Reviews and more!! : April 2021

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

28 Mother’s Day Freebies & Discounts Just for Moms

Your mom was the one who taught you to head straight for the clearance racks, so this Mother’s Day, why not show her how much you’ve learned by taking her out for some deliciously cheap eats with these Mother’s Day freebies? See our list of restaurants offering meal deals, gift card bonuses, and free stuff for Mother’s Day!

Note: Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, not all of these deals may be currently available in your area. As always, local participation may vary, so call ahead to check. Make reservations if you can due to lower restaurant capacity guidelines.

Mother’s Day Freebies and Discounts 2021

Bahama Breeze: Pre-order a Mother’s Day Bundle for pickup on May 9. These bundles vary in price from $45-55, depending on location. They serve 4 and come with a variety of entrees (like Jerk Chicken Pasta and Seafood Paella), appetizers, salad, and dessert.
Baskin-Robbins: Get $5 off any $30 cake purchase from now until May 15. They’re currently featuring a Cone Bouquet Cake.
Bonefish Grill: Between 4/26 and 6/13, order a $50 gift card for Mom and get a bonus $10 to make her gift even better. They also offer Family Bundles starting at $29.90 for a group of 4. These include an entree, salad, fresh bread and pesto, and house-baked cookies. Bonus card must be spent between 5/17 – 7/18.
Boston Market: Use their coupon in-store or online to get $5 off any Family Meal purchase for Mother’s Day. Good from 5/9-5/10 at participating locations.
Bravo! Italian Kitchen: Make your reservation to join them for a Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday, May 9th. Available until 3pm, the brunch menu will include Berries & Cream French Toast, Scrambled Eggs & Bacon and featured cocktails and entrée specials.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: Treat your mom to their Georgia Peach Tea (serves 2) and keep the souvenir flask. Or try the Mama’s Mule Madness with 5 limited-time mules and she can keep the camping mug.
Carrabba’s Itialian Grill: Between 4/26 and 6/13, buy a $50 gift card for Mom and get a bonus $10 to make Mom’s gift even better. Bonus card must be spent between 5/17 – 7/18.
Chili’s: From 5/8 – 5/10, guests can order their Mother’s Day To-Go Special. This 3 for $10 special includes your choice of 1 of 10 entrees, a non-alcoholic beverage, and an appetizer. For Mother’s Day weekend only they are adding a 6 oz Sirloin & lunch portion of Chicken Fajitas totheir entree choices. You can also get a $10 bonus card with any $50 gift card purchase.
Cracker Barrel: Order their Sunday Homestyle Chicken Family Meal Basket To-Go (or their Family Pancake Meal Basket) and you’ll receive a free $10 bonus card for mom. Order now through 5/9 for pickup, curbside, or delivery.
Eddie V’s
Fogo De Chao: Dine in at Fogo for Mother’s Day, May 9th or Mexican Mother’s Day, May 10th and receive a gift of $25 toward two Full Churrascos for your next visit.
GrubHub: From May 2 – May 9, get
Hooters: Get 10 free boneless wings when you buy any 10 wings on Mother’s Day, May 9.
Joe’s Crab Shack: From May 7 – May 9, enjoy their 4-course pre-fixe menu for just $35.99.
LaMar’s Donuts: They’ve been doing a free donut and a small coffee for moms at participating locations for years. This has not been confirmed yet, but we think they may do this again for 2021.
Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ: Moms who dine in or order take out on Mother’s Day weekend will receive a free $10 voucher to use on their next meal. Bonus cards must be used between 5/10 – 6/18.
McCormick and Schmick’s: Available on May 8 and May 9, choose your meal from their Mother’s Day pre-fixe menu, starting at $39.
Metro Diner:Available for dine-in, to-go or delivery from May 6 through the 9th, you can treat mom to Metro Diner’s delicious Crab Cake Benedict for just $13.49. You can also purchase $50 in gift cards and receive a $10 Bonus Card to be used on your next visit through 6/30.
Miller’s Ale House: Specials will vary by location, but on Sunday May 9, you can search your location for Mother’s Day specials like a free 6 oz. glass of wine or sangria. Plus, Moms who dine-in at our House on 5/9 will receive a $10 Off $30 Coupon for use on their next visit.
Morton’s Steakhouse: Take 10% off gift card purchases through April 30.
Mrs. Fields: Take 20% off Mother’s Day Collection gifts with code MDAY2021.
Outback Steakhouse: Now through 6/13, buy $50 in gift cards and get $10 e-gift card deal. The cards can be redeemed between 5/17 and 7/18.
Pilot Flying J: For several years now, moms can enjoy a free cup of coffee (any size) during Mother’s Day weekend. This has not been confirmed for 2021, but we think there is a good chance moms will get this special again this year.
Red Lobster: For every $50 spent on Red Lobster gift cards purchased in-restaurant or online, guests will receive a bonus coupon for $10 off an in-restaurant, To Go or delivery order of $30 or more during July and August. This promotion is valid through 6/30.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill: Pre-order one of their Mother’s Day Meals to take home by May 9. Choose from their family size Lasagna Bolognese for $65 or their 3-course dinner (serves 4) for $100. Available for pick-up or delivery.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse: Moms who dine in on Mother’s Day get a complimentary $25 credit to use towards a future purchase before 6/30.
Shoney’s: Moms get a free slice of strawberry pie with a meal from their All You Care To Eat Mother’s Day Fresh Food Bar.
Smoothie King: From May 1 – May 15, Smoothie King will be waiving delivery fees for order of $10 or more.
TCBY: First 6 oz. for free for moms on Mother’s Day. Valid at participating locations on Sunday, May 9.

Want more freebies? Check out these related discount lists:

Will you be taking advantage of any Mother’s Day freebies this year? Let us know in the comments!

The post 28 Mother’s Day Freebies & Discounts Just for Moms appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Mother’s Day Gifts: Deals and Predictions for 2021

It probably doesn’t shock you to learn that we’ve been thinking about Mother’s Day since March. We try to start thinking about exclusive deals we want to secure with retailers and which items will be popular so we can hunt down deals on those as early as possible for you.

It also doesn’t shock us if you had to ask your friend Google when Mother’s Day is this year. Let us help! It’s May 9, 2021, which is less than two weeks away. If you still need to shop for mom, we’ve got some of the best Mother’s Day deals as well as some gift ideas for the hard-to-shop-for moms out there.

Estimated reading time: 5 Minutes

The Most Popular Mother’s Day Gifts for 2021

The type of gift you’re looking for will obviously depend on what your mom likes and even where she lives. By looking at our historical deal data, we know that moms in Los Angeles, for example, tend to favor designer handbags or athleisure from brands like Nike and Adidas. Below are some of the most common gifts from all of our deal shoppers.

Outdoor Decor and Gardening

This is a newly popular category this year and doesn’t usually make our best-sellers list for Mother’s Day gifts. But with many people finding new hobbies during the pandemic, a lot of moms have started working on their outdoor spaces and gardens.

A few outdoor and garden deals we think are worth noting:

Steel Fire Pit $40 Shipped
12″ Beaded Garden Stake $22 Shipped
Steel Garden Bed $40 Shipped

Jewelry

Jewelry is a big seller every year for Mother’s Day. We see a lot of deals on diamond jewelry, Pandora jewelry, and custom birthstone pieces. Be sure to check the seller’s shipping cutoff dates to make sure it will arrive by Mother’s Day.

Some jewelry deals your mom might like:

1ct Diamond Bracelet + Hoops $48 Shipped
60% Off + 10% Off Pandora Jewelry
1.05ct Diamond Necklace $798 Shipped

Flowers

Flowers are a huge seller every Mother’s Day. We saw an especially high number of deals in 2020 because of the pandemic and a because many customers wanted to shop from home for a safe and easy-to-deliver gift for mom. This year we have heard from industry insiders that flower shortages and delivery issues could impact the number of deals they offer as well as their delivery speeds.

Here are some flower deals for Mother’s Day:

Mother’s Day Bouquets $58 Delivered
2 Dozen Long-Stem Roses + Vase $49

Handbags

We love the idea of gifting handbags! These are practical and useful, but not every mom wants to go out and splurge on something nice for herself, so it’s the epitome of a great Mother’s Day gift! We see a lot of deals on Dooney & Bourke, Coach, and Kate Spade handbags this time of year. It’s a great time to pick one up as a gift or even for yourself.

Some of our picks for Mother’s Day deals on handbags:

Coach Outlet Rori Shoulder Bag $189
Kate Spade: Up to 75% Off + Free Shipping

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Flowers are normally the go-to last-minute Mother’s Day gift option, but as mentioned above, there may be some issues ordering online floral arrangements. Take warning that if your mom has some other interests, this might be the year to focus on those instead of flowers. Here are some non-flower gift ideas that you can still take advantage of.

Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are a huge gifting hit because they’re a gift that keeps on giving. You can choose the number of boxes you want your mom to receive and know that even if they won’t make it by Mother’s Day, you have a fun, interesting gift on the way for her.

Plus there is a subscription box out there for everyone, no matter their interests. If your mom likes to cook, you can look at Home Chef. If your mom likes skin care or cosmetics, try Birchbox! The list goes on.

Amazon Prime Picks

For those of you with Amazon Prime, it probably feels like you still have ages to get your gift ordered, and with their two-day shipping, you do still have quite a bit of time. Here are some of our favorite picks that ship free with Prime:

Pajama Set with Pockets $22
6pc Essential Oil Gift Set $10
6pc Essential Oil Bath Bomb Gift Set $10

Curbside Pickup or Expedited Delivery

If you don’t have Amazon Prime, there are other ways to get fast and free shipping for your Mother’s Day gifts. Since the start of the pandemic, many retailers have started to offer what we call “click and collect”, where you place an order online and then pick it up curbside or in the store. Many times this is completely free, and if the product is in stock, you can pick it up the same day.

Some retailers offering same-day pickup:

We also see many jewelry retailers and designer brands offer free expedited shipping to get gifts delivered in time for Mother’s Day.

Me Time

Don’t underestimate the importance of a gift that doesn’t need to be wrapped. A lot of moms would love to be gifted some time to themselves for Mother’s Day. It doesn’t have to be the Sunday you’re all celebrating her, but maybe the following weekend she could have some time to read in bed or a few hours to get out of the house (that don’t involve errands).

Shop Our Mother’s Day Gift Guide

As mentioned, our editors have been looking for Mother’s Day deals for a couple of months now. We’ve put all of their favorites in an easy-to-use Mother’s Day Shopping Guide for you. See deals on flowers, handbags, jewelry, and many other Mother’s Day favorites. If possible, we included the shipping cutoff dates in the deals so you’ll know whether or not it will arrive on time.

Happy shopping and Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there!

The post Mother’s Day Gifts: Deals and Predictions for 2021 appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Frugal Living Podcast: Biking to Work

In this episode of the Frugal Living podcast, host Jim Markus talks with Michael Ahene about biking to work. You can listen to the Frugal Living Podcast on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, on Anchor.fm, or anywhere you go to find podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Mike is an editor at Brad’s Deals and has been biking into the office for as long as many of us can remember!

Biking to Work Is Easier Than Ever

Once, finding a good cycling route was a matter of trial and error. Knowing which streets offered good road conditions, favorable visibility, and general accomodation to riders was a thing cyclists had to find out for themselves. That’s still true to a degree, but between more cities putting in bike lanes and Google Maps offering cycling as a commute setting, it’s easier than ever to commute by bike.

Cycling Considerations

Obviously, biking to work isn’t going to be an option for everyone, Mike explains. If you live 30 miles from your office or in a place where you know drivers aren’t generally very accommodating to cyclists, then biking isn’t probably a great choice. But Mike offers the following considerations for the rest of us:

How active of a lifestyle do you lead and how active do you want to be?
How far would you need to ride each day?
Is your area accommodating to cyclists?

Cut Your Commuting Budget by Switching to a Bike

When Mike first started riding to work, he was able to save about $50 per month on train fare. If you’re switching from a car to a bike, that savings will be even more significant. Mike points out that you don’t need a top-of-the-line bike for commuting. In fact, the most expensive bikes aren’t usually the best choice for your day-to-day ride.

Craigslist is a great place to get your first (or even your second) commuter bike. As hobbyists trade up to newer and more expensive bikes, they’ll be looking to sell their current and still perfectly rideable bikes. Generally, mountain bikes make good commuter bikes. Straight handles let you sit up and see around you, and larger tires are good for riding over rough streets and potholes.

If you’re not sure you want to make the investment in biking to work, a lot of cities have bike-share programs that let you rent bikes for only a few dollars per ride. That may not be more economical than riding public transit to work in the long term, but it is a low-stakes test to see how you feel about riding every day.

More about the Frugal Living Podcast

For more tips and considerations from a year-round Chicago bike commuter, check out this week’s episode of The Frugal Living Podcast.

Frugal Living is a podcast for smart consumers. How do you spend less and get more? The show, sponsored by Brad’s Deals, features interviews, stories, tips, and tricks. Jim Markus hosts season two, out now.

The post Frugal Living Podcast: Biking to Work appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Monday, April 26, 2021

13 Pantry Staples That are Cheaper (and Tastier) to Make at Home

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Earth-Friendly Products: 5 Alternatives to Disposable Household Items

Happy Earth Day! To help do our part in reducing waste, we’ve put together a collection of eco-friendly deals in our new Eco-Shop. You’ll find deals on earth-friendly household swaps, all at great price points. In this blog post, we’ve also put together a list of earth-friendly alternatives to some popular disposable items you may have around your home.

Estimated Reading Time: 6 Minutes

It’s a tough reality to face, but many of the products we use around the house every day are taking a huge toll on the environment. Toss away something as small and mundane as a toothbrush, and you’re suddenly contributing to all those “The Oceans Are Drowning in Plastic!” headlines keeping people up at night.

But you don’t have to be part of the problem. There are a lot of eco-friendly alternatives to your favorite waste-creating household items, and the good news? They won’t break the bank. Here are our five favorite environmentally friendly products.

Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes

toothbrushes

These are huge waste offenders because an unnecessary amount of toothbrush manufacturers have an unnecessary amount of styles that have unnecessary features made of materials that are not recyclable (e.g. hard plastic handles, soft plastic grips, etc.). The makers of these products will insist that these features are added in the name of good oral hygiene, but there is little to no proof of that. In fact, the only features that most dentists and the American Dental Association recommend are soft bristles and a small head so that you can hit harder-to-reach areas.

Want to stop polluting for the sake of clean teeth? You can actually get biodegradable, environmentally friendly toothbrushes that offer both of these necessary features and don’t cost much at all. In fact, they are often cheaper than their wasteful counterparts. Do a quick web search for “bamboo toothbrushes” and you’ll see what we mean.

For example, these Nuva Dent Eco-Friendly Reusable Bamboo Toothbrushes are on Amazon at $8 for a pack of 10. These have natural, charcoal bristles, which means they are completely biodegradable. Some bamboo toothbrushes offer a bamboo handle but still use plastic bristles. Don’t buy those. Get the ones that are all natural, through and through.

10pk Bamboo Toothbrushes $8
5pk Bamboo Toothbrushes $6

Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products

household cleaner

Chemical dumping isn’t just for big companies. The average consumer dumps their fair share of pollutants every time they use an average household cleaner, from dish soap to Windex. Sure, your individual consumption may be small, but collectively, it’s huge. Think of your contribution to this kind of pollution as a kind of metaphor for how companies like Google make money. Your individual clicks on their ads and promoted links might earn the company mere cents, but with so many people clicking so many times a day, it adds up to billions of dollars a year. Pollution is fueled by “micropayments” like this too.

However, there are plenty of earth-friendly cleaning products on the market at prices comparable to traditional brands. For example, this three-pack of Meyer dish soap is $9.34 on Amazon when you apply the offered coupon. That’s comparable to regular liquid. The Meyer brand also makes a ton of other home cleaning products that have been pretty popular with consumers as well as many of us at Brad’s Deals. It can be expensive in the store, but buying it in bulk online will help you save money.

Another helpful link for products like these can be found at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that links consumers to eco-friendly products.

For eco-friendly products used for hand and face cleaning, check out the deals below.

150pk Pocket Paper Soap $13 Shipped
Reusable Makeup Eraser $14 Shipped

Eco-Friendly Dog Waste Bags and Toys

corgi

It’s estimated that there are 78 million pet dogs in the United States, which means that nearly 25% of Americans own a dog. But dogs don’t use toilets, so that’s a lot of you-know-what to pickup. Of course, little plastic baggies make curbing your dog an easy and non-vomit-inducing task. But that’s a lot of plastic bags going into the waste stream! Think about it: Even if we assume that half of all dog owners leave their pup’s poop to fester on the street (which can attract rats and spread disease!), if the average dog does its business twice a day, that’s over 28 billion bags a year.

But biodegradable bags exist, and they’re not even that expensive. In fact, most of the bags sold for this purpose make it a point to be earth-friendly! For example, you can get these highly rated Earth Rated Dog Poop Bags for as little as $11.49 on Amazon.

Earth-friendly toys are also available, like this deal:

Recyclable Dog Chew Toy $34 Shipped

Eco-Friendly Batteries

battery

Batteries are full of some pretty toxic materials, and I hope you already know it’s a bad idea to just throw them in the trash. In the long run, it’s actually more cost effective to use alternatives to your run-of-the-mill batteries.

There are two ways to go about this. The first is to invest in a rechargeable battery kit. These can be pretty cheap, like this one for $10.39 on Amazon. But you can also opt to spend a little more on brands like:

We recommend buying a kit with at least four AAA and four AA slots so your bases are covered and you can simply swap out charged ones for dead ones without having to wait. Count up how many devices you have in your home that require batteries to figure out how many you need, and then add one or two extra. That way, you’ll always have a charged battery on hand. Rechargeable batteries won’t last forever, but you’ll get a few years of use out of them, and you can recycle them at the end of their lifetime.

The second and sometimes smarter option is to use solar-powered devices whenever you can. This won’t work for everything, but it’s an excellent option for low-powered devices. For example, I use a Logitech solar wireless keyboard in my office, and it has worked flawlessly for a few years now, needing very little light to operate properly. Sometimes you might spend a few dollars more for solar-powered devices, but not having to change batteries makes it worthwhile in the end.

Earth-Friendly Paper Products

paper towels

Here we’ll ask you to think about the number of paper products you use around the house. Of course, paper comes from trees, and trees are a renewable resource, but even the lumber industry has some pretty negative environmental costs. It’s always a good idea to reduce consumption if possible.

For many families, napkins are the biggest culprit for at-home paper waste, and these can easily be replaced by inexpensive and eco-friendly cloth napkins without causing too much upset to your daily routine. The key here is to be smart about how you use them. Having to use and wash napkins can be inconvenient, so the trick is to buy enough so that you don’t feel like you are always running out, and then you can sneak them into your regular laundry cycle so you aren’t having to do extra loads.

Paper towels can be a little too useful to give up, so the best thing to do is buy recycled paper towels. In order to save money on these, make sure to buy in bulk. Not only are these rolls made of recycled paper, but they also do not contain the chemicals and dyes that are often found in newborn rolls.

They also make environmentally friendly toilet paper, but if you prefer to skip the roll altogether, we do have a couple of bidet options for you.

Bidet Attachment $60 Shipped
Electronic Bidet Seat $299 Shipped

See a few other deals we feature in our Eco-Shop!
9 Produce Bags $14 Shipped
Eco-Friendly Bento Box $19 Shipped
128oz Water Bottle $17 Shipped
Earth Origins Slip-Ons $55 Shipped

Got a wasteful home product you’ve found an earth-friendly replacement for? Let us know in the comments!

The post Earth-Friendly Products: 5 Alternatives to Disposable Household Items appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Will Cruise Vacations Return in 2021?

One of the most popular trips we’ve promoted in the past at Brad’s Deals has been cruise vacations. With over 60% of our audience within a three-hour drive from a cruise port, setting sail is an incredibly affordable family vacation for Brad’s Deals readers.

Sadly, cruising is also not safe to do during the pandemic (it feels like forever ago when the Diamond Princess was one of the world’s first outbreaks in January 2020). With vaccinations continuing to roll out across the country, will cruising return for travelers in 2021, or will they have to wait until next year for their sail-away celebration?

Predictions for Cruising 2021

The most convenient cruising for US-based sailors–ones that leave from popular cruise ports like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Galveston, or Los Angeles–have not been able to sail since March 2020. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is the government agency to make the call, and they cannot say when they’ll allow cruising from US ports again. Ships with less than 250 passengers are not subject to the no-sail orders.

Given the pandemic’s progress, it is possible to see ships sailing before the end of 2021 from US ports, but not unless it’s absolutely safe to do so. We can’t rush into sailing again, given the close quarters that passengers share onboard. We’ll see requirements like vaccinations being mandatory for adults as well as a COVID-19 PCR testing requirement, in my opinion. One question that remains is how to handle children, as the vaccine is not yet available for those younger than 16. Will kids be able to sail or receive an exemption from these requirements?

Cruising Will Return This Summer, But Only in Some Markets

Cruising is now a global phenomenon, with cruise lines like Royal Caribbean designing ships just for a Chinese audience, given the country’s market size. With cruises grounded globally for more than a year now, it makes sense that cruises are looking at creative ways to begin operating again. Within the last few days, we’ve seen several big announcements on this front.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean has been operating cruises from Singapore since December 2020, but only “cruises to nowhere” for Singapore residents. They’ve recently announced that their brand new Odyssey of the Seas will be sailing fully vaccinated passengers from Haifa, Israel to islands in Greece and Cyprus this summer. These trips are also only for Israeli citizens but are possible because of Israel’s effective vaccination rollout. For US cruisers chomping at the bit to get back to sea, Royal Caribbean will also run their Adventure of the Seas ship from Nassau, Bahamas to their private island in the Bahamas, Grand Bahama, and Cozumel starting in July! Travelers will need to be fully vaccinated (if 16 or older) as well as have a negative PCR test before entering the Bahamas. While it’s not as convenient as Miami, this is a great option for those looking to book a cruise in the near term.

Celebrity Cruises

A higher-end brand owned by Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises will sail Southern Caribbean itineraries from St. Maarten, an island co-owned by France and the Netherlands. Flights are available for US residents.

Crystal Cruises

One of the fanciest cruise lines around, Crystal Cruises will also be sailing from Nassau on seven-night cruises solely within the Bahamas. One interesting tidbit here is that passengers can embark in Nassau or Bimini. Bimini is a two-hour ferry from Ft. Lauderdale, so this would be the only option for sailors from the US that don’t wish to fly at this time.

When Should You Book a Cruise Vacation Next?

Cruise lines have always been fairly flexible with cancellation policies, but with the pandemic, things are incredibly flexible to move around. Due to the CDC order, cruise lines have been moving their first dates of sailing out a month at a time. So while you may be able to book a cruise for the fall from the US, it still may not sail. If that happens to you, your cruise line will enable you to move dates fee-free or receive a full refund.

That being said, if you see a cruise date that’s well priced, book it! Once cruising is “a-go” again, prices will increase with demand. For instance, we’re seeing cruises from $499 on Princess Cruises right now. If there’s something I know about cruisers, it is they absolutely LOVE cruising! Our favorite partner is Avoya Travel for finding the right cruise vacation for your family.

Do you hope to get back to cruising in 2021? Let us know in the comments!

The post Will Cruise Vacations Return in 2021? appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Frugal Living Podcast: Having a Kid Is Expensive

In the second episode of the Frugal Living podcast, host Jim Markus talks with Lindsay Weekes about the costs of raising kids and some tricks on how to do it without breaking the bank. You can listen to the Frugal Living Podcast on Apple Podcasts, on Spotify, on Anchor.fm, or anywhere you go to find podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Lindsay is a Brad’s Deals editor and a mom of 2. She talks with Jim about how to save money and get deals on essentials for babies and kids.

The Sheer Cost of Everything

“The most surprising thing is everything,” Lindsay sums up. If you’re having a kid for the first time then you know to expect the initial upfront expenses. One thing that you don’t always expect is the ongoing expenses. As your kids get bigger, the expenses get bigger, and the things they want to do get more expensive. That can be hard to budget for. To help navigate these surprises and challenges, Lindsay offers a few tips.

Take Advantage of Subscriptions

Subscription services usually offer discounts to their members. There are certain items that you know you’re going to go through, so a subscription for things like diapers not only saves money but also makes it far less likely that you’ll run out. Lindsay explains that she’s saved about 17% on diapers using Honest Company, but that discount goes even further because they offer 15% off add-on items with subscription orders.

Stockpiling Is a Double-Edged Sword

Stocking up during a sale is usually a good way to save money in the long run, but when you’re shopping for kids’ stuff, there are a couple of extra considerations. Kids grow at different rates and may fly past one age bracket and linger in another. If you’re going to buy clothes in advance, it’s best to leave the tags until you need them and to buy from stores that have good return and exchange policies.

Take Advantage of Registries

Many stores will let you create a registry for free. Some of those stores will reward you with free items after you’ve purchased a minimum amount of products from your registry. You can take advantage of these offers by adding items to your registry that you were going to buy anyway and purchasing them yourself.

Rely On Community

Don’t buy everything. Kids outgrow everything, from baby clothes to toys to bicycles, before those items reach the end of their usefulness. By getting connected with other parents, you can receive and pass along hand-me-down items that your kid may only need for a few months or a year.
For even more tips from Lindsay, check out this week’s episode of Frugal Living.

More about the Frugal Living Podcast

The post Frugal Living Podcast: Having a Kid Is Expensive appeared first on The Brad's Deals Blog.

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Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Mother’s Day Freebies and Discounts 2021

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Table of Contents

The Most Popular Mother’s Day Gifts for 2021

Outdoor Decor and Gardening

Jewelry

Flowers

Handbags

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Subscription Boxes

Amazon Prime Picks

Curbside Pickup or Expedited Delivery

Me Time

Shop Our Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Table of Contents

Monday, April 26, 2021

Thursday, April 22, 2021

Table of Contents

Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes

Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Products

Eco-Friendly Dog Waste Bags and Toys

Eco-Friendly Batteries

Earth-Friendly Paper Products

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Table of Contents

Predictions for Cruising 2021

Cruising Will Return This Summer, But Only in Some Markets

Royal Caribbean

Celebrity Cruises

Crystal Cruises

When Should You Book a Cruise Vacation Next?

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Table of Contents

More about the Frugal Living Podcast

articles

Proud to be!

TAH

-_-