Mrs. McFrugal

Here is something that society won't tell you: Money should not be the reason to avoid a baby. To some extent, I can agree with the author of this article. I could also find reasons to argue against it though. First, why I agree. 1. Hand-me-downs. Luckily for me, my sister had a girl and is expecting boys, so by the time I have kids, I'll have plenty of hand-me-downs to choose from! 2. Always save 10%, and put it away for unexpected hardships. Teach this to your child as well. 3. Know the difference between needs and wants...ask yourself, "What will happen if I don't have this?" If the answer is nothing, you probably don't need it. 4. In times of plenty, put it away for the lean times. 5. Saving money is great and debt is bad for your marriage. I'm not married yet, but I've heard this is true! 6. The benefits provided through your company should have allowances for children...figure out whose benefits are best and add the child to that plan.

I'm getting on the Pinterest bandwagon...enjoy! http://pinterest.com/msmcfrugal/

I thought these artcles were useful and interesting! For parents who are trying to save some money, here are some tips on 5 Products to Avoid Buying Used . Better to be safe when buying things like cribs, carseats, bicyle helments, etc to make sure they are up-to-date to all the safety regulations! What about that used car you're driving that constantly breaks down; should you Fix It or Trash It?  A rule of thumb is that if the repair costs less than 25% of the value of the vehicle, it gets decent gas mileage, and is otherwise sound, go ahead and repair the vehicle instead of replacing it. There are also good tips on appliances, clothes, and other things that go into disrepair frequently. And finally, since J is looking at buying a house in the near future that will need some renovations, I thought this article was particularly interesting: Will this home renovation pay off?  This will help you decide where to best invest your cash into your home, with resale value in mind.