Category: Budget

What to Expect When You’re Buying a House

It’s not easy, and anyone who says it is, must be on some damn drugs–because even apartment hunting isn’t easy, so don’t listen to them, and they’re psychos.

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What is up, lovies?!

Today, we’re doing a super #extra post about me being a know it all about houses…and what I’ve learned being in about 100 of them to finally find a house that I was cool with.

I’m also posting a vid about this as well to connect the two, but since my camera died, I figured I would just write this first!

When you’re looking for a house, you need to make sure that you aren’t stretching your budget– and you are able to afford your mortgage, but all of your extra bills as well– phone, gas, car, water…etc. But, there’s a whole vid on that attached here.

On to the fun stuff– finding your absolutely perf house. It’s not easy, and anyone who says it is, must be on some damn drugs–because even apartment hunting isn’t easy, so don’t listen to them, and they’re psychos. Not only that, but it’s frustrating, irritating, and heartbreaking all at the same time. Honestly, live at your parent’s for the rest of your life– it’s easier. #jkdont

When you finally think about buying that house, think about what kind of house you are willing to transform, or not transform! Turn-key, new construction, or fixer upper are all viable options when it comes to what is best for YOU. Yes, your parents may say that a turn-key is more practical, but honey– we’re livin’ on a budget, and I like to keep my electricity on…partially because I’m afraid of the dark.

Depending on which route you go, there’s a guarantee that you will need to take a look at some stats– school ratings, taxes, crime rates, is it far from work?, and take a look at Megan’s law websites as well. It’s useful and smart, too! After you do all your research, get out and drive! Go over to that neighborhood! No one is going to be wondering why you’re there (unless you have really nosy neighbors in some watch group) (they literally have nothing to do)

Anywhos, go there! Drive through the blocks and take pictures (ok, that might get weird) but take some observations: are the streets dirty?, are there a lot of parks?, where are the schools?, how are people taking care of their homes?, what are the traffic patterns like? Make sure that you aren’t passing over stuff. Like, oh, no there’s a fight outside someone’s house…yea I’m not going to live there, thanks. (Experiences make the best blog posts, right?)

Next on your to-do list is: Make a Wish List!

Make a wish list with your must- haves and your must- have nots. Need two bathrooms? Write it down. Need an office for your huge dream of being insta-famous? Write that down too. Don’t want a basement? Put it down. This way, you aren’t wasting your time on houses that A) have no office B) Have one bathroom and C) Have dark and scary basements! Yes, it’s okay to bend on some of your must- haves…but sometimes you just know…and that’s okay too.

Up Next: Find Some Houses!

Use apps and websites like realtor.com and zillow too! You will discover which one you like more, and sometimes one is more updated than another. Your realtor should be finding you houses, but do some of the leg work on a boring Friday night…search in zip codes that you’ve been driving around in…look at pictures and send some e-mails with addresses to your realtor. The one main rule: Don’t contact the selling realtor without stating that you are represented. Just don’t 🙂

So, the next step is going in and finding some fun houses to potentially buy! But, that’s a whole other story for another time! Make sure to take it easy and not be too stressed about the process…you will eventually find a house– either a month from now–or a year…either way, it’s okay! Don’t be to hard on yourself if you have high standards! You don’t want to be stuck in a house that you regret– and you def. don’t want to be in a house that you can’t sell because of all the issues!

Anyway, don’t be a psycho…because I’m enough of one for both of us. Be chill, go with the flow, and if you’re looking for a house– listen to your realtor…but most importantly, go with your gut. Mine is huge, so that’s why I go with it so much.

 

Love you, mean it.

K

I’m stating that I’m not at all a professional realtor– so my opinions are just that…not professional.  🙂

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Home Decor Ripoffs!

katemcgate1 Comment

Is anyone else sitting on their couch on a Friday night watching HGTV and wishing that they figured out a way to make a ton of money and have a fabulous, Instagram worthy living room? No? It’s just me?

Okay, well is anyone on my same page about this: You hear about a store that is supposed to have amazing deals and awesome stuff, and you muster up the courage to go in– and everything you see is mediocre…and costs more than it should? Yea, me too.

I’m here to tell you that you aren’t alone– home decor is cute, and commercials and social media posts from various stores make you want to jump in the car and drive there even if it’s 10 at night. When you find a new place, the first visit in is like a blind date. You don’t know what you’re gonna get, and you might get stuck with a huge bill if things don’t work out.

So here it is: The top 3 most overrated places for home decor.

If you’ve had luck at these places, I need to go shopping with you– because I walk in, do a loop, and walk out after looking at a couple of price tags.  I can never find anything splurge worthy or affordable enough for me to pull out my Henri Bendel and swipe my Amex. (Don’t tell my husband I still use that card.)

Let me know, am I just looking for the WRONG things at these places? And if you get deals, what are you shopping for?

Pier One

Alright, don’t freaking kill me…but I can’t get into it. I walk in, and I immediately fall in love with a kitchen table that is farmhouse style with beautiful chairs and I can’t have it because it’s so much money and the chairs are all sold seperately….gasp for air… not that this happened to me. Although it’s featured on ebates rn, it’s a total rip off in there. And no, I’m not still bitter about the table, okay? I go in there, and I see a bedazzled pillow that my dog (or baby) would probably choke on, and it costs more than my gas to and from work all week. FORGET IT. I know, there are coupons, but it doesn’t help much. You can get the same, cute stuff for much cheaper other places: IE: Kirklands, Wayfair, NOT Joss and Main, Home Goods, and Ikea.

*Yea, I know Joanna Gaines has a new line that Pier One is selling, and since I love her– I’ll try to go in there again, because I’m a sucker for Chip and I want them both to love me.

Pottery Barn

NO apologies for this one. Included here: West Elm and Crate and Barrel. What am I? A Rockefeller? Not a chance in hell. I went in there during Christmas time to pick up a candle for my mother– one of those battery ones– and I almost choked on my Nordstrom cookie when she told me the price. Bitch, what?! One of those was $60. No way, Josephina. On that note, they have endless amounts of picture frames that are apparently dipped in 24k gold before they are shipped over to this place. I get it, I sound like Phoebe from Friends, but it’s true! If you don’t have to eat everyday, I suggest taking a look here for all of your home needs.

ZGallerie

I’ve never stepped into a store, but holy cannoli! It is expensive online! I watch a ton of YouTubers, and they all worship the ground ZGallerie builds on. Want something to hold…something in? $50 please. What about a purple fuzzy pillow? $150! I will admit, some of their accessories are comparable to what Home Goods sometimes tries to pull on us, but looking at this website makes me feel the same way I feel when I walk into a Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Ripped off.

 

Either way you slice it, I need to be able to rationalize my finds, and also be able to feed my child at the same time. There’s no way I’m going to spend the price of formula for two weeks on a golden artichoke for my mantle.

 

(I mean, if it’s super cute, I’ll consider it)

 

Love you, mean it.

K

 

 

 

 

 

What Did I Do This Week?

On Wednesday, my husband got home and we decided to go out and grab some unnecessary home decor to help us get our minds off of stuff.

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Hey you guys!

So, after a long and stressful week, we are finally at most people’s favorite day, Friday! For me, it’s not really the start of my weekend, but you guys like it, so I’ll post for you! This week, my husband and I were faced with some pretty tough decisions regarding his career, but we finally were able to solve it!

When we get stressed, we shop. It’s a super bad way to relieve stress, but we got stuff to make our house cuter– so that’s okay..right?

On Wednesday, my husband got home and we decided to go out and grab some unnecessary home decor to help us get our minds off of stuff. We went to home goods on 202 in Blue Bell, PA. Let me tell you, there’s a difference between good and bad Home Goods. The ones that get hit all the time…and the ones that don’t. This one– it’s a good one. It’s SUCH a good one.

We didn’t go too crazy, but they were just putting out their spring and summer stuff– so I knew we were going to find pineapples and flamingos galore. Let me tell you, I wasn’t disappointed. We walked in, and we immediately went to the mugs. #mugmonday anyone? If you go into a store and immediately put something in your cart– you know you’re going to be there for a while.

Michael found a mug that perfectly described his relationship with coffee. This one is pretty similar to what he found. I walked into the next aisle and found a new tablecloth!

Does anyone else have rules when they go into a Home Goods? Thankfully, my husband has caught on– and walks through every aisle with me and doesn’t stray. I promise you– you’ll miss something!

After debating some other items, we made a promise that we would throw more parties this summer. As you all know, I was pregnant and miserable last summer, so I didn’t want anyone to have fun. This year, I’m ready! We got an adorable pineapple outdoor tray as well as a wooden utensil holder, because I’m really rustic.

The moral of the story is, if anyone comes to my house this summer, they will feel super welcomed.

When we got home, we went right to sleep, and went right into work on Thursday. Today, I was off, and had plans of being in bed all day, but MP3 had other plans. He wanted to be up and out, so I put on my big girl pants and drove around to Marshall’s and Carter’s. (That stuff is in my haul also!)

I am super excited to be adding on another type of media into my blog, so please enjoy my random as hell vlog channel too! We all know I’m not organized to do this all the time, but I’m trying!

 

Love you mean it.

K

 

 

 

 

 

A Broke Bitch’s Guide to Gift Giving: Friends Edition

Broken down by category, your gift guide for the less than monetary blessed

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We all know that when the calendar flips to December, most people and their saving accounts start shaking in their boots. Why? They haven’t budgeted, and it means that they actually have to use actual money to give actual gifts…instead of IOU’s.

So here it is: Broken down by category, your gift guide for the less than monetary blessed:

For the friend that lives beyond her means: Why not make her feel some sort of special? Let her ball out with a GC to Neiman Marcus Last Call. Better yet, YOU ball out at Neiman and get her a Rebecca Minkoff at a quarter of the price. She’ll be kissing your Bass outlet drivers in ultimate thanks. Not a fan of discounted designers? (Me either) Try a candle that smells expensive so she can feel like she’s in the VIP lounge at the 40/4 club. Wait, is that still a thing?

For the friend that’s clever/kind of hipster: Nothing like a pair of earrings to make her feel like she’s edgy and different. If that doesn’t work, try a slightly inappropriate mug because she seriously doesn’t understand her audience. She’ll make sure to drink out of this when she’s with her sister’s kids and feel no remorse for it.

For the friend that’s into passing out in bathrooms: Ah, my favorite. Even though you can give this one a hangover kit, the gift will be gone within 24 hours. Make it last longer, but make it cheap…because it’s guaranteed to be lost within 48 hours. A flask, bottle of alcohol, or a hotline to a self-help line are all viable options as well.

For the friend that’s Martha Stewart: If she has her own place, try a couple things for her kitchen, a ring plate, or a clever door mat. My favorite go-to gift for a first time home owner (apt owner or whatevs) is a personalized cutting board or some really nice coasters. I think the best gifts are experiences: get her a couple of cooking classes, and make sure to go too…because we all know you can’t cook either.

For the friend that’s a wine-o: This is dramatically different than the friend ending up on the bathroom floor. These girls/guys usually just end up in their bed cuddling with their dogs reminising about their times in college when they DID end up on the bathroom floor. Trust me, it’s a real type of person. Wine-o’s love a good bottle of their favorite white, red, or blush. But, let’s face it…blush is just for when you’re feeling fancy. There’s such a thing as WINE SOAP..so that’s gross, but it’s an option. Wine glasses, accessories, and wine bags to hide wine in are obvious but always a go to.  A better time would be a trip to a winery. Get a couple people together and buy a bottle of vino.

Anywho: The best gifts are outside the box. If you aren’t sure, here’s my secret. STALK their pinterest page, facebook page, and what they already own. Don’t over think it, or you’ll over buy.

Skip It, Save it, or Spend It

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I love makeup, and lately, I’ve been getting into actually putting it on instead of just buying it to “collect” it. Below, I’ve given my “humble” (lol) opinion on my everyday products, and where I could have saved, and where I have found my forever products.

  1. Benefit’s Porefessional: Although I love this product, this specific item can run you in the high 20’s for price. If you don’t have that kind of money, I would suggest not splurging on this one. There are many other primers that are drug store brand that are just as good. For example: Maybelline Baby Skin. You can get it at target, and it’s around $6 in price.
  2. Bobbi Brown Foundation: Alright, splurge. Her items are high in quality and last all day…and in my line of work, that takes a STRONG foundation. Not only is it great coverage, it also has 35 SPF. I like BB creams, and e.l.f has a great BB cream for $6 as well.
  3. NARS Bronzer: Skip.skip.skip. It’s winter– you don’t live in the tropics (unless you…do. But I don’t soooo) My advice for the bronzer step– get a professional to match you. Similar to foundation/concealer, you may think you match, but then you see a picture of yourself, and you have to rethink your life.
  4. YSL Double End Eye Pencil: Sorry to say, this is about $30, and it’s so worth it. I hav ebeen on a mission for a pencil that’s better and cheaper, and I can’t find it. In my opinion, if you had to choose one: Pick this one.
  5. Urban Decay’s Mascara: Perversion: I was a huge fan of Scandal Queen’s Fairy Drops, but after the makeup stores near me stopped carrying it, I branched out. I got a sample, and I guess it can do for now. It’s not my end all, but it’s not terrible. My drug store dupe would have to be Rimmel London Volume Flash.
  6. NARS Matte Lip Pencil: How do I get my lips so…lippy? I use lip pencil all over my lips. Sometimes, I don’t even go to a lip stick. The NARS pencils stay on for a long time, and I only have to reapply once or twice during the day. My favorite colors are Train Bleu and Cruella.
  7. YSLRouge Volupte: One of my all time favorite brands, but not the best. I love dark colors for my lips, and this brand gives you a lot of reds. Since I’ve been branching out, I’ve been going to Smashbox, NARS, and Kat Von D to get darks purples and greys.
  8. Urban Decay Makeup Setting Spray: Skip it, people. Hair spray does a great job too…just hold your breath while you’re spraying.

 

The Grad School Diaries

But in the spirit of saving, I am writing to let you know about surviving graduate school and some tips from a basically broke student teacher!

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I once had dreams of blogging like Kate. Even started one with a friend, and had it going strong for a while! But then I got the acceptance letter for my graduate program and life went a little haywire for a period of time. Two years later, I’m still at it.
But in the spirit of saving, I am writing to let you know about surviving graduate school and some tips from a basically broke student teacher!

For the first few semesters, my main financial concerns were school supplies, gas, and a new laptop.

So let’s break it down:

SAVE WHERE YOU CAN!

Computer:

I knew I wanted a Macbook, and I also knew it was out of my budget. But when I remembered I have an amazing friend who works at the Apple store, he hooked me up. He ordered me the laptop, used my credit card, his store discount, and then instead of paying for tax and shipping, he arranged for pickup in Delaware. A short drive from my home in Philadelphia, and I bribed another friend with a road trip and Starbucks. So we made a day of it.

Saved me BIG TIME! Laptop still going strong today, worth the investment.

School Supplies:

I needed the basics: folders, notebooks, pens, highlighters, etc. I remember when I was younger, my mom was the queen of never paying full price for anything. She watched the sale ads every week from June through August for sales, and I learned a thing or two.

Office Depot does their penny sale. Spend $5 and then everything else is a penny. I scored notebooks, folders, pencils, and a pencil case.

Shop Rite, believe it or not, has excellent sales as well over the summer. Notebooks range from 25 cents to 10 cents, sometimes even go down to a penny. Packs of pens range anywhere from 50 cents to a dollar. Pencils , folders, sharpies, you name it. And not even the knock off brands, legitimately good stuff!

Gas:

Okay, we all know the struggle of the gas pump. It’s hard, and gas prices flip flop every single day. So I found a few tricks.

If you travel the same route often, notice the gas stations! I made note in my head of who had the cheapest gas on my routes back for forth from class, and tried to plan out when I needed to fill up! Every cent counts at the pump!

Also I played it smart from the start. When it came time for me to get a car a few years ago, I made sure it was fuel efficient to the MAX! Aside from a Hybrid car, this was as close as I could get. Honda and I have become fast friends. My tiny silver Honda Fit quickly become the envy of my siblings and had them asking me to use it for their long trips out of town.

As much as I’m a girl who loves a good truck and SUV, I love spending less money at the gas station more.

Did I mention I’m trying to become a teacher? We are a group that needs to save when and where we can, because we ALWAYS need something!

I recently finished the dreaded semester of Practicum and am in the even more dreaded Student Teaching phase now! Stay tuned, I’ll write about how I learned to not go dead broke while doing my fieldwork next time.

Home Decor: Entryway Edition

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How many of you are in love with those old houses with huge entryways that are perfectly designed? No one? Just me? Ok, liars.

When we bought our house, we were super excited to just move in our furniture and start decorating. Needless to say, a year later…and I’m just starting to realize what I love. As my mother says, I have champagne taste, and I don’t exactly have a paycheck that gives me what I actually want…so I have to improvise. To add to that, we live in a ranch, so you literally walk right into our living room/dining room. Here’s how I made this space more “homey.”

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The Overview

I wanted something that was practical with a touch of not so practical. (Get over it…how many pumpkins do you need? You aren’t making a pie) The little mirrors are less than helpful for checking your make-up before you go out the door, but they are cute and from Target, so they were affordable. If you want practical, Kirklands has some great pre-Black Friday sales going on right now. Each season, I plan on tweaking certain items so that it is seasonally appropriate. The more permanent items are more neutral.

 

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The Deets

Mail tray: kate spade (60.00) Alternate mail organizers

Dots Vase: kate spade (140.00) Alternate without dots

Entryway Table(99.99), Bowl (10.99) , Runner (14.99) , Owl pair (14.99), “Happy Thanksgiving” plaque (5.99) , “Give Thanks” pumpkin (12.99) , pilar candles (4.99) : Home Goods

Candle: Yankee Candle (make sure to have a coupon…those jawns are expensive!) This candle is Apple Pumpkin. (27.99)

Birdcage: Michael’s (18.99)

The two most expensive items on the table were wedding presents, however…you can always find cheaper options. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be updating the table to be more seasonally appropriate for Christmas/winter. Can’t wait what kind of items I find! Stay tuned.

Love you, mean it.

 

Home Decor: Mantle Edition

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Before owning a house, I couldn’t stand certain looks…gold was one of them. If anyone has been in my house as of late–I can’t get enough. I love mixing metals with different colors, and I have a big beautiful fireplace and accent brick wall that just screams, “PUT GOLD ON ME!” So, I listened, and the result makes me super happy.

The deets:

Make sure to mix up you woods and pick a metal. I’m not brave to mix metals JUST yet, but I’m open to it in the future. I picked an accent color of teal for my den, so I mixed that in with some gold accented picture frames, some dark and painted white woods, and some candles. My inspo came from Juliesheartandhome on Instagram. She runs a blog with her sister, and I wish I had her magical powers.

I divided the mantle into three parts:

img_8692-1I got the C’est la Vie and both of the picture frames from Home Goods. The vase was a wedding present from Lenox, but it’s easy to find an affordable version. The pineapple print is from etsy. It is a print from the TV Show, Psych. I chose to put a candid picture from our wedding in the white and gold frame.

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For the middle of the mantle, I chose a white and gold from Home Goods that was about $12.00. The candle and candle holder are also from Home Goods. The anchor book ends are from Target. The anchors are gone, but they have some SUPER cute ones available now.  I kept the middle of the mantle lower than the other two sides to keep it a bit interesting.

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The last part, I found these pineapples and frame at Home goods. I kept with a pineapple theme from the print on the other side of the mantle. The larger print in the back was found at TJ Maxx. The print in the smaller frame was made by me, and it the first conversation that I had with my husband in college…I made it with an app called Retype. I initially made it as a joke, and I thought it was a fun thing to put into the display.

The entire mantle cost me about $100 in total. When I started off collecting these items, I wanted to do a photo collage on a wall in my living room; however, I started realizing that my mantle needed some love.When you are designing your mantle, remember that it should have personal touches. If you love pineapples or chevrons, add 3 pieces that feature that in the space you are decorating.

Moral of the story? As my grandmother once said, “Don’t force design. Wait for your house to speak to you.” …but your house isn’t going to actually speak…you’ll just realize what you really want after a while.

My advice? STALK home decor stores and websites. Go to the clearance aisle and really look. If you see something…BUY IT. You will be driven MAD if you walk away from it, but you can always return if you decide it isn’t for you. I’m still looking for flying pig candle holders that I walked away from a couple weeks ago.

KK, love you..mean it.

What to Expect when You Weren’t Exactly Trying to Expect Anything..

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Back in January, I was still trying to pursue my Insta famous and blog lifestyle, when something in the pit of my stomach told me that I may be pregnant. I was not trying nor was it the right time for my husband and I to bring a child into the world. However, after taking a pregnancy test and having a class five anxiety attack… I realized it was a blessing in disguise.

My pregnancy was not my favorite thing, but the reward at the end was so amazing. Although everyone says that a baby is expensive– but not in a way you can see right away…so I’m here to uncover the hidden expenses of your new bundle of joy.

Your Doctor Appointments aren’t always covered
Depending on insurance, you can be caught paying for ultrasounds, blood work, and various genetic testing that are always good to get…but not the most cost effective. Don’t even think that your cool 3D image of your baby is remotely covered…and if it is, you’re lucky AF. If your experience is anything like mine, your doctor’s office might not completely understand your insurance and tell you there was no copay, and send you various bills in the mail. Later on in my pregnancy, I went to the doctor every week. Each week, I would receive an envelope in the mail containing a bill for my copay. #super

Maternity Clothes
You know what’s fun? Shopping for overpriced maternity items because the clothing industry KNOWS you have to give in and buy some maternity items. Talk about a fun lesson in economics. Even though I didn’t buy much, I had to buy pants…and the cheapest I could find were some pairs at target on a major sale…so go there for some clothing staples. My suggestion? Find jeggings and maxis. If you are pregnant in the winter, invest in two pairs of pants. Jeans and another pair. It’s easy to find cheap and pretty shirts than a pair of pants for a reasonable price.

Breast Pumps
Ask your doctor about insurance covered pumps…and if you are not pumping– ask your doctor for samples of formula. (The pediatrician will have plenty) An average pump can range in price anywhere from $150-450! I don’t have that kind of cash, my friends.

The Hospital Copay
This can depend on your insurance also, but mine was $500…so keep that in mind when you are planning your birth plan. Also- I didn’t have a birth plan, so don’t ask me for advice on that.
For 500 bucks, get your money out of it– grab those newborn diapers and mesh underwear for your postpartum weeks ahead.

Necessities
So you are having a baby shower? Great. Make sure to REGISTER smart. Yes, clothes are adorable…but no one wants a baby with cute clothes and no diapers. Very messy. Trust me, your friends and family will buy you clothes.

Register for wipes, diapers, dreft, and things you NEED. My go-to list for cheap will be up in a couple days, so stay tuned.

Make sure to get some basic onesies and 4-5 outfits in newborn. My baby was in newborn for just TWO WEEKS…so keep that in mind. AND, at 5 weeks, my baby is almost out of 3 month because he is so tall.

If your friend/family member is having a baby– give them a necessity. It is a lot more of a relief than a cute outfit (then get some cute clothes when the baby is born!)

Food
You think you’re going to want to cook after giving birth? Yea, you’re a psycho. Not only will you forget to go to the bathroom, you will forget what time it is, too. If you want to help a friend out, cook some frozen meals. If you have some time before you give birth, put some crock pot meals together and make some casseroles. Try not to order food every night, even though it’s tempting.

Food for the baby? Don’t give up on breastfeeding right away, try it for a couple weeks. Formula is VERY expensive. Much like maternity clothes, the industry knows you have to buy it. I tried pumping and breast feeding for 3 weeks, and then switched to formula. This is when you ask the pediatrician for those samples.

Childcare
Yea, we all know childcare is an expense…but do you know HOW expensive? I’m literally still having panic attacks about it. Unless you’re a Rockefeller, you may have to go back to work. Nannies, in-home help, and day cares have fees and tuitions that are actually insane. It’s not Harvard. If you have an irregular work schedule FREAKING FORGET trying to find weekend help. So make sure you budget yourself, and ask for some favors along the way. A plate of brownies for your in-laws or neighbor could go a long way.

I’ve only been a mom for a month, so give me some other ideas! The only thing I know is that I have to leave my 6 week old baby while I brave the retail world JUST in time for the holidays. Don’t dogs get 8 weeks?