The undetermined became the determined, potty training is a success

 I seriously can't believe it, my undetermined 4 year old is now potty trained. (reference from previous blog) I bet your wondering how did I do it?  It actually was easy and complicated all at the same time.  Let me explain.  

First let me say that your child has to be willing and interested in potty training.  If not it won't work.  I know there are many blogs, articles, and advice that talks about I potty trained my child in three days, by the age of 2 and all that lucky mess but I promise you after working with my son since the age of 1 1/2 if the child has no interest in it then it will not happen.  

After "unasked" for input from my fiancé family I decided my son was smart enough and could get this but how to motivate him was the question.  I will be honest on how I did it.  There are several children his age that he plays with and they are working on potty training, just learned to potty, or are already potty trained so I used that as my motivation.  I would say look how smart Ryker is, he is learning to potty. He is learning to not wear diapers anymore.  Look at how big Dakota is, she is potty trained she doesn't wear diapers anymore.  Wouldn't that be nice?  You are just as smart as they are you can get this too.  I encouraged him that he was just as big, just as smart to potty train all it took was him to want to.  

Some might say that is a bad way to parent my child comparing him to others and making him not good enough because he is not potty trained and they are.  I would say to you that you are totally missing the point.  I was stressing to him that he is just as smart and just as capable as the other children that he knows to succeed at this obstacle and that he could tackle it.  I know my child is very smart, as all of us mothers should think, but I think when I made him aware that his friends were potty trained and that he could do it that he had what it took to do it too that was what he needed to hear.  

So the first day we started about 2 in the afternoon and he wore just underwear and a shirt whenever I seen him pull on himself I would tell him to go sit on his seat, most of the time it would result in nothing but after a while he did pee and I praised him telling him how proud I was of him and how he was my big boy! He did go twice and it was bedtime.  I put a diaper on him for bedtime just because I didn't have pull-ups yet.  I would say day 1 was a good success.   

The second day started off with tears of not wanting to take diaper off, note to self must get pull-ups.  After about 20 minutes of tears we were off to a hopeful day of potty training.  By the end of the day we were successful and had used potty with no slip ups in underwear.  I am so proud of him!!!  On this day however, we did have to go to town so we did put a diaper on until we got back home just because we didn't want any accidents. 

By day 4 we were on a roll and had this down pat.  I am so glad that I just waited till I was sure he understood.  Sure he probably did at a earlier age and could have saved myself a lot money on diapers but really once they are out of diapers then that truly means they aren't your babies any more and I guess I wasn't ready to let go of the diaper just as much as he wasn't.  When they are that little you really don't want to let them go.  

Here are my steps that I actually did to help him succeed at potty training.  

• When I decided to start I had a talk with him explaining what we were going to do, that he was a big boy and that was a good thing.  I also explained that being a big boy brought more advantages and told him a few of those. 
• As soon as he got out of bed it was time to potty, diaper or pull-up came off and he used the potty
• I called pull ups underwear not diapers that way he doesn't think its okay I can pee in them they are just diapers if he thinks they are underwear he will try not to pee in them (most important of all I think)
• Teaching him to wipe his butt was and is a challenge that one will take some more time so be patient
• I leave baby wipes in bathroom for the above
• When teaching they will give you clues they have to go watch for them for him he would literally pull on his peepee when he needed to go or when he could feel that it was getting time so when I seen that I knew and would have him go.  For pooping he would always want to hide so I knew after the first day he wanted to poop in potty because he got to flush and wipe his butt so it was new to him. 
• REWARDS are your friend it doesn't have to be toys and candy it can be a trip to the park, his favorite meal cooked for dinner, or his favorite treat for snack.  For our son it literally was to say a "bad word" which was "punk" he wanted to say that word so I said if you learn to potty you can say that.  After the third day he got to say it.  He was ecstatic.  Not sure why my child thinks saying punk is a reward but hey it worked and he is potty trained so I ain't complaining.  FYI by the sixth day punk had worn off and he didn't care about saying it anymore and still hasn't said it as of this update June 12, 2017
• Always be prepared when you go somewhere have a pull-up on and pull-ups in baby bag with baby wipes and change of shorts. It is called training for a reason.  I just didn't feel like cleaning the car seat, him, clothes, and possibly my car when a simple pull-up will suffice.
• Do read books about potty training to let them know what is happening.  They make some really awesome ones that are toddler friendly.  Our favorite was "Boy's Potty Time", with a real feel potty seat on cover.
• Lastly I was patient and didn't harp so much on him I put the little potty in the room we stayed in the most and every time I seen him pull on himself I sent him to sit on his potty before you know it he was getting it.  Once he was mastering the actual potty training, a few days, his father began teaching him standing up and holding it without spraying everything in sight (still work in progress)

At the time of original post it was 14 days and one accident. 

Potty training an undetermined 4 year old

 Undetermined is seriously a understatement.   We started at 2 1/2 years old, Maddox, getting him to know the potty because he started showing signs. The biggest one is he recognized that he knew he was doing something in his diaper.  At almost 3 he would say "change me please".  Hey at least he has manners even if he couldn't seem to get the potty training down yet.  

Signs of Being Ready to Potty Train

• Toddler who can stay dry for an hour or two stretch and can especially wake up from nap or in the morning dry
• Regularly has bowel movements at predictable times
• Increased awareness of bodily functions by letting you know that they need changing (to poop Maddox would go in a corner)
• An interest in neatness, cleanliness, dryness
• Understanding difference wet and dry, clean and dirty
• Familiarity with bathroom terminology such as pee and poop etc. and body parts such as bottom, weewee, or whatever you call the body parts in your home.
• Ability to communicate needs to understand and follow simple directions
• An interest in wearing underpants instead of diapers (where he still doesn't show an interest to this day)
• Ability to do some self dressing
• Curiosity about bathroom habits of others, they will follow you and other members into bathroom to see what they do. 

Maddox did almost all those by 3 and if he wasn't by 3 was doing them all by 3 1/2 except show interest in underpants still hasn't and probably won't.  Who knows he maybe the only first grader going commando you just never know with him.  He is a very unique character.

We had a couple success stories along the way.  A few times that he actually did use the potty, even in public which got him more praise.  We of course praised him and gave him toys and candy.  We went overboard if you want to be honest about it.  My mother and I both bought him these things.  It didn't stick.  You would think as a child you go to the potty and you get rewarded with toys and candy (M & M's to be exact we weren't cheap) you would say to yourself, hey I could be on to something here.  Not my child.  

In our home he has his own potty that has Elmo and Big Bird on it.  It literally collects dust he wants nothing to do with it.  Refuses to even sit on it.  He also Disney Cars seat that fits on our toilet he will at least sit on that one but still nothing.  Have you ever met a child that you put veggies on their plate and say to them you can't get up unless you eat your veggies and the next morning your still sitting there and they don't care.  That's him he will hold his pee he don't care or he will pee for you that time and then pee on himself the next to spite you (seriously been there).  

When I talk to his pediatrician, "He will get it give him time, he has to go at his own pace." Which is true he did stop nursing on his own and lay down the pacifier on his own but if we go any slower doc we will be graduating still in diapers.  I joke but I am worried.  So I am determined to get him potty trained by the end of summer.  It's only April why am I giving myself so long.  I will be honest, to get a game plan.  I have to come at this kid in a different way.  He doesn't respond to rewards, threats, intimidation, or begging even.  So what is his niche I have to find it.  What will motivate him to potty!!!  Maybe not seeing mommy go further insane??  We shall see.

I do have some steps I will share with you if you an aspiring mom of an a future undetermined child.  

• I am going to keep playing up how cool it is to potty like a big boy and how super cool it is to be mommy's big boy!
• I am going to keep playing up how cool it to be a big boy and growing up all together.  He can do so much more now that is a big boy! 
• I am going to do my homework by reading more on Pinterest, in my book "What to Expect the Toddler Years", and ask my friends that have already potty trained their kids.
• I am going to get Daddy to demonstrate multiple times (again)
• The research says to buy or borrow a doll that drinks and wets and encourage toddler to teach the doll how to potty train but I don't know anyone that has a doll like that and I am not sure if we want to purchase a doll considering we do not have a daughter.
• We already have a potty that he does like (the Cars potty seat that fits on ours) however if no success we may purchase a stand alone potty that he actually likes.
• Research says to switch to training pants
• Allow him to go bear bottom occasionally to get in touch with his body signals 
• Keep the portable potty close possibly in living room and then have the one that attaches to the toilet for backup or when he gets more confident.
• Dressing him in easier clothes to unfasten or get off when he does have to go to the bathroom
• Watch him closely for signs that he needs to go and then asking him if he needs to go when I see one.
• Watch the clock closely.  Once I get his pattern down on when he goes to the bathroom then I can expect to have a routine.
• Don't hold him prisoner on the toilet, allow him to come and go as he pleases.  He won't learn if he starts to fear or hate the potty.
• I will use a method that worked for me for years when I had trouble going turning on the faucet.  The sheer sound of the water hitting the sink would somehow always make me have to go.
• If he tells me he went after the fact, I won't count that as a failure.  After all he told me went we are still making progress.
• When he does go no matter how small I will celebrate the success!
• I will motivate him to be a big boy!
• I will have him learn to recognize when he is dry and when he is wet
• Remember to be patient with him
• Remember to teach him about washing his hands and good hygiene in bathroom
• Remember to inform anyone that is active in his life to help us with the potty training. 
• Remember to be sensitive to his feelings.  This is a learning process for him.

I hope all these wonderful tips help you with your undetermined child.

In the Spotlight

 As parents we are always proud of our children, stepchildren, adopted in children, (you know your kids friends that won't seem to go home).  That is just our nature.  As a mother seeing our child achieve a goal, make an accomplishment, receive an award, have a talent, you name it we cheer!  Has it ever been one child that seems to get all the cheering and one that just doesn't seem to get that lime light.  Not because you don't love them but it doesn't seem like they achieve any goals, win awards,  they aren't the go getter that your other child may be.  Doesn't mean you love them any less.  Just means one gets more cheers than the other.  So what do you do when that happens.  How can you make the not so get up and go getter get up and get something.  

You can't punish your child that does everything you expect and more or expect them to do less just because their sibling chooses the easier side of life.  So how can you keep cheering for the go getter winning personality child and still make your laid back child still feel just as encouraged, loved, valued, and appreciated.  

First and foremost focus on the positive not so much on negative.  If the praise for the other child is getting to the less achieving child chances are they are acting out by maybe throwing tantrums, misbehaving, even smart mouth to your and the other parent.  They may even are mean to the more achieving child.  Instead of going on and on when they act out STOP, that is what they want your attention.  Seriously at any means necessary and it will reinforce the bad behavior the longer your discuss it.  So keep the negative reprimand limited.  When you catch your child doing something positive praise them.  Make a big deal about it.  They make an A on a test put it on the fridge announce it at the dinner table.  Brag on them.    

Second carve out just us time.  Spending time with each of your children one on one doesn't hurt but making sure that daily your spending time with your child that is having difficulties lets them know you have their back no matter what. You can take them out for their favorite treat or to the park.  Anything that gets you and them talking and sharing how they feel.  If you truly listen you can learn a lot about your child.  If it is a crazy day then tuck them in making sure you ask about their day, what they did, what the best part was.  Don't make it a quick tuck in just to get back to all you have to accomplish before you crash into bed really give them your attention.  Chances are they will want to share with you all about their day even if they are hesitant at first.  You can always share things about your day to get the ball rolling and get them talking.  

Third is value the child you got.  Your child is already seeing their sibling as the golden child, the good kid.  "They are good at everything so I must be bad at everything" mentality is lurking in your child's subconscious.  The more you praise the "golden child" the more you make that true.  Tell your child they are special and tell them why.  Focus on what makes them unique.  Examples are their sense of humor, knack for knowing how others feel, they can draw a house better than no one else.  The long list of attributes your child has will help them see themselves in another point of view, yours.

Fourth is allowing your kids explore their own interests.  Encouraging your child to embrace activities will help them find their own niche and step out of their siblings shadow.  

Fifth is be honest with your child.  Tell your child that you understand that you spend a lot of time at their siblings tutor lessons, dance lessons, piano lessons etc.  "I know it must be frustrating for you I am not always home with you.  I would feel that way if I was you."  Being honest with them allows them to know its okay to feel upset and that they have a right to be upset and now you understand.   You can now find ways to repair it.  Maybe they can go with you to those lessons and you can write letters to each other if it is a situation you have to remain silent, sit in the car and jam out to the radio, or go for ice cream instead of take that conference call while waiting.  If it is a situation that they cannot come be honest with them about that as well.  Allow them to get upset and then allow them to come up with ways to be able to have quality time with you as well.  Even though you may not be actually spending the time with their sibling while your gone they are not going to see it that way they see it as your gone their sibling is gone with you.  You can honestly tell them till your blue in the face but until they see it with their own eyes it may not register with them that just because your gone together your not actually together.  Also they see it as their sibling is getting to do something they love so they are getting your attention and getting to do something fun.  Being honest with them may put this subject into perspective and break this ugly circle all together.

Even though kids are packed in these short little bodies they have big hearts and feelings and when they feel underappreciated by their own family  it can really take a toll on them.  I hope this post helps any future issues between your children.  Each child is unique in their own way.  One may be the top of their class while the other may just be the next inventor.   

Toddlers and Allergy Season

 For many of us parents our children have seasonal allergies.  We pretty much have a set routine what to do each time like clockwork.  We know it like the back of our hand.  Allergy medicine, humidifier, vapor rub to help breath, tissues family size and fever reducer are all in my arsenal of allergy fighters.  We all know the terrible symptoms; stuffy nose, nagging cough, watery and itchy eyes.  

It is not unusual for kids to get 6-8 upper respiratory illnesses a year.  To me that is about 7 to many.  Every time my poor son gets sick I feel helpless, sad, and I want to take his pain away.  I have literally read articles, searched on Pinterest, read books on the best way to handle allergy seasonal the best way.  

First you need to know is it allergies or is your child sick.  

1.  Is your child feverish or achy?
If you answer yes it is probably an illness, talk to your pediatrician about the symptoms, severity, and duration to see what action needs to be taken.

2.  If you answered no, have the symptoms persisted for more than 10-14 days with no or little change?

3.  If you answered yes, is there cloudy or colored mucus?
 
4.  If you answered no, do symptoms worsen outdoors especially during certain times of the year?

5.  If you answered no, could be indoor allergies.  Talk to your child's doctor or an allergist about testing for allergies from dust, animals, mites, or other pests.
If you answered yes, probably seasonal allergies.  A pediatrician or an allergist can suggest an antihistamine or test pollen, ragweed, or mold sensitivities.   

Now that you know whether it is allergies or an illness lets ease those awful symptoms.  Your child's pediatrician will most likely start them on an allergy medication that is non-sedating antihistamine like Claritin or Zyrtec.  I personally let my son's doctor prescribe it because I know I am getting the right dosage for his age I never get over the counter for him.  There is also nasal sprays such as Flonase but they are for kids 4 and up.  They attack the inflammation that contributes to nasal tissue swelling and results are more quicker than a pill.  Your child can also get an allergy shot where they get injected with increasing amounts of an allergen until they become less sensitive to it, that is done by an allergist and reserved for children over 4 whose symptoms don't respond well to drugs.

A blood test can be performed to help pinpoint what exactly your child is allergic to if your not sure if it is seasonal allergies. The allergist pricks the skin in which tiny amounts of various triggers are placed just under the skin in order to see what produces a rashlike response.  Both blood/skin prick test is not 100% accurate though.

 For us personally it was seasonal so further testing was not needed.  He was fine all year until the seasons changed and then he got sick and was fine once the season settled.  We give him his allergy medication once the seasons start changing and once they settle and mother nature has decided to stay on one season we stop until the next season change.  That is just our personal choice, we don't judge you if you choose to give your child allergy medicine all year.   I do not judge parents on their parenting because I am not in your shoes and to each is their own.  

Additional Tip According to Dr. Oz take your allergy medicine at night so it is already in your system for the morning.  We take our medicine at bedtime.

So what if drugs isn't your method of treatment.  There are drug free defenses you can take.  The first one is reduce your kids exposure to their trigger.  If it is seasonal limit their outside exposure on days when pollen is high, have them wear masks if they do have go outdoors.  Run air conditioner at night, run air purifier with HEPA filter in child's bedroom.  You can also get daily emails alerting you to the airborne allergen counts through American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.  They will notify you of pollen or mold from certain trees, grasses, or weeds in your area.  You can also dress your kids in natural fibers.  When synthetic fabrics rub together they produce static electricity which attract pollen.    Dusting and vacuuming frequently helps in your house to keep dust down, use Febreze Allergen Reducer on the carpet.  Another tip is give your child a bath every night making sure you wash their hair.  You can use a saline spray or neti pot (I do not recommend neti pot on toddlers or adults for that matter) to cleanse out the nose.

I hope this article and all the tips has helped you get to know Allergies better and how to get a handle on them.

Parents April 2012

Here's looking at you lazy eye

 At 37 I was diagnosed with a "lazy eye", or Amblyopia.  What exactly is Amblyopia?  It is a condition in which one or sometimes both eyes have reduced vision and the brain "shuts off" images received from the affected eye.  Basically decreased eyesight due to abnormal visual development.  There are more than 200,000 cases diagnosed every year so it fairly common.  

Parents can miss the symptoms as mine did.  Of course I had problems seeing the chalk board from a distance and often got moved often to the front of the class.  Yes before we go any further I did say chalk board I realize that shows my age but I tell you I prefer the old fashion method of pen and paper, chalk board and dry erase board over computer any day.  My eyes often burned and after a long session of taking notes off the dry erase board because it was so blinding white.   

A study found that kids ages 3 to 7 responded to lazy eye treatment so have your child's vision tested either by school or doctor.  If your child fails they will be sent to a ophthalmologist for a more thorough exam.  In my case the school nurse did test me.  This was 30 something years ago so chances are they didn't know what they do now and probably innocently either misdiagnosed me or truly didn't know what all they needed to look for.  

So what are the symptoms that you need to look for?

• An eye that wanders inward or outward
• Eyes that appear to not work together
• Poor depth perception
• Squinting of shutting an eye
• Head tilting
• Abnormal results of vision screening tests

In my situation I always squinted my eyes to focus no matter how clear something was even as a kid.  I even titled my head back thinking I could see it clearer.  My left eye was over compensating for the lack of help from my right eye.  As an adult my eyes would seriously do weird stuff during pictures on Snapchat.  I will include a pic to give you an example.

    
I talked to my family doctor and was sent to the eye doctor where I was sent to a retinal specialist.  My vision was 40/100.  My right eye is horrible, I can't make out details.  I also have issues with my peripheral vision, with not seeing certain spots. 

I hope this blog helps you spot issues with your child's vision before It gets too late.  

Parents April 2012
thetoddleryears@blogspot.com  

1st day of 1st grade

I am a homeschooling mom, I know what your going to say.  What about socializing, what about making friends?  He has friends, he socializes just fine and school is going great.  The hardest part is the curriculum.  It is time consuming, expensive, and you always second guess yourself if you're doing it right. 

I tried homeschooling last year, he was in kindergarten.  We were newbies and thinking we knew everything about how to do it.  Only we didn't know anything.  I had plenty of workbooks and ideas, researched on Pinterest, everything you think you should do but when it came time to do the actual work I was oblivious on how to do it.  To be honest I still am.

The day started with breakfast and saying the pledge of allegiance.  My favorite starter workbook is Breakfast Bites from the Dollar Store.  We then begin our bible study workbook.  Today's lesson was on Noah's Arc.  Another lesson from a new workbook about Nouns, this workbook came from Wal-Mart. 

During that lesson I received a call that I will never forget.  My cousin was killed in a car wreck.  He was hit by a driver that ran a stop sign.  My cousin drove a Jeep Renegade, they have no doors.  He was thrown from his jeep.  They flew in a helicopter but canceled it before it got there.  He died on scene.  I can't believe he is gone.  But now I have to focus on the rest of the school day. 

We did a math worksheet working on adding small numbers.  He breezed through it, making it clear that math will most definitely his best subject. We then practiced writing lower case letters on a dry erase poster board that looks like notebook paper.  This is something we will have to practice.

We had lunch and school was over for the day.  I literally couldn't take it anymore I needed to cry.

s 's

More ways to save

I found this on Pinterest and had to share because it is the macdaddy on how to save!  It is more ways to save money every year from thebudgetdiet.com!

Reduce Your Bills• Call your utility companies to make sure you’re getting the best rate, and to make sure you really need all the services you’re paying for like call waiting or premium cable channels. A few phone calls usually yields savings of $15 a month.
• If you live in a deregulated state, make sure you’re shopping around for the best electricity rate! It’s easy! In Texas, go to PowerToChoose.org, enter your zip code, see rates, read the fine print and choose a provider. There’s no interruption to your service.
• Shop around and compare rates on auto and home insurance. Ask yourself if you could live with a higher deductible or different limits, and make sure you are taking advantage of all the discounts available to you (security system, good student, student away).
• Start using a clothesline and you’ll save about 6% on your electric bill plus your home will be quieter and cooler!
• Invest in a programmable thermostat…it will quickly pay for itself!
• If you’ve had a disruption to your cable or satellite service, call and ask for a refund! We had issues with our cable for a week, and a complaint phone call yielded a $50 credit on our bill. Legitimate complaints may also result in a credit on your cell phone bill.

Shop Smarter
• Stock up on discounted gift cards for places you normally shop. How does 15% off at JC Penny or Pier 1 sound? ABCGiftCards.com has a huge selection!
• If you shop online, start with Ebates.com – you’ll find coupon codes and earn cash back on every purchase!
• Make sure you’re taking advantage of discounts! Check out this list of 133 Military Discounts or 66 Teacher Discounts.
• Stop making impulse purchases! Get in the habit of asking yourself if it’s a need or a want.
• Shop garage sales, thrift stores, Craigslist, Freecycle and consignment shops first – you never know what treasures you may find!
• Try swapping instead of shopping. Invite your friends over and swap children’s clothes, toys, books and Halloween costumes. The average family saves $569 a year by swapping children’s clothes!
• Get in the habit of shopping Groupon and other deal sites. No matter what you’re shopping for, there’s a deal site for you! Sign up to receive the best daily deals. Try Tech Bargains for daily deals on laptops or Totsy for daily deals for babies, kids and moms. No matter what you’re shopping for, there’s likely a daily deal site to help you save money!
• Make sure you’re taking advantage of rewards programs at places you regularly shop like CVS, Kroger and Petco.
• Do you know the best times of the year to buy for maximum savings? Fall is the best time to buy a grill because stores need to make room for Christmas merchandise. Check out the Best Time To Buy Guide with listings by month.
• Consider homemade gifts and homemade Halloween costumes – you don’t have to be Martha Stewart with my ideas!
• Get in the habit of buying clothes during the end of season clearance.
• Be thankful for what you have instead of shopping for more!

Cut Food Costs
• Always plan meals, make a list and try to grocery shop once a week.
• Buy store brands, this alone will cut your grocery bill by 25%!
• Use The Grocery Game, Inc.to maximize your savings. The Grocery Game helps you combine coupons with sales for huge savings and even a few free items each week. You will save at least $50 a week, and you can get started with a free trial!
• Shop Costco or Sam’s for staples like milk, eggs, butter, cheese and sugar. This is where the real savings are. Remember, everything is not cheaper at a warehouse club.
• Stop buying bottled water! A case of bottled water is about $5 per week, $20 a month and $240 a year! Try a refillable bottle instead.
• Buy seasonal produce for best taste and savings.
• Did you know that Kroger sells rotisserie chickens for half price after 7:30? Stock up, chop up, freeze! Check your local grocery for their policy.
• Meijer sells all pre-sliced deli lunchmeat for half price after 8:30. See is your local grocery has a similar policy.
• Check your local bagel and donut shops, you can likely pick up a bargain after a certain time of the day! Our bagel shop sells 1 dozen for $5 after 2:00, and I’ve heard that Krispy Kreme sells a dozen donuts (the ones in the case) for $1 after midnight…that gives new meaning to a midnight snack!
• Eat out for less with deals from Restaurant.com, Groupon.com or discounted restaurant gift cards from PlasticJungle.com. Their latest deals can always be found on the right side of this page.
• Don’t miss out on over 100 Birthday Freebies from restaurants! How’s a $30 gift certificate to Benihanas sound?
• Discover all the Kids Eat Free offers.
• Are you taking advantage of Report Card Freebies?
• Eat in, not out! Those everyday trips to the drive-thru quickly add up – $7 a day for lunch = $35 a week, $140 a month, $1820 a year! Could you brown bag it to work a few days? Check out 5 easy ways to ditch the drive-thru.
• Make your own Starbucks and save about $3 a day, $21 a week, $84 a month, $1008 a year!
• Plant a garden and enjoy seasonal produce for a fraction of the cost.
• Learn to can fruits and veggies.
• Always check out the grocery clearance / managers specials…the deals are amazing!
• Cook from scratch…you’re paying way too much for convenience!
• Try this rule – only order water at restaurants.

Have Fun For Less
• Groupon.com is a great source for huge savings on fun things to do in your area like 62% off admission at the Houston Museum of Natural Science!
• Try a high school football game or theatre performance for a cheap evening out.
• How about breakfast and a movie? AMC theatres offer $6 movies before noon.
• Watch your old wedding video and family videos.
• Pull out your wedding album on your anniversary.
• Have a wine tasting night at home and discover your favorite cheap wine. Simply cover a few bottles with brown paper, taste and rate!
• Host a cooking school for your kids – it’s time to stop watching the Food Channel and start cooking!
• Game night is a great family tradition to start! For a fun twist, add silly bets like loser does the dishes!
• Create your own Wii Family Olympics by playing a different sport each night – ideal for winter break.
• Check out FactoryToursUSA.com for a state by state listing of free tours.
• Pizza Taste Test – buy assorted frozen pizzas, taste, rate and choose your new favorite.
• Start a family tradition of having ice cream sundaes on Saturday!
• Try Minute to Win It challenges at home.
• Bring back home birthday parties! You really don’t need to spend $300+ for an ice skating party or Build-A-Bear party.
• Enjoy the outdoors – take a hike, go for a bike ride, watch the sunset! Mother Nature has a lot of free fun to offer.
• If you’re a Bank of America customer, take advantage of free museum and zoo admission the first weekend of the month. Check their website for a listing of participating museums / zoos.
• When’s the last time you visited the library? Check out books, movies and enjoy free events.
• Let your kids get involved in Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or 4H for affordable fun!
• A neighborhood pot luck block party is one of my favorite memories, and it’s frugal fun at its finest!

Go Green and Save Some Green
• The Return of the Clothesline – Start using a clothesline or drying rack, and you’ll save nearly 6% on your monthly electric bill according to the Department of Energy…plus your house will be quieter & cooler! If your city or homeowners association prohibits clotheslines, your best option is a cloths drying rack (available at Target, Walmart and Bed Bath & Beyond for about $30). If your monthly electric bill is $200, your friend the clothesline just saved you about $12 a month & $144 a year!
• Burn Calories, Not Gas – Walking or riding bikes is budget friendly, earth friendly and figure friendly…so, what do you have to lose? Maybe a few pounds???? Let’s here it for pedal power!
• Consider Carpools – Could you organize a carpool for work, school or after school activities? You’ll save both time and gas!
• Plan Ahead – Are you guilty of running errands every single day or making two trips to the store because you didn’t make a list? There’s more to life than errands, and planning ahead will save you both time and gas money.
• Slow Down – Driving 65 miles per hour uses 15% more gas than driving 55 miles per hour – that’s like paying 40 cents more per gallon! Of course, you’ll likely be the only one on the highway going 55!
• Pay Bills Online – Save trees, save stamps, save money!
• Find a Farmer’s Market – Discover your local farmer’s market, and your budget will love the prices and you’ll love the fresh taste of just picked produce! To find a farmer’s market near you, visit LocalHarvest.org and enter your zip code.
• Stop Junk Mail – Save trees, save your sanity! It only takes a minute to visit DMAChoice.org to remove your name from mailing lists for catalogs, insurance offers and more!
• Reusable Lunch Containers – Instead of a brown bag, carry a lunch box. Instead of zip top bags, invest in reusable bags. You’ll spend a little money upfront, but you’ll save money in the long run.
• Stop Buying Bottled Water – Bottled water has become the American way, and up until a few years ago…I was guilty of buying a 24-pack every single week! WOW…that’s $4 a week, $16 a month and $208 a year for WATER! Stop buying bottled water and start buying refillable bottles for your family to take to work, school and sports.
• Unplug – Phantom Electricity is the electricity that is used when a device is plugged in but not in use. For example…you leave your cell phone charger plugged in all the time, but you only charge your phone every few days…did you know that your charger is still using electricity when it is plugged in but not charging? This is “Phantom Electricity”, and little bits are being used throughout your home everyday hence the name “phantom.” Wasted electricity is not earth friendly, and wasted electricity is wasting your money!
• Recycle, Recycle, Recycle – If you’re not recycling, this is a great week to start! The first step is to have a system and make sure everybody in your family understands it! The Budget Diet girl’s system is two trash cans in the kitchen – one for recycling and one for trash. After a few weeks, recycling will become a habit, and your neighbors will be green with envy when you only have one small bag of trash each week!
• Homemade Cleaning Products – Make the switch to homemade cleaning products that cost pennies to make and clean just as well without harsh chemicals.
• Repurpose – Look twice at things before throwing them away! Could you cut off the fronts of some of your Christmas cards to use a gift tags next year? Could you paint that old piece of furniture or spray paint a chandelier to give it a new life?
• Compost!
• Check Craigslist for free plants…you’ll almost always find them!

Reduce Health & Fitness Expenses
• Are you taking advantage of your flex plan for pre-tax savings?
• Save money on prescriptions by avoiding “combo pills.” A combo pill combines more than one type of medication. For example, Lotrel is a blood pressure medicine that costs $70 a month for generic, but you could get a prescription for the two components (Amlodipine and Benazepril) for $6 each.
• Ask your doctor if your prescription might be cheaper from a Canadian pharmacy like CanadaDrug.com. I was able to get my eye drops for $9 instead of $150 simply because Canada offers a generic.
• Ask your doctor about any money saving prescription options…the last time I did this, we were given a bag full of samples! Ask and you just might receive!
• Order pet medications online from 1800PetMeds.com and you’ll save money! Simply place your order online, and they will contact your vet for the prescription. It’s one less errand you have to run this week! Costco, Sam’s and Walmart also offer pet medications for less than your vet.
• Order contact lenses online from DiscountContactLenses.com. It works just like PetMeds.com. Costco, Sam’s and Walgreen’s also offer discount contact lenses.
• Want a bargain massage? Try a massage therapy school! In Houston, Memorial Hermann Southwest offers a 1 hour massage for only $29, and tipping is not allowed!
• Check out FREE diet websites like SparkPeople.com and MyFitnessPal.com. Simply input your weight, your desired weight, and you’ll get a plan. These sites help you keep a food diary and keep count of calories, fat, protein and carbs. You’ll also find plenty of motivation, tips and support in their online forums.
• Get fit for free! Walk, ride bikes, check out my Pinterest Board of at home workouts or try exercise dvd’s. Average savings – at least $40 a month and $480 a year.

Travel More, Spend Less
• Deal first, destination second – this is The Budget Diet’s motto when it comes to saving on travel. It simply means don’t get your heart set on a destination, and then discover the deals don’t exist. Instead, be open-minded about a destination and get excited about great deals. Each Saturday, The Budget Diet publishes the Top 10 Budget Travel Deals.
• Did you know that discounted gift cards exist for travel? Recently, Costco had $300 American Airlines gift cards for only $269.99! How’s that for instant savings? Take a moment to peruse the huge selection of discounted gift cards at ABCGiftCards.com – you’ll find discounted gift cards for hotels, restaurants, shopping and more!
• Save on Cruises with VacationsToGo.com’s 90-day last minute ticker. It’s not unusual to find discounts of 75%!
• Consider a home exchange program like HomeExchange.com or AffordableTravelClub.com
• A road trip is always budget friendly! Plan a road trip to please everyone – you set the budget and distance parameters, and each member of the family plans a day!

More Ways to Save
• DIY – could you make it yourself or fix it yourself? Thanks to You Tube, there’s a video to teach you just about anything! You can even learn to fix a leaky toilet!
• Consider swapping babysitting or pet sitting with a neighbor.
• Cut your dry cleaning bill by switching to Costco Kirkland brand no-iron shirts. 5 shirts cost $79.95, and you’ll save about $250 a year on dry cleaning.
• Instead of a coin jar, try a $1 bill jar – you have to adjust for inflation, right?