Dear Chase,
My husband and I were overjoyed when we found out we were going to have a new addition to our family; however, little did we know that the one addition we had planned for would actually be two.  Our twins are going on four months old now and it’s really starting to cause a strain between my husband and myself.  We are constantly taking turns to get up and check the kids when they cry, our bank account is starting to dwindle due to all the baby supplies we have to buy, and our marriage is pretty much on the rocks.  How can we save our marriage, save money and save ourselves from the terrors of parenting twins?
Thanks,
Troubled Mother

Dear Troubled Mother,
Well, it sounds like you have your hands full.  For starters, always keep in mind that whether or not you planned on having twins, you now have them so you will have to learn to adapt in order to meet their specific needs.  Not only do you have to buy one crib, but now you need two, you also need two pacifiers, two blankets, two sets of clothes, two car seats, two strollers, two college funds…all that fun stuff! 
It’s now doubled and I’m sure that’s what’s scaring you the most.  Now is when you must learn to stockpile, coupon and buy things in bulk.  Stores like “Sam’s Club” will become your best friend, so I encourage you to get a membership there.  It will be much cheaper to purchase a 50-pack package of diapers for $20, versus a 25-pack at a regular store for $15. So BUY IN BULK!  Also, don’t be afraid to purchase off-brand items.  The active ingredients are almost always the same as name brand.  The only difference is a logo! 
Now let’s turn the tables and look at you and your husband.  Learning to take turns or delegating specific tasks for each parent is the best way to tackle having twins or more than one child.  You must always develop a strict schedule.  I talk about “scheduling” and “planning ahead” in almost every column I’ve written, but it’s extremely important.  Set a specific time that you feed the twins, set a time that you can take them to the park (even though they can’t walk, it will get you and your husband some fresh air and some exercise), and even set a time at least once every few weeks that you can arrange for a trusted babysitter to watch your adorable duo while you and your husband take a break.  Parenting is a full time job, and every job requires some vacation time.  Ask a family member to come over and watch the kids for a few hours while you two go out for dinner, to the movies, or just to relax at home for a while.  You’re in this together, but you must also remember that without proper “couples time,”  your marriage will suffer, and we don’t want that.
 As for how to save yourself from the “terrors of parenting twins”; I encourage you to look at it from another angle.  Yes, parenting two children at the same time may be difficult, but it is also a joy.  There are many people in this world that cannot have children, so you could consider yourself lucky that God has decided to grace you with two of the most precious gems in life.  Stop looking at it from a negative point of view and I promise it will help the entire process become much easier.  Good luck and thanks for writing!
*If you would like to submit a question, please find me on Facebook by searching for “Saving Dollars & Making Sense” or simply email savingdollarsandmakingsense@yahoo.com 
Thanks!