Money Saving Tips For Large Families

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

This week I was thinking back to how different it was when I had my first daughter to when I had my last. Just like most parents I was very much of the mindset that my first child should have it all. Back then I gave little thought to how much I spent on my oldest daughters clothes, shoes, gear, even her diapers. I had one kid so I didn't really stress a budget or think that I should look for better ways to spend my money.

As my family grew from one kid to four I had to change my way of thinking, especially because the budget got tighter with each child. By the time I had Sammy (she is my 5th) I had to learn to be a master of stretching the money as far as I could. Women are actually pretty masterful at the art of budget stretching, and I like to think that I am pretty good at getting the most bang for my hard earned dollar. 

These are just a few of the ways that I, as mom of 5 and grandmother of 6, have learned to save money on the small things so we can enjoy the big things in life. 

DIAPERS

One of the really biggest expenses when it comes to parenting are the diaper years. I had 4 kids back-to-back so no one knows more than I do what it's like to have to spend so much money on diapers. I remember clipping coupons, buying in bulk, and still wishing I could save some more money on each box of my girls premium diapers. 

When Sammy was born I tested Parent’s Choice from Walmart a few times, at first hesitantly because even though I was looking for a better price, I wasn't willing to give up having a good diaper for my baby. Not only did I need the same leak protection that the more expensive brands offered, I needed Sammy, who has always been more of a delicate child, to be comfortable and happy in her diaper. But from the get-go Parent’s Choice Diapers performed up to the task and I never looked back. Parent’s Choice brand diapers got us through her baby years for a fraction of the cost of brand name diapers.

Now you can also find Parent’s Choice Premium Diapers, at select locations, for even more high-quality features:

• A time-to-change indicator that lets you know when it is time to change your baby's diaper.
• Soft and stretchy all around the waist with our unique tab-on-tab fastening to perfectly fit your little one, and more.
• Dermatologically tested, lotion-free and ideal for babies in their first stage.
• Made with Walmart’s 360 Pro Skin technology and designed with your baby's ultimate comfort and skin care in mind.

While I no longer have to buy diapers for Sammy or even the grandkids, Paren't Choice is still a brand that I go back to pretty often for toddler items. And if there is a new baby in the family, I will always gladly pick up a box of Stage 1's for them along with some Parent’s Choice Baby Wipes.

If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, check out the entire Parent’s Choice range. With a line of more than 275 products, Parent’s Choice has everything you need, from bedding to diapers, wipes and more.

CLOTHES

Hand-me-downs: Clothes is another area where you can find yourself spending big money for kids. One of the pros of having a large family, and I don't just meant siblings, is hand-me-downs. I have 3 grandsons that are close in age (6, 5 and 4) so we've been able to pass  down everything from jackets, backpacks and even shoes that were gently used. 

Right now in fact Julius who is 5 and in Pre-K is actually wearing Sammy's old school sweatshirt, and she is 10. So if you have gender neutral items, you can pass them along to all the kids. Kids grow so fast that a lot of clothes and shoes are still in great condition by the time they grow out of them. 

Shop sales and look for deals: Right now there are so many ways to score a good deal on almost everything you buy. I love shopping online and using cash back sites to earn back a portion of what I spend. I also love to hunt down a promo code and never, ever pay for shipping. 

I also love the convenience of shopping online from the comfort of my bed. FYI: Life is busy so if you can't get to your local Walmart, have Parent’s Choice Premium Diapers shipped to your door for free.

Parenting is expensive and with a family as big as mine you can bet I still spend a lot more than I would like to. But there are so many easy ways to really stretch that cash and save on the smaller things so you can get out there and enjoy the bigger things in life. 

I'd rather save the difference from a box of expensive diapers versus Parent’s Choice Premium Diapers for our next getaway in April. Why would I want to spend more money on something when I can getting the same quality for less?