Five ways to save money with kids

Photo courtesy of SXC.

We all want to save a little cash these days. Whether you're struggling to pay the mortgage or just saving up for a family vacation, you probably worry about how you can shave a few more dollars from your monthly expenses. Here's how we do it in my family.

1) Skip the pre-packaged snacks. In lieu of fruit snacks and granola bars, try good ole' crackers and apple slices. If you're about to run some errands, take along some cereal in a sandwich bag.

2) Ditch the juice boxes. On the road, just bring along sippy cups. You can refill them for free at water fountains.

3) Bundle up your kids at night. Put socks on under their flannel sleeper pajamas, and teach them how to pull the blanket up. Now you can turn the thermostat down a notch overnight.

4) Watch for kids' stuff sales, especially for toys and newborn clothing. These are common gift items that often end up at sales before they are even used. You may even find the store tags still attached.

5) Dive into the world of cloth diapering. According to CostHelper, disposable diapers cost anywhere from $540 to $780 during the first 12 months. Cloth diapers cost $200 to $300 during that same time. (This is one suggestion I haven't tried yet. But I have the cloth diapers purchased, washed and ready to use when Baby #2 arrives later this month.)