Feeding and Clothing a Family of 5

Feeding and Clothing a Family of 5 ©

            My mother is a master shopper.  One of my first clear memories is of my mother buying 3 work appropriate dresses at T.J. Maxx for twenty-five cents each.  How is that even possible!?!?!  I clearly remember being impressed, even as a five-year-old.  At that moment, I devoted myself to learning at the feet of the master. 

            My mom isn’t an extreme couponer/hoarder, she’s just a smart shopper.  Our fruit cellar was always packed with non-perishables that my mother had purchased on sale and with double coupons.  If she could find a good deal, she’d buy 6 or 7 boxes of Cheerios and store them.

            When my hubby and I were deciding if we wanted a 3^rd child, we knew that a 3^rd would make the difference between living a little larger or living on a strict budget.  In November 2012, we welcomed baby #3. 

Out of my 3 children, 2 are enrolled in full time daycare for 43 weeks a year.  The price is over $18,500 per year.  I’ve had to learn to buy with care, to use my storage space wisely.  Here’s what I know…

1) Buy a BJs Wholesale Club Membership (or an equivalent club membership) → I specifically like BJs for several reasons:

a) Bulk prices are cheaper.  I’ve done the comparison shopping.  If you don’t believe me, check out this NPR story about a trip to Costco being a sound investment strategy: http://www.npr.org/2013/05/30/186450423/how-a-trip-to-costco-can-work-as-an-investment-strategy.

b) Cheap(ish) gas

c) Rewards Program – If you sign up, you get 2% cash back on all (non-gas) purchases. 

Because I’m feeding a family of 5, my once monthly trips add up quickly and the program ends up paying for my membership.

d) Line of Organics/Naturals products – I am not nutty about buying organic/GMO free/whole foods/unprocessed products, especially because these products are insanely pricey.  But, I want to give my kids as much organic/natural/whole foods as we can afford.  I buy organic juices, produce, meats, dairy, and dry goods from this line.  I limit my organic produce purchases to The Dirty Dozen.  To find out which fruits and vegetables are most important to buy organic (and which you don’t need to bother buying – The Clean 15) check out this link: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/.

e) COUPONS (THE VERY MOST IMPORTANT REASON) – BJs sends out monthly membership coupon books, as well as seasonal coupon books.  These store coupons can be combined with manufacturers’ coupons on the same items.  Take diapers, for example. Almost every month, there is a $5 coupon off of a box of Pampers.  Combined with my $2 off coupon from the paper, I am taking $7 off of a box of diapers which is already being sold at a bulk rate.  Score for me.  Generally, on my monthly trip, I save around $90 in coupons off of a $350 tab.

*A few coupon rules:

-Only buy what you need and will use, no matter how good the savings.  It is not a savings if you buy an item that is wasted.

-Use the self-checkout line. = A manufacturers’ or store coupon will generally work on any product in the line. For example, if I get a coupon for Kellogg’s Krave cereal, the coupon will usually work, even if I buy Kellogg’s Rice Krispies.  However, if I go through a line with a clerk, he/she may be fussy about the exact product that is purchased, even though the store will still be reimbursed by the company.

-They will take the store coupons past the expiration date.

Before a BJs trip, I will spend about an hour sorting through the store coupon books, checking them against my manufacturers’ coupons, and making my list.

2) Shop at Big Lots. → They have the best prices, even better than BJs and certainly better than the grocery store.  I find that I save between 25%-50% on items I buy at Big Lots.

*KEY TIP → Big Lots Rewards Card – Sign up and scan your card each time you spend $20 or more (limit of once daily).  When you reach 10 scans, you get 20% off your next purchase.  I wait to make large purchases until my discount day.  

**WARNINGS!

→Plan on taking time to browse.  Big Lots receives new items daily.  You never know what they may have, things that you didn’t know you wanted. 

→Check the expiration date.  Many times, the item is at Big Lots because it will expire sooner than later.

→If you know you like the product and price, stock up.  Big Lots cannot be counted on to have the same item next week.  When I found Earth’s Best Diapers for a full 33% cheaper than at any other store or online, I traveled to all of the different branches to buy every box they had.

3) If it’s not on clearance, you don’t need it.  Go directly to the clearance racks.  Do not pass Go and save yourself $200.

4) If you can’t use an additional coupon on the clearance item, you don’t need it. 

5) Get rid of cable.  Hello, Netflix!  We’ve also gotten rid of our home phone.

6) Kohls Cash. → There is almost always a coupon for Kohls that can be used on clearance items.  And, you can earn free money for shopping.  Many of my kids’ clothes come from the clearance racks at Kohls.

7) Groupon/Living Social → If a favorite restaurant, product, or activity is available, buy 2.  Caveat!  Make sure you actually use them.

8) Play psychic.  Predict your children’s sizes. → At the end of each season, when that season’s clothes are deeply discounted for quick sale, I buy for that same season in the following year.

9) Enter Rewards Codes → Many products have rewards codes (ex. Pampers, Coke, Kelloggs, etc.).  When you create accounts and enter the codes online, you collect points that can be redeemed for merchandise.  One of my obsessions is creating Shutterfly photo books and cards.  Luckily, Shutterfly teams with many of these companies, and I can redeem my points for gift cards that feed my addiction.

10) Find a “Consignment” Store that will buy your children’s used clothing outright. → Personally, I don’t have the time or room in my mind to keep track of consignment store pick up dates.  So, I sell my children’s gently used clothing to Once Upon a Child.  They purchase the clothing outright.

11) Memberships →  For example, one admission to The Strong Museum of Play is $13.  To take a family of 5 would cost us $65.  We go at least 10 times a year.  That $109 Family membership is well worth the upfront cost.

12) FSA → I put every cent possible into my FSA account towards child care expenses.  I can put aside $5000 per year tax free.  This saves me close to $1700 a year.

This is what I do to keep my kids clothed and fed.  What do you do?  Let me hear it!  I am always in for savings!