Ultimate Money Saving Tip

Joining Vicki in her Frugal Friday tips, I decided to post a tip just for preschool parents as well as my tip for anyone wanting to save money on my other blog.

For parents of young children, the smallest things can add up... clothes for the cooler weather, birthday parties, doctor's visits, etc., all add up to unexpected purchases. For a family with preschoolers, you have got to plan ahead in order to not get bogged down with these cost.

One thing is to shop ahead. At the end of the season, buy clothes in the next size up. While some children may growth spurt or not grow much, you can almost bet than most children will be one size larger by the next year (not exactly a science, especially for babies). Try to buy the things that are not as necessary to be in exact sizes- sweat shirts, coats, long sleeve shirts for winter- bathing suits, shorts, and T-shirts for summer. Try to store them where you will not forget them for the next year. At least you will be a little ahead on those new purchases.

You should also shop ahead for gifts. When I find books, toys, crafts, and other great birthday gifts on sale or clearanced, I go ahead and buy them and make a space in the closet with the items. When a party comes around, I do not have to run out and buy a gift, but I choose from those things purchased earlier at great savings. This saves the hassle of shopping the day of the party too. Try to buy gifts that are suitable for boys and girls so you can be ready for any party. This is a great idea for Christmas gifts too.

For unexpected illness (and what illness is not unexpected), cut coupons for over the counter medicines you may need in the future. When the time comes, you can buy what you need, and have a little savings. Shopping at drugstores like CVS also give you reward bucks for all purchases and prescriptions. They can be used later for purchases and also special sales they have (toilet paper is a great item to use the reward bucks, coupons, and their sale price to get a really good deal!).

Planning ahead for those events you know are going to happen is a great way to save money. Impulse shopping tends to be more expensive than shopping when you can stop and think or shop around for the best deal.

Great Preschool Website

My kindergarten son came home asking for Starfall.com. We found it online and instantly notice it was a quality site with great activities for a pre-reader/ emergent reader. And while that was exciting, my 3 year old preschooler is learning buckets of information! She is learning her letter sounds and some beginning word sounds. It has some great books that read to the children, along with lots more. And my 3 year old can navigate it herself! WOW!

Check out that site for your preschooler.

The 201st Post, A Bit Delayed: Meals Matter

I was so excited about my 200th post, and then I slacked off for a few weeks. It has been an adjustment to teaching all day, coming home and doing home stuff, and making dinner (the most dreaded of evening activities). I did find a great meal planner website that is perfect for moms of all ages and stages, Meals Matter.org. It is free and has lots of recipes to include in your weekly meals, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with things you can request or exclude. It was a little tricky to figure out some of the functions, but worth the time and effort. They even print a shopping list.

The only negative is that you cannot print a list of recipes, but have to print each individually. So take you time with that one!

And you know eating with your children is so important at any age. Making meals at home is not the most fun job, but worth the time when you sit down for that homemade food.

Hope you enjoy!

Plus, I am saving money by planning ahead and NOT EATING OUT!

It Was My Favorite Playdough Recipe

This was my favorite playdough recipe- for a day! The second day it got gooey. I added some flour until it felt better and that seemed to work--- just FYI!

Homemade Playdough Recipes

As we are home for Tropical Storm Faye, I thought it would be best to find something for the kids to do inside--- it is a bit rainy outside (and we are missing our second day of school!). My husband looked up a playdough recipe for me, because I am never sure how much of what to add. He found a great list of homemade playdough recipes, some I have never seen!

I think this is my new favorite (and I have been stocking up on baking soda for some other homemade bath products- you can get a huge bag at Sam's):

Rubbery Playdough

2 cups baking soda
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup cornstarch

Mix with a fork until smooth. Boil over medium heat until thick. Spoon onto plate or wax paper.

Ours was not rubbery, but nice and smooth. It did stick a little but rubbed right off. It is a nice bright white- not like the flour recipe (I use unbleached flour, so mine tends to be a cream color)- so I did not even add color.

This site also suggested using veggie juice for color! I love that idea.

The First Day of Kindergarten

Tomorrow is the first day of school for my little boy! I cannot believe it!

Although, I am not too nervous, since Dad works at the school as the dean... it makes it much easier to send him on his way.

But KINDERGARTEN! I feel like he was just in my arms yesterday!

And of course, since I am also a teacher, I do not get to take him in the first day... my little sister has volunteered that, which is funny since she is 19. She wanted to take him to his class. How sweet. They are kindred spirits since they have the same birthday. :)

As we pass this milestone, it makes you thankful for the time we have had this summer, the time I was able to stay home with him, and the great teacher he has this year!

Any one else need a Kleenex???

I will post pictures later.

A Free Story Podcast for Young Children

If you are looking for a free story podcast for your preschool, be sure to check out the Snuggles Podcast. There are a variety of recorded stories for you to listen with your children. There are archived episodes too, so you can listen to back episodes too!

Listening to stories help children to learn what reading sounds like. If you grab the book that goes along with the story, you can follow along with the words, teaching left to right tracking.

If you don't listen to these podcasts, read aloud with your preschooler! Any book will work, even the newspaper!

Let me know what you think!