My husband usually works 16-hour shifts, with guaranteed overtime every week. We both loved it—the overtime brought in an extra $1,000 each month, and he’d get five days off in a row, twice a month. But now that we have kids—two boys under three—it’s gotten a lot harder.
Bedtime when it’s just me? A total circus.
Recently, he switched to 12-hour shifts for a while, and honestly, it was such a breath of fresh air. I had help with bedtime, and he got to come home for dinner and see the kids before they went to sleep. We both realized how much we loved that rhythm. So now, we’re hoping to make those 12-hour shifts permanent.
The catch? It means losing about $1,000 of income every month.
So I’ve made it my mission to save as much of that as possible—and I’m taking you along with me on this new frugal journey. Hopefully, it helps someone else who’s in the same boat!
1. Potty Training Time
My 2.5-year-old is ready for potty training. I’ve been putting it off, hoping to wait until he was closer to 3—but I think he’s ready now. It’ll take a little extra effort, but it also means saving on diapers, so it’s time to go for it.
2. Formula Phase-Out
My youngest turns 1 next month and can now eat a wider variety of foods. I’ve started cutting his formula intake in half and replacing it with whole milk—instant savings!
3. Cutting the Power Bill
We live in the South, where it’s hot, humid, and just plain miserable for half the year. While it’s hard to calculate exact savings, I’ve started opening doors and windows in the morning and evening, and only running the AC during the hottest part of the day. When we moved in, I invested in solar curtains, and they’ve been a lifesaver for keeping the house cool without blasting the AC 24/7.
4. DIY Dog Grooming
We have a standard poodle, and grooming costs us $100 a month. So I ran off to YouTube, learned how to do it myself, and invested $250 in a grooming table and clippers. It’s already paying off: we’ll save $1,000 this year, and about $1,200 every year after that.
5. Household Expense Hacks
This is where I’m really leaning in. Some of these are small changes, but they add up fast.
- Paper towels: We were burning through them thanks to two kids and a dog. Now I only use them for puke, poop, and toilets. I picked up a few extra packs of rags for everything else.
- Trash bags: With all the diapers, we went through a ton of bags. Now, I reuse Walmart bags for the small trash cans—free with every grocery pickup.
- Credit card rewards: I use a points credit card strictly for things we already budget for, like diapers, and pay it off every payday. It’s helped cover essentials and keeps my credit score in the 800s. I also take advantage of the Pampers Rewards program—every little bit helps.
- Meal planning: I stretch food as far as possible. Two whole chickens cost me $15, and I made six meals out of them. I also swapped those pricey baby food pouches for homemade, nutritious shakes for the boys.
- Bulk meat buying: I used to buy 1 lb rolls of lean ground beef at $7.47/lb. Now I get a 10 lb roll of a lower grade at $3.99/lb, divide it up, and freeze it. Huge savings!
- Laundry pods: Why was I using these? To save 30 seconds? Pods were $0.38/oz, while regular detergent is $0.10/oz. Never going back.
I’d love to hear from you—what are your favorite ways to save money in your household? Drop a comment and let’s share ideas. We’re in this together!
