Raising kids is very expensive and requires a lot of savvy money planning. It is estimated that the cost to raise one child for 18 years is over 250,000 dollars, not to mention college and their first car. For parents on a tight budget, there is hope. With just a few money saving strategies here and there, you can save thousands.
Raising kids is very expensive and requires a lot of savvy money planning. It is estimated that the cost to raise one child for 18 years is over 250,000 dollars, not to mention college and their first car. For parents on a tight budget, there is hope. With just a few money saving strategies here and there, you can save thousands.
Save on Children and Babies Clothing
If you are a parent, you know how fast kids can grow out of clothing and shoes. In some cases, a child can outgrow items before even wearing them. In this regard, there is no sense in buying expensive clothes every few weeks. Consider shopping at the end of each season for next year’s wardrobe. You can often find name brand close outs for a fraction of the cost. If you are worried about fashion trends, don't worry, some things never go out of style. This is the perfect time to buy socks, underwear, or pajamas.
Kids Toy Discounts Online
You can often find popular kids toys at a much cheaper rate by shopping online. Consider auction sites or discount toy sites. Many companies now buy overstock items and offer them at great prices online. Since these companies do not have to worry about maintaining a store front, they often have lower overhead. Many companies will pass those savings onto their customers. Another great option about shopping at home is the time you save by avoiding long check out lines and trips to the store. Many large companies like Toys R Us and KB Toys have a large selection online, and they even have special deals for online customers only.
Use Book Exchange Program
If your child is an avid reader, you understand that the average paperback now costs over five dollars. If you child can read five or six books a week that can be a large expense. If you join a book exchange program, you really save a lot of money. Many used book stores offer this option. You can trade in the books you have already read and then use the credit you receive to purchase new books. In most cases, it will take at least two trade ins for one new book. You might also consider swapping books with other parents. There are a few sites online that offer a swapping service that is nationwide. You list the books you have and then search through other peoples books to find what you are looking for.
Start a Pass It on Club
Pass it on clubs are beginning to gain popularity across the country. These clubs are made up of a group of parents who have kids in all different age and size groups. The group will meet once every few months and swap gently used clothing that their children no longer wear. Rather than throwing away perfectly good clothing you can recycle it to the next person and help build a greener planet.
Car Insurance for Your Toyota Hybrid Car
When buying brand new cars, there are a lot of things to consider besides the sticker price. Not the least of your concerns should be car insurance costs. Surprisingly, less than 10% of people who purchase new vehicles consider insurance expenditure. For instance, what if you were on the market for a Toyota hybrid car?
AAA and Acuity Car Insurance – A Quick Review
During these hard economic times, it pays to really scrutinize auto insurance providers. Two of the most prominent providers in this niche are AAA Insurance and Acuity Insurance. Let’s see how these two providers fare under our scrutiny.
AIG and Mercury Car Insurance – A Quick Review
In many US states, it’s mandatory to get auto insurance. And just in case you need any further motivation to get one, then do consider the following statistics: on the average, someone gets hurt in a car mishap every 11 seconds, an automobile crash happens every five seconds,
