Here are a few ways that I try to save money in our household.
1. During the summer (when we don't have free food from the cafeteria) I coupon.
2. I take advantage of the local grocery store's sales (I bought about $60 in merchandise and saved about $60 too!)
3. I buy the majority of my clothing either on clearance or at a few of my favorite cheap stores (Ross, Goodwill and Plato's Closet....ooo and garage sales too). It is so much fun to brag when your total outfit cost less than $12. I've even had free outfits!
4. I make my own laundry soap. The name brand soaps cost around 20-30 cents a load...mine...5-8 cents. I do about 10 loads a week. (Total savings is around $60.00 a year...that starts adding up!)
5. I use cloth diapers on my baby....(what this whole blog post is about)...savings there is about $3,000.00 with this child. (Yes, I just said I saved $3,000.00.)
6. I'm about to start using cloth for myself (savings here...I calculated would be about $3,600.00.) I won't post all the details here...but if you have specific questions...feel free to email me!
7. I breastfeed my baby...here is some information about that. (First off, it is better for the baby and it is free!) http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/prepare/bfcostbenefits.html,
Artifical Infant Formula Prices
Prices from Publix Supermarkets, Orlando, FL (April 2005)
Formula prices below are based on an average daily consumption of 30 ounces per day.
Formula Brands | Serving Ounces | Cost Per Can | Cost per Month | Cost per Year |
Enfamil Lipil Powdered | 94 oz | $12.19 | $119 | $1424 |
Enfamil Lipil Concentrated | 26 oz | $3.89 | $137 | $1643 |
Enfamil Lipil Ready Feed | 32 oz | $5.69 | $162 | $1949 |
Similac Adv. Powdered | 115 oz | $13.69 | $109 | $1303 |
Similac Adv. Concentrated | 26 oz | $3.89 | $137 | $1424 |
Similac Adv. Ready Feed | 32 oz | $5.59 | $160 | $1916 |
Isomil Adv. Powdered | 94 oz | $12.99 | $126 | $1511 |
Isomil Adv. Concentrated | 26 oz | $4.29 | $151 | $1807 |
Prosobee Lipil Powdered | 94 oz | $11.99 | $117 | $1402 |
Prosobee Lipil Concentrated | 26 oz | $3.91 | $137 | $1643 |
Nutramigen-Lipil Powder | 115 oz | $23.49 | $186 | $2234 |
Nutramigen-Lipil Concentrated | 26 oz | $6.19 | $217 | $2606 |
Alimentum-Adv. Ready Feed | 32 oz | $8.29 | $236 | $2836 |
Progestimil Power | 112 oz | $24.29 | $198 | $2376 |
Lacto-free Lipil Concentrated | 26 oz | $3.89 | $137 | $1643 |
On to the cloth diapers....I'm going to give you some awesome reasons why you should consider cloth when/if you have a kiddo.
1. They are adorable...
example a.: This one is a swim diaper that I got Adley today...but let's be honest it is way cuter than the silly disposable ones (which cost more).
2. Here are some really good reason with back up. (they toliet train earlier, no chemicals, no environmental issues, fewer diaper rashes)
3. Here are a lot of great resources on how much cheaper cloth can be for you.
Okay...You can spend up to $1,000.00 buying cloth diapers...or as little as $150.00. We spent around $200.00ish.
I love the Thirsties Duo system and works great for littler ones.
When they are still breastfed the clean up is easy peasy. You simply just throw everything in the wash. Once they get older there are nifty neat-o flusable inserts so you can send the yucky stuff away.
Here are some pics of the diapers...
Total lifetime savings pre-calculated: $16,640.00
(Add with each kid more I have...add about $3,000.00 on to that.)
How do you save your family money?
I do most of the stuff that you do! I can never pay full amount for clothing unless its business attire... i just hate spending the money. Almost everything in our house is used furniture that was either given to us, garage sale buys that we re-did, or bought on sale. We are registering at green bambino to do cloth diapers! Lets keep it up.
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