Tips From Top Mommy Savers

Editor’s Note: Megan Calhoun is founder of TwitterMoms.com.

Nobody knows how to stretch a dollar farther than a mom. So I asked some of the smartest personal finance bloggers and experts in the TwitterMoms network to share a few of their most unorthodox — yet helpful — ideas to get more mileage out of your budget.

• A common theme cropped up: social media can be a great place to find bargains. TwitterMom Kelly Whalen of The Centsible Life is a stay-at-home mom who believes that you need to manage your money so it doesn’t manage you. She recommends digging into social media to find unexpected savings. Lots of companies are sharing exclusive deals with the “digerati” — she used Twitter to connect with Comcast to shave $35 a month off of her cable bill. A savings of $420 a year!
• There are eight great financial experts over at DailyWorth.com, founded by TwitterMom Amanada Steinberg. One interesting suggestion: create a “curveball account”. Emergency funds are important, but sometimes life throws us curveballs — teeth get chipped, computers break, pipes leak. Handle these curveballs in stride by transferring 5% of your gross income into an account that’s not linked to your primary checking account.
• Finally, I like the way TwitterMom Amy Suardi of The Frugal Mama Blog dissects conventional wisdom when it comes to coupons. She concludes that low-value coupons aren’t worth the hassle. Instead, she suggests focusing on high-value store coupons that can be applied to items of your choice, and shares seven of her favorites.