Comments on: How Having A Child Has Impacted My Finances

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 01:24:08 +0000

When I just had my daughter, and she was four (ie potty trained and eager to be independent and needed less entertaining) I had lots of time to do coupons. I was even an Extreme Couponer to an extent. Once I got pregnant with my son all that went out the window – I would try but just didn’t feel up to it. I made about one trip a month. Since he was born at 27 weeks and has Cerebral Palsy when I SHOULD be couponing – alas, zero time and energy after two kids all day – ugh. But I did go to CVS (on a meds run) and use all of those ECBs that stacked up and man! I spent $12 on $37 worth of stuff using all CVS coupons and I got free laundry detergent (for more midnight laundry sessions!) and MAN I felt ACCOMPLISHED!! I agree with another commenter.. time is most certainly money! And I probably would have bought the mattress too.

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 18:59:25 +0000

In reply to Sense. Thanks for the comment sense and I am completely onboard with feeling useless sometimes about saving. I mean I have one kid and I'm tired and throwing money at the salesman. When there are people with many more kids then I have and still focusing on saving.

By: Sense

Sense — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 05:51:20 +0000

This is exactly how I’d be if I had a kid. Heck, even single and child-less, I’m STILL like this, so I’d probably be much worse!! Sometimes I’m just too tired/busy/whatever to think about money.

Then I read online about single moms who have 2 year old quintuplets who seem to know and follow every money-saving trick in the book perfectly every time, and I feel so useless! How terrible would I be if I were in their shoes?! Crazy. No one is perfect, but I guess some are more motivated than others. You just gotta be who you are. Not meaning not trying to do better next time, but quickly moving on when you do make a mistake.

The great news is, you can afford to not think about money once in a while. It’s all OK. Next time, you’ll know. 🙂

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 02:43:45 +0000

Thanks for the comment Andrea. I love the idea of giving parents ‘a pass every now and then’ I definitely need it for this fiasco. I think you hit the nail on the head. Since my son was born time has become so much more important to me. I think back to my kid-free days and wonder what on earth I did with all of my spare time 🙂

By: One Frugal Girl

One Frugal Girl — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 02:41:44 +0000

In reply to Ellen K.. Thanks for the comment and excellent point about time being money. In this case it wouldn't have taken me much time to look for comparable prices online, but I must admit that if the store was the cheapest option I did not want to have to drive back there to complete the deal. Shopping at multiple grocery stores is definitely out for me. Every once in awhile I make it to the drugstore on a Sunday morning, but it's certainly the exception to the rule. I only have one. I can't imagine how you juggle two!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 19:57:52 +0000

I hate that you paid more for the mattress, but I also just want you to know how much I appreciate this post. So many of the people who harp on things like comparison shopping and coupon clipping don’t have kids – it is a completely different universe! Certain things matter a lot less once you’ve got little ones in the mix.

Most of the time it’s much more worth it to me to save time, get home quickly, and/or make it to one of my son’s zillion activities than worrying about saving $2 on groceries. I say don’t beat yourself up too much – the mattress problem is solved, and in the long run that $250 (while a significant amount of money) isn’t the end of the world. Parents get a pass every now and then in my opinion. 🙂

By: Ellen K.

Ellen K. — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 18:34:50 +0000

It’s an expensive learning experience, that’s for sure. : (

Shopping with kids is usually stressful, and big-purchase retailers (appliances, furniture, vehicles) count on the parents to be harried, distracted, and rushed and therefore vulnerable. Salespeople know that if parents show up in store with a young child or two in tow, the parents probably won’t be comparison shopping at other stores — time and energy are at a premium.

I only started drugstore shopping when my 4-year-old twins went to preschool and I had a little more free time. Shopping at multiple grocery stores to get the best deals? Not going to happen. My time is money, too — and my energy is a precious and finite resource. : )