Frugal moms pay close attention to the amount of money that their families spend because they want to use their cash for the most important things in life. Instead of limiting the fun activities that their families enjoy, many moms have found easy ways to save money on the items that they purchase every day. Clipping coupons, however, is just the first step for frugal moms who want to make the most of every penny.

Use the Library for Books and Movies

Moms want their children to learn as much as possible. The cost of buying books, however, can add up quickly. Instead of shelling out a lot of money for books, start using the library more often. If your kids love a particular book, then go ahead and buy it for them so that they can read it over and over. Don’t spend a penny, though, until you have checked the book out from the library first and decided that it is well worth the money.

You can also use the library to check out movies. Many library systems have a wide variety of family-friendly movies that will entertain your children. You might even find that they have some movies that target the adults in the family. Instead of spending money at a video rental store (or, heaven forbid, actually buying DVDs), use the library. Again, if your kids really love a movie, then you might decide to buy it for your home collection.

Cut Your Auto Insurance Costs

Finding affordable auto insurance could help you shave hundreds of dollars off your annual budget. That’s especially true for frugal moms who have teenage drivers in the house. Finding inexpensive car insurance doesn’t have to mean cutting coverage either. Use the Internet to compare the prices offered by several insurance providers, and make sure that you take advantage of every possible discount. You might find that you qualify for discounts if you have a student on your policy, you belong to certain auto clubs, or you belong to a professional organization.

Reduce Your Household Expenses

Frugal moms have found a nearly endless number of ways to reduce their home expenses. You can cut your utility bills by turning off lights when you leave a room, washing your clothes in cold water instead of hot water, and turning off all electronic devices when they are not in use. Get your kids involved to teach them the importance of conservation.

Also, you can spend less money by making your own cleaning supplies. It’s much easier than it sounds and it costs just a fraction of what you will spend on brand name supplies.

These are just a few of the tips that frugal moms follow to make some wiggle room in their budgets. Cutting expenses doesn’t mean that you have to sit at home bored. It just means finding cheaper ways that your family can have a good time while spending less money on insurance, home supplies, energy, and other expenses. What types of frugal tips do you use to help your family save money?

Stepmothers have a bad reputation. You can thank Cinderella for that. Just remember, we only heard Cinderella’s side. Blended families are fast becoming the new normal family. So if you’ve recently joined the ranks of stepmother–know that you are not alone. According to a recent study, 68 percent of remarriages include children from prior relations. Fortunately, unlike Cinderella’s stepmother, you have a lot of resources available to you. So you are already a head of the game, right? So here are some tips and helpful resources, for those times when you’re feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and under-appreciated.

• Don’t take it personally. Children are evolving creatures. They can say and do hurtful things. You’re the adult, don’t take it personally. Don’t react, educate. Try to remember that children don’t have the coping resources adults have to deal with feelings of anger and jealousy. Journal for Sanity.

• Keep a journal. Write every day and be honest about your feelings. Journaling is therapeutic—it gives you an opportunity to say the things you would never say out loud. Journals give you a safe place to put those thoughts and feelings. In addition, journal entries are like little bread crumbs on the road of life. They are way to back track your path. Where did you start? Where are you now.

• Find and maintain a support group. Not only is their strength in numbers but group wisdom can be powerful. Look for groups in your local area. If you’re in a hurry and need a quick dip in the fountain of stepmother wisdom try: The Step Mom’s Toolbox or Becoming a Step Mom.

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Autism is one of the most dreaded words in the modern parental vocabulary. It reigns atop the mountain of things like polio, typhoid and the bubonic plague as one of the most serious issues many parents fear. At its least, autism means social remediation and a lifetime spent primarily alone, and at its worst autism implies an institutional setting and a child who can never have a proper adult life. Some parents have even been told that vaccinations are among the causes of autism, which thankfully is not the case.

Years ago, there was a study done on vaccinations that declared a connection between the bubonic plague, sparking a huge amount of controversy. Over time, a lot of scientists duplicated the research behind the study in question, and found no connection between the administration of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine and the onset of autistic symptoms. However, the damage had been done, and many parents believe to this day that one causes the other in many cases. The good news is, this supposed connection has been found to not exist at all.