Saving On Maternity Clothes

I'm going to apologize up front. My posts have been very scarce and now all I'm writing about is pregnancy. I'm sorry for that. It's just that I've got to write things down as they are on my mind. Although this topic is more audience-specific, perhaps someone will benefit from the tips I've learned during the many months I've now spent with a large belly.

Early in both of my pregnancies I hit the clearance racks at Kohl's and Motherhood Maternity to score some great deals. Much of what is clearanced is out of season, but will be the very thing you need when you grow rounder. While you may not want to pick up a tailored dress, do look for some of the basics that you will need. You can't exactly predict how you will grow, but there are many maternity clothes that are pretty standard.

Another method I learned was layering. I'm soon going to have my second winter baby, so I've been the largest during winter months. I don't really get cold because of the incubator I've become, so I like to be able to remove clothing if necessary. I have many sleeveless tops that I wear with cardigans and such to add variety to my wardrobe. Some of those cardigans are styled in a way that they work even though they didn't come from the maternity section. I also scored deep discounts on those sleeveless tops when the weather turned cold.

The final tips I have for you are regarding undergarments. You may notice your bra beginning to get smaller as you expand. If your cup size is still somewhat the same but the band is tighter, head to Walmart for extenders (usually found in a three-pack in the intimates area). When it comes time to actually buy another bra, consider going ahead and getting a nursing one. This is especially helpful if you want to try breastfeeding.

More than likely, you will also eventually need new panties. Not only to accommodate your belly, but your widening pelvis. Maybe I'm the only one who has experienced it, but my underwear started feeling uncomfortable in the legs before the belly. Rather than buy maternity underwear, I just headed to Walmart (again) and bought a larger size in the hipster style. This way, I didn't have to worry about the waistband becoming too small.

As you shop for new clothing, pace yourself. Also, don't refuse a friend's offer to share her clothes. And if you have the chance, shop a consignment sale where there is almost always a maternity section. While you may miss some of your favorite fashions, allow yourself to shine with that pregnancy glow! That way no one will notice that you've been wearing the same five outfits over and over.

Give Yourself a Break

So it's been months since I've posted anything here. Sorry about that. I've taken a break from most everything due to uncontrollable circumstances. Well, I should say uncontrollable hormones. We are expecting baby #2 in February! Thanks to constant morning sickness, all I managed to accomplish each day was feeding our daughter and keeping her safe. Occasionally I would do a few dishes and laundry, fix something to eat, or go buy necessary items. But even that was a struggle.

Now I'm moving into a level of nausea that is much more tolerable. I'm starting to coupon, cook, crochet, and all those other things I've neglected. Like blogging. I wanted to share with others that it's okay to take a break once in a while. The months before I got pregnant I stocked up on as many essentials as our closets could hold. We wanted to have another baby, and I remembered how sick I was the first time. Plus, some things you know you are eventually going to need, no matter what. Do you know that after three months, we are still working through our paper towel and toilet paper supply? That was one less thing for me to worry about during those intimate toilet-hugging moments.

All this to say that, when life happens, give yourself a break. Cut back your schedule and be okay with it. Those coupon deals will eventually find their way back around. There will be another playdate to join. And you'll seamlessly pick back up where you left off with those (true) friends you haven't seen in a while.

Think Outside the Box: Cake Mixes

Have you ever had a craving for something sweet, only to find your cupboards full of cake mixes (and no icing)? Are you an avid couponer who often finds cake mixes are much cheaper than brownie or cookie mixes? Or do you just like trying things for their unintended purposes? Well, these recipes are for you! I've tried both and they are very yummy.

Chocolate Fudge Cookies (adapted from allrecipes.com)

1 package chocolate cake mix
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chocolate chips

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheet.
2.  Stir together cake mix, eggs, and oil until well blended. Fold in the chocolate chips. Roll the dough into balls and place them on the cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
3.  Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Chocolate Cake Mix Brownies (adapted from cooks.com)

1 package chocolate cake mix
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3+ cup water
1/2 cup chocolate chips

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9x13 or 8x8 baking dish (depending on your preference).
2.  Stir together cake mix, egg, oil, and water until well blended (adding more water if necessary). Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into dish.
3.  For 8x8 pan, bake 25-30 minutes, or until desired consistency.

Make It Yourself: Baby Food

Now this may sound absurd to you, but for many years I thought the only option for baby food was the Gerber jars you buy at the grocery store. Then as my friends started having babies, I heard talk of making your own baby food. That sounded too hippie for me, as well as too domestic and time-consuming. Then I had a baby of my own and my thinking radically changed about what I was putting into that precious little body. I also started pricing those miniscule jars of food. It looked like the price of gold listed on the shelves.

The turning point for me to actually consider making my own baby food was in talking to a friend who was currently making her own. She assured me it was very, very easy. Easy as in pick out a veggie, bake or boil it, then grind it up. I did some searching online for a few pointers and found a site that was just what I needed: Wholesome Baby Food. There you'll find an abundance of information about vegetables to use and how to cook them.

I want you to know that making baby food really is easy and takes very little time. It saves a great deal of money as well. Even with that, the most rewarding part for me was knowing I was giving my little one nutritious, yummy food.

(Don't have a baby, but maybe a picky child or husband? You can use baby food in recipes to "hide" fruits and veggies so they get the nutrients they need. You can find lots of recipes online.)

Find a Blog Near You

I've mentioned several money-saving blogs that I find extremely helpful. They alert me to national deals and post the sale and coupon match-ups for the stores I plan to shop. Yet they aren't always the best source for more local information. I first learned to coupon at a workshop hosted by a friend. The teacher was Richelle from The Carolina Clipper. Since that time Richelle has added tons of information to her site, including a list of free or cheap activities to do in the Charlotte area. Not only that, she alerted me to a great deal for my local newspaper!

I encourage you to find a blog that features deals and information for your area. Ask your friends, use your search engine, or check out this list of blogs Richelle shared in her Staycations Around the USA post. You'll probably be surprised by the number of bloggers out there!

Wash Disposable Swim Diapers? You Make the Call.

I first learned of washing and reusing disposable swim diapers from a link Deal Seeking Mom shared. In reading the comments, many of which were negative, I saw that Walmart sells cloth swim diapers for around $5. The cloth swim diaper seemed more logical to me, but I couldn't find one at the two stores nearest me. So after a trip to the pool, I washed and air-dryed the swim diaper. Here was the result:

Sorry about the poor picture quality, but you get the point. Since then, I've used and washed this same diaper again. In my personal experience, we have had no problems. But we haven't had any #2 issues, either. According to the original link where this idea was shared, you should not wash the diaper any more than 3 times. And if anything besides liquid gets in the diaper, just throw it away.

Happy swimming!

Diaper Reward Programs: Earn Gifts for Yourself and Others

I'm not one to be brand-loyal when it comes to diapers. I've put all types on my baby's bum, just for the sake of keeping it covered. But, I'm not one to spend more than $5 on a jumbo pack of diapers, either. That means I usually buy Pampers and Huggies, thanks to sales and coupons. I know there are many of you who buy these brands no matter what, so I thought I would share my experience with Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards and Pampers Gifts to Grow. That way you can get a little something back for all of your smelly work.

In the 17 months that we've been buying diapers, I've collected enough Huggies codes to receive a $25 Sephora gift card. I'm half-way to getting another $25 gift card of some sort. The Huggies rewards change often, so you have to get what you want when you see it.

Like I said earlier, we also use Pampers. The use of both brands has not hindered my points collection! I redeemed my points with Pampers for a 12-month Shutterfly photo calendar. I did have to pay shipping, but that's minimal compared to the joy my mom has in seeing her granddaughter's face each day. I currently have enough points to get two more calendars, which I'm saving for Christmas. Many of the Pampers rewards are always available, but there are occasionally items that come and go.

There is nothing complicated about entering the codes on the diaper packages. You can save them and enter several at one time (the Pampers site is most conducive to this). Pampers also distributes codes in other ways. Many couponing blogs alert you to those free codes. Huggies has a few opportunities on their site to find and earn codes as well.

If you have a little one in diapers, I encourage you to get started collecting the rewards you've already earned!