No Spenduary Update: Generosity on a Budget

We are two weeks into our No Spenduary Challenge and so far so good!

I did want to clarify a few things- we ARE buying groceries every week, which include things like healthy fresh produce, milk and lean proteins.

This is important to our family. And in all honesty our grocery budget is something we do need to workout because since the birth of Issie, it's kind of taken a backseat. I have just been trying to survive and keep my head above water with a baby who doesn't sleep. (Pray for me, will you?)

So we are still on track with our spending and I will tell you it's made balancing the checkbook each Thursday SO MUCH EASIER! 

Last week, however, my sister-in-law had a sweet baby girl and my husband wanted to meet that niece of his. So we looked at our budget and decided to take little road trip to his hometown this weekend. 

We packed our own snacks and only payed for gas. 

But I wanted to take my sister-in-law a care package. New mom care packages are a great way to bless mamas. Watch the video above to see how I put it all together. 

Let's be honest, people go crazy over a new baby and forget mom, who did all the work. 

I had $6 in ExtraCare bucks to my local CVS that I needed to use. I knew with my savvy eye I could get a pretty good amount of stuff for that. I brought the $5 to cover my tax. 

And I brought my little red-haired shopping buddy. 

I got hand soap for $.88

And body wash for $2.07. 

I got chocolate for $1.99 and some lip balm for $1.50. 

In total: I spent $6.44. 

$7.01 after tax. So really is cost me $1.01.

I supplemented my care package with some homemade bath bombs, Crystal light packets, hand-painted note cards my friend, Elizabeth, makes. I threw in some detergent samples (because breast milk stains and spit up make no one feel special.)

And I included a light-hearted read I enjoyed (from my bookshelf) and a devotional I love. I was up front with her that the books were used. She didn't care. 

Generosity and kindness do not have to be expensive.

It truly is the thought that counts. Leslie's face lit up when I gave her the care package. It was just for her. Just for mom. And she didn't have to share!

You can do little things to help out a friend or neighbor. If you know a family struggling, add an extra jar of peanut butter or gallon of milk to your grocery cart.

Bring a single mom's garbage can in from the road on trash day. Offer to babysit for free for a family with a special needs child to give those parents a little respite. 

Or pray! Praying does not cost you a penny because that debt has ALREADY been paid! 

What are some things you've done to show someone you care? 

Paying cash for hospital bills

Last summer I wrote a post for Money Saving Mom about our experience paying cash for the hospital birth of our son. 

And since I am having another baby in a few weeks I plan on doing it again. Now granted our financial situation has changed a lot in the 17 months since our son was born. 

My husband has a better paying job. We have better insurance and we have built up our savings. 

But I still get questions from readers in similar situations we were in asking for tips. 

I got this email from a reader: 

We are planning to do this with our first child and hope we don't have to do it for the others that follow but because of the circumstances at this time it seems it will be unavoidable for baby number 1. How did you go about talking to the hospital about paying cash? Any tips for who in the hospital to talk to and maybe specific questions to ask? Approximately how much should we expect to pay out of pocket? Any specific tips for avoiding unnecessary costs while at the hospital? For now, that's all I have but I may have more later. Thanks for answering! :)

I am certainly happy to answer this reader (or any reader if you want to shoot me an email!).

Sometimes these situations are unavoidable. I hope this is an easy process for anyone going through this. Know that as a new mom, you will be in my prayers.

Note: We did have insurance, it was just really, really, really bad insurance. Our bills reached five digits fast. Because we paid our bill when it was due instead of paying in installments we paid about 20 percent less. Yes, that is a lot. And yes, it is a LOT to pay out of pocket. 

1. I talked to the "insurance lady" at my doctors office. Here is a little known secret. There is one amount that insurance companies pay and there is another amount the cash patients pay. Ask up front what that cost will be to your OB and then ask if it is cheaper to be cash patient. Also, your OB's office might still accept installments even if you are a cash patient. It behooves them to do this because they are guaranteed direct payment. 

2. Call your hospital's billing department and ask up front the average cost for Labor and Delivery and Recovery. It pays to price compare. We ended up having our son in the next county because it was cheaper and it turned out the hospital was better. Also call and ask if they offer a cash discount. Often it is 20 percent and a lot of times a hospital will tell you up front. Sometimes the hospital will offer six months interest free payments, this is also a good option for some people. 

3. If you're planning on having an epidural that will be billed separately, but the hospital can tell you the average cost. It is usually around $700. 

4. If you don't eat hospital food, you don't pay for hospital food. It pays to bring your own snacks and drinks and have your husband or a family member bring you food. 

5. Also, limit your stay. If your pregnancy is healthy and there are no complications talk to your doctor about leaving early. You might can only stay one night instead of two. And trust me- you will want to go home. 

6. Another thing. The hospital will give you a ton of stuff that you have already paid for and you won't be charged extra for, like diapers, extra breast pump supplies, ice packs etc. Put these in your bag and ask for more. 

7. I know women who chose to forgo the hospital and go to a birthing center. They had great success with this and it was a fraction of the cost. Personally, I want to be where the meds are, but I am a wimp. Also, Alabama doesn't have birthing centers... so there is that. 

Take a deep breath, this is overwhelming. I want to tell you a story to encourage you. 

I was planning on going back to work after my son was born. I had prayed and prayed and prayed that the Lord would provide my husband and I with an opportunity for me to be at home. In the middle of my maternity leave my husband was offered a job OUT OF THE BLUE. He didn't even apply for it and he never interviewed for it. It came with MUCH better benefits, a raise and the opportunity to move 45 minutes away from my parents as opposed to eight hours. 

The Lord delivered. And He will deliver for you.