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Babysitting, Baking, and Bucks

Mama Spiff knows there are several kids in the neighborhood who come home from school to an empty house. After checking with the local regulations, and talking to a few parents, she agrees to watch five kids after school for fifteen dollars a week. Mama Spiff raises $375 bucks, and watches proudly at her husband matches that amount. There is now $750 in the vacation fund.

She always considered herself to be frugal, but as the kids emptied the third box of cereal in a week for breakfast, Mama Spiff wondered if she could do better. A little research showed her that she could make muffins and they would cost far less than cereal. Three boxes of cereal a week at $3 a box is $9. Mama Spiff can make enough muffins to feed the kids for a week for $4, and save $25 over the five weeks.

Packing Away the Cash

She also refuses to renew the lunch tickets at the children's schools, and makes them take a lunch. The kids grumble at first, but the food is better, and they seem to get more. Mama Spiff is happy because the lunches she makes are also healthier. Lunches run $1.50 for each child, so in five weeks Mama Spiff usually spends $112.50. The lunches she prepares are not only less expensive, but healthier. A little calculation shows she saves $75. She points out her $100 savings to her husband, who promptly deposits his share. The vacation fund grows to $950.

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