Thrifty Wife Happy Life

Helping women love what they wear on a budget

New Baby!!

by Katie Haller

I’m so excited to introduce you to my sweet baby boy!  Jack William was born on February 11, 2016, at 2:13 pm.  Jack surprised us by arriving 10 days early and weighing in at 7lb 15oz.  I’m so glad he decided to show up when he did!



He is absolutely perfect and Kevin and I couldn’t be more in love with our little boy.  We’ve been adjusting to having a baby in the house and I’m trying to heal my body up after having an unexpected c-section, but mostly, we are all just enjoying our little bundle of joy.


How to Save Money During Pregnancy

by Katie Haller

We all know that having a baby isn’t cheap.  That’s why my husband and I waited as long as we did to add a third person to our family.  We wanted to make sure that we could provide our child with everything that we wanted to.  It takes a lot of planning and preparing financially before you can take on the responsibilities of parenthood.  Once that little baby arrives your budget is definitely going to go up with all the added expense.  In the nine months before your little one arrives, you should be spending your time finding ways to save yourself money, instead of spending it.  I’ve decided to share a few things that I have been able to save on money during my pregnancy. 
Here they are…
  • Pregnancy Test- I might as well start at the beginning of trying to have a baby.  If you have ever tried to conceive a baby, you know how important those 2 little lines are on a pregnancy test.  If you’re anything like me, you won’t believe the first one, so you will want to take another one just to be sure.  Spending $20 on a pregnancy test is the last thing you want to do.  This is why I love Dollar Tree pregnancy tests.  They’re only $1 per test, so you can stock up as much as you like and you still won’t spend as much as you would on an off-brand test from the drug store.  One time I spent $10 on one Walgreen’s brand pregnancy test.  After that, I told myself I would never make that mistake again.  Just remember, when you’re pregnant, you’re pregnant.  You don’t need the most expensive test to tell you that.
  • Insurance Plan- Pregnancy is filled with doctor’s appointments.  All of a sudden you go from a healthy person who goes to the doctors once a year for an annual physical, to going every month, to every week towards the end.  One of the first things you should do after finding out you’re pregnant is to look into your insurance health plan.  Find out what is covered during pregnancy and what is not.  In my first trimester, it was open enrollment for insurance at my job. My husband and I were able to compare our insurance plans and I was able to switch to a better insurance plan through my company that offered a lower deductible.  Since we knew I’d have more expensive medical bills this year, it was worth it to pay a little extra each month to help in the long run with all the expenses. 
  • Breast Pumps- Whatever you do, do not buy or register for a breast pump.  With the new Affordable Care Act, most insurance companies will cover 100% of a breast pump.  I didn’t realize this at first.  I had heard that you could get a breast pump covered, but I didn’t realize how easy it was.  I thought that the insurance company would make you jump through hoops.  That was not the case at all.  I simply called the insurance company and asked if it was covered.  They then told me it was and what company I could go through.  My insurance used a company called Yummy Mummy.  I went to the website,  picked the breast pump that I wanted, filled out the information, the company contacted my doctor for the prescription and then they mailed it to me.  I now have a $200 breast pump for free.  
  • Prenatal Vitamins- Prenatal vitamins are important for your baby’s development during pregnancy.  I found out pretty quickly that these vitamins are not always cheep.  The first doctor I went to in Las Vegas told me that I needed to take the best and most expensive brand of prenatal vitamin.  She made it sound like I’d miscarry if I didn’t take them.  I went to fill the prescription and the pharmacy called me just to confirm with me that I wanted to spend the $200 on the month supply of vitamins that my insurance didn’t cover.  Of course, I ended up canceling that.  I ended up switching to a different doctor, who told me that whatever the over the counter brand I was taking should have everything that I need.  I just decided to stick with the Target brand that I was taking before I got pregnant.  When I was living in Michigan, my doctor was able to write me a prescription for some prenatal vitamins that were completely free.  I suggest talking with your doctor and checking to see if they can help you out at all with the price of vitamins.  Don’t always listen to them if they are trying to push an expensive brand on you that you can’t afford.
  • Baby Freebies- There is nothing better than free, that’s why recently, I’ve been researching and signing up for any site I can that will mail me free samples.  I’ve signed up for a few baby product websites like Everyday Family, Pampers, Similac Strong Moms and Enfamil Formula.  So far I’ve received 2 formula samples in the mail, which were pretty decent size samples.  Even though I plan to breastfeed, I’m not against using a formula to supplement feedings when needed.  I’m still a little worried about breastfeeding and pumping when I go back to work, so that’s why I’m happy to have some formula on hand if needed.  I have also received tons of coupons from sites like Shutterfly and Tinyprints.  When I made my registry for my baby shower, both Target and Babies R Us gave me a bag of samples and coupons (here).  Motherhood Maternity gave me coupons for free nursing covers, car seat covers, and baby slings.  These are great if you’re willing to pay the shipping price, but as of right now I’m looking for completely free with no shipping fees.  You would be surprised by how many companies are willing to ship you free samples to test out.  I’m still looking for more freebies so if you know of any other good places for freebies please leave suggestions below. 
  • Maternity Clothes- I feel like I’ve been talking about maternity clothes for most of my pregnancy on this blog.  I’ve tried to stay away from buying actual maternity clothes altogether.  Maternity clothes are more expensive than normal clothes and for the amount of time you actually get to wear them, it just doesn’t seem worth it.  I was able to get away with wearing all my normal clothes for all 9 months.  Luckily, I only gained weight in my belly.  Everyone is different though and every pregnancy is different.  So my best advice if you’re going to invest in maternity clothes is to hold off until you actually need them.  When it comes time to invest in a few key maternity pieces, look into some inexpensive ways of buying them.  Check to see if any thrift stores have some cute things, Target has a great maternity selection and you can find some good clearance deals, also Old Navy has some cute stuff.  In my experience, I found it easier to buy maternity clothes online.  There is a better selection and it’s easy to price compare.  If you do outgrow all your clothes and need to buy a lot of maternity clothes, I wouldn’t go crazy with buying too much.  Try to stick with simple everyday pieces like tank tops, t-shirts, a pair of jeans, leggings and maybe a dress.  Then you can just accessorize them with sweaters and long open cardigans that you may already have in your closet.
  • Create a Baby Registry- It is so tempting to want to buy things for your baby when you’re pregnant, but don’t.  Create a registry first with all your baby needs and wants.  Whether you have a baby shower or not, people are going to want to buy your new baby things, so having a registry will help them know what you want for your little one.  I went ahead and put everything on my registry including the big items because you never know what people will be willing to buy you.  Once you get closer to your due date you can go back to the stores that you registered at and purchase the things that you still need.  Plus most stores give you a discount on all your registry purchases.  Once you have everything, be prepared to reuse it all with the second or third baby.  This is why I stuck to pretty natural colors.  There’s no need to purchase everything new for the next child.  Also, be practical with your registry.  Only register for the items that you know you will use.  Don’t waste your money on the gimmicky baby gear.   No wipe warmers and diaper genies for me. 

Those are just a few ways that I have saved money to prepare for my baby’s arrival.  I’m a first-time mom, so I’m still learning the tricks.  I’m excited to find some other ways to save money after the baby is born.  Please, if you have any suggestions on where or how to save money, leave a comment below.  I’d love to get some more ideas!

    Shopping Finds for Baby!

    by Katie Haller

    I am definitely getting into the nesting stage of pregnancy.  I’m counting down the weeks until my little guy is finally here and I’m trying to prepare for his arrival.  Babies need a lot of stuff, and I am just hoping that I have everything he will need.  With all the major items already purchased, I felt that it was time for me to get a few extra little items with the leftover money on my gift cards.

    When it comes to clothes shopping for my baby, I want him to look cute, but I also don’t want to spend a lot of money on his clothes.  Babies grow so fast, and not to mention, they also dirty up their clothes so quickly.  I feel like it’s a waste to spend full price on baby clothes.  This is why I plan to look for the best deals I possibly can find for this little guy.  I plan to be just as frugal with him as I am with my own clothing.

    Here are some of my purchases from Babies R Us this past weekend.  All clearance clothes were 50% off the already marked down price.  I just couldn’t resist stocking up on a few things.

    3 sleepers- $3.49, $2.99, $1.49
    2 pack of pants- $3.49
    Newborn mittens-  $1.49
    Socks- $2.99
    Total- $15.94
      I went to Babies R Us thinking that I would spend what was left on my gift cards, but I walked away still having money on my cards, which is never a bad thing. I guess I will just have to do some more bargain shopping soon.

    Baby Registry

    by Katie Haller

    If you’ve ever been married or had a baby, you know how fun it is to register for gifts.  Who doesn’t like picking out their own gifts and being showered with them? 
    I recently registered for my baby shower.  With all my experience working with infants and young children, I never thought that I would have any problem putting together a baby registry for my own child.  Well, I was wrong.  It’s really hard figuring out exactly what you’ll need for your little one when they arrive.  I really wanted to just stick to the basics, but what are the basics exactly?  Of course, there are a lot of resources out there when trying to figure out what to add to your baby registry.  I read lots of blogs, watched YouTube reviews and of course talked with my friends who have little ones, but when it really comes down to it, it’s your decision on what to put on that registry. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of sticking to the basic needs of a baby, but I won’t know for sure until he arrives.   

    Before you start picking out your baby gear, you have the decision of where to register.  For me, all my family and friends live out of state, so I wanted someplace with good shipping prices and a decent website.  I ended up going with Babies R Us and Target.  I thought about Amazon, but I decided that I wanted to go to the actual store and see some of the baby gear for myself.  Of course, being the frugal person I am, I wanted to pick out the best baby gear for the best price.

     

    My first stop for registering was Babies R Us.  Since it’s a store dedicated to babies, it’s definitely a great place to find some great baby gear. Not to mention, you are signed up for their rewards program automatically and anything not purchased on your registry, you automatically get 10% off, which will definitely be helpful after the baby comes when we figure out exactly what he will need.  One other thing that I liked about Babies R Us is that they will price match other stores like Wal-Mart and Amazon, so you will always be able to find the best price.

    Here is the little freebie gift bag you receive when registering with Babies R Us. 
    • Pampers diapers and wipes with a $5 coupon
    • Lansinoh breastmilk storage bags sample
    • Chicco natural fit pacifier
    • $20 off Tiny Prints
    • $20 off Shutterfly
    • $5 off $25 or more at Babies R Us
    I wasn’t planning on registering at two stores, but since I’m such a huge fan of Target, I couldn’t pass it up.  I actually like some of their nursery furniture a lot more than the other stores.  Plus they have some really cute baby stuff.  Just like Babies R Us, Target also offers a discount on any non-purchased items from your registry.


    Here is a picture of the Target freebie gift bag.  I really liked this one because it was filled with samples and coupons for baby and mommy too!
    • Pampers Diaper and wipe sample with a $5 coupon
    • The Honest Co. Diaper and wipe sample with a $25 off $50 coupon
    • Mam newborn pacifier
    • Philips Agent 4 oz bottle
    • Lansinoh breastmilk storage bags and nursing pad samples
    • Seventh Generation Baby Free and Clear wipes sample
    • Dreft laundry detergent sample
    • Olly prenatal vitamin sample with a $2 off coupon 
    • Johnson baby head to toe wash sample with a coupon book
    • Babyganics 3x laundry detergent with $1.50 off coupon 
    • Zarbee’s natural baby vitamin samples with coupons 
    • Enfamil formula coupons
    • Seventh Generation diaper and wipe coupons
    • One a Day prenatal vitamin $2 off coupon 
    • Target 10% off nursing bra and 15% off maternity apparel coupon 
    • Not to mention all that comes in a cute grey chevron reusable bag

    The great thing about getting all these free samples is that first-time moms like myself, who are a little clueless when it comes to baby products, get a chance to test out products and find out exactly what works for them and their baby.  I can’t wait until he’s here and we can start getting to know each other and start using all our new baby supplies!  I’ll have to follow up with this post after he’s born and share what my favorite baby products end up being.  Until then, I’ll just have to keep reading up on baby stuff and preparing myself for this little guy.

     



    It’s a Boy

    by Katie Haller

    My husband and I just found out this week that we are having a little boy.  We are so excited!  Everyone had me convinced it was a girl, so when the ultrasound technician said “oh this is definitely a boy baby in there”, I have to say I was a little surprised, but at the same time I wasn’t, knowing it’s a 50/50 chance.  I was thrilled to find out.  I know some couples wait to find out until the day they give birth, but for me, I wouldn’t be able to wait that long.  Now that I know what I’m having, I feel closer to the baby and it all seems so real.

    I have to admit that I have not been enjoying every moment of this pregnancy so far.  It’s mostly because I spent 16 weeks throwing up every day.  Yuck!  Now that I’m feeling better, I’m starting to enjoy this time more and more.  I’m finally starting to see some changes in my body, which is pretty exciting.  As much as I’m not crazy about gaining a bunch of weight, it’s really cool to see your belly grow and know that there is a little life inside you.  I’ve also started to feel little movements, which is a really cool feeling.  At first, I thought it couldn’t be the baby, but the more I feel it, the more I know it must be him. 
    I’m so lucky to have such a supportive group of family and friends right now.  Even though I live far from everyone I’m close to, I enjoy weekly phone calls and texts from friends and family, just checking in on me and baby to see how we’re doing.  My co-workers have been amazing too!  They are always making sure I’m getting potty breaks when I need it and my class is being good to me.  Twenty 4 years old’s can be a handful for anyone, but they are even harder to manage when you’re pregnant.  
    18-week baby bump.
    It seems like I still have a long way to go, but I’m almost halfway there.  I’m so excited to be a mom and meet this little guy.  Of course, there is no one else that I would want to share this experience with more than my husband.  He has been great through the past few months and I can’t wait to see him as a dad.  He will be amazing at it! 

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