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These are trying financial times. It seems like every time you turn on the news or read the paper it is just more bad news about the economy. The suffering goes far beyond wall street and hits the average family where it hurts most, they pocket book. Most families these days are doing what they can to save a few dollars here and there. For some it is just good planning for others it is necessary because of financial struggles.
Saving money on your family’s grocery bill can make a huge difference. Food prices are rising faster than your paycheck so find a few ways to save some money the next time you head to the grocery store can be a big help with the family budget.
Here are a few tips to think about the next time you head to the grocery store.
- Shop on a full stomach. If you are hungry when you go to the grocery store you are much more likely to buy more than you need, especially expensive snack foods.
- Shop with a list. Trying to remember what you need at the grocery store can be a challenge without a list and often times results in buying more than you need.
- Shop alone. Having your spouse or the kids along tends to result in more stuff in the grocery cart than you intended.
- Know your grocery store and how grocery stores work. Knowing the layout of your store can not only make your trip more efficient it can also make it cheaper as you can avoid those areas of the store where the most display items are. Stores put up displays of high profile, high cost items in areas where they are most likely to catch your eye. If you know the store is doing this it is easier to avoid.
- Buy store or generic brands when possible. For the most part these no-name brands are just as good as the name brand but will cost you much less.
- Use coupons or store discount cards. Some stores even print the amount you saved at the bottom of the receipt. You’ll feel good knowing you saved some extra money.
- Check the unit price and buy in bulk when it is cost effective for your family.
- Make fewer trips to the grocery store. Try to go only once a week instead of stopping by several times a week. You are more likely to pick up extras that you don’t really need when you shop more frequently.
Making a few changes to the way you shop and what you buy can make a big difference on the bottom line of your next grocery bill. Saving money on your family budget is a good thing no matter what the economy is doing, but in trying financial times it is even more important.
What tricks do you use to help save money on your family’s grocery bill?
Not many people enjoy a trip to the dentist, but for your child those first few trips to the dentist maybe even more nerve-wracking. It is a whole new concept and often a bit scary. Many children don’t much like a trip to the doctor and the dentist is just another doctor to them. The instruments and noises of a dental office can make it all the more scary. Finding the right dentist for your child can make all the difference.
You may want to consider choosing a pediatric dentist. Dentists who specialize in children will have a better handle on how to deal with children and their office will be more kid friendly. If you can’t find a pediatric dentist here are a few things to look for when searching for a good dentist for your child.
- The office is kid friendly. Their waiting room should be inviting and have lots of things for children to do while they wait. Look for children’s games and books in the waiting room, a kid-sized table and chairs, or a television playing children’s programming.
- The dentist should allow for extra time with a child. When making the appointment let them know it is a child and that you would like extra time so your child won’t be rushed into anything.
- The dentist should let the parent be present in the room during the whole dental visit. Your child will feel more comfortable if you are there.
- The dentist should offer learning tools such as videos, books, or other tools to help the child become comfortable with what to expect during a dental visit.
- The dentist should explain everything he or she is going to do before they do, allow the child to examine the tools, and even try the tools out before proceeding.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommend that your child begin seeing a dentist on a regular basis by their first birthday. For more information on pediatric dentists and other helpful tips visit the AAPD website.
It is a big step in the transition from baby to toddler, giving up those jars of baby food for some healthy grown-up food. For some babies it will be a breeze, for others a challenge. Either way it can be a lot of fun for you and your little one. You’ll know from the baby foods your child liked what they are partial to. Start with some tried and true favorites to get the ball rolling. You may also find that something your baby didn’t care for in baby food form is a hit when it comes to the real thing.
Most pediatricians recommend that you begin to transition your baby from jarred (or homemade) baby food to table foods around 9 months. The goal is to have your baby mostly eating table foods rather than baby foods by the time they hit their first birthday. Talk to your pediatrician to find out what they recommend and what will be best for your child.
We are in the process of making this transition with our daughter. She’ll be 11 months old in a couple of days. At this point she really wants nothing to do with jarred baby food so most everything she gets is table food. She’s quite picky though so it has been a bit of a challenge.
Here are a few tips on “grown-up” foods that are great first table foods.
- Fresh fruit. Peeled and cut up into small pieces fresh fruit makes a great first table food. With crispier fruits like apples and pears you will probably need to steam them a bit to make them a little easier for your child to handle. At this age the only fruit that is usually off limits are strawberries (most pediatricians recommend steering clear of strawberries until after their first birthday).
- Vegetables. Steamed and cut up into small pieces vegetables are a big hit with a lot of kids. Some good things to try include mashed regular or sweet potatoes, sweet potato french fries just baked in the oven, steamed broccoli or green beans. This is where you may find some things that weren’t a big hit as purees are all of a sudden all the rage with your little one.
- Lean meat. Some good lean meats to try are chicken and turkey. Really you can probably cut up a few pieces of whatever you are eating and let your little try it. You’ll want to make sure the pieces are pretty small as meat will be a lot harder to eat than soft fruits and vegetables.
- Toast, waffles, pancakes, bagels, pasta, you name the carbohydrate. These will probably be big hits at first as the flavors won’t be too over powering.
- Dried fruits such as raisins, prunes, dried cranberries, or dried berries.
- Soup. You can get a pretty balanced meal in one bowl of soup if you choose a kind that includes noodles or rice, vegetables and meat.
Experiment with what works for your child. It is important to make sure your child is eating a healthy, balanced diet. Usually you can just let your child eat whatever the rest of the family is eating, as long as it is healthy.
Talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about foods you should steer clear of and what sort of time table they would recommend for your child.
Circumcision rates are declining in the United States, though it remains a fairly common procedure. Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin on the end of the baby boy’s penis. There is no medical reason for a circumcision to be performed, however, parents may opt for the procedure due to religious, family, or personal reasons. If the parents do opt for a circumcision it is typically done soon after delivery, while mom and baby are still in the hospital.
If your baby has been circumcised you will need to take special care of his genitals while his circumcision heals. Be sure to talk to your baby’s pediatrician and the nurses in the hospital about what you should be doing.
Standard care for a healing circumcision includes gently cleansing the outside skin of the penis during each diaper change with plain, warm water. It is recommended that you do not use baby wipes on the area until it has fully healed. Your doctor or the nurses at the hospital will advise you if there are any other special care instructions that you need to follow for your baby.
You will need to keep an eye on the area as it heals to make sure it is healing properly and no signs of infection appear. Be sure to call your child’s pediatrician immediately if any of the following occur:
- The tip of the penis stays red with a yellow liquid coming from around the end for more than a week.
- There is bleeding, a foul smelling discharge, swelling, or more redness.
- The baby does not appear to be urinating.
- The baby has a fever.
- Any other signs that appear abnormal or you are concerned about.