Ways to Save

It's amazing what you can do with a budget. 5 years ago when our first son was born and I stopped working, we got by on $175 a month for groceries including diapers and formula. I shopped garage sales for kids clothes, toys, and books.

I think the biggest savings possibilities are in groceries. The other suggestions are good in this area (menu planning, weekly ads). If you are by a Ream's, they are unbeatable on their prices for fresh fruits and vegetables (the stores aren't fancy, but the produce is still good quality).

Also, if you need something, and can wait to buy it, do an internet search (ebay, craiglist, ksl.com) to see if you can save. We have saved A LOT (25%-50%) on many items by shopping on ebay, remember to look at total cost. We have bought items like: grain mill, rechargeable batteries, cameras, drapes, bedding, clothes, phones, books, etc. Last tip, don't shop. Good luck J.!

It is likely that you can't save on rent (unless you spend the savings moving?)

In our family groceries IS an area we could be doing much better. I have been exploring http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/ She has recipes, menus, and many more suggestions for "cheap food", including a page on feeding a family of 4 for a week for $45 (from scratch--assuming you have not even salt in the house to start with) If we implemented even a few of the meals, our family would save quite a bit.

My daughter's family is focusing on cutting gas costs. Their plan wouldn't work for us... but we could do better than we do. She is currently a stay-at-home new mom with only their first, a 3 month old baby. She is in the habit of walking and bussing where she wants to go. Her husband is riding his bike to work. They are trying to use their car only 1 day a week!

I always plan a menu for the coming week so that we only buy what we need for our meals, and we use only what we have. That seems to have set us apart from a lot of our friends in that we don't waste money by buying things that end up in the garbage the following week. We also try to eat more veggie dishes, or use meat as a "side" rather than as the main course...it's amazing how you can stretch out a pound of hanburger or ground turkey when you add onions, carrots, zucchini, etc. to it...try burritos or tacos with those things as "adders" - it's pretty good! We also only eat out once a week, and my husband takes his lunch to work everyday instead of grabbing something while he is there. We drink water instead of pop, etc...
We also use coupons, like you do, and we try to buy things with the coupons when they are also on sale (most stores let you do this, even if the coupon says "do not double). We like Harmons for our grocery shopping.
We are trying to organize our trips out of the house more now with the gas prices. I have to keep lists of the places we need to go, and then when I head out for something, I try to go to a few more stores while I am in the area, so we are hopefully saving on fuel that way, too!
Hope that helps, if even a little.

I shop two stores. I shop the small Wal-Mart for their inside isles only. Prior to shopping, I get ALL my ads and circle what is on sale and then make my menu. I base my menu on what is on sale that week. Then I write down what is on sale and for how much and if it is an item in the inside isle, I have Wal-Mart price match the item. I take the ads with me to verify the item for price match, but if it is written down where and how much, it is much quicker to show the cashier. Also, I know how much to budget for this week for my menu too. I also shop at Harmons for their outer food isles. In other words, the produce, meat, dairy etc. I love their freshness of their products oppose to other stores. I use to buy everything from Harmon's, but realized the items in middle isles were the exact same thing I could get at Wal-Mart, but for a lot cheaper and they priced match.

J., one thing that wasn't mentioned (and I don't know your views on it) is breastfeeding. It will save a TON of money on formula if you breasteed your little one. I don't really have any other suggestions than what has been mentioned except for this. I know that is one thing that helped me and my hubby a ton after our twins were born and he was still in school. I also know that Kid to Kid has a lot of good deals, and they will have sales on top of their already reduced prices. They are hit and miss on some items, but I have a friend who always manages to find super cute stuff there for her little girl. Another thing I just thought of, is to carpool with a friend or neighbor who is close by when you have errands, etc. to do. that may help save on gas a little. Good luck, I know how hard it is to live on a tight budget!

It sounds like you have the budget thing under control. A website I would recommend is couponmom.com They have lists of which stores are having sales and coupons to coinside with those sales. I agree about making a list from your weekly menu so that you don't have to run to the store every time you want to try a new recipe. More trips to the store equals more gas and impulse buys. Congrats on the baby boy!

Are you in Salt Lake City?

There's an outlet store called NPS Market Square that's in between Empire and Industrial Roads and is so amazingly inexpensive. It is between 1500 and 1700 South and between Redwood Road and I-215, in a warehouse area (near where the old LDS church Distribution Center used to be, if that helps). It takes items that are in overstock, slightly outdated, improperly printed or damaged boxes, etc. And it sells them for a fraction of the price. For example, I get good avocados there for $.50 each, granola bars for $1.00. I've even gotten bottles of good Italian dressing for $.25. Pie crusts for $.75, frozen veggies for $1, etc. We've saved SO much money since we started going there.