Declutter & Organize Your Playroom While Making Money

March 4, 2013 By

It is that time of year again. The time of year that the days get longer, the flowers start to bloom and the house gets a good spring cleaning. It seems the most daunting task each year is tackling the kids’ playroom. Between Christmas and birthday presents, McDonald’s toys and other odds and ends, it is overflowing and in need of a good clean-out. If you are looking to get your child’s playroom or bedroom looking neat again, I have gathered up a few tips for you.

1. Tackle it Alone!

In my opinion, your best bet is to wait until the kids are not around. If your kids are anything like mine, they are miniature hoarders and the thought of permanently separating them from any toy will throw them into a full tantrum. If your child is older and can part ways with their belongings easily, by all means, let them help!

2. Analyze and Separate

When going through my kids’ stuff, I make three piles: Outgrown, Broken and Keep. Obviously, the Broken pile is easy – just throw it away! When going through your stuff, you will also find items that your child just doesn’t play with. I usually add those to the Outgrown pile as well.

3. Organization

For everything in your Keep pile, you will want to make sure everything has a proper place. Personally, we use a modular cube storage system. Bigger items can still sit nicely on a shelf and the smaller items get tucked away inside a storage tote. For bigger, odd-shaped items such as race tracks, I tuck those away in the toy chest. I also like to make labels so that the kiddos have no excuse as to where a toy is supposed to go!

4. Make Money

Remember that Outgrown Pile? Now is the time to decide what to do with it. You can donate your items to a local thrift store or choose to sell your items at a garage sale, at your local consignment shop or sell your stuff online. I always found that infant toys sold well at consignment stores, Craigslist and Ebay. If you have any DVDs, CDs, Games and other Electronics,  check out the US site of Music Magpie to turn your old stuff into cash.

5. Enjoy your Organized Playroom

Although the task probably seemed daunting, a clean and organized playroom is worth all the hard work. Sit back and enjoy all your hard work! :)

 

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Music Magpie. Although I was compensated for this post, all opinions written and expressed are honest and my own. 

Huge List of Baby Clubs, Freebies, & Coupons for New Moms

January 8, 2013 By

 

Here is a comprehensive list of the companies that offer great freebies and coupons for your newest addition:

Formula:


  • Similac - Join Similac Strong Moms and sign up to receive up to $329 in offers such as a free diaper bag, coupons for Similac formula and free samples of Similac Advance EarlyShield.
  • Enfamil - Register for the Enfamil Family Beginnings program and you will receive up to $250 in free gifts, one week supply of Enfamil, up to $60 in savings on any Enfamil formula and nutrition information and expert tips and advice.
  • Gerber Good Start - Join Start Healthy, Stay Health and receive money saving coupons for essentials, emails specific to your child’s age, booklets packed with tips and articles mailed to your home, access to online tools and videos and exclusive offers from our partners.
  • Store Brand Formulas - Sign up at Store Brand Formula’s site and get a $2.00 coupon good on infant formula from retailers such as Bloom, Bottom Dollar, CVS, Farm Fresh, Food Lion, Giant, Kroger, Rite Aid, Safeway, Shoppers and Walgreens).

Diapers:

 

  • Huggies - Join the Huggies Enjoy the Ride Network and receive Huggies samples, money-saving coupons, and special offers in the mail. You can also sign up to receive the weekly e-newsletter customized for your pregnancy or baby’s age. In addition, make sure you sign up for Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards. Earn points by purchasing participating Huggies products, answering polls, watching videos, and internet browsing. Redeem points for sweepstake entries and instant win games.
  • Pampers - Join Pampers Village and receive samples, offers, and coupons from Pampers and their related programs. While you are there, sign up for the Gifts to Grow Rewards Program. You earn points by purchasing participating Pampers products (diapers, wipes, ect). Redeem your points for rewards including photobooks, toys, coupons, and gift cards.
  • Luvs - Join the Luvs Network and receive a coupon to save on your next Luvs diaper purchase. Network membership also allows you to participate in Share & Tell topics and product reviews.
  • Seventh Generation - Members of the Seventh Generation Nation have access to coupons and other special offers. All internet coupons are available for print twice.
  • Earth’s Best - Sign up for the Earth’s Best Family for great offers, advice, and more. In addition, the Earth’s Best website often has coupons available for print.
  • gDiapers - Sign up for the gDiapers Community and receive exclusive online coupons, deals, and information regarding new products.

Baby Food:


  • Beech Nut – Sign up for the Beech Nut E-Newsletter and receive money-saving coupons and feeding tips customized to your baby’s age.
  • Gerber - Join Start Healthy, Stay Health and receive money saving coupons for essentials, emails specific to your child’s age, booklets packed with tips and articles mailed to your home, access to online tools and videos, and exclusive offers from our partners.
  • Earth’s Best – Sign up for the Earth’s Best Family for great offers, advice, and more. In addition, the Earth’s Best website often has coupons available for print.

Bath & Body Products: 


  • A+D Ointment – They do not have a newsletter, but they do have a $1.00 off A&D product couponavailable for print.
  • Desitin – Printable coupon for $1 off your next Desitin purchase available at Desitin.com
  • Johnson & Johnson – Sign up at Johnson’s Baby to receive exclusive offers, expert guides, and customized tips. Printable coupons are also available on their site.

Grocery Store Baby Clubs:

 

Sign up to receive special offers, coupons, and possible rewards for purchasing baby products at your local supermarket.

Retailer Baby Clubs:


  • Babies”R”Us – Create a registry and get valuable coupons to use in the store.
  • Target – Create a registry and get valuable coupons to use in the store.

Magazines:

Baby Gear:

Entertainment:

Do you know of any baby club or freebie that I missed? Leave a comment below and tell me about it! 

Diapers.com Losing Take Five Program; Diapers.com vs. Amazon Diaper Price Comparison

March 16, 2012 By

First there were changes to the Amazon Mom program (see this post) and now Diapers.com has announced that their Take Five program will be discontinued starting 3/31/12. Under the Take Five diaper loyalty program, you could instantly save $5 off all diaper cases purchased at Diapers.com. In it’s place, they have promised a new customer loyalty program which will be introduced later in the Spring. Although not a lot is yet known about the new rewards program, they state the you will be rewarded for anything that you purchase on Diapers.com and their sister sites (Wag.com, YoYo.com, Casa.com, Soap.com and BeautyBar.com).

Since both Amazon and Diapers.com have initiated changes, let’s take a look and see how they will compare starting on 3/31:

Pampers Cruisers:

  • Diapers.com - eBulk Case 222 ct – $57.99  ($.26/diaper for size 3 )
  • Amazon  - 222 ct box  (size 3) - Amazon Mom Member: $42.39 ($.19/diaper), Non-Member: $50.34  ($.23/diaper)

Pampers Baby Dry:

  • Diapers.com - XL Case 222 ct – $49.99  ($.23/diaper for size 3)
  • Amazon - 222 ct box  (size 3)- Amazon Mom Member: $37.75 ($.17/diaper), Non-Member: $44.83 ($.20/diaper)

Huggies Little Movers:

  • Diapers.com - eBulk Case 222 ct – $57.99  ($.26/diaper for size 3)
  • Amazon- 128 ct box  (size 3) - Amazon Mom Member: $27.80($.22/diaper), Non-Member: $33.01 ($.26/diaper)

Huggies Snug & Dry:

  • Diapers.com - Giant Case 156 ct – $37.99   ($.24/diaper for size 3)
  • Amazon - 156 ct case  (size 3) -  Amazon Mom Member: $27.40  ($.18/diaper), Non-Member: $32.54 ($.21/diaper)

Overall, it still looks like Amazon is the winner.

So, how has the changes to these programs affected you? Do you still purchase diapers online or do you prefer to shop in-store?

Homemade Crayons: Give New Life to Broken Crayons

December 28, 2011 By

My kids love to color! Unfortunately, we seem to have tons of broken crayons laying around our house. Being the frugal person that I am, I cringe at the thought of throwing them away. I mean, they are still usable, right?

I recently came across this great tutorial for melting down your crayons, giving them new life! Get creative and mix colors or melt them in shaped muffin tins or silicone molds for fun shapes!

What you will need:

  • Broken Crayons
  • Muffin Pan
  • Knife

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees
  • Cut up all broken crayons into small pieces
  • Fill your muffin pan with one-inch layer of crayon pieces
  • Bake approximately 15 minutes – or until wax is completely melted
  • Pull out of the oven (use pot holders!)  and let the pan to cool completely (may place in freezer for this step)
  • Pop your crayons out of the muffin tin and let the coloring begin! :)

Pictures Courtesy of Making Art with Children

How to Make Your Own Baby Wipes

September 22, 2011 By

Making your own baby wipes is quick, easy and a great way to save money! I have also heard from many parents that making their own wipes has cleared up repetitive diaper rash issues that their little one has experienced.

 

Here is what you will need:

  • 1 roll of paper towels (I recommend a thick, strong brand like Bounty or Scott)
  • 2 1/4 cups of water – boiled and cooled to room temperature
  • 2 Tbsp baby bath or shampoo
  • 1 Tbsp of baby oil
  • A air-tight container to hold your wipes (I recommend an old wipes container or a Rubbermaid type container)
Directions:

 

  • Cut the roll of paper towels in half  with a knife and remove the cardboard center.
  • Place the towels in the container of your choice. You will only be using half the roll. Save the other half for the next time you make wipes.
  • Mix the water, baby wash/shampoo and baby oil together and pour the mixture over the top of the paper towels.
  • Let sit for about 10 minutes for the liquid to fully absorb into the towels.
  • Use as you would use any store-bought wipes!

Diapers.com New Diaper Loyalty Program (and how it compares to Amazon!)

June 11, 2011 By

Update 10/30: I have updated the below prices with how Diapers.com stacks up to Amazon after the reduction in the Amazon Subscribe & Save discount from 30% to 20%. If you are still getting the 30% Amazon discount (due to having it on automatic delivery), then your savings through Amazon will be even higher!

A couple days ago, I received an email from Diapers.com stating that you can now get an extra $5 off every case of diapers you purchase when you use coupon code TAKEFIVER at checkout. Of course this peaked my interest – were they now going to match the prices of Amazon? Let’s take a look….

Pampers Cruisers:

  • Diapers.com – XL Case 186 ct $49.99 – $2.00 eCoupon – $5.00 Case Discount = $42.99 ($.23/diaper for size 3 )
  • Amazon  – 222 ct box  = $43.00 w/ Subscribe & Save ($.19/diaper for size 3)

Pampers Baby Dry:

  • Diapers.com – XL Case 222 ct $49.99 – $2.00 eCoupon – $5.00 Case Discount  = $42.99 ($.19/diaper for size 3)
  • Amazon - 144 ct box = $23.24 w/ Subscribe & Save ($.16/ diaper for size 3)

Huggies Little Movers:

  • Diapers.com – Giant Case 128 ct $39.99 – $2.00 eCoupon - $5.00 Case Discount = $32.99 ($.26/diaper for size 3)
  • Amazon - 80 ct box – $19.31 w/ Subscribe & Save ($.24/diaper for size 3)

Huggies Snug & Dry:

  • Diapers.com – Giant Case 156 ct $35.99   –  $5.00 Case Discount =  $30.99 ($.20/diaper for size 3)
  • Amazon - 156 ct case –  $29.33 w/ Subscribe & Save ($.19/diaper for size 3)

The answer? It sure doesn’t look like it! Amazon still comes in lower in every category! Now, I will note that one thing that Diapers.com does have over Amazon is that you do have the option of sending in manufacturer coupons to use towards paying for diapers. You will have to make sure you plan ahead though – they need to be sent in 7-10 days before you plan on purchasing. Now, I know I am not good about doing that, so that is one reason I personally don’t use them (plus, their diapers have been more way more expensive before now).

What are your thoughts? Is Diapers.com now on your diaper watch list?

How to Save Money on Disposable Diapers

April 28, 2010 By

Let’s face it, disposable diapers are expensive. In your baby’s first year of life, the average cost of diapers is over $800! However, by following just a few steps, you can save yourself a lot of money. Here are some tips to get your started!

Sign up with Diaper Companies


By signing up and registering with companies such as Huggies, Pampers, and Luvs, you can get both samples and coupons delivered right to your mailbox. Often times, the coupons sent directly through the brand-name companies are larger in value than you would find in the Sunday paper. For a complete list of brand-name diaper companies and their money-saving programs, see this post.

Get the Sunday Paper

Almost every week, the Sunday paper has brand name diaper coupons. If you see a high-value coupon, you may want to consider buying a few copies of the paper or purchasing additional copies of the coupon on Ebay or a coupon clipping service. You can find out which coupons will be in the paper from sites such as Sunday Coupon Preview.

Shop the Sales

Don’t wait until you are out of diapers to buy them! Stores such as CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Target often put their diapers on sale. If you combine your coupons with these sales, this will save you a lot of money! You can check out my Weekly Diaper & Baby Deal Roundup to see which stores have diapers on sale each week!

Stockpile

This is where the multiple coupons come in handy! If you find a great deal on diapers, pick up as many packages as you can! That way, you aren’t buying diapers when they aren’t on sale. Be careful though and don’t overbuy! You don’t want to have 10 extra packages of size 1 diapers when you are ready to move up to size 2!

Buy Generic

There are some babies that have very sensitive skin and can only wear one brand of diapers. However, for the majority, generic diapers will work just as well as the big-name brands. Now, some generic diapers are better than others. You will probably want to try out a few brands to see which ones offer the best fit and protection for your little one. Personally, my two favorite brands are Walgreens brand premium diapers and Parent’s Choice, which is found at Walmart. Usually, even if you get the brand-name diapers on sale, you still will not beat the price of generic diapers. On a side note, my little ones were wetters and the generic diapers would not hold 10-12 hours worth of urine. For that reason, I always bought the brand name diapers just for night time use.

Final Tips

  • Don’t be brand specific. Unless your baby can wear only one brand of diapers, there is no need to be brand loyal. By purchasing different brands, you will be able to increase your stockpile a lot faster!
  • If you find a brand that doesn’t work well (i.e. leaks, rashes, ect.), don’t continue to buy them. You will go through a lot more diapers in a shorter amount of time, wasting a lot of money!
  • Need more coupons? Why not have your parents, siblings, friends, ect. sign up with the brand-name companies as well. They can pass their coupons on to you to help you save money!