Archive for the ‘Sarah Scales’ Category
Wednesday, February 13th, 2013
Having a large family, I’m used to people asking me “How do you do it?” Not only how I physically care for all of them, but also how I afford the needs of five young children. These are some of the things I’ve found most helpful for keeping raising children affordable while still living comfortably.
Think Green
- Many of the things you can do that are good for the environment are also good for your wallet.
- Use cloth diapers, wipes, training pants, and menstrual products.
- Use natural cleaners like vinegar or baking soda instead of expensive pre-made cleaners with potentially dangerous chemicals.
Get by with less.
- Many of the things you thought you “just had to have” will end up collecting dust, taking up precious room in your home and wasting money. if you already have items collecting dust, consign them and use the credit to buy things you will actually use. In the beginning, all babies need is a safe place to sleep, diapers, and a modest layette. I’ve bought plenty of adorable baby clothes only to find them unworn months later.
- Buy clothing, toys, and other supplies used or borrow from friends and family.
- Some items like swings and bouncers have a very limited span of use and your friends would be happy to loan them to you or sell them at a steep discount over buying new. Other sources for quality used items are Multiples club consignment sales (we tend to have LOTS of baby clothes and gear, church swaps, and community garage sales.)
When you do buy new – buy quality items.
- Quality items hold up up better to repeated use and washing and sell well once you are done with them.
- Use coupons, have grandma buy things with her senior discount, and search through the clearance section to get the best prices possible.
- Take advantage of Kids Eat Free, Sibling, and Employer discounts on attractions, shopping, and services.
- If you don’t see a discount explicitly mentioned on their website or in their establishment, it never hurts to ask if they offer a discount for employees of XYZ or if a second child in the same family can receive discounted tickets to attractions or for childcare services.
Choose less expensive outings.
- At a young age, children are just excited by a trip to a new park, mall, or friend’s home as they are going to costly places like Disney. Even as they grow, compare the offerings of different attractions in your area. One may be significantly less expensive but still offer the amenities that are most important to you. Consider year-long memberships if it’s somewhere you’ll go more than a few times a year.
Sarah Scales is a mom of five including two sets of twins in cloth diapers! When she isn’t blogging for FuzziBunz you can catch her at Upper Middle Mom.
Tags: babies, childcare, cloth diaper, cloth diaper benefits, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, eco-friendly, eco-friendly diapers, FuzziBunz, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, FuzziBunz diapers, garage sales, green living, parenting, reusable diapers, save money, save money with cloth diapers, saving money with babies, traveling with children, used baby clothes, used baby toys
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013
I chose cloth diapers because they were better for my baby, the environment, and my budget. I chose to use cloth pads and a menstrual cup for myself for the same reasons.
Reusable menstrual products are an easy way to “green” up your period, save money, and reduce your exposure to chemicals. Cloth pads, like those FuzziBunz makes, are simple to use and wash. I have been very happy with my assortment of FuzziBunz pads. The panty liners are great for backup for cups/tampons, or very light days. Regular and Supers are of similar design but with more absorbency for heavier days.
FuzziBunz pads are very comfortable and slim-fitting, provide good protection, and I love knowing I have them in the house whenever I need them. I’m happy to leave behind the weird plastic-y noises, chemicals, and expense of disposable products. I wish I had been told about cloth pads sooner. I will never go back to disposables!
You can buy FuzziBunz Comfort Pads on FuzziBunz.com.
Sarah Scales is a mom of five including two sets of twins in cloth diapers! When she isn’t blogging for FuzziBunz you can catch her at Upper Middle Mom.
Tags: easy, eco-friendly, FuzziBunz, fuzzibunz comfort pads, green living, menstrual cups, moms, pads, period, periods, save money, tampons
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Thursday, January 3rd, 2013
It’s been a long time since my last dive into potty training. I know one thing: it will be different this time, I’m using cloth to potty train. I’ve make it clear how I feel about reducing waste and saving money. Still having two younger children that will be in diapers some time, it means no extra laundry, either.
I feel like potty training in cloth makes it less urgent, giving my children the time they need to be ready. Potty training is not a “two and ready” one size fits all experience, even twins are not always ready at the same time. Still, the number of mothers I hear ready to rush the process because they are tired of “wasting money on diapers” makes my head spin. I think, if only they were using cloth, maybe they wouldn’t be in such a rush.
Cloth training pants, much like cloth diapers are an investment that pays off. Not only financially, but also in creating a more relaxed environment for children to potty train. Putting the child in control and following their lead is the formula for long-term potty training success.
Click here to buy FuzziBunz Trainers, on sale!
Sarah Scales is a mom of five including two sets of twins in cloth diapers! When she isn’t blogging for FuzziBunz you can catch her at Upper Middle Mom.
Tags: cloth diaper, cloth diaper benefits, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, FuzziBunz, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, FuzziBunz diapers, pocket diapers, potty training, save money with cloth diapers
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Monday, December 17th, 2012
As the mother of two sets of twins, both currently in cloth, I feel I have the experience to back up my opinion. There are 3 reasons I know cloth diapering twins is the way to go.
The Cost Savings: Two babies equal double diaper duty. Diapering one baby is expensive, two babies doubly so. Even the cheapest disposables are upwards of 10 cents each; at roughly 170 diapers a week for newborn twins and you’re talking real money- upwards of $18 a week with taxes. Easily double that for “premium” brands. All of a sudden, a cloth diaper stash doesn’t seem like such a huge investment- you quickly recoup your costs. If you live somewhere that you are charged for trash removal, the extra waste created by disposables also comes with that extra expense, which leads me to:
The Environmental Impact: Two babies worth of disposable diapers is not pretty. For us it was an extra garbage can on the curb weekly, just for diapers. Now, I simply wash diapers ever couple days and have a steady supply for our 4 diapered children. Leading me to my last, and perhaps most compelling argument.
The Convenience: Getting around with twins isn’t always easy, especially in the early days. You have two car seats that won’t both fit in a cart; you have the stroller that you can’t pile merchandise in, inclement weather to deal with, and then a steady stream of strangers asking you lots of questions. A “quick” run to the store for diapers isn’t so quick anymore. Which is why, I’m so happy to skip all of that by washing cloth diapers in the comfort of my own home.
Sarah Scales is a mom of five including two sets of twins in cloth diapers! When she isn’t blogging for FuzziBunz you can catch her at Upper Middle Mom.
Tags: babies, celebrities using FuzziBunz®, cloth diaper benefits, cloth diapering, cloth diapers, convenience, eco-friendly diapers, families, green living, save money with cloth diapers, smart parenting, twins
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Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
BY SARAH SCALES
In the spirit of the season, it seems like a great time to discuss some of my favorite gift ideas for that special someone on your list who has a baby or is expecting. If you’re a cloth diapering mom yourself, you might want to put a few of these items on your wish list.
Wonder Wipes
Despite my initial reluctance to use cloth wipes (they seemed so expensive!) I have really become a fan. So has my husband, who actually prefers them to disposable wipes. I have found that one can never have too many (cloth) wipes. Like their expensive, disposable counterpart they are multipurpose for gently wiping snotty noses (’tis the season), on-the-go hand washing and of course their intended purpose, wiping bottoms.
Hanging Diaper Pail
Perfect for travel and at home, the hanging diaper pail is one item that is definitely on my list. After the babies are out of diapers, it can be repurposed for transporting wet swimwear or soiled laundry — as we parents all know that accidents will happen from time to time during the initial stages of potty-training!
A Cloth Diaper Stash Upgrade
If you know a mom (maybe it’s you!) who has a cloth diaper stash that’s experienced plenty of wear and tear, splurge for a new color — or maybe even a print — to replace the most worn diaper in the stash or increase your laundering flexibility. Either way, you can never have too many cloth diapers!
Charitable Contributions
The holidays are a time to give thanks for what we have and when we’re able, help those that are less fortunate. If you are not in need of anything more for yourself, consider donating gently used cloth diapers or wipes to a family in need or to an organization that loans cloth diapers to those in need. Diapers are one of the biggest stresses on the budget of a family with young children, cloth diapers can help alleviate that stress.
Sarah Scales is a mom of five including two sets of twins in cloth diapers! When she isn’t blogging for FuzziBunz you can catch her at Upper Middle Mom.
Tags: cloth diapers, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, gifts for cloth diapering moms, holiday gifts, sarah scales
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Monday, November 5th, 2012
BY SARAH SCALES
The holiday season is just around the corner and when traveling to spend the holidays with out-of-town friends or family, diapering your child(ren) is an important consideration. When you’re traveling with cloth-diapered babies this season, remember that when it comes to fluff, you have plenty of options!
Traveling with Cloth Diapers
If traveling by car, bring as much of your cloth diaper stash as you typically use before washing. For me, that’s two days worth of diapers plus a few extra. Flushable liners can add ease to your diapering routine on the go.
If traveling by plane or other transit, bring as little of your stash as you need to get by to reduce baggage fees. If laundry facilities are easily accessible to you, this would be about a day worth of diapers with one or two spare. FuzziBunz cloth diapers are lightweight and compact compared to other cloth diapering options, making them an attractive choice when dealing with space and weight limitations.
Supplementing with Disposables
Your options: to use cloth diapers or for a short period of time use disposable diapers. The overall positive impact made by using cloth diapers most of the time far outweighs the impact of a few days of using disposables.
There were periods of time during our recent relocation and move that occasionally using disposables was the most practical answer. I have always been one to point out that cloth diapering doesn’t have to be an all or nothing choice.
Washing Your Cloth Diapers Away from Home
Washing your cloth diaper stash at a relative’s home is the best option if they are open to you using their machines. You may want to ask first to make sure it’s okay with them. They will more than likely be happy to help. After a load of diapers is washed, it’s just as clean as any other laundry; a reminder of this can help overcome reluctance. Remember, you may need to alter your laundry routine slightly when using a different machine. The amount of detergent or different wash settings needed may vary.
Washing your diapers at a Laundromat is a good option if you do not have access to, or relatives are not open to you using their washing machine. When my oldest was a baby I regularly washed his diapers at a laundromat. A wetbag will make transporting the diapers for washing easier.
Another option is to bring dirty diapers home unwashed. By bringing dirty diapers home you are able to wash them in your own machine with a routine you have perfected and are comfortable with. This option is most feasible if you are traveling by car and your trip is short.
Sarah Scales is a mom of five including two sets of twins in cloth diapers! When she isn’t blogging for FuzziBunz you can catch her at Upper Middle Mom.
Tags: cloth diapering, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, sarah scales, traveling with cloth diapers
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