This post is by Jennifer Saranow Schultz at Hint Mama.Childproofing is a necessary, but pricey, part of raising kids.The costs of outlet covers, corner bumpers, cabinet locks and stairway gates can quickly add up, especially when you add in the price of professional installation. By some … [Read more...] about 7 frugal childproofing tricks
Kids
Teaching kids about money with allowances
A lot of people are surprised that I run Chicago on the Cheap, because it seems like such a deviation for someone who wrote Hedge Funds For Dummies. However, you can't enter the world of high finance if you don't have money to invest. Here's something interesting I've learned over the years: Just … [Read more...] about Teaching kids about money with allowances
4 websites to help teach your kids to cook
Summer time means more time with the kids and more time to teach them something while having fun. Many of us still have a few weeks with the kids at home. How about when it’s cooking outside to do some cooking inside?Every kid should learn how to make the basics. Who wants a 19-year-old calling … [Read more...] about 4 websites to help teach your kids to cook
Wheel deals: How to save on a baby stroller
With so many to choose from, selecting the right stroller is no walk in the park, especially considering that you’ll use the purchase for years. To get it right, here’s the process I recommend for nabbing the right stroller at the right price. You'll want to make sure you avoid costly mistakes, such … [Read more...] about Wheel deals: How to save on a baby stroller
Where to buy and sell used kids’ gear
To save big on baby and kids’ clothes, why not buy someone else’s gently used stuff? Or put some cash in your pocket by offloading the kids' clothes you can no longer use? After all, babies and kids grow fast, often blowing through clothes before getting the chance to wear them out — or even at all. … [Read more...] about Where to buy and sell used kids’ gear
How to open a bank account for your kid
Banks can be fun, or at least one of those tolerable errands, when you're a child. There's all that money everywhere, of course. The nice people behind the counter tend to give you a lollipop. Sometimes you might find a welcoming plate of chocolate-chip cookies in the lobby. You might even score … [Read more...] about How to open a bank account for your kid
5 baby products you shouldn’t buy
Whether you’re registering for baby gear or paying the tab yourself, it pays to budget wisely. By focusing on the products you truly need, you’ll have more money to spend on necessities such as diapers, diapers and more diapers. Your house will be less cluttered, too. Here are five baby products … [Read more...] about 5 baby products you shouldn’t buy
5 ways to get the most from your baby registry
When you’re prepping for parenthood, a targeted baby registry or two can alleviate the guesswork for friends and relatives, help you get just what you need and avoid unwanted or duplicate items. But because you’re not paying the tab, it’s easy to ask for products you don’t need, stock up on the … [Read more...] about 5 ways to get the most from your baby registry
The (baby) formula for savings: Buy the store brand
Of course, for new babies, breast is best (and free). But if you want or need to use infant formula, go with the store brand.Store-brand infant formulas, labeled with the names of retail-store brands such as Target (Up & Up), Walmart (Parent’s Choice), CVS, Babies R Us, Sam’s Club (Simply … [Read more...] about The (baby) formula for savings: Buy the store brand
Free hands-on craft workshops for kids
If your kids love to get their hands dirty, they've got ample ways to get creative on the cheap. During free hands-on craft workshops offered at major retailers, they can assemble Lego creations, build their own birdhouses and jewelry boxes, turn clay pots into animals or decorative gifts and more, … [Read more...] about Free hands-on craft workshops for kids
Six ways to save big on baby gear
Baby products are a $9.8 billion industry in the U.S., with hundreds of new products added to the lineup each year. With an ever increasing range of choices, and seemingly limitless options, shopping for a new baby can be daunting and expensive. Retailers and manufacturers are smart, though. They … [Read more...] about Six ways to save big on baby gear
Save money by sharing toys at a toy co-op or library
We teach our kids to share their toys, but toy co-ops and toy libraries take that idea to a whole new level. Toy co-ops form when several families pool their toys and take turns letting the kids play with them. Toy libraries operate on a larger scale, lending out toys just as traditional libraries … [Read more...] about Save money by sharing toys at a toy co-op or library
Does it pay to return to work after baby? Do the math
This post is by Erin Flynn Jay, author of "Mastering The Mommy Track."Many new moms have mixed feelings about whether they should return to work after a too-brief maternity leave or stay home until their kids are older. Are you undecided about whether you should quit your job and stay home with … [Read more...] about Does it pay to return to work after baby? Do the math
Kids’ crafts: Make a braided-rope dog toy
When it comes to kids' crafts, I like projects they can make and use rather than just make and throw away. During a recent sleepover in my house, I enlisted the help of two kids to try out one of the DIY projects I have bookmarked on Pinterest.Using fleece fabric left over from winter projects, … [Read more...] about Kids’ crafts: Make a braided-rope dog toy
