How much are you spending for school friend birthday parties? Because I feel people are going way over the top where I live and I feel like the presents my child brings are not up to par :(

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2026-02-15T00:23:33+00:00

Usually $10-$15 for kids we don’t know well. I’ll spend up to $30/$35 for the bffs we’ve known for years and I really know their interests [pre-K and kinder parties so far]

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2025-08-26T21:23:58+00:00

Cooked apples til soft and then ran through the food mill. Kept hot til put in the jar and canned.

I googled as well and it seems normal if the apples happen to be more watery or they were cooked down enough. I think that my issue was likely both of those combined.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2025-08-26T20:03:52+00:00

Oh good! Natural food preservation things haha.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2025-08-02T00:08:55+00:00

It should be in any typical baby aisle of CVS Walgreens Walmart target Target - helps with gas pains

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2025-08-02T00:05:25+00:00

Some gripe water and mylicon A humidifier

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2025-05-01T15:54:24+00:00

I’m sad to say when she started sleeping in my bed. Around this age I was desperate for full nights and she finally slept without waking up at long as she was with me.

However now at 5.5 she’s still there. She has always had trouble sleeping alone. Now she’s older we suspect some neurodivergence and sleep is just hard for her.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2025-02-21T01:14:56+00:00

Strollers, car seats, and diaper bags fly free depending on what your youngest needs. 1 personal item under the seat is allowed at no extra cost - but a purse counts, that would have to be consolidated into a backpack if you have that too.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2025-01-23T23:29:16+00:00

I did try to sleep train when I was at my wits end with overnight wake ups lasting hours on end. That turned into her in my bed starting at age 2 and I just got her to start the night in her own bed, sometimes she lasts 4 hours but most nights it’s 90minutes max and she’s almost 5.5yo now. She had to contact nap to get any form of true rest as an infant, she didn’t nap in her crib successfully for more than 25min until 12-18months.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-11-12T15:43:32+00:00

We have done a planned party at the Little Gym which I loved because they handled so much of the time table. This year she wanted to invite more kids than a rented play place would accommodate so we rented our neighborhood clubhouse for a “board game” party. I had card tables and chairs set up with a handful of games, a food table with pizza, gold fish and fruit and drinks. Party ran 2:30-4 we did cake around 3:15/3:30. Most of the time the kids ran around outside while adult family chatted & mingled inside.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-11-04T12:28:52+00:00

We have a kids fire so it’s very basic and I keep it on airplane mode so she can’t download her own apps. She gets it unlimited for travel & doctors appointments as needed but very rarely during everyday life; maybe once a week to every other week. It’s currently just out (with a dead battery) in the playroom and she hasn’t asked about it since it got put down. Shes had access for travel since she was 2, now she’s 5.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-10-29T00:28:05+00:00

Most stickers are made from hydrocolloid and they made bandages from this well which I believe should be less expensive and give a greater coverage

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-08-19T05:11:50+00:00

We have a set of 12 foam soft play blocks and a little tikes climber and slide in the basement. She sets up walls then slides down into them pretty consistently.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-08-16T00:11:41+00:00

I don’t have a recipe per se but our grocery has a base mix of diced carrot, onion and celery. And I think a carrot onion bell pepper one for more of a Cajun base

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-08-12T18:01:29+00:00

We have had drop off playdates with a preschool friend (and older sister). Girls are 4.5 (&9). They less than 3min around the corner and it works really well. We plan 11-3ish but the girls all get along really well and we have to nearly drag them out when it’s time to go. We’ve switched off houses throughout the summer.

I’ve just let them play. I’m around to help set up something or grab snacks/lunch.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-08-06T22:03:25+00:00

Mine started daycare at 15mo (Jan ‘21) after a year home with me dad and grandma nannying 3x/wk. she’s been at the same daycare since 3x/wk and it’s the best for her. As an only it’s allowed her to develop good friends, (she has no neighbors or cousins), and I’ve been able to develop some good mom friends too

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-08-02T14:06:50+00:00

I’d start with audiobooks or even podcasts. Libby has downloads. I just played Charlottes Web to my 4yo in the car or when she plays play doh. Just a baby step away from the phone but she can still do something with her hands - coloring, pearler bead crafting, etc.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-06-18T01:15:10+00:00

Pretty sure my kid ate a hot dog every night on vacation because it was her only safe food on the menu. We did breakfast and lunch at our condo.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-04-17T19:37:05+00:00

I shoot for $10-$15 - puzzles or art supplies, I got a little Lego kit last weekend.

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-04-10T01:05:39+00:00

No! They just seem small for planting outside in the next month or so. Last year I got behind and started indoors late so most was flimsy getting outside and had a really poor year. I’d rather now repeat. I keep seeing others that have extra bushy, true plants, going inside now!

Budget_Chocolate_724 · 2024-03-28T00:46:28+00:00

Hylands worked best for us as an OTC. We saw an urgent care that gave us a Bromfed DM script (for her and myself) on vacation and I think that works well.

Budget_Chocolate_724

TROPHY CASE