Orskiptheboxspringandgetaslattedbed. Saveafewhundred dollarswhenbuyinganewmattressbygettingaslattedbedandsaying
goodbyetotheboxspring.Inaslattedbed,themattressissupportedby wooden slats in the bed frame. The advantages of a slatted bed are many:theyprovidemoreventilationtothemattress,theycanincrease
mattresslifespanbyreducingmoisturebuildup,andyousavehundreds
bynothavingtobuyaboxspring.
BOTTOMLINE:Aslattedbedhasalongerlifespanthanaboxspring
mattress due to ventilation and construction. Choosing a slatted bedwillsaveyoufromreplacingaboxspringinaround10years,
savingyouhundreds.
Buy a bed based on comfort, not brand name. Most major manufacturers in North America buy mattress springs from the same company, Leggett & Platt. Because mattress springs boast very similar qualities, try to ignore the marketing flash and base your bed-buying decision on comfort, firmness, lumbar support and cost. Mattresses softenabitovertime,soconsiderbuyingoneslightlyfirmertoallowfor give.
BOTTOMLINE:Savehundredsofdollars,maybeevenathousand,
by ignoring flashy bed marketing and opting for the most
comfortablesleepwiththebestprice.
Don’tbuybedlinenbasedonthreadcount. Expensivebedlinens
boastinghighthreadcountsdon’tnecessarilyguaranteethebestnight’s sleep. Thread count is the number of threads per square inch in the fabricanddoesnotaccountforthetypeorblendofcottonused.Most
bedlinenthreadcountsrangefrom80to340,withtheultra-expensive
linensbeinginthe1,200range.Asthreadcountincreases,theyarnsin thefabricbecomethinnerandthepriceincreases,whilesheetswitha
lower thread count tend to be made with thicker yarns and cost less.
Generally,mostsleepyheadsarecomfortablewithacountbetween180
and 250. To find the best buys, watch for white sales in the winter months.
BOTTOMLINE:Selectlinensbasedonfeel,andgowithyoursenses
for comfort and softness. Choosing bed linens with a 240-thread count will save you hundreds over a 600-count sheet without
sacrificingcomfortordurability.
Closets
Thestuffstoredinyourclosetcaneasilyadduptothousandsofdollars spentonclothing.Topreventawardrobemalfunctionandlosingyour
shirttopoorlystoreditems,trythesetipstokeepyourclothingmended andmouldfree.
Take inventory of the clothing you own. Knowing what clothing youownpackedtightonhangersortuckedawayon shelves can help
youdeterminewhatyouneedtobuy,sellormend.Spendingmoneyon
apairofblackpants,evenifthey’reonsale,iswastefulifyoualready ownfivepairspackedawayfromlastseason.Goingthroughyourcloset
andtryingonpants,jacketsandsweaterstoseewhatstillfitsandwhat looks good with your wardrobe can help bring pieces back into your weeklyrotationandsaveyoufrombuyingunnecessaryitems.
BOTTOM LINE: Take inventory of the clothing you own and the outfitsthatcanbeputtogethertosaveyourselfhundredsonrepeat
or unnecessary purchases. You may just discover a lost clothing treasure!
Remove clothing clutter. Do you still own leg warmers from the
1980s?Perhapsit’stimetocleantheclutterfromyourclosetandmake
way for the current decade. Excess clutter can be sold to consignment stores and turn you a small profit while clearing your space for the clothing you currently wear. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your next Halloweencostumeforfree!
BOTTOMLINE:Sellyourgo-gobootsandshirtswithshoulderpads
foratinyprofitordonateyouroldwardrobetocharities.Keeping
your closet clutter free saves your closet space for the items you actuallyuse.
Use proper cleaning and storage techniques. Taking care of the clothingyouownhelpsittolastlonger.Byinvestinginqualityhangers andclothescovers,youcanprotectyourgarmentsfromdust,moisture
andpestslikemoths.Clothingmadefromnaturalfibresneedsplentyof
aircirculationtokeepfabricsfromharbouringbugsandmildew,souse
quality wood hangers over cheap wire alternatives to keep garments from slouching and packing tight in your closet. Properly folding and stackingsweatersandshirtscanalsokeepyourwardrobelastinglonger.
Amessypileofshirtsonthefloorcanbecomedamagedorsoiledfrom
beingtrampledupon.Aneatlyfoldedstackoftopscanbeeasilyaccessed andstayswrinklefreefordailywear.
BOTTOM LINE: Use quality wooden hangers at 75 cents each and clothescoversfor85centseachtoprotectyourclothingfromdust,
mildewandpestsandhelpitlastlonger.
Mendorrepairqualityclothing. Ifyou’velostabuttonorfrayeda hem, pick up a sewing kit for $5 and learn how to repair the light damage. Mending and taking care of your jackets, suits, pants and sweaters will keep them fit for years and save you from replacing garmentsfrequently.Ifyouneedanoldersuittakeninorsomepantslet out,takethemtoaseamstressortailortokeepyourclothingwearable
forless.Gettingasuitalteredisfarlessexpensivethanbuyinganew one.
BOTTOM LINE: Regular care and maintenance of your wardrobe
keeps it wearable for longer. Getting quality items altered by a professionalcostslessthanreplacingill-fittingitems.
Getyourshoesresoled. You’vegottohavesole!Insteadoftossing outshoeswithwornheelsorsoles,getthemresoledforthefractionof thepriceofanewpair.Whenshoeswearout,it’susuallyonlythesole that’sworn—theupperofashoe,especiallyonmoreexpensiveleather
shoes,canoutlastthesolemanytimesover.Adecentpairofshoescan
beresoledaboutthreetimesbeforetheupperiswornout.Notonlywill yourshoeslastmuchlonger,butbyrebuildingthemyouwon’thaveto
put up with the discomfort of breaking in a brand-new pair. Not all shoes—suchasrunningshoes—canberesoled,butyoumaybesurprised
withthehandytechniquesacobblercanusetosaveyoursole.
BOTTOM LINE: If you resole a $200 pair of shoes three times for $50,you’llspendatotalof$350.Thatsavesyou$450overbuying
anewpairofshoeseachtime.
Investinqualityclothingessentials. Mosteveryguyandgalneeds someclassicessentialpiecesintheirwardrobe.Ifyouspendalittlemore onqualityfabricswithmoredurableconstruction,thebasiccomponents
ofyourwardrobewilllastformanyseasonsratherthanfallapartaftera fewmonthsofwear.Keepingessentialpiecesinyourwardrobelonger
keeps you from spending hundreds of extra dollars on replacement items.
For gals, look to spend a little extra on the following wardrobe basics:
Pairofdarkdenimjeans
Fine-knitsweater
Darkskirt
Jacketorsuitblazer
Pairofblackdresspants
Trenchcoat
Littleblackdress
Pairofblackheels
Classicwhiteshirt
Guysshouldspendthebucksandinvestinthesewardrobebasics:
Darkdenim
Fine-knitsweater
jeans
Sharp-looking
Tie
suit
Goodshirts—
Pairofdresspants
classicwhite
variouscoloursor
and
&
nbsp; patterns
Pairofblack
shoes
BOTTOMLINE:Spendabout15%to20%moreonwardrobebasics
orclassicpiecesandsavemoneyinthelongrunbykeepingquality
garmentslonger.
Buytrendyclothingatdiscountstores. Keepingupwithtrendsand lookingup-to-dateisfun,andimportantwhenyouworkinanofficeor
arearoundcustomers.Theproblemwithtrendsistheyusuallydon’tlast pastaseasonortwo.Sosavesomemoneybyaddingtrendypiecesto
yourwardrobesparinglyandshoppingforsalesatstoreslikeWinners,
Joe Fresh and warehouse outlets. You don’t need to buy the highest-quality pieces for short-living trends, so save your bigger wardrobe dollarsforyourclothingessentials,likeaqualitypeacoatorlittleblack dress.
BOTTOMline:Havesomefunwithyourwardrobebyaddingtrendy
piecesfoundonsaleorthroughdiscountstoresandsaveupto50%.
Storeyourjewellerywithcare. Don’tgetyourneck-lacestiedina knot!Lumpingyourgoldandsilverchainsintoasinglepilecancause
themtotangleintoamassofmess.Tryingtopryyourfavouritechain
apart can weaken the links, shortening its lifespan. When storing fine chains, lay them flat in a box to keep them untangled. When storing delicategemslikepearlsandamber,placetheminasoftclothbagor
pouch or wrap in a soft non-abrasive cloth. With delicate gems, care must be taken to store them safely because their softness makes them moresusceptibletodamage.Keepsoftstonesfarfromsharpobjectsthat may cause scratches; never store them near harsh chemicals like
perfumes, which can cause discoloration; and never expose delicate gemstohighheat.Lastly,pearlsshouldbekeptinacontainerwithlots ofventilation.
BOTTOMLINE:Storingyourchainsanddelicatejewellerycarefully
means you won’t have to repair or replace them—saving you
thousands.
HowtoCleanaDiamondRing
Avoidspending$70onexpensiveultrasonicjewellerycleanersortime-
consumingvisitstoyourjewellerbytryingthissafeandfrugaltrickfor cleaning your diamond ring. This method works well on yellow gold, whitegoldandplatinumshanks.
WhatYouNeed
•70%isopropylrubbingalcoholfor$1.75fromadrugstore
•Softeyemakeupbrushfor99centsfromadrugstore
•Facialtissuefor1cent
Instructions
1. Place your ring in a small dish filled with enough rubbing alcohol to coverthediamond.(Insteadofrubbingalcoholyoucanuseonedropof
liquiddishdetergentandveryhotwater.)
2.Soaktheringfor2minutes.
3. Brush the ring carefully yet vigorously with a soft brush. Be sure to scrubbetweensettingprongsandunderthebasketandshank.
4.Soaktheringagainforatleast2minutes,andthendryonatissue.Your diamondringwilllookbrandnew.
5.Repeateveryotherdayforsparklingresults.
CHAPTER11
Kids’RoomsandBeyond
As a parent, you never want to feel like you’re scrimping where your kidsareconcerned.Childhoodgoesbysoquickly,andthememorieslast
forever,somanymomsanddadsfindthemselvesoptingintoeverything,
trying to give their kids the best experience possible. But once you’ve been to your third birthday party in a row and then get hit up for hockey/ballet/piano fee number four for the month, things can get expensive.Yettherearetonsofsimple,commonsensewaystocutback
on outgoing cash without cutting back on the quality of your kids’
experience. Whether you’re shopping for clothes or eating out, a little creativityandakeeneyeforthebottomlinecanmakeahugeimpacton
yourfamilyspending.Andteachingyourkidsrightfromthestartthat
frugallivingcanbefunisagreatwaytohelpthemadoptthriftyhabits forlife.Herearesomeeasyideasforwaystomakeahappychildhood
morewalletfriendly.
Cutbackonbabystuff. First-timeparentscangetcaughtupinthe excitementandbuycarloadsofunnecessarybabyitems.Talktofriends
who have recently had babies and get the lowdown on what’s really useful and what’s just expensive clutter. Many parents find they don’t need a bassinet (babies outgrow them so quickly) or change table (a towelonthebedorevenonthefloorworksjustaswell).Thosedisposal systemsthatwrapthediapersinplasticarenotonlyawasteofmoney
butanenvironmentalnuisanceaswell.
BOTTOMLINE:SaynototheDiaperGenieandsave$35offthetop,
plus$8foreveryrefillpack.
Buy large items second-hand—but be careful. Strollers, cribs and carseatsareamongthemostexpensivenecessitiesforparentsofbabies.
Youcansavebigbyinheritingtheseitemsfromfamilyorfriends,orby
buyingthemsecond-handfromaconsignmentshop.Justbeawareofthe
safetyissues:forexample,ifyouuseasecond-handcrib,makesureit’s ingoodconditionandincludesthelabelwithmodelnumberanddateof
manufacture(soyoucancheckforrecalls),andalwaysinvestinanew
mattress.Buyingausedcarseatfromsomeoneyoudon’tknowisnota
goodidea,asitmayhavebeeninanaccident.Anysecond-handcarseat
shouldincludethemanualsoyouknowexactlyhowtoinstallanduseit.
BOTTOMLINE:Newcribsgofor$300andup,sturdystrollersstart
around$120,andconvertiblecarseatscanbewellover$200.You
shouldbeabletopickupsecond-handitemsfornomorethanhalf
theiroriginalcost—asavingsofatleast$300.
Considerclothdiapers. Yourchoiceofdiapersdependsentirelyon youryuckfactor,butclothdiaperswillcertainlysavemoneycompared
todisposables.Don’tletyourmothertalkyououtoftryingthem:they’re much more absorbent and tight-fitting than they once were. If you’re committed to disposables, try the generic brands (they’re about 30%
cheaper),atleastpart-time.Manyparentsfindthey’renotasabsorbent, buttheyshoulddothetrickwhenyou’reathomeduringtheday.Save
themoreexpensivebrand-namediapersfornighttimeandoutings.
BOTTOMLINE:Usingcloth—evenincludingtheexpenseofrubber
pants and laundering—can save you about $1,000 over the 30
monthsthatmostkidsareindiapers.
Breastfeedaslongasyoucan. Thedecisionwhethertobreastfeedor use a bottle is almost never driven by money, but the cost of formula isn’ttrivial.Ifyou’recommittedtonursingbutarehavingahardtime, lots of free support is available from organizations such as La Leche League (lllc.ca). Breastfeeding moms can also save by nixing the disposablebreastpadsandusingwashableonesinstead.
BOTTOMLINE:Full-timeformulauserscanexpecttospendabout
$100to$120amonth—awhopping$1,200ayearyoucansaveby
breastfeeding.
Makeyourownbabyfood. YouhardlyneedtobeJamieOliverto
make baby food: all you need is a blender and a freezer. Babies love
puréedcarrots,sweetpotatoes,bananasandpears.You’llsavetimeby
makinglargebatchesandfreezingindividualportionsinanice-cubetray
—nojarstobuyorwash,andyoucanpopoutaportionandthawas
needed.Youcanevenmakebabycerealsfromground-upriceorfrom
rolledoats.Talktoyourfamilydoctororanutritionistbeforehand,to make sure you
’re preparing foods safely and introducing them at appropriatetimes.
BOTTOM LINE: Expect to save about $2 a day during baby’s first year.
Makeyourownbabywipes. Babywipeshaveperhapstheshortest
and most inglorious lifespan of any consumer product. You can easily andcheaplymakeyourownbycuttingarollofpapertowelsinhalfand
placing the towels in a plastic container with 2 cups of water, 2
tablespoonsofliquidbabybathsoapandabitofbabyoil.Whenthey’re thoroughly soaked, remove the cardboard tube. You can also make washablewipeswithbabywashcloths.
BOTTOMLINE:Eliminatetheneedforbuyingrefillpackagesat$8
per200wipes.
Save coupons and samples. Diapers, formula and other expensive staples are often promoted with in-store coupons and samples handed outindoctor’soffices.Askfriendsandfamiliestosavetheseforyouand makeapointofstockingupwhenyoufindagoodcoupon,evenifyou
havetovisitthesamestorethreedaysinarowtogetaroundtheone-
per-customerrule.
BOTTOMLINE:Scoreaweek’sworthofformulaandsave$25.
SaveonBirthdayParties
If you have childless friends, ask them how much they think a child’s birthdaypartycoststoday.Chancesarethey’llbebowledovertolearn
that middle-income parents can spend over $200 on a six-year-old’s bash. The peer pressure and one-upmanship is undeniable, but it is possible to hold a birthday bash on a budget. Here are some parent-testedtips:
•Ifyou’reolderthan30,chancesarehighthatyouhadmostofyourown childhoodbirthdaypartiesathome.Olderkidsmaybalkathomeparties
today (“Mom, that’s so lame”), but they can still be great for younger ones. You can entertain toddlers and school-agers with low-cost
activitieslikedress-upgames(pickupabagofitemsatathriftstore), facepaintingandcrafts.
•Here’sagreatideaforasuper-cheapteenparty:haveascavengerhuntat themall.Partygoersgetalistofitemstheyhavetocollect,writedown or shoot with their digital cameras. Some examples: a photo with a security guard, tacky jewellery from a coin-operated machine, a
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