If you heat your home with oil, shop around for the best prices. Sometimes unions offer deals if you belong.
--Now I didn't want to change oil companies, but I wanted a better price, so I told them I was shopping around. They did not at first want to lower my prices, but later that day another salesperson called and significantly lowered the price (the cap on how much I will pay for oil, I locked in a price for the next year, and glad I did, oil just shot up again).
Even when she offered me a good price, I said "Is that the best you can do?" And she lowered it again!
Keep driving at it.....I ended up with a better price than my sister because I kept asking!


--Also some car insurance give a discount if you pay in one lump rather than monthly. If it is significant enough and you can do it, do it.....you may not be able to gain as much interest in a bank account than the interest they might charge you....you have to do the math.
--Also if you can raise the deductible or drop collision ---- only if the car is significantly old (ours are) then do that.....
--Also make sure you and your husband take defensive driving if in your state it gives you a discount.

---Cell phones, see where you can save there. We have NO TEXTING on our phones. We don't do it, don't need it and don't want the added expense.

As far as doing things with the kids:

---Libraries are an amazing resource. When the kids were little we went there every other day. There were plenty of free kids programs as well as books, videos, audio tapes, some even have puzzles and toys.
----We even spent alot of time there on hot days because we only had one bedroom air conditioner at the time and saved money on using it.

---Town/County events. We went to every free puppet show, theatre in the park show, concerts, craft programs, fireworks, outdoor movies, etc...... everything that is listed in the towns and county offered for free. (I know it's not offered in every area, but look for them.)

I got to be known among my friends as the queen of free events.

---Local Churches. They offer many good free or inexpensive programs for the kids (and adults as well). There is usually weekly kids clubs (every church gives it a different name whether it is Pioneer Club, etc., way cheaper than Scouting and nothing to sell). There are summer Vacation Bible School programs...you can have the kids go to several. They might even have different play groups or scrapbooking or couponing groups or clothes exchanges....check them out.

----Coupons/coupons/coupons! Our library even had a box where we could exchange coupons freely. I also joined coupon trains to send and receive coupons. Join a variety of coupon boards. I saved thousands that year my husband was out of work. It took alot of time to store and catalog the coupons but I considered it my part-time job just from home!

----Check out Goodwill.... you said you do well with the kids clothes, but buy DH clothes new. When my DS started his job I got several next to new and even new with tags items at Goodwill that he uses for work. It depends on your local thrift stores however whether they are great or not. My DD loves the ones in PA, here in NY they are just ok.

Good luck. I've been there, probably will be there again. I know what it's like. When things were very bad I had to even resort to dumpster diving for extra coupons and hunting parks and my local area for bottles and cans to recycle for cash. That is extreme, I am sure that won't happen to you. But as a wife and mom, you gotta do what you gotta do and just roll with the flow!

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