T-Shirt Yarn Project

Wondering what I made so far with my t-shirt yarn?

A basket for some of our little guy's toys:

I used a very large crochet hook. Size Q? Not sure. It is plastic. The basket doesn't have a lot of body (the sides cave in if it is empty) but it works great if it is full.

This project cost me $0! So excited about that. I asked friends for t-shirts they were giving away (I used 10 t-shirts for this basket) and so it was free. To make this with yarn would have cost a lot.

Cereal Prices Going Up?

I just read that cereal prices will be rising due to smaller wheat crops around the globe (but excluding the US).

I recommend not relying on cereal as your main breakfast source anyway (it is a highly processed type of food, full of simple sugars, and expensive). But if you are a cereal addict, you'd best stock up now. Try to find some coupons if brand name cereals are a must. If not, try checking out off-brands at Wal-Mart, Aldi, or Trader Joe. It might save you time to stock up, anyway.

You could say "No" to big cereal's alleged rising prices by branching out and making your own cooked breakfast cereals like oats or Bulgar and adding dried fruit or honey to make them palatable.

Powdered Milk

We've been using lots of whole milk at our home lately since that's the only kind toddlers are supposed to consume. But when I cook, I hate to use it (calories!) and also we seem to go through it so fast I don't like to 'waste' it.

So I started using non-fat powdered milk in my baking and cooking excursions. I had a big box I used for my DIY Frappiccuino which is taking up space in my pantry. The instructions are on the side. Baked goods seem to turn out well when I substitute the reconstituted milk for the regular milk.

It is far cheaper and has less calories and fat than using whole milk. Also, if you were out of milk, it saves you a trip to the grocery store!

Bartering

I've seen several articles lately talking about bartering and how it was popular during the Great Depression. I am currently the beneficiary of a barter. (Not sure if 'barter' can be used as a noun. Any opinions?)

I needed a legal service. A friend is an attorney. She helped me out and saved me approximately $150/hour. I am making her some 'travel security blankets' for her little boy. (More on those in another post. I'm still working on them.)

I think more of us should be open to offering a service we're good at and enjoy doing as payment for other things. Some ideas besides legal services and sewing:

-Gardening or other lawn care
-Cutting down trees
-Oil changes or mechanical skills
-Cake baking
-Proof-reading
-Upholstery
-Ancestry Research
-Catering
-House Cleaning
-Babysitting
-Tailoring (I consider this way different than just sewing!)
-Pet-sitting
-Refinishing furniture

Any other ideas out there?

Make Giant Crayons

I love craft projects. I love colors.

It is only natural that I want my 14-month old son to learn to color.

I went to Target to buy him some crayons last week. I was shocked at how much the giant crayons cost. So I bought the skinny kind instead.

Result: He loves to throw them and try to put them in his mouth. He gets upset if I try to make him even tough the paper with one, let alone grab his hand and help him make marks on it!

After conferring with my mom, we've determined that his chubby little hands need the fat crayons. So I decided to make my own.

All you need is an oven, old crayons (or broken, paperless ones), and an old muffin tin.

I went to my favorite grocery store and bought two packages for $0.49 each. (They were on sale with the school supplies.)

I tore the paper off and broke them into pieces. I like things to match, so I grouped them by shade (but you don't have to do that):I put them in the oven at 215 degrees F for about 20 minutes (keep checking them...) They melted completely. Now let them cool and harden. Then dig them out with a knife. I ran a knife around the edges before they got too hard but I don't think I really needed to do that.
I'm not sure this project was worth the trouble. My son tried to eat these, too.

Saving on Health Care

It can be done. Our insurance has us pay 'co-insurance' in addition to the deductible we're responsible for each year. This allows them to only discount medical services members of our family receive, leaving us responsible for the discounted amount.

We've had some pretty hefty bills recently. Kids go to the doctor a lot. Vaccinations cost a lot. One ER visit can really add things up.

So I called the hospital and told them our insurance wasn't covering any of the remaining portion and asked for a discount. The worst they could say was 'no'. But they said yes. And I received a 25% discount on one bill and a 35% discount on the other.

Just ask.

Ask a Friend!

Three questions to ask a friend:

1) "Do you have ______?*" Quit buying stuff a friend might have in his/her basement and be willing to let you borrow, sell for cheap or give away for free? (Example: shelving, mattress, camping equipment, grill, plastic storage containers, pots & pans...) I'm getting a free mattress from my aunt. Plus, she's sending along sheets and a mattress protector! I had to buy a frame. Had I asked enough friends, I may have come up with a free one!

Our digital camera met an untimely partial demise (short version: the auto function no longer works, but the manual one does, but that takes bad picture; take home message: water and cameras don't mix) and I happened to post this on facebook (that I was mad I had ruined the camera) and a friend is supplying us with their old one! Talk about being glad I asked a friend...

2) "Would you like to clean ______?" I would rather clean someone else's home than my own. Swap cleaning with a friend!

3) "Are you free ______?" Swap babysitting with a friend!

*We've been able to help others with several things: a coffee maker (we got a new one), a GPS (I had been given one as a gift after purchasing one, so we had two), and I let a friend borrow some baby gear needed during the newborn stage that we barely used.

Getting Rid of Ants

I hope you don't have ants. But if you do have some ants marching 1x1 or 2x2 around your house, you can sprinkle some Borax or boric acid along their trail. It will help get rid of them and is less expensive than buying something special from the store to get rid of them.

Used Fabric Softener Sheets

Save them for:

~Deodorizing shoes
~Dust cloths
~Deodorizing cars

Save Money on Soap

My husband always leaves soap remnants in the shower. I always throw them away. It's like a game now. But this is what we SHOULD have been doing with them to make new soap!

1. Collect the pieces of soap. Put them in a zip-top bag. Store them in a cool, dry place.

2. When the bag is full, put the pieces into a double boiler and slowly melt them.

3. Pour the melted soap into a nonstick baking dish.

4. When cool, cut into rectangles and wrap them in plastic wrap.

Now that is frugal.

A Clothing-Purchasing "Diet"

I just saw this article in the NY Times. It outlines two different plans for clothing oneself:

A) Don't buy new clothing for a year (with exceptions of socks and underwear)
B) Only wear six items from one's closet for a month. This will help compulsive shoppers realize that they don't need all the items they own and buy.

I am by no means a compulsive shopper, but I do enjoy purchasing new clothing. Since having a baby, I've been focusing on acquiring clothes for free or low cost (ie the clearance racks at Target or online from Land's End, from a friend's cast-offs, or by using gift cards from saved-up credit card points).

Some behaviors that have helped me stay under my clothing budget this year:

1) I leave the tags on as long as possible to determine if I really wanted the item or if I just wanted the experience of buying the item. If it is the latter, I return it.

2) I avoid buying clothing with prints. I'd rather purchase basic items. (I wear lots of black).

3) I don't buy things that need to be dry-cleaned. This eliminates a lot of clothing purchase options! (However, I don't work outside the home right now so I'm really not wearing suits or dresses which would likely require dry cleaning.)

4) Price adjustments at Target. Twice in the past 3 months have I purchased something and a week later it went on sale.

5) Asking myself, "Do I really need this?" Most often, the answer is "NO", so I keep my money. What a great way to be frugal!

6) Coupons! Target had a coupon in a magazine I frequently read...Famous Footwear had an online coupon I used...Macy's, Penney's and Kohls often have coupons. I save them in case I need them. Coupons are most useful when you can use them on clearance items.

7) Borrowing maternity clothing from friends. I also loaned out my maternity clothing to these same friends.

Drying Herbs

I started a small herb garden this year. Very small. But I love it. Instead of buying herbs, I can now just get them from my yard!

But what can I do to dry them and preserve them for winter?

Freezing: Some herbs are best preserved by freezing. Specifically, basil, cilantro, parsley & chives. I'm going to just put them in ziploc bags and put them in the freezer.

Air Dry: More specific instructions for air drying are to cut them at the stem, tie a string around them and hang them upside down until the leaves are crumbly. (Avoid crumbling the leaves, though as they hold more flavor before crumbling. Don't take them off the stems or crumble til you're ready to use them.) Store them away from heat and light for up to a year.

Frugal and yummy.

Time Savers

-Keep the same glass all day. Saves time & dishwasher space. Mark it with one of those oil pencils used in chemistry labs if necessary!
-Use a few different laundry baskets in your room. One is for whites, one is for colors, and one for delicates.
-Put your junk mail straight into the trash instead of setting it on the counter.
-Buy birthday cards in bulk. Address them while you're thinking about it. Put them in a stack, and send them out once a month.
-Put a piece of bread into your brown sugar container. This keeps it moist and helps it not form small rocks (you know what I mean!)
-Brush your teeth in the shower. I used to do this in college. It saved me time!
-Moisturize your cuticles with baby oil. Cheap and easy and makes your nails shiny.
-Do bicep curls with large cans of soup while you wait for water to boil in the kitchen.

Sweet Potatoes for Babies

My little guy loves sweet potatoes. I found it is far cheaper to make them myself from whole yams than to buy them in the tiny packages already pureed.

I used to peel, steam, and puree the sweet potatoes.

WOW ... I was wasting my time. A lady @ my MOPS table clued me in:

1. Rinse sweet potatoes
2. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork
3. Bake in 350 degree oven for 60-80 minutes.
4. Cool for 20 minutes.
5. The skins peel right off.
6. Mash with a fork or potato masher*.
7. Freeze.

*One would likely want to puree with some water in a blender
 for younger babies or for babies who dislike lumps or the stringiness I've found to be typical of sweet potatoes.

Foaming Hand Soap

I love foamy hand soap. I just found out that you can make it yourself!! Since it is more expensive, I don't usually buy it.

First, you're going to have to buy the foamy soap so you can save the bottle (you need the nozzle for the foam).

Next, you'll need your regular liquid dish soap or liquid hand soap. In the empty foamy bottle, combine 1-2 Tablespoons of dish soap and fill the rest of the bottle up with water (leave a little space at the top). Shake it slightly, not too much or it will overflow.

Shopping for Clothing

I have a love/hate relationship with shopping. I used to love to shop. That was back in high school & even college, when my mom bought me clothes and would patiently wait while I tried on 10 different items and found out that no jeans fit my 5'10" frame and all the skirts were too short to wear to school. When something did fit, it was often purchased at full price. (I have a generous mother.)

That changed when I got married and started spending my own money. I can't remember the last time I purchased something at full price, let alone a whole outfit or a dress at full price. Heck, I can't remember the last time I went shopping at a mall!

A few shopping secrets that help me keep my family's clothing under budget each year:

1) Shop toward the end of the season. Things are often on sale or clearance. Try shopping after things have been returned after Christmas.
2) Start with the back of the store. Check out the items on clearance.
3) Shop often, but rarely buy.
4) Buy basics. I have very few patterned clothing in my closet. I wear a lot of black & white or other solids. That way I can wear them year after year and they don't look 'trendy'.
5) Don't buy something you don't LOVE. You won't wear it.
6) Don't buy things that don't fit. You'll be sorry.
7) Don't be afraid to return things. I usually don't wear a purchase right away. I let it sit in my drawer (ok, on TOP of the dresser, because I hate to put things away) for about a week to think about it. I change my mind a lot. Save your receipt. See my tips on sticking to a budget.
8) If you are going to order online, make sure you order from somewhere that grants free shipping. Also, make sure you can return it to the brick & mortar store or ship it back for free. Sometimes I order multiple sizes of a certain item. I return what I don't want.

And this is off the clothing topic, but while we're thinking about the mall, if you're going to buy something at Bath & Body Works, PLEASE don't pay full price! Just wait and buy what you want during their semi-annual sales in June and right after Christmas! They practically give things away during these times.

Old Cell Phones

You can recycle your old cell phones and get paid. There are a number of sites out there, and this is just one, but try yourenew.com.

They provide a shipping label so you don't have to pay to send it to them.

Obviously, the more you paid for the phone in the first place, the more it is worth after you've beat it up for a year or two.

Books as Frugal Gifts

We've been invited to lots of weddings over the past few years. We haven't always had much money to purchase a gift. Instead of giving a gift card (a good, easy gift) we have often purchased a book we enjoyed for the couple. We sometimes have written notes to the couple in the front of the book.

I feel like that makes a really great gift which conveys our thoughts and wishes yet doesn't leave us bankrupt.

What are some other frugal, yet thoughtful gift ideas?

Deodorizing Carpet

Our carpet took quite a few hits over the course of the first 10 months of our baby's life. In other words, he spit up a lot. His doctor assured us it was normal, just in case anyone out there was wondering.

We could pay a carpet cleaning service $150+ to remove the odors. We may have to have them come eventually to remove the stains...more on that in another post.

But using baking soda is a far less expensive option for odor removal. Simply dust it onto the carpet before vacuuming, leave it for an hour, and then vacuum it up.

Another great way to keep dirt and toxins out of your home is to take off your shoes!! I don't like wearing shoes in my home anyway. Think about all the stuff on your shoes...tar, oil, antifreeze, salt, lawn chemicals...we have a crawling baby, so I sure don't want that stuff on his hands and in his mouth!!

Road Trip Savings

1. Don't pack extra stuff. Every 100 pounds of gear can reduce fuel efficiency by 1-2%. That adds up.

2. Do pack a cooler with food. Plan your meals on the road to be picnic-style and pack sandwiches, fruit, pre-cut veggies, and yogurt. Drink water. (Or drink coffee as needed.)

3. Bring along a travel coffee mug. Most coffee shops give a $0.10 discount if you have your own mug. That can add up depending on your coffee requirements!

4. Check gasbuddy.com for gas deals along the way.

5. Consider camping out at a public campground along the way instead of staying in a hotel.

6. If you do go to a hotel, find out if they offer free breakfast.

7. Rent books on tape from your local library.

8. No GPS? Borrow one from a friend.