Money Saving Mom®

Guest post from Tracey of Our New Adventure

My husband and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary last month. One of the reasons we have a good marriage is because we choose to stay optimistic. Every night before we go to sleep, we name three good things. It’s wonderful way to end the day.

We started this early in our marriage and the habit has helped us through many difficult days, especially after our son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2010.

Some days are hard and we’re often exhausted, but we always take the time to count our blessings. We’re teaching our son to do the same!

Here are some tips to help your children develop an attitude of gratitude:

1. Name Three Things

At bedtime, have your children think about what happened that day. What are they thankful for?

2. Be Specific

Instead of just saying Dad, I’ll ask my son what about Dad? Maybe it was “bike riding with Dad” or “Dad is funny.”

3. Put it in Writing

Several years ago, we got our son a Thankful Notebook. He keeps it on his nightstand as a reminder to count his blessings. Our habit is to name good things right before bedtime prayers.

4. Play the Gratitude Game

At least once a week, we make a game of it. I’ll say a random date and he’ll look back in his notebook to see what fun things happened on that day.

We love to look back and be reminded of our joyful life!

Tracy is a Christian wife and television meteorologist turned stay-at-home mom, turned Doctor Mom. That last turn happened when her son, Matthew, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. The goal of her blog, Our New Adventure, is to give practical, uplifting encouragement to other moms who have kids with Diabetes.

photo source

A cardigan that I upcycled from a sweater I didn’t really like

Guest post from Kristen

For me, one of the many sacrifices I’ve made while trying to stay on a budget is not spending as much to purchase clothes for myself. Instead of spending a lot on new clothes, I have been focusing on getting some “new” pieces for my wardrobe by tweaking existing items in my closet.

Here are just a few ways to save money and stretch your wardrobe, with links to projects I’ve done:

Repair, don’t replace.

Are the heels on your work shoes worn down? Did you know that you can get them replaced for about $5-10 by either purchasing new tips online, or going to a shoe repair shop? You can also replace the soles. That may be all you need to bring your shoes back to feeling like new.

If a button falls off a shirt, pick up a needle and thread and sew it back on. Holes in seams can also easily be repaired.

Work around imperfections.

If you get a hole in the elbow of a shirt, cut the sleeves to a shorter length and give them a quick hem. Do you have a skirt that fits in the waist but is just a little too short? Add a wide band of decorative fabric at the bottom. When kids get stains on clothes, or holes in places that can’t be repaired, make a cute appliqué to cover it up.

If you find yourself not wearing a pair of pants because the pockets stick out, or the waist gaps, spend a little bit of money with a tailor to have the item fitted. Many alterations cost around $10, and some you can even do yourself.

Another cardigan that I upcycled from a sweater

Re-purpose items.

Turn a men’s button-up shirt into a woman’s skirt. Sew a tank top and a skirt together to make a dress. Turn a pullover sweater into a cardigan. Shorten an ankle-length skirt to right below the knees for a fresh look.

Dress up a tired sweater or shirt.

Make flowers from fabric or felt to create a fun pin. Add ribbon trim or ruffles to the edge of a sweater. Re-work existing bows or ribbons so they are more flattering. Change the style of a sweater to update it so you’re more likely to wear it.

Pair things together differently.

Do you find yourself always wearing the same pants with the same top? Challenge yourself to mix up your wardrobe. If you need help, have a friend come over to give input. You can brainstorm new ideas together, and your friend might have a vision for a look that you never even considered.

With a little creativity, you can get some “new” items by spending little or no money!

Kristen is a wife to a great husband, and mom to a wonderful two year-old boy, and a six year-old Golden. She works as an event manager, and loves crafting in her spare time.