Every Monday, I answer a few of the questions that my readers send me. If you have a question you’d like me to answer in a future Q&A post, just leave me a comment here or email me (thefrugalgirl [at] gmail [dot] com) and put Q&A in the subject line.
How do you save on homeschooling books and supplies? I homeschool my 2 kids (9 and 7) and I have a hard time finding the books I need at our used bookstore or even online.
-Tracy
I have had the most success finding used/discount schoolbooks online, at half.com (if you missed it, you might want to read my glowing post about that site) or on Ebay. At those two sites, not only can I find good deals on non-consumable books, I’m also able to purchase consumable books (workbooks) for great prices.
I’ve also gotten free school books as hand-me-downs, and at a curriculum swap our umbrella group holds every year.
Another way I save is by using the public library whenever possible. For example, we’re studying the 50 states this year (well, we probably won’t finish this year at the rate we’re going!) and I don’t think I’ll have to buy a single item for this study. We’re simply using books and DVDs that are available for free at the library.
In the “This is what frugal looks like,” feature, you mention you are trying to pay off your mortgage, save for retirement, pay for your next cars in cash.I’m wondering about the future of your kids? Do you foresee putting money for college aside for them? What about their marriages? Weddings? Cars when they come of age? etc? Have you factored any of these into your long term plan?
-Reese
Good questions! Yes, we are saving up to help pay for college (or alternate educational expenses, like a trade school, if that’s what fits our kids’ needs). Unless something surprising happens, we will not have enough money saved up to cover four years of college for four kids, but we will do what we can. It’d be great if we could save more, but all we can do is our best. I figure something will be better than nothing, and it won’t kill our kids if they have to take some time off of college to work and save.
As far as cars go, I’m fairly certain that we will expect them to buy their own (that’s what I did as a teenager). They all have a long-term savings section in their banks, which is intended to someday buy a used car.
Wedding costs are not something that my husband and I have discussed much yet! We’ve got a bit of time before we need to worry about that, seeing as our oldest is only 10. As our kids get towards marrying age, we’ll likely start setting aside money in a wedding savings account. And we will likely set a budget that is equal for all of our kids, which will mean that if one kid wants a more expensive wedding than another, we’ll expect them to pay for anything over the budget (and if one kid has a less expensive wedding, they’ll get to keep the leftover money). My husband and I both feel that it is fairly silly to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to get married (especially when that money has to be borrowed), so we will encourage our children to keep things simple and sane.
I just wondered, do you bake on Wednesday for the week? Or is it just an “expression”?
I wanted some help organizing my baking schedule. I work full time out of the home as well as part time freelance work at home. With one teen to cook for I don’t need too much but a plan would help me get to it more regularly.
-Alyce
With the exception of summertime (when I try to do a bunch of baking at one time so as to not heat up the oven all the time), I usually just bake here and there and everywhere as I have need. So yes, Wednesday Baking is just the name of the baking series here on my blog…trust me, I am not organized enough to bake, take pictures, AND get a baking post up by 7:00 am. The recipes that I post on Wednesdays are things that I’ve baked earlier in the week.
If I were in your situation, though, I’d certainly consider having a baking day every now and then, provided you have freezer space to store your baked goods. Since there’s only you and your teen, one baking day a month would probably work out well for you.
You can read about a baking day I chronicled here on my blog if you want some inspiration.
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Readers, as always, do feel free to chime in with any advice you have to add to mine!
merrilly
Friday 16th of April 2010
My family set the same trend for college, graduate school and weddings. As the oldest to participate in all of these, my experiences were the ones to set the expectation for my younger siblings. The amounts that the family would contribute for college, graduate school and weddings were very clearly discussed and the expectation was that the four of us provide for any costs above those already allocated. We have all gone to different graduate schools (including one full tuition scholarship) and had different types of weddings in various locations. Some of us have had to take out a lot of loans to finance our choices, but that was clearly understood by all parties. It was so nice knowing the amount we could rely on and it helped to quell any sibling rivalry! Just a note- the sibling who got a full ride did get to use the money to help buy a car!
Megg
Friday 22nd of January 2010
Do you use your dishwasher (do you have one?) and if so, how often do you use it? Or do you prefer to handwash dishes? Which is more frugal? For 2 of us (3 at the moment as we have a guest) we are running the dishwasher once a day. Is this a lot?
Also, don't you ever get tired of cooking? I've cooked all week and though I realize I've only just started, I am tired of cooking already and just want to take a night off! What do you do when this happens to you?
Jackie
Tuesday 19th of January 2010
I know you mentioned you live in the DelMarVa area. If you're in VA (not asking, I know that's private!) there is this option: http://www.virginia529.com/SavOptVPEPOverview.asp for college. It's the Virginia prepaid tuition plan - from my understanding, it lets you begin paying for Virginia colleges at the current tuition price. My parents didn't do it for my older sister and I, but when we both went to VA state schools, they began it for my little sister. It saved them thousands, and everyone I know whose done it is extremely happy they did.
Jill S
Tuesday 19th of January 2010
On college: I worked all through college and paid for it myself. My parents let me live at home rent free. I started at a community college and transfered to a four year university after I graduated with my associates degree. My husband was a high school valedictorian and received a full ride to a four year university. He worked really hard during high school and continued through college (graduated Summa Cum Laude!). I have had friends who had their parents pay for school and still worked very hard. I have also seen friends who had their parents pay for their school not really care. I think it just depends on the person and how they were raised. I agree with Kristin's plan. My husband and I will try to save as much as we can for college but I feel our children will appreciate it more if they have some stake in it.
Clare
Tuesday 19th of January 2010
Thank you, William. I didn't have to work nearly as hard to pay for it as some of the other commenters (though I worked full time every summer and had a work-study job all four years). I had many wonderful professors, lived in a different part of the country, and met a lot of people living on campus. My college experience was a rich one, and I value the experience more each year. It is true, too, that as I get older, I appreciate more the sacrifices my parents made to put my four siblings and me through college.