So I love watching extreme couponing. I love reading blogs. Pinterest is my favorite site. One thing I am not afraid of is learning. I do not think my way is the right way all the time and that helps me be a good listener and learner. I am not stubborn. I am not selfish so that helps when it comes to where my money is going.
Today I wanted to do a blog on what I have learned since being on my own. Little tips that can help! Not all tips and things I am sharing will help with money,some are for the environment.. This is just a start. I hope to do quite a bit more. More photos. More tips. I am a pretty good orginizer so I would like to do a post on that.
Broken crayons- We re use and re use till nothing is left or close..then its time to crush down and bake...Making bigger crayons or neat shapes or what ever else I might do.
Dog bed. Hand made. Plus the old blankets I had laying around were placed inside. One end is snapped together so I can take the blankets out and wash the bed. Its huge when its all the way out. Fabric was free,old blankets were taking up room and Nakita needed a bed..ta da!
Jars make wonderful cups!! This one had salsa in it. Now my daughters favorite glass.
Crock pot=My life!! Okay okay close to my life...Its easy,its convenient and its big enough to make a meal for all of us. I will do a crock pot recipe every Wednesday! Working parents can do this. Do your kids get home before you? There are recipes that only take 2 hrs too cook,have them turn it on when they get home! Don't work? Still easy. Busy day? Put it on in the morning and forget about it.
We recycle. Saves us on our garbage! Every can,bottle,box,etc goes to the recyclables. We use less garbage bags. Plus we are helping the environment.
Store brand! Now I do recommend people try store brand or a cheaper brand first before committing to it. I will buy nothing but Windex. But most products are just as good as the expensive name brand. My mom always said "You are paying for the brand".
This is not easy for everyone...but I do not have a dryer. And if I did, I would not use it as often as everyone seems too. I hang my clothes on racks or outside. I am never behind on laundry so the speed of a dryer really does not effect anything. I do encourage you to atleast in summer hang your clothes out! You can put a rack on your porch if you have one as well. Many options. Some people will dry private clothes,which is understandable.
Hannafords. Around here they have certain days in the morning where they mark down their meats. I refuse to pay $3.99 or more for a lb of meat. Silly to me. With chicken I will pay no more then $1.99 a lb. Turkey bacon compared to pork bacon is a world wind difference in price. Now I know most of you will never convert lol but its an idea.
Home made items. My mom makes mittens for the kids. Helps a lot in winter. Not everyone can or knows someone talented enough but if you do take them up on it. Or learn. I have tried and failed many times.
Containers! I love them. I save almost everyone I get! I re use them, freeze hamburg in them,use them for my boyfriends lunch..leftovers.. I use them to organize drawers or closets. For pieces to kids toys...So much to do with them lol. I have never bot a container from the store.
Change! It adds up. Take it out of your pockets or car and place it in a jar or container. Watch it add up. You can even make one up for a specific reason like for a dinner out or Christmas. Ours is just for saving and one day we will count it or maybe might even need that money.
Rummage sales! Look or them! We get a lot of stuff at them for dirt cheap. Also around here we have whats called a SWAP. Its all free items that people go and donate. Its once a week,we have gotten a bunch of kid toys from there. Its lovely. I have also donated!
DIY PROJECTS!! I made these two items. For nothing. It cost me nothing. Tag Sales was involved. But see if a tag sale is all weekend....by Sunday they usually have a free box or table..which is where the seashells and frame came from... the jar I found in the woods on a walk. And the sand was again free. The drawing was done by my son. Fun! Sometimes you might need to spend some cash but its worth it and normally still cheaper.
Antiques as wall decorations? Yes please. Again tag sales and family members! this was my dads,so I paid nothing for it and it hangs over my washing machine. Very cute. Again its all about deals and negotiating or just plain looking.
Kitchen aid with attachments. Paid $100. Savings of about $250.00. Bought on a online site. They should have them in your area. Just look in the search engine on facebook.
Pasta. We eat a lot and I have a pasta maker that I just got and need to try but for now I will not spend more then a dollar on a box of pasta. Hannafords they are mostly 88 cents. I do spend a bit more on lasagna and pastas like that.
This is a hard one. Some people say that they have to use more of the cheap detergent to make up for it not cleaning well. I find that not the case,I buy the cheap not the cheapest but I use the same amount per load as I would with say Tide and it goes further because its a bigger container and way cheaper. This is the same with other products. Take the time to notice what you are doing. Take the time to do your math.
Here are a few examples of paying a bit more,pays you back in other ways down the road. The beginning of this summer I bought 98 cent gloves for the kids....
A.They were not water proof
B.They were not that warm.
C.They were ruined in about 3 wks.... So off I went to buy another pair. In the end I paid for a better quality and the gloves are lasting.
We were picking up stuff up for our guinea pig and there were so many houses for us to choose. One was cheaper and she could eat it. Well I got thinking that if she eats it we will be back to buy another one...which made it the same price as a plastic house for her,same size and all so we spent more so that we would not have to buy more then just one.
Cat food. I have 6 cats. Buying a small bag a week is ridiculous. I buy a 24lbs back of kit and kaboodle which is the cheap but not the cheapest and it lasts a month.
Tomorrow I will write about how I have kept my kids Birthday party under budget. My kids share a birthday,not twins but they are a yr to the day apart. I have 26 people coming. A handful of kids. Presents. Decorations. Etc. Its nothing fancy but I did it cheap and its going to be fun.
I will also be doing more posts on money saving and once again on Wednesdays,I will post a crock pot recipe!
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