SOUTH BEND — When it comes to money, many moms know how to stretch a buck. WSBT talked to those experts to find out how they save on kids clothes, toys and a whole lot more.

Joanna Ladson says with three kids and one income she has to be a serious saver.

"I do a big garden out in the country at my parents' place and I can all my food — the green beans, the pickles — and so that's what we eat on," she said. "When he was a baby I used to make my own baby food."

The Ladson family even finds ways to save when they eat out.

"I would even take a food grinder with me and just feed him off my plate and that saved a lot of money there because you didn't have to take the baby food with you," she explained. "When we go to Burger King, they have the chicken nuggets that are $1 for four of them and so I get the kids those nuggets and they share fries off of their dad or I, and then they get waters to drink ... so that saves a ton."

Food isn't the only way she cuts costs. Ladson cuts the whole family's hair, too.

Frugal moms tell us another great resource to save on clothes and toys is garage sales. There are also second-hand resale shops where they sell gently used clothes at half the price of what you pay at a retail store.

"Here we have an Abercrombie long-sleeve polo that's $8.50, which at the mall you'd pay easily $40 for," said Stephanie Schrimsher from Once Upon a Child in Mishawaka.

Once Upon a Child sells gently used clothes, cribs, toys and more. One mom says she does all her back to school shopping there.

"My kids are getting quality clothes at a good price," said frugal mom Lisa Cronkright.

The store will also pay you for your stuff.

"We are noticing now more people coming in trying to sell to us — obviously gas prices are a huge impact," Schrimsher said.

For serious savers like Ladson gently used items are a way of life.

We're told another great way to save when it comes to diapers and baby food is buying the generic brands.