10 Easy Ways For Mommys to Save Money

Here are ten common sense, but easy ways to save money.

1. Skip the weekly or bi-weekly mani/pedi and do your nails yourself. No matter how cheap the local nail salon is, 30 bucks is 30 bucks. Or 50 bucks or 70 bucks or however much you pay. I compromise by treating myself to a mani/pedi before going on vacations or before formal events or the holidays. The upkeep of my cuticles and nails myself isn't so bad when I still go every couple months. I treat myself to a new bottle of nail polish or new nail tools at Ulta and it's still much cheaper than paying someone to do my nails for me!
2. Reduce the dry cleaning visits. Now that Mommy stays home with the kids, I don't have to wear most of my "dry clean only" wardrobe. However, the things you still wear, re-evaluate what really needs to be dry cleaned and what can pass for being hand washed and dried flat. I also really like using Dryel (home dry cleaning product) for sweaters, scarves, etc. The dry cleaner is soooo expensive and not environmentally friendly either!
3. Eat at home more. No doubt, eating at home saves money. If you're not the greatest cook, just think about your children and your family's health and how much healthier home cooked meals usually are. For a family of four to eat in a typical McDonald's, it costs about $20. A loaf of bread, lunch meat, and condiments would be under $10 and would last for a few meals. Mommy likes to keep things interesting by buying fresh French bread or putting different cheeses or veggies (slices of avocado, tomato, cucumber) on homemade sandwiches. Yummy and cheap!
4. Pack snacks. Remember how newborn babies feed like every two or three hours? I think toddlers and kids are still the same way! If we're taking a trip to the zoo or the mall, I bring my own snacks. Be inventive and bring things they would like as much if not more than that pretzel at the mall. Mommy likes to bring the Halloween/Christmas/Easter/Birthday Goody Bag candy.
5. Pack drinks. Mommy brings reusable water bottles for the whole family whenever we go in the car or for a walk. It's so much more environmentally friendly and cheaper than buying a bottle of water when you're out.
6. Brew your own coffee. Yes, Mommy LOVES Starbucks. But Mommy can't justify buying a $4 latte every day. If you can't brew your own coffee because of your schedule or whatever, you can still save money by (a) buying a smaller size than your normally do, (b) skip the latte and just get brewed coffee instead. Get a shot of flavored syrup if you want to treat yourself. (c) Downgrade from Starbucks or whatever premium coffee shop you go to and go to Dunkin' Donuts or McDonald's instead. Yes, I know some people don't like anything other than Starbucks, but we're all trying to save money here.
7. Get your hair cut less frequently. Mommy has longer hair, so it's easier to get by with this one. If you can increase the time between your hair cuts by a few more weeks, you'll save money over the course of the year -- especially if you go to a high-end salon. Follow this rule with your children too (easier with girls than boys). My husband also started cutting our son's hair because the kiddy hair cut place that we used to take him to never did that great a job and he had to fix it at home with his clippers anyway. It took some getting used to on our son's part, but he's too big to be sitting in the fake airplane/chair thing they have at the kid's haircut place anyway.
8. Skip the day spa or reduce visits. Mommy LOVES being pampered. Unfortunately, I didn't marry a sugar daddy, so with all the kids' expenses and the economy the way it is, I have drastically cut down my spa visits. For waxing, try it yourself! For eyebrow waxing, try to pluck stray hairs as they grow in. Mommy gets salon eyebrow waxing or threading done every once in a while -- like before vacations and special occasions. That way, I can still get a professional to shape them for me and then I just think of it as me doing upkeep in between. If you wax your upper lip at the salon, try tweezing or using an at-home wax kit at home. It really doesn't hurt that bad doing it yourself! If you do bikini waxes, Mommy can't wax herself down there -- that's just torture! Try extending time between your visits or using a bikini shaver. Mommy likes the Philips/Bliss bikini shaver a lot. If you love massages as much as Mommy, keep your eyes open for spa specials or coupons.
9. Use your customer loyalty cards and read the sale ads before you buy. Whether you're buying a gallon of milk or your Thanksgiving turkey, it doesn't hurt to take a scan through the ads in the Sunday paper or the grocery store ads that come in the Wednesday paper. (Don't go out of your way too much and negate the savings you get by spending more gas or wasting your time.) Don't forget your grocery store loyalty cards if your local stores use those (the two major chains in my area do). If you forget yours, cashiers are often forgiving and will scan a courtesy card for you to get that week's special prices.
10. Research online before buying. Whether you're just shopping for the latest movie out on DVD, or if you're shopping for a new stroller, it doesn't hurt to do some online research. Check out a shopping bot to compare prices on an item. If you get on different stores mailing lists, you'll get emails throughout the year with notifications of sales or special coupon codes for people on their email list to use.