Sunday, December 27, 2015

10 Tips for Having Twins on a Shoestring Budget


 
One of those moments that will be forever engrained in my memory:  the day we found out we were having twins.  My husband and I shot each other a look like deer in headlights.  We never entertained the possibility of twins.  We had just recently moved to Hawaii, stationed here by the military, we were now living in one of the most expensive places to live (insert several frantic thoughts here).  Though I was thankful for my husband’s steady job, I wasn’t yet working, and in just a moment my thoughts of continuing a career vanished.  Twins?  On one paycheck?  I knew that I was going to have to be extra resourceful, because we didn’t exactly budget for a double blessing (I'm not even sure we budgeted for a single blessing)!  Now that our twins are four, I thought I'd share some tips on how we've made a little budget go a long way:

1.       DON’T OVERBUY.  Walk into a Babies R Us and you will suddenly find that you had all sorts of needs you didn’t know you had!  News flash: you don’t need it all!  You don’t!  You just don’t.  Keep it simple:  it’ll save you time and money!  If you don’t have any little ones yet, ask your mommy friends to create a list of the top five things they couldn’t have gone without when their kids were babies.  But don’t stop there, ask them to give you a list of five things they hardly used.  Compile the list and bring it with you each time you shop:  you’ll be reminded of essential vs. excess.   

2.      WAIT TO BUY A BIGGER CAR.  If the budget doesn’t allow for a bigger car then consider narrow carseats!  There are several options for narrow carseats, Google’ll tell ya!  Take measurements and consider your options accordingly.  We crammed three kids into the back of my PT Cruiser until my twins were three, having saved money each month to dedicate to a bigger vehicle.  People will marvel at how you’re able to fit so many kids into such little space; let them marvel.  Trust me:  it’s better to have a car that you are financially prepared for than a mountain of debt. 

3.      BUY DIAPERS FROM BABIES R US ON COUPON.  Sign up for their free Rewards R Us card and you’ll start receiving their mailers.  They regularly have $8 or more off the price of their jumbo boxes.  Their jumbo boxes are quite expensive, but with the coupons, they often cost far less per diaper than the competitors.  Yes, I was the dork who would pull out my calculator to determine the price per diaper every time I went to a retailer.  When you get them on sale, buy two boxes to help tide you over until the next sale.  Costco often has a sale on their Huggies as well, offering $6 off per box.  At the sale price they are close competitors.  If you would like to save even more:  try the store brands!  We tried Target’s store brand and found they worked well!  If you’re adventuresome and want to cloth diaper:  more power to you, it’s just something I can’t speak to.

4.      JOIN YOUR LOCAL BUY, SELL, TRADE.  One of the greatest benefits of Facebook are the community Buy, Sell, Trade groups!  And if you’re extra lucky your community may even have a Mommies Buy, Sell, Trade!  Search these groups out so that you can start scoring deals on high ticket items for very little cost.  If you find that there isn’t one in your area:  consider creating one (and if you’re creating one- do the “Mommies” version:  it fits your specific needs)!  It’s such a great way to buy entire wardrobes for your kids, strollers, highchairs, swings, and more!

5.      ASK FOR HELP.  There are some costly purchases you will likely be making, and you’re providing for two, so don’t be afraid to ask for help on these costly things!  Take heart:  there is a tactful way to ask for help!  If someone is throwing you a baby shower communicate that you’re really needing help on some of the big ticket items and request that they mention on the invites that gift cards and group gifts will be extra helpful for you at this time.  No one will think twice about how they can be a blessing to you!  Target’s registry has a “start a group gift” option on the baby registry for big ticket items!  I’m not sure if this is offered by other competitors, but know it’s an option worth seeking out when you’re creating a registry!

6.      START BUDGETING NOW.  Determine which items you would like to buy new, and which you’re okay with buying used.  Create a cost analysis of what it’ll cost for those items and divide it over the course of twelve months (some things can wait until after they're born).  This is what will keep you on track and spare your marriage a few fights and stresses over money.  Your energy will be better spent elsewhere. 

7.      YOU DON’T NEED TWO.  Feeling like you need two of everything can weigh heavy when the budget is tight.  But you don’t need two.  Every single mother to twins that I have spoken to have a set just like mine:  the twins have opposite personalities!  One that is spunky and one that is calm and mild mannered.  One that likes to be rocked, and one that likes to be bounced vigorously.  What works for one of your twins likely won’t work for the other!  I had one that wouldn’t sleep without being in a swaddle blanket, and one that would only sleep if he could sprawl out without restriction.  One that liked the front to back swing, and one that liked the side to side swing.  This is another reason I suggest buying these things used… if they don’t favor it, sell it for what you have into it, and you will have never lost a dime!

8.      THEY DON’T NEED TO MATCH.  There may be special occasions or times when you want them to look like twins… but it’s not a requirement (contrary to popular belief).  You’ll likely receive matching outfits as gifts (which I was so appreciated), especially if you’re having identical twins.  So let your friends and family do the matching thing for you, and use your money elsewhere.  Know that dressing them differently will give them room to express their own tastes and preferences as they grow too!      

9.      HEALTHCARE COVERAGE.  Find out what your healthcare plan will cover.  Several will now cover the expense of a nice breastpump, which is a huge savings!  Also, determine what expenses they will/won’t cover during the birth so you can plan accordingly!  There are midwives that have and can deliver twins:  don’t buy into the idea that you don’t have options!  Speak to a midwife to determine if it’s a viable option for you and your babies.

10.  WORK FROM HOME.  For us the greatest expense in having twins was that it would cost more to have someone care for them than I would have earned.  Determine what skill or service you can offer from home!  Being in the military and moving frequently has allowed me the opportunity to meet a lot of great women that have found rather creative ways to supplement their husband’s income:  cutting hair, doing makeup for photo shoots, tutoring, piano lessons, teaching kids how to cook in the kitchen, or like myself:  selling items online.  I found a niche in selling used children’s clothing online.  And though it started small, it grew quickly.

There you have it:  ten tips for having twins on a shoestring budget!  These are things that I did to help spare the budget when we were expecting our twins, and by doing these things we actually managed to pay off a whole heap of debt!  I am confident that you too will find a way to make a small budget go a long way.  Congratulations on your double blessing, you're going to do great!
 

XO,

Jackie E

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