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NCP - constructive money ideas,advice,tips

HopeforthebestHopeforthebest member
in Blended Families

For other long distant NCP like my DH, I was hoping to maybe ask for and share tips and advice on money issues. With the current economic state of our country and hardships a lot of people are facing, I thought it might be a a nice place to get ideas how other NCP deal with the unique money aspects we face.

No griping about paying CS from me. I would just like ideas on how others afford all the extras that being a NCP comes with. Travel, clothing for kids that they will likely outgrow before your next visit(our SKs come with just the clothes on their back), that kind of thing.

I have a niece that passes down clothes to our 3 yr old but there are no boys in my family so right now we do a lot of purchasing. It's been working fine and they both have a great wardrobe but as they grow it's gonna get more and more expensive.

Other than the coupon clipping of course that a lot of us probably do, any other ideas??

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Re: NCP - constructive money ideas,advice,tips

  • hopankahopanka member
    You can get great clothes on eBay...both new and used. I buy lots of DS's stuff on there. A lot of people buy way too much and continuously clean out their kids closets. They lump great, even designer, stuff together for a great price just to get it out of their house. Yes, it may take a little time to follow bids and even wait and be willing to let things go until a bargain comes along, but over the years it has saved me tons and my DS is really well dressed - I admit I like brands. Not too long ago I got him Diesel shoes for $10! New - the auction said it was worn once and sure enough, the bottom of the shoes was squeaky clean..as if bought from a store.
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  • kali55kali55 member

    We share custody 50/50 but still pay CS and are responsible for clothing, etc. Plus I'm presenty on maternity leave so my income is slashed.  I shop a lot at consignment clothing stores.  I find the clothing is only gently used and we get a lot more bang for our buck.  I also shop for DS at these stores since he outgrows everything so quickly.  I also shop out of season sales, buying a size larger than they need.  You can get things for next to nothing with some planning.  I bought DS his Halloween costume while he was still in the womb.  Regularly $25 and I bought it for $5.

    As for food, I've been going to Costco and stocking up on meat and freezing it.  I've found a place in town that sells loaves of bread for $1.  Some of them are a few days from expiry or there was a misprint on the packaging.  I buy usually 20 at a time and then freeze them as well and use as needed.  



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  • danac2010danac2010 member
    In our area we have a program called Just Between Friends, which is a big consignment sale.  I buy most of SD and DD's clothes at the sales twice a year.  I spent just over $200 last year and bought all of SD's summer clothes and DD clothes that are 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.  It was awesome!  This year I'm reselling the clothes that don't fit anymore so help balance out the cost.  Since SD is here 50/50 her clothes do get worn more but I bet that a NCP parent could resell most of the clothes with no problems.  I think it's a great way to save on clothes and get to resell the clothes they outgrow.
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  • WahooWahoo member

    Where I live, there are a lot of thrift and consignment stores.  Usually they are run by women's clubs (Jr. League, Town's Women's Clubs, etc.).  I have purchased books, videos, winter boots, and toys from them.  I haven't purchased clothes there, but I have donated clothes - and they are NICE things!  The consignment store in our town sometimes has American Girl outfits!  And the real kind - not the knockoffs!

    Also, there are websites like swagbucks where you can search the web and win prizes.  Obviously, you have to do some online work, but my sister has won starbucks, dunkin donuts, and barnes and noble gift cards (up to $25!).  Maybe you could try to win gas cards, or even if its dunkin donuts - - that's a trip out for donuts with the kids.  For free.  You can also get magazine subscriptions for not many points (gift idea?  - not sure if they have kids titles).  My sister is not someone who wastes her time or a "gimmick" person, and she thinks it is the greatest. 

    Her only caveat is that if you see a gift card for a "good" site, you have to cash it in ASAP, because they tend to go fast. 

    image "Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.
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  • Ginlyn0Ginlyn0 member

    I shop alot of clearance & sales at Children's place, Justice, Gap. I also just shop cheaper places sometimes like Target (all the kids are wearing target in my siggy). I shop online mostly because I can use coupon codes as well as ebates at most places. Ebates give you a "rebate" check or direct deposit back every 3 months if go through their site to shop at other stores. They basically do a percentage of whatever you spend like 3% cashback, ect. If anyone wants me to refer them, pm me w/ your email addy ;) and we would both get a bonus.

    Amazon is also my best friend but I have free Amazon prime because I'm a student as well.

    We can't pass clothes between the boys because they have been the same size since they were around 2 & 3, but I save all their clothes and luckily I had a boy so he can grow into those and I try not to buy clothes that will look "dated." Luckily, SD is bigger than DD so we do pass down clothes to DD from SD.

    DD(14),SD(13),SS(11),SS(9),DS(3)

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