I have always wanted to participate in Frugal Friday, but never really felt like I had much to contribute despite the frugal lifestyle we lead. Until now :)
Did you get a good-sized refund at tax time? Did you ever stop to think about how much money that could mean for your checkbook monthly?
After listening to Dave Ramsey (if you don't know who he is check out the link!) I did the math.
Our $4,000 refund would translate into $333 a month! But how do you get that money upfront rather than loaning it to the IRS so they benefit from the interest earned?
Adjust your withholding allowances on your W-4!
DISCLAIMER: I am not, nor have I ever claimed to be, a tax professional. I do not know what your individual situation is and if you need to, please seek the advice of a competent tax professional.
You can go to the IRS website and use their extremely complicated and lengthy calculator to help you figure out the proper amount of exemptions, or you can use the ever-so-simple calculator from Kiplinger.com to figure it out.
Does the thought of tinkering with your withholding scare you? I sure was a bit reluctant! Until I decided that the extra $300 we got would go into a savings account. (We have been very happy with INGDirect.com ) If our withholding calculations are off, we'll have what we need to pay the IRS! If we aren't wrong and we still get a minimal refund, we've just saved $4,000!
Don't loan the government money interest-free...earn the interest yourself!
Most people don't think of adjusting their withholding except for when job changes occur or members are added to the family. However, upon perusal of the W-4 form, the IRS states:
"Consider completing a new Form W-4 each year and when your personal or financial situation changes." (Emphasis mine)
I think that's good advice! :)
FIVE IN THE POTTER'S HAND
Showing posts with label Frugal Tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frugal Tips. Show all posts
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
DIY:: Bring It Into the 21st Century!
What do you do when you have wood trim that screams 1970's? Oh and did I mention you don't have any extra money to splurge on nice updated trim?
You remember that you have some KILZ primer in your garage and you proceed to prime your window frame. For zero dollars and about a half hour of time invested, you can have a totally updated look!
(Yes, the right side needs more primer...I have about a coat to go on that one but I couldn't resist taking the photo halfway through!) No, I'm not going to leave it primer white. I plan on eventually getting a nice glossy crisp white to finish it off, but for now "it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful". And yes, I do see the brush strokes on the wall surrounding the window. I am painting the walls a different color so I'm not worried about those.
All in all, I am very proud of my thirty minute makeover for my window. Usually I wait until all is perfect and I have everything I need. But waiting for perfection means I might wait forever. So I decided to do it now and worry about fine-tuning it later on.
And Remodeling Guy, you're right paint does count as remodeling! :)
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
One Of These Is Not Like The Other....
Other than the adorable cutie I am posing with, what is the difference?
Before:
After:
(Okay, I have no idea what is up with the smirky grin on my face...you get a little silly when you attempt to take pictures of yourself, by yourself!)
I got new glasses! And I only paid $138.69 for them at Costco! What a bargain! Plus, they still have their polish dog meal deals for $1.50...just like I remember :)
Before:
After:
(Okay, I have no idea what is up with the smirky grin on my face...you get a little silly when you attempt to take pictures of yourself, by yourself!)
I got new glasses! And I only paid $138.69 for them at Costco! What a bargain! Plus, they still have their polish dog meal deals for $1.50...just like I remember :)
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Don't Pay Too Much For Your Poultry...
WINCO has an awesome deal going....if you spend $50 (excluding the turkey) you get a Norbest frozen turkey for $0.22 a pound! I got a 15 lb turkey for about $4 :)
Thanks to my mother and my neighbor for alerting me to this FABULOUSLY FRUGAL deal!
Thanks to my mother and my neighbor for alerting me to this FABULOUSLY FRUGAL deal!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Stretching My Budget
You may have noticed in my meal plan that we eat a relatively small amount of meat or poultry. We are carnivores, but we are carnivores on a strict budget. This dollar diet demands that we incorporate more meals that don't contain meat. When I first started out this frugal journey (and by no means have I yet arrived), I despaired when I realized that we wouldn't be able to have meat with every meal. What was I going to serve? I was an avowed veggie-loather and so were my children. And pasta for every meal just didn't sound appetizing. So I started off with 'vegetarianizing' my homemade chili. Normally it called for ground beef, but I just left that out. And you know what? Nobody, least of all me, missed the meat! Serve a hearty helping of the chili with some sweet cornbread and everyone was happy and full.
With that small success, I saw that it was possible to incorporate vegetables into our diet and to make them the main meal. I just needed some more recipes! When I found Recipezaar I realized that I had found my partner in taming the savage budget. What I especially love about that site is that you can search for recipes by ingredient, and then find a really good recipe by how many stars it was rated. Other times I found great recipes by perusing other blogs. And some of the meals are just tried and true ones from my childhood.
Figure out what vegetables your family will eat and work those into the meal. If they won't touch turnips, then it would be a waste of time and money to prepare a dish containing those. That being said, don't be afraid to stretch their tastebuds! Never would I have dreamed that I, and my family, would have liked anything pumpkin that wasn't a dessert. Prepare the meal creatively. Maybe steamed carrots aren't your kids' favorite, try something different like glazed carrots. Variety is the spice of life, and spices add variety! Throw in different seasonings to give it a different taste. Go exotic! Try a dish from a different country. Learning about other cultures elevates dinner to new heights. Go icognito. Even I appreciate a well-hidden vegetable! :) Added bonus, you don't have to argue with your children about eating all their dinner. Salads are simple. Adding a salad to a dinner of pasta rounds out the meal. Fancy up your salad with some chickpeas for an added veggie-punch!
I hope that some of these ideas help those of you who are in the same vegetable-tolerating-but-not-exactly-fond-of-them category that I still live in! You CAN stretch your budget dollars with vegetables even if you don't like green beans or onions :)
With that small success, I saw that it was possible to incorporate vegetables into our diet and to make them the main meal. I just needed some more recipes! When I found Recipezaar I realized that I had found my partner in taming the savage budget. What I especially love about that site is that you can search for recipes by ingredient, and then find a really good recipe by how many stars it was rated. Other times I found great recipes by perusing other blogs. And some of the meals are just tried and true ones from my childhood.
Figure out what vegetables your family will eat and work those into the meal. If they won't touch turnips, then it would be a waste of time and money to prepare a dish containing those. That being said, don't be afraid to stretch their tastebuds! Never would I have dreamed that I, and my family, would have liked anything pumpkin that wasn't a dessert. Prepare the meal creatively. Maybe steamed carrots aren't your kids' favorite, try something different like glazed carrots. Variety is the spice of life, and spices add variety! Throw in different seasonings to give it a different taste. Go exotic! Try a dish from a different country. Learning about other cultures elevates dinner to new heights. Go icognito. Even I appreciate a well-hidden vegetable! :) Added bonus, you don't have to argue with your children about eating all their dinner. Salads are simple. Adding a salad to a dinner of pasta rounds out the meal. Fancy up your salad with some chickpeas for an added veggie-punch!
I hope that some of these ideas help those of you who are in the same vegetable-tolerating-but-not-exactly-fond-of-them category that I still live in! You CAN stretch your budget dollars with vegetables even if you don't like green beans or onions :)
Monday, October 20, 2008
Aztecan Delight
What do you do if your kids don't like rice, corn, beans or tomatoes?
Make Aztecan Delight! (I chose the name because my husband's heritage is Aztecan Indian, but you could name it anything you want!)
All you need are:
1 can of black beans
1 can of corn
1 can of diced tomatoes
Cooked rice
Little bit of beef broth for flavor
Mix up all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan until heated through and incorporated well. Roll it up in a tortilla and call it Aztecan Delight. The pickiest eaters might balk at it's innards so don't let them unroll it!
As an a nutritional side, this meal has complete protein from the beans, corn and rice. No meat needed :) You could add cheese though.
Sometimes just giving a plain old meal a fun, imaginative name makes them a little hungrier...
For more great frugal food ideas, check out Gayle's blog!
Make Aztecan Delight! (I chose the name because my husband's heritage is Aztecan Indian, but you could name it anything you want!)
All you need are:
1 can of black beans
1 can of corn
1 can of diced tomatoes
Cooked rice
Little bit of beef broth for flavor
Mix up all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan until heated through and incorporated well. Roll it up in a tortilla and call it Aztecan Delight. The pickiest eaters might balk at it's innards so don't let them unroll it!
As an a nutritional side, this meal has complete protein from the beans, corn and rice. No meat needed :) You could add cheese though.
Sometimes just giving a plain old meal a fun, imaginative name makes them a little hungrier...
For more great frugal food ideas, check out Gayle's blog!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
How I Do It...
After my post yesterday, Gerberdaisie left me a couple of questions to answer:
That's great that you've reduced your grocery bill! We've reduced ours a bunch, mainly out of necessity with life changes :) Did you use coupons at all, or were you just more conscious with purchases?
And because I tend to ramble when I write, I thought it would be better to address the questions here rather than in a very long comment...lol!
First of all, at the beginning of this year we were spending roughly $700 on groceries for a family of five. Our daughter was born August of 2007, and I quit working my part-time job to be at home with our kids. That cut our income by $600 a month. I started looking for ways to economize and the only category that wasn't a fixed expense was groceries. So I basically made it my part-time job to see how much I could reduce our expenditures at the store.
I began by just being more conscious of what I was purchasing and how much we really needed it. After a month or two, I realized that we were buying a lot of pre-packaged, more expensive items. We decided to do away with foodstuffs that fit that category. Yes, we said goodbye to Minute Rice, chicken nuggets, pre-made juices, etc. And instead, we stocked up on rice in bulk, whole chickens (when on sale), and juices from concentrate. It was a small step in the right direction.
In May of this year, I discovered coupons. I read a couple of books on the subject, but my favorite by far was "Shop, Save and Share" by Ellie Kay. Check it out at your local library and take notes! She goes over basic couponing and more advanced transactions. Plus, she encourages you to give of your excess freebies. Giving to others is important even when you feel like you can't squeak it out of your tight budget. God blesses us because we are generous :)
So when I started couponing, our grocery bill went from $700 a month to $600 a month! That was just in the first month. Talk about motivating results! I just dutifully followed what Ellie wrote in her book and it works! When I first began couponing, I was skeptical that I wouldn't just be wasting my time. Because it is time and energy spent (not to mention braincells!) to line up good deals and do price comparisons. But after tallying up the receipts for the month, I was a believer! In just using coupons and shopping the store sales, I saved $342.85 (off of the regular prices) for the month!
Last month and this month, our budget was so tight that we couldn't justify spending the extra $3 on two papers. So we have gone without coupons for about two months now. I utilized the FoodDay coupons that come free every week. And I let those flyers guide me to great sales on meat and poultry.
But it wasn't until recently, when we really tightened up the budget, that I realized we could lower the grocery budget even more. It's amazing what necessity can motivate you to do...lol!
I realized having a meal plan and working that plan would save me money too. That part of it, I am still working the bugs out of! Maybe in a couple of months I will be able to declare victory in that area too.
Our meals are not gourmet. We do a lot of meatless meals too. And, like this particular paycheck cycle, wherein I only have $15 to last me two weeks, you get really creative with your meals!
It is really the grace of God that it all works so well. I give Him all the credit, because in reality it shouldn't work. The numbers don't add up. But we are faithful tithers and givers, and He blesses our obedience! He is our Source, and we are dependent on Him for our provision.
Recently, a friend who gets the paper every week, brought me all of her unused coupons. So now, I am going to get back into couponing! I will use the coupons to buy stuff we couldn't normally afford.
My advice Gerberdaisie, is this:
1) Pray for wisdom and good deals before you go shopping.
2) Shop with a list and take cash--you are more aware of the amount you are spending if you are having to count it out to the clerk!
3) Stick to the list--make sure that the items on your list are the absolute necessiites.
4) Don't go shopping with small children in tow--I love my kids, but they distract me from adding up savings and totals. On the few occasions where I have taken them, I have almost always wound up at home realizing I was overcharged for something.
5) Shop at your peak time. What I mean is, go shopping when you are the most alert, which may not necessarily coincide with the less busy hours of the store. :(
6) Have your coupons well organized! You don't have to buy any expensive holders, make do with what you have! I used a Rubbermaid container and put a piece of cardboard in the middle of it to act as a divider. On one side I have envelopes with little letter tags on them: A-Z. The other side is where I keep my calculator and pens. What works for me is filing coupons according to the brand name. Lysol would go in the 'L' envelope. Some people swear by filing according to categories. I don't have enough functioning braincells to remember if I filed the Comet Cleaner under 'C' for cleaners or 'B' for bathroom! Make it easy on yourself :)
7) Watch the individual totals as they are being rung up. Make sure that you are getting those store deals! This is why you don't go shopping with kids. It is physically impossible to keep your eyes on two different things: the cash register totals or your children who are in the process of rearranging the candy!
8) If you find an error, be polite and kind. People are more willing to help you out if you are nice :)
9) Use manufacturers coupons and store coupons together to get the best deals. This is perfectly legal and you can really score at the register with this tactic.
10) Don't forget to price shop according to quantity as well. Sometimes the advertised deals aren't the best.
11) Take advantage of the loss leaders, but don't let the store take advantage of you! Stick to your list!
12) Shop at several different stores. Yes, it is a pain, but this is how I started to realize most of my savings!
13) Keep your mission uppermost in your mind. What is that drives you other than the money? For me, the reason I do all this work is so that I can stay at home and raise our children. This is my mission. What is yours?
I hope that helps you a little!
You can take a look at these for some more ideas:
How addictive couponing is
No more drive-thru denial
How my friend does it!
Here are some great sites that I frequent as well:
Money Saving Mom
Grocery Cart Challenge
That's great that you've reduced your grocery bill! We've reduced ours a bunch, mainly out of necessity with life changes :) Did you use coupons at all, or were you just more conscious with purchases?
And because I tend to ramble when I write, I thought it would be better to address the questions here rather than in a very long comment...lol!
First of all, at the beginning of this year we were spending roughly $700 on groceries for a family of five. Our daughter was born August of 2007, and I quit working my part-time job to be at home with our kids. That cut our income by $600 a month. I started looking for ways to economize and the only category that wasn't a fixed expense was groceries. So I basically made it my part-time job to see how much I could reduce our expenditures at the store.
I began by just being more conscious of what I was purchasing and how much we really needed it. After a month or two, I realized that we were buying a lot of pre-packaged, more expensive items. We decided to do away with foodstuffs that fit that category. Yes, we said goodbye to Minute Rice, chicken nuggets, pre-made juices, etc. And instead, we stocked up on rice in bulk, whole chickens (when on sale), and juices from concentrate. It was a small step in the right direction.
In May of this year, I discovered coupons. I read a couple of books on the subject, but my favorite by far was "Shop, Save and Share" by Ellie Kay. Check it out at your local library and take notes! She goes over basic couponing and more advanced transactions. Plus, she encourages you to give of your excess freebies. Giving to others is important even when you feel like you can't squeak it out of your tight budget. God blesses us because we are generous :)
So when I started couponing, our grocery bill went from $700 a month to $600 a month! That was just in the first month. Talk about motivating results! I just dutifully followed what Ellie wrote in her book and it works! When I first began couponing, I was skeptical that I wouldn't just be wasting my time. Because it is time and energy spent (not to mention braincells!) to line up good deals and do price comparisons. But after tallying up the receipts for the month, I was a believer! In just using coupons and shopping the store sales, I saved $342.85 (off of the regular prices) for the month!
Last month and this month, our budget was so tight that we couldn't justify spending the extra $3 on two papers. So we have gone without coupons for about two months now. I utilized the FoodDay coupons that come free every week. And I let those flyers guide me to great sales on meat and poultry.
But it wasn't until recently, when we really tightened up the budget, that I realized we could lower the grocery budget even more. It's amazing what necessity can motivate you to do...lol!
I realized having a meal plan and working that plan would save me money too. That part of it, I am still working the bugs out of! Maybe in a couple of months I will be able to declare victory in that area too.
Our meals are not gourmet. We do a lot of meatless meals too. And, like this particular paycheck cycle, wherein I only have $15 to last me two weeks, you get really creative with your meals!
It is really the grace of God that it all works so well. I give Him all the credit, because in reality it shouldn't work. The numbers don't add up. But we are faithful tithers and givers, and He blesses our obedience! He is our Source, and we are dependent on Him for our provision.
Recently, a friend who gets the paper every week, brought me all of her unused coupons. So now, I am going to get back into couponing! I will use the coupons to buy stuff we couldn't normally afford.
My advice Gerberdaisie, is this:
1) Pray for wisdom and good deals before you go shopping.
2) Shop with a list and take cash--you are more aware of the amount you are spending if you are having to count it out to the clerk!
3) Stick to the list--make sure that the items on your list are the absolute necessiites.
4) Don't go shopping with small children in tow--I love my kids, but they distract me from adding up savings and totals. On the few occasions where I have taken them, I have almost always wound up at home realizing I was overcharged for something.
5) Shop at your peak time. What I mean is, go shopping when you are the most alert, which may not necessarily coincide with the less busy hours of the store. :(
6) Have your coupons well organized! You don't have to buy any expensive holders, make do with what you have! I used a Rubbermaid container and put a piece of cardboard in the middle of it to act as a divider. On one side I have envelopes with little letter tags on them: A-Z. The other side is where I keep my calculator and pens. What works for me is filing coupons according to the brand name. Lysol would go in the 'L' envelope. Some people swear by filing according to categories. I don't have enough functioning braincells to remember if I filed the Comet Cleaner under 'C' for cleaners or 'B' for bathroom! Make it easy on yourself :)
7) Watch the individual totals as they are being rung up. Make sure that you are getting those store deals! This is why you don't go shopping with kids. It is physically impossible to keep your eyes on two different things: the cash register totals or your children who are in the process of rearranging the candy!
8) If you find an error, be polite and kind. People are more willing to help you out if you are nice :)
9) Use manufacturers coupons and store coupons together to get the best deals. This is perfectly legal and you can really score at the register with this tactic.
10) Don't forget to price shop according to quantity as well. Sometimes the advertised deals aren't the best.
11) Take advantage of the loss leaders, but don't let the store take advantage of you! Stick to your list!
12) Shop at several different stores. Yes, it is a pain, but this is how I started to realize most of my savings!
13) Keep your mission uppermost in your mind. What is that drives you other than the money? For me, the reason I do all this work is so that I can stay at home and raise our children. This is my mission. What is yours?
I hope that helps you a little!
You can take a look at these for some more ideas:
How addictive couponing is
No more drive-thru denial
How my friend does it!
Here are some great sites that I frequent as well:
Money Saving Mom
Grocery Cart Challenge
Monday, October 6, 2008
Food For Thought
Owlhaven posed and interesting question on her blog today:
I have a question for all of you who are currently displeased with your current food costs. When you think of your own food spending (groceries and restaurant spending combined) what do you think is the biggest reason you struggle to keep your food budget down? Is it rising food costs? Picky kids? No time to cook? Nothing in the cupboards? An unhealthy obsession for Panda Express orange chicken? Name your nemesis.
(After an unusually long comment, I decided rather than taking up space on her blog, I would post the answers to her question and then link back to her.)
First of all, I too share the unnatural obsession with Panda Express Orange Chicken. In fact, as of right now, I am seriously craving it just because it was brought back to mind! The budget-dangerous fact is that I live within two miles of TWO Panda Expresses. However, I have decreased the severity of the withdrawals with homemade sweet & sour chicken and rice.
I would have to say that the biggest pitfall lies within myself. I am not a veggie fan and I like meat! See the problem? Here is a list of vegetables I will swallow:
Broccoli
Carrots
Corn
Potatoes (yes, I know they are a starch, but I consider them a vegetable)
Black Beans (again, the proper classification would be a legume)
Lettuce (no iceberg please!)
Pickled Beets (I know, for someone who doesn't like veggies I like weird ones)
Oh, and pasta gives me indigestion...lol! So there goes that budget conscious meal!
That's about it. So in order to eat less meals containing dollar devouring meat, I have to eat more of the above. Which doesn't provide much variety. This brings me to another point...
The spice of life, you guessed it, variety! It is hard to have interesting, palate-pleasing meals that don't repeat over and over again, when you have a limited food budget. Eating potatoes, again and again doesn't make for a joyous rush to the table! (That being said, I want it to be known that I am extremely grateful for the food we do have and anything is better than being hungry!)
The price of food has risen, however we have successfully lowered our food budget by 2/3---Thank the Lord for His provision! It's amazing how you can shut off the cravings and gimmees when you don't have the funds. It all begins with a mindset change. Do I really need this? Or is this just a desire?
I am a proud stay at home mom and my husband is an awesome provider. We don't go to restaurants, I pack his lunch every day (which I view as another way to say "I appreciate what you do and thank you"), and we appreciate the special treats all the more when they come our way. Ice cream takes on a whole new indulgence when you don't get it every week!
So to answer Owlhaven's question: The biggest thing to bust my budget is only a lack of creativity with what I have and a lack of gratitude for what we have been given. Contentment is cheaper and healthier :)
I have a question for all of you who are currently displeased with your current food costs. When you think of your own food spending (groceries and restaurant spending combined) what do you think is the biggest reason you struggle to keep your food budget down? Is it rising food costs? Picky kids? No time to cook? Nothing in the cupboards? An unhealthy obsession for Panda Express orange chicken? Name your nemesis.
(After an unusually long comment, I decided rather than taking up space on her blog, I would post the answers to her question and then link back to her.)
First of all, I too share the unnatural obsession with Panda Express Orange Chicken. In fact, as of right now, I am seriously craving it just because it was brought back to mind! The budget-dangerous fact is that I live within two miles of TWO Panda Expresses. However, I have decreased the severity of the withdrawals with homemade sweet & sour chicken and rice.
I would have to say that the biggest pitfall lies within myself. I am not a veggie fan and I like meat! See the problem? Here is a list of vegetables I will swallow:
Broccoli
Carrots
Corn
Potatoes (yes, I know they are a starch, but I consider them a vegetable)
Black Beans (again, the proper classification would be a legume)
Lettuce (no iceberg please!)
Pickled Beets (I know, for someone who doesn't like veggies I like weird ones)
Oh, and pasta gives me indigestion...lol! So there goes that budget conscious meal!
That's about it. So in order to eat less meals containing dollar devouring meat, I have to eat more of the above. Which doesn't provide much variety. This brings me to another point...
The spice of life, you guessed it, variety! It is hard to have interesting, palate-pleasing meals that don't repeat over and over again, when you have a limited food budget. Eating potatoes, again and again doesn't make for a joyous rush to the table! (That being said, I want it to be known that I am extremely grateful for the food we do have and anything is better than being hungry!)
The price of food has risen, however we have successfully lowered our food budget by 2/3---Thank the Lord for His provision! It's amazing how you can shut off the cravings and gimmees when you don't have the funds. It all begins with a mindset change. Do I really need this? Or is this just a desire?
I am a proud stay at home mom and my husband is an awesome provider. We don't go to restaurants, I pack his lunch every day (which I view as another way to say "I appreciate what you do and thank you"), and we appreciate the special treats all the more when they come our way. Ice cream takes on a whole new indulgence when you don't get it every week!
So to answer Owlhaven's question: The biggest thing to bust my budget is only a lack of creativity with what I have and a lack of gratitude for what we have been given. Contentment is cheaper and healthier :)
Friday, August 22, 2008
Centsible Spa Treatments
Here are some fun and frugal items to use for a Pamper-Yourself Day!
Baking Soda Cleanser::
1-2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup water
Directions:
Mix baking soda and water together to form paste.
Apply liberally to face and neck area. Leave on for 10-15
minutes and then gently wash off with warm water and washcloth.
This helps to minimize the appearance of large pores and is a gentle exfoliant as well.
Oatmeal Nourishing Mask::
Handful of uncooked oatmeal
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
Directions: Mix ingredients together, warm slightly and apply to face and neck. Let sit for 10-15 minutes ( or until face feels tighter) and then rinse with warm water.
Oatmeal provides a gentle, skin brightening exfoliant. Olive oil helps rejuvenate dry skin .
The honey serves as a natural, rich, skin-nourishing crème.
Lemon-Egg Pore Opener::
Make a paste of one egg white and few drops of lemon juice.
Apply it over nose with soft brush (or washcloth). When the
first coat is about to dry, put another coat over the top of it.
Let these dry completely and then rinse off.
Use this to awaken and cleanse pores on your nose!
Olive Oil Face Pack::
A few drops of olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons of milk
Directions:
Blend ingredients well and apply to face and neck. Let sit
For 10-15 minutes before rinsing off with cold water. For optimum hydration, apply small amount of olive oil to skin before applying face pack. This helps skin retain moisture after pack is removed.
This luxurious face pack will hydrate dry skin.
Stressed Out Skin Cucumber -Tomato Soak::
Slice cucumber and tomato into thin slices. Put into freezer for 7-10 minutes and wash face while waiting for slices to chill. Lie down and place moist, chilled slices on your face and neck being careful to overlap slices. Relax for 10-15 minutes.
Cucumber contains natural astringent which helps to awaken tired and sagging skin. Tomato is slightly acidic and helps to close pores which helps prevent blackheads and breakouts.
Butter Lip Exfoliant::
Gently exfoliate lips by applying fresh butter on them and use a wet wash cloth to sweep off dry flakes. Follow up with warm olive oil application.
Avocado Under-Eye Circle Diminisher::
Placing slices of oil-rich avocado under your eyes will help to lessen the impact of dark circles.
Studies have shown that under-eye circles are not caused by a lack of sleep, but rather c congestion of the nasal cavities!
Coconut Oil Under-Eye Crème::
Use coconut oil to hydrate delicate skin around the eyes as well as reduce dark circles!
Tea Soak for Tired Eyes::
Brew tea, remove tea bags and refrigerate for half an hour. Place refrigerated tea bags on eyes for 10 minutes.
Tannic acid in the tea helps to soothe fatigued eyes and skin surrounding the eyes.
Lemon Juice Teeth Whitener::
Rub half a lemon with table salt and a pinch of baking soda will brighten and whiten your smile, as well as ward off bad breath!
This one is a lot of fun to do...if you try it, you'll see what I mean :)
Sugar Exfoliant for Hands and Feet::
Mix sugar with olive oil and gently rub over hands and feet.
Epsom Salt Foot Soak::
½ cup of Epsom salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
Directions:
In large pan of warm water, mix ingredients and soak feet for 15 minutes.
Epsom salts help to draw toxins out of tired muscles and skin. The baking soda will gently exfoliate the foot.
Epsom Salt Scrub::
After soaking feet and calves, exfoliate with Epsom salts on the moistened skin.
Coconut Oil Moisture Rub for Calves and Feet::
Liberally apply coconut oil to calves and feet and massage into skin for 10-15 minutes a day. Do this at night and then place socks over your feet to help skin absorb the nourishing oil.
**DISCLAIMER: I am not a beauty professional, nor do I claim to be. I have tried most of these, however I have not tried all. Please use your good judgement when using any product on your skin.**
These centsible spa treatments are best enjoyed with someone else, so grab your honey (or a friend) and have some spa fun!
Baking Soda Cleanser::
1-2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup water
Directions:
Mix baking soda and water together to form paste.
Apply liberally to face and neck area. Leave on for 10-15
minutes and then gently wash off with warm water and washcloth.
This helps to minimize the appearance of large pores and is a gentle exfoliant as well.
Oatmeal Nourishing Mask::
Handful of uncooked oatmeal
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
Directions: Mix ingredients together, warm slightly and apply to face and neck. Let sit for 10-15 minutes ( or until face feels tighter) and then rinse with warm water.
Oatmeal provides a gentle, skin brightening exfoliant. Olive oil helps rejuvenate dry skin .
The honey serves as a natural, rich, skin-nourishing crème.
Lemon-Egg Pore Opener::
Make a paste of one egg white and few drops of lemon juice.
Apply it over nose with soft brush (or washcloth). When the
first coat is about to dry, put another coat over the top of it.
Let these dry completely and then rinse off.
Use this to awaken and cleanse pores on your nose!
Olive Oil Face Pack::
A few drops of olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons of milk
Directions:
Blend ingredients well and apply to face and neck. Let sit
For 10-15 minutes before rinsing off with cold water. For optimum hydration, apply small amount of olive oil to skin before applying face pack. This helps skin retain moisture after pack is removed.
This luxurious face pack will hydrate dry skin.
Stressed Out Skin Cucumber -Tomato Soak::
Slice cucumber and tomato into thin slices. Put into freezer for 7-10 minutes and wash face while waiting for slices to chill. Lie down and place moist, chilled slices on your face and neck being careful to overlap slices. Relax for 10-15 minutes.
Cucumber contains natural astringent which helps to awaken tired and sagging skin. Tomato is slightly acidic and helps to close pores which helps prevent blackheads and breakouts.
Butter Lip Exfoliant::
Gently exfoliate lips by applying fresh butter on them and use a wet wash cloth to sweep off dry flakes. Follow up with warm olive oil application.
Avocado Under-Eye Circle Diminisher::
Placing slices of oil-rich avocado under your eyes will help to lessen the impact of dark circles.
Studies have shown that under-eye circles are not caused by a lack of sleep, but rather c congestion of the nasal cavities!
Coconut Oil Under-Eye Crème::
Use coconut oil to hydrate delicate skin around the eyes as well as reduce dark circles!
Tea Soak for Tired Eyes::
Brew tea, remove tea bags and refrigerate for half an hour. Place refrigerated tea bags on eyes for 10 minutes.
Tannic acid in the tea helps to soothe fatigued eyes and skin surrounding the eyes.
Lemon Juice Teeth Whitener::
Rub half a lemon with table salt and a pinch of baking soda will brighten and whiten your smile, as well as ward off bad breath!
This one is a lot of fun to do...if you try it, you'll see what I mean :)
Sugar Exfoliant for Hands and Feet::
Mix sugar with olive oil and gently rub over hands and feet.
Epsom Salt Foot Soak::
½ cup of Epsom salt
1 tablespoon baking soda
Directions:
In large pan of warm water, mix ingredients and soak feet for 15 minutes.
Epsom salts help to draw toxins out of tired muscles and skin. The baking soda will gently exfoliate the foot.
Epsom Salt Scrub::
After soaking feet and calves, exfoliate with Epsom salts on the moistened skin.
Coconut Oil Moisture Rub for Calves and Feet::
Liberally apply coconut oil to calves and feet and massage into skin for 10-15 minutes a day. Do this at night and then place socks over your feet to help skin absorb the nourishing oil.
**DISCLAIMER: I am not a beauty professional, nor do I claim to be. I have tried most of these, however I have not tried all. Please use your good judgement when using any product on your skin.**
These centsible spa treatments are best enjoyed with someone else, so grab your honey (or a friend) and have some spa fun!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Penny-Pinching Pantry Products
In the interest of getting more bang for my buck, as well as reducing toxins that come into my home, I have discovered the long forgotten world of pantry cleaners. Frugal, safe to use, what's not to like?
Why buy expensive, chemical-laden cleaners when you can find everything you need in your pantry?
Vinegar::
Streak-Free Shining Windows and Surfaces:
1 cup of vinegar to 5 cups of water. Use a crumpled up piece of newspaper to wipe down the window. Works every time! If using this cleaner for kitchen or bathroom countertops or surfaces, follow up with rubbing alcohol for disinfection.
Lustrous Lineoleum:
1/4 cup vinegar to one gallon of water. Take the frugality one step further and use your broom as a mop by tying a dishtowel around the head! Voila! Instant reusable mop!
Grease Be Gone:
Use vinegar/ water solution for getting rid of greasy messes on your stovetop, microwave, or oven.
For more little-known uses for vinegar check out this site.
Baking Soda::
Rug Refresher:
Before you vacuum, sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then vacuum it up. It will make your home smell fresh and crisp. Adding a pinch of cinnamon will give your house a relaxing fragrance as well.
Does Everything Deodorizer:
Does any more need to be said? Probably the most well-known of its uses :) Try using it on a mattress before you put down that fitted sheet. Leave a box of baking soda open in a fridge to absorb odors. I even like to keep a box in my van to soak up those nasty "Mom-I-left-my-apple-juice-cup-in-here-to-rot-for-two-weeks" odors. (In all fairness, I do clean my van, but sometimes they hide the cup and I don't discover it until the "aroma" assails my nose.)
For more baking soda benefits, check out the Arm&Hammer site!
Come back to explore beauty aides you just might have collecting dust on your pantry shelves!
Why buy expensive, chemical-laden cleaners when you can find everything you need in your pantry?
Vinegar::
Streak-Free Shining Windows and Surfaces:
1 cup of vinegar to 5 cups of water. Use a crumpled up piece of newspaper to wipe down the window. Works every time! If using this cleaner for kitchen or bathroom countertops or surfaces, follow up with rubbing alcohol for disinfection.
Lustrous Lineoleum:
1/4 cup vinegar to one gallon of water. Take the frugality one step further and use your broom as a mop by tying a dishtowel around the head! Voila! Instant reusable mop!
Grease Be Gone:
Use vinegar/ water solution for getting rid of greasy messes on your stovetop, microwave, or oven.
For more little-known uses for vinegar check out this site.
Baking Soda::
Rug Refresher:
Before you vacuum, sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then vacuum it up. It will make your home smell fresh and crisp. Adding a pinch of cinnamon will give your house a relaxing fragrance as well.
Does Everything Deodorizer:
Does any more need to be said? Probably the most well-known of its uses :) Try using it on a mattress before you put down that fitted sheet. Leave a box of baking soda open in a fridge to absorb odors. I even like to keep a box in my van to soak up those nasty "Mom-I-left-my-apple-juice-cup-in-here-to-rot-for-two-weeks" odors. (In all fairness, I do clean my van, but sometimes they hide the cup and I don't discover it until the "aroma" assails my nose.)
For more baking soda benefits, check out the Arm&Hammer site!
Come back to explore beauty aides you just might have collecting dust on your pantry shelves!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Watt Wasters Unite!
In an effort to cut down costs, we are evaluating all expenses. Home energy usage being one of them. Just thought it might be fun to see if anyone else will join me in becoming less of a "Watt Waster" (my mother coined that phrase!).
I am going to post our energy usage in kWh (kilowatt hours) as well as actual cost for every month.
We have started the journey by lowering our water heater to 115 degrees rather than the scalding 130 it was at. I am ashamed to admit we haven't changed that since we moved in two years ago. No trips to the burn unit yet...
We are chucking one of our energy sucking fridges.
And we are going to start unplugging appliances like the microwave, computer, TV, VCR and DVD player. According to the electric utilities website these create phantom loads which drain power while not even ON!
So to kick off the Watt Watchers Club here is the current billing for July:
Energy Charges: 865 kWh
Which works out to be about $85.53 in charges
Plus taxes and fees $2.92
Minus a credit of $3.80
Subtotal: $84.65
We are on the average pay plan. Which adds up charges from this time last year and averages them out each month. For right now that makes it easier on the wallet, but if we get the energy usage down a lot, we are going to switch to regular billing.
Average Pay Amount Due: $95.87
According to the handy little graph on the side of my bill, in August of 2007 we used 15 kWh LESS per day. Another interesting piece of information is the average cost per day. In August 2007 it was $1.58 this August they have it projected at $2.72...which is $1.14 MORE.
So will you join me in this frugal adventure?
Photo created by J.N Gallegos
Excuse Me While I Go Take A Cold Shower...
Out of morbid curiosity I decided to take my electric company's Online Home Energy Analysis. I found out that there are two main things sucking the money out of our wallet...
Can you guess what the dark green represents? Yep...the water heater. According to the estimate, we are spending approximately $70+ A MONTH! Holy Guacamole!!! And no, we do not luxuriate in long steamy showers. So where is it all going?!
I will be having Mr. Querido check the water heater temperature tonight when he gets home...
Now the second highest thing is the light blue...refrigeration. Yes, our home is blessed with two dinosaurs of refrigerators...probably manufactured close to the vintage of our home...1974. Again, according to the estimate we waste about $30+ a month. Excuse me for a moment while I go kill one of the mastadons... We'll be trying to sell that one off really soon. It has ceased to earn its keep!
What I really, really want is one of these babies:
What I currently have is this:
Oh yeah, vintage almond finish with a pitted surface that attracts dirt like a magnet.
And if I use the savings from only using one energy-inefficient fridge, it will only take me EIGHT YEARS to own one of those slick stainless steel honeys!
So see if your electric company has an online home energy analysis...just have someone, who knows CPR, close by...
Can you guess what the dark green represents? Yep...the water heater. According to the estimate, we are spending approximately $70+ A MONTH! Holy Guacamole!!! And no, we do not luxuriate in long steamy showers. So where is it all going?!
I will be having Mr. Querido check the water heater temperature tonight when he gets home...
Now the second highest thing is the light blue...refrigeration. Yes, our home is blessed with two dinosaurs of refrigerators...probably manufactured close to the vintage of our home...1974. Again, according to the estimate we waste about $30+ a month. Excuse me for a moment while I go kill one of the mastadons... We'll be trying to sell that one off really soon. It has ceased to earn its keep!
What I really, really want is one of these babies:
What I currently have is this:
Oh yeah, vintage almond finish with a pitted surface that attracts dirt like a magnet.And if I use the savings from only using one energy-inefficient fridge, it will only take me EIGHT YEARS to own one of those slick stainless steel honeys!
So see if your electric company has an online home energy analysis...just have someone, who knows CPR, close by...
Friday, August 1, 2008
Paint Expedition from Perdition
Remember this room?
Yeah, well as you can see that was back in March! It has stayed that way up until today...
Take one motivated man...
One can of oops paint for $5...
Add in two trips to the home improvement store which rhymes with "blows"...
After spending $12 and TWO HOURS at said home improvement store, come home with the wrong paint color and mess up the beautiful paint job that was in process.
Go back to OTHER home improvement store, spend $24 and only TEN MINUTES for them to match the paint EXACTLY, bring home to frustrated hubby...
Who works tirelessly to get the room looking uniformly chocolatey...yummmy!
Daddy had a little help...
Yes, we started off with a $5 can of oops paint that was the PERFECT color for our music/media room. My husband started painting and then ran out because the previous light green color on the walls had to be covered twice with the brown.
Armed with the paint lid, as I naively assumed that there would be no issue with matching it, I set off for the home improvement store that had created the oops paint. Oh the bliss of sweet ignorance. Apparently, the lid contained the "ingredients" for a gallon and they couldn't figure out how to get it sized down to a quart. I was told that I needed to get a bigger piece of the paint. Preferably the stir stick dipped into the desired hue. So I not-so-cheerfully leave for my home.
Upon my arrival, I decided that wouldn't it be fun if we all did a Lowe's run? Let's drag the kids along, they love home improvement stores! Hubby decided that was a great idea so we set off optimistically.
The kind lady that was working the paint department before wasn't at the counter any more. There was also a line of three or four people ahead of me. Honey, why don't you take the boys to go look at tools or something? So off they went. And Miss Precious and I waited....and waited...and waited. Finally, after an eternity had passed, it is my turn. I hand her the stir stick and the paint lid. She confidently puts it in the color matching machine and voila! out pops the "perfect" match! Looks a little dark at first blush, but she is sure it will lighten up as it dries. Uses the hairdryer on the stir stick to compare the two colors. Yeah, not a match, let's try again because this is such a fun game! Second try yields the same result. Only this time let's throw in a little employee attitude which consisted of her throwing the stick down in exasperation and telling me that I should go the the paint chips and try and match it myself. We are professionals here!
So, a little even less cheerfully, but by no means rude, however not to happy with the customer service, I dutifully go over to the myriad of paint chips and attempt to pick my perfect match. Hmmm...this is going to be a little harder than I thought. Why couldn't the dumb machine just match the lid? Maybe this brown will work..."Sea Lion Brown"...it looks like I may have found the twin to my oops paint.
Strolling over to the paint desk, I find myself behind another two or three person line. After another eternity passed, "Have you been helped yet ma'am?" Why no, I just enjoy standing here watching everyone else get assisted! (Can you tell the blood pressure is rising just a tad by now? Oh and sweet sleeping baby has awakened too!) Yes, kind sir, I just need a QUART of this color. OK, so that's a gallon of the satin interior? NO, just a QUART is all I need.
Seriously, an hour and forty-five minutes later with three very irritable and hungry children in tow (I wasn't aware it would have been this long of an ordeal otherwise I would have brought snacks!), hubby and I escape back home.
He is eager to get finished with the room and starts in. Cries of dismay draw me to the room. It looks like someone had graffitied the wall and we had attempted to paint over it. The color was so much lighter of a shade than the original. I joked about having the graffiti look, but hubby was not amused.
Banished to the home improvement store again. Only this time I hit Home Depot. The most cheerful girl was working the paint area. She matched the paint and had me out the door in less than ten minutes. Only problem was that now I had to fork over $24 for a new gallon of paint to cover the erroneous hue.
Filled with ever-brimming hope and optimism, I hand the paint can to Mr. Querido. He sighs and goes back to the room paintbrush in hand. It is a PERFECT match.
So $41 of paint later, we have this beautiful chocolate cocoon...
Oh and my frugal Friday tip? Be sure if you get an oops paint, make certain you only need that one can to cover everything, otherwise you may end up spending $36 you didn't want to!
Yeah, well as you can see that was back in March! It has stayed that way up until today...
Take one motivated man...
One can of oops paint for $5...Add in two trips to the home improvement store which rhymes with "blows"...
After spending $12 and TWO HOURS at said home improvement store, come home with the wrong paint color and mess up the beautiful paint job that was in process.
Go back to OTHER home improvement store, spend $24 and only TEN MINUTES for them to match the paint EXACTLY, bring home to frustrated hubby...
Who works tirelessly to get the room looking uniformly chocolatey...yummmy!
Daddy had a little help...
Yes, we started off with a $5 can of oops paint that was the PERFECT color for our music/media room. My husband started painting and then ran out because the previous light green color on the walls had to be covered twice with the brown.
Armed with the paint lid, as I naively assumed that there would be no issue with matching it, I set off for the home improvement store that had created the oops paint. Oh the bliss of sweet ignorance. Apparently, the lid contained the "ingredients" for a gallon and they couldn't figure out how to get it sized down to a quart. I was told that I needed to get a bigger piece of the paint. Preferably the stir stick dipped into the desired hue. So I not-so-cheerfully leave for my home.
Upon my arrival, I decided that wouldn't it be fun if we all did a Lowe's run? Let's drag the kids along, they love home improvement stores! Hubby decided that was a great idea so we set off optimistically.
The kind lady that was working the paint department before wasn't at the counter any more. There was also a line of three or four people ahead of me. Honey, why don't you take the boys to go look at tools or something? So off they went. And Miss Precious and I waited....and waited...and waited. Finally, after an eternity had passed, it is my turn. I hand her the stir stick and the paint lid. She confidently puts it in the color matching machine and voila! out pops the "perfect" match! Looks a little dark at first blush, but she is sure it will lighten up as it dries. Uses the hairdryer on the stir stick to compare the two colors. Yeah, not a match, let's try again because this is such a fun game! Second try yields the same result. Only this time let's throw in a little employee attitude which consisted of her throwing the stick down in exasperation and telling me that I should go the the paint chips and try and match it myself. We are professionals here!
So, a little even less cheerfully, but by no means rude, however not to happy with the customer service, I dutifully go over to the myriad of paint chips and attempt to pick my perfect match. Hmmm...this is going to be a little harder than I thought. Why couldn't the dumb machine just match the lid? Maybe this brown will work..."Sea Lion Brown"...it looks like I may have found the twin to my oops paint.
Strolling over to the paint desk, I find myself behind another two or three person line. After another eternity passed, "Have you been helped yet ma'am?" Why no, I just enjoy standing here watching everyone else get assisted! (Can you tell the blood pressure is rising just a tad by now? Oh and sweet sleeping baby has awakened too!) Yes, kind sir, I just need a QUART of this color. OK, so that's a gallon of the satin interior? NO, just a QUART is all I need.
Seriously, an hour and forty-five minutes later with three very irritable and hungry children in tow (I wasn't aware it would have been this long of an ordeal otherwise I would have brought snacks!), hubby and I escape back home.
He is eager to get finished with the room and starts in. Cries of dismay draw me to the room. It looks like someone had graffitied the wall and we had attempted to paint over it. The color was so much lighter of a shade than the original. I joked about having the graffiti look, but hubby was not amused.
Banished to the home improvement store again. Only this time I hit Home Depot. The most cheerful girl was working the paint area. She matched the paint and had me out the door in less than ten minutes. Only problem was that now I had to fork over $24 for a new gallon of paint to cover the erroneous hue.
Filled with ever-brimming hope and optimism, I hand the paint can to Mr. Querido. He sighs and goes back to the room paintbrush in hand. It is a PERFECT match.
So $41 of paint later, we have this beautiful chocolate cocoon...
Oh and my frugal Friday tip? Be sure if you get an oops paint, make certain you only need that one can to cover everything, otherwise you may end up spending $36 you didn't want to!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
You Know Your Kids Are Easily Entertained...
When they can sit and watch the ants haul off crumbs from your kitchen floor...for hours. A neighbor of our's told my husband that we could get rid of the ants by leaving oatmeal for them to carry off. Apparently, they cannot digest it and it kills them. Really cheap RAID :) I really hope it works, because I am SICK of sharing my home with the little invaders. My sons are crouched on the floor MESEMRIZED by the little workers. They are even providing a running commentary!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
DeterrANTs
Dead-ANT, Dead-ANT, dead-ANT, dead-ant, dead-ant, dead-ant,dead-AAAANNNNNTT, da, da, da...
Sugar ants are quite persistent! No matter how many I send to an early demise, more come to replace them. They are EVERYWHERE...my kitchen, my floors, my bed (yes, I found a couple of them IN MY BED!!!!), my bathroom, and my shower
(IS NOTHING SACRED??)!!!!!
Every spring they come in by the ever-so-organized droves...which in turn drives me CRAZY!
I got fed up and I started looking for home remedies against ants (well besides spiders...EEK). As I was perusing different websites today I came across a natural, non-toxic, non-fatal remedy! (I really hate to kill the little guys, they are just doing their job) CINNAMON...or even cayenne pepper!!!!!!!! Just so happens I have both in my cupboard. If you sprinkle a line of either around the outside of your home, the ants will not cross the line. It keeps them outside where I am more than happy to have them be! Well, I had forgotten that we did that last year at the front door..guess what insects are extremely smart? They haven't come in the front door at all! So I sprinkled some at the back patio door. I felt kind of sorry for the ones on the other side of the cinnamon barrier---they looked so confused and lost. Nevertheless, they would not cross the line! Yipee!
Saturday, I am going to implement this plan on a larger scale, OUTSIDE!
Praise the Lord for natural remedies!
By the way, cucumbers are supposed to have the same effect. Also if you soak a string in citrus juice, that is purported to work as a deterrent as well. I haven't tried those yet, so I'm not sure they work. But cinnamon works great!
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