Same-Sex Households
Two*True
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Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Thrifty Thursday
It's the first Thursday of the month and time for a budget check in. My brain is fried today (just had my annual review) and I can't think of a QOTD so please post your ideas. TIA!
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Re: Thrifty Thursday
We bought a lot at our multiples consignment sale (still do!)
Things that I wanted to be new -
mattress, infant car seat (well, we got one seat used from a close friend that I trusted was honest about it never being in an accident and it was still within the expiration date) - I wouldn't have bought one used without completely knowing/trusting the previous owner. Nipples for bottles (didn't care so much if the bottle itself was used.) Pacifiers. Crib (we wanted to pick it out - so purely selfish reason.) L woulds't get a used (but like new) potty chair - I didn't care. I was going to run it through the dishwasher anyway to get it super clean.
Bought used - swings, bouncy, baby Bjorn, breast pump (bought new tubing/attachments), clothes, baby tub.
With 2, we have to be thrifty where we can. We still get 75% of their play clothes from the consignment sale every fall and spring. We'll be sad when we can no longer do that (they only go up to size 5 and right now Carter is a 4!)
We specifically bought the following new: crib (purely selfish - although now we have one new and one from a friend), crib mattress, car seats, bottles, sippy cups, and binkies.
Everything else we were fine w/ used.
Blogs: Our Growing Family - CT Working Moms
I've had to make some unexpected repairs to my rental property so that's caused a bit of budget strain this month. I need to make a few more repairs but I'm allowing myself time to save for them. I'm picking up a 2nd job for a couple of weeks in mid-June and I'll use that money to pay down ccs.
As for buying new vs. used - we're not to that point. I'd say we'll buy new crib, mattress, stroller, car seat, bottles, etc. Other than that we'll just see.
I have an annoyed update. yesterday evening i got a bunch of quotes for car insurance - one of which would save us $50/month for a policy with a smaller deductible than we currently have. I was so excited! So i got to the point of purchasing and hit a road block - they wanted to to call the customer service person. So I did, and he explained that the quoted price was not accurate...the new rate was basically the same as we have now. i was so bummed. and the kicker? the premium increase is due to the "accident" this past winter when A's uncle hit my parked car. ugh.
Attempt 2 at lowering our monthly bills will be refinancing. I have the name of a recommened broker and just have to stop procrastinating on making an appointment.
Blogs: Our Growing Family - CT Working Moms
Once again, summer's here, which means money flying out the window. Between concert tickets (which we won't be buying once we have an infant!) and travel (catching up on family and friend visits), it's a little unsettling to watch it all fly away. For the most part, it was all planned for in the budget, so it's not a problem it just freaks C out to watch it all disappear.
But we are just staying on task, maintaining the budget and saving for baby and house. I've been using a lot of coupons and comibining coupons with sales at the grocery store, which really saves us a lot, and we are trying to spread out our spending on things that we need little by little, so only buy as we can pay for them (how novel!), making it much easier to see where the money really goes.
sahm ~ toddler breastfeeder ~ cloth diaperer ~ baby wearer
qotd: i want a new crib/mattress and new carseats. anything else i can think of i would be fine with used. my wife's parents have a crib at their house now that they got secondhand and use for c's niece when she stays, and i'm okay with that, but for our house and a crib that will be used every day, i'm not. we can also pick our own crib and style this way.
we're doing okay right now. we just had to pay out a big chunk for the new mower engine, but it was paid for out of my account and not on a cc. the city is putting an easement on our property to put in storm drains and sewers (we have a septic system now), so we'll be getting a large sum from them for that. it sucks in general, but the money will be nice. we'll pay off our only credit card and put the rest in savings. we really need to contact a tax person to find out if this money will be taxed and how so we can prepare for that. eventually we'll have to pay to tap into that new sewer, but that won't be for a few years at least.
my worry right now is that with the new fiscal year starting in july, i'll lose pay beause of the new contract stuff. i'm really lucky because i have a wage increase that is taking effect the pay period before everything freezes for 2 years, which should make up most of the difference between what i make now and what they'll be taking, but it still sucks.