I LOVE THIS BLOG!
I'm not a HUGE financial planner, but I do like to have some kind of control over my (and sometimes my husband's) spending. I find that before our child we were very carefree and some days we still act like we are when, let's face it, we aren't.
I have been following a few blogs, but my fave right now is Our Freaking Budget. They are so honest about their spending and they really have been giving me a lot of good ideas as well as getting me to really stop and think about where our money has been going.
The best part? They too have a baby and they have documented their finances through her growth. This gives me an idea of what I should be spending. Since I am a new mom, I pretty much go to the store and go nuts on clothes and food because I figure he just needs it...right? I mean, he NEEDED to have another teething ring because the other 50 we have just weren't as cute...right?
Anyway, I looked back on what they updated for their 7th month. A grand total of $96.00 was their budget for their baby. My boy is closing in on 7 months and I can tell you that last month alone I bought nearly $250.00 worth of clothes, food, formula and just cuteness, plus a lovely $1000.00 on daycare. (Note: Daycare is a touchy subject for me. I love where he goes and I feel extremely comfortable and feel he is utterly safe and happy there and for that price, I am happy to pay). So if this month could some how be a lot less, I will be the first to sound the victory horn!
With Christmas coming up, my husband and I have done the smartest thing he and I have ever done for the second year in a row- TOYS R US layaway! No interest, no gimmicks, just no bikes lol. But for the credit card to not be pulled out is the greatest success!! :) This is why I am not a fan of Black Friday. Stores just lure you in to make you purchase items you do not need all because they are the lowest prices of the year. And, in order to get those prices, you have to venture out on long lines on one of the only family holidays of the year; Thanksgiving. :( . Not to mention all the retail workers who have to suffer working on that holiday rather than being with their families. But, I digress.
We also did the price match guarantee last year and that also worked in our favor. When we went to pick up our items, we were able to price match and get money back!
If you're looking for financial planning and ideas (nothing too serious, just some basic information and thoughts) check out the blog below. They are just two normal people, living a normal life and have excellent planning skills.
http://www.ourfreakingbudget.com/
I have been following a few blogs, but my fave right now is Our Freaking Budget. They are so honest about their spending and they really have been giving me a lot of good ideas as well as getting me to really stop and think about where our money has been going.
The best part? They too have a baby and they have documented their finances through her growth. This gives me an idea of what I should be spending. Since I am a new mom, I pretty much go to the store and go nuts on clothes and food because I figure he just needs it...right? I mean, he NEEDED to have another teething ring because the other 50 we have just weren't as cute...right?
Anyway, I looked back on what they updated for their 7th month. A grand total of $96.00 was their budget for their baby. My boy is closing in on 7 months and I can tell you that last month alone I bought nearly $250.00 worth of clothes, food, formula and just cuteness, plus a lovely $1000.00 on daycare. (Note: Daycare is a touchy subject for me. I love where he goes and I feel extremely comfortable and feel he is utterly safe and happy there and for that price, I am happy to pay). So if this month could some how be a lot less, I will be the first to sound the victory horn!
With Christmas coming up, my husband and I have done the smartest thing he and I have ever done for the second year in a row- TOYS R US layaway! No interest, no gimmicks, just no bikes lol. But for the credit card to not be pulled out is the greatest success!! :) This is why I am not a fan of Black Friday. Stores just lure you in to make you purchase items you do not need all because they are the lowest prices of the year. And, in order to get those prices, you have to venture out on long lines on one of the only family holidays of the year; Thanksgiving. :( . Not to mention all the retail workers who have to suffer working on that holiday rather than being with their families. But, I digress.
We also did the price match guarantee last year and that also worked in our favor. When we went to pick up our items, we were able to price match and get money back!
If you're looking for financial planning and ideas (nothing too serious, just some basic information and thoughts) check out the blog below. They are just two normal people, living a normal life and have excellent planning skills.
http://www.ourfreakingbudget.com/
BABY FINANCES
We just started feeding Baby Girl real food, which has cost us a total of about $15. Most of her calories are still the good stuff (nursing). We also purchased a highchair from IKEA for $25, and it’s been pretty darn perfect. Cheap, easy to clean, and I think it’s pretty cute, too. But that may just be because of the butterball it houses.
Johnny’s brother got married this past month, just a few days after we got moved in, so we spent $9 having our girl’s dress dry cleaned for the wedding. Is it just me or is that a boatload to charge for a baby’s dress to be dry cleaned? Never again.
We have made the switch to Costco diapers. I lurve them, you guys. Pampers got too expensive, and then we tried Huggies, and for the price, I thought they were pretty mediocre. But Costco knows what’s up in the diaper department, even if the actual diaper graphics are rather hideous. The diapers cost $39, and I think they’ll last close to two months, which is kind of awesome.
As far as clothing goes, my sister and sister-in-law have given me a ton of hand-me-downs in the past month, so I haven’t really had to buy clothing or bibs or sippy cups. I love older sisters. I bought some $8 pajamas from good ol’ Walmart since our girl is outgrowing everything so quickly, and Johnny and I plan on getting her some other clothing necessities soon, too.
Grand total for month seven? $96. Not too shabby.
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