Family Budgeting

When birthday season hits, it does so with a bang – in mama's wallet. While your lil one covets invitations to all of his friends and classmates soirees, weekends packed with bowling, gym, and cooking parties mean that mom is spending plenty of time and dough at the toy store. Nobody wants to give a dud as a gift, but mom can't spend a fortune on every tot in the class. So tell me, how much do you budget for the average birthday present?

The sticker price of parenting is a huge shocker when you're just entering mommydom. On the "Yippity Sippity" episode of Weeds, new big bro Shane ventured into a baby store to buy a replacement stroller and learned the (faux) Yippity line was going to cost him $1,000. He asked what he could get for a $100, and the curt salesman told him a Yippity Sippity cup holder. The story of our lives. Shane made a move most of us can't, leaving the store with the pricey wheels . . . without whipping out his wallet. Unless you want to end up in the mommy pen, stealing isn't acceptable, but leaving the store empty-handed is a reality in a world filled with $2,000 cribs and $50 bibs. What goodies have you walked away from because of price?

There's one thing that storms can't affect, and that's a family's level of fun. If Hurricane Earl or bad weather has you amending Labor Day plans, use a bit of imagination to staycation at home. Whether your children are interested in a sand and sea getaway, boarding a cruise ship, or exploring America's big cities, we've got tips and tricks for how you can give them any and all of those experiences while making memories. Skip packing bags or printing out itineraries and check out our choices!

The Great Outdoors: Pitch a tent for a backyard adventure without having to worry about any campground regulations!

Cruise With the Kids: Leave the ocean sickness at bay and participate in some of these shiptastic activities!

Life's a Beach: Plan a coastal getaway tailored to your kiddos. Bring home the surf, sand, and sea.

Rev It Up For the Ranch: Giddyup lil doggies! It's time to get the wee ones fired up for some time on mama's kickin' dude ranch!

Keep reading for more local options.

What mom can live without wipes? When tending to a mess, most mothers don't count how many they use, but the disposable wet tissues certainly add up! Some families use up to a pack a day and continue to buy the wipes to tidy hands and keep clean long after their kids are out of diapers. On average, one wipe costs about 5 to 6 cents with green and conventional nappies at similar price points. Check out these figures based on solo packs.

• Pampers Sensitive — 64 count ($3.49) = 5.4 cents per wipe
• Huggies Natural Care Unscented — 72 count ($3.69) = 5.1 cents per wipe
• Natural Babycare Eco-Sensitive Wipe — 70 count ($3.79) = 5.4 cents per wipe
• Seventh Generation — 70 count ($4.69) = 6.7 cents per wipe
• Earth's Best Tendercare — 80 count ($4.49) = 5.6 cents per wipe
• Mustela Diaper Change Cleansing and Soothing — 70 count ($10.99) = 15.7 cents per wipe

Buying wipes in bulk can save families a good chunk of change.
Caring for baby can cost a bundle! Check out all our It Adds Up! coverage.

Your kids may have just gotten into the swing of Summer camp, but retailers want you to start shifting your mindset (and money) to the classroom. Back-to-school ads are popping up in store windows, and the National Retail Federation recently announced that the average family will increase their school shopping budget by 10.5 percent this year. According to their research, mama can expect to spend $225.47 to outfit her tot and an additional $102.93 on his shoes. We've already got our eyes on a few items, but we're curious how much you've budgeted to spend?

Disposable diapers aren't easy on the budget! Newborns can soil up to 10 diapers a day, and though the number normally decreases as children grow, lots of parents still change their kiddos every two to three hours. On average, one diaper (newborn size) costs about 26 cents with green and conventional nappies at similar price points. Check out these figures based on newborn jumbo packs.

• Pampers Swaddlers — 36 count ($10.99) = 30 cents per diaper
• Huggies Supreme Little Snugglers — 36 count ($9.99) = 28 cents per diaper
• Luvs — 38 count ($7.99) = 21 cents per diaper
• Seventh Generation — 40 count ($10.99) = 27 cents per diaper
• Earth's Best — 40 count ($11.99) = 29 cents per diaper

Caring for baby can cost a bundle! Check out all our It Adds Up! coverage.