Diapering for almost free?

Yes, you can do it! I have been researching this pretty strongly lately. Going from $2500 to $25 on the diapering yearly bill!

Our first child I really wanted to cloth diaper and we did for a little while. I loved cloth diapering but didn't know what I was doing. Once, the cloth diapers were too small for her, I couldn't get my husband to pay for more. I couldn't blame him. We didn't have a whole lot of money to put up front for cloth diapers to do it again and again, whenever she grew. Cloth diapering can be much cheaper... but you have to fork out lots of money to save money, or so I thought! Disposables where easy to pay 10 dollars here and there. Although we spent lots of money in the long run it was easier to  handle, since we were living paycheck to paycheck. I tried making cloth diapers but didn't understand how you use them etc... They turned out a mess. So, I have some new information this time around and more time to figure things out! I am going to try it again. Here are some sources of information. Just click on the links to get some awesome information.

Cloth wipes- I tried this the first time and didn't work out... I heard you can use baby wash cloths instead of buying expensive online ones. Score! Recipe for solution... Even cheaper!

Types of diapers- This is part of why my first experience failed. I had no idea you pair this with that.

Cleaning your diapers- Good to know! I did learn some of this but with the first we had an apartment with no outdoor space... this time I will be able to line dry on sunny days!

Buying and Selling your diapers- I get so overwhelmed online trying to figure this out! Glad I won't need too much of this info... Since I will be sewing mine and making them gender neutral for the next baby.

Cloth diapering on the go- We didn't do this at all since I had no idea how to. This time we will!

Wet bag- Oh so that is how you go places... ;)

HOW TO DO THIS ALMOST FREE!

Now that you are educated all about cloth diapers...

I found several you tube videos that woman used fabrics around their house to make their stash. I have a ton of sweatshirts and fabric scraps etc... that I could use. This lady is very frugal and I love how she makes things from around the house. It got me thinking about things here at home or things to buy at yard sales... since you know I am a yard sale diva.

So by far I love this website! Download the diaper pattern and print it for free! Then download the Tiny Tooshie diaper pattern. She has some wonderful information so please read it all. She says that you will spend about $.50-$2 on each diaper by following her pattern. One-size diapers are anywhere from $18-$35 a piece. What a savings! If you can mainly use everything from home you can make your entire stash of cloth diapers for the price of 1 week worth of disposables! I am in!

Note: PUL can be replaced with heavy duty vinyl table cloth! Will be doing this!

More websites full of info:

Sew a diaper stash for $30 or less

All in One pattern- most like disposable diapers and easy for dads to change

Pocket Diapers pattern

Fleece Pockets

Trim prefolds

Make wipes and solution

Sewing diapers know how

Coupon Website!

I have touched on this before... but I will talk a little about this again. I use to be a couponer... not anymore! Yes, you can save money. Yes, can stock up a huge hoard...

and that is what it is, a hoard. I believe in coupons and saving money, but I think there are more cons then pros. So, we do not coupon like some extremist do.

However, I have found countless ways to save money without losing your mind and soul. Some of these ideas I share with you on this site and hope they help you as much as it has helped our family! With that said... I believe coupons should be used and not abused.

When I need something it is helpful to try to track a coupon down when possible. So here is a new website I just came across that may help you save some money when you are out and about. http://printable-coupons.blogspot.com/

Old Navy Sale

Looking for clothes? Clearance at Old Navy is 30-70% off! On top of that there is a 20-30% coupon. The stores may not have much so don't give up if your local store doesn't have what you are looking for check the website! Orders over $50 have free shipping.

This girls' shirt after the 30% will be less then $3.50!

Payless BOGO 50% off as low as $3 a pair!

This includes the already clearance shoes! I just bought 4 pairs of super cute shoes for $35! I'm super stoked! There are some shoes as low as $3 and if you get 2 of them you get one for $1.50. This pair above is one of the pairs I bought. They are on sale for $11 and regular priced at $35. I told my husband that I bought these and got the other 3 for free!

Hazel

Sony Bravada 50" tv for $60? yep!

 So i just found this web site that gets the best deals on the online world. One of the past deals they have had was a Sony flat screen for $59.96! Now that is fantastic! Check often since the products change often! If you use the link below it will use me as a referral and i get points toward free things. Then you can do the same and get points. http://www.nomorerack.com/?cr=2635656

Hazel

My Free Tree and Dollar Store Decorations

 My sister in law is a yard sale diva., she may even be a queen!. I told her a few years ago that I really wanted a tree and if she saw one I would pay here back. She went to a yard sale that was packing up for donations. She noticed this tree and the lady said it was free! That is how I got a free tree! It is a smaller tree, which I don't mind since its cheaper to decorate and not as overwelming . Living on a budget the last couple years I have had some interesting crafts on it. This year I wanted a nice tree! While I was at Honk's Dollar store I noticed they had 9 pack Christmas balls for $1. They happen to have the lime green I am trying to decorate my house with! Score! With a splurge on Led lights (that will save me in the long run), some glitter ornaments 5 for a dollar, some 2 for a dollar, 2 rolls of garland, an angel for cheap at a thrift store, 26 packs of the Christmas balls for $5 from WalMart, and I wrapped a fleece throw I got at Ikea for $3, as a tree skirt. So for about $40, half of that was the lights, here is my tree!

Hazel

How to paint your house for cheap!

I got the green paint for this project from Glidden for free. The wall color is a bunch of miss tints that I mixed in a 5 gallon bucket 

I go to the local paint stores to check out miss tints. Recently, I mixed some whites and creams to make a color I love, its a tanish cream. Of course there is a down side to miss tints, you cant mix the same again, and they are premade. I however got super lucky and I got 7 gallons of high quality (usually $50 a gallon) for nothing. For projects this is a great way to go! Try looking at miss tints the next time you want to paint! There may just be an already mixed color you love! If you need more paint try mixing a couple similar colors to make more or add a white to stretch and lighten the paint.

Hazel

Bountiful Baskets

http://bountifulbaskets.org/
This is how I save a ton of money on produce! Bountiful Baskets is a co-op and is run by volunteers. On Mondays (check the site to see the time your state signs up) I go to their web site to put my order in and pay with a credit card. The basket pictured below is just the basic basket. It is 15 dollars and I pay a $1.50 to help with shipping costs. I have actually gone to the grocery store and checked out the prices for everything I got, in my basket, one week to compare. I checked 4 different stores and picked the best price of the produce I received. It would have been close to 50 dollars plus the cost of gas driving around to 4 different stores! Why do you save that much money? Some may be skeptical about the condition of the produce... honestly, it is usually in better shape than what you find at the store. "Why?" you might say. I was just as skeptical about this at first! When you go on the website and make your purchase, on Mondays, they pool everyones money in your area, and buy produce at whole sale price straight from the farmer. Every week it is a different selection and I never now what I am getting. This week most of the stuff I received I would normally buy, but there were a couple wild cards that will be fun to experiment with.  Even if I chose not to experiment with the 2 items I don't normally buy, I still saved money. There is a truck that brings the locally grown produce to your area (you sign up for the place you pick up and the time) As I mentioned, it is run by volunteers so I try to go earlier to help distribute the produce when I can. The produce you receive is what is in season and there are other basket you can get as well. If you are interested check to see if they are established in your area. They have been branching out and they are getting to new places all the time!  If they aren't in your area, contact them to see if they could bring the co-op to your area!

Hazel

Disney Movie Rewards!

This is a great program, if you haven't already made an account then you've got to check it out! It's easy, you just put in codes from movies you've bought that participate in the program.  You can find other codes online as well.  I have already had five free movies sent to me and I didn't have to pay for shipping!  There is a promotion they are doing right now, if you put a code in by November 15th, you can get 50 bonus points!  The code must be from a dvd, blu-ray, or cd.  The extra code to get the bonus 50 points is M1D17MAIGNEH.  There are so many things you can get from your rewards points starting at 100, the dvds start at about 500 points.  Points add up quick so check your dvds and see if you have any codes to enter!

http://www.disneymovierewards.go.com/

Hazel

ALLYOU.COM

This is one of my very favorite websites, allyou.com, everyday there is a new sample that is sent to you free of charge. You do have to give the various sites it sends you to your information so they can send the sample. I think it is very imporant that you be careful with giving your information to any site, but allyou is legit! I havent had a problem with them yet. You can either go on their site daily or have them send emails by subscribing.

Hazel