to come do it for me. Let's cut the BS and admit in my younger years I never worried about budgets. My parents arnt in the running to be the next Donald Trump but they both work hard, are awesome at budgeting and my sisters are quite a bit older so if I "absolutely had to have something" like I would always say I would end up getting it. Well, now I'm not in high school or even close so if I told my dad "I absolutely needed something" he would probably tell me to work more hours that week, maybe laugh, and to reevaluate what "I absolutely need".
Reality kicked me in the butt when I was pregnant and first had Boston. Her "dad" didn't help pay till it was ordered, and garnished, I was so sick and not working as much as I wish I could and I was to embarrassed to always let my parents know I couldn't handle. So things I thought I wanted were a distant idea and I could hardly afford what I needed. I was paying rent and for diapers with a credit card. I have that all under control now and it's in the past so I have come up with a few ways I budget (I hate that word) in hopes that you will share some of yours.
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*I love getting cute clothes for Boston but sometimes they are pricey. At the end of each season all of the clothes left are marked down super cheap. Last year by the end of September I had all of the summer coming up's clothes already purchased at awesome prices. I have that mostly done now for the summer of 2014.
*I literally could eat out daily, not because I love Taco Bell (but I really do) but because I don't want to spend the time to make something when I get home. I have learned that after I go grocery shopping if I get my meals mostly prepared right then it will be quicker and easier when I am hungry and less likely that I will go out saving me money and tons of calories.
* I am a licensed cosmotologist which has come in super handy. I really waned amazing cakes for Boston's birthday but I knew I shouldn't be spending the money on it and I don't have the talent to make them. Luckily, a person who does make them needed her hair done so we traded. If you arnt a cosmotologist you can do something for a trade; shovel snow, mow lawns; the possibilities are endless.
*I will never be above a second hand store or thrift shop. If something from there is in good shape I count that as a blessing and purchase it.
*If you can don't budget on photo's. Pictures are so important to me and an amazing photographer can make a huge difference. I love the big canvas pictures and we have various ones hanging in our house from 8x10's to 16x20's. What I don't love is the expensive prices for those... What we do is use an online 40% off to Hobby Lobby to buy Modge Podge, Black paint and canvas, then we print off our pictures we want done at Sam's Club. If you paint the edges and sides of the canvas then mondge podge the pictures onto them and modge podge over the pictures after you get the same awesome canvas to hang with only spending between $5.00 and $10.00 a piece rather than spending at least $75.00. Thank you Kelsey (Keller) Weller for teaching me that!
This one is a 16x20 in our front room.. It looks better in person.
*Check online classifieds. I will admit sometimes they are full of overpriced, and un-needed things but sometimes you will find awesome steals. A lady whose son outgrew size three diapers sold 350 Huggies for $25.00 and I gladly purchased those.
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That's our small, rookie list of money saving ideas and we would seriously love to hear yours?!
XO:
Ashlynn&Boston BRONSON
Thank for sharing! As a mom myself tou are an awesome example and I admire you so much.
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