Tag Archives: frugal tips

The Free Money Box

In our home, we have a free money box. Thanks to this box, we have been able to afford things, both necessities and treats, that we might not otherwise have, or at least been able to justify. To start our free money box, I purchased an inexpensive but sturdy cardboard box with a lid and label. I titled the label, and set to work. I started by going through the house and gathering up all of the unused gift cards that we had from the many places that they were hiding: drawers, purses, bags, cards, closets, pockets, etc. All of … Continue reading →

Curbing Consumerism

Getting consumerism under control, that is purchasing and spending what is not needed, is the quickest way to save money and affect your budget in the positive. But, what is consumerism? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, consumerism is: 1: the promotion of the consumer’s interests 2: the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable; also : a preoccupation with and an inclination toward the buying of consumer goods. It is that last bit we are concerned about. Having a preoccupation toward buying a lot is never good, and it can lead to some serious financial repercussions. Our … Continue reading →

When You Can’t Afford Sports 2

As parents, we want to be able to provide our children with everything that will keep them happy and healthy. Activities in sports and the arts are valuable experiences that we can provide to our children, unless we can’t afford to do so. What then? Do are children lose out? A better solution might be to look for ways to save money on children’s sports, so you can provide them to your children without putting your family in danger of economic failure. This post is part two of a two-article series on the subject. If you missed the first post, … Continue reading →

When You Can’t Afford Sports

It is an odd child who does not attend two or three different activities in addition to school. These activities are generally concentrated in sports or the arts and can take up a lot of time and money. Well, I have three such odd children. We just don’t have the means to support so many activities for so many children. At an average of $3,000 to $5,000 a year on average for each serious sport, you can see how it all adds up. I just don’t know how these parents do it. So last year, we cut out all of … Continue reading →

Why Buy New When You Can Redo?

I admit that I am not very talented in the arts and crafts. I can get by with macaroni pictures or helping a child glue foam shapes on paper, but when it comes to taking a furniture find and turning it in to something fabulous, well, it will probably wind up looking like that macaroni picture. Still, that doesn’t give me the excuse to buy new when I can redo (or at least get a talented friend or family member to do it.) One simple project I completed with the help of my oldest child was to redo an old … Continue reading →

Fun Summer Ideas for Kids

Boredom doesn’t have to be busted by spending a lot of money. Try one of the following fun summer ideas for kids that are creative and frugal. No more “Mommy, I’m bored” this summer. Pick Blueberries  …Or raspberries, or strawberries. Find a local pick-your-own farm nearby and enjoy the sunshine. Picking berries is a fun and frugal activity for kids, and you get to take the sweet fruit home with you. Make Baggie Ice Cream Forget the expensive ice cream maker. Instead, grab two inexpensive plastic bags for a cool homemade treat. You’ll need a set for each child. Ingredients: … Continue reading →

Money Sabotage

Sometimes the things we tell ourselves lead to bad decision and financial trouble. Here is how to avoid common pitfalls. Everyone is Doing It The idea that everyone owns a large home, sends their children to an expensive summer camp, goes on an expensive vacation every year and owns all of the latest electronic gadgets is a way to rationalize needing these things for yourself. But if you take money out of savings to pay for some of these things or go into debt for them, you may also find yourself bankrupt, as “everyone” seems to be these days. Decide … Continue reading →

Frugal Living Week in Review: November 10th Through November 16th

Job losses seem to be increasing to the point where I am hearing about more and more people that I know being laid off. But I am hopeful that things will turn around. Look for some future posts on dealing with some of these issues. Meanwhile, put some frugal strategies into use with the week’s past articles. November 10th Frugal Living Week in Review: November 3rd Through November 9th I am so glad that we finally got through the elections this week. Now we can move forward and pull together behind our new leaders. One way that we are moving … Continue reading →

Save Money Now! More Living Frugally in 10 Minutes or Less

In yesterday’s article, Save Money Now! Living Frugally in 10 Minutes or Less, I shared how you can save lots of money by taking advantage of those little moments in your day that otherwise might be wasted. Here are even more ideas that you can put to use right now! Lower the thermostat. Even a few degrees can save money over time. (For even more savings, consider installing a programmable thermostat.) Hang up a load of wash instead of throwing it in the dryer. Depending on the size of the load and the efficiency of your dryer, you can save … Continue reading →

Make Your Milk Stay Fresh Longer and Save Money Too

It happens to the best of us. We open up the fridge, reaching for the milk, pop off the top and are hit by that noxious smell! What’s worse, is when you check the “best before” date, it hasn’t even passed yet. This can happen for many reasons, but is not the point of the article. I want to teach you how to keep your milk fresher to ensure it lasts longer, saving you lots of money in the long run. In order to keep your milk fresher, it has to start at the store. First, pick cartons and gallons … Continue reading →