So one of the many items on my deployment list is learning to shop frugal. We're extremely lucky that we have virtually no debt other than my car but deployments have become EXPENSIVE! Since some new changes have come about and cuts have been made through out the military they no longer provide the uniforms needed for deployment so we're looking at $400+ in just that. Add care packages, stamps for letters, supporting 2 households etc and we will be hurting financially.
Our first step has been to change to 80% cloth diapers. We still use disposables as we use the YMCAs child care when either of us work out and they require them and also my son seems to pee through EVERY cloth diaper I put on him at night but the savings has still been significant.
I also learned to make my own wet wipes! That to me was just great. They've been working just as well as the store bought ones and at a fraction of the price. (you can also make your own lysol wipes btw :-) I'll be doing this with our natural disinfectants tomorrow so I can let you know how that goes)
We went and hunted down reduced meat at Sams Club this week. Managed to find 2 frying chickens for $7.50 and 10lbs of pork chops for $17.42! Not a bad deal although we'll be eating pork for a while lol.
That's just a small bit of what we've been doing to save the pennies!
I'm also trying my hardest for us to be able to afford to go on a vacation both before and after he goes on deployment. Nothing extravagant, just something to get away and spend time with each other. This will be especially important when he gets back and we have to get reacquainted.
Is it strange that the scariest part of this for me is not the deployment itself? I mean I don't want my husband gone for half of the year or more but I CAN DO that. I'm more worried about what's going to happen when he gets back. How are we going to get to know each other again as a couple??? Uggg.
But the bright side is that whatever doesn't kill us is going to make us a stronger couple. Right?
