I have been making changes in the way we live lately. I want to do what is best for my family in every aspect of life. I want us to be able to do things, not live paycheck to paycheck. I also wants to make all of the best parenting choices that I can for Keaton. I am not saying that you are a bad parent if you don't do the things I do. We all do what works best for us, and the choices that I make are what works best for me. :)
My thrifty changes...
I have always tried to shop sales and use coupons but I have never really been very dedicated to it because we always had enough money. When we decided that I would be a stay a home mom, I knew that things had to change. I needed to stick to a budget and make our dollars stretch as far as possible.
My goals are:
Shop sales
Match coupons to sales
Avoid buying junk
Don't buy something just because it is on sale
Shop only every two weeks, instead of every week
Use perishable groceries before they go bad to avoid throwing away money
Start a stockpile
Don't be shy about being thrifty, it's not anything to be ashamed of!
I'm sure that there are others that will come to my mind later, but those are the main ones.
My parenting and lifestyle changes...
Before Keaton was born I learned about babywearing. I knew that I want to wear him for multiple reasons. I wanted to be able to have him close to me whenever I wanted to. I wanted to be able to do things around the house without having to leave him in the bouncy seat, swing, or exersaucer to cry. So, when he was born I started to wear him. I don't wear him all of the time, to be honest, sometimes I go days without wearing him. Then there are days like today where I decide that I need to clean the house, I put him in the sling and wore him around. Of couse, he was asleep within a few minutes (it happens every time I wear him) and I was able to get everything done that I needed to.
I never thought that I would be the type to cloth diaper. I have been slowly buying cloth diapers for a couple of weeks now. We don't use cloth all of the time, but when he and I are home alone during the day I use them. I hope to build up a big enough stash within the next couple of months that we can use cloth all of the time though.
Keaton sleeps in a co-sleeper next to our bed... Some of the time, the rest of the time he sleeps in our bed. Some of my family doesn't agree with it. I've heard all kinds of comments, "don't do that, it's dangerous", "you're going to regret that", "he's old enough to be in his crib, in his room", etc., etc.
I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of soap nuts. Soap nuts can be used for laundry detergent (my main reason for buying them), you can also use them to make; shampoo, hand soap, cleaner, mosquito repellent, dishwasher detergent, and even toothpaste. Chris (my boyfriend) and my dad (we share a house with my dad and brother) think I am crazy, but they try not to say too much. I'm sure when the nuts get here they'll pick on me about it though. I don't blame them, I never expected to wash my clothes with something that grows on trees either.
My reason for creating this blog is so that I can look back at my changes and see the progress I make. Hopefully I'll see improvement in my spending habits and I'll develop more crunchy habits too. :)
