Money Archives - Sleeping Should Be Easy

Raising Children on a Tight Budget

Nov 24, 2022

What do you do when money is tight and you have a family? Get tips about raising children on a tight budget while still enjoying life. At one point, my family and I hadn't eaten at a restaurant in five months. We also only attended free outings, relied on the kids' imagination to squash their boredom, and slashed our grocery budget. This was hardly a picture of living below the poverty level, either (or anywhere near it). My husband and I had jobs, all sorts of insurance coverage, and a spacious apartment. We were a typical middle-income family and had too many comforts that passed as … [Read more...]

12 Ways to Beat the High Cost of Twins

Money

Sep 20, 2022

Worried about twin expenses? Learn how to beat the cost of twins — a must for the twin mom who wants to save money with two babies! I won't lie: Having twins can be financially challenging. The first time I heard I was expecting two, one of the first thoughts I had was: How in the world will I afford the expenses?! I've found myself feeling strapped, especially in a high cost-of-living city. Preschool tuition cost more than our rent, and buying essentials like two cribs, two car seats, and even a minivan took its toll. I worried about the impact that having twins would have on our … [Read more...]

12 Easy Ways to Teach Preschoolers about Money

Learn and Discover

Apr 06, 2022

It's not too early to start teaching preschoolers about money! Discover 12 ways to make learning about money fun, interesting, and impactful. It's the taboo topic, even among adults. We're not supposed to mention incomes, debts, or how much we spend on purchases. We size each other up based on our perceived worth. Yet so much about money pervades our lives, from the opportunities we have to the values we shape. It's what determines whether we save for college or stay home with the kids. Like many people, I didn't get a well-rounded education about money, certainly not from school. … [Read more...]

11 Frugal Tips for New Moms that Actually Save You Money

Family Life

Aug 13, 2021

Parenthood can wipe out your finances. Learn frugal tips for new moms to make sure that doesn't happen. Perfect for thrifty moms to save money! You've heard the horror stories. How raising a child from birth to 18 years of age will cost the average family $245,000. The expensive gear you "need" to keep your baby safe and comfortable. The childcare, the formula, and the zillions of diapers. Is there a way to avoid the financial trap of raising kids? Frugal tips for moms I had already been frugal even before my kids were born, and even I was frantic about all the expenses that were … [Read more...]

What to Do When You’re Stressed about Money

Family Life

Jun 25, 2021

Feeling worried and anxious about money all the time? Learn what to do for you and your family when you're stressed about money. Before I had kids, I was able to save half my income. I lived frugally and didn't need much to keep me happy. I even got a kick to see how much I could save every month. But with the arrival of three kids, money didn't always come so easily. Hearing that I was expecting twins heightened my anxieties, as I wondered how we'd ever cover two babies plus a preschooler all at once. At one point, our childcare costs—preschool and a nanny—were double the rent. When … [Read more...]

How Your Family Can Save Money on Dental and Vision Visits

Family Life

Jun 29, 2017

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SingleCare. All opinions are 100% mine. You may not know this, but the price you pay for dental and vision visits isn't always locked in. I sure thought it was. I figured that whatever the insurance wouldn't pay meant it isn't covered, or that the fee I was quoted had to be the lowest price. I've canceled procedures that my insurance wouldn't cover, thinking I had no other option. Turns out, it doesn't have to be this way. Save with SingleCare SingleCare can save your family money on prescriptions, dental, vision and virtual doctor … [Read more...]

How to Save Money on Prescriptions for You and Your Family

Family Life

Apr 05, 2017

Tired of rising costs of prescriptions, insurance and copays? See how SearchRx can help you save money on prescriptions. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SearchRx. All opinions are 100% mine. It seemed like I was making multiple trips to the pharmacy the minute I got pregnant and had kids. From prenatal vitamins to medicine for pregnancy complications, I became a regular customer at the pharmacy. All these costs add up, especially with how much and how often I needed to take them. Prescription costs can be a hard blow to parents already trying to manage rising costs of … [Read more...]

Teaching Kids to Save Money

Learn and Discover

Feb 07, 2017

Teaching kids to save money starts at a young age! Learn tips and tricks to teach money management, counting money and the importance of saving money. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not). All opinions are 100% mine. Want to know the number one influence on your child's financial behavior? It's not the media, peers, or even DNA. It's you and me. Parents make the biggest impact on whether kids will go into heavy debt or pay off bills, learn to save or spend more than they earn. Thankfully, we have an awesome resource … [Read more...]