I stayed home with my son for six weeks after he was born and then returned to work full time. Now that he is 4 years old those 6 weeks seem like a mere blip, but I clearly remember the days dragging when I was home alone with my brand new baby. I had never been off of work longer than a day or two prior to this except to travel, so staying at home was a new experience and not entirely comfortable.

I welcomed a return to work, but also worried if the financial benefits were worth the impact to my child. Read More …

Most of the household items I buy are generic or store brands. Whether it's medication or milk, laundry detergent or toilet paper (as long as it's two-ply), I'm going the cheapest route possible. With that said, there are some items I just can't bring myself to cheap out on--mostly due to quality issues that seem to be universally present in certain low-cost products. I don't think I'm alone in my desire for quality products that also offer savings; if that were the case, coupons would be a lot less popular! Read More …

There are many schools of thought on the best ways to be frugal. The average frugal shopper probably only hopes to never pay full price for anything, choosing to browse sales racks or use an occasional coupon to purchase new items without making plans to save money. More dedicated savers clip, collect, and organize coupons, combine them with sales and maybe even search out a rebate to ensure they've gotten the best deal.

If you want to be a radical saver, though, you might go a step further by purchasing used items whenever possible. Money saved by seeking out only used items can be dramatic. Read More …

Kids' birthday parties aren't always cheap, but they can be if you put your mind to it. I just threw my son's fourth birthday party and it went off without a hitch. I've learned a bit over the past couple of years, and I feel satisfied that I was able to provide a fun party for a reasonable amount of money this time around. Read More …

Fresh from spending over $55 at the movie theater to watch Toy Story 3 in 3D today, I am here to write this week's Frugal Family post. I could talk about how we saved money by opting for the matinee, but the reality is that spending $38 for movie tickets is not exactly frugality at its finest. The movie was excellent and the 3D effects were totally worth the extra money we paid to rent glasses, but the experience served as a reminder of why theater outings continue to be a rare treat for my family. Read More …

This economy has done a number on many families. It seems that unemployment has touched everyone in some way and for longer periods than ever before. The economy seems to be recovering, but after how the past two years have gone, most of us are still wary.

Even before the economic downturn, my family managed to survive on a grocery budget of $50 a week. My husband was a student and in order to avoid future debt, we chose to take out only as much loan money as needed to pay for tuition while we worked to pay for our living expenses. I'm not entirely sure what all contributed to our success, but there were some key things besides coupon clipping that were helpful. Read More …

With the school year ending and summer vacations starting, many families are in a frenzy to occupy their kids who suddenly have large amounts of time on their hands. And then here comes that day when everyone celebrates and honors the father figures in their life to add to the flurry of activity. If you're anything like me, Father's Day has managed to sneak up on you despite your best intentions. It was just Mother's Day - how in the world could Father's Day be almost here? Ready or not, here it comes.

The great news for families on a budget is that some of the best gifts are homemade and may not cost a dime. In addition, the following will work for those who've run out of ideas or those dad who aren't really into "stuff": Read More …

My fiance and I are getting married this September. Between having a child to support and our frugal natures, we are dedicated to planning a budget wedding. Usually the words budget and wedding don't go together. In fact, the average American wedding racks up a bill of around $19,000. In many areas of the country, that amount of money will serve as a down payment on a house, which is a much smarter investment for a couple starting a new life together. Still, we don't want to completely give up elegance just to save money.

While weddings have more pomp and circumstance than your average party, the elements of food and decor (not to mention the people involved) are constants in event planning. Many times the different in price tag is merely due to the mention of a bride or groom. Thankfully our society loves convenience and there are fantastic options out there for help with event planning that won't destroy a small budget. Read More …

Memorial Day is here and summer is soon to follow! On Memorial Day this year, many will be barbecuing or attending local events to honor fallen soldiers. Some families use the long weekend as an excuse to take a road trip or fly out of town. If BBQs aren't your thing and you don't want to fork out the money for travel, try one of these low cost activities: Read More …

I'm not sure where I would be as a parent without books. Reading with my son has been a true sanity saver through difficult phases in our bedtime routine and in the midst of potty training. I am forever grateful to the clever authors out there who have helped me parent better during these trying times. Not only do many of these authors assist me in teaching my son about various concepts, but they do so with a sense of humor that helps me retain mine. Read More …

At nearly four years old, Jack has gone into some sort of developmental hyper speed. Suddenly he is telling complex stories, learning to spell and read, and growing out of everything all at once. I'm surprised on a daily basis by the cognitive connections he makes, so it's no wonder I get distracted from things like his changing shoe size.

I recently noticed that Jack's head was quickly inching toward the top of his Britax Roundabout car seat. I can't tell you how sad it made me to think that what I call "the Lexus of car seats" would soon be retired. Britax car seats are generally the priciest on the market but I was wooed by the ease of installation and the high safety rating. I am not ashamed to admit that I mourned the thought of giving this seat up. Read More …

May is National Family Wellness Month here in the United States. Even before our family was aware of this, we began to focus on doing more activities together. Read More …