38 Ways I Save Money

Put shampoo & conditioner in pump containers so it doesn’t flood out into kids’ hands.
Use cloth napkins.
Use more rags than paper towels.
Make our bread.
Pack kids’ lunches.
Keep milk to one glass at meals, refills are water.
Grow lots of goodies in our gardens.
Advocate simple fun when kids are bored.
Keep a good supply of board games and puzzles.
Save [...]

Frugal Friday: Wait

The question asked?  How do you save money.
I have two answers…both of them simple.  At least on the surface.
Using cash for daily/regular expenses like groceries, gas and household items has saved us tons of money!  I talked about it here.
Today though I would have to say waiting is on the top of my list.  Let’s [...]

Make-Do Monday: Hide TV Cords

The opening in our entertainment center is larger than the TV by several inches.  DVD player, VCR and cable boxes are on a shelf above the TV which means that you can see all those black cords above the TV running to the shelf above.  This has always bothered me a little but I just [...]

Make Do Monday: Rice Packs

We all got the seasonal flu shot in September.  My kids are really good about shots and things so that isn’t ever an issue for us, thank goodness.  The kids did, however, complain of sore arms afterwards.  I suggested the simple and frugal of course, telling them to move their arms to help keep them [...]

WFMW: Tea Bags

In August my son started his orthodontics adventure.  Currently all we needed to do was have 2 teeth pulled.  We’ll recheck in 6 months.  Not so bad.  Unless you have never had any work done at the dentist except the routine cleanings and exams.
The little guy was fairly nervous and I explained that the little [...]

WFMW: School Tip

I love autumn and all the back to school stuff that goes along with it.  Cooler days.  New supplies.  Routine.  I crave it all.  But I rein myself in when it comes to the gargantuan lists that schools send out.  And all the new school clothes ads.
Never a fan of all the character products, my [...]

Make-Do Monday: Bed Skirt

A few months ago we bought Grace a double bed.  She’d been sleeping in her daybed for ten years and it was time for a bigger bed.  Plus, now we can use her double as a guest bed.  Especially when grandparents are here.  Living so far from family makes you look at sleeping space differently.
Anyway.  [...]

Make-Do Monday: Makeshift Rain Barrel

Although  it really isn’t high on the priority list, we would like a rain barrel.   Our gutters are in bad shape and do to be replaced this summer, but for now they leak at the seams.  A lot.
It has been really dry here.  Sandy soil doesn’t help moisture matters either.  We water the main plantings [...]

Make-Do Monday: Bibs

I use lots & lots of bibs.  Sometimes up to 4 per meal at breakfast, lunch and snack.  I don’t like Velcro bibs much, mostly because they stick to the other laundry and then don’t stick together at mealtime.  Heavy usage also  means I  can wear out a lot of bibs.
Currently I have 3 sweet [...]

WFMW: Recycling Envelopes

With kids in two different schools it seems like there are always permission slips or papers of some sort flowing back and forth from our house to the school.  I like to put those two inch strips of paper into an envelope to send back.  Why do we always have to cut off that little [...]