ASHLAND — Today I devote some space for my new mommies. Cloth diapers start at around $30 for a kit. Washing costs might be 50 cents to $1 per laundry load. This includes the cost of electricity, water and detergent. Total supplies could run between $200 to $300 for the first year.

Disposable diapers cost around $60 to $85 a month. Most infants will go through 12 to 15 diapers a day.

According to Consumer Reports, you can spend almost $2,000 on disposable diapers before your baby turns 2.

The hottest new trend is cloth diapering. But these are not the cloth diapers of old. There are names such as Flips, BumGenius, EconoBum and Kissaluvs. Believe me, this is the hot new gift for baby showers. They are not cheap, but in the long run they save money.

Make your own baby detergent using 1 cup borax and 1 cup Super Washing Soda. Skip the Charlie Soap or any of the other expensive brands of soap for the latest version of cloth diapers.

The new diaper is actually a cloth insert with a colorful outside waterproof diaper. No pins are required. Snaps allow the size of the diaper to be adjusted to fit newborn through toddler.

Ask for these for your baby shower. Look at the Frugal Mama website for a cost analysis of cloth diapering vs. the disposable kind.

Visit websites for name-brand diapers such as Pampers, and you will find giveaway offers and discounts for buying in bulk.

Whichever type of diaper you choose, you can save money by using coupons, sales and websites.

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Would you like to have an extra $220 a month? Pack your own lunch for work, and take your own drinks. Coffee is the big saver, and also take your own Coke or Pepsi.

CVS

‰Pepsi: Three for $10 minus 27 cents a can.

‰Palmolive Dish Detergent: 99 cents minus 25-cent coupon.

‰Kleenex: 99 cents minus 50 cents off (for three) coupon.

‰Scott Bathroom Tissue: $7.49 minus $1 off two.

Free $10 CVS Cash Card if you spend $30 on selected items.

‰M&Ms: Four for $12, Extra Bucks $4 minus $1.50 off two coupon; use two and you pay $9 and get $4 EB.

‰Sally Hansen Salon Effects: Spend $10, get $4 EB coupon $5.

‰Gillette Fusion Pro Glide: Use $10 off any razor if you buy a cartridge coupon; get $4 EB.

‰Edge Shave Gel: Limit one; coupon $2 on two; $2 EB.

‰Dr. Scholls shoe inserts: Spend $20 get $6 EB coupons; $5 on Active Series or $4 on massaging gel.

‰Rapid Sleep PM: $1.99 EB; $1.99 free; limit one.

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Valentine’s Day is approaching! Remember to buy cards. The cheapest great cards are at the Dollar Store or the Dollar Tree. They are usually 50 cents each.

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STRAWBERRIES WITH CHEESECAKE FILLING

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened

1 8 oz. container of Cool Whip

1 8 oz. sour cream

1⁄2 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

Wash the strawberries in a vinegar solution. Put on a paper towel to dry.

Blend other ingredients until smooth.

Slice each strawberry with a sharp knife once down 3⁄4, and then turn it and slice down 3⁄4 again. You should now have an X shape. Put cream cheese mixture inside each berry. Place on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper. Keep refrigerated until you’re ready to feed to your honey.

Plan your Valentine’s Day meal. Look at sites such as Groupon for real deals. Utilize sales and coupons.

RITE AID

‰Cascade: $2.99 minus $1 coupon

‰Finish 20 packs: Two for $7 minus $2.15 coupon; use two coupons, two for $2.70.

‰Arm and Hammer Detergent: $3.99 minus $2 UP minus $1 coupon. Buy the unscented and use in diaper-washing; equals 99 cents; limit two.

‰Keri Lotion: $5.99 minus $5 in ad coupon equals 99 cents.

‰Listerine Mouth Rinse: $2.99 minus $2 UP minus $1 coupon equals a penny.