Frugal Moms

Kids at this age really enjoy the company of their friends.  In fact, I would say they would prefer their friends over a visit from aunt Thelma.  However, birthdays are an important time for the family, the child, and friends.  To be frugal at this age is very difficult.  They always want pizza, movies, games, going to the mall, shopping…. more.  However, a really sweet slumber party can be made for both boys and girls frugally if you know how to do it.

First make sure to lay ground rules.  There will be a birthday party and then a couple of friends may stay after for the sleep over part.  Make sure the birthday child knows not all of his or her friends can stay.  Set a limit to the amount of guests allowed based on your pocket book.  For my example I will say a total of 6 children including the birthday kid.  After the cake ($4)  described on my previous post HERE , and streamers and candles bought at the dollar store ($2), a mom or dad has to plan for the nights activities and at least a gift.  I would set a limit of $10 for a gift.  If you have a nice “get together” birthday party, the child shouldn’t notice the less expensive gift.  In general, it is my belief a child doesn’t need more than one good gift, but we always want to give more.

Make sure the birthday party itself is short and sweet, about an hour.  Also make sure that it starts at 7 or 8 pm.  Allow everyone to catch up and learn about one another.  Have a board game set up for the kids to play while they wait for the cake to be served.  This should be one you already own.  Board games are best because more players can play as opposed to video games which is limited to 4 at most.  Board games also stimulate conversation better.   Another game that is fun to play is “telephone.”  Where one person starts by whispering something in one persons ear and going around the room whispering the same thing from one child to the next.  At the end it will be very funny to see what the “secret” turns out to be.  Mom and Dad can play along with this one too, and should in fact initiate it.

At the dollar store you can find party favors, but I prefer to make my own.  For each child that can not stay at the slumber party, make sure they are given a goody bag.  This can be as simple as a little candy and a thank you note in a bag, or a certificate for fries at Wendy’s or something else.  In general candy and a bag are the cheapest, costing about ($2).

Once everyone leaves and only the kids that are staying over remain, the party really begins.  Make sure all the parents know that the kids must be picked up at 7 or 8 am, that way you don’t have to give them lunch or snacks.  Buy a pack of hot chocolate and candy canes ($3) for a winter birthday, or spiced apple cider and a how ever many apples as kids for a fall birthday ($5) , or buy a melon and tea ($5) for a summer birthday, or buy a carton of eggs and tea for a spring birthday ($3).  this will be the kids breakfast.  Of course, you will get the cheapest available in your area.

For entertainment there are several options.  Free videos are available over the internet at the following locations.  Veoh has several television shows.  Hulu has several free movies over the internet, and many tv shows. If you can’t find anything here you can always rent from your local movie rental place.  In general two movies is the maximum you will need if you started the birthday party at 7 pm.  ($7)

Of course while movies are playing, popcorn must be eaten.  Popcorn is only about $1 a bag.  Make sure you have enough for the whole tribe to stuff themselves silly.  For 6 children I recommend at least 2 bags.   ($2)  After the movies are done, tell a bed time story (scary is best) and send the little ones on their way.  Expect a night full of flash lights, giggles, bathroom trips, and in general whispers because no one ever sleeps on a sleep over.

Total cost with the most expensive options:   $32

Your pocket book won’t hurt and your kid will love you.  Also it can be a lot cheaper than this if you find a free movie you like, and only feed the kids eggs and tea for breakfast.  Finally, if your son or daughter complains about such a “little” birthday gift from mom and dad, explain the present isn’t their only gift…the whole sleep over was.  Then show them how much it costsed to host som many friends over night.  Good luck and let me know how this works.  My eldest daughter that is 12 says it is a dream come true,  may be your child will like it too.

Birthdays at this age are the easiest to throw if you can handle the noise level.  The first rule is to have immediate and extended family, and after that up to 6 friends.  Second make sure that you are aware of every guest that is or is not coming.  For a cake I suggest using Jiffy brand cakes.  You can buy a box for about 60 cents each, but I would buy two.  For icing I would buy a small tub of my favorite brand, since icing makes at least half the flavor of any cake.  Total for cake including 2 eggs, 1/2 cup of oil, and water: $3.50 to $4.00

Pick up party hats, streamers, and ballons at the dollar store for decorations.  You might even pick up a pack of candles and some wrapping paper if your budget isn’t extra tight.  This will cover most of you decorating needs and a couple games, depending on the age group of course.  Total: $5.00

When guests arrive, be sure to use your nice dishes and silverware for the adults.  Make sure everyone is comfortable and has a refreshment such as tea, water, or if you happen to have it on hand juice.  Using your normal dishes will take extra work due to washing, but it will be cheaper than buying throw away utensils and plates.

Until the birthday cake is ready to be served keep the children busy with games.  For ages 4 to 6 take a piece of poster board and draw a clown or other silly character missing a nose.  How the game is played.  Take a child, blind fold him, spin him around, and tell him to tape the “nose” on the clown.  Total cost: $2.00

For ages 7 to 9 a ballon stomp game can be fun and wild.  *Hint* (put away the breakables) Take (1) 12 inch length of string and tie (1) to each child’s shoe.  Attach a ballon to the end.  Tell them the last one with a balloon on the string is the winner.  Hilarity and bumps ensue.  Cost: $1.00

For ages 6 to 9, a water balloon fight is always fun, provided kids aren’t in their best outfits at the party and it is summer.  This should be supervised.  The balloon fight goes like this, to ensure it is a “fair” fight.  The children are divided into even teams with even abilities.  Basically that means two teams of three with a spread out age range.  Each team is given a set amount of pre-filled water balloons and a “base” to hide behind.  On the mark, they lob balloons at each other until depleted of ammo, or the other team is beyond soaking wet.  In the end there probably won’t be a clear winner, if the teams were evenly set up.

After play time is over, serve the cake with much fan fare.  Make sure everyone sings happy birthday and the birthday child blows out all the candles.   Of course after the cake comes presents.  Now this is the BIGGEST part of being frugal.  While I understand the want to give a little extra at a birthday, a limit should be set WELL ahead of the birthday for how much a birthday present can cost.  In our family it is generally 20 dollars.  If the child has plenty of family or friends, gathering up one or two more presents from the lot, he or she should be fine.

Total:  about $30.00

Okay last one on this topic I promise.  This is from my prospective as a person who sews.  For my little children I have to buy maybe a yard of material to make them clothes, which costs anywhere form one dollar to 4 dollars.  For my eldest daughter I am very lucky to get a yard, and if I do it has to be at least 60 inches tall, because her tummy plus 1/2 inch inseam on each side is almost a yard.  Usually this costs me more, because of the special dimensions of cloth I need. I would guess any where from 10 to 12 dollars a yard.

For me it takes almost 4 yards to cover everything, top to bottom, and back to front, but this  doesn’t have to be 60 inches material either.  I can make about anything I want with 3 yards.  For me I would guess anywhere from 4 to 16 dollars an out fit.

As you can see the price goes up for every yard of fabric, or special requirement needed.  The bigger a person is the more yardage they need, and the less stylish the clothes in my opinion.  From a purely economical fashion point of view, it is better to be the average petite size than a plus size when looking for patterns, price and availability wise.

So I am going to continue to aim for 4 to 6 pounds a month, until I am my proper weight, which I have found to be between  105 and 125.  I hope you will join me!

I covered a litany of things about how being big is costing people money.  Today I am going to cover more frugal issues about how it costs, and how much you can save.  A person who is morbidly obese, which 30% of ya’ll are, has a higher rate of death from heart disease, complications from diabetes, stroke, cancer, and more.  Losing just 20% of one’s body weight can lower all of these complications drastically.  Let’s say you are a somewhat healthy, 32 year old, 220 pound male at the height of 5′9″. If you weigh this much you are very much so over weight.  If you lost just 44 pounds to 176 pounds, your risks for all types of diseases would go down amazing amounts.

Let’s talk about the expense of disease.  Let’s just say diabetes, it costs at least 45 dollars a month for test strips to check your glucose, then there is what ever medication you take which could be a pill or an awful shot, or now days they have a pump.  This is every month, where as if you just lost 20% of your weight by riding 20 miles to work everyday, which also lowers your chance of diabetes by almost 58%, you wouldn’t have to pay for any of that stuff. Then there are the doctor visits every month and the specialists.  Then you have to pay nutritionists.  You see it is a never ending cycle of illness which can be avoiding by dedication to saving money.

Some diseases aren’tfrom weight and I understand this.  I was born with asthma.  However, my mom wasn’t born with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.   She gained all those things by eating too much and not working enough.  I want to add one last thing, if you love your kids, exercise and eat right to lose that 20% if you are over weight.  My mom died when I was only 19 and my sister was 11.  It was something I would wish on anyone.

The size we are effects everything from how much we eat to where we can work.  Studies have shown that over weight individuals are often declined for jobs they are more than capable of doing, based only on weight.  I’m not saying it’s fair, but it’s out there.

Also, in some states they are putting a weight tax on health insurance.  For example, Alabamans that are hefty pay 25 dollars for their “free” health insurance.  Mississippi is thinking about banning over weight diners in fast food restaurants.  While this smacks of big brotherism, trying to attack the little fat guy, it’s a growing and scary trend.  How long until your health insurance adds a fat tax?

Let’s also consider some airlines now charging hefty customers for two seats, even if they don’t take up two seats, just because people don’t want to sit next to a fat person.  All of these things and more are starting to stare some us pleasantly plump people in the face.   Add the $2 to $3 mark up for plus size, the special orders for special caskets, the extra charge for extra wide emergency beds, and you start to get an idea of how hefty people are getting taxed for their weight.

Add to that the fact few people want to hire a hefty person based on “public appearance” concerns and you now have a second class based only on their weight.  No wonder gastric by pass surgeries and the diet industry are booming.  No one wants to be second class, charged out the a$$, and going no where real fast.   My advice is take it in stride, the smaller you become the less you will be charged.  Don’t rush to lose it all at once, because good things take time.  Losing weight could save some Albamans at least 25 dollars a month.

I have already told you how it saves gas and food, but did you know exercise can save you money too?  Oh no, surely I am kidding.  Why with gym fees, and gas to get there it costs to exercise right?  Wrong.  If you think a gym is an absolute necessity to exercise, you are way to domesticated.  I once saw a picture of an elevator leading to the gym.  You see, that is what is wrong with our country currently.  I will give you examples of regular exercise that is free and will actually save you money.

1. Riding your bike to and from work.  How many of you are straining under the pressures of high gas prices?  There is a solution, and if you don’t have a bike it costs about 3 fill ups brand spanking new, or less than half a tank used.  A normal person riding a bike can average about 10miles per hour.  If you live less than 20 miles form your work, riding should be a priority.  If you live under 40 miles form work, riding once or twice a week to save a little gas and gain a little exercise should be acceptable.  A person riding a bike for one hour can burn up to 400 calories, depending on weight.  That means a 250 pound man wouldn’t even have to diet, except dropping those awful sodas because of the nasty chemicals, if he rode 20 miles to and from work everyday.

2. Mowing the lawn with a Reel Push mower.  This saves gas or electricity while giving you a good work out once or twice a week.  Once upon a time, every man was seen out side on Saturdays pushing the mower or trimming the hedges.  How many of you pay someone else to do it and pay for a gym membership?  tsk tsk.  How many of you use a gas powered mower when a push mower would work just as good?  tsk tsk.  This is how America is getting fat, we don’t do as much as we used to and we’re going broke by paying for everything and everyone to do those things for us.  Get out there and mow the lawn the old fashioned way.

3. How many of us actually garden as a means of getting food and not as a hobby?  At one time over 10 million pounds of produce was created at home, during the era of the victory garden.  How many people now have victory gardens?  Gardening is very good for you in that it has a little bit of everything, lifting, carrying, walking, and more.  It saves money by getting you food, and helping you lose weight.  Plus garden produce is natures “diet food”.  Have you ever heard of anyone getting fat on steamed squash?  Pickles?  How about tomatoes?  Not likely right, because all garden vegetables are low calorie and high nutrition.

4. One last thing.  In the North East it gets bitterly cold and snow can go feet high in front of the door.  How many snow blowers existed in the 1900’s?  I wonder how mnay people could save money by buying a snow shovel ($15) as compared to a snow blower ($50).  Imagine all those calories burned by clearing the side walk and the driveway.  I used to do this for other people and charged $5 a sidewalk.  The funny thing is no one wanted to pay me to do it, but they would pay $50 or more for a snow blower that sucks up about $5 in gas each time they use it.  How silly.

If you do only one of the above this next month, do #1.  It has the greatest amount of impact on your health and budget.  Next I would say number 3 has the second greatest impact on your health and budget.  Doing number 1 will save you at least 50 bucks a month if not more.  Number 3 will save you about 30 bucks a month or more.   Could you use 4 to 6 pounds gone and an extra80 dollars a month?  I think most of us could.

Yesterday I gave the reason why weight loss will help you at the pump, today I will give how it will help your food bill.  I think it’s rather obvious, or at least I did, that going on a diet would save money in the food bill.  That was until I saw a “needy” request of $200 for “diet food”.  I am going to be blunt and honest.  If you pay $200 for “diet food” I have some swamp land in NJ to sell you.  Diet food is nothing more than pre-portioned real food or something posing as food, but laden with chemicals.  One you can do yourself and the other my dog shouldn’t eat.  Going on a diet means different things to different people, but to me it means one thing…eat less.  I don’t care if you put your seconds int he freezer for lunch the next day or skip on one snack a day, you are dieting.  Something as small as trading soda for non-sweetened tea is dieting and can help you drop those 4 pounds.

Dieting shouldn’t EVER cost you more money.  Why do think people in places where food isn’t abundant are skinny?  Because they are dieting due to the nature of their situation.   Here are some suggestions to help you trim the food budget and your waistline this month.

1. Trade soda for non-sweetened tea (1 pack of soda is $2.99 on sale and 1 box of tea is $1 on sale) Calorie wise soda has about 200 calories a soda and tea has about 20.

2. Skip seconds and save them for lunch the next day.  If you normally eat seconds or even thirds, put them in the freezer.  Save them for lunch at work.  This will save you the temptation of buying a $5 Mc crappy meal to stave off the hungries, and will inherently lower your over all calorie intake.

3. Check your portion sizes.  Let’s say you have a big old bowl of oat meal every morning, do you ever measure to make sure your getting one serving?  I do now.  I eat 1/2 cup of oatmeal, and 1 teaspoon of sweetener, usually molasses or honey.  You don’t have starve yourself or even cut out the “good things” in life if you eat just one serving.

4. If it’s something very sweet, like cake, don’t eat it unless it’s a special occasion like a holiday or a birthday, and then have only one serving.  This saves money from buying desert every Sunday and also keeps weight in check.

If you do just these four things you will lose at least 4 pounds in the next month and save money on your groceries.  Good Luck!