Both last year and this year I went after Halloween and bought a bunch of costumes for 75% off. I put them in a big rubbermaid container and called it the kid's "dress-up" trunk. They LOVE it. They can play like crazy and if something gets ripped or damaged, I really do not care since it only cost a few dollars to begin with...
What ideas have you had that either saved money, made the kids really happy, or whatever?
Well, my husband has a Man Cold (yu know the kind) so I threw dinner in the crockpot this morning, packed up myself & my son & we "got out of Dodge" for the day. Fun and ....shhhhh.....listen.....no whining! LOL
Does that count?
My kid just started K this year but this summer I started putting money aside - $5 here, $20 there - for teacher appreciation gifts and class parties/contributions. I have a nice collection right now and can give not only my kid's teachers a nice gift but his secondary teachers as well (bus driver, music and PE teacher, etc).
Saving and planning is always better in the long run!
"Go Bags"
They are a bag with EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT NEED in it. And they're kept in the trunk of the car.
Spare clothes for every season
Bathroom supplies (diapers to tp to tampons)
Med kit
Sunglasses & Sunscreen
Snacks
Drinks
Notebook paper & pens
Shampoo & Conditioner
Sleeping bags
$50
etc.
No more running back inside getting forgotten things, and no being out and needing to head home. Just grab the go bag from the trunk and replace what gets used. Means you can stick the baby in the carseat or head out the door with kids and just WALK OUT THE DOOR
I did that a few years ago. We finally had to get rid of all but one because of how old and dilapidated they were.
I received some books today that I bought to give as Christmas gifts. They were on sale for 2.99 and I only paid 6 dollars for shipping. I figured they were paper pack for the price and didn't look too much at the online ad. They are REMARKABLE. They are heavy duty bound with nice paper, pretty cover and the content is awesome. Mom and I guess they would be at least 15 dollars in the store. Then I saw that the back cover said they were 18.95 in the store. What a deal!
I looked on craigslist and found real local companies offering real jobs. My friend got hired after 2 weeks off, though not from one of these ads. It motivated her to keep trying and her husband to ask people where jobs were. his boss hired her today.
I created a travel diaper changing pad that is changing mat on one side and visual checklist on the other.
I nearly lost my mind one day while trying to get my two infants out of the house for a day at the park. I think I re-entered the house 5 or six times to retrieve one forgotten item after another and I still forgot the drink boxes. Its hard to think straight on 3 hours of sleep. When I got home that afternoon. I drew it up then stitched one together. Presto chango no more forgotten snacks, wipes etc. and no more buying desperation off brand juice drinks from the gas station.
I also made my husband use it. I give him the pad and then he packs the bag without asking me what he should bring. I used it for nearly 3 years and it saved me money, sanity and time. The BEST idea I ever had.
I decided to make my grandkids and nephew no-sew fleece blankets for Christmas and have been buying the fleece on sale over the past month (I'm done, yay!) Then a question here on Mamapedia about gifts for 13 nieces and nephews got me to figure out the cost of making fleece scarves, and I figured it out to less than $2 apiece.
So off to Joann's I went this morning (fleece was 50& off) and bought some cool patterned fleece for several scarves, (Rock Star and Camouflage Spiders are my two favorite,) some of which cost me only $1.07 apiece!! : )
Keep the boxes, from refrigerator size to shoe. Kids love to explore and develope great ideas. The dress up trunk is fabulous. Allow creativity.
We did that last year! Such a great idea! :)
