How do You Afford Them?

"I want another baby,but......"

*If I could get a nickle for every time I have had someone ask me "How do you afford so many children?" or "We would love to have a large family,but we just can't afford it"  I would be able to raise two families*


The economy isn't at it's best,but it has historically been worse.
I find it sad that people are so heavily burdened financially that they feel having more children is unattainable.
There is a chance that with some financial modifications,it wouldn't seem so daunting to have another child to provide for

I have already addressed some of the financial aspects in two previous posts which you can find here and here....this time,I will dig a little deeper into where money goes/how we save and how the children have very little to do with it.


Keep in mind that I am still learning-some tricks I learned long ago from growing up in a frugal household,yet other things I have just discovered in the past few months.
Remember,some of these things may not apply to you or you don't find doable for your family...this is just what has worked for our family.
We have made our share of mistakes and received our share of ups and downs,but we keep learning-we are human-there is always room for improvement!

*Above all of these tips and tricks,I have faith in God to provide and sustain,so that impacts my outlook substantially.

GROCERIES:

I wrote more specifically about groceries in  "What's in my kitchen that feeds a family of 6 for $450 a month" (I still only spend roughly $500 or less during an average month-it's rough to estimate when buying bulk foods that last a long time!)

Bulk Foods
I shop at Sam's Club and buy what I can in bulk-keeping in mind that larger volumes of food may not get eaten immediately,so I am careful about buying perishable foods from Sam's.
Things like canned goods,frozen foods,boxed goods are best purchased in larger quantities because they will withstand longer shelf life.

Produce
I try to purchase IN season fruits and vegetables as much as possible since they are cheaper during those times...Apples/Oranges/Potatoes are generally cheaper September-February,whereas Strawberries/Melons/Asparagus tend to be lower cost during the spring and summer months.
I do my best to only buy what we will eat and make it priority to consume it all quickly as to not waste any!

Keeping it around
I can and freeze many fruits and veggies in different forms in order to keep costs down.
We freeze corn/blueberries/strawberries and can green beans/tomatoes/spaghetti sauce/kosher pickles/apple sauce.
This year I hope to learn how to freeze peppers/onions/squashes for stir-fries in the winter months.
It's a bit of work,but really worth it in the end for home preserved food.

Making it stretch
Don't buy more than you will use.Freeze leftovers if they might not get eaten.Only make what will be consumed.Buy what will get you the most for your dollar....Sorry,Cheetos don't make the list of getting the most volume for your pennies.
Keep that in mind.

Household items:


Cleaning products
I make my own!!
I use vinegar,baking soda,occasional hydrogen peroxide,water,and essential oils-in various mixtures to create cheap and SAFE household cleaners.
I have ditched all chemical cleaners and air fresheners-no more toxins-and I don't need to buy them anymore!
*I haven't yet made the laundry detergent,but I'm working on it!

Pet supplies
This can get tricky since we have a horse for a dog.No,we don't have a horse,just a dog the SIZE of a horse!
I buy his dog food at Sam's club,so I save over what I would pay for a smaller amount at a regular supermarket and he gets a few of the leftovers with his food.
*I am interested in a raw meat diet for our dog (he's a rottweiler) so if anyone is knowledgeable,comment telling me more!

Various linens
I buy washcloths/dish towels/bath towels all brand new,but on sale-and I save the old ones for rags.
When possible,I buy bedding at the second hand store.
*The children use waterproof mattress covers and a pillow and blanket-this way their bed is protected and soft,yet if they have accidents we aren't stuck washing a full load of bedding.


Paper products
Reduce.Reuse.Recycle.
We rarely use any paper products outside of toilet paper-and a few Kleenex during cold season.
I cloth diaper 95% of the time and we just switched to cloth wipes for baby!
The disposable diapers I keep around are purchased at Sam's club or store brand.
We don't use paper towels very often,just rags (old dish towels etc) or a wash cloth.
I get the trash bags at Sam's club and we try to repurpose boxes/dog food bags to put our garbage in.
*This year I hope to put in our own vegetable garden and begin composting.

Cash Flow aka BILL$:



Housing
We pay a mortgage.
And for the size of house we are living in,the mortgage isn't much more than most people pay for a house half the size.
It's well insulated and has dual furnaces-one upstairs and one in the basement which heats the main floor as well.
*My father was raised in a family of 7 children+ mom&dad in a dinky little house,less than 1500 sq feet.


Utilities
Honestly,most people have to pay this whether they have none or a dozen children.
We have well water-so other than the pump running,no water bill.
We have electric...I try to do lots of cooking/baking at once to cut back on electricity going to oven use.We try to live in the dark-but because electric is outrageous and it has little to do with the children.
We have gas heat-and we wear warm clothes and do our best to keep the heat around 70-71 degrees.
*Our hope is to switch to an outdoor wood burner stove and do away with gas heat all together.



Entertainment
Again,something most people decide on with or without children.
My husband prefers to have basic television so he can watch the news and holiday programs-as well as occasional sports.
We have a basic Internet/cable package (I mean B A S I C) through Comcast-and we have Netflix.
We did away with our home phone service due to continued increase in monthly bills and opted for cell phones-one for hubby and one for me to have.
Our cell phones are NO contract and through Metro PCS.
*We have heard of very low cost home phone service-I will update as I know more,OR feel free to comment if you've heard of it!


Debt
Yes.We have debt
Even outside of our mortgage we have debt.
A car payment
BAD IDEA. (to which I will follow up on with a blog post in the near future)
Credit cards
It started with the idea that we needed to have an established credit score to buy a home.
So we each signed up for a credit card.
Then we *needed* a dryer,so we got another credit card.
Then a few offers came for credit cards,so we tried "just to see if we'd get approved"....and we did.
Then an injury/surgery/time off work.Those credit cards were used for groceries.
I'm not going to hide from the bad choices we have made-like many Americans who are in debt,it starts with a small snowflake and rolls into a giant bolder of snow and before you know it,"Kirsplosh!" You find yourself in the middle of the ocean of debt as a giant Iceberg.
DISCLAIMER: Our children didn't make our debt.Our bad decisions made our debts.

Personal care:

Clothes
I have a blog post about this HERE.
We buy mostly used/gently used clothes or clearance clothing."Buy Used,Save the Difference"
And we are NOT ashamed...I think it's rather clever.
Clothing is rated as one of the top costs to having kids-next to housing and food,but it's really unnecessary to pay outrageous prices to clothe your family.I save any clothes that make it through each baby/child for the next child to wear.
Thankfully,I didn't grow up feeling pressure to dress a certain way or in name brand clothing.With my children being homeschooled,I doubt they will care either.
*And if they do,they are free to earn money to put towards more expensive clothing if they deem it necessary for them to have it.

Misc
Haircuts/styling-
The children and hubby receive haircuts at home by me...over the years I have gotten fairly good at it and they don't complain about how it appears.
I am blessed to have a good friend who is a talented hairstylist,so we get together about 3-4 times each year and she puts some highlights in and trims my hair.
*the money we save by doing haircuts at home MORE than pays for my hairstylist visits

Birthing babies-
That happens at home!
*And  really doesn't cost anything.

Feeding babies-
I exclusively breastfeed,followed by babyled weaning-which is generally when they just eat whatever we are eating,so no expensive baby foods!

Reusable products-
I use washable cloth diapers,nursing pads,and wipes.I also use mama cloth/feminine cup.

Health care-
We pay for health insurance through hubby's work,but have been fortunate to not really need to see a doctor.
We try to take good care of ourselves and treat/prevent at home.

Extra

Eating out-
A few times a month we do get pizza or take out for the kids,but we've experienced periods in our life where we looked back at where the money went and realized "Fast food" SIGH.
It's not good for you,let alone even $20 per meal adds up!

Date night-
Hubby and I make it a priority to have at LEAST two nights a month to just relax and spend time together.Usually we try to go out for dinner,but sometimes we stay in and have take out.We are blessed to have a close friend who babysits for a small fee-but I highly recommend if this isn't an option that you trade babysitting with another family!

Toys-
Kids really don't need much to be happy....too many toys and they just get overwhelmed or the toys get ignored.
Our children probably have too many and I find myself sorting through them on a regular basis to "thin them down"
The quality of toys has become very disappointing,so we are settled on the "less is more,quality is better than quantity" mentality.

Technology-
Again,quality has become a concern when we spend our money on something that only lasts a few months.
Is an iPad really necessary?A new cell phone when the old one works just fine?
I believe we all have wants and desires for "nice" things,but happiness isn't in *things*
We have gone through our share of electronics-most haven't lasted-and I feel that we won't be investing our money in much-other than maybe a nice camera down the road (though the one I currently have does the job)

Gear-
All baby gear rolls downhill.
Cribs,car seats (provided they aren't expired and haven't been involved in accidents),swings,bathtubs-all get reused.


Repairs-
We are learning to do our own-hubby is fairly skilled at plumbing and auto repairs,and we do all of our own home repairs that are within our skill level.
We ask for help and advice from friends and family who are experienced in areas that we need to learn in-education doesn't have to be bought or even sought in a formal setting-it can be learned through those that are willing to share their knowledge,and often through trial and error.

To sum it all up....

Kids really aren't the expensive part of raising a family
Lifestyle choices are.

• You don't need a car that entails a monthly payment-you CHOOSE it.
• You don't need high end brand new clothing-you CHOOSE it.
• You don't need an ultimate satellite package-you CHOOSE it.
• You don't need that speaker system in your car-you CHOOSE it.
• You don't need pre-packaged pre-made meals-you CHOOSE them.
• You don't need a new TV-you CHOOSE to buy it.
• You don't need credit cards,data service on your cell phone,to eat out every night....you make those choices...

And those are your choices to make-just like we've made ours.

It was our choice to have credit cards.
It was our choice to have a car payment,to eat out 3 times last week,to buy that thing that we didn't need.

Money.We need some to live,but I think it's unfortunate that we choose to need *things* to live.

I hear all the time,other women pouring their hearts out about how they have a deep desire to have another child,but they *can't afford it*


We all make decisions,and I can tell you that in many cases MONEY isn't what stops people from having more children.Unrealistic ideals or just plain preferences is what stops people from adding to their family.

Better choices about money goes a LONG way towards providing security for your family.
Every little bit counts.

It's about deciding what you really want.

I am willing to learn to be more self sufficient,more frugally minded.
I trust God to guide me towards making the best choices and providing for our family.


*Final note:
I am not an accountant and I am well aware that not all financial situations are equal.
I have been at the bottom of the bank and barely afloat at times in my life....in general,most people do with more than they need-and that is their choice.If adding to their family is what they would love to do,there are ways to do it.
And sometimes,you're just done having children....it's not my place to question what you feel is best for your family.



Links:

Debt
http://www.daveramsey.com/home/
Also,check out Youtube for videos!

Frugal living
http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/

Grocery budget
http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/tacklegrocerybudget.htm

Budget printables
https://www.daveramsey.com/tools/budget-forms/

DIY natural cleaners
http://www.abowlfulloflemons.net/category/daily-cleaning-101

Cloth diapers
http://www.moreorlesscrunchy.com/search/label/cloth%20diapers

Preserving
http://www.freshpreserving.com/home.aspx

Again,check YouTube for many tutorials and DIY tricks!

Clothing a Large Family on a Budget

People have this misconception that it costs a lot to clothe children-and depending on your resources and what you have access to,it really doesn't need to be that expensive.

Between hand me downs from siblings or friends,buying bulk lots off of sites like Ebay/Craigslist/local groups on Facebook,shopping clearance racks,and buying second hand,you can make your money go a LONG way.

My shopping tips:


Socks/underwear
I always buy these new-but,I buy them when they are on sale,even if it's a size ahead-and I buy several packages.
With lots of busy children,socks get worn out,socks go missing,and the ones that last through one child can be passed to the next!

Shoes/boots
I never buy new winter boots-unless I happen to catch them on *super* clearance.
Winter boots start at $24 a pair brand new-but my mother and I both keep our eyes out at the second hand stores for gently used winter boots-WHERE we get them for less than $7 per pair.
As for shoes/sandals,I try to get them on clearance,but am not opposed to buying used in good condition.My boys have always gone through shoes really quickly,so a barely worn pair will get as much use as a brand new pair!

Coats/winter wear
Again,I buy nice used condition.
The local Salvation Army has great deals if you pick through-and if brand names are a concern,they often get those in too!
I can buy a nice used winter coat for less than $9,whereas a new coat in the store is upwards of $35 or more.
Hats and gloves are plentiful at second hand stores-a 99 cent hat vs a $6 hat?
My children don't mind...they are always excited to get a new winter hat and they are aware that there is nothing wrong with gently used goods.

Outfits
For the most part I buy these in *barely worn* condition at places like Goodwill,Salvation Army,and-my new favorite store-Once Upon a Child.
I buy the lower cost things in the best condition...I tend to buy boys clothing in plentiful amounts because I know that between our four boys SOMEONE will wear it!

My extra tips:


Buy used,Save the difference
I love finding really good deals.I primarily buy the kids' clothes and most of mine at second hand stores,and several of my husbands shirts too.


Fill in the gaps by shopping new/sale when possible
I buy hubby's jeans brand new,but only because men's pants are harder to find in specific sizes,and I often purchase a few items for the kids and I that I maybe couldn't track down in the gently used stores.


Buy ahead on sale
I buy the clearance items and guesstimate what sizes the kids will be in for the next season,again considering that a pair of jean 75% off is worth it knowing that someone will eventually wear it!
I try to wait on cute items that I *can't live without* until they have a 40% off sale at least,that way I still get it in season,but don't pay full price! (Kmart is known for 40% off sales on In-season clothing)


Buy layer-able clothes
This works really well with my baby girl,but it could with boys too.
Tee-shirts for boys can work in cooler months layered over a long sleeve shirt or under a sweatshirt jacket.
I can still put shorter sleeved/sleeveless dresses on Marlena if I have a few *neutral* long sleeve onesies or shirts...I buy in white/grey/black/pink/purple and those will usually match dresses or little short sleeve shirts on cooler days,so she gets more wear out of her wardrobe.
I also buy more skirts and dresses for her,so leggings work well under those to keep her legs warm,as well as BabyLegs and tights.


Hair accessories
Nobody warned me how fun it is to accessorize little girls....so I wasn't prepared for oohing and ahhing over 1000's of styles.
I have found that making my own is cheapest,as well as buying bulk lots of headbands/flowers off of Ebay or Amazon.


Hand me downs
When one child outgrows it,if it's still wearable,save it for the next child!
Even if it's not in pristine condition,it can still be play-wear!
I store all the clothing in storage totes separated by size.I have SO many baby clothes newborn-3T and most in really great condition still!
Look for deals online

Stores like Kmart,Walmart,Target and other retailers have sales too,as well as free shipping if you spend a certain amount.

Craigslist is where other mothers go to sell off the clothes that their kids have outgrown.
Ebay is also a good place to score a large lot of clothing.I bought four cute dresses for less than $10 with shipping.
There are often local groups on Facebook where parents list their kids outgrown clothes.

Comfy lounge clothes can count as pajamas
My children don't mind wearing either the clothes they wore that day (provided they didn't get too soiled!) or just comfy parts of their wardrobe-like sweat pants-as pajamas.
I don't complain since it saves on laundry *laugh*


My cheap hauls comparisons (in like-new condition) to normal retail prices:

Carters infant 2 piece PJ's 
Used $4.42 for two pairs vs RV $18 (on sale!) for two pairs

Disney Pixar Cars shoes size 10
Used $2.50 vs RV $16.99+

Infant girls size 12 month holiday dress
Used $4.00 vs RV $24.99+

Baseball cap (youth)
Used 99 cents vs RV $9.99


Boys dress shoes
Used $3.00 vs RV $12.99

I spent a little more on Marlena's clothes at first...because I've never had a girl!
Now I buy gently used (you usually can't even tell they were worn) and she has a beautiful wardrobe
 for a fraction of what normal retail would have cost!

*A thought about buying used clothing: Some people aren't comfortable buying used...and that's their prerogative.However,if you consider that the first time you wear and wash something,it's USED.
If you buy from a retailer,chances are what you buy has been TRIED ON.

Again,it's personal preference,but I think buying used is a smart and thrifty thing to do!



And that is how we dress without it costing a fortune!

Organizing and De-cluttering with a Large Family

Having a large family tends to run along side having a lot of things.

Even with a fairly large home,it would be so easy to become overrun with stuff.

Because (at this point) we have all boys,there is a lot of sameness and sharing;so many trucks,cars,trains and blocks;lot's of hand me down clothing in every size.

Laundry seems to be never ending and toys are plentiful,so to keep a sense of organization,practicality and neatness,I have developed a few habits;a system if you will.

I read a book a while back that my sister in law gifted to me (A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family) and in this book,a particular paragraph stuck out and thumped me on the nose:

"Think of everything in your house as taking up square footage of your home...think of how much you spend on your mortgage or to maintain your home.Now,are those items in your house paying for the space they are using?"
These aren't the exact words the author used,but you get the point.

If I haven't used it in a year and I probably won't use it in the next year,realistically it needs to GO.

If it's broken or missing pieces it needs to GO.

If there are ten more just like it,chances are it won't be missed.

I like to take my biggest "issues" and break them down into four categories:

1.)Clothing

2.)Toys

3.)Trash

4.)Donations

In a large family too many things tends to be the biggest challenge in the home.

Every time we purchase something that comes in a large box (a toaster,toolbox,disposable diapers) I do my best to fill the box with either- A.)trash,or B.) Donations.

Broken toys,socks with holes,puzzles with missing pieces,torn coloring books,old or unneeded paperwork/bills and the like-all go into the trash box.

When it seems that a family member has too many clothes or won't wear an item they have,it goes into the donation box.The same goes for extra kitchen items,toys that don't receive enough love or books that weren't great enough to keep.

TOYS

The boys' playroom isn't always the neatest....but a few times each week we all go in the room together and pick up all the train tracks,books and stuffed animals and put them in their appropriate places.

The boys each have a large tote with their name one it-the older boys have one in each of their rooms with a few of their toys,while the youngest (Jacobi,19 mos) has one in the living room with some age appropriate toys.

We don't leave toys sitting around the house;they either get picked up and taken to the playroom or put in a toy tote.

Laundry

I am no newbie at laundry.

Thankfully my mother began teaching me at an early age all about housekeeping.

When I began thinking about all the laundry that can grow in mounds with having a large family,I was thrilled to see how the Duggar Family manages their laundry situation!

When we purchased our home,the first thing I had to have was a Family Closet<~~you can see mine here.

Once the closet was "installed" and I utilized it,the only thought I had was "How did I not have this before!"

The Family Closet is off to the right~>

Because the family closet is directly beside my open laundry area,it makes it so easy to transfer all the folded or hanging clothes right over to their respectable places.

Every large family should consider setting up a family closet-just the ease of placement alone,having everything in one spot is so convenient!

So those are my biggest tips:

Keep it simple.

Don't be afraid to throw things away or donate them!

Less really is more.

What's in my kitchen that feeds a family of six for $450 per month?

In a post I wrote one year ago,I mentioned how we don't spend as much as the average family the size of ours does on food each month.

Last year that amount was $400.
I will be honest and say that due to inflation and with our youngest now eating solids-and drinking Almond milk frequently,our food budget has increased slightly.
I still get away with less than $450 easily though.

Let's start with the types of things I buy and the different foods/dishes I prepare with them.
*Keep in mind that we are vegetarians,so some of these may seem unfamiliar or need modifications*


The staple items I buy are:


Potatoes-both white and sweet.
Whole wheat pasta
Brown rice
Whole oats
Dried beans
Organic Tofu
Almond milk-both vanilla and plain
Non-hydrogenated butter
Frozen Vegetables-broccoli,carrots,peas,spinach,brussel sprouts-corn in moderation
Canned foods-mushrooms,olives
Fresh fruits-oranges,bananas,apples-occasionally pears or in-season fruits
Whole grain/whole wheat breads-loaves,hamburger buns-occasional hotdog buns
Fresh vegetables-green/yellow/red/orange peppers,onions,cucumber,carrots,spinach,romaine lettuce,celery-others when in-season (asparagus for example) and others only when on sale or as needed (tomato,avocado,broccoli,squash)
Occasionally crackers for the kiddos (even though they are pretty much void of nutrients....)
Popcorn-learning to opt for organic.
Some cold cereals-cheerios,shredded wheat,raisin bran.
Taco stuff-tortilla shells,hard shell tacos
Peanut butter

******************************
Now,we do eat some dairy still-but as I will talk about later,dairy products can not only be not-so-great for you,but they also can make the cash register go "cha-ching!"

Eggs
Yogurt
Cheese
Occasionally we also buy coffee creamer as my hubby dearly loves his cup-o-joe.
Rare ice cream-mostly around birthdays.

******************************
I also go to each of our local health food stores every few months-this is the part where you may feel a bit lost,so I'll try to explain as best I can!

Dehydrated soy protein-this comes in many 'flavors' and naturally 'dyed' colors/textures.
Canned veggie 'meats'-these are various things-some are patties,hotdogs,'scallops' and the like.
'Chicken' and 'beef' seasoning
Bulk flour (whole wheat and whole wheat pastry)
Organic Corn meal
Raw Cane Sugar (although I do still use regular white sugar in a pinch!)
Vegan shortening



What do I fix?




Breakfasts are normally:
A fresh fruit
Either toast,cereal,oatmeal
Sometimes yogurt or an egg.

Lunches are:
The kids like 'basic' lunches-
PB&J,pasta,tacos,grilled cheese,homemade pizza or even 'breakfast' foods from the above list.
Hubby likes baked potatoes,rice+tofu,pasta,tacos
I happen to love sweet potatoes.

Suppers/meals I fix and we use the leftovers for the next day (or two,or three!)

I like to make chili-I use dried beans,my own canned tomatoes,dehydrated soy protein (looks like beef!).
I make my own loaves of bread (I have a favorite recipe and make a braided bread loaf)
I sometimes make 'oat burgers' from whole oats,onions and seasonings-then bake in 'patties'.
I make my own 'chicken' noodle-using dehydrated soy protein,'chicken' seasoning,carrots,celery,onions and noodles.
I make a huge pot of potato soup-potatoes,onions,carrots,celery...then just add a few seasonings.
I make my own pancakes/waffles.
I make my own 'vegan' cookies-you can't even tell there's no eggs!
I make fresh banana bread frequently with 'too-far-gone' banana's
I will use dehydrated soy protein with tomato paste/seasonings to make homemade sloppy joes.
I make my own cornbread

For the most part,I try to make things when they are 'in-season'...like strawberry shortcake in July,blueberry cobbler in August,raspberry crunch in September,apple pies in October-but I also make sure to purchase extra fresh fruits during those times to freeze for later use!
We eat a lot of zucchini and summer squash in the summer!

I can my own spaghetti sauce,applesauce,pickles,jams,tomatoes and green beans-this comes in handy since I don't have to BUY these things!

making applesauce!

I make nearly everything from scratch.
I buy in bulk.
I stock up when it's on sale.
I keep it fairly basic.




********************************
I will admit that there are months where I sit back and say "How did we spend almost $200 more on groceries this month?!?"
Then I remember-
The package of cookies,the extra yogurt,the juices,the potato chips we inhaled,the canned soup instead of making my own,the ice cream treats or a 'convenience' meal.


These things add up.

And it's OK to have convenience meals sometimes or the occasional ice cream.
But not only are these processed foods not so good for us,they are also LESS FILLING,DON'T STRETCH OUT and COST MORE PER OUNCE.

A 10 OZ bag of potato chips not on sale is an average of $3.89...a 10lb bag of potatoes? $3.99
A 36 count package of cookies is an average of $3.99...I make a full batch of 48 for less than that.

making cookies!

It really comes down to asking yourself while shopping "Do we really need this,or is it just for convenience?"

I accredit most of my budgeting success on cooking from scratch,being vegetarians and learning as I go.
Meal planning helps for some families.
I have heard there can be success in joining a co-op.
There are benefits to farmers markets or sharing fresh produce with neighbors-they grow cucumbers,you grow tomatoes and share.

I'm learning as I go here....and like I said,there have been hiccups in my budgeting!

So,those are some of my tricks and what works for me.....let me know if you have any questions!

Happy grocery budgeting!

Kids cost too much....?

Yep,that's what they say:
Kids cost so much money-$226,920 per child through age 18 to be exact OR $12,606 per year....or so they say (they being the CDC and not including college funds IF you choose to cover those as well).

I find it hard to believe.....but then I don't live like a lot of Americans!
We would like to have more children and if we believed that children were so 'expensive' that wouldn't be an option for us.
I feel it's sad that the 'burden' of an expensive lifestyle is placed on having children!
People choose to live outside their means....and then blame having children.

Well,if it really takes $226,920 to just raise a child,I guess hubby and I are in over our heads considering we have 4 children living in our home right now!

Here you see how much more we would spend for each child based on 'their' numbers:
Caleb (7) $138,673
Jeremiah (3) $189,100
Payton (2) $201,696
Jacobi (0) $226,920

The 'total' to raise our 4 boys until 'adults' would be : $756,389!!!

I just can't see the reliability in these numbers-and here is how we will avoid them!

The biggest expense is housing-they say 31 % of what the claimed yearly cost is of raising a child.
Our mortgage won't be much more for a seven bedroom home than it would be for most of the 3 bedroom houses we've looked at.
Plus,we view  buying a home as an investment-as long as we're going to own it!
We also plan to pay it off as soon as we can without cramping our lifestyle too strictly.

We don't generally pay for cable TV-we use Netflix and it's only $7.99 to stream their entire instant play catalog!

I shop at second-hand stores/thrift shops and my boys pass down clothes to one another until the article of clothing is beyond repair...And no,my boys don't look homely!
I do buy some special or unique items new like matching Christmas outfits-but even those I buy when they are having a 40% sale.

We don't eat out very often-although we have gone through streaks where we thought we had eaten out more than we should have.

I shop ahead-if it's on sale I stock up.
If we don't need it and especially if it's not on sale,I don't buy it.
I buy in bulk whatever I can if it's non-perishable or if we go through it quickly.
I bake most of my own cookies/dinner rolls and pizza.
I cook up my own meals rather than serve 'convienience' foods like microwave dinners and pre-made dishes.
I also do some canning and freezing with seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Our groceries are about $400 per month and we have plenty to eat!
Most families the size of ours average $800 per month!! OUCH!

We switched to cloth diapers-a HUGE money saver in our home and a long lasting one! Every baby we have can reuse the same adorable diapers until they are worn out!

I breastfeed our babies,so not only does it save from needing to purchase formula,our boys get a great immunity boost as well,hopefully preventing them from illness!

I buy a lot of generic things as long as the quality is still good-why pay more if you can get it for less?!

I also am the 'barber' in our house! I cut all the boys' hair and also hubbys-and while I'm no professional,I get better everytime!

We have also chosen to teach our children responsibility by giving them the option of working to buy some of the things they desire,rather than becoming a 'bank' for them to turn to.
No high priced iPods,video games or personal TVs and cell phones!
You want it,you earn the money and you buy it!
They will appreciate it SO much more using their own money!

All in all,we have made choices about how we spend our money-not all of them good,and we're still learning.
But living frugally never hurt anyone and it will also teach our children how to do the same!
I'd love to hear any tips,resources and stories you might have!!