Archive for the ‘Money Saving Tips’ Category
Friday, May 23rd, 2008 |
Holidays and birthdays come around whether you are living a frugally or not. You don’t have to break your budget in order to give a gift that will not only be loved by its recipient, but also used often.
Gift boxes or baskets make wonderful, thoughtful gifts for everyone and are only limited by your imagination. Once you start making these up, you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it sooner. They are fun to make and give, can be worked into nearly every budget and can be tailored for the pickiest on your list. Below are a few ideas to get you started.
Frugal Food Basket: Mix up some master baking mix, pancake mix, cookie mix, or muffin mix. Pick and choose or give them all in tightly sealed containers or jars and attach recipes for using and the mix recipe. Specialty rice and rice mixes, bean mixes, bean and rice mixes, oatmeal, and couscous. All these can be put in mason jars and decorated appealing. Don’t forget instructions on how to use the mixes. A pack of herb seeds or starter plants for indoor herb gardening.
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Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 |
You don’t need fancy cleaners to keep your floor sparkling clean. Try a few of the ideas below and see how proud you can be of your floors.
Vinegar. A few drops in the cleaning water will help
remove grease. Dull, greasy film on no-wax
linoleum can be washed away with 1/2 cup white vinegar
mixed into 1/2 gallon water.
For Wood Floors: Vegetable Oil and Vinegar. Mix a 1
to 1 ratio of oil and vinegar into a solution and apply a
thin coat. Rub in well.
For Painted Wooden Floors: Washing Soda*. Mix 1
teaspoon washing soda into 1 gallon hot water and wash
the floor with a mop, sponge, or soft bristled brush.
This solution can also be used to remove mildew.
For Brick and Stone Floors: Vinegar. Mix 1 cup white
vinegar into 1 gallon water. Scrub the floor with a brush
and the vinegar solution. Rinse with clean water.
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Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 |
Clothing
* For kids, don’t go over the top with the brand names, especially since the kids will grow out of them quickly.
* For adults and older teens, don’t buy really trendy clothes that will only last one season. Buy classical fashionable clothing that will last, and get trendy with accessories.
* Buy shirts and ties or blouses and just one suit — accessorizing is cheaper.
* Buy a few pieces of quality clothing as opposed to lots of cheap clothing. They will last a lot longer.
* This goes without saying, but buy clothing in the off-season and on sale. You will save a tone of money.
Transportation
* A gas saving tip I just learned: put your car in cruise control whenever you can. It has cut my gas bill in HALF.
* If you live in a metropolitan area, try walking around the city as opposed to taking a bus or a train. In New York, you can even get there faster sometimes! 
* Maintain your car — tire pressure, oil changes, everything. Preventative maintenance is way cheaper than repairs.
* Never use cheap gas - use quality gas and the correct octane for your car. It may seem more expensive, but it’s cheaper in car repairs in the long run.
* Don’t be afraid to walk, even in the winter. It’s great exercise and it saves a ton of money.
The Change Jar
I have a change jar. Every time I pay for something, I always use bills and get the change. I put the change in the jar. You wouldn’t believe how much money you can save! This money could be entertainment money, allowance for the kids, put it in a savings account or saved for emergencies. This change jar has saved my butt many times over the years, and is a great way to have “found” money at the end of the month.
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Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 |
One of the best places to save money is on cleaning products. Here are a few recipes that are extremely economical, yet work fantastically!
Note: Make sure to label all your homemade cleaning products, and keep them away from pets and children.
WINDOW CLEANER
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 cups water
spray bottle
Put all the ingredients into a spray bottle, shake it up a bit, and use as you would a commercial brand. The soap in this recipe is important. It cuts the wax residue from the commercial brands you might have used in the past.
OVEN CLEANER
1 cup or more baking soda
water
a squirt or two of liquid detergent
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Monday, May 19th, 2008 |
Most commercial air fresheners do not freshen the air at all. Instead, they mask one odor with another, coat your nasal passages with an undetectable oil film, or diminish your sense of smell with a nerve-deadening agent. For a safer alternative, you may wish to try one of the following; not only will your home smell as fresh and clean as it is, you will also find yourself feeling healthier.
*Distribute partially filled saucers of vinegar around the room or boil 1 tablespoon of white vinegar in 1 cup of water to eliminate unpleasant cooking odors.
*Boil cinnamon and cloves for a fragrant smell. For ease of cleaning, make a cheesecloth bag to contain these spices, and boil the cheesecloth bag. An excellent alternative when entertaining is to steep spiced tea or cider.
*Potpourri. Buy or make your own potpourri from your favorite herbs and spices. Place the potpourri in a small basket or jar or in small sachet bags.
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