Monday, June 26, 2017

Organize Your Spices!





How many times do you buy duplicate bottles of spices you can't find because your spices are a disorganized mess?

That mess is a money waster!

Click here for an article on how to make the pictured spice rack from the blog The Honeycomb Home.  

Take those basic directions and make it bigger or smaller to suit your kitchen.  Design your own to meet your needs!





Tuesday, February 28, 2017

DIY All-Natural "Soft Scrub" Cleanser


Vinegar is the one item that can save you so much money for a wide range of uses if you like to make your own stuff.  Baking soda and vinegar is a dynamic duo for all types of household chores.

Click here to learn how to make your own "soft scrub" cleanser.  

Take a big step toward frugal living and make own cleaning stuff!




Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Some tips on saving money the unconventional way



One of the ways that has always helped me save money is to budget.  Keeping track of how much is being spent helps to control spending.  

We opened up a savings account with an automatic deposit every month.  Start with the least amount you can do without and increase the amount as you can. Those regular deposits add up!

Both The Captain and I participate in Bing Rewards.  We simply do all of our searches through the Bing Rewards dashboard and cash in our rewards with Amazon gift cards.  If  you are active on the internet like we are, the points add up fast.  

We also use charge cards that give reward points for purchases.  We pay as many of our bills using the charge cards to build up points fast.  Make sure to have the discipline to not carry over balances of paying those bills.  We cash in those points for restaurant gift cards and treat ourselves to going out to eat at a nice restaurant at least once a month.

Those gift cards are a great way to give yourself a treat without spending money for it!

Here is an article with lots of ideas to save money using unconventional methods.



Thursday, November 3, 2016

Cookie sheet and muffin pan organization



What a genius way to store those cookie sheets and muffin pans that end up all over the kitchen.

Click here for a photo tutorial.





Thursday, July 28, 2016

How To Store Tomatoes




Less waste from proper storage of tomatoes saves money!

Want to know how?  Click here for the article.




Saturday, July 9, 2016

DIY Screen Cleaner




It is so funny . . . sometimes I will be working on photo editing or graphics and there will be a spot or mark that doesn't look right, so I pull down the eraser tool and try to erase it.  After trying to figure out why the tool won't erase it, I realize it is my dirty screen!

I found a DIY screen cleaner recipe that costs pennies to make that is safe to use on our computer, television and phones.  Click here for the recipe.

Be safe . . . don't forget to spray onto the cloth, not the device!




Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Make Stained Bakeware Like New Again



I must admit that I'm so frugal that I will hold on to bakeware that looks like that one indefinitely and cover with aluminum foil.  Well, it is still functional and you know . . . I'm frugal!

You know I was so happy to find the article at Tip Hero that shows how to make your bakeware sparkle like new again.

Click here to go to the article . . . save some money!







Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Economical Castile Soap Uses




Lately we have been using artisan natural soaps and shampoo soaps that we love, but they are a bit pricey.

As a result, I've set out to educate myself on making my own concoctions and soaps.  It seems I keep hearing about castile soap for a wide array of  DIY projects that will hopefully save us lots of money.

When I ran across this article from One Good Thing by Jillee, I was amazed at all the practical uses for castile soap in my DIY endeavors.  Hopefully you will find one you like!






Friday, June 10, 2016

Best Ways to Store Strawberries

Two Flats of Strawberries.  Photo © Molly Watson


During strawberry season in my part of the world, you can pick up strawberries for surprisingly low prices, especially if you go directly to the you pick em fields and pick your own.  

My method of storing strawberries is washing, cleaning and freezing them.  But there are other ways.  Check out this article from About.com for some great tips on how to store strawberries so they will last longer.  

A bargain is no bargain if you have to throw it away!




Monday, June 6, 2016

DIY Onion and Garlic Powder



Another great idea from Jillee!  You would not believe how easy it is to make your own garlic and onion powder.  The Captain and I love making our own spice mixes and this will make a great addition for our collection.  The savings add up and the mixtures are exactly what you want.

Click here for the tutorial from one of my favorite blogs, One Good Thing from Jillee.  Check out Jillee's website for more awesome ideas!



Sunday, June 5, 2016

Trash Can Liner Trick



Save money by recycling those plastic grocery bags for your smaller trash cans.

I love the trick of putting an upside down hook to keep the bag from getting stuck in the can.

This trick comes from an awesome article "Why Didn't I Think of That" from the blog One Good Thing by Jillee.  Check out the article for many more great ideas!







Wednesday, May 4, 2016

DIY and Minor Home Annoyances



Anything DIY home improvement that will save time and money is of great interest to me!  I know most of you will agree with me . . .

One of my Twitter friends, Steven Davidson, shared the article Don't Sweat The Little Things from the website 411HomeRepair.com.  

The website is an awesome reference website with tons of DIY tips and tricks for home repair and more.  Check it out!

If you are interested in learning 1001 ways to improve your home, you will want to follow Steven on Twitter.

Happy Home Repair!


Sunday, July 19, 2015

Why you should have a well stocked pantry


The question to the why is, of course, to save money and stretch your budget to the limit.

The Captain and I are very blessed to have the privilege of having access to our local air force base commissary.  We always shop the seasonal case lot sales, take advantage of monthly sales and plan for our purchases with their listings of sales on the internet.  

Last year we bought a case of Kraft Mayonnaise that cost us 75 cents per bottle. Big savings and we didn't have to worry about buying mayo for over a year. 

My favorite case lot sale included Pepsi products that equated to a 2 liter bottle of soda for 35 cents each. We stocked up with massive quantity buys since we go through a fortune in Pepsi products.  Yes, we saved a ton of money on that one sale.

Although I have not been a member of Sam's Club type of store, I am sure similar savings can be found if you take the time to find those bargains.  Make sure those big purchases are for items you often use and won't just sit there in the pantry.

Click here for a well written, informative article titled "Why to Have a Well-Stocked Pantry."



Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Tips to Find Pallets and Reclaimed Materials



If you are reading this blog, I know the "if it is free it is for me" mentality is your mantra!

The DIY blogs and websites are bursting with fabulous projects using wood pallets.  I haven't paid much attention to them since I don't have wood pallets readily available and had no idea where to start.  Until now!!

One of my newest blog discoveries, Old World Garden Farms, has a very informative article on how to find wood pallets and other reclaimed materials.  Although many of these found objects are not free, but are usually next to nothing compared to buying new stuff.  

Click here to go to the article.


Sunday, July 5, 2015

7 Weird Ways to Save $4000/Year





Yep, it says weird ways to save money.  It doesn't involve making any cuts or changes to your current budget and savings methods.  Having said that, making little changes to our spending habits along with doing some of the weird little things that may seem insignificant, we can have extra money to either save for something special or stretch the monthly budget to a comfortable level.  It all adds up!

The Captain and I have utilized weird ways of making a little extra money, like using Bing to do searches and get paid in Amazon gift cards.  We accumulate the gift cards until we have enough for a purchase we have set as a goal.  While it didn't put money in our pockets, we were able to purchase a little treat just for doing searches on the internet.

We also use Google AdSense on all of our blogs to make actual money.  Check it out if you haven't already.

Filling out surveys and watching videos is another way to make money on the internet for those who have the time to dig in and do those things.  We have done those too and were paid in Amazon gift cards.

Rewards points from charge cards can certainly add up.  We are awaiting our first $50 Red Lobster gift card just for using our charge card.  Of course we have come up with a plan to just filter all the expenses through the card and pay the card immediately so we don't accumulate a balance . . . just valuable points.

I could go on and on with little things you can do, but you get the idea.  Think outside the box!  Click here for those 7 weird says to save $4000/year.




Tuesday, April 28, 2015

DIY Stain Remover



Can't wait to try this DIY Stain Remover
 that was sent to me by a friend.

Original source unknown!



1 tsp. Dawn dish washing detergent
3-4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide
couple tablespoons of baking soda



Scrub on with a scrubbing brush. 



Thursday, April 9, 2015

Upcycling Thrifted Clothing



A thrift store can be a sewer's delight.  You can find an unlimited supply of awesome and unusual buttons, buckles, sewing hardware and fabric that will save you lots of money.  It just takes time to go through all that stuff!

Justine at  So Country Chick, gives us lots of ideas on saving money, click here for the original article. While you are there, take some time to check out more of her ideas that are always geared toward saving money.





Monday, March 9, 2015

How To Freeze Everything





Leftovers tend to linger in the refrigerator too long and end up in the trash. 

Wasted money!

One of the things I like to do is freeze the leftovers in single serve packets. Some items, like spaghetti sauce are difficult to break up for a single meal after it is frozen.

Freezing food is one of the best ways to save money in the kitchen.

Click here for an awesome article on how to freeze everything!



Tuesday, March 3, 2015

All about fresh produce




One of the ways we waste way too money is not knowing how to deal with fresh produce.  Most of my produce purchases are spur of the moment. 

With a little planning and knowledge, throwing away expensive produce will be less of a problem.

Click here for an excellent post about fresh produce (helpful tips for what and when to buy) from Ruth at Living Well Spending Less.  She also discusses frozen fruit and vegetables and organic vs non-organic. 

Learn how to stop wasting money on produce!





Wednesday, August 6, 2014

How to clean burnt pots and pans


I love my stainless steel pots and pans that I purchased way back in the day when I was in high school.  One thing I am kind of anal about is keeping them clean and shiny.

Well, since I married The Captain, the poor pots and pans stay scorched and burned inside and out.  He's a great cook, but thinks that everything has to be cooked on high heat.

No matter how much I scrub them . . . and I have used many different methods . . . they don't come out as clean and shiny as I would like.

Hopefully this is the solution to the problem . . . click here for Jessica's solution!


Monday, July 28, 2014

Save money freezing your peppers and saving the seeds


The Captain and I often run into great deals on peppers bought in bulk at the military commisary, but it is way too much to use up before they go bad, so we freeze them.  

You can do the same thing with onion!  I like to cut them up in the way I use most or do combinations and make separate bags.

Click here to go to an excellent post on how to do it!


Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Nail Fungus Home Remedies




Nail fungus can be difficult and expensive to get rid of . . . here are some relatively inexpensive DIY solutions to taking care of this problem:



  • Vinegar & water: Soak 15 minutes each day in a 1:2 vinegar and water solution.



  • Tea tree oil: Apply a few drops to affected area at least twice daily, rub into surrounding skin then cover with a bandage.



  • Eucalyptus Essential Oil: same as above.



  • Grapefruit seed extract: Apply twice daily.



  • Vicks VapoRub: Rub this in covering the area entirely each morning and night.



  • Listerine Mouthwash: Soak twice a day in full strength Listerine mouthwash for at least 10 minutes a sitting.



  • Coconut oil: Use each morning and night (before bedtime).



  • Hydrogen Peroxide: Saturate the area with a drop or two daily.


  • Tea tree & lavender Essential Oil : Apply this 50/50 mixture morning and night.



  • Apple cider vinegar: Saturate with apple cider vinegar twice a day.



  • Saturday, May 31, 2014

    Best Buys for June



    Learning the tricks of seasonal shopping by knowing what items go on sale during which month is a great way to plan for purchases and save lots of money.

    June is known as "the wedding month" and also means that those items typically purchased as wedding presents, such as dishes, go on sale in June.

    It stands to reason that you can get a great deal on a gym membership in June since everyone has long forgotten their New Year's Resolutions to get in shape.

    Since Father's Day happens in June, so do the sales for tools and hardware!

    Who wants to paint in June?  Apparently, not many people do and while sales of paint are low, the stores will mark paint and related products down to make some sales.  Stock up on those painting supplies!


    Seasonal produce for June . . . 

    Fruits
    Apricots
    Blueberries
    Cantaloupe
    Cherries
    Kiwi
    Peaches
    Nectarines
    Strawberries
    Watermelon

    Vegetables
    Beets
    Corn
    Green Beans
    Peas
    Yellow Squash

    Happy shopping!


    Friday, May 2, 2014

    DIY Home Maintenance and Repairs

    These days we are all feeling the pinch of the poor economic times and are finding ways to stretch our precious dollars.  When it comes to home maintenance and repairs, it is one of the most expensive, often non-budgeted item and most of the time we are at the mercy of those repair people who are not so honest (especially when they are dealing with women).

    As money becomes tighter, it becomes more important than ever to learn how to be self-sufficient and do as many of those DIY home maintenance and repair projects that we can!

    How do you know where to learn how to tackle these projects yourself?

    Home improvement centers as Home Depot, for example, have excellent workshops to empower you to get those little things done around the house.  The internet is a search away from finding "how to" instructions for many of those projects.

    Pretty Handy Girl is one of those websites who claims to "empower you to complete your own DIY projects."  Why not?  It just takes a little education and knowing what tools you need to get the job done. Join Brittany Bailey and see what she has to offer before you pay that pricey repairman to do a simple repair that you can tackle yourself at a fraction of the price!  

    Click here for her section on Home Repairs and empower yourself!


    Saturday, April 19, 2014

    Cleaning an Electric Grill


    I've had several electric grills and truly love using them, they are so convenient and make the best sandwiches.

    However, I didn't have the good sense to buy one with removable grills and don't even know if they were available in the market when I bought my first one so long ago.

    I HATE cleaning these guys, so I don't use them as often as I should.

    Karen at Sew Many Ways has come up with a quick and painless way to clean them!  I must try her technique very soon :)

    Click here for her tutorial.







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