I recently had to move my kiddos from an in-home daycare to a “regular” one. This hit my budget very hard since it was unexpected and doubled my daycare expense each week. My checkbook is still recuperating, but I’m thankful that my babies are somewhere with reliable caretakers during the day.
As soon as I re-evaluated my budget, I knew I had to come up with some extreme cost saving ideas but, also, remember to focus on the smaller day-to-day things that add up over time.
I’m reviving the jewelry and clothing swaps my girlfriends used to do a few years ago. It’s fun time for us to get together once every few months and exchange accessories and clothing we no longer wear for whatever reason. Everyone brings a side dish, dessert or drink and we have an evening filled with laughter, stories and “free” shopping. Two for one savings – girls night out AND shopping trip 
I don’t buy paper towels. My family uses cloth napkins and they’re washed in my regular towel loads. I typically find these on clearance in many department stores and spend a fraction of what I’d spend on replenishing paper towels.
I’m a bargain shopper but I really don’t like going into stores. Most of my shopping is done online and through sites like EBay. For most of my online shopping, I go through sites like Ebates or Shop At Home to find discounts and get a percentage back from my purchases. Not a huge amount, but an extra $20-30 a quarter is better than nothing. And it’s my money I’m getting back. This comes in very handy during holiday shopping time.
Drink more water. This helps me not buy sodas during the day at work ($0.65 can add up pretty quickly) or if I go out for lunch or dinner where sodas or teas can cost up to $2. It’s, also, healthier and I feel more rejuvenated throughout the day.
My husband cuts his and our boys hair. That’s a savings of almost $40 every two weeks!
We’ve become regular patrons of our library – books, magazines, movies – it’s got it all!
Any of you have any unique or out-of-the box cost savings ideas that are working for you?
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