a moment.

Let's give some restaurants the benefit of the doubt. Let's say the average soft drink only costs $1.50 and you get free refills. Think of how many times you go out to eat per year. I would render a guess at the average family eats out once a week. $1.50 X 52 weeks = $78! For ONE person.

Seventy-eight dollars is a lot of money, and that's at the low end for price per beverage and a low estimate for the number of drinks you order per year. Add in when you get fast food, the number of people in your family ordering, the amount you spend on groceries a year for soft drinks to enjoy with dinner, or the coffee you buy for your mornings.

You know how much money I spend a year on beverages? Zero. Nada. Nothing.

As I teen, I was drinking WAY too much pop/soda/coke/whatever-you-wanna-call-it than anyone should have ever been allowed to drink. It was easy for me to drink 8 cans of something without thinking it strange. Now, as a mother who doesn't let her kids drink pop, I am floored by this memory.

About 9 years ago, I decided to quit cold turkey. I did this during my first real job. You see, at this job, I had lunch breaks. It didn't take long to realize that my added beverage at lunch was taking up too much of my $7/hr wage. Pop was expensive, lemonade was cheaper, but a cup of water was free. I was sold. "Can I please have a cup/glass of water?" has become quite the natural question when I do go out to eat.

Whether I go out to eat, drink at home, or take something with me to the park or whatever, I don't buy anything aside from food. I haven't come across a single place that has denied me a cup of water. The very worst case scenario was when I was dying of thirst and ran through a drive-thru. Because I wasn't ordering food, I was informed that I'd have to pay $0.16 for a small cup of water. Big whoop.

Want to be really frugal? Ask for no ice. Most restaurants have their drinks ready to serve cold. Since ice cubes take up more space than water, you'll get more water in your cup AND it will still be cold.

And please understand that I am not advocating drinking bottled water. If that is your solution, you've missed the point. Bottled water costs money and produces a ton of waste.

I have a water filter on my fridge at home that pumps out ice cold clean fresh water to me whenever I want it. If you don't have a fridge that does that, you can get a water filter for under $30. You can also purchase a thermos to carry water with you if you see fit. You can find those for under $13.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but putting a $30 investment into a water filter and $13 into a nice reusable water bottle is still LESS than that original amount we added up earlier.

These products would last for years, work out to be infinitely cheaper, reduce an unlimited amount of waste, and it's all completely healthy for you.

Click here to read some reasons why water is not only thrifty, but how it has a ton of great health benefits.

For the skeptics, I know you're considering how high my water bill must be because of how much I drink water at home... Well, for one, it isn't even a noticeable increase in our water bill, but furthermore, we conserve water like crazy at home. But that post is for another day.

If your wondering where I get my caffeine fix, I don't have one. I don't drink pop, tea, or coffee (coffee and tea costs money too, you know). I've learned that a human CAN survive without pumping caffeine into their system.

Eliminate Dryer Sheets and Minimize Fabric Softener

Want your clothes soft and static free AND cut back on costs? This tip is great.

Ingredients:

• A bottle of your favorite fabric softener
• A 2 gallon bucket
• A few sponges
• Water

Directions:

1. Pour the fabric softener into the bucket. 
2. Fill the empty fabric softener container with water. Pour into bucket.
3. Repeat Step 2.
4. Stir
5. Throw in sponges
6. Cover with lid or towel.

To Use:

1. Wash clothes without fabric softener.
2. Put clothes into dryer.
3. Wring out a sponge (or 2 - depending on load size). Toss in with the load.
4. Dry as usual.
5. Return sponges to bucket.

Your clothes will still be soft and static free. You are using a mere fraction of the amount of softener you'd normally be using AND you are eliminating your cost on dryer sheets.


Additional tip:

Find small container to store the sponges and a smaller amount of the liquid. This way, you can store it handy and you don't have the bucket in your way. Keep the remaining in the bucket, but out of the way.

Feel Green:

If you use this tip, you'll be eliminating the waste of your added fabric softener containers, the dryer sheets, and the dryer sheet box AND you will be using fewer chemicals in your clothes.

Another use:
Does your dog ever act strange when a thunderstorm is approaching? Some believe that they act this way because the canine feels an increase of static electricity in their fur. Wipe a little bit of this liquid on their fur and it will help remove the static, making them calm and fresh smelling all at the same time!

Let me know if you try it!

A Royal Wedding: Saving on Your Dress

(continued from the previous post)


Your Dress:

First, have a game plan. Finding and buying your dress is an emotional and exciting event. Decide before you go if you need a blusher, a tiara, and other stuff that a sales person working on commission will surely try to sell you. Do you need the earrings at some specialty store or can you get them somewhere else with a coupon? Having a plan will help you stay on budget and not get carried away with the magic of the moment.


Find sales! I bought mine from David's Bridal. I did not pay full price. My goal was to spend less than $500. I walked into specialty shops, shared my goal with the sales ladies, and I got shocked reactions in return. Do listen to them. You can do it.


I tried on several dresses just to fine tune what style I wanted. The first dress I tried on was not ivory like I wanted, and it was a size too big, but it was PERFECT. I look at the price tag: $700. ::pouts:: I tried on a few other dresses, but kept thinking about that first dress. A few minutes later, the lady helping screams from across the store, "I FOUND IT!" She ran up with that perfect dress, in my size, AND ivory. Okay, I have to at least try it on. It was perfect. The women told me that DB was having a sale. All dresses were 25% off. Okay, I can try that. I double-check the tag; it reads $199. What?! With 25% off, my dress was $150. Yes.

Don't settle, trust your gut, but stay within budget. I would also encourage you to check out department stores for white dresses. Weddings today allow the bride to do whatever she wants. There are so many great dresses out there that can pass as a really elegant wedding dress. You can often find dresses in your color scheme if you want to save your bridesmaids money.

Also, don't buy new shoes for the occasion if you have an existing pair that could work. They are unnecessary. I wore a cute pair of flats that I already had. They weren't even ivory. They were silver with black lace. People thought they were a great unique touch. Little did they know that I was just trying to save a buck. Ha. Basically, don't believe the lie that tells you that you need something new for your big day. No, you don't.