I've got some amazing comments, tips, and emails this week.
From my "All about diapers" post:
Thank you so much for this post. I'm having our first baby in November and wanted/needed all the help/tips out there! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Also... Do you have any tips/helps on Baby Lotion, Baby Wash/Soap, Baby powder and diaper rash ointment?!?! -Jenalee
Jenalee - YES! Here's my tip...
The store-brand baby wash, lotion, soap, rash ointment, etc. are just as good as the name-brand stuff most of the time. From my personal experience in trying both, I have found that the store-brand items have been just as effective as the name brand items...at about 1/2 the price. BUT - every baby is different so just buy a small container of it, try it, and decide for yourself. But don't discount the "cheaper" products because many times they are just as good!
From my "About Me" page:
I love that last picture with the temple in the background! Beautiful setting and beautiful family. I hope to learn a lot because my husband is starting a photography business so money is tight with us as well. Thanks for your great blog! -Jonell
From my "Contact" page:
Jordan,
I've been reading your blog for awhile now and never thought any of the "tips" would work in my life.....until today. I've signed up to participate in a Zombie race at the end of June. It's being held in Knightstown, IN which is about 3 hours away from where I live. The organizers of the race had posted on facebook that they had booked a string of rooms at a hotel and that we could get the rooms for $69.05 if we mentioned we were doing the race. The problem I had with the hotel is that it was a good hour away from the race location and I knew there were hotels (and cities for that matter) closer to the race site.
I took your advice and found a hotel 15 mins from the race site and called them to see if they would price match.....I used your advice "it doesn't hurt to ask" and guess what, it worked! I asked for a room with 2 queen beds and they were booked solid so instead gave me a suite with a pull out sofa. They were more than willing to honor the price of the other hotel and make sure I stayed even when my original request was booked.
Thank You for all the great tips!
Sandra (from Fort Wayne, IN)
From my "World's best cinnamon roll" recipe post:
I have a bosch...not a bread machine...will using that work just as well?? I've just found your website...so looking forward to trying your "grocery shop" ideas! -Melanie
Melanie - Yes, I would think so...does it rise the dough? Give it a try and if it doesn't work, then try a bread maker next time. I got mine from a thrift store for a few dollars!
From my "How much should I pay for...?" post:
Shanley wrote: "Good to know about these ranges. I've been at a loss for babysitting. Hopefully I can get away w trades for a lot longer :) haha. I'm happy that I'm well below budget on the rest! :)"
"Thanks Jordan for sharing this, I agree 100% on all your pricing and how much is reasonable to spend. We have a family of 4 now and i feel the same way about haircuts and groceries, everything else was an added bonus and was really helpful too, thank you!" - Emi
I had a family I babysat for when I was younger that had a great paying system. I don't remember the exact amounts so you can figure out what each thing is valued to you. But they had a base pay of something like $4 an hour and if you sat and watched tv the whole time that is what you got but if you did certain activities or chores you got paid more...like unloading the dishwasher you got an extra $2 if you vaccum then you got an extra $2 if you played games with the kids you got an extra $1 an hour, ect. I thought it was smart because the harder you worked the more you got paid. -Lauralee
Hey Jordan! Great tips and advise. I know that we pay our babysitter more than other people, but it's worth it for us because she's more willing to drop what she's doing to babysit when we want her. I really appreciate all your spending guides. I'm really glad you put in something about getting your hair done too. As a hairstylist, I once was working in a very nice salon that was more pricey at the same time as I worked part time in the BYU barbershop. I thought it was funny how I would do the exact same thing, yet there would be a $40 difference just because of the location/posh factor. Where your hair is done is of little significance compared to who is doing your hair. -Stephanie
Great post! I LOVE your blog!! I agree with most, but totally think the grocery $ amounts are too high. We have a family of 4 and spend $275 and I don't use coupons. It is all about planning! P.S. I totally entered a giveaway contest just because you said to "just give it a shot". I didn't win, but thought it was still fun to try. - Liz
I love your blog! I am taking this post with a grain of salt, because I live in Hawaii where the cost of living is outrageous. I was born here, so I don't know anything different, but after reading your post, I will plan out my meals better :) - Rebecca
This is great and I agree with everything except for food, but only because we have special circumstances. Because of Max's allergies we have to spend upwards of 800+ a month on food for our family. We can't eat gluten or corn, which is what all of the cheaper foods are made with. That limits us to dairy, meat, eggs, and produce which we try to buy organic when possible. I am okay with that though because I realize how much our diet has helped him heal, so I look at it as medicine. We aren't paying for prescriptions, instead we're paying for food. It works for us and I wish I could find a way to chop that in half but oh well! Thanks for the tips...you are a complete natural on TV!!! - Kami
Kami- Yes, that is really really hard. A special diet does bring different factors into spending. HOWEVER...a lot of the same principles still apply.
- Buy the things that are on sale, and stock up when (if) they go on sale.
- Pick your battles. You most likely don't need to buy EVERYTHING from a specialty store.
- Even organic things can be bought at a discount from places like Costco.
- Grow your own organic veggies and it will cut down on your grocery bill. Gardens can be BIG...and they are free!
- If Max is the one with the allergies, maybe buy everyone else healthy - but not specialty - food so that everyone else's grocery budget can be cheaper. Since he is just a toddler, I assume he doesn't eat that much. If the rest of you can eat gluten and corn, there might not be any reason for you all to eat gluten-free as well. I would recommend implementing the "normal" foods into your own diets. If you choose to buy organic, that's totally ok! But if he is the only one with the specific special dietary needs, there might not be a need for everyone else to eat 100% of the same food as him. That might be tough on him to eat differently than everyone else at first, but he will be faced with that for the rest of his life so he'll get used to it eventually either way. And it will certainly make more work for you to make 2 separate meals, but that would be an easy way to cut your bill in half. If you make pizza, make him a small one with his special gluten-free foods and make everyone else's pizza with the organic, but non-gluten free foods and you could potentially save half or more on your groceries!
- If you choose to spend that much on groceries, that is your choice. We are all 100% free to choose how to spend our money, and if it needs to be groceries for you, that's totally ok! Just choose other areas in your life to sacrifice and be disciplined in so that it all balances out.
Thanks so much for bringing that up!
From my "DIY Ice Packs" guest post:
thank you for this!!! I get migraines and I need ice packs and I have to switch often because they don't stay cold for long. I look forward to making my own! - Sherry
From my "Home remedy tips" post:
Great tips! The only thing I will say is that you don't even have to melt the Ande's mints in a double boiler first. Instead, when the brownies come out of the oven just place the mints (or any other chocolate bar you want) right on top, the heat from the still cooling brownies will melt the chocolate and you can then easily spread it around with a butter knife or what have you. I've been making brownies this way for years and it's always a big hit! Just one step easier than melting it first ;) -Sarah
From my "Favorite hangers" post:
OK, what Costco are you finding these at? I bought two packs at Costco the first time I saw them and it wasn't enough. So I went back to get more and they weren't selling them at my Costco anymore! I'm so sad! - Shauna
Shauna - I shop at the Costco in Sandy Utah, they still have tons. If you have multiple Costco's in your area, call around and see if they carry any. Each Costco carries different inventory, though, so sorry!!!
Thanks for the comments and emails, keep them coming! Have a great week :)
