Parenting Blog at KidsAintCheap Archives

Where to Find Food If Your Children Are Going Hungry

July 22, 2021 | Leave a Comment

More than 10 million children a year go hungry in the United States. These hungry children have trouble focusing in school, which puts them at an academic disadvantage. In addition, summer is often a difficult time for them because they don’t get regular meals from the schools as they do during the school year. During the pandemic, more children struggled to get an adequate amount of food. If this is a problem your family is facing, several agencies can help you find food if your children are going hungry.

Where to Find Food If Your Children Are Going Hungry

Many different agencies offer programs that can help your children if you know where to look.

Local Food Bank

If you’re experiencing a temporary food shortage, consider visiting your local food bank. You should receive enough food for a week or two, which should be enough to get you by until your next paycheck. However, if you are facing long-term food scarcity, consider some of these other programs.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The SNAP program (formerly food stamps) has rigid qualification requirements. Namely, your income cannot be more than 130% of the poverty level and your assets need to be limited. However, if you qualify, you can receive several hundred dollars a month to buy food, depending on your family size.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

The WIC program provides supplemental food to pregnant and nursing women as well as their children ages five and under. To qualify for WIC, you must meet several qualifications. However, you’re automatically qualified if you already receive SNAP benefits or if you’re on Medicaid.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Young woman serving lunch to school girl at canteen

There are two tiers to qualify for the NSLP. If your family income is under 130% of the poverty level, your child qualifies for free school lunches. If your family income is between 130% and 185% of the poverty level, your child qualifies for reduced-price school lunches.

Summer Food Service Program

During the summer, your children can receive free food to make up for the food they are not receiving because school isn’t in session. The summer food service program requires no documentation of eligibility. You can call, text, or contact your local food bank to find locations distributing food during the summer.

Backpack Program

The Backpack Program fills the need for food on the weekend when kids aren’t getting free school meals. This food bank locator can help connect you with a local food bank that may be participating in the Backpack Program.

Final Thoughts

No child should go hungry. These programs can help ensure your children get enough food so they can grow strong and focus on their school work. In addition, if your money is stretched tight, these programs offer a bit of leeway so you can focus on other expenses such as housing and utility expenses.

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Where to Get Free Cloth Diapers for Low-Income Families

July 8, 2021 | Leave a Comment

For families on a tight budget, the blessing of a baby also comes with difficult choices. If they don’t have enough money for the basics, do they choose between diapers for the baby or food for themselves? Some parents have to stretch the diapers in unsanitary ways. They may change their child’s diaper less frequently than they would like or air out the diaper to use again. Parents shouldn’t have to make those difficult decisions. Thankfully, several organizations offer free cloth diapers for low-income families.

Where to Find Free Cloth Diapers

Several organizations offer free cloth diapers, though some do charge a nominal fee for shipping. If you find a diaper bank near you, you can avoid the fee by picking up the diapers directly from the organization.

The Cloth Option

The Cloth Option is a company that will give you enough cloth diapers to diaper your baby for at least a day. Then, you’ll need to wash them for the next day’s use. Newborns will receive 20 diapers, infants 15, toddlers 10. When you’ve potty-trained your child, give the cloth diapers back and get the next size.

To receive the free diapers, you must first fill out an application and provide proof of residency and the baby’s birth or your pregnancy.

Share the Love

Free Cloth Diapers for Low Income Families

Photo by Padmavathi Ashok Kumar on Unsplash

Share the Love was started in 2012 by a mom, Jennifer Labit, who had only $30 a week plus WIC benefits to both feed her family and buy diapers for her newborn. Thankfully, a friend gifted her with a diaper subscription and then cloth diapers so she could properly care for her baby.

After you apply to Share the Love’s program and are approved, you will receive 15 cloth diapers. You must return these by the time your baby turns three years old. Share the Love has locations in nearly all 50 states.

GroVia Gives

GroVia Gives lends a set of 16 bamboo cloth diaper inserts and four covers for a family to borrow. The diapers should fit a child between 10 to 35 pounds. Parents interested in this program must first fill out an application and show proof of being on WIC and having a child. They also must pay a $40 lending fee, which is partially used for the cost of shipping the diapers.

When you have potty trained your child, send the diapers back. They then receive $20 to spend on the GroVia.com website.

Ask for Cloth Diapers as a Shower Present

When you fill out your baby registry for your baby shower, make sure to add cloth diaper supplies. You may get enough at your shower to allow you to diaper your baby for free throughout his baby and toddlerhood. If you want the diapers to last through multiple children, which they can if you take good care of them, choose gender-neutral patterns.

Final Thoughts

If your money is stretched and you’re choosing between food and diapers, apply to one of these diaper banks. They can give free cloth diapers for low-income families. Then, your money can be used in other needed ways and your baby doesn’t have to suffer from infrequent changes.

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Cheap, Fun Ways To Stay Cool This Summer

June 17, 2021 | Leave a Comment

After a long, cold winter, most of us embrace the warmer summer temperatures. . .until the weather becomes uncomfortably hot. We’re in Arizona and going through a heat wave; the daily highs will be 114 to 115 degrees for the next week. However, just because it’s hot doesn’t mean you and your kids have to be confined to the house all day. There are many cheap, fun ways to stay cool this summer.

Outdoor Activities

Play in the Water

Slap some sunscreen on and break out the sprinkler! My girls are 11 and 12, and they still love to run through the sprinkler and cool down.

If your kids are too young for a sprinkler opt for a kiddie pool or water table. When our kids were little, they could play for hours splashing water and throwing stuff in the water of their small stand-up water table. This is cheap, easy entertainment while still enjoying the summer.

You could also take the kids to the local community pool. Once a week my husband takes the kids to our community pool to cool off for a few hours.

Enjoy the Shade

Trust me, I know, some days even shade doesn’t cut it, but for the other days, plan a day of shaded activities only. One fun idea is to build a fort outside with sheets to play in! You’re protected from sun yet burning off some energy while enjoying fresh air.

Eat Some Cool Treats

Experiment with fun, cool healthy treats. Freeze smoothies into popsicles, eat some frozen fruit or jazz up water with frozen fruit for added flavor. Making homemade ice cream and experimenting with flavors is another option.

Indoor Activities

Walk Inside

If you need the A/C, try getting exercise at the same time. Super hot summer days are a great excuse to go to the mall…for a walk. Malls are air-conditioned and have wide halls that make a great walking path. If a true shopping trip isn’t in the budget, go to the mall and maybe grab a small treat like an ice cream at the food court. As long as your child knows the stipulations for the trip to the mall, whining should be limited when they can’t get the t-shirt/teddy bear/cell phone that they need.

Go to the Summer Movies

Every summer, theaters around the country offer discounted movie tickets for kids and their parents. Often, you can buy tickets for as little as $1. True, you don’t get to choose which movie you see at that price; you have to see the movie that the theater company designates. However, who can argue with a cheap movie and two hours of air conditioning while you watch?

Go Bowling

Photo by Todd Diemer on Unsplash

Likewise, bowling alleys also offer discounted bowling rates for kids. While this activity is fun, it’s probably the least frugal activity on the list because the price of renting bowling shoes can add up quickly. If your kids have their own bowling shoes, then this activity becomes much cheaper.

Final Thoughts

Hot summer days don’t mean all fun has to be zapped. While it is more difficult, it isn’t impossible to find cheap fun ways to stay cool this summer.

What are your favorite ways to stay cool this summer?

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How to Afford Raising a Child with Special Needs

June 3, 2021 | Leave a Comment

When you have a special needs child, you are faced with a double financial whammy. Of course, there is the added expense for therapy, medication, counseling, tutoring, etc. These expenses alone can put a family into debt as they try to provide for their child. However, there’s another cost that is rarely discussed. Because caring for a special needs child can be time consuming, often one parent has to quit their job or reduce their hours to part-time. Now, there are not only added expenses, but a loss of income. How can one afford raising a child with special needs?

Thankfully, there is assistance available, if you know where to look.

Get a Diagnosis

The first thing you must do is get a diagnosis. For instance, if your child has autism, she likely can’t receive any therapy until she is officially diagnosed by a qualified professional.

You will need to talk to your pediatrician to see how to go about getting a diagnosis. There are a number of experts who diagnosis special needs children, depending on what special need you think your child has.

How to Afford Raising a Child with Special Needs

Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash

Once you have the diagnosis, you can begin to pursue therapy, if need be, and funding sources. There are a number of places you should look.

See What Your Insurance Covers

Once you have the diagnosis, the next step is to see what your insurance covers. All three of my children have special needs. While my husband’s insurance didn’t cover speech therapy (some insurances do, but ours didn’t), it did cover applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy for our children with autism.

Depending on the quality of your insurance, you may be surprised to find that it covers more than you would have expected.

Talk to Other Parents

If you’re in contact with other parents of special needs kids, make sure to talk to them. They can give you tips for where to find resources, whether they be federal or state aid or grants.

You can find other special needs parents at support groups and in places like Facebook groups. If you homeschool, you may find special needs parents in your homeschool groups because a surprising number of kids who are homeschooled have special needs.

The more people you can talk to the better because each parent has a different story and different places where they’re getting help and support.

Apply for Social Security Income (SSI)

Another option is to apply for social security income. Based on your family income and your child’s disability, you may qualify for SSI. You will need to fill out some forms and make an appointment at your local social security office. There, you will have an interview about your finances and your child’s disability.

Of note, if your child qualifies for SSI, you will also be able to cover your child through Medicaid.

If you don’t have private insurance but make too much to qualify for Medicaid, look into getting insurance through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Open an ABLE Account

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

An ABLE account allows you to save money in a special account just for your special needs child’s medical and living expenses. You or other relatives like grandparents can deposit up to $15,000 a year. This tax-advantaged savings account does not tax the income earned by the account.

Another advantage of this account is that if your child qualifies for governmental assistance, such as SSI or Medicaid, the money in their ABLE account does not disqualify them for services on a financial basis. Meanwhile, the money in the ABLE account can be used for their education, food, housing, support services, and an array of other needs.

Find What You’re Eligible for With Your State

Another fabulous tool to use is Benefits Finder. This tool asks you to input some information about your child and his disability. It can then help you see what benefits your child may be able to receive and what agencies to contact to pursue these options.

Determine If Your State Supports School Choice

Many special needs children simply don’t get the support and intervention that they need through the public school. If your state supports school choice, you may be able to apply for funding to help provide your child with the education they need, whether that be through homeschooling and using tutors and therapists or through a private school, which would otherwise be unaffordable.

I’m in the state of Arizona, and they offer Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA). I have one child who has both dyslexia and a speech issue, so we applied and qualified for the ESA scholarship. Through those funds, I was able to get my child a private dyslexia tutor and a private speech therapist. Paying for these things out of pocket would have cost my family $800 a month, which is not sustainable. Thanks to the scholarship, I could afford to pay for that. My child has now graduated successfully from both therapies.

Indiana is planning to launch a similar program, and Mississippi has several scholarships available for students with special needs. You can find out if your state offers a similar program by going to the Ed Choice website.

Final Thoughts

Raising a special needs child can be exhausting, but it’s also rewarding. However, the financial costs of getting your child the help he needs can be financially draining. One special needs parent I spoke with when we first learned of our children’s disability said she and her husband ended up filing for bankruptcy because there were so many interventions she had to pay out of pocket.

There are resources available so that seeking help for your special needs child doesn’t have to decimate your finances. With these resources, you should hopefully find ways to afford raising a special needs child.

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Frugal Camping: Use What You Have!

May 20, 2021 | Leave a Comment

Some of the best memories of my childhood are when my parents, brother, and I would drive a few hours north and spend about four days camping with our extended family. I have over 30 cousins, so there was plenty of fun to be had. We went swimming, scared each other at night, and even saw a bear roaming the campsite one night. Taking a camping trip can be a frugal way to have a summer vacation and get away from all the stresses of modern life.

Camping Basics

Camping is something that can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. Planning a weekend camping trip with your family should definitely be kept simple. Don’t overcomplicate things when kids are involved.

When I talk to my non-camping friends, a lot of them are turned off by the volume of stuff required to do it. However, camping doesn’t have to be that way. By opting to stay at an established campground for a small fee (versus trekking into the woods yourself and popping a tent), you’ll save a lot on both things you need and time.

Campgrounds offer bathrooms, water, and, when needed, electricity. It is 2021 after all, and most of us have a device or two that needs a recharge. Some larger campgrounds even have extra amenities like laundry, playgrounds, and pools which, when you have kids, can be a blessing.

What You Need to Buy

Photo by Tommy Lisbin on Unsplash

To plan your weekend away, you don’t need much. If you don’t already have access to one, you really only need to acquire a tent, possibly a tarp if you think you may need coverage for your site, and a cooler for your food.

You don’t really need sleeping bags or air mattresses; just layer a bunch of blankets and pillows on the bottom. Even though they can be nice, you don’t really need things like camping stoves. However, we do use our camping stove a lot when we camp. Yet we could manage just fine with a decent fire, a cast-iron skillet, and tin foil to cook all of our food.

Frugal Camping: Use What You Have

You can get away with using a lot of things you already have, which is what makes camping such an easy thing to do. Blankets, pillows, utensils, and cooking the food you already bought make camping a cheap option for family fun.

When we camp as a family, we bring food from home that’s easy to cook over a simple flame (you’d be amazed what you can create in a tin foil package) or bring food that’s prepped ahead and warmed up (think stew or chili). We usually replace our ice daily, and if we don’t have firewood from home, we buy it from the campground. (Another bonus to staying on the ground.)

Camping Brings Us Back to Basics

What I love about camping is the simplicity and, at the same time, the complexity of it all. We cook all of our food and then spend time washing and drying our dishes for the next meal since we don’t have access to a dishwasher and only have access to enough dishes for one meal at a time. Camping helps keep us grounded.

Final Thoughts

Camping is a great way to seriously relax. Yes, I bring my cell phone but I really only use it for picture taking and emergency calls. Social media is turned off- it’s almost sacrilegious to do in the wilderness. It is a great way to really connect with friends and family lazing around on a sunny afternoon or catching up while roasting marshmallows at night. (Again save the fancy metal roasting sticks and use a legit branch; the dirt won’t kill you!)

Do you camp with your family? How do you keep it simple?

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Cheap Ways to Childproof a Condominium

May 6, 2021 | Leave a Comment

When baby starts crawling and walking, you may feel like you don’t have enough eyes to keep track of him. Babies this age love getting into cabinets and putting things into their mouths. They love to explore. While these traits are good for babies’ growing knowledge, it can also put them in danger, sometimes mortal danger. However, there are cheap ways to childproof a condominium that will help keep your baby safe and help you maintain some control over his environment.

Cheap Ways to Childproof a Condominium

If you’re trying to save money or be frugal when childproofing, you’ll be happy to know you can start with the free fixes first.

Free Ways to Childproof

Consider Baby Safety Before You Buy

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

If you even remotely are considering having a child when you are condo shopping, the best thing you can do is find a child-friendly condo layout. That means finding a condo that doesn’t have a large balcony that over looks the living space. (Trying to childproof an upstairs railing can be a nightmare!) Likewise, open concept plans may be more difficult to childproof because you can use doorways to separate off areas.

Rearrange Your Cupboards

Once your child starts becoming more mobile, it’s time to rearrange your cupboards. In the lower cabinets, put things like pots and pans. If baby gets into these items, no harm done. You’ll want to move any glass containers or lids to higher shelves.

Put Up Dangerous Items

Many people keep cleaning chemicals under their kitchen sink. A better place for these might be in a higher cupboard so you don’t risk your child getting into them and accidentally getting poisoned. Automatic lighters and other potentially dangerous items should all be put up. Out of sight, out of mind.

Keep Furniture Away from Windows

The next free thing you can do is keep furniture away from high windows. If your child’s bedroom is on the second floor or higher, be sure to keep the bed and dresser away from the window. This step makes it harder for your child to inadvertently fall from the window since she has nothing to climb.

Tie Up Window Blind Cords

Window blind cords create a real danger for young children. In a study by The Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, researchers “found that over 26 years emergency departments treated almost 17,000 children for strangulation from window covering cords. Of those cases, 271 children died” (Today.com).

Sure, you can buy expensive cord binders, but check out Pinterest for a way to make a free cord binder. All you need is a light piece of plastic that you probably were going to throw in recycling anyway and a pair of scissors. This idea is ingenious!

Bath Seat

Don’t feel the need to buy a special bath seat for when your little one takes a bath. Instead, place your child in a laundry basket in the tub when giving her a bath. She can stay seated in a smaller area, so there is less chance of slipping or falling.

Low-Cost Options

After you exhaust the free options, there are several low-cost ways to childproof your condo.

Tennis Balls on Sharp Corners

Little ones can often lose their balance when just learning to walk, so cut the side of a tennis ball and stick it on the sharp corners of tables and other items like the hearth of the fireplace.

Elastic on Handles

To keep cabinets with handles closed, put rubber bands around the handles. Double twist to make sure the doors stay securely closed.

If you have cabinets without handles, either install handles or you can buy inner door latches. These run about $1 a piece.

Plastic Container Around Power Cords

If you have a power strip you want to babyproof, you can take a cheap plastic tub, put the power strip inside, and cut a hole on the side for the cords. See full instructions and image on Pinterest.

Hairband Around the Toilet Paper Roll

Remember the fun age when toddlers delight in unrolling ALL the toilet paper on the roll? End that habit with a rubber band around the toilet paper roll.

Band-aids over Electrical Outlets

If it will be a few days before you can get to the store, you can cover electrical outlets with band-aids. However, your baby will likely figure this one out quickly, so eventually you’ll want to buy electrical outlet plug covers. These are very affordable at only $6 per 24 pack.

Door Knob Covers

There may be some rooms and closets that you just don’t want your child to get into unattended. For those rooms, consider door knob covers. These are easy for parents to use, but little ones usually can’t figure them out until at least the preschool years.

DIY Baby Gate

If there is a doorway you want to keep baby from going through, you can create a DIY baby gate. You’ll need two tension rods and fabric. True, you’ll have to invest some money into this project, but the overall cost is much cheaper than metal, store-bought baby gates. Plus, these are softer.

Air Vent Protection

If you have air vents on the floor, your child may be unable to resist dropping items down the slats. Prevent this by putting fabric tulle under or over the air vent. Air can still flow through unobstructed, but your child will no longer be able to put things through the cracks.

Final Thoughts

These are just a few of the cheap ways to childproof a condominium. While you won’t have to spend a fortune childproofing, you will likely need to buy some supplies. There are free childproofing fixes, but you’ll also probably have to buy some of the low-cost supplies to truly keep your child safe. But don’t worry, in a few years, childproofing will be a distant memory as your child gains more independence and learns what’s safe and what isn’t.

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Free Diapers for Low Income Families

April 22, 2021 | Leave a Comment

Having a baby when experiencing lower income is a wonderful experience plagued with frustration. When I had my children, I was trying hard to improve my finances and still struggling to get something as simple as diapers. On average, it costs $70-$80 a month to provide disposable diapers for one baby. That can be a hefty expense for a lower income family. Fortunately, there are ways to make things simpler for yourself and ease your finances a little bit. Here are a few ways low-income families can get free diapers.

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April 20, 2021 | Leave a Comment

Who wouldn’t like to make money doing nothing? That’s the dream, isn’t it? Well, keep dreaming because it’s not possible to make money doing nothing. It is, however, possible to make money doing almost nothing. It’s called passive income. [Read more…]

Amazing Traits of Successful ETF Traders

April 9, 2021 | Leave a Comment

Successful traders rarely face loss in Forex and frequently win the trades. But, they have worked hard to ensure their success in Forex. Being a newcomer, if you can develop the traits which are possessed by them, you might increase the number of winning streak. However, to develop these traits, you need to know about these and the ways of developing these. [Read more…]

Cheap Costco Desserts That Kids Love

April 8, 2021 | Leave a Comment

For some kids, a trip to the grocery store with mom or dad is B-O-R-I-N-G. Yet, for many of those same kids, a trip to Costco is fun. Why? My guess is the free samples. If you can get free, tasty food while you’re shopping, going to the grocery store is suddenly a lot more fun. Even better, kids can try to convince their parents to buy those cheap Costco desserts that kids love (and grown ups, too!).

Cheap Costco Desserts That Kids Love

There are so many delicious desserts at Costco, almost all of which are reasonably priced. Kids, in particular, tend to gravitate to these desserts:

Churro From the Food Court

Don’t buy your kids these unless you plan to buy them every visit. The churros are that good! Costco churros are a full 18 inches long and are fried and coated with cinnamon and sugar. Best of all, they’re only $1!

Delizza Patisserie Belgian Mini Cream Puffs

Found in the freezer section, Delizza Patisserie Belgian Mini Cream Puffs can’t be beat. There are 120 mini cream puffs in the container, making them perfect for parties or to just snack on after school.

These feature a light, flaky pastry filled with a decadent cream filling. You should let them thaw for 30 minutes to one hour, but some people can’t wait and eat them right from the freezer.

They’re mini size make them the perfect kid-friendly dessert.

Costco Danishes

Who needs donuts for breakfast when you can have a Costco danish? Found at the bakery, you can choose from several different flavors such as cinnamon, cheese, apple, and cherry. Serve these for a delicious weekend breakfast or gently heat one up in the microwave for an after-school snack. Cinnamon danishes used to be my favorite flavor when I was a kid.

Ice Cream Sundae

If you decide against the churro at the food court, you and your kids may want to opt for the ice cream sundaes. These are $2.49, and you can choose between two different toppings—strawberry or chocolate. These are the perfect treat after a summer shopping trip to Costco. Even better, Costco is very generous with the toppings, which helps to elevate this dessert to a whole new level.

David’s Cookies 9-Inch Rainbow Cake

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

What’s better than bright, rainbow colors and sugar? For a kid, the answer is nothing! David’s Cookies 9 Inch Rainbow Cake will delight your kids. Inside, you’ll find five thin layers, with white cream frosting in between each layer. The layers form the color of a rainbow with red, then orange, then yellow, then green, and finally blue. Your kids will likely be delighted when you serve this yummy, fun cake.

Final Thoughts

Your kids likely enjoy going to Costco with you because they can get free samples. They’ll likely beg to go with you every time if you give them one of these five cheap Costco desserts that kids love.

Which Costco dessert do your kids enjoy most?

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