For the love of Home Ownership

Easy to say and yes I am happy, actually I am ecstatic that I finally entered the home owner elite. Well it seems that way at the moment even though I know we are no more elite than anyone else. In actual fact nothing has really changed. I have to pay money to someone else every month for the privileged of staying in a house. I do not like where I am going with this. I love my new house, all mine now I need to make it my own. The mortgage and insurance are taken care of and I have my new carpets arriving next week so all is well.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Surviving the Rising Cost of Kids Clothing

By Jennifer Hess

Pregnancy is supposed to be a joyful time for expecting parents - certainly not one for them to spend time focusing on things like kids clothing. The woman is busy anticipating the day her bouncing baby will arrive, and her husband is getting ready for the pride in being a dad. For both, watching her stomach grow gets them even more eager for the times that lie ahead and making a life for their child through parenthood.

Babies promise a lifetime of happiness to their parents. Still, there are things that come with that happiness that many parents forget amidst their excitement. When their child is born, they become suddenly aware of how much he or she needs to be raised. All these things cost money, and parents create an unfavourable situation in not knowing how to handle the expenses.

Clothes are just one example of an expense that can add up very quickly. Even as infants, children need to wear costly diapers and when they are ready for regular clothes, things become even more pricy. Most new parents don't have a lot of money, so this is a significant problem. If you're in this situation, try these things you can do to save money.

Above all, you need to set a budget. This is determined by such things as how much money you make, how much you can afford to set aside specifically for clothes, and how many kids you have. Of course, there are other things to consider as well, and the unexpected can happen any time, so in addition to everything else, always be prepared.

Start saving money with where you go to get clothes. Discount stores offer items that are typically as good as the ones found elsewhere, but at 45% to 75% off. There might be a slightly more noticeable difference from new items over those at second-hand stores, but it isn't much and you will pay even less. You can also get by for free in doing what most other families do - having older siblings hand old clothes down to younger ones as they outgrow them.

If you'd still rather shop at department stores, you should buy as much as you can during closeout sales. Items from struggling factories or that have been over stocked are usually marked down a lot. These discounts aren't always advertised, but they're typically found on items sold in bulk.

Like shopping during sales, timing can also get you discounts when you shop online. Several retailers offer coupons good for a certain period of time. Certain months bring about lots of discounts and should be set in your datebook as the best times to shop. In the United States, September, November, and December typically offer deals on kids' clothing.

Finally, though your kids will push you to buy them the latest fads, you should try to avoid their persuasion. Most likely, things that were in style less than a year ago and likewise, the things that are big now, will soon be forgotten. You will only be throwing money away on things your kids will only wear a few times and then completely forget about.

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