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15 reasons I will be happy this Earth Day

frugalissafinds — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

This Earth Day, I'm happy that...

...reusable bags are all the rage and that grocery stores are starting to give them away for free. Some stores like CVS and Target give you cents off for each bag you use.

...I can buy store brand organic products for much less than national brand organics. I'm not so happy when only the wealthy can afford to be green.

...my Target brand cereal box has been revamped to include 50% post-consumer recycled content and that they've done away with the inner bag all together. Hooray for store brands taking the lead!

...the combination of higher diaper prices and killer diaper deals has meant you can get greener disposables like Seventh Generation for the same price as Pampers or Huggies.

...all the press that cloth diapering has gotten in the last couple years and that it's easier and more appealing than ever to make the switch. I loved cloth diapering my daughter for 2 years and she was quite stylish in her dipes. Cloth Diapers these days are not what we had 10-20 years ago with pins.

...I use mostly all-natural, biodegradable cleaning products. No more toxins in my home.

...I am using more glass storage containers rather than plastic. I am not completely convinced BPA or other harmful chemicals are gone from plastic.

...my kids have metal drinking cups for when we are out and instead of plastic sippy cups.

...our family is going to be a part of a community garden so we can get our veggies and fruits for free and they are organically grown.

...I can shop at local farmers markets and try to buy local as much as I can.

...I recycle a lot of our household products curbside for free with my waste management company. Most cities offer it for free. Does yours?

...I use wrap n mats instead of ziploc bags and we use our laptop lunch boxes when we are not home to eat. We try to make meals waste-free.

...I buy most if not all my kids clothes/toys and shoes at consignment sales. I try to buy second hand as much as I can on most anything. I love garage/yard sales for that purpose. We still stay quite fashionable and still have all the cool toys and books.

...I resell and buy books, CDs and DVDs at book stores thus reducing and reusing.

...more and more people are going green and wanting to save the Earth. It can save you a lot of green too. Let's do this every day and not just focus on it one day out of the year.

Melissa Cox aka-Frugalissa is a wife and mom to 2 elementary aged children. Her motto is "Frugal does not mean I have to be cheap". She is into natural living, being green and tries to feed her family healthy, wholesome food while still couponing and saving a buck or two. She teaches workshops where she teaches people how to coupon, save money and make their dollars stretch. She is also an advocate for teaching people to give to those in need through couponing. She writes the blog Frugalissa Finds and is a Savings.com DealPro.

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4 tips to get your child to do their chores

debtfreespending — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

There's nothing more aggravating than hearing a child say "no!" when you ask them to pick up their toys after a play date. Sometimes it's hard to hide the fact that you're fuming at the embarrassment of your child talking back, especially in front of your friends.

Teaching your children how to complete chores, or perform tasks that you demand can be extremely stressful depending on the personality of your child.

There are several ways to tame the Chore Chart and help your child want to be on your clean-up team!

I always hear parents say, "If he had been my first child, he would have been my only one." I was one of the lucky ones who started out with a strong-willed child.

From the age of two, my son asserted his independence daily by demonstrating that he wanted to be in charge. It has been a roller coaster at times trying to teach him that there can't be several chiefs in the family. These next few tips are pieces of advice that I use as tools to help tame chore time in our house.

1. Start early. There are many things I regret not starting earlier: making my son eat more vegetables, not allowing him to sleep in our bed, and the list goes on. However, we tried to help our son see early on that our family was a team, and that each team member has responsibilities.

Chores are simply teaching your child to be responsible for themselves and their belongings. However, they must also be developmentally appropriate. If you're going to start very young, this may be as simple as picking up toys after a play date. Because most children have a short attention span, this may mean that mom and dad pick up two toys for every one toy picked up by the child.

As the child grow older, these responsibilities can grow with them. Once our son was old enough to take a bath independently, we taught him to put his dirty clothes in the laundry basket. Once he was tall enough to reach the drawers, he began helping set the table. We also have three dogs, so he learned fairly early how to feed them and let them in and out of the house. Again, teaching them to be responsible at an early age will help them build confidence and self-esteem as they get older.

2. Consistent, consistent, consistent. Whether I'm teaching in my classroom or at home, my grandmother's words will live with me as long as I live (She has certainly said them enough). Children thrive with routine and consistency. They need to know your expectations, and try to remember that they can't read your mind. You might be thinking you want your child to put a knife, fork, and spoon at the table when you tell them "Please set the table." However, most children don't use a knife, so you may need to train them on your expectations for place settings.

Try to keep the expectations the same each week for their responsibilities, and don't change the expectations without explaining that to them first. My students come in my room each day and expect the lesson to go "as usual." However, there are times where time constraints, technology, or illness can make that almost impossible. They really struggle when I don't stick to the normal routine (I've even had very confused looks with this before!). If this is a child who is only with me for 30 minutes a day (I'm a remedial teacher), I can only imagine how much our children struggle at home when we change the expectations on them without telling them first. Remember, it helps to be consistent!

3. Financial Advantage. We are really training our children for the workforce when we teach them how to complete chores. Most people don't like to work for free, unless their position is a calling such as ministry, missionary work, etc. Working is also how we provide things like clothes, food and transportation for our families. An allowance should always be tied to chores because it's our child's form of a paycheck. Children learn that with hard work and responsibility comes a reward.

Our son uses his chore allowance for the extra things he would like when we're out shopping. His new fascination with a particular eraser that comes with little game cards run about $3.99 at a local department store. There have been a few weeks where he's had to make tough decisions about whether to buy the pack, or save his money for a LEGO set that he wants. I feel that a chore allowance will help us teach our son how to manage his finances as he grows older.

4. The Chore Chart. Many families opt for an actual chore chart to keep track of their child's responsibilities. The number of chores should be realistic for your child's age and developmental growth. Some children can handle 3-4 chores a day at six years old. However, not all children are that mature. You will have to set reasonable goals for how many chores your child can complete on a daily basis. As far as the actual chart, I have seen everything from elaborate, wooden charts, to a free printable chart from the internet. It's not really about the chart, it's about being consistent with your expectations and making sure your child sees your family as a team, and that it's their team.

Stephanie Brandt is a teacher by day, and a blogger by night at debtfreespending.com. She writes about family, fun, and all things frugal!

(Source: Savings.com)
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The 411 on raising responsible and happy children

SavingsMommie — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 17:00:00 GMT

Parenting is one of the hardest but most rewarding jobs in the world. Unless you're a parent, you really don't know what a parent goes through. I remember after having my oldest daughter, people would often times ask me what I did. When I told them that I was a stay-at-home mom, they would proceed to ask me again what I did for a living. Just to clarify, the people asking these questions were not parents themselves.

Of course, now that my kids are older, I do have a "fulltime" job, but that does not take the weight off in parenting because it is a 24-7 effort. When you're parenting, there are so many pieces to the puzzle. You have to make sure your kids are well-fed, healthy, happy, learning, respectful, listening, cooperative and the list goes on and on. It goes beyond your selfishness, as their well-being is in your hands. Oprah once said, "I always say moms have the toughest job in the world if you're doing it right." This statement rings true to me (I must say that this is true for dads as well).

As parents, we're always looking for great resources to help us along the way. I've compiled the 411 on everything from potty training your child to having them earn their own income.

Potty train your child in just one day

I believe this is every parent's dream. My kids were both dreams. They actually threw their diapers off and started sitting on the potties by themselves (I was actually the one that was not ready). From what I hear from family and friends, this is not the norm. To keep this an appetizing read, I will forgo the details that some of my friends said that they've endured. If you are in the process of potty training your child, Brittany of The Prudent Patron has a few tips that will have your child potty trained in just one day. Yes, it is possible! The icing on the cake is that you'll be saving a ton of money not having to purchase those diapers.

Paying it forward

I am all about giving back to our community. We are not the only ones that live in this world and no matter how hard times are, there's always someone that has it harder. Both my parents dedicated their lives to helping people from all backgrounds and I've carried that on with me to teach my own children the same lessons I grew up with. For our family, we've been sponsoring a child for almost 2 years in Africa to afford her a solid education that will someday get her and her family out of poverty.

Melissa of This Mommy Saves More also shares her proudest moment as a mom when her son pays it forward. She talks about the importance of how family bonding time is priceless and approaching the holidays differently by taking items that her family no longer needs to a local mission. To me, that sounds like a great holiday plan.

Spending quality time as a family

It's true that we all live very busy lives and sometimes wonder where all the time went. One of the best parts about being a parent is finding the joys in the little moments that we share with our children.

While group time with the family is great, I also set aside one-on-one time with each of my children. It gives them the personalized attention that they need. They're always happier and it's as simple as taking them to get Jamba Juice and talking about what they did at school or what they want to do on the weekend, etc.. You can also try one of the 50 summer bucket list activities that Jen of Thrifty NW Mom does with her own kids or try Alea of Premeditated Leftovers' frugal family fun ideas.

Healthier, safer and more successful school year

If your child is healthy, happy and safe, you'll also be a happier mom/dad. There is nothing like trying to wake up your child to go to school because they've slept late the night before or dealing with the entire family being sick from something that was brought home from school. We can all relate! With these tips from Lea Ann of Mommy's Wish List, your child with have a healthier, safer and more successful school year and that equates to overall family happiness.

If you're a homeschooling parent, Kristie of Saving Dollars and Sense shares her tips for avoiding homeschool pitfalls. Stay away from the three pitfalls she mentions and you will be a happier homeschooling parent.

Teaching your kids financial responsibility

It's never too young to teach your kids about money. Whether it's saving, budgeting or tithing, the younger they learn, the higher likelihood that it'll become second nature to them when their friends are just starting to figure things out.

Mary of Mission to Save has a really fun but simple way to teach your kids about money. It's called Commission for Kids. If you don't work, you don't get paid. Instead of giving allowances which requires no work or effort, commissions are given after work is accomplished which instills hard work at a young age.

If you have teenaged children, they can also find jobs as babysitters, pet sitters, tutors and more. Here are some ideas for teens to earn extra money compiled by Lori of More with Less Today. I will encourage both my daughters to get a job as soon as they can because it really teaches them the value of a dollar and although it's very easy to spend it, it's harder to earn it.

(Source: Savings.com)Add a Comment

7 tips for raising 7 children

TheHappyHousewife — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Having a big family is like supersizing life. It's more of everything- the good and the bad. I never grew up wanting a big family, but since I have one I've learned it means you are totally outnumbered for the rest of your life. Forget man-to-man defense, forget playing zone. It's like David vs Goliath, and you're the little guy.

Having a big family can be a supersized helping of fun as well. Here are seven tips for raising seven kids.

1. You will never have enough food, so shop smart and make a plan.

Kids eat, and big kids eat even more. You will spend a large amount of your time as a mom of many making food for your family. You will go to the grocery store, spend $400, and open the fridge three days later to find it practically empty. You can go broke feeding a half dozen (or more) little people every day.

Menu planning is the key to staying within the grocery budget. Plan breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for maximum savings, shop the sales, buy in bulk, use coupons, and eat more whole foods to save money. Teach your kids when they are young to eat grown up food. If not you'll go broke buying fast food and frozen food at the grocery store. Picky eaters can sabotage the grocery budget.

Make a meal plan and shopping list and stick to it. You'll still spend a lot of money every month on food, but at least it won't go to waste and you won't be making unplanned trips to the store.

2. Paper products are your friends.

Paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, kleenex, and paper plates are a mother of many's best friend. I care about the environment, but my sanity is more important. I find other ways to waste less so I can use disposable products several times a week. Stock up on these items whenever you find a sale or a coupon. You will always need them and you will never have enough.

3. Teamwork wins every time.

When I was a mom of two kids I found it much easier to do things myself. Letting the kids "help" just took more time and energy. When I was outnumbered, I realized the kids needed to learn basic housekeeping skills, if nothing else to pick up after themselves.

Now that I've learned that even young children are capable of putting their clothes away, loading dishes, and doing basic clean up, I regret now that I didn't encourage my older children to clean up after themselves at an earlier age. While it is tough initially to teach your young children to pick up, it isn't fun to pick up after a teenager. Teamwork - the earlier the better.

4. Get a schedule and be willing to toss it.

It takes a bit of organization to raise seven kids, between school, sports, dance, friends, and keeping them clothed and fed. Creating a schedule and meal plan can bring order to a somewhat chaotic house. But don't let the schedule rule you or your family. Be willing to toss it and and live in the moment every once in a while. Your kids will remember those "moments" above anything else when they grow up.

5. You can't save everything.

For many years I saved every outfit, pair of shoes, broken crayon, markers that could be revived, scraps of paper that could be re-purposed, and lot of other things. I thought I was being thrifty, but really I was headed to being featured on an episode of hoarders.

I've found that when people realize you have a big family they want to give you their hand-me-downs. I love second hand clothes, but I've also been overwhelmed by the amount of stuff we have in our house and in storage. Keep some things and pass along the rest. Even though you might be saving a small amount of money re-purposing and reusing everything you have or have been given, you will spend a ton of time doing it.

Less is more, especially when you have a bunch of kids to raise.

6. The oldest children are not mini parents.

In our family we often pair kids up so they can help one another. This happens frequently on vacations or when we need to get out the door in a hurry. Older children do a great job of helping their younger siblings tie shoes, put on sweaters, pack a snack, or find a beloved toy.

It is important to remember that older children are still children. While we encourage our children to help one another and care for one another, they don't need to set rules, enforce them, or raise their siblings. That's our job and it isn't fair to the oldest kids to put them in the position of parent. Oldest children in big families tend to be super responsible and helpful, but make sure they are still getting a lot of "be a kid" time while growing up.

7. Nothing lasts forever.

Eventually they all learn to use the potty, stop sucking their thumb, stop waking up several times a night, and all those other things that can make parenthood seem a long and sometimes lonely road. Eventually they grow up and out of some of the less endearing stages of life. Enjoy the little things in the rough moments and realize that one day you will wish they were still small enough to rock to sleep.

One of the most important things I've learned over the past eighteen years applies to parents, no matter how many children are in their family.

Relax. You aren't going to get everything right. You will make a bunch of mistakes. Your kids will forgive you and love you.

When I stopped stressing out about every single aspect of my kids' lives, I became a much more fun mom. I want my kids to remember that I was the mom that let them play with play-doh, stay up past their bedtime every once in a while, read an extra book or two, paint their own room, let them grow their hair out, listened to their music, and stayed up late talking to them no matter how tired I was.

Parenthood is a journey. Enjoy it.

Toni Anderson is the founder of The Happy Housewife, where she blogs about practical ways to live well, save more and have fun. Toni is a military wife and stay-at-home (schooling) mom to seven kids. She is also a Savings.com DealPro and teaches Savings Nation workshops that help people learn how to save up to 50% off their grocery bills.

(Source: Savings.com)Add a Comment

6 easy organization tips you can do

frugalissafinds — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

(photo credit: Coco + Kelley)

I am on a quest to get my house organized. In my search for ideas and a better system I found some great ideas via Pinterest.

1. Place shower rings onto a hanger to keep your scarves organized.

(Source: Be Different Act Normal)

2. Use a carbineer to keep your ponytail holders organized.

3. Put all your family photos on a CD for each year to save and also free up space on your computer.

(Source: Chez Larsson)

4. Organize a plastic dresser and use labels for the days of the week. Not only will this keep your kid's clothes organized, but it can also teach young children about the days of the week.

(Source: Playground Duty)

5. This tip is great for organizing AND donating to those in need. On the first of the month, turn all of your hangers backwards (facing the wall). In six months, whatever is still turned backwards, donate!

(Source: Ray and Jen)

6. Use shoe organizer on the back of a door to store kid's school and craft supplies.

(Source: Attempting Aloha)

Melissa Cox aka-Frugalissa is a wife and mom to 2 elementary aged children. Her motto is "Frugal does not mean I have to be cheap". She is into natural living, being green and tries to feed her family healthy, wholesome food while still couponing and saving a buck or two. She teaches workshops where she teaches people how to coupon, save money and make their dollars stretch. She is also an advocate for teaching people to give to those in need through couponing. She writes the blog Frugalissa Finds and is a Savings.com DealPro.

(Source: Savings.com)
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4 tips to organizing your home and life

SavingsMommie — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:25:00 GMT

(photo credit: Rubbermaid.com)

Whether you're in the middle of your Spring cleaning or you're done with it, once the useless stuff is out of the closets and your homes, it's time to organize, organize and organize!

Organizing your home could have many different meanings to you depending on your lifestyle. It could be as simple as putting your shoes in order or as complex as getting your last 5 years of tax receipts and categorizing it alphabetically by category and year (for me this is difficult).

Whatever organizing means to you, we've got 4 tips that will help you along the way:

Kitchen is the heart of the home

The congregating area of the home is your kitchen. Whether it's cooking dinner to having a party, almost everyone who comes to your home will have access to your kitchen. It's more the reason to keep it in tip top condition and functional.

If you're unsure on where to start, use these tips on how to organize your kitchen from Lynette at Cleverly Simple. She mentions using things you already have to keep things in order and also identifying problem areas.

While you're organizing, you may also want to take inventory on your stockpile. A stockpile is essentially a large amount of goods and items that you have on hand. If you don't have a stockpile or intimidated on starting your own, learn how to create a stockpile with these tips from Sarah at Deals in the Mitten.

Kids rooms can be organized on a very little budget

I don't come across many organized children's rooms. If I do, 9 times out of 10, they have a wonderful housekeeper that comes once a week to make it look picture perfect. I don't know about you, but I don't have the funds to hire someone to do the hard work for me. With these tips from Sia at Thrifty NW Mom, you can organize your kids rooms on a frugal budget. Look at the before and after pictures because it says everything about organizing.

Garage is where the man's heart is or even a woman's

A garage is one of those rooms that has many uses. Some people use it as storage, some use it as a studio and some actually still use it for their cars. In my home, it's turned into a fantastic space to store unwanted goods that have not sold at a yard sale and also a place for my husband to place his tools on display.

While it's such a wonderful space, it can get messy pretty fast. In order to avoid the chaos that can quickly happen, use these garage organization tips from Karen from Saving the Family Money.

Organize and manage your own life

Now that we've covered the important areas of your home, let's address your life. While we all talk about cleaning out the closets, a lot of us forget about organizing and reflecting on our own lives. To get you started, here is a free weekly planner that helps manages all areas of your life from Cassie at The Thrifty Couple.

Hope you're either getting your Spring cleaning done or moved on to organizing your home and your life. In order to save money along the way, use these DIY cleaning recipes from Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring and organizing on a dime tips from Ultimate Coupon Club to help you. Here's to organizing frugally!

(Source: Savings.com)Add a Comment

Inexpensive Easter makeover: Tips you need to know

SavingsMommie — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 17:00:00 GMT

(photo: Getty Images)

It's Easter Sunday this weekend! While Easter can become a very costly holiday, like anything in life, you can drastically reduce the costs by making some small changes and doing things yourself.

From your basket to your dinner, with these easy Easter makeover tips you can cut costs to stay on or below your budget:

The budget-friendly Easter basket

Easter baskets can be very costly. However, if you follow these 8 tips on how to put together a Easter basket on a budget from Northern Cheapskate, your basket will be pocketbook friendly. You should also think outside of the box when you think of inexpensive ways to fill an Easter basket like Thrifty Tiff and/or consider these 32 cheap kids Easter basket ideas from Sami Cone. From hair ties to lip balm, these items can all fill a basket nicely and be reused.

Fun inexpensive Easter activities

Growing up, I use to look forward to all the activities that I got to participate in during Easter. From crafts to egg coloring to egg hunting, I loved it all. Here are some really fun activities that you can do with your children:

Free Easter Coloring Pages by I am THAT Lady
Make Cascarones (eggs filled with confetti) by Mommy's Wish List
Whimsical glowing eggs and Easter egg hanging banner by The Ultimate Coupon Club
Easy Easter Chick craft by A Frugal Chick

Frugal Do-It-Yourself Easter decorations

If you're hosting an Easter celebration at your home, you'll want to primp up your home to make it look festive and in line with the holiday. With a little inspiration and your local dollar store, you can give your home that designer touch.

Take a look at this $7 Easter centerpiece that was made by The Coupon Challenge. Not only is it beautiful, it was very cheap to make and only took 25 minutes. If you want to try something different, this Easter Grass Wreath from Deals in the Mitten is unique and cute. It did take her 2 hours to make, but she can always reuse it for years to come!

Easter dinner on a budget

Are you hosting Easter dinner? If you are, the costs can add up very quickly! However, with these tips from Premeditated Leftovers, you can create an Easter dinner for under $30. From planning recipes around items you already have in your panty to cooking things you actually like (yes, cook foods that you want to eat!), you can cut costs drastically.

If you need some recipe ideas, check these out:

Easy Resurrection Rolls by Saving the Family Money
Homemade Peeps by Little House Living
Sunflower Peeps Cake by Saving Dollars & Sense
Empty Tomb Cookies by Frugalissa Finds
Little Chick Cupcake Bites by Thrifty NW Mom

Spend a little less on Easter this year and still have fun! If you haven't gotten your Easter Sunday best ready to go, look at these Easter dresses for girls and Easter outfits for boys for some fashion inspiration. Have a Happy Easter and remember to save me some chocolate bunnies!

(Source: Savings.com)Add a Comment

Spring gardening in a cold climate

AleaMilham — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Are you still waking up to frost? Or even worse, snow? Do you believe that the rumors of spring have been greatly exaggerated? While spring may not have arrived to your region yet, it is still possible to start your garden now.

Why would you consider starting a garden when you are still wearing long johns? First, you can't get any more local than your backyard. Second, you have complete control over how your produce is grown, so you know exactly what was used on your fruits and vegetables. Finally, eating homegrown produce is a great way to save on your grocery bill.

Here are some tips for starting a spring garden in a cold-climate:

Pick cold-hardy plants. There are a number of vegetables that can survive cold weather; many can even survive a light snow. Cold hardy vegetables can be planted 4 - 6 weeks before your last frost date. Vegetables that can survive a hard frost include: peas, radish, spinach, turnips, broccoli, arugula, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, onions, parsley, and some varieties of Swiss chard.

Semi-hardy vegetables that can survive a light frost can be planted 2 -3 weeks before your last frost. Semi-hardy vegetables include: beets, carrots, cauliflower, celery, lettuce, parsnips, and potatoes.

Your plants are more likely to thrive, if you start your seeds inside and then harden off the seedlings before planting them outside. I recommend starting them in a larger sized container like a recycled yogurt cup, so the roots have room to develop and you can let the seedling grow to be several inches high before transplanting them outside.

Grow perennials. Planting cold-hardy perennials is an easy way to ensure a productive garden with a minimal amount of work. Consider adding these perennials to your garden: rhubarb, asparagus, chives, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, and blueberries.

Use a cloche to protect plants from a spring snow storm or hard frost. You don't have to buy expensive glass cloches; you can make a cloche yourself by recycling a translucent plastic or glass container such as a milk jug or juice container.

Use a cold frame. If you want to start semi-hardy or tender plants early, you can do so in a cold frame or under row covers.

Put your garden on wheels. You may want to consider starting your garden in a wagon or wheel barrow. You can roll it outside on warm days and then roll it back into the shed or garage when the temperature drops below freezing.

Starting a cold-climate garden in early spring requires a little more effort and planning, but you are likely to find the effort is worth the savings to your grocery bill.

Alea Milham shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home at Premeditated Leftovers. She also shares the latest deals and coupons at Saving in Nevada. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes.

(Source: Savings.com)

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5 ways to garden on a budget

SavingsMommie — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:00:00 GMT

(photo: Thrifty NW Mom)

It's time to roll up your sleeves, get your gardening face on and head to your own yard or maybe even your kitchen. But...what if you have no clue on where to start or what to do? Is there a book on gardening for dummies? I'm sure there are, but no need to spend more money than you have to.

If you're a newbie like myself, you might make the mistake of spending a ton of money to get all your gardening materials and then being overwhelmed. Like anything, you want to take it step-by-step and try to take on a smaller project that's not going to break the bank.

Here are 5 ways to garden on a budget:

Gardening 101: The basics

Are you a newbie? Or do you need a refresher course on gardening? You must check out Gardening 101 by Merissa from Little House Living. She takes you through the step-by-step process from setting up a garden to gardening on a budget.

Start seeds indoor on a budget

You don't need a garden to start seeds. You can start them indoors a few weeks before they're suppose to be planted outdoors. In order to keep costs down, you can use your saved up egg carton, yogurt carton and milk jug to get the process started. According to Christina from Northern Cheapskate, starting seeds indoors should cost little or no money. If you're a newbie, this is probably the first step to gardening that's not going to scare you.

Reuse old items to make garden art

Did you ever go to a botanical garden or some garden at a museum and thought, "wow, how did they do that?" I've done that many times, but never pursued the thought of doing it in my own garden because I was completely intimidated. Sia from Thrifty NW Mom shows us how to reuse old shoes for garden art. This is easy for all level of gardeners and since you're reusing things you already have, it costs very little to do.

Grow your own avocado tree from a seed

I love avocados! The thought of having my own avocado tree makes me smile considering the fact that I eat 2 whole avocados a day. With the advice of Brittany from The Prudent Patron, you can now grow your own avocado tree with the seed leftover from your eaten avocado.

Frugal solutions to protect your garden

Now that you've worked so hard to garden, you need to protect those flowers from staying in your garden and keep growing and thriving. Rather than buying products that help keep the animals at bay, Alea from Premeditated Leftovers shares with us her frugal rabbit deterrents that won't cost too much and will still get the job done.

Gardening can be lots of fun as long as you don't overwhelm yourself. It can be a great way to spend time with your family. Once I'm more confident with my gardening skills, I'll be trying to make the Sweetpea TeePea shown on Saving Dollars and Sense. Happy gardening!

(Source: Savings.com)Add a Comment

4 smarter ways to save on your groceries sans coupons

SavingsMommie — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:00:00 GMT

(photo credit: Premeditated Leftovers)

I'm always looking for new ways to save on groceries because its not always just about the coupons. Like playing a video game, you can have multiple strategies to come out a winner!

It's all about planning, strategizing and putting those into action. While it can be as simple as using coupons and following the sales cycle, there's actually a whole lot more to it than that. With these tips from our DealPros, you can come out a big winner at saving on your groceries:

Buying bigger doesn't always mean cheaper

Have you every found yourself at a shopping aisle looking at a smaller product such as an 8 oz. can of tomatoes for 32 cents versus looking at a larger 15 oz. can for 67 cents. Should you buy two 8 oz. cans or buy one 15 oz. can? Which choice is cheaper? Laura of A Frugal Chick did this comparison and found that buying bigger doesn't always mean cheaper. She suggests you make sure you look at the price before grabbing things off the shelf.

Buy your favorite items at different aisles than where they are normally placed

Alea of Premeditated Leftovers shows where you can find your favorite products for a lot cheaper at different aisles of the store than where they are normally housed. For example, buy sesame seeds from the bulk foods bins instead of the spice aisle or buy artichoke hearts from the frozen section rather than the canned foods aisle. These small adjustments will not only will you save money, but you'll enjoy higher quality items for a lot less.

Don't get your groceries at the grocery store

If you don't get your groceries at the grocery store, where do you get it? Christina from Northern Cheapskate has a list of unconventional places to save on groceries. If you step out of your comfort zone of the traditional grocery shopping experience, you can save significantly at your convenience stores and even at garage sales.

Avoid falling into the grocery store trap

At some point, we've all fallen into one trap or another. By recognizing those traps we can fine tune our shopping experiences. Jennie of Bargain Blessings explains to us how we can avoid grocery store traps to start saving on our groceries.

When you look outside of the box, there are endless possibilities of ways you can save on groceries!

Want to learn more about how to save up to 50% on your groceries, join LearnVest & Savings.com for a live webinar on April 4th at 8pm EST.

(Source: Savings.com)Add a Comment

4 tips to make meal planning easier

SavingsMommie — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:00:00 GMT

How many of you want to save time and money, and still have a good meal on your table?

With our constant growing schedules, limited time and restricted budget, sometimes making time for a homemade meal sounds next to impossible. But lift your head up, shoulders straight and put your eyes on me. It is possible!

It's called meal planning.

Even if you're not a planning type of person, with these 4 tips from our network of DealPros, you should be well on your way to creating a satisfying meal, on time and on budget:

Start a menu plan - like anything in life, you need to make it a priority. If you're a newbie like myself, begin a meal plan with these tips from Saving Dollars and Sense. The whole process is simplified and less intimidating. If you get down to it, it only takes about 10 minutes to create a plan.

Use what you have - Don't overwhelm yourself by trying to re-stock you pantry, refrigerator and freezer with all new things. Look at what you have, see what's going to expire and create a meal plan from there. Using what you have is probably the simplest approach and one that The Coupon Challenge uses. If she needs additional ingredients for her meal that is not on-hand, she makes quick substitutions.

Meal planning with restrictions - Sometimes meal planning can be difficult if you have food allergies, sensitivities and more. Don't make it difficult on you. If you plan ahead like Little House Living, you can do freezer cooking in an hour. In one hour, she prepares one week's worth of gluten-free meal all ready to go.

Save money - I would be crazy not to say one of my reasons to create a meal plan is to save money. Learn how you can save money with meal planning with tips from The Prudent Patron. I always like to have a money jar put aside with the money that I saved. With that money, I allow myself to use it towards a spa day or even a family vacation (motivation is key).

Creating a meal plan will not only save you time, energy and money, you'll be in control. There's nothing like being a little sane during the week!

(Source: Savings.com)Add a Comment

5 tips to put a little spring in your spring cleaning

CleverlySimple — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 14:00:00 GMT

Spring cleaning is a special time of year. When the temperatures start to rise, the days get longer and the grass and trees turn green. It's a reminder to start cleaning the curtains, dusting hidden places in our homes and air out that winter air.

Sound like fun? Not exactly. Although spring cleaning is a happy time after the tasks are complete, it's not quite on my list of top fun things to do each year. But this year that is changing. I'm going to show you how to enjoy spring cleaning this year to accomplish a clean home.

Here are five tips to put a little spring in your spring cleaning.

Organize: Collect together your cleaning supplies and keep it simple. Have a small bucket filled with only the essential items such as sponges, all purpose cleaner, and towels. It is easy to transport what you need to clean anywhere in the house. It also makes quick clean-up when you are done. Organization is key to staying on task.
Make a List: Create a detailed list of items that need cleaned in your home. Once your list of tasks is in order, you'll know exactly what you're going to accomplish. Simply having the list in front of you will help ease any anxiety you might have. You'll know exactly what you need to accomplish.
Make a Plan: This year my sister-in-law and I are partnering to clean our houses. On the first Saturday we'll spend the entire day together cleaning her house. On the second Saturday we'll be at mine. We're going to help keep each other motivated. The time will pass much faster while we do the tasks together. Plus, it helps to have someone to make you throw things out. There's nothing like an impartial jury of your stuff.

If doing the entire list of tasks is not something you can squeeze into your schedule, designate one cleaning item to accomplish each day. One item may only take an hour or two. Once it is done, check it off your list and do something else the rest of the day you truly enjoy. In the course of a month, you'll be surprised how much cleaning you have accomplished and how a little time each day adds up to a lot of cleaning.
Turn Up the Tunes: Everything is more fun with music. Turn up your favorite tunes while you clean. It will keep you motivated and you might even move more quickly. If you are not into music, borrow an audio book from the local library or download that podcast you've been meaning to catch but have not had the time to listen to. Listening to a book while cleaning makes the time fly.
Reward Yourself: When your list is complete, reward your hard efforts by making or purchasing something new that reminds you that you have thoroughly cleaned your home. It can be new placemats, spring towels, curtains, soaps in the bathroom, candles, or even a special decoration. Adding something new to the home makes the house feel fresh and clean.

With these simple tips you'll add a little spring to your spring cleaning! You'll be enjoying a clean home in no time at all.

Lynette Rice is author of CleverlySimple.com and BuehlersDeals.com. She doesn't think saving money has to be complicated and shares her tips to help others keep it simple as they cleverly save. A stay at home mom to two growing boys, she uses her spare time to teach Savings Nation workshops to teach others how to save up to 50% off their grocery bill.

(Source: Savings.com)
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