Frugal Fridays

Cloth Diapers

2010-07-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

I have been cloth diapering for 1.5 yrs now. I used disposables for my 1st and part way with my 2nd. I used cloth for the 2nd half of our 2nd and entirely with our 3rd. My conclusion: I wish I had known more about cloth when we had our 1st so I could have used them with all 3 kids! I love my cloth diaper. They are cute, they are just as easy, I save money and I am helping not fill our landfills.

Since I am a SAHM, I have the time to do an extra load of laundry. And I can stuff them while I watch TV at night. Yes, my guilty pleasure is that I like to watch TV and veg after the kids go to bed.

I was very blessed with a dad who loves to spoil his grandkids. So when I decided to switch to cloth, I took him to a store and showed him all the adorable diapers available. Of my 28 diapers, 8 are Blueberry Diapers, 17 are BumGenius and 3 are ones I picked up from Craigslist. My amazing Dad bought the Blueberry diapers and several of the Bums. I ordered the rest of my Bums from Diapers.com and got free shipping and a discount on my first order. Overall, I spent very little on my diapers. And the best part- I can resell them! I have 4 Blueberry diapers that are size M. When #3 outgrows them, I can sell them and recoup some of the investment. All other diapers are OneSize and will last until #3 is diaper free.

Since today's cloth diapers are similar in shape and ease, our parents, the nursery workers at church, and our sitters don't mind changing the diapers. In fact, we have inspired several other new moms to choose cloth.

I love that I don't have to worry about running out of diapers or money to buy diapers. All I have to do is throw them in the wash and viola, I have diapers again! With a frugal budget, it's never a worry. Also, #2 and #3 have never had a diaper rash with the cloth diapers. #2 had them all the time with disposables. I think it was from the absorbing chemicals in them. So not only have I not had to buy diapers, but I don't have to buy rash creams.

If you are willing to front the initial investment and commit to using cloth, it is worthwhile. But if you can't handle the extra loads of laundry (about 5 per month) and can't commit to a year or more, it might not be the right fit. Cloth diapers was the right choice for us. I know it doesn't work for everyone, and no condemnation here! I encourage everyone who is thinking about trying cloth that it can be a great choice.

Leftover Love :)

2010-06-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

For some reason, no one in my household will eat leftovers! But with a little creativity, nothing goes to waste around here. I am amazed at how much food is wasted every week in households. People don't seem to realize they are just throwing away their money. I know not everyone cooks, but I do believe everyone can! It doesn't have to gourmet everyday. Simple, delicious dishes are all you need. I have 1 picky eater, 1 gluten-free eater, 1 finicky eater and 1 that is just starting to eat. Yet we seem to do pretty well :)

Here is what this week's dinner menu looks like:

Monday- black bean burgers, fries, green beans
Tuesday- Spaghetti with hamburger in it, salad, garlic bread
Wednesday- Chicken quesadillas- chicken, cheese, pico de gallo
Thursday- Tacos (rest of hamburger from Tues), salad (left over from Tues)
Friday- Chicken parmesan (noodles and sauce left from Tues, chicken from Wed), corn
Saturday- Enchiladas- beef and/or chicken (beef or chicken left from Thurs & Wed, beans and cheese from Thurs)
Sunday- free day (my kids love pb & j or grilled cheese usually)

Having new ways to use leftovers can create an exciting menu without waste. Also, it makes grocery shopping easy. We always have 1 day of vegetarian meals each week. Looking to cut your grocery bill? Try a vegetarian or meatless day each week. Also, by having meals that do not make meat the primary ingredient of the meal you can use it more sparingly and stretch it to other meals.

Quick and easy tip- when I am using hamburger in multiple meals (spaghetti, tacos, enchiladas) I will cook it all at one time, then divide it into separate containers. This keeps me from over using early in the week then having little left at the end. Also, cooking dinner is much quicker if the meat is already done. No matter what my schedule is for that day, I don't have to rush home to cook dinner.

July will start the Food Challenge- can you feed your family on less than $100 per week? You will be surprised at how easy it actually is to feel a family of 4 for less than $100/wk and still have healthy, nutritious food!

A simple afternoon

2010-05-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

Since we live in a very fast-pace society, sometimes it is easy to forget simplicity. We have to do everything now. We have to get everything now. We have to be everywhere now. We have to know everything now. One of the beautiful aspects of economic change has been the renewed appreciation of simplicity. Take today for instance. My husband and I have the day off and our 1st grader had a 1/2 day at school. So what did the 5 of us do? Very little. It is easy to beat ourselves up for not having a "productive" day. But what have I done? I transplanted my herb starts to pots, built a strawberry planter for the kids, got the house cleaned, and played in the yard. Dinner has been started and now the 5 of us are sitting here on the couch reading books, talking, and blogging. We have gotten fresh air, some family quality time, the plants were tended to, and it was all done at our own pace. And it didn't cost us anything (well, except the materials I purchased earlier in the week). I am amazed at all the parents that think entertaining kids costs a fortune. Ironically, for my 7 & 3 yr olds, they had an action-packed day with their wagon, swords (sticks), and their imaginations.

New/Old

2010-03-08T12:49:00.000-08:00

With only a few days left before we close on our new house, I find myself longing to go shopping for EVERYTHING!!!!! I want new furniture, new kitchen stuff, new bedroom sets, etc. But let's be realistic, it's not going to happen. So, my solution... using what we already have in new ways. I know it seems simple and not too creative, but I'm working on it! I want to use the bookshelves in the playroom. I have a hodgepodge of baskets that will work just fine with them. Furniture will just have to wait. Although, we really do need a new couch set. But for now, I am going to just make new pillows. That will add some color and something "new" to the living room. Vases are going in new rooms. I have a seaglass lantern that will go into the kids' bathroom- I will just need to get new matching hand towels. The shower curtain is pretty neutral and will still work. But for sure, I will be buying paint and adding color to most of the house. Not obnoxious color, but warm and cozy. I am really excited to get started on our new house. And I am very interested to see the "new" spots for some of our "old" things! Even though it will be stuff we already have, I am hoping the effect makes some of this stuff seem new. I will keep you posted!

Oops! Oh, well...

2010-03-01T16:48:00.000-08:00

I missed last Friday's post because, well, life is busy! Sometimes it feels as if we never sit still and just breathe. As I was driving to my son's check up today, the sky was clear and the air was comfortable. And all along the drive was the crystal clear view of our mountains. There is beauty all around us but sometimes we are so preoccupied that we forget to notice. So this afternoon, I took all the kids outside to just enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. They enjoyed the fresh air, the giant worm they found, climbing a tree and just simply riding bikes. Sometimes the simple things in life truly bring the greatest pleasures!

I'm Back!!!!

2010-02-19T17:11:00.001-08:00

AHHHH!!!!! It has been so long! I can't believe I let this blog pass. I have actually missed it quite a bit. So, I am back and will be keeping up on my Frugal Fridays!

Saving money while continuing to live a great and comfortable life has been easier than I thought it would be. In fact, I have so enjoyed my "frugalness" that I shutter at the thought of paying full price! I seem to have coupons for everything these days.

Today's frugal find: Fred Meyer has Trident's Layers Gum on sale for 10/$10. Normal price for this gum is between $1.29-$1.49. So, $1 each is pretty decent. HOWEVER... my Sunday paper had a coupon in for $.75 off!!!!! That is a savings of $1.04-$1.24! I think saving 80% is a good, frugal bargain!

Baby Clothes Quilt

2009-04-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

Baby girl clothes are so darling and everyone wants to buy them! When our daughter was born, we received some of the most adorable dresses and outfits. I wanted to keep them forever! But somehow my daughter was gifted at stains! No matter what I tried there were so many "ruined" outfits. Because most of those outfits came from beloved family members I just couldn't bring myself to throw them away. So I kept them. I thought the sentimental value would out-weigh the extra storage tubs in our garage. But after 2 years of looking at those boxes, I knew it was time. That's when the idea came to me!

I began to cut quilting pieces out of the clean parts of the outfits. So I only threw out the stained portion and was able to reuse the clean parts. The quilt I made with her clothes ended up having more sentimental value (and took up less space) than the boxes of clothes. Not only did the quilt contain pieces from her early childhood wardrobe, but I put lots of love and hard work in that quilt! Years later, when we take out that quilt, I show her patches from different outfits and I get to tell her stories about Great-Great Grandma, who is no longer with us, that sent that dress for Easter. Or about a specific event that pictures alone could not describe.

For more Thrifty Green Thursday tips, check Green Baby Guide.

Cheap Vacations

2009-03-30T09:51:00.001-07:00

Recently my husband and I took a week long vacation. We knew we couldn't/shouldn't/didn't want to spend a lot of money for a getaway. We ended up going to Las Vegas and had a blast! Altogether we spent under $1000. Not bad for a week! How do you vacation for less?

1. Go during the "Off Season." We found incredibly cheap hotel prices during a certain period of time. Our hotel was nice, right on the Vegas strip, and we were even upgraded for free! And because it was the off season, there was hardly any people there! Great for us :)

2. Shop around. Before booking our hotel or flights, I checked every website I could think of for the best deals. I checked several travel sites and directly with the airlines and hotels. It took a little research but it was worth the savings!

3. Be flexible. We were able to save a ton of money on our flights by going standby. We chose standby for our flights into Vegas, but not on the way home. Vegas can be very busy if you are trying to fly home at the same time everyone else is! This cut our flight prices by over $200. We didn't have any trouble with our standby flights. I didn't schedule anything for that evening so we had plenty of time to get there.

4. Do your homework. I spent a few days online looking up things we wanted to do while we were on vacation. We decided that price was more important this trip than activity. We chose to skip the Vegas shows for that reason. I did find lots of free things to do in Las Vegas. I made a list of everything I wanted to see and the locations. I also checked restaurants and restaurant reviews. We had an agenda, with every day carefully planned. I got to see what I wanted, we ate at places that we wanted, and my husband got to sleep in every morning- which was all he asked for.

5. Take cash. When you are on vacation, it is very easy to overspend without even realizing it! We took a certain amount of cash. When it was gone, it was gone! Because I had done my research, I knew how much we would need for food and how much was allowed for "fun." I know there is the big debate whether it is safer to carry cash/traveler's checks/cards. But I knew where we were going and how much we would need for the day. And that is how much we took with us.

6. Use what is available. We didn't go to Las Vegas to gamble. But we did decide to just play around for a few hours one night. I figured at some point we would want to play so I had already budgeted money in for the casinos. We are not gamblers so we didn't allow much money. In fact, we played on penny slots the whole time! But we had so much fun playing them together. We ended up winning enough to pay for a Jousting Dinner Theater. What would have cost us $125 for tickets, was only $30 on a slot machine! Also, one of the casino buffets had an All-Day-All-You-Can-Eat Buffet for $25 per person. Breakfast, lunch & dinner for $25. There was a free bus/transit system between several casinos along the strip that we were able to use to quickly go places.

We had a great vacation together. It was one of our funnest ones yet and also one of our cheapest! We stayed in a nice hotel, got to eat at some nice restaurants that we had wanted to try, and we saw/did so many things that our days were full. We went on a small budget but had a big vacation!

Getting Over Gadgets

2009-03-27T09:06:00.000-07:00

I used to think I wasn't a "gadget person." But when I took a look around my kitchen, I had every kitchen gadget known to man! Fortunately, I had enough cabinet space for all my things and our kitchen never seemed overloaded. But when we decided to start simplifying our life and our things, the kitchen was on that list! I knew it was time to consolidate but I hated the thought of not having certain items for my kitchen! By eliminating several items, and replacing with "all-in-ones" I have so much more space and everything fits nicely in the cabinets.

One of my favorite new items is the Cuisinart Smart Stick. It comes with whisk, blender and chopper attachments. Also, a measuring beaker. At first I was skeptical. "But I need my blender and food processor!" The reality is: the blender mainly used for smoothies and the food processor was really only used for small jobs.

My larger "gadgets" were expensive and large. I got my Smart Stick from Costco for $35. It gets used almost daily for smoothies. My kids love "helping!" Even my 2-year old can help push the button. My 6-year old likes making chocolate milk with the whisk. And clean up is simple- rinse off the attachment, dry it, put it away.

After having the Smart Stick, I don't know that I would want to buy the other gadgets again. Because my blender and food processor were over $100 each, selling them was a piece of cake. I got more money just out of my blender than what I spent on the Smart Stick. So, I condensed my cabinet (in this one way) and I actually made money! And like always, we aren't going without and haven't sacrificed our quality of life!

Buying Organic Food Without Breaking the Bank

2009-03-22T21:20:00.001-07:00

I have heard so many people complain that it is just too expensive to eat organic. Let's just put aside the health debates and look solely at this from the money aspect. To buy organic fruits, veggies and some meats, really only increases the grocery budget about 15-20%. There are several ways that we have countered the cost. Here is what has helped us:

1. Skip the meat occasionally. We have one vegetarian dinner a week. I know that seems small, but it does cut down on the meat expense. Sometimes we do more than one night it just depends on the meal. For example, Loaded Salads are vegetarian and don't even feel like it! (Loaded Salads are just that- loaded. With carrots, broccoli, celery, red & yellow peppers, green onion, peas, pea pods, chickpeas, pine nuts, garlic salt and sesame oil)

2. Have a plan! I make a weekly menu. It includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon snacks. I know what we have already and what we need to get from the store. I am creative with leftovers since no one in my family will eat the same meal twice in a row. Having tacos one night? Leftovers will become enchiladas or nachos another night. I also check the weekly store flyers to see what is on sale. That also helps to determine what we will be having.

3. Shop around. I don't buy everything at the same store. Some things are cheaper on a regular basis at different stores. But before I just start driving around, I have gone through the flyers and made a list of items that I want to get from different places. I will say, however, that if there is less than 5 items on a list I will do one of two things: either just pay a few dollars more and save a trip or see if I can wait until that list grows before making the trip.

4. Use coupons. I love clipping coupons! I have become so into that my kids get excited on Sundays when we get the paper so we can see what "goodies" we are shopping for. I clip almost every coupon in the paper, mail, online and magazines. Some of them I don't use but will pass onto others. Some I keep on hand just in case. The trick to using coupons is to use them on items that are already on sale and that you would be buying anyway! If you are buying something just because you have a coupon for it, you are probably spending more money than you are saving. I went to the store on Friday and spent $17.41. On the receipt, it showed my savings for that trip- $29.94! I use coupons for what groceries I can but I also use them on household items- toilet paper, cleaners, laundry soap, etc. I did the math for a 3 month period. With coupons, we saved 34% on our grocery/household receipts. That more than covers the 15% increase for organic food!

I am sure there are other ways to save on groceries. And not everything we buy is labeled "organic." But there is a peace of mind in knowing what chemicals were used or not used on your food, where it came from, what ingredients are in it, etc.

We still buy yummy foods and even some treats that weren't on the list. But we still stay within our budget. Again, we haven't sacrificed our quality of life but we have saved a few bucks along the way!

Have Samples, Will Travel

2009-03-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

For some reason, I love getting samples! I even sign up for some of the free samples I get. It's like getting little gifts in the mail. But what do you do with all those samples? Some of them I wanted to try before I bought a full size item. Some of them I just liked the idea of the sample. The food samples often make great throw-in-the-backpack-snacks. They are very handy in their small packaging and my kids are excited to have new treats in their bags when we go to parks or to the mall.

And then there are the non-food samples. I save them all, whether I think I might want a full size version or not. At first I wasn't sure what I would do with the shampoos, lotions, face cleansers, etc. I was already stocked up in our bathrooms. But recently my husband and I took a 5 day vacation- just the two of us! We didn't want to mess with all the luggage so we decided to put everything in our carryons. Instead of buying small travel size everything (so we stayed within security regulations) I had my samples! I put them in a ziploc, ran them through security without any troubles at all! I was able to try new products, save on travel-sized items, and enjoy a lightweight travel day!

Baby Food Jars

2009-03-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that with our first child, I had no idea what to do with a child. I did whatever the pediatrician recommended or what other parents said was the "thing to do." This included jarred baby foods once she moved onto solids. Although I didn't know too much, I did know that I wasn't going to just throw away those jars. My husband has made jokes and laughed at me for for keeping those jars all this time. But they have served our family well! With our 2nd child, I was a little more prepared. There were times we still ended up buying baby food, but I did my best as a full-time working mom to make my own baby food. And what did I use to keep them in? My jars :) I made a couple days worth of food and just put them in the refrigerator.

So, now what are my jars doing? Well, we have a women's event coming up at church and I need some little gifts for the women at my tables. So, I am making salt/sugar scrubs for each lady- about 20 total. I have decorated the lids, added ribbon to the jar with a little label of what scent/oil was used.

Also, in my daughter's kindergarten class, they made butter for their Thanksgiving feast. I got to supply the baby food jars for shaking (they shook cream until it formed a "ball of butter"). More great uses for my little jars.

This summer my sister is getting married. She is not very crafty and has asked for my help with decorations. Well, those small jars make great tealight holders, taper candle holders and small flower arrangement vases. Just add some ribbon, flowers, colored sand, viola!

I am so excited about the many uses I have gotten out of those jars. Some of them are almost 6 years old and are still being reused! And I am always looking for more ways to use them. How have you reused baby food jars?

Also, check out more Thrifty Green Thursdays!

Spring is in the Air!

2009-03-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Grab your local paper and a girlfriend or two! Yep, it's Garage Sale Time!!! After seasons of sorting through stuff that wasn't worth the $.05 it was marked, I have found great tips for successful hunting.

1. Find great neighborhoods. If you are looking for cheap alternatives to upgrading your home, the neighbor whose stuff is worse than yours is not the place to start. It might be cheap, but is it really worth it? Go to the neighborhoods that have bigger houses, nicer cars. I was shocked at some of the home decor I found when I went to a neighborhood I thought would be too "rich" for garage sales. Nice Italian leather couch set for $500. I know, it was still $500 but when you consider the quality and price for a couch, loveseat, chair and ottoman set... definately worth it! It still looked brand new!

2. Go with a plan. Plan your route so you don't spend tons of time or gas backtracking. Also, have an idea of things you are looking for. Sometimes we get caught up in the "savings" and buy junk that will just sit in our own garage. But when you find something you are actually hunting for, the victory is sweet :)

3. Take cash. Most people don't take checks anymore. Plus, if you go with a set amount you can or want to spend, you will be less likely to over buy.

4. Start early. If you are looking for common things, like baby gear, you want to start early. Many other moms are on the hunt for the same thing. Check the ads in your local paper, as many will give descriptions of what they are selling. Again, have a plan.

5. Have fun! Taking a girlfriend or two along makes the day more enjoyable. Everyone loves to celebrate their great finds with great friends!

Skip the Sale

2009-03-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

Something I have struggled with for many years was a "good deal." Often we find something that is such a good deal we can't pass it up- whether we need/want it or not. I doubt I am the only one! One such area I wanted to focus on today is produce.

Have you ever had to clean out your crisper because your produce went bad before you got around to eating it? I am pretty sure it happens to most of us. When I took a good look at what was going on in my own frig, I decided I was NOT going to continue to buy food for my composter! Time to re-evaluate!

Getting a great sale at the store is really not a "great" sale if you end up throwing out the food. Whatever you spent on your produce is the amount of money you just wasted. I'm not talking about the leftovers that never got used. I am talking about the 15 lbs of carrots that you couldn't pass up but no one in your family likes carrots- so they sat and rotted and were never used. "But they were Buy 5 lbs, Get 10 lbs Free!" True, but your family doesn't even like carrots!

So what can we do to change this trap? I make a weekly menu. It includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and afternoon snacks. I know, it sounds controlling :) But when I do my weekly grocery shopping, I only buy items that fit into the menu. Also take an honest look at whether this is a great sale for you. Fifteen pounds of carrots might be ideal for your neighbor who uses carrots in every meal. I have found that if a sale is so good I can't pass it up but also don't need it, I either buy it with someone in mind to give it to or I call them to let them know about this "AMAZING deal!" I feel as if I have participated in the sale without the waste.

Another trick I have learned is how to use up my fruit. Bananas usually go fast in our house. But occasionally there is that one or two that start to brown and turn soft. SMOOTHIES! My kids love smoothies and I love that I can use up the fruit that no longer appeals to them. Fruits such as bananas, berries, pineapple, mangos can be frozen until you are ready to use them. I prefer this method just so I don't have to add ice. The frozen fruits make my smoothies good and cold. You can also add that last yogurt that is nearing its expiration date. Or what about that last bit of juice that no one will drink because it's not enough for a full glass?

I have overcome my "need" to participate in these amazing sales. I can successfully walk past a Sale sign and not feel guilty about the money I could be saving! The hardest part to overcome was my thought on sales. The idea of how much money I could be saving no longer controls what I buy- mainly because I have a plan when I walk into the store. I have done my research, I know which stores have what items on sale, and I have my grocery list for the week.

Keep Your Lattes, Lose The Expense!

2009-03-11T23:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, anyone who knows me knows that I love my coffee! And I love going out to coffee with people. I also stop to get coffee if I have run out of beans at home. Or if I am bored. Or if I have had a busy day. Or if I need something to cheer me up. You get the idea. At one point, it was such a daily habit that everytime we would get into the car my 2 year old would ask, "Coffee?" I knew it was time for a change! I could usually justify going for coffee because I always took my own travel mug. At least I was saving on the amount of paper cups used, right? But let's look at the reality of it: it took more gas to drive to the coffee shop, it took more time from my day, and the bigger issue, I was spending a fortune! So how do you cut out something you enjoy so much? You don't! You just do it differently! Remember, we are still living a quality life.

Around Christmas time, I started thinking about what I wanted. I decided that it would be best to get another espresso machine. (I wore out my last one but never replaced it.) So I told my parents and in-laws what I wanted to do and that if they wanted to contribute to it, they were more than welcome. Fortunately I have the greatest in-laws and they bought me one I really liked for my Christmas present. It is fabulous!

I get my syrups from a restaurant supply store, which is about half the cost of the grocery store. I do still buy good coffee so that I get the taste I want. And milk is 2gal/$3. So, how much does my coffee usually cost for me to make it at home? Between $.90-$1.20. Now I just can't bring myself to spend $4 on a latte when I have everything to make it at home at just a fraction of the price!

And as for going out to coffee with friends, I now invite them over and offer to make them lattes. It is great girl time, we all save money, and we have the relaxed atmosphere of just hanging out and visiting in my kitchen. Also, any time I need to have an informal meeting with someone or am helping someone work through issues we always do it over coffee- at my house!

For more great ideas, check Green Baby Guide and read through more Thrifty Green Thursdays!

Money Saving Monday

2009-03-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about starting this blog for a while and now I have finally done it! I have found information, secrets and shortcuts to having a great life and I want to be able to share that knowledge with others.

Here's a little info about me: I am married to my best friend and we have 3 great children- 6, 2, newborn. I left the corporate world to stay home with my children while they are young. In doing so, we cut our income drastically- almost half! But I have discovered tricks, secrets, general knowledge that has given us a great life without sacrificing our quality of life. We have made some changes, rearranged some priorities and discovered a way of life that does not include the everyday stresses that most people go through.

Since money seems to be a large source of stress for most families, I wanted a way to share thoughts and ideas with others that have helped us. Also, I love to get feedback and hear your thoughts and ideas!

Our motto is The Good Life, The Green Life, The Simple Life!