Frugal Parenting

I found an interesting concept that I’m thinking about using for my baby shower - the Alternative Gift Registry . If you care about frugality and buying things used, this registry is pretty awesome. I’m not sure how my friends and family would take such a registry, but it sounds like a neat idea.

Some of the things that can be added to an alternative registry include - used baby clothes, babysitting, dinners, cloth diapers, etc. Here is a sample baby registry , so you can see how it works. You can also use it for a wedding registry as well. Pretty interesting concept, huh?

I like it. Because sometimes I think that all this new stuff we’re getting for our baby really isn’t necessary - we would be just as happy with used items. (In fact, just about every item of clothing we have for our baby is either used already by cousins or bought at a yard sale.)

Whether or not I use the Alternative Gift Registry , I really like the concept. What do you think?

Whether you’re helping your children pick out the perfect Mother’s Day gift for your wife (or you!), or you are trying to decide what to do for your own mother, why not think about a homemade gift or something that shows you put a little thought into it?

Not only can homemade gifts mean more to the recipient, an added bonus is that they are usually quite inexpensive. And if you’re looking to cut expenses, this can be quite important! I found a great post on Cash Money Life that shares inexpensive ideas for Mother’s Day gifts .

One of my favorites: A day off. What mom doesn’t want a little time off from the job? I also like the breakfast in bed and coupon book ideas. There are several others, so check the article out.

What gift would you like to receive on Mother’s Day? Are there any inexpensive gifts you’ve given to your mom in the past?