Save Money on Kids Stuff
Buy and Sell Kids Stuff
There is no easier way to save money on your kids stuff. Check out your local Once Upon a Child Stores. Most stores carry sizes infant to 16 youth. Some stores carry Maternity Clothing. Make sure to check out each location for Selling policies as they vary by location. Also check Kid to Kid & Children's Orchard!
Save big at the most expensive time of our life
Trendy Resale for Teens
Plato's Closet is a great option if you like to walk in and try on your newest outfits. They are the largest national chain of Teen Resale Clothing Stores! (http://platoscloset.com/)
Another Teen trendy resale store where you can save big is Uptown Cheapskate. It is not available in every state yet, but I'm sure it won't take long! (https://uptowncheapskate.com/)
If you prefer to shop online, you can still buy cool brands. There have been some new online stores that have been getting a thumbs up from teens through college students. Here are a few to check out:
Learn More
Yes, you can get your teens excited about resale! It is a great alternative to the $150 jeans your teens must have. You can find name-brand jeans starting at around $7.50. Oh, and mom can normally find something for yourself as well! The best part is you can even sell the pile of clothes on the floor that are no longer getting any attention. Make sure to check with each resale store to find out their policies or you may be walking right back out the door as a frustrated parent and a heartbroken teenager :(
Women's Resale!
Can't Forget About Mom
The top national chains for women's resale are Clothes Mentor https://clothesmentor.com/ which was the founder of Once Upon a Child and the competitor Style Encore https://www.style-encore.com/home. Either location will save you a fortune!
HOW ABOUT OUR KIDS EXPENSIVE ACTIVITIES
Whether the Marching Band or a Rocker?
You are covered here at Music Go Round. They are the World's largest musical instrument resale store!
Trade Up!
Keep trading up! Not everyone can afford new. It's like leasing a car. Your electronics still have value in the resale market if you do not sit on them too long. Apple will credit you for an aging product if you trade up! If don't have an Apple, Computer Renaissance is a nation that has a trade-in, trade-up plan. (http://compren.com/products.php)
Before you throw your phone or computer out the window!!!
Make sure you at least give the Geek Squad a chance to give you an estimate to fix it first. It might be less than you think! Make sure you don't go to a private electronic "fix it" shop. Let's just say buyer beware. Apple wanted to keep my phone after a "wack job" was done to mine. If you have an Apple product, go to the source. Tip: If you are going to spend the money on an apple product, make sure you get Apple care! Apple will replace it if you lose it! The insurance at the carriers do not. (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202702)
Ugg! Don't let this trap get you in debt
Where to Save Big on a Prom Dress
My husband and I have 3 girls that were born in the same year. We live in a very affluent area as this area has the best school system. However, we as parents are both financial professionals who both grew up very humbly. We raise our girls the same way. We did not give our girls the budget the other girls had for prom. Not even close! My poor girls! They still wanted to have the coolest dress in the class and they did! The best part was...it was probably the cheapest! Their dresses normally only cost me about $50. They were super secretive about where they ordered their dresses during school. They did NOT want any girl having the same dress as they did. I am happy to share the secret sites my girls used during their high school years to save you the money I saved. Hopefully, this can help keep money in your pocket during the prom season.
https://us.princesspolly.com/collections/formal
https://tigermist.com.au/collections/dresses?i=2,&v=20,
https://www.missguidedus.com/dresses/maxi-dresses
https://whitefoxboutique.com/collections/dresses-maxi-dresses
https://www.prettylittlething.com/clothing/dresses/maxi-dresses.html
All of these sites will give discounts for your first order!
What do I do with a $400 Prom Dress?
If you can not find a dress you love on any of these sites, there is another trend going on now. Or if you daughter does convince you to spend $400 on a dress they are only going to wear once, many girls are renting out their dress to girls during prom the next year.
Don't Fall Victim to This Trap Debt Trap!
Buy Used Rental Cars
You can find vehicles from a rental company such as Enterprise. Here you can find vehicles with less than 30k miles, less than 2 years old, in like new condition, as much as 50% off the retail price Make sure to walk in with a loan approval. Cars do not last. Tip: Try Vystar or Navy Federal, or USAA for your Car Loans!
Travel Smart
Global Discovery Vacations
This is by far the best deal on the planet for travel. There is an initial investment based on the weeks you select, but it is well worth the money. After you select the number of weeks your family will vacation and you sign up, you are left with a lifetime of vacation. I personally have an 8-week membership which gives me 8 weeks anywhere in the world for 189/w (that is my contracted rate from the year I purchased). This plan has saved me thousands and thousands of dollars. My husband and I enjoyed the years that our kids were young enough to get in free everywhere. We had no problem ticking 3 young girls in a double when they were young. As they have grown up, I have had to make changes. One was to find a new way to vacation or cut the kids out altogether. This plan works for us in every situation. If we have lots of money one season then we take a family cruise or an international trip. When times are not financially in our favor, we pack the car and take a drive down the coast. There has never been a time we could not save $200 for a week of time together.
6 Easy Ways You Can Save Enough Money For Your Summer Vacation
Why Vacationing Is Healthy
Looking back at a study that tracked workers over 20 years, found that men who don’t take vacations were 30% more likely to have a heart attack. Women were 50% more likely. That study is nearly 30 years old (where does the time go), but it still holds up. Working is stressful and stress leads to health issues. So why not do everything you can to reduce some of that stress?