Frugal Friday

5 smart ways you can use BALLOONS!!

I don't know about you but I have tons of balloons leftover from the 4 birthday parties I've thrown for my kiddos. They are stored in a bucket of party decorations out in my garage that my children seem to get into at least once a week asking me to blow up these balloons for them. And I know, I should probably find another place for it but that would require me having to go up in my attic and clear a space which is not as easy as it sounds. Anyways.... when I read this little snipet from Women's World Magazine the other day I thought this was so neat. I've never thought of using balloons other than for parties and entertainment.

1.) Open a bottle. You can use a rubber balloon to get a stubborn top off a bottle. Just use the balloon as you would a gripper.

2.) Make an ice pack. (this is my favorite!!) Fill a balloon halfway with water, but make sure you leave enough room for it to expand. Then place it in the freezer to have ready whenever you need an ice pack!

3.) Protect a cut. Slip a balloon over a painful papercut to keep it dry & clean while washing dishes, bathing kids, or doing some other type of house work or craft.

4.) Keep the shape. Blow up a balloon and slip an item of laundry over it to keep the shape of air-dry items such as bras and baseball caps. Toddler shirts fit perfectly.

5.) Save cut flowers. Slip a balloon filled with a little bit of water on the end of the stem and use a rubberband to secure it in place to help cut flowers last longer or until you can get them into a vase.

Have a good weekend!!

Frugal Friday

Ok guys this is really cool!! Forget buying any more stain remover for your clothes!! I don't know who told me this or if I read it somewhere or what but it REALLY works!! And I've been doing this for a few months now & I'm amazed at the results! Here is the new Shout, Resolve, Oxyclean, or whatever you are using for getting stains out of your clothes.


(drum roll please!!!!)...............

As crazy as it sounds this is some powerful stuff!!  Make sure you buy the real Johnson's product though because "off brands" just don't do the trick. Take the shampoo and rub it on and in the stain or stains that you are trying to remove. I usually rub it in really well within the first 12 hours that the stain gets there and then I lay the item outside in direct sunlight which will fade the stain tremendously. Then wash the item of clothing with your next load of laundry and WALA the stain is GONE!! I mean you don't even see the first sign of where it was. It's AMAZING!!

Last Sunday night we had a big dinner over at my house with lots of family and we had lasagna. Maci Rose was wearing a new white with black polka dot sundress she got for her birthday.(I know right, I shouldn't have put her in white.) but at the time I didn't think about it. She got lasagna all.over.that.dress!! I was so sad because I just knew it would join that pile of clothes in her closet that are known as "play clothes". The stain had a good 4-5 hours to set in before I even noticed it, but I rubbed lots of Johnsons baby shampoo all over it that night and layed it in the sun for about 2 hours the next day and it faded to where you could hardly tell where it was. After I washed it, it was good as new!

I've used it on strawberry, popsickle, chocolate, and tea stains. IT REALLY IS AMAZING TO WATCH IT WORK!! Try it!! and let me know what you think!!!

(There are 2 new posts below. I'm trying to get caught up with all my pictures because I have a lot of new and exciting things to share, but I'm trying to back track a little first.)

Have a great weekend!!

Frugal Friday

Smart ways to use your hairdryers!!!

1.) Unstick candle wax! Remove dried-on wax from almost any surface by blowing warm air over it and when it melts wipe it away using a clean cloth!!

2.) Fogged-up bathroom mirror?? Blast warm air from your hairdryer at the mirror to get it clear again.

3.) Travel Tip!! Instead of putting your sopping wet toothbrush into your bag try blowing a little hot air from your hairdryer on the bristles for a few minutes to speed dry it.

4.) Easy dusting! A hairdryer can help you remove dust from those hard to reach places. Just plug it up and use a low and cool setting to blow dust to a spot where it can be swept away.

5.) Removing a band-aid! Take the sting out of removing a band-aid with a little hot air. Warm the band-aid for a few seconds with your hairdryer, which will loosen the adhesive, allowing it to come off easily!

Frugal Friday

A few small changes you can make at home that can add up to big results:

* Save energy. Keeping your fridge too cold wastes energy. Keep your fridge between 37 - 40 degrees and freezers at 5 degrees.

* Save water. If your bathroom fixtures were installed before 1992, replacing your toilet with a more efficient one could save you thousands of gallons of water every year.

* Reduce waste. More than 80% of recyclable bottles end up in landfills each year, so reduce bottle waste and filter your tap water.

Frugal Friday

Recession Busters!!

If you see a sale advertised you automatically assume you're going to save money, right? Think again! Alot of retailers use promotions to sneakily get you to spend more than you have to! Here's how to steer clear of them...

1.) Avoid BOGO: Yes that's buy one get one! The trouble with a lot of these is that stores often inflate their base prices on these items. Plus, the items that go on sale are often more expensive than other options to begin with. For instance, a familiar brand of an item may be on sale but another brand or an off brand might be the better deal. So before you BOGO an item do a quick price comparison to make sure you're getting the best deal.

2.) Decline a door buster! Door-buster sales, like what you see on Black Friday, are becoming more regular. This is because retailers reel in customers that are on a "buy now" mission to a big purchase such as a new tv and usually supplies are very limited. Make sure you do some online price comparing using the door buster's model # before you rush to the store.

3.) Avoid liquidations! A retailer that is shutting its doors will often run a liquidation sale to clear its store completely. But many liquidations are handled by outside companies who reprice many of the items and may possibly increase the prices till the close date approaches. To outsmart them, go right before the start of a liquidation sale. That way the retailer is still in control and has likely drastically dropped prices to recoup as much money as possible!

Frugal Friday

There is no theme for today's frugal friday...but here are just a few smart ideas for you to try.

1.) Easier shopping! A way to make grocery shopping a little easier on those of you who have your hands full is to bring a closepin with you and clip your list on the top of the cart. This way you can keep your hands free and still see your list (and you would be shocked at how many people stop you and compliment your great idea!!!).
Another way is to get your kids involved. Hand them the list and have them call it out to you and let another one mark off the item as you get it. This will keep them from being bored and noticing the toys on the shelves and constantly asking for each item.

2.) Save your produce!! Place paper towels in vegetable bins to soak up the extra moisture it accumlates while sitting in the fridge. It will give you an extra 3-4days to eat your produce before it spoils. (I've also heard of placing a small sponge in there and it works too, but I've never tried it).

3.) Stop your pets from messing up your house! If you have pets who sling their bowls of food and water every.time.they.eat, try cutting a piece off of your rug liner or the rubberized shelf liner you can buy in stores and place it underneath the bowls. It will keep the bowls in place and prevent spills.

4.) Stop mildew buildup on shower curtains! Water usually builds up in the hem of a shower curtain but if you cut the bottom seam of your plastic liner with pinking shears, the water will easily drip off keeping it dry and mold-free.

5.) Remove black smudges from tile and linoleum floors! This one I have also not tried before. Dab a non-gel toothpaste onto a soft cloth and rub the area in a circular motion, then use a damp cloth to remove the residue. The grit in the toothpaste will gently scrub off the mark without leaving any scratches.

Frugal Friday

Ok so I was supposed to do a New Years Resolutions post before this one, but between a 7 month old cutting 2 teeth and a 2.5 year old only in undies this week I have been super busy and sleep deprived so that post will obviously come after this one.

BUT.....that being said, one of my new years resolutions is to really start buckling down on my frugal friday posts. I've been saving clips out of magazines and ideas I've heard from people for a couple of months now so I'm going to really try to have one up every.single.friday! Yes you heard me right!! So hold me accountable!!

Here is today's:

Most of you have probably been noticing the gas prices climbing. They are almost $3/gallon at some places right now!! Here are 4 ways you can cut back on your gas expenses in the new year.

1.) Plan the cheapest route!! Driving on the highway, rather than local roads can save you tons of gas! Cars are on average 30% more fuel-efficient on highways compared to stop-and-go city streets.

2.) Planning a road trip? Where you stop to get gas can make a difference. Gas prices can vary 40 cents a gallon from state to state! To plot out the most frugal fuel stops, log onto http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/, which gives free updates on gas costs across the country.

3.) Toting around more stuff than you need in your car? While it's easy to use your car as a mini suitcase in case of emergencies, kids stuff, etc. storing them elsewhere can save you on fuel costs. For each additional 100 pounds your car carries, its fuel efficiency drops 2% or more. That's like paying 3 cents more per gallon at the pump.

4.) Take a second look at your errands route and plan stops so that you are only making right hand turns. Avoid left hand turns. It's an insider tip from the pro's: Delivery companies such as UPS have found that routes with fewer left-hand turns result in less idling time, saving millions of gallons of gas per year!

So take a few more minutes every day to plan out your errands and take items out of your car that you don't plan on using and you could see a change in your budget in just a few months!!

Frugal Friday

Ok so I know it's been a while since you've seen one of these posts, but truth is it takes me a little time to come up with something and these days I have no "extra" time to think, as you can imagine.

Here are a few tricks that can save you money around the house.

1.) If you're like us and are constantly going through roll after roll of tp, you can use less toilet paper if you slightly flatten the roll/cardboard. This will make it not perfectly round and it won't roll as easily, so great lengths of it won't automatically roll out and go to waste.

2.) Save on liquid soap! Believe it or not liquid dishwashing soap is so powerful these days that if you keep your extra plastic soap bottles, you can squirt 2-3 big squirts of soap in them and fill the rest with water and shake. The watery soap works just as well and you'll be shocked at how long you can go without buying more soap. (If you notice, dishwashing soaps are constantly on sale for buy 1/get 1 and you see coupons for soap almost every Sunday in the paper because so many people are realizing this.)

3.) If you feel you are spending too much money on printer ink, try changing your font to Century Gothic. It has slightly thinner lines and depending on how much you print things, you can almost go a whole extra month on one cartridge of ink.

4.) Save on shampoo and lotion by using a rubberband. Everyone knows I love clean and smell good babies so we use Johnson's big pump baby soaps and lotions around here. Wrap a rubber band several times around the neck of the pump's stem to prevent it from pressing down too much. You'll still get the product you need, and it will last twice as long because you will avoid getting too much and having to wipe the rest of the lotion it off.

*** I hope people enjoy and use some of the tips in my frugal friday posts. If anyone has any other tips to share please leave me message. Also, if any of you other bloggers are FULL of ideas please feel free to start Frugal Friday posts on your blog. I would love to read more helpful ways to save money. Hope everyone has a great weekend!***

Frugal Friday

How to get a cheaper oil change!

When you get your oil changed it's not how many miles but at what hour you go that can save you money! If you take your car in at the end of the day, closer to the shop's closing time, you can avoid "upsells" (the extra suggested repairs) that can turn a quick, cheap oil change into an expensive fix-up.  That's because the mechanics don't have as much time or desire to find additional and unnecessary repairs. So you can get in and out without any unexpected exspenses!!

Frugal Friday

Making Kids Parties Cheaper!

With these few helpful hints you're sure to provide fun and hopefully without spending a fortune.

1.) Timing it right! Invite guests to a midafternoon party and you'll save. If you set a 2-4 timeframe, you won't have to provide a full menu, instead you can just stick to snacks and candy.

2.) Check on freebies! If your tot is turning 1 many local grocery stores provide free cakes for a child's first birthday. Also, they may have birthday clubs where they can receive freebies as well.

3.) Finding entertainment for less! If your child has his/her heart set on having a magician or face-painter, instead of paying a professional, you can hit up local college kids who will probably be thrilled to make an extra buck or two.

4.) Cupcakes! If you do cupcakes instead of buying or making a cake you will save money because you won't have to buy extra supplies like forks & plates. The little kids can dig right in!

Hopefully these tips may help you save a buck or two when you're planning your kids next birthday party!

Frugal Friday

Do you have any candles lying around your house that have lost their wick?  They smell so good and there is still a good amount of candle left on them. I know we have a couple you can have!

If so, turn them into a pin cushion and put it in your sewing kit. What's even better is that it actually works better than the standard stuffed-fabric one because pins and needles with a waxy coating on their tips tend to slide through fabric easier.

And if you don't do any sewing that's fine too, because surely you are looking for a safety pin every now and then or you can stick your earrings in them. Give it a try! It beats a candle just sitting there collecting dust!

Frugal Friday

Eat fresh for less!!

Here are 3 simple ways to save on fresh produce for the hot summer months.

1.) Shake it off!
Fresh fruits and veggies are watered a lot in the stores to make them look more refreshing and plump, but if you're buying by the pound that extra water can add up. A couple of simple shakes can save a few extra pennies towards your grocery bill.

2.) Buy from the bar!
Not sure if every grocery store has this option, but I know most Piggly Wiggly's have wonderful salad/fruit/soup bars. If you need something small for a recipe- like fresh spinach- you can just buy the amount you need off the salad bar and save yourself a couple of bucks and avoid wasting the rest of the package. Also, if you are craving strawberries and whipped cream and are like me, I tend to crave them for one day and I buy a crate of strawberries to fulfill my craving. Then a week later I end up throwing out the squished and rotten strawberries I never got to because it's one of those foods you want really bad one day and then forget about them. Instead, buy one serving of them off the salad/fruit bar and you can save money and avoid wasting the rest.

3.) Weigh your best options!
On fruits and veggies that are hollow inside, such as peppers, buy the bigger ones because they all weigh about the same since they mainly consist of seeds inside. You can get the bigger ones for the same amount as the smaller ones. Also, heads of lettuce and cabbage and other items that have one set price, find the biggest one and you'll get more for your money.

Hope that helps you save a few extra bucks from your grocery bill this summer! I sure know our grocery bill is going to be very tight in a little over a week with 2 kids in diapers and buying formula!! I'm up for any other suggestions on how to get more for your money. Let me know if you have some money saving tips please!!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!