A baby nursery for less than $260!

Remember my post from October about looking for a pregnant Halloween costume? Well, the time has *almost* come. Here are nine ways I’ve saved money in preparation for parenthood.

• We compared the prices of popular baby gear on Amazon, Babies R Us, and Target to make sure we got the best deal on a car seat and other items we wanted to buy new. You’d be surprised which retailer was the cheapest!

• I stalked craigslist, Freecycle, and my local Mommy & Me consignment store to furnish our nursery, pictured above, for less than $260. I can’t believe how much used baby stuff is free or extremely cheap. Here are more places to look to avoid paying retail for baby clothesand gear.

• We cooked five dinners ahead of time and froze them, including turkey spaghetti, chicken corn chowder, and pork and hominy stew. I also made a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough, which freezes really well for up to a month. Everything but the turkey spaghetti recipe came from my favorite cookbook, America’s Test Kitchen Family Cookbook.

• We considered using disposable diapers but the environmental and dollar cost convinced us to go with washable cloth diapers. We’re using the Gdiaper system and were lucky to find a huge stash of them at a garage sale for $.50 a piece!

• We planned family visits to get extra help cooking and cleaning, reducing our take out bill and sleep deprivation. Not sure if this will save us that much, but it will certainly be nice to have the company!

• We updated our budget to live on one salary, nixing a lot of luxuries we used to enjoy.

• We skipped a lot of baby gear money traps. It’s obnoxious how many manufacturers use parents’ fear to sell worthless crap.

• I bought most of my maternity clothes second hand from a local consignment shop, and found hot deals at Sears for new items. In one trip, I paid $133 for two pairs of pants, two sweaters, two bras, and three tops. That averages to $14.78 per item.

• We fully stocked our kitchen pantry and toiletry closet so we won’t have to pay full price if something runs out.

Anything else we should do before baby arrives?

Don’t be on standby

Appliances left on standby make up a huge amount of the energy wasted by homes, so this is one of the quickest and easiest ways to cut down on wasted energy. All it takes is to remember to turn the TV off properly when you go up to bed and before you know it you’ll be cutting down on the energy you waste.

Turn off your clothes dryer

Household appliances that give off heat – such as clothes dryers – use huge amounts of electricity. To cut down on this you should always try and hang your clothes out to dry whenever you can. Simply turning off the dryer and drying clothes outside is a 100% energy saving solution.

Get energy efficient lighting

In most homes, lighting accounts for 10 to 15% of the electricity bill. There is such a quick and easy solution to this – simply replace these with low energy and energy saving light bulbs. You’ll be amazed at the amount of energy you’ll be saving. In most instances this can be as much as 80% of the energy of normal bulbs. If you’re cutting the amount of energy used by this much, just think what this will do for your bills.

Start thinking of jobs at home

One of the most frustrating and messy jobs at home is defrosting your refrigerator and freezer, but it’s also one of the best things to do to save money in your home. Doing this regularly will mean that your appliances aren’t working overtime and are just using the right amount of energy to do their jobs. You can also purchase a special plug which will help the appliances run more economically by adjusting the electricity supply according to the motor’s needs. This will also mean that they become kinder to the environment.

Heat water on the stove

When boiling water it’s more energy efficient to heat it on the stove than using a kettle. This may sound like too much hassle, but often it’s actually quicker to do this than to use a kettle. So get rid of energy zapping appliances and get back to basics and you’ll be sure to notice a change.

Have you already implemented these energy saving strategies?

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Cyberslayer/Flickr

With summer on the way, heating and lighting costs plummet, but there are measures you can take to save money on your utilities all year round.

Turn down the heat
By turning down your thermostat by just one degree, you can slash your heating bills by as much as 10 percent. A warm pair of slippers and a good woolly jumper can keep you warm enough at home to turn the heating down even further, saving you money for Christmas presents!

Insulate
Loft insulation is absolutely essential to making your home energy efficient. It is not particularly expensive to buy and you can install it yourself if you don’t mind getting down on your hands and knees. The reduction in heat loss through the roof of your house will save you huge amounts on your heating bills, meaning that the cost of the insulation will be quickly covered.

Change provider/tariff
By staying with the same energy provider year in, year out, we run the risk of missing out on better deals elsewhere. Use the energy price comparison guide at Money Supermarket to help you find out whether or not you could save money by switching to a different provider or by changing the tariff you’re on.

Replace your lightbulbs
Energy-saving lightbulbs are now the norm for most people, but if you’re still using standard bulbs, switch to energy savers to get your hands on massive savings on your bills.

Install photovoltaics
If you’re serious about running your home as cost-effectively as possible, solar panels are the way forward. Though expensive to purchase and install, photovoltaic panels harness the sun’s energy and use it to generate electricity and heat the water for your home. What’s more, any electricity you generate through your own panels but don’t use can be re-directed back into the grid – with payments being made to you for your services.

This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my blog advertising page.

niallkennedy / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Spending money is subjective. What I think is a waste of money may be prized by someone else as a necessity or an investment. Here’s what I save and splurge on.

What I save on:

• Cable TV – I’ve never had Cable TV. I see no point in paying for TV when there are free channels. When I have time, I watch my favorite shows on Hulu. You too can stop spending money on cable TV. (easily saves $40 per month, or $480 per year)
• Newspaper and magazine subscriptions – I seldom subscribe to newspapers or magazines unless I find a really good deal. I can always catch up on the news online or head to the library to read magazines, though I am considering paying for an online New York Times subscription. (saves $12 per month, $144 per year)
• Transportation – I live in L.A. and don’t drive.
  I use public transportation. It would cost so much more to buy a car, pay for insurance, and budget for repairs and gas. I  save money on public transportation by taking advantage of student discounts. (easily saves $200 per month, $2,400 a year)
• Entertainment – This category gets many people into trouble, but I’m always on the lookout for free events. I have to admit that I am a workaholic, but I don’t deprive myself. Luckily, I live in an area where I can easily head to the beach, museums, and parks to get away for free. (saves $50 per month, $600 per year)

What I splurge on:

• iPhone -  I bought the first generation iPhone when it went on sale for $99. This summer I plan to upgrade to the iPhone 4. I couldn’t live without it because I can do everything from work to play. (costs $1,500 per year)
• High speed Internet – I pay about $40 a month to surf the web. Up until two years ago, I used the free dial-up connection that made the dialing noise, but upgraded for work purposes. (costs $480 per year)
• Cosmetics – I tend not to wear a lot of makeup, but I’m very picky about moisturizer, sunscreen, and anything that touches my face so I take advantage of free makeup samples. I am known to drop a pretty penny to purchase cosmetics without harsh chemicals. (costs $200 per year)
• Organic food – I only shell out money to buy organic items that are on the dirty dozen list and make sure I shop around for the best deals. I also splurge on organic milk. (costs $30 per week, $360 per year)

My savings add up to $3,624 while my splurges are only $2,540. My biggest expense is my cell phone bill. I don’t feel as guilty about this expense as I use it mostly for work and I’m making changes to my plan to lower the monthly cost when I upgrade.

Are you spending or saving on similar items as I am? Find out what Bargain Babe can and can’t live without.

wrestlingentropy/flickr

My son has officially become an adult. I know because he gets credit card applications almost every day. I’m amazed at what banks are offering a teen who does not have a job or any way to pay off the debt he might incur. Juxtapose this against the tremendous scrutiny that my credit report underwent recently when I applied to get a mortgage and you can see that something is amiss. Why is my penniless son being lured into debt while the banking industry is making great credit-scored working adults pay huge fees to get a fully collateralized mortgage? Sorry, I don’t have the answer to this question, but if anyone else does, be sure to enter a comment so that I find out the answer.

What I DO have the answer to, is how to save a lot of money by being on time with your bills and keeping on top of paperwork.

As I stated, my son has been getting frequent credit card offers. I don’t shred them. I read the fine print with my kids as a way of educating them to the perils of over-extending your credit. THEN, I shred them.

Instead of going into the fine print of your credit card contract, I will state firmly that if you are a person who wants to keep out of debt, sit down with a dictionary, a magnifying glass, and something to calm your nerves as you make your way through the maze of fees and penalties that can befall you if you miss a credit card payment. Although the contract does not state that the bank will send someone to break your knees with a tire iron, they will produce a similar result by raising your interest rate to a sky high amount AND possibly informing your other credit card companies that they should do the same as well.

Granted, the reforms of the Credit Card Act of 2009 have caused the credit card companies to make their type faces bigger, their words more comprehensible and their fees less hidden. However, the truth of the matter is that if you fail to pay a bill on time, you will pay more than necessary. Sometimes you will pay LOTS more.

People usually pay their bills late for only two reasons:

1. They don’t have the money.
2. They forgot or didn’t know the bill was due.

No. 1 can often be avoided by only using your credit card to purchase things that you already have saved money for. When the bill comes, you have the cash. Of course, there are other reasons that people don’t have money to pay their bills, such as losing their jobs or an unexpected emergency. An emergency fund is one way to safeguard against this.

No. 2 is easily remedied. Set aside time once a week to work on your finances. I don’t want to sound too simplistic here, but if you make at least 30 minutes each week to balance your checkbook, pay your bills, go over your budget, and plan out your financial actions for the week, you will avoid most penalties and fees associated with lateness or being overdrawn. I’ve been doing this for decades and I attest that it works.

Charlie Brewer / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Earlier I wrote about three phone alternatives to a landline that can save you money and reader Lore suggested Gmail Voice. I am a Google fan and can’t believe I didn’t mention the company’s phone feature, which you can access through Gmail and Google Talk.

Google Talk is a free Windows and web-based application for instant messaging that also allows you to make calls to others with Google Talk only. Google Voice is a free Google Internet service that uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to enable users to make and receive calls for free. You don’t have to be at your computer and can call any number. In this post we’ll explore how using Google Voice can cut down your phone bill.

Google Voice is similar to Skype in that it enables you to make a call and video chat. To make calls you will need a Gmail or Talk account (signing up is free). To video chat, you will need to download Google’s video plug-in, have a working microphone and speakers.

To start, open Gmail or Talk and look in your chat list for “call phone.” When you click the button, a number pad pops up. Dial a number or enter the name of someone in your contact list to call them.

Google Voice lets you make calls to landlines and mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada for free. International calls start at $.02 per minute.

You will be able to receive calls if you have a Google Voice account. The account is free and all you have to do is pick out a phone number. The number will be display in others’ caller IDs when you make a call. You can set up the account to forward calls to another number and also set up a voicemail.

The sound quality for outgoing calls is better than I expected. It actually sounds better than making calls on my cell phone when I have little reception. The only drawbacks that I could find is that Google Voice is not able to place or receive emergency calls and if you didn’t reserve a number in your city when this featured rolled out, then you’re out of luck. I tried making a Google Voice account but there weren’t any Los Angeles  phone numbers available. To learn more about the cost of replacing your landline with other VOIP services, check out Bargain Babe’s take on the subject.

biblicone / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

I know a lot of people who gave up their landline because they didn’t want to pay a monthly bill for a phone they were rarely using. Now, they solely rely on their cell phones.

If you’re looking to save money by giving up your land line, consider Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers like Vonage, Skype and magicJack. To use these services, you must have access to a computer with Internet and contrary to popular belief, some allow you to make emergency 911 calls. Below is a price comparison of their services and a description of how they work.

Vonage
A phone, high speed Internet and Vonage adapter is needed to use this service. Before purchasing the equipment, log onto their site to test whether the speed of your Internet connection is ideal. I have DSL and my Internet did not pass their Internet speed test. To receive or make incoming calls, your computer doesn’t have to be on. You can make local and long distance calls, and make emergency calls. Some plans cover international calls. Vonage World includes calls to Italy, France, Spain, United Kingdom and Ireland. Vonage Pro includes calls to 60 countries including Mexico, China, Russia and more.

magicJack
The magicJack is a USB adapter you connect to your computer whenever you want to make calls. After plugging in the magicJack you’ll be able to make and receive calls only when your computer is on. Voice mail and call forwarding will work when your computer is off and your magicJack is plugged in. Voice mail will receive an incoming call if your computer is off and your magicJack is plugged. You can call 911 with magicJack, but you won’t be able to make a the call in case of a power outage.

Skype
To use Skype, you must download the free software to your computer and create an account. Like Vonage, Skype has several plans. For a full list of prices, visit their website. Below I’ve compared Skype’s most popular plans. I’ve used Skype for free before to make video calls and send instant messages. I’ve used it from my laptop and cell phone (the Skype iPhone app lets you check voicemail remotely). You cannot use Skype to make emergency calls.

Google Voice – We’ve got the skinny on how Google Voice works, too.

At $40 for the first year and $20 per year after that, the cheapest route is magicJack. This option precludes international calls, instant messaging, and video calls, however. Vonage has the highest cost, but does not involve computer downloads and you can make good use of your existing touch tone phone. Skype carries a moderate price, but you’ll be tethered to your computer for calls and will need to buy a headset if you don’t already have a compatible one.

Which plan suits you? These companies usually have specials so check their sites often for free trials.

tobyleah/Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Ever since I can remember my mother has saved money on laundry by drying our clothes on clotheslines, which are making a comeback among people who want to be green. Once strung up, these simple and electricity-free devices are not always welcomed.

A couple days ago, I read a story from NPR of a New Hampshire activist fighting for his right to use a clothesline. A Google search quickly revealed an array of similar stories. It seems that many communities do not want to see clotheslines in their neighborhoods because they consider them an eyesore. I understand that many do not want to see their neighbor’s skivvies hanging out to dry, but there are ways to be discreet. I use the shower rod instead of leaving my damp clothes outside. You can also get a low-cost drying rack that folds up into tight spaces.

To someone who grew up with clotheslines it is difficult to understand what the big deal is all about. An opponent of clotheslines is quoted in a story from the Richmond Times-Dispatch as saying that clotheslines give an atmosphere of decline and a sense that one is not in a well-off neighborhood.

It maybe the nostalgia in me speaking, but I do not see how a clothesline makes a neighborhood’s status change. Electricity is one of the biggest home expenses that can easily be subsided with a rope and clothes pins, so why not use it?

By Mike Barclay of 10CentsWorth.com

A lot of you may be surprised to know that I’m not the most financially savvy person. What might floor you even more is that I’m still learning. Here’s what I’ve learned and where I need your help. Deal?

Priorities and Will Power

If you were faced with the choice to pay rent or your cell phone bill, which would you choose? The logical choice should be rent, right? For a while, I would actually choose my cell phone. I figured it was okay to accrue late fees so I could text my friends. Well no more!

I have a file on my computer that sums up my bill priorities in the order they need to be taken care of and reminders on my calendar to check it periodically. Here are the top 5 things on my list as of right now:

1. Rent (I always make sure my rent is set aside. Being homeless = not a good idea.)

2. Court Fees (Speeding tickets people, speeding tickets. I’m no criminal.)

3. Cell Phone (For me, I need my phone on for potential employers, etc.)

4. Car Insurance

5. Credit Card Bills

I’ve conditioned myself to take care of the important priorities by having my friend reward or punish me with small things, like taking away my laptop  for a couple of hours, or we’ll grab a bottle of wine as a reward. With proper budgeting I have enough to take care of everything.

Planning

I was an impulse buyer. I’d go grocery shopping with no list, a rough idea of what I needed, and a wad of cash. I’d walk into the market and out with a whole bunch of random food, inevitably forgetting an essential, like milk. I’d end up spending way over what I’d planned. Now, any time I go grocery shopping, I make a detailed list beforehand and, most importantly, I don’t deviate.

Banking Alerts

If my bank gave me the money they charge for over drafting, I’d be sitting on a beach somewhere drinking wine and doing nothing. I was horrible at looking at my account balance daily and making sure I had enough to spend. Thankfully, we now have modern technology. If you bank online, there’s a way to set up email and text alerts if your account drops below a certain amount. And (depending on the bank) you can even make it send you your balance text after every purchase. I don’t have an excuse to over-draft anymore.

Savings Accounts

My dad taught me the value of a savings account, I just never paid attention. “Have money, will spend” has always been my mentality. What I’m trying to do now is put away 10% of my check into a savings account and never look at it again. If I ever need car repairs or have an emergency, I’ll have money ready to go.

Some of these strategies I practice now. Others, I’m not fully on board with yet (e.g. putting money in a savings account).  Do you have any advice to make it easier to manage my finances? What have you learned from your moments of weakness?

Have you ever wondered about the best place to start saving money? The answer might be closer than you think: your home. WhiteFence.com is a fantastic shopping site that helps you find great deals on the home services that you pay monthly for.  From home phone, TV and your electric bill to natural gas and high-speed Internet, you can find every connection you need all in one spot.

Saving money with WhiteFence.com is easy. As a shopper, just enter your address into the search engine, and within a few minutes you can browse all of the choices available for where you live. The information is laid out in a way that is easy to use, so you can quickly compare prices and categories to see where you can find the best deals.  In fact, WhiteFence.com is currently offering up to $200 in gift cards when you order bundles from providers like AT&T and Verizon. When’s the last time you got paid to shop?

The best part of all of this is that using WhiteFence.com is free and requires no registration beforehand. You can even order all of the services straight from the site, rather than having to go individually to each provider to set up your connections. WhiteFence.com works with providers to set up your orders quick and painless, which we all know is welcome after years of dealing with utility companies.

To start saving time and money for your home services, visit WhiteFence.com today!

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David Berkoqitz/Flickr

I try to be open minded about how people spend their money. It’s not mine, after all. But after reading a story in yesterday’s newspaper about Panasonic and Samsung to begin selling 3D TVs this week, I am so $(#*@! frustrated.

Why does anyone need to watch TV in 3D?

It costs $500 more than a comparable set. There’s almost nothing to watch in 3D right now. (Sports will be some of the first 3D programming.) And you have to wear bulky glasses that require batteries. Batteries! If you don’t have on the special glasses, everything looks fuzzy.

America, this is not what you need to be spending your money on right now. How about paying off credit card debt? Or even – gasp – contributing to your 401k?

I’ve seen movies in 3D and it’s awesome. But I’m content to experience 3D at the movie theater. Not that I am the target consumer for 3D TVs. I watch about 17 minutes of TV a week and see roughly four movies a year.  But even if you are a huge TV and movie buff, is having a 3D TV really going to improve your life? Make you happy? Dissolve all your woes?

No.

Regular TV is good enough for me. Who’s with me?

Victor Bezrukov/Flickr

I went over my cell phone minutes the past two months and the overage charges bothered me so much they seeped into my sleep. Two nights ago I dreamed that I called AT&T and asked them to bump me up to a more expensive plan and forgive my overages.

And they did!

I woke up refreshed and wondering if I had actually called AT&T. Turns out the dream – and the overage forgiveness – was just that.

Drat.

I decided to call and ask if my new plan was pro-rated, giving me a few more minutes until the beginning of the month when my plan resets. While on the phone with a nice gentleman named Rham I asked if it was possible to forgive my overage charges this month, seeing how I was a loyal AT&T customer who always paid my bill on time.

“Let me see what I can do. Please hold.”

Rham came back on the line. He couldn’t immediately credit my account for the overages but put in an “adjustment request.” I would get a call early January with the adjustment amount. The last time this happened I received an adjustment (read: credit) for $1,214.65 so I expect full or partial credit this time.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“Well, yes. I also went over my texting plan this month. I’d like to bump up to the next texting plan, and, if I do, is it possible to forgive my overage charges for extra texts in December?”

Rham asked me to hold.

Unlike my minutes overages, Rham was able to immediately credit me $20-some dollars for my overage texts. (At $.10 a pop they add up slowly, but apparently I texted like a teenager in December!) And he pro-rated my new texting plan so I don’t have to worry about texting the rest of the month.

“Thank you for the excellent customer service you have provided me with today,” I told Rham before hanging up.

“You’re very welcome.”

I see the call as a win-win for AT&T and myself.

AT&T keeps a longtime customer happy (so much so that I’m blabbing about it to everyone) and they make more money off me to the tune of $30 extra a month. I save money (at $.45/minute extra paying up front is the cheaper route) and I am more loyal to them because of the consideration they showed me.

Proof dreams come true!

Related: My bra dream: proof I need to spend

Haggling 101

This is a guest post by Alex, BargainBabe.com’s intern.

The iPhone has become quite the celebrity and as a result it has alienated it’s closest, much cheaper cousin, the iPod Touch.

If you take an iPod Touch, buy a headset with a microphone, and download an application called Skype, you end up with something incredibly similar to the iPhone. But it’s a lot cheaper. You can make and take calls, and even set up an answering machine.

What’s the catch? The iPod Touch must be connected to the internet via Wifi in order to make phone calls. This isn’t always a downside. WiFi hotspots are becoming more and more common. There’s even an application that will locate Wifi hotspots near you.

Let’s do a quick cost comparison to see what the iPhone’s convenience costs compared to the iPod Touch.

Features by Comparison:

iPhone: Built-in microphone, built-in camera, AT&T phone service, access to satellite internet, Wifi optional, 8 GB hard drive, text messaging optional through AT&T, email and Safari web applications included.

iPod Touch: Headphone microphone, must use Wifi, Skype phone service, 8 GB hard drive, text messaging optional through Skype, email and Safari web applications included.

The iPhone is clearly more convenient, but to purchase one at a reasonable cost you must sign up for a 2-year AT&T contract and the monthly internet. Without signing up for a 2-year contract, a new iPhone will easily cost $400+.

On the other hand, Skype is free to try and doesn’t force you into contracts, plus they can’t nail you with overage charges. You can stop paying that $2.95 per month whenever you want and switch to a better deal if you find one. Still, with Skype you have to purchase a phone number if you want other people to be able to call you. That phone number will run you $30 per year when you purchase a year of service.

You’ll get a cheaper monthly cellular service if you share a family plan, and save even more if you limit your use of minutes. Click here for a list of AT&T plans, and here for Skype.

Maybe after all these comparisons it seems like the iPhone is not worth the money and the iTouch is not worth the hassle. I think there’s a lot of people who would agree with you, which is why I came up with a third option, buying a used and older model iPhone.

By purchasing used, you avoid getting pulled into a two-year wireless plan that comes with a new one, and by purchasing an older model (nicknamed the iPhone 2G) your wireless data plan costs $20 dollars a month instead of $30. You’re paying for a slower connection, but it’s still quite functioning when it comes to downloading email or reading the latest news on the go.

If you search eBay for  iPhone 2G, you’ll see that $150 is about as cheap as the old iPhones are going for. It’s more expensive than a brand new one! There’s so many people who either don’t want to start a new 2-year contract, or they’re already in the middle of one from the “latest technology” they bought last year, that there’s a big demand for used iPhones with no contract.

Be on the lookout in the near future. Wifi networks are ever-expanding and there are a lot of rumors floating around the web on a new iTouch with a built-in microphone and camera. The iPod Touch Alternative might just become even more cost effective.

I could bail, but this presents exactly the type of situation that makes the moratorium a worthy experiment. The point is not to sit at home for an entire month holding my breath until August when I can spend. The point is to live my life as normally as possible while not making an discretionary purchases. That means socializing with friends.

So far I have found plenty of free activities to do with my friends, including a game of pick-up Ultimate Frisbee, a picnic on the beach, and yoga (I buy classes in bulk to get the best price so it’s already paid for).

But going to a bar is going to directly confront my non-spending initiative. Luckily, I have a plan.

1. Eat before I go so I can honestly say I’m not hungry.

2. Leave my wallet home, except for my ID. No cash = no temptation.

3. Be very engaging so nobody notices I’m sipping water.

Apparently many folks are joining me on my spending moratorium. This morning news outlets reported retail sales are worse than the dismal expectations. GAP is down 10%, JC Penney is down 8%, Target is down 6%.

A reader named Emily, who joined me on the spending moratorium, wrote in with this update:

One purchase that I did make an exception for myself is a used copy of the South Beach Diet cookbook for use at home as I am redoing phase two at present and my father, who is a diabetic, should be eating fewer carbs anyway. As I considered it a health investment, I figured the $2.00 the store was asking for made it a worthy purchase. I’m glad to see your moratorium is still happening, albeit slightly challenging.

Who else is observing the moratorium this month? Email me an update, please.