Affordable Baby Shower Gift Basket with Nûby

Sometimes it can be really hard to decide on an affordable baby shower gift for a friend, relative, or co-worker.  Maybe you waited too long and all their registry items in your price-point have already been purchased (darn!), or maybe you're like me and like to go rogue and buy fun and practical items that weren't on their registry in the first place.  In any case, you can't go wrong with gift baskets - and what better way to to fill a gift basket than with affordable, practical items from a great brand like Nûby.  
| Thank you to Nûby for providing the products to review for this post.  This post contains affiliate links |

I had a hard time narrowing down exactly what Nûby products to include in this gift basket, but after some thought I decided to choose a variety of items that would be useful throughout baby's first six months and beyond.  In the past, I've also done gift baskets in a particular theme (all bath items, or all feeding items, etc), and those are always a really fun option as well!  

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Hot Safe Bath Duck

This bath duck you can use from day one with your little one. He is BPA-free and has a super-handy heat sensor on the bottom so you know if the water temp is safe for your baby. I love that this duck is something you'll be able to use at every bath for a long time - as a temperature safety feature and as a fun bath toy.

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Nûby Natural Touch Bottle to Cup

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you know already that I am ALL about the baby products that grow with baby - if it's convertible, and you can get a lot of use out of it, that's the product I'm going to choose.  This 3-stage, BPA-free cup is good from 3+ months and converts from a bottle with a slow-flow nipple to a no-spill sippy cup as your little one gets older.  It even has detachable handles.   

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Look at Me Mirror Toy

This fun teether toy is BPA-free and recommended for babies 6+ months. It has multiple surfaces and textures to keep your little one occupied while they're teething, including cooling gel and a fun mirror to look at their reflection.

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Easy Clean Bottle and Nipple Brush

This BPA-free bottle brush will come in handy from day one as well. It has a convenient suction base so it stands up on your counter and away from coming in contact with germs on the counter top. It also has a big bristly top for scrubbing inside bottles, and a handy nipple brush stored in the base to clean bottle and sippy cup nipples.

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Teething Trends Pearl Beaded Necklace

And finally, it's always great to put something in that both mom and baby can use! This BPA-free, soft silicone necklace is fashion with a purpose - it makes a fun statement necklace for mom, but pulls double-duty as a wearable teether for your little one.

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More affordable ideas to add to a baby shower gift basket:  

• thermometer
• comb/brush set
• package of wipes
• nail clippers
• rattle
• diaper cream
• pacifier
• cute onesie
• funny bib
• board book
• receiving blanket
• baby bonnet
• photo frame

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- I received these items for review from Nûby but all opinions expressed are my own.  Please see our Disclosure Policy for more information. -   

These Nûby products can be found at various retailers including Babies 'R Us, Buy Baby Direct, Walmart, and Amazon.  

Give Back Box

Give Back Box, has started a new initiative that couldn't make it any easier to give back!  Just put your unwanted items in a participating retailer's box (Amazon is a participating one), print out a free pre-paid label, and then it gets sent to your local Goodwill as a donation.  You never even have to leave your house!  

Start tackling those New Year's Resolutions - clean out your closet and give back to your community at the same time.  It's win-win for everyone.  

You can get more info and print your your label at GiveBackBox.com

New Year, New Resolutions to Save Money

New Year means time for new Resolutions.  Usually they boil down to a lot of the same things, and a big one for us is always saving more where we can.  Every year everything gets more expensive - groceries, gas, clothes, healthcare, etc but our paychecks always seem to stay the same.  
I decided to compile some of my best blog posts on saving money and I hope it will help you jumpstart your savings too!  

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Saving on Groceries

Our 9 Favorite Money Saving Apps

Saving Money on Groceries - Rural Edition

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Budgeting

Creating and Maintaining a Monthly Budget

Making it Work on One Income

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Saving on Health Insurance & Medical Bills

How to Save on Health Insurance & Medical Bills

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Clean House, Make Money

5 Tips to Make the Most Money from Consigning Clothes and Household Items

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Save on Special Events

Easy Ways we Saved THOUSANDS on our Dream Wedding

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Simple Door Monogram

How's this for a super-easy project?  I love the idea of a monogram on the door of our little girl's room, but wanted to keep it simple and subtle and easy to take down if we decide to change things up.  

This project really couldn't be easier.  The letter I bought was a pre-painted small white one from Hobby Lobby because I wanted it to be subtle, but it could easily be repainted another color if you wanted it to stand out more.  

To hang it, I used some light-weight Command strips so it can easily be removed later if we decide to do something different on the door.  

Just love the finishing touch it adds!  

How to Save on your Health Insurance and Medical Bills

As a self-employed family, we have to buy our health insurance ourselves out-of-pocket.  Premiums and deductibles have been skyrocketing over the last few years and we've been working hard to make the most of our health plan and save where we can but it's still hard.  I thought I'd share some of things we've learned buying insurance and paying medical bills ourselves over the years.  Most of these tips relate to families buying insurance out-of-pocket, but a lot of tips would also benefit those that get insurance through their employer.  
| These tips relate to what we've learned in our own experience - please consult your insurance broker, accountant, etc for the best information regarding your own situation |

Shop Around for Insurance

If you're buying insurance yourself (not through your employer) these days, you're pretty much limited to only getting insurance through the Healthcare Marketplace as most insurance carriers have gotten rid of their individual plans and rolled them into the Marketplace Exchange.  
While shopping for a plan on the Marketplace, you can compare premiums, deductibles, and coverage but make sure you are VERY thorough.  At first glance it may seem you have a lot of options, but many times plans are not widely accepted at doctors and hospitals.  Once you find a plan you think will work for you, check with both the Marketplace as well as the insurance company directly to make sure the plan is accepted at all your family's doctors, specialists, and area hospitals.  The last thing you want to happen is to head to the ER for a broken ankle and find out afterwards that your insurance won't even touch that bill.  Depending on your family size and income, you may also qualify for a discount on the cost of your premiums through the Marketplace.  

Consider the High Deductible

If your family has no chronic medical issues, is healthy (knock-on-wood), and you're not planning on having a baby or surgery in the coming year it may be advantageous to go for the sky-high deductible.  Yes, this could be risky as you never know when something may come up, but if nothing major comes up you can save a lot on your monthly premiums.  

Pay Your Monthly Premium on Your Credit Card (if possible)

If you can't purchase your insurance pre-tax through an employer, see about using your credit card to pay for your monthly premiums.  Not all insurance carriers will let you pay your premium on your credit card, but if they will let you - do it!  Most credit cards have cash back rewards or bonuses for using your card, so you might as well take advantage of it.  My credit card offers 1% cash back, so I earn about $55 back on my premiums each year - it's not much but it's better than nothing, and I know there are cards out there that have much better rewards than mine.  
*Obviously only pay your premiums on your credit card if you're good about paying that amount off in full every month - you do not want to go into credit card debit over your health insurance premium.  

Health Savings Account (HSA)

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a savings account that's designated for medical expenses only.  Ideally you deposit into the account pre-tax and this money can grow and be saved for future medical bills.  This is especially useful if you have a high deductible because then you'll have pre-tax money set aside to help pay for anything that may come up.  Many HSAs have monthly fees though, so it's important to do your homework and talk with your accountant to see if an HSA is right in your situation.  

Take Advantage of Preventive Care

All preventive care (annual exam, most basic blood work and vaccines, many basic screenings) are covered in full under Health Care Reform.  Don't be fooled - these aren't really free (you're already paying for them with your high monthly premiums and deductibles), but it's true that you don't have to pay anything more out of pocket for them.  Since they're included in your health plan, make sure to keep up-to-date on all your preventive care and stay healthy - this will hopefully keep expensive health issues from possibly surprising you later on.  

Know the Membership Perks of Your Health Plan

A lot of health plans have perks that might not come up when you look at your plan details - make sure to search these out and take advantage of them.  These perks can be things like discounts at athletic stores or on prescription eye glasses, gym membership or race fee reimbursements, healthy eating incentives, and more.  Take note of what's available to you and use them when you can.  

Shop Around for Non-Emergent Care

In the event you need a diagnostic test or minor procedure done, shop around for the best price for your insurance.  Prices for things like blood work and x-rays can vary wildly among doctor offices, hospitals, etc so it's important to do your homework.  

Shop Around for Prescriptions

What you'll pay out-of-pocket on your prescription medications can also vary greatly from pharmacy to pharmacy.  If you have a prescription, make sure to call around to your area pharmacies and ask them to run a price check of your medication against your insurance (you'll need to give them your insurance info, and they'll probably have to call you back with the answer).  Also, check with your insurance to see if they have a Mail-Away program - typically you send in a written prescription and they will fill your RX for three months at a time at a discount.  

Always Check EOBs and Medical Bills Before You Pay

After you see your doctor, you will get an EOB (Explanation of Benefits) in the mail or available to you online.  Double check these to make sure your visit and anything that was done was billed appropriately.  For example - if you had a problem visit and then a follow-up visit a week later, the follow-up visit should be billed as a lower-level (cheaper) visit as long as nothing new was addressed at the appointment.  If you feel as though something was billed incorrectly, call your doctor's office and ask them to review the claim and resubmit if necessary.  

Also, sometimes things that should be covered by insurance aren't, often due to human or computer error when the claim is processed - and you may get a bill from your doctor/hospital for it.  If you ever have a question on why something wasn't covered or wasn't covered as much as you thought it should have been, it's definitely worth your time to call and question it.  

Ask for a Prompt Payment Discount on Medical Bills

Once you get a bill from your doctor or hospital, call and ask if they have a prompt payment or cash discount if the bill is paid in full.  Most places will offer you a discount (it varies, but we've seen discounts range from 5-35%) if you pay your bill in full within 30 days.  If you can afford to pay the bill now and take advantage of the discount it's definitely worth it!  

Payment Plan or Payment Forgiveness for Larger Bills

If you get a bill that you're not able to pay in full or if they do not offer a prompt payment discount, ask to be put on the minimum payment plan.  As long as the doctor/hospital does not charge interest, you might as well take your time paying the bill and not put undue stress on yourself.  
And as a last resort - if you have an extenuating circumstance and cannot pay your bill or make a payment plan work, many places will work with you to forgive some or all of your bill.  Speak with their billing department for more information on this - but be prepared to provide all your personal financial information (assets, personal savings, records, etc) to prove financial/personal hardship.  

Great Record Keeping

Finally, keep great records throughout the year - record all premiums you paid out-of-pocket, all copays, medical and dental bills, prescriptions, and all mileage to appointments.  At the end of the year your accountant can help you wade through all the information and determine what you will be able to claim as a tax deduction - but the more information you have to give him, the more you will potentially be able to write off so keeping great records is key.  

I hope these tips will help you and your family save money on your health insurance and medical bills.  If you have any other tips to share, I would love to hear them!  

Please note:  These tips relate to what we've learned in our own experience, please consult your insurance broker, accountant, etc for the best information regarding your own situation.  Use the information in this post at your own discretion and risk.  

NH Magazine's Yankee Swap Gift Guide

So honored to be included in New Hampshire Magazine's Yankee Swap Gift Guide this year!  If you're looking for a locally-made, affordable gift to bring to a party this list has you covered.  Be sure to check out all the other great NH makers and products they rounded up too and remember to shop small this season.   

Correction: There is a misprint in NH Magazine's writeup.  While I have in fact been featured in Martha Stewart Living Magazine, I haven't been featured in Yankee Magazine (yet anyways - hopefully someday soon though!).  :)

My 9 Favorite Money Saving Apps

We always try to spend consciously, but this year I really stepped up my couponing game as well as finding discounts for the shopping that we do.  In doing so I've narrowed it down to my 9 favorite money-saving apps that I use most often - and in just the last few months I've already saved a couple hundred dollars!  | This post contains my experience with these apps as well as some referral links |  

Amazon

Oh Amazon... we buy everything from gifts to groceries on here. But what I really love most is using Amazon on the fly and checking prices in-store before deciding where to purchase. If I'm in a big box store and thinking about buying a book, new sneakers, etc, I always use the Amazon app to scan the barcode of the item (so handy!) and see what the price difference is - and spoiler, it's often slightly cheaper (sometimes a lot cheaper) on Amazon. And since we have AmazonPrime, shipping is typically free!

Walmart

Walmart also has a super-handy barcode scan feature so you can check prices while you're out shopping, but it's Savings Catcher feature is probably the most handy. With Savings Catcher (a feature within the Walmart app), you simply scan in the barcode on your receipt and Walmart checks your items against advertised sales of other chains in the surrounding area. If an item is found to be cheaper at a surrounding store, Walmart credits you the difference on an eGift card which can be used towards future purchases. Savings Catcher helps make sure you're always getting the best deal.

Cartwheel

Cartwheel is Target's "coupon" app - every week there are new offers for you to unlock and claim when you checkout in store (just scan the barcode generated on the screen of your smartphone). The savings are typically small but really add up over time, especially if you do a lot of grocery and clothing shopping there.

EatRight (or whatever particular incentive your health plan may have)

With EatRight Rewards, you unlock weekly offers and discounts for healthy foods and the amount you save gets credited to your account. Once you accumulate a minimum of $10 you can cash it out. I particularly love that this app only gives discounts on fresh fruits, veggies, and healthier foods. (*EatRight Rewards by Nutrisavings is the particular app that is specifically contracted with my health insurance plan, which is why I use it. Check with your particular health plan to see if they have any healthy-eating incentives available for members!)

Ibotta

With Ibotta you unlock offers and earn rebates for items you purchase in exchange for some basic market research (typically viewing an advertisement or answering a multiple-choice question). Once you earn a minimum of $20 back you can cash it out to your PayPal account or redeem it as a gift card. I've written a more indepth post on Ibotta here , if you're interested.

Checkout51

Checkout51 has offers for rebates back on grocery items - simply scan your receipt and select which rebates you qualify for to earn money back, with no market research questions to answer. Once you earn a minimum of $20 you can cash it out. - And both Ibotta and Checkout 51 can be used in conjunction with each other to really stack those savings.

Rakuten (formerly called Ebates)

Rakuten (formerly called Ebates) is great if you do any kind of online shopping - think Amazon, photo sites, clothing stores, etc. Simply log into your Rakuten account (Chrome has a handy extension you can download too) and launch the retailer's website from there. Rakuten will suggest discounts and coupon codes at checkout and often will allow you to earn back a percentage (usually very small but it adds up) of your purchase as a rebate. Every quarter you can cash out if your balance is $5 or more. I can see Rakuten coming in very hand this Christmas season while ordering Christmas cards and buying gifts!

Coupon Sherpa

Coupon Sherpa is a great app for quickly finding in-store coupons and discounts while you're out shopping, as well as coupon codes for online purchases. Simply open the app and look up the store you're in - Coupon Sherpa will list all the current coupons available so you can choose which one works best for you. Simply bring up the coupon on your phone and have the cashier scan it when you check out.

Kohl's

The Kohl's app allows you to save coupons, and keeps track of rewards points and Kohl's cash. I don't know how many times I've had an awesome coupon for Kohl's only to have forgotten it at home! Thankfully with the app you don't have to remember to bring these things, and it's easy to check current offers and rewards balances.

So those are my top money saving apps right now.  If you have any questions regarding them, please ask away - and if you have a great app that I haven't listed here, please let know!  

Daylight Savings Time Miracle

You guys.  Our toddler stayed in her room until it was time to get up, despite the time change - something that hasn't happened in years.  It's a miracle!  
| This post was not sponsored but does contain my Amazon referral link |

A mom friend had recommended the Ready to Wake Clock to us when we moved our daughter to her big girl room and it's been amazing! She stays in her room now until it turns green in the morning and after "quiet rest time" (she's dropped nap, but still has a time in the afternoon to play quietly and look at books in her room).

And probably the biggest BONUS of all - we actually got to sleep in this morning and take advantage of the time change!  First time in like 3 years.  She just played quietly in her bed until the clock turned green and was none-the-wiser that she was there for an extra hour.  

Parenting win!