New features on MilwaukeeMoms.com

Jeanne Wieland — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:53:36 GMT

So yesterday was a big day around the MilwaukeeMoms office, but if we did our jobs right, you didn't notice. After months of planning and preparation, we switched the web site to a new content-management system, which is really just a fancy way of saying that we now have a different way of making changes to the web site.

It's all behind-the-scenes stuff, so if you're a regular user of this site, it shouldn't change your experience.

In making this transition, we decided to give the site an overhaul -- a freshening up, if you will. You'll find more restaurant reviews, new recipes, updated park reviews and lots more in our regular sections.

In addition, we created two new areas of the site: Photo Galleries and Money Savers.

Based on the phenomenal success of our photo contests (such as our Beautiful Baby contest, which currently has more than 1,000 entries), we built a Photo Galleries section that will allow you to share your best and cutest kid photos at any time. There are no prizes attached to the galleries -- just the chance to make other parents smile. We've started out with three galleries: I Dress Myself, Kids & Pets and Sweet Smiles. Feel free to add to any and all of the galleries!

Our Money Savers section puts together dozens of ways that you can still have fun as a family and spend less while doing it. The Dining Out page links to a listing of restaurants where kids eat free or cheap. Family Freebies lists local attractions that offer free days or free tours so you can get out without breaking the bank. And Coupons & Deals offers links to some great coupon sites to help you save on your everyday purchases.

We hope you like these new features and will tell us if you have ideas for more.

As always, we're here to help make life a little bit easier for moms (and dads!).

Enjoy, and we'd love to hear your feedback. Feel free to e-mail me or call (414) 224-2710.

Top money-saving tips

Jeanne Wieland — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:30:00 GMT

This morning on "The Morning Blend," we decided to tackle a topic that is being talked about by moms (and dads and just about everyone else) all over the Milwaukee area. With the state of our economy and so much uncertainty, how do you cut back your family budget without feeling like you're making huge sacrifices?

In our MilwaukeeMoms.com discussion boards, moms offered up a lot of tips for those looking to spend less. Put all, or even most, of these ideas to work and you could save your family hundreds of dollars each month.

MilwaukeeMoms.com Top 20 Money Saving Ideas

1) Replace brand name cereals, canned goods and other items with generic.

2) Make your coffee at home rather than buying it.

3) Clip coupons and shop on double coupon days only if your local grocery store offers it.

4) Do a big grocery trip at the beginning of the month and try to go during the month as infrequently as possible. More trips to the grocery store means more possibilities for impulse buys that you don’t need.

5) Use tap water rather than bottled water.

6) Make your own baby food.

7) Eat at home and pack lunches for school and work.

8) Visit resale shops for bargains on clothes.

9) Buy children’s clothes in the next size up from the clearance rack at the end of each season.

10) Make your own household cleaners.

11) Take your own family photos or ask a friend to do it for you rather than paying to have it professionally done.

12) Switch one or all of your cell phones to those that use pre-paid cards.

13) Cancel your magazine subscriptions. Read them at the library or recycle from a friend instead.

14) Make an agreement with your spouse to make a special homemade meal or treat rather than buying birthday or holiday presents for each other.

15) Call your credit card companies and ask for lower interest rates.

16) Install a programmable thermostat.

17) Turn off lights when no one is in the room.

18) Save up your laundry and dishes for full loads; don’t run multiple small loads.

19) Drop your gym membership and work out at home.

20) Leave your money and credit cards at home when you go out if you don’t want to be tempted to spend! Take only what you really think you’ll need and no more.

Mom-O-Vision : money savers

New features on MilwaukeeMoms.com

Top money-saving tips