Running a daycare on a tight budget

[Josiegirl]

Anyone have ideas they'd like to share??

I know I cannot wait for yard sales, that's the one option where I can find books, crafts/art materials, toys, puzzles, dress-up, just about anything I have on my 'looking for' list.

I made a grocery list this weekend and stuck to it. It happened to be a short list. Usually I'd impulse buy like crazy. But I spent under 80 bucks and hopefully that'll last the week. Normally I'd spend at least 120. And hit the store 2 more times before the week's out.

I've discovered I can buy stuff just as cheap, maybe cheaper, at Family Dollar, less than 2 miles round trip as opposed to going to Walmart which is about 35 miles round trip. Course I cannot shop WalMart without hitting TJMaxx and the Dollar Tree.

Any tips, tricks, advice you'd like to share?

[NeedaVaca]

Couponing! I save hundreds per month and always a huge stockpile.

[NeedaVaca]

Couponing! I save hundreds per month and always have a huge stockpile.

[AuntTami]

Couponing! I save hundreds per month and always have a huge stockpile.

Ugh! Care to share your secret? I've tried it in the past but without buying coupons(which I get the point of but seems silly to me) I don't know how to start!

As far as tight budget- My kids get a lot of left overs. I never learned how to cook for two so I always make enough food for a family so the kiddos get the left overs. We also have a HUUGGEEEE garden in the back yard so we have a bunch of vegetables from there that we can/freeze if we can. And hit the farmers market for others.

I also hit up second hand baby stores for most of my items. Sometimes you find great deals! Similar to yard sales, wash everything and sanitize it and it's all set!

When I find something on sale i stock up. Sometimes that means I have 15 packs of straws in my cupboard.

[Unregistered]

Couponing! I save hundreds per month and always have a huge stockpile.

I used to love to coupon and had a stockpile too but since starting daycare I have no time to coupon. How do you fit couponing into your days?

[Kabob]

I love yard/garage sales!

I also save lots of money by making a budget and then only buying with cash. You'd be surprised how much money you save this way since it is tough to make impulse buys when you only have so much cash in your pocket.

[Unregistered]

Try and do free shipping on walmart or target to avoid the temptation of other things or other stores.

[Blackcat31]

Ugh! Care to share your secret? I've tried it in the past but without buying coupons(which I get the point of but seems silly to me) I don't know how to start!

As far as tight budget- My kids get a lot of left overs. I never learned how to cook for two so I always make enough food for a family so the kiddos get the left overs. We also have a HUUGGEEEE garden in the back yard so we have a bunch of vegetables from there that we can/freeze if we can. And hit the farmers market for others.

I also hit up second hand baby stores for most of my items. Sometimes you find great deals! Similar to yard sales, wash everything and sanitize it and it's all set!

When I find something on sale i stock up. Sometimes that means I have 15 packs of straws in my cupboard.

Here is her secret... Lol!

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52976

[Thriftylady]

Coupons, facebook sites, yard sales, cooking from scratch even bread and such, making a ton of my own stuff like all of my bulletin board stuff and such. Giving the kids activities that will save us money such as starting seeds for our summer garden. Doing small sewing projects for the kids instead of buying pre made stuff. I am in the process of making the kids aprons out of old jeans I get at one thrift store for a buck a pound.

[NeedaVaca]

Ugh! Care to share your secret? I've tried it in the past but without buying coupons(which I get the point of but seems silly to me) I don't know how to start!

As far as tight budget- My kids get a lot of left overs. I never learned how to cook for two so I always make enough food for a family so the kiddos get the left overs. We also have a HUUGGEEEE garden in the back yard so we have a bunch of vegetables from there that we can/freeze if we can. And hit the farmers market for others.

I also hit up second hand baby stores for most of my items. Sometimes you find great deals! Similar to yard sales, wash everything and sanitize it and it's all set!

When I find something on sale i stock up. Sometimes that means I have 15 packs of straws in my cupboard.

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52976

[NeedaVaca]

oops, I see while I was searching for that thread Blackcat beat me to it!

[NeedaVaca]

I used to love to coupon and had a stockpile too but since starting daycare I have no time to coupon. How do you fit couponing into your days?

I check my favorite websites a few times each day, morning, lunch time, evenings. I print coupons during naptime or in the evenings and I shop several times per week.

[Josiegirl]

The store I shop at, doesn't take online coupons.

[Laurel]

A few ideas:

-Sometimes you can find good things at thrift shops...sometimes not. Once I found a lot of nice books. Another time a nice rocking horse. Also dress up clothes. Buy a child's size clothing in a slightly larger size than the children in your care.

-Go to the library (without children) and get a large stack of books. 'New' books that you can read to the children.

-Our resource and referral agency operates a 'toy' library. If you have one you can borrow toys from it.

-If you dare, , have 'Show and Tell' day. Each child brings a toy from home.

-If you make a list of art supplies, parents may donate.

Laurel

[Thriftylady]

I might add I also just do stuff in the home that saves money regardless of daycare. I make my own laundry soap, only use the drier when I have to, I hang laundry outside and sometimes in the garage when I can't hang outside. We don't have extras like cable, but we do have netflix. Little things really do add up!