13 Guaranteed Ways to Stick to your Grocery Budget

September 17, 2014 by Jenni 36 Comments

I am an IFOF Ambassador for our “Affordable Food Tips For Your Family, From Our Family Series”. This is a sponsored post in cooperation with IFOF (Indiana Family of Farmers).

Are you struggling to stick to your grocery budget?

Kids are back in school. This one has soccer practice {and he’s hungry}, that one has cheer {and she’s hungry}….oh, and this one just remembered to tell you you have to bake 5,211 cupcakes for the classroom by tomorrow!!! Gahhhh! Does this sound like you? Grocery budget is all out of whack?!

It’s hard to save on groceries at times…but we need a plan, man!

Convenience is expensive. That’s why we spend twice as much for milk in a “convenient” store than you do at the grocery store, people!!! Americans (well, me!) love convenience but I love my money more. I was actually surprised to find out that Americans spend less of their income on food than other countries?! I had no idea until I read about it through my IFOF (Indiana Family of Farmers) ambassadorship. With the grocery affordability series I’m part of, I’ve been learning some wonderful things! I wrote a post about it, and also included a 7-day meal plan, which all together was just under $50. Just goes to show that we can spend less on groceries than we think!

Plan your Grocery Budget…and stick to it!

I’ve learned that planning – or at least STARTING a plan can and does save so much money, and TIME! Don’t forget about time!! I wanted to share some tips to help you SAVE some time and money and how to stick to your grocery budget, especially during this crazy and hectic time of year. Put your grocery budget back to work for YOU! Then save that exra money you would have spent for datenight!! Or donuts…Yeah, go with donuts! And coffee. And maybe a mani/pedi. Just kiidddding!

Okay, so here are some tips to help you stick to your grocery budget when life is just crazy and hectic! Also, remember that you can still eat healthy on a budget!

13 Guaranteed Ways to Stick to your Grocery Budget

Prepare a weekly menu. (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Make your shopping list according to your menu(s), and stick to it.*
Make only ONE trip to the grocery store through the week (so don’t forget the coffee, bread and milk!).
Never go to the grocery store hungry. EVER.
Cook dinners that are freezer friendly.
Make double or triple batches of freezer friendly meals to heat up for busy weeks.
Slow cooker meals save so much time and you always have leftovers for the week.
Pack snacks/drinks into the kids’ backpacks or gym bags for quick after school/before practice or games.
Buy snacks like chips, crackers, nuts, in bulk and portion out in snack bags vs. buying pre-packaged.
Buy meat in bulk or family size packages. Separate and freeze. Usually the more you buy, the less it costs per lb.
Use your store loyalty programs or savings apps, and coupons.
Make coffee at home in the mornings vs. hitting Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.
If you or your family members make waves about the drive-thru spending, give each member an allowance weekly and once it’s gone, it’s gone! This includes your “running late” coffee stop in the mornings.

* When making your shopping list, be sure to include the extras like snacks, condiments, bread, milk, and other food staples.

Do you have other ways to save on your grocery budget during the busy times of the year? We’d love to hear them, make sure to leave a comment below!!

How to Freeze Fresh Corn

August 6, 2014 by Jenni 12 Comments

How to Freeze Fresh Corn – Easy Peasy!

Each and every year, my sister in law sends fresh garden corn to us. Bags and bags of it. I usually spend a whole evening shucking it, cleaning it and putting it up in the freezer to last us all winter. Don’t get me wrong…there’s nothing wrong with canned corn but there is everything right in the world with FRESH garden corn!! That’s why I wanted to share with you how to freeze fresh corn!

There are many ideas on how to freeze fresh corn, but the simplest way that I’ve found is to take it off the cob. We usually have corn on the cob a few times through the summer and fall but then what we have left, I take off the cob and freeze for the winter months. Here’s how we do it.

Shuck all the corn and remove as much silk (we call it hair) as you can.
Cut out any bad spots.
Fill a large pot with water and turn on high to boil.
Add a few ears of corn to boiling water and boil for 2 minutes (make sure to time it). Be sure not to over crowd the pot.
After 2 minutes, remove ears of corn with a pair of tongs and place on a towel to dry.
Add a few more corn cobs to the pot, and continue the 2 minute boiling process for each until all ears of corn have been cooked through.

After all the corn has cooled enough to handle, begin cutting the corn off the cob with a knife over a bowl. We use this Corn Cutter from Amazon, especially when we’re preparing a large amount. It really cuts down the time involved! I just lay it flat over a large mixing bowl and make sure one end is against the wall so I have something to push against when I scrape the corn. The blades just take the corn right off the cob! You can also adjust the settings on the blade so that it cuts just the kernels or set it so that it goes a little deeper and gets some of that sweet juicy milky cream too! Perfect creamed corn!

After you’ve finished cutting all the corn, place in plastic freezer bags or better yet, use a vacuum sealer so it’ll stay fresher longer in the freezer! We’ve just started using this FoodSaver vacuum sealer and we love it!

**When it’s time to cook, I just pull a bag out of the freezer and place in a big bowl in the microwave for a couple of minutes. Once it starts to soften up, I open the bag and dump it all into the bowl…add salt, pepper and butter and cook till it’s done. Oh My Gosh!!! It’s the BEST stuff ever!!

15+ Homemade Cleaner Recipes That Will Rock Your Socks

May 1, 2014 by Jenni 53 Comments

Don’t diss the homemade cleaner recipes!

Have you ever read the labels on the back of your household cleaners? Seriously. Not only do you need to be a scientist to MAKE the cleaners, you need to be one to understand the labels too! Honestly though, the biggest downfall for me is the cost. Before you know it, that $3 bottle of window cleaner is gone and you don’t have the clean windows anymore to prove you used it all. Right? I see the smeared peanut butter, the sticky fingerprints, evidence of a dog lick or two….

….and OMG!!! Is that…..dried snot???!!! WHERE’S THE WINDEX!?! And the bleach??!!

I’ve found tons of awesome homemade cleaner recipes that are green, cheap, and half of which are even safe enough to EAT! Not that I would. Except for the vinegar. That’s pretty decent on salad. 🙂 Check these out and save yourself some cash! There are still some cleaners that I will continue to buy, but for the most part…I try to stick to the natural stuff!

Homemade Laundry Detergent
This is the detergent I use ALL the time. I love love love it. My husband is a welder and his clothes are filthy dirty when he comes home from work. This detergent cleans his clothes and removes the stinky smell too. Best part is…it only costs around $0.02 to $0.03 per load! Say WHAT?! Yep!

Homemade Streak Free Glass Cleaner (copycat Windex)
As much as we (and I’m sure you too) use glass cleaner, this recipe will save us a ton of cash! She also has this Homemade Tub Cleaner that works great! My tub and shower are always pretty grimey. This is a very simple recipe that works wonders! One of her commenters on the post said that they had a stain they thought was permanent for 3 years, and this recipe removed the stain!!!

Homemade Carpet Deodorizer
Even though we have mostly hardwood floors, we do still have area rugs and one room that is carpeted so I still like to keep carpet deodorizer. This recipe is also perfect for couches, chairs or any other upholstered furniture. We have dogs so it’s nice to keep the furniture smelling fresh too!

10 Homemade Household Cleaners
This post with 10 homemade household cleaners includes the following recipes:

Kitchen Counter Scrubber
Window Cleaner
Glass Shower Cleaner
Carpet Spot Cleaner
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Disinfectant
All Purpose Cleaner
Floor Cleaner
Oven Rack Cleaner
Furniture Polish

Homemade All Purpose Citrus Cleaner

Teresa also shares some more great tips including how to make your own wool dryer balls and a fun little tip for your shower!

7 Things in Your Pantry You Can Use to Clean With
Ellen shares some great tips here. She talks about several different things we usually already have in our cabinets that we can clean with. She also goes into a little detail about what each product is and how it works to tackle the jobs.

If you’re looking for something to clean your stainless steel appliances, check out Dina’s homemade stainless steel cleaner! She also shares a few other homemade cleaner recipes that you’ll love! While we’re on the subject of natural and non-toxic, you have to check out Kim’s natural weed killer recipe! I’ve used it and I won’t be buying the expensive stuff in the store anymore! Do you have any natural or thrifty homemade cleaner recipes that you use? We’d love to hear all about them! Leave us a comment and let us know what your favorites are!

If you’re looking for more helpful ideas, check some of my other posts out:

20 Uses for Almond Oil from Skincare to Hair Treatments

December 13, 2013 by Jenni Leave a Comment

20 Uses for Almond Oil

Do you know that nearly half of the makeup of an almond is oil? Natural almond oil can be used for so many things so we’ve shared a nice roundup of uses for almond oil to make it easy! I love to use natural and thrifty products to replace more expensive and “chemical” ridden ones. The problem is, most people don’t realize that they could save so much money and have such healthier alternatives. That’s why I’m happy to share these tips with you!!

There are a couple of different types of almond oil. Bitter and then the sweet almond oil. All of the uses below focus mostly on the sweet kind of almond oil but bitter can easily be substituted if that’s what you already have on hand. This list below of awesome uses for almond oil is courtesy of Family Frugal Fun.

Use a few drops on your skin before shaving to prevent cuts.
Also, dip your razor blade in almond oil – this prevents it from rusting.
A dime-sized amount in the palm of your hand rubbed through hair will tame flyaway curls.
Massage almond oil on split ends.
2 Tablespoons a day administered orally act as a great natural laxative.
A few drops on the skin gently massaged in the area under your eyes helps to soften and tone your face.
Almond oil works well to nourish the skin without clogging pores.
The high amount of Vitamin E protects skin from harmful UV rays.
When taken orally in small amounts, almond oil also boosts your immune system.
Add one teaspoon a day to your cooking; folic acid and potassium-rich almond oil helps regulate blood pressure.
The folic acid and potassium content are also excellent for heart disease prevention.
Sweet almond oil is considered “brain food” and is thought to aid in concentration.
It makes a great substitute for olive oil, too – try it the next time you do stir fry at home for a wonderful flavor change that has lots of health benefits.
Almond oil is also a good “base” for mixing with other oils. Add some peppermint oil and use it as an invigorating massage lubricant that also soothes achy muscles.
It works well as a base with most any aromatherapy or essential oil for burning. Try lavender to relax, or peppermint or spearmint to get you moving.
Mix almond oil and sea salt together for a terrific all-natural salt scrub. Who needs pricy spa treatments?
Did you know almond oil is an excellent wood conditioner, and has been used for many years on musical instruments such as the oboe and clarinet?
It’s a wonderful natural moisturizer for dry skin, thanks to the many anti-inflammatory vitamins in almond oil. You can use it topically or orally and achieve good results.
If you make your own soap, add a 5% concentration of sweet almond oil and your skin will thank you for it!
If you have dandruff or a very dry and flaky scalp, massage a few drops of sweet almond oil into your scalp for a few minutes, then let it sit for 45 minutes to overnight before rinsing with your regular shampoo.

So whether it is used topically, in food, or mixed with other things, almond oil can help your body in all sorts of ways. Do you have other uses for almond oil? If so, we’d love to hear about it. Leave us a comment below!!

Learn How to be #CartonSmart Through the Holidays with Tetra Pak

November 11, 2013 by Jenni 1 Comment

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carton Smart. All opinions are 100% mine.

The holidays will be here fast and we’ll be soon cooking up a storm, feeding our families all sorts of delicious foods! I always think of Thanksgiving as our savory season and Christmas as our sweet season because of all of the baking we do. This Thanksgiving, I’ll be using some new products from Pacific Foods that are packaged in Tetra Pak cartons.

So many ingredients that we use are not environmentally friendly. There are always too many cans and plastic packages that end up in the trash. These new Tetra Pak cartons are very earth friendly and I really appreciate that and I know our environment does too! This year I’m going to switch out some key indredients with these products. We always use chicken stock for stuffing and gravy so I’ll be switching out my regular brand with the Pacific brand. We also go through a lot of pumpkin for pies and other desserts and I always bought canned pumpkin before. This year I’ll be #cartonsmart with the Pacific brand of pumpkin puree!!

Why Tetra Pak cartons are pantry stables for those that enjoy living smart:

• Tetra Pak® cartons are made of 70% paper, a renewable resource, from selectively harvested, re-grown trees that are FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council)

• Cartons use 1/3 of the packaging compared to cans…or even an egg!

• Cartons are space saving, easy to store and open. Keep your pantry neat and toss your can openers. , stackable and space saving.

• The unique packaging process preserves the flavor and nutrients of food without the use of preservatives.Product quality is exactly the way it was intended to be.

• Recycleable and in fact result in 60% less landfill waste than cans

• Cartons are re-closable so you can use what you need and save the rest for later.

You should visit Be Carton Smart for inspiration and to find more of their carton products including Hunt’s Sauce and the new Chicken Soup for the Soul food line! Be on the lookout instore for some of your other favorite brands to join the #cartonsmart wagon!! Besides being earth friendly, they are also great space savers in the cabinets!! That is a big deal to me! I’m always re-arranging and making more space available in my cabinets.

Tweet @CartonSmart

Follow #CartonSmart on Pinterest

How will you be #CartonSmart through Thanksgiving and Christmas? Leave us a comment and let us know!

3 Beauty Tips Using Avocado Oil for Hair and Skin – DIY Beauty Treatments

October 25, 2013 by Jenni 4 Comments

3 Beauty Tips using Avocado Oil for Hair and Skin

Did you know that there are other uses for avocado besides some rocking guac?! Using avocado oil for hair and skin is very beneficial because it’s full of potassium and vitamin E. Bet you didn’t know that! Thanks to Family Frugal Fun for sharing these 3 beauty tips using avocado oil. If you have other great uses, be sure to leave us a comment below and share them with us!

1. Hair Conditioner – Create a moisturizing paste for your hair made from avocado oil, yogurt and egg yolk. Stir/mix well to get a consistent paste and work it over your strands evenly, covering them with a plastic wrap afterwards. Let the mixture sit in your hair for about 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and shampoo as usual. Because of the great fats and oils in the avocado it is absolutely the best natural moisturizing agent!!!

2. Facial Cleaner and Moisturizer – Remove toxins from your skin and make it look younger and more radiant with a homemade facial cleanser. You’ll need 1 egg yolk,1/2 cup milk and 1/2 mashed avocado, OR ½ cup avocado oil (FYI: the oil will make a thinner consistency than the mashed avocado). Beat the egg until frothy and then add mashed avocado (or oil) and milk to it. Stir the mixture for a lotion-like consistency, and use it to cleanse your face regularly. Kept in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, this cleanser will feel cool and soft on the skin.

3. Facial Beauty Mask – Avocado oil with yogurt and honey added to it makes a great moisturizing mask. Mix ingredients and stir well, until you have a paste. Apply the paste over your face and leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse well. For a variation for oily or acne-prone skin, add lemon juice, which will help with the control the production of oil.

Making skincare and beauty treatments at home using avocado oil for hair and skin is quick and easy. Because this one product works in so many recipes and in so many different ways, it is also a frugal and natural way to care for your skin!

Save Money on KCups with Reusable Keurig KCup Filters

October 1, 2013 by Jenni 4 Comments

Goodness knows I love my coffee maker but I sure didn’t love the cost that came with using KCups. If you’re an occasional coffee drinker, you can get by paying $15 to $20 for KCups that would last you for quite awhile. For me, it wouldn’t last long at all. I just drink too much and they’re not practical for me to buy.

I wasn’t about to get rid of my Keurig Single Cup Brewer (<– that’s the one I have) though. It’s my best friend! So, I opted for this Ekobrew Reusable KCup Filter on Amazon. It’s only $8 and I can use my own coffee and reuse the filter over and over again. I’ve used it daily (2-4 cups daily) for months and I love love love it! I can’t even begin to tell you how much money the reusable KCup filter has saved me.

Just doing a little calculation in my head here…

KCups on average cost around $0.50 per cup. If I drink 3 cups per day, that’s $1.50 per day. Multiply that by 30 days in a month and we’re talking about $45 a month for coffee. At HOME! I could understand if I were buying Starbucks 3x per day every day…but I’m just talking about a couple of cups in the morning and maybe one in the afternoon…at HOME! That’s just too expensive for me. I haven’t even taken into account the coffee that my husband drinks and he always drinks more than I do!

We go through a large canister of coffee in about a week and a half give or take. Our coffee costs about $6 a can. So say we buy 3 cans a month, even 4 cans a month — the cost would be $18-$24 a month vs. $45. We’re saving a MINIMUM of 50%. That’s a nice chunk. In a year’s time we’ve saved about $250-$300. Even if I buy my favorite bags of fresh ground coffee, I’m still saving a lot of money! All because I decided to use this $8 Ekobrew reusable kcup coffee filter!! Cha-Ching!

Now…how much would a reusable filter save YOU?

P.S. Just a little sidenote. Because I am a huge mocha frappe addict, I decided to make my own at home and save the money versus spending a fortune at McDonald’s. If you’d like to try my recipes, just click the links below depending on if you like Mocha or Caramel. OR both!

Homemade Mocha Frappe Recipe (tastes like McDonald’s)

Homemade Caramel Frappe Recipe (tastes like McDonald’s too!)

Thrifty Fall Decorating Ideas

September 20, 2013 by Jenni 2 Comments

Can you smell fall in the air? I can! It’s my favorite time of the year. Pumpkins, changing leaves, the smell of spices. Yum! Have you seen all the pretty fall decorating ideas in all the current magazines? I check them out while waiting in line at the cash register and always get giddy when it’s time to decorate!

Decorating can get expensive without a plan. That’s why you should make a plan! Do you want your end result to scream “FALL IS HERE!” or are you more of a decorating “whisperer”? I’m somewhere in between the screaming and the whispering. 😉 There is no doubt that all the fall decor in the stores now are just too cute. But they’re also very pricey.

Here are some thrifty Fall decorating ideas that can save you a bundle.

1. Visit your local pumpkin patch or farm and buy a few different sized pumpkins and gourds.

2. Mums. Mums are so pretty plus they fill up a lot of space and add tons of color. Watch your local store sales ads for pricing and find the best deal on them before you buy. (P.S. Mums work great in pots, but you can also plant them in the ground before it gets too cold. They’ll come back next year!)

3. Use old containers that you have around your house to plant mums or artificial fall flowers in. For instance, the photo at the top…I planted some mums in an old metal bucket. I’ve got so many compliments on that pot of flowers!

4. Do you have sticks or dry branches in your yard? Bundle them together for a fun fall-ish centerpiece in a vase! You probably already own a vase, and hey…the limbs are FREE!

5. Visit your local farmers for cheap hay bales and foddershocks. Maybe even free!

6. Make your own DIY fall wreath like this Fall Owl Wreath from Rose Knows Coupons. This is too cute and doesn’t cost much at all. Much cheaper than if you bought one at a store!!

7. Visit the Goodwill or local yard sales for other fall decor. They’re full of stuff like that right now and you can get a lot of bargains.

8. Burlap. Burlap is seriously cheap material and you can use it for just about anything. It’s cute wrapped around candles or as a table runner. It instantly brings about a sense of “fall”.

9. Pine cones are free if you have pine trees around your home. We use them for decorating all the time! Mixed in a bowl with oranges, apples, tiny pumpkins and poutpourri or cinnamon sticks makes for a very pretty centerpiece.

Photo Credit: ifood.tv

10. Cloves in oranges makes for a very frugal and yummy scented decoration. My mom used to do this all the time when I was younger and I always loved to help her. The smell is heavenly.

Do you have any thrifty fall decorating ideas?
If so, we’d definitely love to hear them!! Leave us a comment.

20+ Ways to Reuse Diaper Wipe Containers #Recycle

August 8, 2013 by Jenni 14 Comments

Over 20 Ways to Reuse Diaper Wipe Containers

Looking for ways to reuse diaper wipe containers? You’ve come to the right place! I still have tons of baby wipes containers. I never could “let go” of them because I knew that they would be so handy for so many things. How many times have you thrown one away — and then the next day think, “Shoot! I wish I hadn’t thrown that container away!!” because you found the perfect use for it!

The size is great for holding different things and then of course there’s that glorious lid, right?! It makes some things handy to grab quickly. I just hate throwing containers away. So much so, that I even found a way to remove ink print from plastic containers so that I could reuse them. I love nice, clean and white containers!

There are so many things I reuse diaper wipe containers for, so I thought I’d share a bunch with you! Depending on what you’re using them for, you can always decorate them with Washi Tape!! I love that stuff!

1. Store baby items – Keep lotion, diaper rash cream, etc. at your diaper changing table just to keep things in reach and organized.

2. Roundup those crayons and markers – Let the kids reuse diaper wipe containers and make a DIY Art Box.

3. Kids tackle box – Kids love to fish…let them create their own tackle box. It’s a fun way to reuse diaper wipe containers!

4. Corral loose blocks or puzzle pieces – It never fails. I’m always finding loose puzzle pieces or lego blocks that go with a set.

5. Make a change bank – Keep loose change and store the container in the utility room! Mom keeps the pocket change. #1 Rule!!

6. Odds & Ends – Keep the hubby’s odds and ends like nuts, bolts, and super small tools. Label it DADS Stuff!

7. House batteries – We use a lot of rechargeable batteries around here. I keep them in a container and cycle them out!

8. Keep Condiments – Keep a container in the kitchen cabinet with packets of ketchup, sauces, and even plastic cutlery.

9. Sewing Box – Store your needles, thread, etc. in a diaper wipes container for a makeshift “emergency” sewing kit!

10. Yarn Dispenser – Keep your Yarn or thread work from getting pulled out or knotted up.

11. Car Organizer – Reuse diaper wipes containers to hold change for the car wash, restaurant coupons, etc.

12. Coupon Organizer – These are the perfect size for organizing your coupons!

13. Recipe Box – Again…the perfect size for a recipe box!

14. Hair Accessories – Keep hair bows, ponytail holders, bobby pins, barrettes, etc. in.

15. Family Suggestion Box – This is a FUN one! Let the fam makes dinner, dessert, movie suggestions!

16. Mani/Pedi Box – Reuse Diaper wipe containers to store files, buffers, polish, cotton pads and polish in!

17. Desk/Office Organizer – Organize your ink pens, paper clips, staples, post it notes and more.

18. Store Plastic Bags – I reuse plastic bags for lots of things! Read this post – 21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Bags for some great ideas.

19. Travel – Keep liquids/makeup in a container in bags when traveling! Keeps your clothes from getting destroyed if bottles bust.

20. Hold extra chargers/cords – Keep extras in a diaper wipes box. Just label what they go to before you put them in the box!

21. Cash Box – Having a yard sale? Keep your cash/change in a diaper wipes container…it’s the perfect size!

Do you have other things you reuse diaper wipe containers for? Let us know…we’d love to hear about it! Just leave a comment below.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like some of these other thrifty posts.

Homemade Eye Makeup Remover with Only 2 Ingredients – Costs Just $0.32 Per Ounce

Homemade Laundry Soap | Only 3 Ingredients (Just 2 Cents per Load!!!)

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

17 Useful and Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans Now

13 Perfectly Useful Ways To Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

August Savings Guide – What to Buy, What’s on Clearance, What’s in Season

August 6, 2013 by Jenni Leave a Comment

Here is your August Savings Guide! This guide will show you what to buy, what’s on clearance and what’s in season for the month of August. This guide is intended to help you understand how the monthly grocery and other promotional sales cycle. Always planning ahead is one of the best tips to use when trying to save!! I hope you find this helpful. Thanks to Family Frugal Fun for sharing this awesome guide!

Items you’ll find on clearance in August:

Gardening supplies
Seeds for planting (they’ll last about 2 yrs)
Summer apparel and summer toys & outdoor furnishing start to go on sale towards months end

A good time to buy in August:
- School supplies ( on sale)
- Office supplies (on sale)
- Juice boxes & pouches, lunch items like sandwich meats, lunch snacks, cereals bars, pudding cups, granola bars, fruit snacks, canned fruit, sandwich cheese slices
- Breakfast foods like cereals, oatmeal etc
- Tissues, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, sanitizing wipes
- Ice cream, popsicles

Here’s a list of what’s in season in August:
- watermelon, plums
- strawberries, kiwi, plum
- blueberries, apricots
- raspberries, radish
- cantaloupe, apples
- asparagus, avocados
- basil, beets, cabbage
- carrots, peppers, okra
- lemons, grapefruits
- oranges, collards, pears
- grapes, kale, onion
- nectarines, passion fruit
- peaches, potatoes
- cucumbers, tomatoes squash
- corn, beans eggplant, lettuce, figs
Consider “pick your own” farms to stock up on inexpensive fruit and vegetables for summer canning & freezing

- Sign up for newsletters & emails from your favorite restaurants and businesses using a separate new email address you create just for deals & savings
- Keep coupons for dining out in your purse or wallet.
- Build up a 6 month stockpile;
- Buy enough food & toiletries when on sale at their rock bottom sale price for each person in your family so you don’t run out (when you “need” a product you’ll be wiling to pay full price – don’t let that happen)
- •Many states offer a tax free holiday for back to school shopping – check with your local Dept of taxation for your state
- •Close blinds during direct sun hours to conserve on cooling costs
- •Shop with a specific grocery list based on sales & start meal planning for a busy back to school schedule (quick meals for busy nights, easy breakfast foods etc)

Family Fun Month

- National Catfish Month
- National Eye Exam Month
- National Golf Month
- Peach Month
- Romance Awareness Month
- Water Quality Month
- National Picnic Month
Weekly Events in the month of August:
- Week 1 National Simplify your Life Week
- Week 2 National Smile Week
- Week 3 Friendship Week
- Week 4 Be Kind to Humankind Week
Special Day in August
- August 4 Friendship Day – First Sunday in August
- August 10 National S’mores Day
- August 14 National Creamsicle Day
- August 18th – Maggie’s Birthday! Lol
- August 30 Toasted Marshmallow Day
- August 31 National Trail Mix Day

- Museums on Us Bank of America
- Saturdays at Lakeshore FREE workshop for kids
- Pottery Barn Tuesday Story Times
- Saturdays Michaels FREE workshops (Scrap In small fee)
- Saturdays Lowes Build and Grow workshop for kids
- Wednesday Sept 18th (plan ahead there is no free night in August) FREE Entrance into the Philadelphia Franklin Institute (Science center)
- Weekends in August FREE workshops with Home Depots
- National Night Out (August 6th)
- The Kennedy Center (Washington, DC) FREE shows every day at 6pm
- Kids Skate FREE

How To Save the Most When Shopping Back to School Sales

July 17, 2013 by Jenni 2 Comments

How to Save for Back to School

Yep. It’s that time of year again! Back to School time can cost a fortune, especially if you have more than 1 child. Between pencils and paper, shoes and clothes it can cost hundreds of dollars per kid! There are many very simple things that you can do to save a lot of money! It just takes thinking outside the box and a little elbow grease. Okay – maybe not elbow grease, but you get my drift. 😉

Set a Budget for Back to School and stick to it:

Creating a Back to School budget is a really important factor in saving the most money. You don’t want to overspend, but you still want to be able to get everything needed. With each child being in different levels of school, their needs will be different. Don’t forget to budget for the teenager’s track shoes or calculator! Keep those kinds of things in mind.

How to Save on School Supplies:

School supplies vary upon the age of your kids, but they all need them. The best ways that I’ve found to save on school supplies are to watch sale fliers for sales and use coupons at places like Staples or Office Max. Buy bigger bulk packs of some supplies that get used a lot. Yes, you may be spending more up front but it proves to save quite a bit overall. This works great, especially if you have 3 or 4 kids in school at the same time.

Use printable coupons on supplies at stores like Walmart too or other big retail stores. If you’re shopping online for supplies, I highly recommend Amazon or Discount School Supply for your items. Both are great places to find great deals. If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get fast FREE 2 day shipping. If you don’t have it, you can get a FREE Trial of Amazon Prime now!!

Stick to practical and not CUTE. Cute can cost a fortune when it comes to pens, folders, notebooks, backpacks, and the like. Give the kids a limit on the cutesie things they are allowed to buy and then the rest…stick to practical. Check this blog post out too for lots of other great ideas for saving on school supplies!

How to Save on Back to School Clothes, Shoes, and Accessories:

Clothing and shoes are your biggest chunk for back to school spending! Especially if you have teenagers! They want what their friends have so it’s always a battle. I know…I used to be a teen.

Rule # 1 is to never pay full price and always watch for sales! Keep an eye out for coupon mailers to help save a few extra dollars here and there.

Thrift Shop. Most of the time you can find really nice namebrand clothing in thrift shops that even still have the tags on them. You’ll get those goodies at huge discounted prices than you will off the retail store rack!

Shop Year Round. Every couple of months, head out and grab a few sales. Scope online deals out throughout the year and when you find a nice deal, snag it. It’s smarter than paying full price WHEN you need the actual item!

Shop clearance. That’s a no-brainer, I know….but sometimes people just need to be reminded. Most of the time you can still even use coupons or coupon codes on clearanced items. Think outside the box too. Don’t just look for clothes that are on clearance. Look for shoes, jewelry, accessories and other things that are generally clearanced too.

Think outside of the season. While you’re doing back to school shopping now, you’re looking for fall outfits. Hit the sale racks for the summer things that are on sale or clearance and buy the next size up. The kiddos can wear those things NEXT year and you won’t be paying full price next year for summer clothes.

Shop Online. I get my biggest discounts most of the time from shopping online, especially when I can score free shipping. I do the majority of my shopping at these spots, and often through Ebates for Cashback!

Amazon

Payless Shoes

Crocs.com

Walmart

What are your best tips for saving on back to school supplies and clothes? We all love to learn from others, so leave your best tips below in a comment! Can’t wait to hear them.

How to Look Fantastic and Beautiful on a Budget

July 2, 2013 by Jenni Leave a Comment

How to Look Fantastic and Beautiful on a Budget

Shopping for clothes and accessories online can be so much cheaper than actually shopping in the stores. You can always find savings like these myntra discount codes that help save some cash! Plus, there’s nothing worse than taking piles of clothes into a hot and sweaty fitting room. Shopping from the comfort of your home is usually the way to go!

I have a few rules that I follow for staying on budget when shopping for clothes, accessories, cosmetics and the like. I don’t shop for myself a lot but when I do – I prefer to save as much as I can.

Shop the clearance sections. I find that most times, what’s on clearance is still relevant to the season. So I still have plenty of time to get good wear out of it before putting it up for the summer, fall, winter, or spring.

Use coupons or coupon codes. If shopping online, search for some coupon codes before heading to shop. If you’re going instore, take a look on the store website to see if they have any sales and printable coupons. Often times, the store will have an email subscription you can sign up for future savings.

Borrow before you Buy. If you have to have something for a special occasion, go to your friend’s or sister’s closet first. Need some pretty dress or outfit for a wedding or other special occasion? You’re looking at spending upwards of $100 or more for the clothes, shoes and accessories. You could save that $100 by invading your friend or sister’s closet!

Here’s a fun idea! I’ve heard that friends have got together in groups like once every month or so and brought clothes, shoes, accessories, and hand bags and would trade!

Shop consignment or thrift stores. Scope out your local thrift or consignment stores from time to time. You can find gold mines in there. I once found an authentic Coach back pack for $5 in a Goodwill store. This was years ago though. I’m sure that the worker who was doing pricing that day had no idea what she had in her hands! You can even find some great deals at local yard/garage sales.

Use cash back sites. There are several cash back sites that you can register for. Most of them will give you a percentage or a set amount of cash back when you shop online through them. The cool thing about using these is that you can still also use any discount codes that you might find.

DIY Mani’s and Pedi’s. Sure – enjoy the occasional pedicures and manicures at the salon occasionally just to get some pampering time in but you can save a fortune by doing your own at home. I highly recommend that you only visit clean nail salons though. Make sure that you see them cleaning their tools and steer clear of those fancy pedicure stations with the whirlpool jets. Those machines aren’t usually sanitized well and bacteria and infection breed in those little tubs. I know they feel good, just be safe!

Visit Pinterest. If you’re not already using Pinterest then you’re really missing out. I check out Pinterest often for easy beauty and fashion DIY ideas. From do it yourself facial scrubs to do it yourself foot scrubs. You’ll find any and everything there. Use common sense though and do a little research before trying anything that could potentially be harmful to your skin.

Shop drugstores for cosmetics. Mandy drugstores have rewards programs and often run rewards deals on cosmetics, skin care, body care, and hair products. Combine those reward deals with coupons from your Sunday paper and you can score a nice amount of beauty products for super cheap!

Do you have other ways that you stay on budget while looking fabulous? We’d love to see your tips and hear your comments!

Oatmeal Recipe – Make Your Own Homemade Instant Oatmeal

May 28, 2013 by Jenni 6 Comments

Ever considered making your own Homemade Instant Oatmeal Recipe? You should…it kind of makes you feel like Wonder Woman! I know that those boxes of single serve instant oatmeal packets are really convenient but they’re also really pricey if you break down what they cost per packet. Buying the ingredients and making your own is SO much cheaper! Thanks to the awesome Maggie at Family Frugal Fun for sharing her instant oatmeal recipe with us!

Homemade Instant Oatmeal Recipe

1/4 Cup Quaker Quick Oats
1 tblsp Domino brown sugar
1 tblsp Carnation instant dry milk

Add approximately 3 – 4 tablespoons hot water or microwave as you would your instant oatmeal packs. I like to make my instant oatmeal ahead of time and pack in a hefty baggie so everything is all measured out. For a diet version of my instant oatmeal just omit the milk and switch to Domino light sugar. You likely won’t notice the difference.

If you’re helping a child start making their own breakfast in the mornings then you would just measure out the ingredients and place them in a bowl or children’s mug the night before with the tablespoon next to it for adding water.

*You can also add different things to make fun variations if you get bored easily. Add raisins, cinnamon, apples or whatever you like. I like a little maple syrup in mine with brown sugar. 🙂

*Be SURE to purchase quick oats and not a 3 minute cooking time oatmeal for this recipe.

I love to make things homemade as much or as often as I can! I never really considered doing that before but the older I get, the more frugal I get…and I also get some satisfaction out of it! Knowing that I made something vs. just buying it makes me feel all “Pioneer Woman-ish”.

My favorite homemade product that I make is my laundry soap detergent (<– click that link to check it out!). The detergent recipe only calls for 3 ingredients AND it comes in at around $0.02-$0.04 per load!!! My husband is a welder and it gets HIS stinky yucky work clothes clean – so I know the stuff works!

What kinds of things do you prefer to make homemade vs. buying? We’re always up for new ideas. Leave us a comment, we’d love to hear!!

How to Get Rid of Bugs on Your Plants and Rose Bushes – Natural and Thrifty Alternatives

May 26, 2013 by Jenni 12 Comments

Spring has sprung and my rose bushes are in full bloom. The leaves are also full of holes and brown spots from early buggy visitors and disease. The pests are more than likely aphids and the disease could either be from the pests or some type of fungus. This happens each and every year with my roses and some other flowering plants that I have. It absolutely drives me batty!!! Almost as much as mole hills in the yard!

I haven’t mulched yet so my flower bed is sort of bare under the bush. My favorite is red mulch!

I wanted to share some natural and thrifty remedies with you if you’re finding the same thing with your roses or plants. I have used Sevin Dust in the past and it works but it’s also a poisonous chemical and you really should be careful when you use it! I recommend wearing a mask when you dust it on your lawn or plants because you don’t want to breathe it in. I tend to get a little shake happy with the canister so I know from experience :). A friend of mine on Facebook (thanks Lori!) also said that she uses lime on her garden and plants. She buys it locally from Ace Hardware.

I have several different rose bushes and I am going to be trying some of the following methods below and will update through spring/summer with what has worked best for me. These methods below have been recommended from friends/family or found through different garden forums.

How to Get Rid of Bugs on your plants and roses:

1. Drown those suckers…with a blast of water from the garden hose. This remedy seems to work well for most to get aphids or other little buggars off your roses and plants. You want to use the jet stream setting on your water hose sprayer. A regular spray from the hose won’t have enough power to knock them off. Make sure that you’re not knocking off blooms or breaking stems…you just want to put a good blast of water on them and work underneath too. Aphids like to hide UNDER the leaves!

2. Soap ’em up and shove ’em out! Mixing gentle soap (Blue Dawn dish soap or Ivory Liquid are the most recommended) and/or oil with water in a spray bottle and giving your roses a squirt will help get rid of the aphids and other bugs.

Spray Mixture:

In a quart of water, mix in a few drops (5-8) of dish liquid or other liquid soap (something gentle, even Murphy’s Oil Soap works well) and 1 teaspoon of oil (vegetable, canola, etc.).

Combine well and spray on your plants or rose bushes. Don’t’ forget the underside of the leaves because that’s where they like to hide! After it rains, give them another spray.

3. The ole’ vampire method! Aphids hate garlic. I wonder if they’re related to vampires?! 😉 Combine about a tablespoon or 2 of minced garlic with a quart of water and spray that mixture on your plants or rose bush.

4. ACV – The Cure All Solution! Mix 1 ounce of apple cider vinegar to 3 oz. of water and spray onto your roses or plants. Keep in mind some plants are not tolerable of vinegar. P.S. If you didn’t already know, you can get rid of fleas with vinegar too!

5. Natural store bought insecticides. If these other methods don’t work for you, you can go with a natural grade insecticide from your local nursery or garden store. Always read and follow the instructions. This Garden Safe Insecticidal Soap has great reviews on Amazon and it says it kills all bugs on contact.

If you have tips or tried and true methods, please leave us a comment! We’d love to hear them!!

Ways That We Reduce and Reuse Everyday Things – Our #EverydayEffect Challenge

April 21, 2013 by Jenni 4 Comments

I’ve always been on the “frugal” side of life for the most part. Part of being frugal, naturally, includes finding ways to reduce and reuse things. I won’t say that I’m an avid recycler – because if I did…I’d be lying. I do try to green things up a lot around here though. I’m the one who wears my tennis shoes until the sole comes off (literally, TRUE story). I’ve been known to walk plum out of my shoes.

A lot of my kid’s clothes are hand me down (not too proud to admit) and I love to find good deals at the local thrift shops. I’m just always finding ways to get good use out of what we have until it’s flat not any good to use anymore. If Eli gets a hole or a stain on his shirt, it goes in his play clothes pile. From there it will eventually over time make it’s way to the “cleaning rags” pile. Just another easy way to reduce and reuse!

P&G (Procter & Gamble) has an awesome Every Day Effect Conserve it All challenge going right now that I’m proud to participate in. This challenge is just one way to let others know that doing just simple, ordinary things daily can and DOES make a difference. P&G believes the most effective changes don’t necessarily start with grand acts and can start much closer to home, by changing the way we think about things like waste. Ordinary actions like washing your laundry in lower temps and doing the dishes with a more concentrated product can help allowing us to reduce energy and waste!!

For the Every Day Effect challenge, I wanted to challenge my family to leaving the lights off during the day. Our house is surrounded by trees so we have alot of shade during the day. I knew that this would INDEED be a challenge. Surprisingly enough…I’ve been the one having the most difficulty with it. It’s not that I don’t want to do it…it’s just a force of habit to turn the lights on in any room I’m in even when there’s plenty of day light coming in through the windows. Goes to show how much we just take for granted, huh?! I’ve posted sticky notes on all the light switches saying “Save some GREEN!” and it has been a nice reminder. Making a concerted effort towards something can create a habit, so that’s what we’re shooting for.

I also wanted to share a few other simple things that we do every day (simple things that YOU can do too) that makes an impact in greener and all around healthier living. Really, if it’s something I can do it’s something that you can do too! Reduce and reuse!!

Ways we reduce and reuse around our house:

Use cold water for laundry (except for whites and/or towels)
Make my own laundry detergent (much cheaper, plus I don’t have to throw out all the plastic bottles)
Let dishes air dry vs. using heated dry in dishwasher
We don’t have a compost pile, but you can add cut grass and food scraps to the pile if you have one (This is something I am interested in doing…need to do some homework!)
Reuse my coffee creamer bottles
Reuse my coffee cans
Reuse plastic bags
Use vinegar as my MAIN cleaning product…it does it all (awesome cleaner and all natural)
Turning TV’s and lights off when not being used (we’re working on the light issue)

Doing these everyday things like I said DOES make a difference! No, you might not be saving the whales by re-using your coffee can for some awesome reason – but you have to look at it as a chain reaction. You never know – the next coffee can you throw out could possibly end up in the ocean eventually! Honest….just think about it that way. Over time your small efforts pay off.

We’d love to hear your comments…let us know how YOU try to make a difference. Leaving comments always gives others ideas as well. We can all definitely learn from one another! While you’re still here, make sure to head over and enter yourself to WIN an awesome prize. P&G #EverydayEffects Pinterest Giveaway! Some lucky person is going to win a washing machine!!! You can connect with P&G on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date in all the latest news!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks and P&G.

13 Perfectly Useful Ways To Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

February 22, 2013 by Jenni 16 Comments

Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

I’ve been on a lightning streak lately with ways to reuse some perfectly good containers vs. throwing them in the trash. If you use creamer in your coffee then you probably go through a lot of coffee creamer bottles. Here are a few really cool ways to reuse them instead of throwing them out! Here are some awesome ways to reuse coffee cans too!

Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles In the Kitchen:

Makeshift sports bottle. This is another way I use mine. With the flip top lids, they’re easy to drink from and fit perfectly in my fridge!

Store dry cereal or the Baby Goldfish Crackers. These little bottles are great to throw in a diaper bag and the cereal or crackers don’t get crushed like they do if you just use a baggie!

Store sugar or cinnamon. Having the easy pour spout on the coffee creamer bottles makes it easy to add a little sugar to your coffee or cereal without having to drag the bag of sugar out. I keep mine by the coffee pot! Keep some cinnamon in another one. Great to pour out into a measure spoon when cooking.

Homemade Creamer. If you make your own coffee creamer, reuse your creamer bottles to store it in.

Homemade Dressing. Same as above…if you make your own dressings, add a label to a bottle and store your dressing. Easy pouring onto a bed of pretty greens!

Keep chocolate chips in. If you bake a lot, then you probably always have chocolate chips on hand. I hate when the bags tear, so you use a creamer bottle and pour them out as needed.

In the Bath and Utility Room:

Keep homemade laundry detergent. If you make your own detergent, use one of these bottles to store it in. It’s perfect with the easy pour spout and the smaller bottles will fit nicer on the shelf than a big ole’ bottle. If you’re going on vacation, this is the perfect size to take too. Just enough if you have to do your own laundry while gone!

Epsom Salt. If you add some Epsom salt to your bath water, keep a small creamer bottle full next to the tub.

Shampoo or Body Wash. A lot of people make their own shampoo and/or body wash. You can store yours in these bottles. Also, if you buy the bulk size containers, it’s much easier to refill these bottles than man handle the giant bottles in the shower!

Kids and Crafts:

Make Bowling Pins. Fill 10 creamer bottles up with water, sand, or gravel. Set them up and let them go bowling in the yard!

Music Shakers. Add rice or beans to a bottle. Perfect music makers for your little ones!

Store Glitter. If you use a lot of glitter when crafting, store your glitter in the smaller creamer bottles. This way you can have better control over how much is being used.

Store Glue. If you’re a major crafter or teacher, you might buy glue in bulk containers. Pour some over into a smaller creamer bottle for fun projects. Just label accordingly.

I hope you’ve found these tips helpful. If you have any other fun ideas about how to reuse coffee creamer bottles we’d love to hear them. Just leave us a comment below! Here are some other tips that you might find useful. Some reader favorites are:

17 Useful and Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans Now

21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags – Plastic Recycling

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers – Reuse Your Containers

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

Topic: Reuse Coffee Creamer Bottles

17 Useful and Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans Now

February 22, 2013 by Jenni 7 Comments

17 Useful & Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans

I don’t know about you, but we drink a lot of coffee at our house. I know we’re not the only folks that drink a ton of coffee so I can’t even begin to imagine how many coffee canisters are floating around out there! I’ve found a few creative ways to recycle containers – for instance – I learned how to remove ink from plastic containers so that we can reuse them! Coffee cans are a whole other beast!

Oh, and while I’m on the subject of coffee – my friend Alea wrote this post on how to use leftover coffee! Lots of great ideas and fun recipes! You know how sometimes you have that little bit left in the bottom of a pot? Instead of pouring it down the drain, use some of the ideas from her link above!

Ways to reuse coffee cans in the kitchen:

1. Store table scraps and produce trash. Yes, it’s a less decorative use but still very useful. By keeping your table scraps and produce peelings in cans like this with a lid, it prevents the smell from lingering in the kitchen. It also keeps those pesky fruit flies away! One thing I tend to do is keep my canister with a lid in the fridge just so that the scraps don’t spoil so fast. When it’s full, you can dump it accordingly or add to your compost pile.

2. Make a set of Kitchen Canisters. Paint them and easily stencil or free-hand words like Flour, Sugar, Coffee, Tea, Cereal, Granola, Oats, or whatever you want. Or check out this idea…Organized Island shows how to use contact paper to decorate her coffee cans! The plastic lids keep everything airtight so whatever is inside will stay fresh! In order to be more “green” you can buy bags of coffee and simply refill your canisters. That’s what we need to do. I have to keep my eye out for some coupons though. It’s usually more expensive!!

Ways to reuse coffee cans in the bathroom/utility room:

1. Get rich in your utility room. Clean out pockets when doing laundry and place items in the canister. Usually my husband has tons of little metal screws, bolts and things from work in his pockets. Occasionally I’ll find money too! When he’s looking for something in particular, he always checks the cans!

2. Spare bathroom tissue holder. Get rid of that old tired wooden toilet paper holder that sits by your toilet!! Dress your canisters up and set them on the toilet tanks for cute decor!

3. Hold mani/pedi supplies. Add your nail files, clippers, remover, cotton pads and polish to a canister and when you’re ready to do your nails everything is all in one place.

4. Store plastic bags. I recently shared 21 ways to reuse plastic grocery bags. If you keep your bags, just cut a hole in the lid and you can pull a plastic bag out anytime you need it. These are great to keep in your bathrooms to quickly replace a small trashcan bag!

5. Store homemade detergent. I make my own homemade laundry detergent, but I currently store mine in a Huggies Wipes container. The next time I make it I’m going to make a double or triple batch and will store it in some of my coffee containers! They’re more airtight than the wipes container I’m using so less chance of drying out.

Crafty and creative ways to reuse coffee cans:

1. Use for gifting homemade treats or soup. You can actually bake bread in a metal coffee can. Tie a pretty bow on it and send as a gift to a new neighbor or friend! If a loved one is sick, send them some homemade chicken soup in a canister with a get well gift tag attached!

2. Make a bird feeder. This would be a fun project to do with the kids or make for a parent/grandparent! We live in the country so we love our bird feeders here.

3. Create outdoor lighting. Punch a bunch of tiny holes in several cans and string party lights through them to make a fun strand of luminary lights on your patio or along your sidewalk! I’m thinking of making some for my backyard!! Here’s a great tutorial for outdoor coffee can lanterns! These look like so much fun to make!

4. Turn into flower planters. Poke some small holes in the bottom of a can, fill with a few gravels and dirt and plant some pretty flowers. This is such a fun idea!

5. Decorate and keep craft/art supplies. If you’re already an artsy craftsy person you can easily find ways to doll up a canister and keep your drawing pencils, paints, markers, and other craft items in.

6. Keep yarn in. If you’re working on a knitting project, keep your yarn in the canister and cut a hole in the lid to let your yarn slide through. This will help in keeping your yarn from getting tangled and possibly the kids or cats from tearing up your work!

Kid Friendly Ways to Reuse Coffee Cans:

1. Make a drum. You know how the kiddos love to beat on pots and pans! Give them a few coffee cans with the lids on and let them beat those drums. Throw some rice or beans in them and let them shake them up!

2. Make a Money Bank. Cut a slit in the lid big enough for kids to slide change through and they’ve got their very own money bank. When it fills up, take them to town and let them buy something fun with their money. It’s a great way to teach them about saving money and spending smart at an early age!

3. Coffee Can stilts. This is super cool, creative and looks like loads of fun! PlayCreateExplore has a nice tutorial on how to make coffee can stilts here. I can’t wait to make some of these!

4. Make a Time Capsule. Decorate and fill up a coffee can with all sorts of things like pictures, popular toys of today’s time, etc. Seal the lid nice and tight with glue or tape and hide it somewhere where someone through the years might find it. If you’d rather keep it so that your kids can have it when they’re older…keep it in a closet or somewhere you’ll remember!

I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips. We’d love it if you left a comment below! Let us know any other tips you might have to add to the collection of ways to reuse coffee cans!

If you enjoyed these tips, check out some other fan favorite posts below:

21 Ways to Reuse Plastic Grocery Bags – Plastic Recycling

How to Remove Ink from Plastic Containers – Reuse Your Containers

Homemade Laundry Soap | Only 3 Ingredients (Just 2 Cents per Load!!!)

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

Topic: Reusing Coffee Cans

Homemade Laundry Soap | Only 3 Ingredients (Just 2 Cents per Load!!!)

January 25, 2013 by Jenni 28 Comments

Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe

I decided awhile back to try my hand at making our own homemade laundry soap. It’s cheaper than buying brand detergent and I know what’s going in it. Plus, it sort of makes me feel like Super Woman knowing that I can make my own!! 😉 I’ve tried a handful of recipes in smaller batches and I found one that I really like. I had always preferred liquid detergent and I’ve tried a homemade liquid detergent recipe BUT it didn’t clean the clothes nearly as well as the powder so this is what I’m sticking with! My husband is a welder and he has some pretty stinky and grimy work clothes and this detergent does a wonderful job! I’ve done the math and if I’ve figured correctly, it costs around $1 or so a batch which would give you 48 regular loads coming to about $0.02 per load.

WARNING: Make sure to keep all ingredients with your other cleaners – locked and away from children. Small kids like to imitate, so if they see you playing in it…they may try to play in it too.

NOTE: This detergent works perfectly in HE washing machines. From what I gather, powder detergents work better in HE machines than liquid detergent. This is just what I’ve read on several other articles online.

Homemade Laundry Soap Ingredients:

All of these items can be found at your local grocery stores, Walmart, Target, etc.

NOTE: Previously, even when I made this post, I was using Ivory Bar Soap. I’ve found that I like Fels Naptha MUCH better! That’s why the photos below show white shaved bar soap instead of the yellow color of Fels Naptha.

1 bar of Fels Naptha, shaved (I use an old cheese grater)
1 Cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda Laundry Booster
1 Cup of 20 Mule Team Borax (in the laundry aisle)

This is a really simple process. First, just shave the bar soap, I just use an old cheese grater and grate it into a bowl. Then in the same bowl combine the soap with the borax and washing powder. Stir really well until it’s all combined and in a course powder. Try to break up any clumps.

Another thing that I suggest is adding your powder and bar shavings to a food processor to make the powder really super fine. Use 1 to 1 and a 1/2 Tbsp. for a regular load or 2 to 2 and 1/2 for larger or heavily soiled loads. Depending on your water softness, you may need to use more or less. Just find what amount works best for your clothes.

Store your powder detergent in an airtight container with a lid. I personally use an old diaper wipe container to keep mine in. You can also use a coffee can or old baby formula can with the lid.

I also add about a 1/2 to a whole cup of vinegar to my wash cycle as a fabric softener, plus it helps to brighten and whiten and take away any stinky smells in your clothes. It also helps to rinse any leftover residue from the powder on your clothes.

My friend, Alea from Premeditated Leftovers, also has some great laundry tips that you can check out. She mentions how to get rid of mildew, reducing night time allergies, and she has some great tried and true ways to organize, sort and put away your laundry!

Don’t miss these other fan favorite tips!

Rid your dog of fleas, the natural and thrifty way!

Make your own DIY Homemade Frappes – taste just like McDonald’s!

Save TONS of money on cleaning supplies, just use this ONE to do it all!!

10 Ways to Save Money for Busy Moms and Dads This Summer

June 1, 2012 by Jenni 3 Comments

10 Ways to Save Money this Summer!

Busy moms and dads tend to spend more money through the summer when the kids are at home! More food, amusement park trips, ballgames, and the like. Here are 10 surefire ways to save money this summer!

1. Ball Games: Bring snacks and drinks with you! Concession prices are CRAZY and if you have more than 1 child to feed then you can quickly burn through a twenty dollar bill in NO time flat! Add some ice and drinks to a small cooler and throw some snacks in a totebag!

2. Gas Station Squanders: When we’re in a hurry and we run in to a gas station to pay for gas, how many times have we grabbed a drink and some snacks or candy while standing at checkout? I know I’m guilty of that!! Try ALWAYS paying at the pump and never going inside. You’ll save yourself an extra $2-$5 every time!

3. Amusement Parks: Don’t decide to go to an amusement park on a whim! You’ll pay for it if you do! Instead, go with a group for a discounted rate OR search out admission coupons! Also, pack snacks in a totebag along with sunscreen and bottled water or soft drinks. Those are great ways to save money + a cup of ice is cheaper than a drink!

4. EXTRA Busy Days: Plan plan plan your day!! Rushing around throughout the day if unplanned, can cost more money than an average day! You might pay more money at the gas pump when you didn’t notice that it was cheaper 2 doors down.

P.S. You can use a Free app on your phone to tell you which local gas stations have the cheapest price! One popular one is GasBuddy.

Okay…now we’ve got our gas but you forgot breakfast and you stop at a fast food place because you’re starving or you forgot something at home and didn’t have time to go back and get it so you just stopped at Walmart and grabbed a second one. Or went back home to grab it and wasted extra time and gas. We do THAT more often than we realize, or at least I have! I’m sure you can see how these are great ways to save money!

5. Festivals and Fairs: Make sure you and the kiddos eat something substantial before you go instead of planning to eat dinner there. Then you can just grab something fun like an elephant ear and split it! Go on the kiddie days…ride tickets are cheaper! Take more kids, buy bulk tickets, and let them split the rides!

6. Fast Food Stops: Keep any fast food coupons in the CAR! How many times have you been driving through town and remember that the coupons are at home! We get fast food coupons in the mail all the time, especially from these 25 Free Birthday Clubs you can join from places like Steak n Shake, Wendy’s, Starbucks and more!

7. Extra Clothes: Keep an extra set of clothes in a totebag in your car. You never know when a mishap might happen and it’ll keep you from having to make a Walmart stop when you don’t have time to head back home!

8. Last Minute Blunders: This goes for just about anything. If you wait till last minute to buy something needed then you won’t have time to watch for sales and match coupons for items whether it’s clothing, groceries, or even school supplies for the upcoming school year!

9. Fun in the Sun: Water filled days are FUN! Going to the local pools can cost money so plan on letting the kids swim at the neighbors or family members pools if you don’t have one! Just make sure wherever they go, that they’re well attended! Don’t forget to send sunscreen and snacks!

10. Sleep Overs and Slumber Parties: Summer comes with sleepovers and late nights with kids playing games, watching movies, and eating food!! Use Pizza coupons or snack food coupons to grab snacks and frozen pizza and have your cupboards full for when your kids’ friends come to stay over. Pizza is usually a given and most kids won’t CARE what kind of pizza you have so grab some frozen pizza when you find it on sale and stock up so you won’t be out the wazoo for the real deal from The HUT or another place!

How to Get Rid of Fleas Using Apple Cider Vinegar – All Natural & Thrifty

May 23, 2012 by Jenni 83 Comments

Photo Credit: Findavet.us

If you have pets that go outside regularly then more than likely, they have encountered a flea or 2…or 2000! I have a Rat Terrier dog, named Pepper, who has had her fair share of flea encounters! If you’ve had trouble with them, then you know how miserable it is for the poor pooches so I’m here to tell you how to get rid of fleas – the natural & thrifty way!

We live in the country where fleas are abundant!! I usually associate the word abundant with GOOD things, but fleas are – well…the pits!! We’ve tried all of the medications, shampoos, pills, and sprays known to man to help us get rid of fleas, but they kept coming back. I would even give her her monthly dose of “down the back” medicine a week early and it still didn’t keep them at bay!

I started doing some research and found that there is a little household staple that works in getting rid of fleas and I decided to give it a try. Within a week, she was FLEA FREE…literally!!! Apple Cider Vinegar! Yep…that’s it! Now, I will say that since we’ve been doing this (which has been for about 3 months now) I still see a flea or 2 every once in awhile when she’s been outside but they don’t stay on too long.

Fleas can’t stand the smell or taste of the Apple Cider Vinegar, however, for humans vinegar is a natural remedy for many ailments…some even say for Cancer!

Side note: check out this Health book on the Benefits of Vinegar…it’s crazy what all vinegar can do for our bodies!!

Personally, I use about a teaspoon a day of Apple Cider Vinegar added to Peppers food. You can also add it to their water, but I tried that and she wouldn’t drink it so I just started putting it in her food daily. Also, I have a small spray bottle that I add a 50/50 mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar and water to. I use it to spray her down sometimes before going outside to keep those little buggars from jumping on her.

The Apple Cider Vinegar is very good for many other reasons…check out how I clean with vinegar! Getting back on track – if your dog has skin that is too dry or too oily, this will help in balancing the PH in their skin! It’s also great for dogs who suffer from arthritis or even dust mite allergies. When you give them a bath, put a drop or 2 in their ears and it dries up any excess water which can cause ear infections.

Extra piece of advice. If your dog has fleas bad enough that you’re finding them on your couches, in your carpet, or in your bed – lightly spray those areas with the mixture I mentioned above. After the sprayed areas dry, vacuum really REALLY well. Take your vacuum away from the house immediately AFTER you’ve vacuumed and dump the filter/canister so the fleas don’t get back out and any eggs don’t hatch. I recommend doing this EVERYDAY or even a few times a day until you see less and less, then eventually none!

If you’re tired of paying all those high prices for Flea medications and shampoos that just aren’t working…give this a try. I think you’ll have success like I have!! Be sure and let me know if this works out for you!

Are you struggling to stick to your grocery budget?

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Plan your Grocery Budget…and stick to it!

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