Nanny to Mommy

As a busy parent, finding ways to save money while feeding your family tasty and nutritious snacks is always a win. Instead of buying store-bought pop tarts full of preservatives and artificial ingredients, why not try making them at home? These homemade pop tarts are simple to prepare, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor! 

Here’s a delicious recipe to create your own pop tarts from scratch. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also have control over the ingredients, ensuring they’re healthier and free from unwanted preservatives. And remember when you are re-creating recipes you find online; they do NOT have to look good to taste good.

Why Homemade Pop Tarts Are a Great Idea for Parents:

- Save Money: Store-bought pop tarts can be expensive, especially when you're buying them regularly for your kids. By making your own, you can save money and create multiple batches for the same price as a box or two of the store-bought versions.

- Control Over Ingredients: Homemade pop tarts allow you to use healthier, preservative-free ingredients. You can choose natural jams, opt for a homemade crust, and avoid artificial flavors and colors.

- Fun Activity for Kids: Making pop tarts together can be a fun and educational activity for your children. They’ll love helping to assemble the pop tarts, and it's a great way to teach them about cooking and healthy eating.

- Versatility: You can easily customize the jam flavor or even add fun fillings like chocolate or cream cheese. The options are endless!

Are you fed up with receiving outrageously high energy bills every month? Do you feel like your earnings are being wasted just to keep the lights on in your home or business? If so, you need to get informed about the secrets that can help lower your energy rates. This blog post will unravel the mystery of what goes into determining how much money you pay for electricity and provide actionable steps that empower consumers to take charge of their energy bills. Learn from experts who have cracked this code and save money today!

How it Works:

Being a student who moves out of their home and leads an independent life in an apartment is a memorable transition in their young adult experience. This budding beginning is as exciting as it gets, but there are also hurdles that go along with it—tight budget being one of them. Suddenly, they become the best accountants, taking note of all their expenditures.

If you're planning to live in a student apartment, it won’t hurt to be aware of some budget hacks to conserve your finite finances and stretch your dollars without sacrificing your quality of life.

Making Smart Money Choices Using a Three Jar System
by John Lanza

1. Breastfeed
My TOP Tip for saving money with a baby is breastfeeding. No wasting anything, no cleaning anything. Even after breast pads (which Udder Covers sells a variety of reusable ones), cream, and a nursing cover (FREE Nursing Cover from Udder Covers with code BABYSAVINGS, just pay S&H), you still pay less than formula. If you need to pump, go through your insurance to get one. A law was just passed so you should be able to get a hospital grade quality pump completely free! Having supply issues? Try this Supply Boosting Cookie Recipe.
Although I am a very strong breastfeeding advocate, I do realize that it's not for everyone and sometimes you need to supplement, and formula is expensive. Here are some well-known formula makers, that you can sign up for email updates, along with money saving coupons and checks, they will sometimes send you samples. :)

2. Cloth Diaper
Okay I am going to be honest. I never cloth diapered. I did see a ton of benefits, except the extra laundry which meant more of my time. And being a full-time mom, plus taking care of my friend's daughter, AND now being a Professional Blogger, I feel my time is valuable. Now I am NOT saying that people who cloth diaper don't value their time. This is just the reason I didn't BUT saying all that, I am seriously considering it with my next baby.
The upfront cost is what is so hard to swallow. My friend found this site called Alvababy.com that sells cloth diapers for $5!!!
Now, again, I understand that clothing diapering isn't for everyone, so I suggest looking into the following retailers for possible coupons or samples. Also, there are a TON of printable coupons online as well.
Huggies, Pampers (save points through their Gifts To Grow program and get cool stuff, like FREE Shutterfly products). Thing to remember when buying diapers is, the bigger the diaper, the fewer in the package, so make absolutely sure before you move up a size. And remember nothing is wrong with store brand, test them out, they may work for you. And if you are couponing, buy in BULK. Tape the receipt to the box, so you can exchange them if need be.

3. Make Your OWN Baby Food
I made about half of Sweet Pea's baby food. I had a food processor that got shocked during a lightning storm, even though we have surge protectors. PLUS, I found jar baby food to be easier when we were on the go. But of course, even that didn't make the task any easier. Invest in a good food processor and you're good to go. Make a TON and then freeze it.
Not into Homemade Baby Food? I signed up with Beechnut (who send you a welcome package for whatever stage your child enters) and Earth's Best. I also contacted HappyBaby who sent me free samples and coupons to try their products. Of course I love Buddy Fruits as well. Look into ingredients with whatever baby food you choose.


4. Make Your OWN Baby Clothes
Okay I never did this, but I LOVE Pinterest and look at the most adorable things I have found:
Turn Old T-Shirts into Baby Sacks
Old Shirts into Dress
No Sew Onesie Make-Over
Those are just some ideas. You can also cut old onesies, hem it, and make them into shirts. Also look into garment extenders. There also a TON of online sites I love that sell baby clothes really cheap, including: Totsy, ThredUp (like new, used clothes), Zulily, and WittleBee. Another great way to save money on baby clothes is to shop consignment shops or yard sales. My mother-in-law did this for us. Our crib AND changing table were practically new, and she only paid $150 for both! So, deals are to be had and don't be afraid to haggle. Also, there are some online sites where you can exchange stuff, like TheBump's Swap Spot board, SwapMamas.com, there are multiple Facebook groups, or if you feel like risking it, Craig's List. I have had a lot of luck with TheBump and SwapMamas! ALSO, don't snub your nose at sales racks. There is nothing wrong with your baby wearing last year's fashion when you are on a budget!

5. Everything Can Be a Toy
Boxes, pots, and pans; OH MY! My daughters' FAVORITE toys are not the ones we intended for her. Although she loves her Sophie the Giraffe, is that a practical toy for the mom and dad who are on a budget to buy? Not really. Pans with plastic spoons are musical instruments. I also love Coffee mate containers filled with dry beans. They are BPA-free and make a great rattle!

6. Baby Gear is Expensive
Free is nice, but there are some things that are just going to be expensive because safety is more valuable in the long run. Car Seats are something you should NOT get used because you don't know if it was in a car accident. And even cheap ones can run between $60 to $100. If you don't get one as a baby shower gift, just remember, even the cheap ones have to meet the same standards according to government regulation as the higher end ones. You can read more about Car Seat Safety HERE.

7. Don't Waste Money on NON-Essentials
Poor new, first-time parents. We fall for the gimmicks left and right of things we MUST register for and buy to have everything ready for baby. I have found that a diaper changing pad on top of a dresser, can not only save money but also save space. And don't buy expensive crib bedding sets, the Consumer Product Safety Administration AND the American Academy of Pediatrics advise against thick comforters and crib bumpers. So why are they still sold like that? Beats me. But all you need is a fitted sheet and a thin blanket. You also don't NEED a wipe warmer either. Be practical and do your research. Don't register for it but if you get it as a gift just say, "Thank You". And just ask for the gift receipt later. :D

I hope you found this list helpful. And for the experienced parent's out there, what tips do you have to save money on baby?

Becoming a parent is one of the most satisfying things anyone can do. Bringing a new life into this world, nurturing, and setting it up for success down the road is extremely fulfilling. However, it's also immensely stressful, time-consuming, and expensive. In fact, did you know that babies can cost $15,000 to $20,000 for their first year alone? As wonderful as being a parent is, you must think about your own future and livelihood as well. There's no better way to prepare for the future than by saving money starting now. With enough money in the bank, you'll be able to enjoy your golden years once it's time to retire. In this article, we'll be listing off ways parents can save money for their future.

When it comes to medical supplies, every family needs them. Whether you're stocking up on first aid supplies for minor cuts and scrapes or buying more substantive items like hearing aids or glucose monitors, knowing how to purchase the right products can save you time and money. In this blog post, we'll discuss some top medical supply buying tips to help you make the best purchasing decisions for your family. We will also cover the types of products you might consider purchasing and where to buy them. So, if you're looking for advice on how to shop for medical supplies, read on!

 

Are you currently pregnant or have a baby at home? Today at Thrifty Nifty Mommy, Janessa is sharing tips on how to find the BEST baby deals and save the most money during baby's first few years! I love teaming up to bring you these awesome giveaways. And I know you all love to hear about all the different ways for you to save money. How have you found ways to save money on all of your baby's needs? I've teamed up with Janessa, a few other bloggers, and the amazing (FREE) shopping app Flipp to bring you a $250 Visa gift card giveaway, to help you stock up on all of baby's essentials!
What's Flipp? Flipp is the essential app for your weekly shopping. With Flipp you can search circular deals and coupons by item, brand, or category to quickly find the best deals on your weekly essentials and make saving money super easy. Flipp is the only app that matches local circular deals with coupons from the brands you love to bring you the most savings. Simply add loyalty cards from your favorite stores on to Flipp and then clip coupon deals to your card for instant savings at checkout. To keep you on track of your weekly shopping, Flipp’s ultimate shopping list will help you plan ahead by finding what’s on sale and stay organized in-store.

The task of managing your family’s finances doesn’t have to be a solo effort. In fact, it’s possible to involve everyone in the household in your efforts to make financial management a less stressful chore. If you have kids at home, for example, involving them in your household budgeting sessions can be an effective way of teaching them about budgeting and money management—both of which are important life skills. Plus, when everyone is involved, there’s a greater sense of accountability and teamwork, which can lead to smarter spending and saving habits for everyone.

That said, it may not always be easy to get the whole family on board. Kids typically do not understand the importance of cutting back on expenses, and even adults can have different spending priorities. It’s important to set clear goals, encourage open communication, and find ways to make financial management a team effort so that you can create a healthier relationship with money as a family. To that end, here are some practical ways to make managing your family budget a shared responsibility:

When raising young children, the topic of money management often takes a back seat to other day-to- day priorities, such as teaching good manners or helping them learn how to read. However, the habits kids develop early on can strongly influence how they handle their finances later in life.

As children grow, they’re often exposed to financial situations, whether it’s tagging along during grocery runs, receiving money for birthdays, or choosing between toys at a store. These everyday moments naturally spark curiosity about how money works.

Rather than waiting for them to learn about finances later, parents can use this curiosity as a starting point for meaningful lessons. These can be as simple as explaining where money comes from, like salaries or allowances, to more structured habits like opening a savings account in the Philippines. With their parents’ guidance, children can develop a strong foundation for financial responsibility.

Let’s go through some of the first money lessons you can teach your child, from understanding the value of money to helping them manage their own savings:

In this day and age, it is more important than ever to be fiscally responsible. One area where people tend to overspend unnecessarily is with their electric bills. Let's explore six steps that you can take to reduce your monthly electric bill without making any major changes to your lifestyle. Implementing even a few of these tips can result in significant savings.