I am excited
to share my best kept secrets and practical ways to save money, whether you're a veteran
thrifter, or are just testing the waters of frugal living, Saving money on a budget is not just a lifestyle...it can
become a really fun hobby, as well as an addiction!
Maybe you've seen the seizure-inducing studies that show how much money
it takes to raise a child. Well, wad that study up and
throw it away immediately! With Fran on your team, you'll save money on
baby, raise frugal and fashionable kids, and discover all sorts of practical ways to save money!
Click on a piggy bank below to access these great money saving
articles.
here. Be sure to check out all of the
.
Click the link above to check out Addie's article on sewing for beginners.
Please check back soon, as we are adding new content all the time!
Now let's get down to
business and start saving!
Tips
for Frugal Living
Do Cloth Diapers Save Money?
One
of the biggest expenses with a baby is diapering. After hearing
some positive reports of modern cloth diapering, I began doing lots of
research. I had lots of questions when my I was toying
with the idea of trying cloth diapers. Of course I wanted to know
'Do they save money?' and 'How much?' As well as other important
questions like: 'Do they leak?' or 'Do you have to change a diaper
every 45 minutes?' I needed to know if this qualified as
one of the practical ways to save money, or is it more trouble than
it's worth. After lots of thorough research, I
became frustrated because the articles and discussions that I found
were all written by committed cloth diaper advocates and were full of
confusing abbreviations and lingo. I
was having trouble finding real numbers or data as far as estimated
savings. So Addie and I decided to conducted some hands-on
research of our own. We've come up with some real numbers that
might shock you! George even came up with an equation to help
you figure out your own savings based on your own costs and the type of
disposables that you use. Find out for yourself: is it worth
it...or are there more practical ways to save money.
Cloth Diaper Primer
What are the different kinds of cloth diapers? What features and
options are out there? What's essential, and what's not?
How do you know how many
diapers to start with? I'll share my must haves list, and crack
the code of basic cloth diaper lingo.
Do Cloth Diapers Save Money?
Find out what my monthly savings is, and input your own numbers into our equation...can cloth diapers save you money?
My Cloth Diaper Journal
Read all about our hands-on experiment with going from disposables to
cloth...cold turkey! I dish on my criteria for the perfect
diaper. Can cloth compare to my favorite cuddly disposable brand?
Find out what works, what doesn't and which brand we L-O-V-E.
And see our ultimate leak test...not for the faint of heart.
I'll share the best and the worst, and you can see for yourself:
are there more practical ways to save money on baby.
The Thrift Store: My best Strategy to Save Money!
Think of a Thrift Store as a department store that got lost in time.
You'll find clothing, all kinds of household items,
furniture, and more. It's mostly used merchandise, but just
pretend that it came out of Grandma's garage, and go treasure hunting!
In this article, I explore the best and the worst things
about thrift shopping. More articles are below.
How a Thrift Store works
Don't be intimidated to try of one of the best kept secret strategies
to save money! Join
me for this guided tour and learn all about how thrift stores work.
Finding a Good Thrift Store in Your Area
Are you ready to thrift? Find a pal, and track down the best
thrift stores in your area.

All my best sewing tips! I'll tell you how to find the best
sewing machine for a great deal, and how to save big on fabric.
If you don't know
how to sew yet, it's a great skill that not only helps you to save
money on a budget, but it allows you the freedom to be creative.
For tips on getting started, check out this article by Addie "Sewing for Beginners." You can create clothing, curtains, quilts, gifts,
re-upholster furniture, make pillows, repair stuff around the
house, and so much more. And the things that you
make can reflect your personal sense of style. Sewing has
even become a nice income stream for many work from home parents!
Learning to sew does require some initial investments in
tools and a good machine, but it is one of my favorite practical ways to save money.
Shopping on Circuit: Save on baby, gifts, clothing...and more!
This is a really easy way to save money. Circuit shopping
at retail and thrift stores is the best way to find the absolute best
prices on clothing, gifts, and even to save money on baby supplies and furnishings!
Frugal Living in the Closet
Save Money on Clothes by Building a Basic
Wardrobe of Classic Clothing
When you hear 'classic' clothing, do you think 'frumpy'?
Oh, no my friend! Classic clothing is the best kept secret
of the fashion world, and one of my favorite practical ways to save money. Basic pieces become chameleons, pairing
with elegant evening wear, or keeping step with your funkiest finds.
Classic clothing styles are your best friend
when it comes to building a long term wardrobe for adults.
And you can save money on kids clothes big time with this
strategy as well. Learn more in this great article!
Classics, the Style That Works With Every Style
If you're envisioning school uniforms, then think again! I'll
help you find a classic style that works with your taste and lifestyle.
Counting the Costs
It's quality and versatility that count when choosing classic clothing,
but this investment doesn't have to break the bank or bust the
budget...and it doesn't entail only buying name
brands
or shirts with logos on
them. Find out practical ways to save money when buying
classic
clothing styles.
Classics for Children
The basic strategy with a twist. See how classic styles can
extend the clothing budget and save money. This technique
will
create a wardrobe that can be passed down from one child
to the next, and
still hold it's
value for resale! This is one of my tried and true practical
ways
to save money.
Classic for Women
Your style still shines through when you create a wardrobe based on
basic pieces. It's a practical way to save money that works
with every budget and taste in clothing. Take a
peek inside my closet, and
see how a classic wardrobe can be one
of your best long term
strategies for saving money
and looking great!
Building an outfit with Classic Clothing
Learn my secret guideline for putting together outfits and accessories
that are striking, but never over the top.
Shoe Size Chart
Kid's feet seem to grow several sizes overnight.
Stay ahead
of the game with this printable children's shoe size chart.
This
is a great tool that you can laminate and keep in the closet, or take
with you when shopping for shoes. I like to mark my kids shoe
sizes in permanent ink (one color for each child) and write in their
age and date. It's fun
to compare how
fast they grow!
It also helps me take advantage of out of season
sales, as I can pretty accurately estimate what
size to
buy for the next year.