I am excited for my little man to arrive (sometime in the next two weeks!!!), and I really cannot wait to get started using my extensive cloth diaper stash that I have built up in anticipation of his arrival. Although I have not yet started using them yet, I have become quite an advocate for cloth diaper use over the past few months. I have spent a lot of time researching cloth diapers and how to properly use and wash them, so I feel I am as ready as I can be to use them on my son.
One of the things that drives me absolutely batty right now is the way that people who have never contemplated using cloth diapers seem to think they know everything about it. I was at a party a few weeks ago, and one of my friends mentioned that I was planning to use cloth diapers. Another woman at the party, who I have met a few times, started telling everyone what "the problem with cloth diapers" is. She went on and on about how difficult they are to clean and said, "You have to rinse them and then wash them, like, four times, and spray them and bleach them and wash them again."
I, of course, attempted to jump in and clarify that it really is not that difficult, not to mention that bleaching your diapers will destroy them, but she happens to be one of those people who thinks she knows everything about everything and is generous enough to share it with all the other humans who are just stumbling through life awaiting her guidance.
The whole situation really irritated me. I mean, I certainly have a lot of folks in my life who think I am a little crazy for cloth diapering. Maybe I will end up being one of them after I give it a try. However, nearly everyone is at least supportive of me doing it. They may not be ready to convert themselves, but they are at least watching to see how it goes for me. I don't even mind some good-natured ribbing about it. After all, 8 months ago, I was right there with them, and I never thought I would consider using cloth diapers.
But when people who don't know anything insist upon getting noisy with their misguided instructions on how to live life, I get irritated. I suppose it did not help that the gal who decided to give a "how-to-wash-your-cloth-diapers" lecture - or, in her case, a "how-to-destroy-your-cloth-diapers" lecture - is not one of my favorite people to begin with.
To make matters worse, last week, my husband and I attended two days of childbirth classes to prepare for our son's birth. On the second day, a local pediatrician came in to speak with us. He asked if anyone was planning to use cloth diapers, and I raised my hand. He then made some joke about me trying to save the earth and delivered it in this condescending tone that indicated that he thinks I am some naive little woman with big dreams that I will never accomplish but aren't I just adorable for trying?
First of all, my motivation for using cloth diapers is primarily financial. Second, even if all I wanted to do was save the earth, what the heck is wrong with that? Third, why in the world does he feel the need to make fun of a new mother who is trying to do something a little differently? Talk about insecure. Needless to say, we will not be employing him or his practice as our pediatrician.
Showing posts with label Saving Money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saving Money. Show all posts
Monday, July 1, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
My First Steps Towards Being Green
Day 9 of the April Blog Challenge from Green Moms Network:
In reflecting upon today's blog post topic, I realized that I have taken quite a few steps towards a more environmentally friendly existence in the past year, although those steps have usually been motivated by a desire to save money, rather than a desire to save the planet.
In September, we moved out of our apartment and began renting a small house. We are delighted to be on a system where we only pay the water bill for our actual use instead of paying a poorly calculated average in a neighborhood where many people have 4 or 5 people living in a one-bedroom apartment. We were always careful with consumption, but now I have become even more aware of how much water we use. I remember to turn the shower off while I am putting conditioner on my hair and washing my face, and I make sure the dishwasher is always filled to absolute capacity before running it.
Our move to the house also meant an increase in electricity use because of the larger space. I have become even more diligent in being sure to turn off every light, unplug things that are not in use, and close off rooms that don't need to be heated or cooled. We also have a wood fireplace in addition to our gel fireplace now, and between the two of them, we can generate a lot of heat at a much cheaper price than it would otherwise cost to heat the house. We saved a lot of money on heating costs this winter by finding ways to get free firewood.
I also made the decision to use cloth diapers for our little ones, starting with our son who is due in July. Again, this was a decision motivated more by money, at least initially, but I am also glad to know that all that poo and plastic will not be sitting in a landfill for the next 500 years. I have even started trying to convince others to give cloth diapers a try since there are still some people out there who, inexplicably, are not head over heels in love with fluff.
Since moving to the new house, I also have the exciting new prospect of finally having a real garden. Within the first week of living here, I had already started a compost pile in one corner of the garden. I love being able to put all those nutrients back into the soil instead of just throwing things away. I hate to be always changing the trash bag, so the more stuff that goes to the compost instead of into the trash can, the better. We also have recycling pickup here, which we did not have at our old apartment. Instead of throwing away all of our cans and bottles, we now recycle them.
Finally, I have started to really look at how I can reuse certain household items that I would otherwise throw away. A perfect example of a really cheap, really easy way to upcycle is to revamp and reuse empty canisters, such as bread crumb canisters, and other household items.
In reflecting upon today's blog post topic, I realized that I have taken quite a few steps towards a more environmentally friendly existence in the past year, although those steps have usually been motivated by a desire to save money, rather than a desire to save the planet.
In September, we moved out of our apartment and began renting a small house. We are delighted to be on a system where we only pay the water bill for our actual use instead of paying a poorly calculated average in a neighborhood where many people have 4 or 5 people living in a one-bedroom apartment. We were always careful with consumption, but now I have become even more aware of how much water we use. I remember to turn the shower off while I am putting conditioner on my hair and washing my face, and I make sure the dishwasher is always filled to absolute capacity before running it.
Our move to the house also meant an increase in electricity use because of the larger space. I have become even more diligent in being sure to turn off every light, unplug things that are not in use, and close off rooms that don't need to be heated or cooled. We also have a wood fireplace in addition to our gel fireplace now, and between the two of them, we can generate a lot of heat at a much cheaper price than it would otherwise cost to heat the house. We saved a lot of money on heating costs this winter by finding ways to get free firewood.
I also made the decision to use cloth diapers for our little ones, starting with our son who is due in July. Again, this was a decision motivated more by money, at least initially, but I am also glad to know that all that poo and plastic will not be sitting in a landfill for the next 500 years. I have even started trying to convince others to give cloth diapers a try since there are still some people out there who, inexplicably, are not head over heels in love with fluff.
Since moving to the new house, I also have the exciting new prospect of finally having a real garden. Within the first week of living here, I had already started a compost pile in one corner of the garden. I love being able to put all those nutrients back into the soil instead of just throwing things away. I hate to be always changing the trash bag, so the more stuff that goes to the compost instead of into the trash can, the better. We also have recycling pickup here, which we did not have at our old apartment. Instead of throwing away all of our cans and bottles, we now recycle them.
Finally, I have started to really look at how I can reuse certain household items that I would otherwise throw away. A perfect example of a really cheap, really easy way to upcycle is to revamp and reuse empty canisters, such as bread crumb canisters, and other household items.
How to Get Free Firewood
The hubby and I moved to a house with a wood fireplace last fall, and I could hardly wait to use it. The wood stove is really efficient and has a fan to push the heat out into the house. It can quickly raise the temperature in the house by several degrees even with a small fire, and we absolutely love it.
The best part of using the wood stove this past winter was knowing that everything we put into it was free for us. I started saving cardboard, newspapers, and any documents that we would ordinarily shred (i.e., credit card offers) long before it got cold enough for a fire. I also mentioned to several people how excited I was to have the wood stove and how I was planning to get some wood for the winter. Before I knew it, I had two people bring me firewood that they either found free somewhere or had left over from a tree removal. I ended up with a ton of free wood of all different sizes, which was perfect for quickly building a fire that would burn hot for a long time.
On cold days, I would turn the heat off completely and just allow the stove to do all the work. When we started to get low on firewood, I jumped on Craigslist and did a quick scan through the "Free" section. There were usually at least 10 offers of free firewood any time that I checked. We wound up not needing to go pick up any of it, though, because just as we got down to the last of it, we hit the jackpot the night before our town's scheduled yard waste pickup.
We found a ton of firewood out on the curbs, just waiting for someone to snag it. There were a lot of small pieces, but also a bunch of big logs. We stuffed the trunk of our little Corolla with it and could have gone back for a second load had it not been so late at night and so late in the season. We knew we had more than we could use until next year.
Now, it is April, and the forecast for today predicts a high of 80 degrees. I am delighted to have a nice supply of wood left over to be saved for next winter, plus a ton of cardboard and paper products that will be great fire starters. As next winter approaches, we will do the same thing and work on building our firewood stash early in the season. If you are looking for free firewood next winter, try these basic tricks to get yourself a nice supply at no cost:
The best part of using the wood stove this past winter was knowing that everything we put into it was free for us. I started saving cardboard, newspapers, and any documents that we would ordinarily shred (i.e., credit card offers) long before it got cold enough for a fire. I also mentioned to several people how excited I was to have the wood stove and how I was planning to get some wood for the winter. Before I knew it, I had two people bring me firewood that they either found free somewhere or had left over from a tree removal. I ended up with a ton of free wood of all different sizes, which was perfect for quickly building a fire that would burn hot for a long time.
On cold days, I would turn the heat off completely and just allow the stove to do all the work. When we started to get low on firewood, I jumped on Craigslist and did a quick scan through the "Free" section. There were usually at least 10 offers of free firewood any time that I checked. We wound up not needing to go pick up any of it, though, because just as we got down to the last of it, we hit the jackpot the night before our town's scheduled yard waste pickup.
We found a ton of firewood out on the curbs, just waiting for someone to snag it. There were a lot of small pieces, but also a bunch of big logs. We stuffed the trunk of our little Corolla with it and could have gone back for a second load had it not been so late at night and so late in the season. We knew we had more than we could use until next year.
Now, it is April, and the forecast for today predicts a high of 80 degrees. I am delighted to have a nice supply of wood left over to be saved for next winter, plus a ton of cardboard and paper products that will be great fire starters. As next winter approaches, we will do the same thing and work on building our firewood stash early in the season. If you are looking for free firewood next winter, try these basic tricks to get yourself a nice supply at no cost:
- Tell your friends you are looking for firewood. You never know who will have some they want to unload.
- Check Craigslist. If you are willing to pick it up, you can usually find a ton of free firewood.
- Be a scavenger. Find out when your community is doing a yard waste pickup and get there first.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Earn Rewards and Money with Swagbucks
I recently joined Swagbucks.com after hearing about it several times from other people. I have been looking for work for quite some time, and I have spent a lot of my time at home, trying to find ways to make a little money while I am looking. Swagbucks is one such avenue that I have explored. If you are like me, you probably have heard about Swagbucks once or twice, but you're not sure what it is. I put together a little information based on what I have learned and experienced thus far. I hope this helps! If you do decide to join, please join by clicking here, which will give me credit for you as a referral. Thank you!
What is Swagbucks?
Swagbucks is an online service that rewards members for performing various tasks, such as searching, shopping, surveys, polls, and more. There are virtually no limits on the ways to earn. Users can even earn Swagbucks by watching videos and playing games. There are also a ton of offers to sign up for, such as memberships with various vendors or app downloads.
What are Swagbucks rewards?
Members receive rewards points, appropriately termed Swagbucks, in exchange for performing different tasks. These points can then be redeemed for a variety of different rewards, including sweepstakes entries, merchandise, charitable donations, and gift cards.
Can I really earn money through Swagbucks?
Yes, you can earn cash through Swagbucks. Swagbucks can be redeemed for Paypal cash, which can then be transferred to your bank account. The current rate of redemption is 1 Swagbuck = 1 Cent. You can redeem for as little as $25.00 or 2,500 Swagbucks.
How much can I earn through Swagbucks?
On my first day, I earned about 800 Swagbucks, which comes out to $8.00 if I redeem for most gift cards or Paypal. That was a high earning day for me, however, because it included a purchase that accounted for 500 Swagbucks. It was a purchase I was going to make anyway, though, so it made sense to check Swagbucks first.
When you make a purchase through Swagbucks, you can earn Swagbucks, which is essentially like cash back, for your purchases. It is good to get in the habit of checking Swagbucks for offers and participating vendors before you buy, especially if you are already planning to buy something. Offers are available through major retailers, including Target and Amazon.
What are Swag codes?
Swag codes are codes that provide additional Swagbucks to your account. You can find them in various places, including on the Swagbucks social media pages and blog. I recommend downloading the toolbar, so you can easily enter Swagbucks when you find them. (I also recommend downloading the toolbar to help you get in the habit of using it for your searches, which can score you some Swagbucks, too.)
What are the best ways to earn Swagbucks?
The fastest ways to earn are by completing tasks and surveys, shopping, or signing up for special offers. The tasks and surveys are free, as are some of the special offers. These types of earning methods offer the most rewards, but they are also the most time-consuming and/or expensive. The shopping should, of course, only be used when you are going to buy something anyway. Also, watch out for shopping offers that offer great Swagbucks rewards such as 30 points per dollar. Often, the markup on the products is so high that it would be cheaper, even after the rewards, to just purchase it somewhere (anywhere) else.
Conclusion
I think joining Swagbucks is definitely worth your time and energy. If nothing else, just using it for searches and shopping can net you some decent savings. If you have more time to devote to it, you can also earn through a variety of other sources.
Unlike similar websites, Swagbucks does not fill up your email with tons of stuff you don't want. Like I said before, if you do want to give it a try, please do so by clicking the link above so that I can get credit for referring you. Thanks for reading, and let me know what your experience is like!
What is Swagbucks?
Swagbucks is an online service that rewards members for performing various tasks, such as searching, shopping, surveys, polls, and more. There are virtually no limits on the ways to earn. Users can even earn Swagbucks by watching videos and playing games. There are also a ton of offers to sign up for, such as memberships with various vendors or app downloads.
What are Swagbucks rewards?
Members receive rewards points, appropriately termed Swagbucks, in exchange for performing different tasks. These points can then be redeemed for a variety of different rewards, including sweepstakes entries, merchandise, charitable donations, and gift cards.
Can I really earn money through Swagbucks?
Yes, you can earn cash through Swagbucks. Swagbucks can be redeemed for Paypal cash, which can then be transferred to your bank account. The current rate of redemption is 1 Swagbuck = 1 Cent. You can redeem for as little as $25.00 or 2,500 Swagbucks.
How much can I earn through Swagbucks?
On my first day, I earned about 800 Swagbucks, which comes out to $8.00 if I redeem for most gift cards or Paypal. That was a high earning day for me, however, because it included a purchase that accounted for 500 Swagbucks. It was a purchase I was going to make anyway, though, so it made sense to check Swagbucks first.
When you make a purchase through Swagbucks, you can earn Swagbucks, which is essentially like cash back, for your purchases. It is good to get in the habit of checking Swagbucks for offers and participating vendors before you buy, especially if you are already planning to buy something. Offers are available through major retailers, including Target and Amazon.
What are Swag codes?
Swag codes are codes that provide additional Swagbucks to your account. You can find them in various places, including on the Swagbucks social media pages and blog. I recommend downloading the toolbar, so you can easily enter Swagbucks when you find them. (I also recommend downloading the toolbar to help you get in the habit of using it for your searches, which can score you some Swagbucks, too.)
What are the best ways to earn Swagbucks?
The fastest ways to earn are by completing tasks and surveys, shopping, or signing up for special offers. The tasks and surveys are free, as are some of the special offers. These types of earning methods offer the most rewards, but they are also the most time-consuming and/or expensive. The shopping should, of course, only be used when you are going to buy something anyway. Also, watch out for shopping offers that offer great Swagbucks rewards such as 30 points per dollar. Often, the markup on the products is so high that it would be cheaper, even after the rewards, to just purchase it somewhere (anywhere) else.
Conclusion
I think joining Swagbucks is definitely worth your time and energy. If nothing else, just using it for searches and shopping can net you some decent savings. If you have more time to devote to it, you can also earn through a variety of other sources.
Unlike similar websites, Swagbucks does not fill up your email with tons of stuff you don't want. Like I said before, if you do want to give it a try, please do so by clicking the link above so that I can get credit for referring you. Thanks for reading, and let me know what your experience is like!
Monday, March 11, 2013
Trash or Treasure: Empty Canisters
I am horrible at staying organized, so I am always looking for ways to be more efficient with our space and find good storage tools like shoeboxes or inexpensive, lightweight shelving. I absolutely love when I can take something that I would normally throw away and turn it into something cute and useful around the house.
When we last finished off a can of bread crumbs, I was so excited to find a great use for the empty canister, and it was something I needed (and planned to buy) anyway. I am not very creative or crafty, so if I can do it, anyone can do it. This took about 10 minutes, start to finish.
Step 1: Clean out the inside of the bread crumb container. If it is metal, you can rinse it and wash it out. If it is cardboard, use the vacuum cleaner, then wipe out gently with a disinfecting cloth, being careful not to get it too wet.
Step 2: Cut fabric, tissue paper, or contact paper to appropriate size to fully wrap around can, leaving no gaps at top or bottom.
Step 3: Add any desired embellishments.
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For mine, I used silver tissue paper, along with blue ribbon and a yellow flower to complete the look. They were all left over from packaging at my bridal shower, which gives it a sentimental flare since I am such a sentimental gal.
When we last finished off a can of bread crumbs, I was so excited to find a great use for the empty canister, and it was something I needed (and planned to buy) anyway. I am not very creative or crafty, so if I can do it, anyone can do it. This took about 10 minutes, start to finish.
Step 1: Clean out the inside of the bread crumb container. If it is metal, you can rinse it and wash it out. If it is cardboard, use the vacuum cleaner, then wipe out gently with a disinfecting cloth, being careful not to get it too wet.
Step 2: Cut fabric, tissue paper, or contact paper to appropriate size to fully wrap around can, leaving no gaps at top or bottom.
Step 3: Add any desired embellishments.
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Before After
Monday, February 4, 2013
Professional Maternity Clothes that Won't Break the Bank
I dug through rack after rack at the Motherhood Maternity outlet, searching for a nice blazer or suit, but all I found was a nice pair of pants. None of the tops were formal enough, so I headed home with my pants and jumped online.
Well, it turns out that Motherhood Maternity does sell some very nice blazers. Unfortunately, the cheapest I could find was ON SALE for $100. I don't even pay that much for clothes I can wear during the majority of my life when I'm not pregnant.
So I kept up the search, and the more I looked, the more I realized that if a woman wants to maintain her professional experience throughout her pregnancy, she has to really be ready to shell out some serious cash. I suppose if you are a pregnant professional, this might not be too much of a hardship. But when you're still pursuing the opportunity to be one, like me at this point, that is a ridiculous amount of money to spend. What's worse is that other sites were selling blazers for 2-3 times as much. Who would buy that? But I guess people do.
Anyway, I was not about to admit defeat. I kept scouring the Web, and I found a few stores and/or websites where you can purchase professional maternity clothes for a reasonable price. Also, I found that sometimes the best way to complete the outfit is to go for a nice shirt or blouse and just top it off with a basic, non-maternity blazer. I am 4 months along, and I plan to wear one of my pre-prego blazers - unbuttoned, of course - over a nice red top. If you are further along, you might need to buy a size or two bigger, but you don't necessarily have to purchase a maternity blazer. Selecting a jacket with higher buttons allows you the option of just buttoning one and leaving the rest open. Or, just leave them all unbuttoned.
There are a lot more options for affordable maternity shirts, including Kohl's, Gap, and even Motherhood Maternity.
There were only two stores where I found nice blazers for under the $50 price point: Target and Matriarch Maternity. Although they do not offer a ton of options, they do have the basic black that you can pair with pretty much anything. If none of these work for you, my advice is to stock up on the cheaper, professional tops and pants and move out of the maternity department for your jackets. Kohl's, JCPenney, and a lot of other stores have great suit separates for a fraction of what the maternity stores charge.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Pregnant Shopping Day Ups and Downs
I know that employers are not permitted to discriminate on the basis of pregnancy, but as a lawyer, I also know that there is a huge difference between what the law prohibits and what you can prove actually happened. Much like certain types of racial discrimination, it is nearly impossible to prove what someone's motives were in a pregnancy discrimination situation. How can anyone say definitively what was going on in someone else's head?
My search for clothes is only half over. I did find some super-cute pants that fit me really nicely at the Motherhood Maternity outlet. They were about half what I would expect to pay in a regular store, and they are petites, which means that unlike most of my pants, I can just wear them without pinning or hemming...or tripping. The search continues for a top, but I am hoping Target will have what I need. That is a search for another day. I do have some nice blazers that I could wear with the pants, but buttoning them is just not an option anymore.
After my clothing strikeout, however, I had time to do some more fun things. I went to Michael's and picked out two skeins of yarn. I bought yarn for making baby wipes, which I have never done before but plan to try. I picked Lion Brand Baby's First yarn in Beanstalk for my first batch of wipes. The yarn is super-soft, thick, and absorbent, and of course machine-washable and dryable. If they turn out well, I plan to buy more colors, just to keep it interesting.
I also bought a skein of yarn for making burp cloths. For the burp cloths, I plan to use Bernat Baby Blanket yarn. I bought one skein of white, and I plan to buy one or two more in other colors once we know whether we are having a little boy or a little girl. (20 days!) The yarn is also very soft, perfect for wiping little mouths and chins, and it is thick enough to make a very absorbent cloth. It also has the ultimate necessary feature of being machine washable and dryable.
Finally, I picked up four Snappis from another Craigslist user. (In case you haven't read my other blog posts, I am a big fan of shopping via Craigslist.) The Snappis, though used, are in perfect condition, and they only set me back $3.00. All in all, it turned out to be a great shopping day.
Incidentally, my husband thinks I am a little nuts because I have decided to try cloth diapering and resusable wipes. He is always supportive of saving money, but he also would not mind spending the extra dough for disposable diapers and wipes. I keep telling him that I want a Ford Flex after the baby comes, and this is just one more way of saving towards a more family-friendly vehicle. (We have two dogs, both of whom accompany us on most of our trips, so we are going to need to find some way to split up the dogs and the baby anyway.)
I am so excited to prove him and the other naysayers wrong! I am practicing now on stuffed animals to get my technique down, and I am working on a laundry system to make sure that I have enough time to do diapers without letting it get ahead of me. By the end of the first couple months, I think I may even have some converts to the cloth diapering way of life!
Inexpensive Cures for Cabin Fever
Unfortunately, many activities these days can cost a bundle. A trip to the movies - even if you forego the popcorn, which I refuse to accept as possible - can set you back $7.00 or more a person. Zoos and aquariums, depending on size and location, can be as much or even more. Indoor playgrounds often come at a steep price, as well, not to mention a nerve-wracking place for a parent trying to teach kindness. I have taken my oldest niece to two different indoor playgrounds. Both times, I had to remove her from situations where other children were downright nasty to her, and the parents were nowhere to be found.
In an effort to save money and my own peace of mind, I came up with a handful of free places to take the girls when they visit (and eventually my own little one when he or she arrives in July). One of my favorite standbys is Chick-fil-A, where you can usually count on finding a decent-sized play area, complete with twisty slide, ball pit, and more. You can sit and enjoy some chicken strips while the little ones have a blast Most of the time, managers will not complain if you want to hang out for a little while, even if you don't order anything. Personally, I can't go to Chick-fil-A and NOT order something.
Along these same lines, check out your local malls. Often the bigger ones will have a nice play area with all kinds of toys and equipment. Any time you can find a place that is free and allows you to sit and still have your child in sight at all times, take advantage of it.
Another great place to take the kiddos is the local pet store. The best pet stores are the ones that sell all types of animals - birds, mice, ferrets, lizards, fish, etc. The kids will constantly have some new and exciting kind of animal to check out, and this can mean a good hour or two of entertainment, depending on the ages of the children and their interest in animals. My youngest niece loves animals and could probably spend a whole day in a pet store just watching the animals. Instead of paying $15 - $20.00 at the zoo, we just hang out at the pet store for free.
I also will sometimes take the girls to the local dollar store and let them mill around the toy department. Dollar General is my favorite of all the dollar or discount stores because it usually has a large toy selection, and the toys are actually of decent quality. For slightly older children, maybe around age 3 or 4, it can be fun to take them to the dollar store and tell them to pick one toy. There is enough of a selection to keep them looking for a while, and it gives you an opportunity to teach them a nice little life lesson about not having EVERYTHING that they want.
I would love to hear from other people with their ideas and tips for keeping the kiddos entertained through the long winter months.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Planning Ahead for Cloth Diapering
I got turned on to cloth diapering - something I never even thought I would consider - when I stumbled onto a post entitled How to Use Cloth Diapers. It all just seemed so easy, so I continued to do research and soon decided to give it a try. Because I have lots of time to plan ahead, I have been able to really minimize my costs and to think through how best to make cloth diapers fit into our lives.
My husband and I both work full-time - usually more than full-time, in fact - so I know if we are going to make cloth diapering work, I have to have enough diapers to get me through about 2 days so I am not constantly doing laundry. I am hoping we will have a nanny who can assist with the wash, but it will depend on whether or not I am able to get into a better-paying job. I wish I could stay home and take care of all of these things myself, but I also want the security of knowing that if something were to happen to my husband, I would be able to provide for our child(ren). Maybe someday...sigh.
When I first started pricing diapers, I was blown away by the cost. Of course, I didn't know yet where I should be looking, or how many different options there were, so I was kind of flying blind. More research helped me decide that I wanted to use prefolds and covers, much like the ones pictured on the blog referenced above. For some reason, I just love the way they look, and I felt I could be comfortable using them.
I got on Craigslist and found some great deals. One woman sold me 50 diapers - 35 that will last me from newborn to about 18 pounds and 15 that will last me the rest of the time. Remember, you do not need diapers in every single size there is. You can fold down the diaper to the correct size before folding into the middle. (Again, see very helpful cloth diapering guide.) She also threw in 4 covers and 2 rolls of flushable liners, which are really great for rolling up that poop and flushing it away. All of this cost me $100. I wanted to be extra prepared, so I also bought 12 8-18 pound prefolds from another Craigslist user for $15. I now have all the prefolds I will ever need - and far more than a stay-at-home mom would need.
The first seller had never used her diapers. They were a gift, but she never got into the cloth diapering. The diapers had already been treated and could not be returned, so she was happy to unload these brand new diapers, and I am thrilled to have them. The second seller was a huge fan of cloth diapering and had used the diapers on both of her children. (I couldn't believe how new and white the diapers looked after two babies!) She was so nice and sent me a long list of resources and places to buy, as well as tips on cleaning.
One of the best tips she gave me was to look for online giveaways, something I had not yet thought to explore for cloth diapers. A quick search led me to a site with links to tons of baby gear giveaways, not to mention a ton of other great information. I have spent the last few days entering giveaways like crazy and waiting to hear all the great things I have won. I will post updates as I win, which I am sure will be happening soon!
Because I am starting now, I have a lot of time to spend entering giveaways and, hopefully, winning! By the time I really need to start purchasing the rest of the diaper covers I want/need, or at least putting them on the registry, I may already have received enough to get me through.
I also have taken some time to locate the right diaper pail. The one I plan to use is the Bambino Mio diaper pail, which has a locking lid. I plan to take it along with me on weekend trips, which we do a lot of since our families are out-of-state, so I don't have to use disposables every time we go away. It is small enough to fit into the trunk, and the locking lid will keep the odors - and the diapers, of course - in on the ride home.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Deciding to Cloth Diaper
But then I got to thinking about it, and I started running some numbers, and then I started picturing Jesse coming to me wondering who spent $150 at the NFL Shop and me answering, "Sorry, dear. I didn't hear you. I'm just washing poo out of these diapers."
I got on Facebook and asked for opinions on cloth diapers. The overwhelming response was, "Don't do it." But after reviewing the comments, I realized that the only people telling me not to use cloth were those who had never used them. Everyone who said she had used cloth told me to go for it.
And so I started doing some research. The first thing I learned was that cloth diapers are actually quite expensive themselves. I almost abandoned the idea right then and there. Being a working mother means NOT being a slave to laundry. I knew the only way I could make it work was by getting a lot of diapers so I would not have to be washing every day, but I did not want to drop six or seven hundred dollars on diapers.
Then I turned to my old friend, Craigslist. I found a woman who was selling 50 prefold diapers, 4 wraps, and 2 rolls of flushable liners for $100. And the best part - the diapers had never been used. They were a gift from her hopeful mother, but they had been sitting around for over a year, just waiting for me.
I snatched them up right away, then added 12 more prefolds to my collection for just $15. The second set had been used on two children but were still a brilliant white. Amazing!
I discovered that over the course of three years, I can expect to save about $1500 by using cloth diapers. This factors in my upfront costs to buy the diapers, and the fact that I tend to change more often than is probably necessary. Since the diapers can be reused, my cost savings for additional children will be around $1800.
After I brought the diapers home, I diapered up a stuffed penguin, just for practice. I think I can get used to this, and even if it turns out to be too much, I can sell the diapers to some other sucker. But at least I can say I tried.
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