I’m asked from time to time how Feisty Frugal & Fabulous got it’s start. While the long story is a good one, the short story is that after having our first child I became even more interested (some might say obsessed!) with saving money and figuring out how to stretch our paycheck until the next payday. It’s often when a new baby enters the household, another mouth to feed and body to clothe, that parents first turn to coupons and other money-saving strategies. I get it!
Here are 5 frugal tips for new parents – and all parents – to help get started on their frugal shopping journey. Welcome, stay awhile, it’s a cool place to be (and frugal isn’t a bad F word either!)
1) Use those Apps! Flipp is an App available for both iOS and Android devices and it allows you to view all your favorite store’s flyers at the touch of finger. Not only that, you can then select specific items you want to pick up and add them to a virtual shopping list right on the App. I love this App for it’s ease of use. I also like it because it can allow me to compare prices easily. Right now you can download the Checkout51 app and get $3 cash back on Pampers Wipes, Pampers Cruisers, Pampers Swaddlers and Pampers Easy Ups or $2 back on Pampers Baby Dry (while quantities last).
2) Price Match! There are more than two dozen stores in Canada that offer price-matching to their customers yet few utilize it and overpay every year. In simple terms, price matching enables you, the consumer, to pick up everything you need one or more locations without having to make several smaller stops. Stores that price match in Canada include Walmart, Toys R Us, Sears, Staples and No Frills among others.
3) Use Coupons Like A Boss! Check coupon sites regularly for coupons that can be printed at home or mailed to your address. Parents, right now you can get $1-$3 off Pampers products at pgeveryday.ca and pampers.
4) Reward yourself! Learn about points programs and savings programs at the stores you shop in anyway. I’m always amused when the person in front of me in line doesn’t have a loyalty card, meanwhile I have hundreds of dollars in free purchases and points sitting on my rewards cards!
5) Be prepared and plan ahead! Just as we all know that you’ll spend more money grocery shopping on a hungry stomach, being left unprepared for many necessities with baby can make you spend much more. Stock up when your favorite diapers, wipes, formula, baby food and more is on sale (especially if you have coupons!) because being left without is a terrible position to be in. Did you know that Pampers offers diapers and wipes subscriptions through select online retailers? It’s easy to do too – simply go to your favourite search engine and type in any of the following key phrases:
· Swaddlers diaper subscription
· Pampers diaper subscription
· Overnight diaper subscription
· Pampers + Subscription
A diaper subscription service is also an amazing baby shower gift idea, ensuring mom is always stocked up and has one less thing to worry about. For my third child, I received more diapers and formula than I could have imagined and was so-so grateful for that added help!
Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom. As part of my affiliation with this group I have been compensated to share Pampers deals and test diaper subscription services. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Thanks so much for sharing these great tips,living on a disability income saving money is a must in my household
all good tips
Great tips! I love using coupons every chance I get. I especially love to combine them with sale or clearance items to maximize my savings.
Great post, I already do all of your tips plus I use my credit card with the best points reward for all my purchases so I get a tonne of points. But I make sure I pay it off every month.
Yes! I am a credit-card rewards horder too! Just have to ensure you pay off that balance and you’re golden!
Thanks for all the tips. Signing up for e-mails from the companies you’re interested in is smart too. You can get deals and coupons like that.
That’s a great tip!
Thanks for sharing all these saving ideas. I sure love my coupons!
Thanks for the tips, I love flipp
These are all great tips, and being a new parent it helps to coupon and to be frugal as much as you can, you don’t make much being on maternity leave, so these are all great tips!!
I use coupons all the time, they have helped so much.I send emails to my favorite companies and see if they have coupons they can send out and I trade .
Great tips! I didn’t know about the subscription options!
I love price matching. It’s so rewarding to see dollars coming off of my grocery bill for items I’d already be buying. Good tips 🙂
Thanks for the tips. Once you become used to using these tips it will become natural and you will save money.
Those are all good tips! My daughter loved kijiji when she was getting things ready for both my granddaughters. She also love the second hand store for clothes.
Great tips – love the coupons and the apps.
These tips are really great and money-saving, I’m already loyal to coupons, Flipp and price-matching. I also take advantage of the scanning code of practice, I’ve saved a few dollars there too.
I love to match coupons up with the weeks thet apps have the same products , especially diapers
I love using Flipp. When I’m planning my shopping I go through all the flyers and find the best prices and then plan my shopping accordingly.
wonderful tips thanks so much .
I agree on the tip for using coupons for baby items like diapers and formula. Babies are expensive and if you can save anywhere, you should give it a try.
I discovered coupons when I was pregnant with our second. Amazing the money you can save!!
I’m not sure yet if I’m using the flipp app to my advantage and if anyone knows of a person who does, I’d be interested in learning more for sure!!
All great tips, love using coupons.
Great tips. Saving a dollar here and there do add up. I love rewards programs.