Category: Family Life

Calling all mothers! We love our jobs as moms, right? They’re challenging, exciting, unpredictable, fun.

There’s nothing like snuggling up to your kid with a movie or helping them through a problem. Getting them dressed for their first day of school or sending them off to their first sleepover. These are priceless moments that every mother loves to experience. 

But let’s all admit it — it’s not always that sweet. Sometimes we struggle with developing good habits or changing bad behavior. It’s all a part of coming-of-age.

Is a reward system for kids that effective? And if so, what happens when that kid turns into a teenager? 

We’re here to show you how to create a system that not only works but thrives. Keep reading!

Stickers and Tokens: An Effective Reward System for Kids

Using stickers or tokens is a proven tactic for developing habits or skills. This entails giving one sticker per one task (discussed in advance). You can lay stickers out on a homemade sheet.

This method is especially helpful for areas of resistance. These incentives help bridge the gap between “not wanting to do” and “getting to do.” 

Tokens, like those at www.thetokenshop.com, work best for young children until about 4 years old. Remember, it’s called a reward for a reason. Give your child praise, congratulations, and encouragement all the way through!

Once a child gets a little older, you can have them trade in tokens. The incentive doesn’t have to cost you anything. It could mean making their favorite snack or getting a play date at the playground.

From Stickers to Checks

Preteens love to decorate their school binders with stickers. They don’t exactly see them as an appropriate reward any longer. After all, “they’re all grown up” (*Insert Mom smirk here*)!

You can keep the same idea as the token system.

Replace tokens for something more age-appropriate, like checkmarks. Keep a list of designated chores or tasks somewhere visible. Have them check off daily or weekly activities. 

Like children, you can turn check marks into rewards. Encourage your child to finish their homework, get to bed on time, have good behavior in school. If these get completed, they can stay up late on weekends, have friends over, watch TV.

Try to pick rewards that don’t center around money (and not only because that saves you money!). Instead, choose valuable things like one-on-one time or a favorite hobby.

From Checks to Young Adulthood

Reinforcing good behavior helps ensure that it’ll continue. Rewarding your teen for doing well teaches them how to make positive life decisions. Show them they’re on the right track by offering positive reinforcement. 

Oh. And don’t forget those rewards! Some good ones for teens include:

• A later curfew
• Getting to sleep in
• Cooking their favorite foods
• Letting them play on the computer or watch TV
• Time with friends
• Cell phone privileges

Use your best parental judgment to choose a reward. And talk with your teen along the way! One of the best things you can do when rewarding your child is being clear and communicative.

Parenthood: It’s so Rewarding

When it comes to choosing a reward system for kids, it’s not one-size-fits-all. And that’s a good thing. Talk with your child and together, develop a system that works for them. 

If you haven’t already, start today! And don’t forget to reward yourself too, Mom.

Being a mother is a tough job. But you’re tougher. Here’s how to find that fearless faith!

New parents spend a whole lot of money on diapers. Did you know those first weeks you may find yourself changing your little one 10 times a day? If you do the math, 240-320 diapers a month are on your shopping list.

Multiply this out by the number of months your child will spend in diapers (hint: 2.5 to 3 years) and you can see that it’s quite a large amount.

That you spend. 

On waste.

We can help you save money and find cheap diapers. The average baby uses nearly 4,000 diapers before potty training.  Let us share our hints to help you save.

What’s in That Diaper?

We know what your baby will put in that diaper, but do you know what’s there already? All disposable diapers have virtually the same construction. Generic or brand-name, all disposable diapers have the same premise.

Starting next to your baby’s skin, you have a top sheet. Often it is a one-way permeable membrane made to wick moisture away from the skin. After that comes the absorbent core. The core is usually made up of a wood pulp fluff and some sort of absorbent polymer.

The fluff is meant to spead moisture around so the absorbent polymer can soak it up. Finally, the diaper has a waterproof outer cover. This cover is made out of a petroleum-based or plant-based plastic material.

Money-Saving Tip #1 Avoid Disposables

Cloth diapers, even part-time, can save tons of money. Although there is an upfront cost, using a cloth diaper and laundering it at home works out to pennies per use. Also, no icky chemicals or iffy plastics next to your baby’s skin.

Least expensive are the old fashioned rectangular cloth, pins and waterproof pants. But if the idea makes you cringe, there are cute all in one diapers with buttons, snaps or velcro fasteners.

You can save even more by purchasing used diapers and covers from other parents. Use word of mouth, yard sales, and eBay to find bargains. Cotton diapers get more absorbent with use, so a hot, sanitizing wash and extra rinse make even used cloth diapers good to go. 

Don’t Be a Brand Snob

The major disposable diaper manufacturers want you to believe there is a huge difference between brands, store-brands and even styles of diapers. Given the basic construction of all diapers, you probably won’t find a huge difference between cheap diapers and brand names other than price. 

That said, you may want to experiment to find what works for you. Babies with narrow backs may find one brand better than another. A brand that works for your baby’s chubby legs might not be the right fit for a lighter limbed child.

The only exception we make is for parents choosing organic and eco-friendly diapers. In that case, brands and construction matter. 

Break Out the Spreadsheet to Find Cheap Diapers

Sales, coupons, buying in bulk and online programs can save you money! Unfortunately, you can’t tell if you are actually saving money without doing some calculations to get the cost per diaper. Sometimes it isn’t easy, with different diaper counts per package and coupon plus store discount policies.

Diapers go on sale very frequently. How do you know what is the real price? If you aren’t one for frequent coupon cutting and cost comparisons, sign up for an online buying program. Be aware that sometimes buying two small packages is less expensive than one large purchase.

Amazon’s family discount will keep you in diapers automatically for months at a time. Also, they calculate the cost per diaper for you. If you are more of a Costco, Walmart or Walgreens shopper, bulk diaper buys are frequent on their websites and there are often coupon combos to lower the price further.

Bulk Up!

Other than the very smallest sizes, don’t be afraid to stock up when you find a bargain. By bargain, we mean diapers for less than $0.20 each. Remember, you will use nearly 4000 diapers before you are done.

Combining coupons, discounts and bulk buys, it is possible to purchase diapers for HALF the regular price of premium brand name, full-price diapers. You can get as low as $0.17 per diaper, but that isn’t always feasible. Try out a small number of diapers before committing to a bulk buy.

Two to four months worth of diapers can take up a large space. Be sure to factor in storage space when buying your bargains. Most people recommend no more than two weeks worth of Size 1, a month of Size 2 and then three months or more of Sizes 3 and 4.

Larger Diaper Sizes Mean Fewer Per Package

When you purchase larger size diapers, the package size stays the same. This means that your product will include fewer diapers and each one costs a little more. Remember that the weights for each size diaper are suggestions. 

Your baby might fit into a smaller size for some time. This gives you time to find some comfortable bargains. Only move up when your baby is no longer comfortable in their size. This will maximize your baby’s time at the lowest cost per unit diaper.

If you find yourself with unopened packages of diapers, many stores will take them back for exchange. Check with your retailer. Opened packages can be traded for other things need. You can also give them to charity.

Save 40% or More

Remember to use these tips to find cheap diapers for your thrifty baby. With some careful comparisons, you can easily diaper your child for 40% less than retail. With online purchases, you can avoid impulse buys and save even more money.

Want some helpful tips to wring out even more spare change? Keep reading our blog to save money on pets, education, funerals and more. This Momma has you covered!

It’s 12:09 am. You’re lying in bed, wide awake, stressing over a fight that your significant other and you got in earlier that night.

“I don’t know how to maintain healthy relationships,” you think sadly. It seems you’re always fighting with your significant other. It’s not only this one, either–it feels like you’ve never known how to keep a good relationship.

You’re not alone. Between 40-50% of married couples in the US get divorced. It seems you’re not the only one who struggles with the elusive question of “how to maintain a healthy relationship.”

Read on to learn more about what you can do.

How to Maintain a Healthy Relationship

It can be tough to stay on good terms when life gets busy and we get stressed. Here are a few tips on how to have a healthy relationship. They’ll keep your love life going strong for years to come!

1. Communication is Key

Communication is the number one most important thing for maintaining a healthy relationship. Here’s an example of why.

Let’s say your significant other never does the dishes, and that really bothers you. After dinner, they retire to the couch, assuming you’ll get the job done. You’re tired of being the only one in the household who does the dishes.

Every night, you think, “it’s not such a big deal. I can do the dishes again.” Every night, though, you also feel a tweak of irritation. Eventually, that tweak of irritation turns into resentment.

Your next fight is a total blowout. Before you know it, you’re screaming about the dishes.

Your significant other had no idea it even bothered you. It was left to fester until it turned into a much bigger problem than it needed to be.

Instead, bring things up that bother you early and often. It’s best to iron them out before they turn into full-blown problems. If you struggle with communication, consider taking a free online marriage course to unlock your hearts.

2. Don’t Put Your Best Foot Forward

It may seem backward, but putting your best foot forward can lead to a sort of cognitive dissonance within a relationship.

Say you always wear dresses because your beau loves how you look in them. They’re not your favorite–you really prefer a soft pair of jeans. You want to put your best foot forward, though, so you stick to dresses most of the time.

Your significant other goes out of town on a business trip. “Finally,” you think. “I can’t wait to pull my jeans out of the bottom of the dresser and rock them all week!”

You feel more yourself than you have in a while, and you’re not sure why. You eventually realize it’s because you’ve been wearing jeans, and you haven’t in so long.

When your significant other returns, the jeans go back to the bottom of the dresser drawer. Somehow, you feel less yourself after returning to the dresses, like you’re not wearing them for you.

Make sure to stay yourself during all stages of a relationship. Don’t do things just to please the other. It’ll lead to your significant other not even knowing who you really are, and daily discomfort for you.

3. Make Time For Each Other

Life can get busy, fast. Before long, it can start to feel like your significant other is just the person you live with. You might begin wondering how to have a good relationship when you don’t even have time to talk to them all day.

Your “quality time” together becomes brushing your teeth, scrolling through Instagram before bed, and heating up leftovers together for dinner. Is this quality time?

Make sure to set aside time for date nights once a week. Plan a picnic, or go for a long walk together.

It’s the only way to stay connected during times of stress!

Let’s Talk

Let’s talk more about how to maintain a healthy relationship. It’s a difficult subject to tackle alone sometimes, so friendship always helps!

Get in touch to talk more, and let me know your comments!

Shopping for your little one’s first pair of shoes should be a fun adventure for every mom. If you want tips for finding the best baby walking shoes on the market today, look no further than our comprehensive guide listed below.

Here’s a look at some of the best ways you will save money shopping for your child’s first pair of baby shoes.

Determine What Type of Shoe You Will Buy

There are a few different types of shoes you can buy as a parent, and each one has benefits and drawbacks of purchasing them. You may look for shoes with laces in them, thinking it will be able to stay on your child’s foot better.

This may seem convenient at first but it will quickly become bothersome. Having to constantly tie and untie your child’s shoes when trying to rush out the door can be a huge pain.

Maybe you don’t want to tie their shoes and would like to purchase a simple pair that they can easily slip on and off.

Slip-on shoes can teach your child how to put their shoes on and become more independent. The big drawback with these shoes is that they may constantly fall off when your child is playing.

The best option is arguably finding a shoe with a velcro or elastic strap because you not only get a comfortable fit on your child’s foot, but you also have the peace of mind that the shoe will not come off easily.

Which option should you choose? When you look at all the benefits and drawbacks from these type of shoes it’s clear that finding one with Velcro may be the smallest headache for you as a parent.

Are They Comfortable?

The comfort of the shoe is another important aspect of purchasing the first shoes your baby will walk in. We all know if a child has to do something that makes them uncomfortable they will fight with you to the very end.

This is especially true when it comes to putting shoes on. Getting a shoe that is very uncomfortable to a child onto their foot will be like trying to grab a greased up pig. Once you get the shoe on make sure it is not too tight around their toes.

It shouldn’t be so loose that their foot can easily fall out but it also shouldn’t be too tight to the point that they are crying from discomfort.

You also don’t have to go for a shoe with a hard bottom sole, because specialty shoes are not as effective as people think (click here to learn more). So look at how comfortable the show will fit and thank us later.

Durability Is Important

How important is durability in purchasing your child’s first pair of walking shoes?

One of the biggest things you should understand when purchasing walking shoes is that your child will grow at a very fast rate during this stage of their life.

Most children’s shoe sizes will go up every few months so make sure this is a consideration in your purchasing decision.

A lot of parents get excited about buying their children the name brand sneakers or shoes to match the cute outfit that goes with what mom and dad are wearing.

However, you want to find a shoe that will be reliable and able to weather the workload they will be put through as your child learns to walk.

The pair of shoes you purchase should be durable enough to handle a full day of crawling and trying to stand up without pieces of the shoe breaking off or losing their stitching.

It simply is not smart shopping to buy a shoe that won’t be able to last one or two months of heavy work, so got out and find a shoe that will be able to get through a variety of everyday circumstances.

Discounts Will Be Your Best Friend

One thing we love about being thrifty mommas is that we can always find a good deal. Just because Payless has a buy one get one free offer (BOGO) on a pair of shoes doesn’t mean that the shoes are cheap or will lead to foot problems for your little one.

You might just be in the middle of finding an excellent deal when no one else is looking for one. Shopping around for coupons and promotions is one of the best ways to save money on a particular shoe you may be interested in purchasing.

There are a number of ways to find deals online through coupon websites and promotions through specific vendors, but don’t forget to look locally as well.

When looking for deals also take a peek at some of the reviews other parents have about a shoe, as you will get honest opinions about the item.

Some of your local shoe stores may have deals going on for back to school and you may be able to negotiate with a local store manager if you want to try your luck. So scour the internet, look for coupons in the newspaper, and check to see if any local stores have a deal that will give you the most bang for your buck.

How Are You Finding the Best Baby Walking Shoes For Your Child?

So now that we have looked at some of the best ways to find the best baby walking shoes for your little one, what are some things you will look for in purchasing that shoe?

Comment below and don’t forget to check out our frugal living section for more ways to find deals when shopping for your little ones.

As our parents age, we need to look after them the way they once looked after us. This includes recognizing signs of illnesses that aren’t especially easy to spot.

Some of the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, like mood swings and forgetfulness are pretty easy to write off as mom or dad having a bad day. But the truth is, these things should make you watch them a little closer; especially if the disease runs in your family.

Because Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, patients with it worsen over time. However, an early diagnosis and treatment can help keep them stable.

If you’ve noticed some odd behaviors, you might already be asking yourself if there truly is something going on with your parent. Maybe you’ve even noticed that the topic agitates or causes them to shut you out.

We laid out some of the early signs of Alzheimer’s you should be on the lookout for. Continue reading and we’ll also show you how to deal.

Talking to Your Parent

Conversations with your parents about their health as they age are some of the scariest conversations for adult children to start. We never want to make our parents feel like they’re incapable or watch them become defensive.

Because of all the sensitivity around these topics, it can feel nearly impossible to have these talks. But they are necessary to have. First of all, this conversation will lead to your parent receiving a real diagnosis and treatment.

It also gives you an opportunity to establish a plan. If your parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, they will eventually lose their ability to take care of themselves.

Speaking with them early on allows them to share their wishes and concerns. Give them the opportunity to tell you where they’d like to live, how they want their finances handled, what to do with their prized possessions and many other things.

This open dialogue will make your parent feel safe which will become even more important down the road. Don’t wait until there’s a serious crisis or accident. Those circumstances will limit everyone’s choices and add to the stress.

10 Early Signs of Alzheimer’s

In progressive diseases like Alzheimer’s, a patient’s brain structure and brain chemistry become more severely damaged over time. This is the reason you see people with Alzheimer’s slowly lose who they once were.

It’s important to note that while the early signs listed in this article are the most common symptoms patients will display, not all cases are the same. Meaning those with Alzheimer’s can possibly skip some of these symptoms or display some others early on.

You should also be mindful that some of these symptoms can present themselves in the later stages of the disease.

1. They’re Having Trouble Completing Typical Tasks and Chores

People with Alzheimer’s often experience difficulty completing tasks they didn’t have a problem with before. If your parent is usually pretty tidy and you realize they’ve stopped keeping a clean house, for example, this can be a sign that something is wrong.

The same can be said for a parent who has forgotten some of the steps to a recipe they’d cooked you your entire life, or the rules to a game they already know how to play.

2. Forgetting the Day, Month, Time or Location They’re In

If your parent has gotten lost in a familiar place like their favorite grocery store or their neighborhood, they could have a serious problem. They might call you in a panic over being lost or not knowing what day it is.

In some cases, your parent can even think they’re in a completely different decade. Bringing up old events like your little league soccer game as if it was happening today is a definite red flag.

3. Decreased Judgment

None of us make the right decisions all the time. Lapses in judgment happen to the best of us.

But we’re talking about those times where your parent does something irresponsible that seems to be coming from left field.

For instance, your mother might wear a summer dress on a cold winter’s day. Or your dad can give more money than he can afford to a telemarketer.

4. Losing Things

Has your parent started storing things in strange places? Have you found shoes in the fridge or car keys in the fish tank?

A person with normal cognitive function will misplace things, but they can usually retrace their steps to find them. If your parent is exhibiting more extreme versions of this otherwise normal behavior, it may end up being Alzheimer’s disease.

Patient’s with Alzheimer’s tend to blame others for stealing items they misplaced too.

5. Drastic Moodswings

Drastic mood swings without logical reasoning is an early sign of dementia that shouldn’t be ignored. Your parent can be mellow one minute and cry hysterically the next if they have this disease.

This can also come into play if they’ve suddenly become suspicious or moody around something they enjoyed spending time with before. Sometimes these mood swings stem from the person feeling uncomfortable, maybe being too hot or cold.

Changes in mood also including being calmer or less emotional than they typically would be.

6. Avoiding Social Situations

So, your parent used to be a social butterfly who enjoyed family gatherings and coffee dates with friends, but they’ve recently become withdrawn. This can happen because they’ve become uncomfortable being around people because they are frightened by their own strange behavior.

While becoming withdrawn, you parent can sleep more often than usual, develop passive personality traits, or take several naps throughout the day.

7. Problems with Written and Verbal Communication

People with dementia will forget common words. They may even replace them with words that don’t fit into their sentences, making their speech difficult to understand.

Furthermore, they can have a hard time reading; especially out loud. With dementia, your parent can fall into the reading level of a child during their early years of elementary school.

8. Forgetfulness

Most people classify Alzheimer’s disease with constant forgetfulness. It’s one of the most common symptoms.

Whether your parent is forgetting new information or thing they’ve already known, you should take the action seriously. Absent-minded behavior will also include repeatedly asking the same question.

9. Changes in Vision

Although it isn’t the most popular symptom, it does occur in some patients. Alzheimer’s disease can cause problems with processing colors, space, and reading.

This can weaken their ability to drive safely. If your parent had a recent fender bender where they ran into a nonmoving object like a tree or sign that they say “came out of nowhere” you should have their cognitive skills evaluated.

10. Trouble Thinking Critically

Has your parent recently began struggling to pay their bills without changes in income or commitments? Are invoices piling up and they don’t understand why?

People with dementia have trouble solving problems such as these. Sometimes the problems become so overwhelming that they just put them off instead of facing them.

An expense tracker can help you help your parent stay on top of their finances.

Talking to Your Parent’s Doctor

In the beginning, most patients with Alzheimer’s are uncooperative and display great levels of anger and denial. But if you are truly concerned that your parent has the disease, you should do everything you can to make sure they are correctly diagnosed and helped. This involves talking with their doctor.

HIPAA is set in place to protect patient privacy and information. Because of this, your parent’s doctor isn’t allowed to share things with you pertaining to their health. However, you are still fully able to share your concerns, even if your parent is against it.

Using the information you’ve learned about the early signs of Alzheimer’s, write a letter to their physician. In the letter, you should include your observations with timeframes.

Perhaps your parent called you three times in a single day asking what time your child’s birthday party will be. Maybe you watched them pour salt instead of sugar into a batch of lemonade.

These events should be noted and shared with the doctor. And although the doctor won’t be allowed to tell you specifics about their appointments with your parent, your letter will make them alert.

Your parent might even be more accepting of the conversation about Alzheimer’s or screening for the disease coming from their doctor instead of their child. Think about it, that role reversal can’t be fun for them.

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Although there has yet to be a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, there is support available to those patients who are living with it. The treatments range from medication, memory care, and lifestyle changes that can include assisted living.

It’s important for the patient to have a loved one who understands all these options as their disease worsens. For example, a lot of people don’t know the difference between assisted living and memory care (compare here.)

Follow our blog for tips about budgeting, health, and family life that can still be implemented if your parent is showing early signs of Alzheimer’s.