Sometimes Odd But New Uses for Old Stuff

There is a certain addiction in our household. I can almost say it is a competition sometimes. We all enjoy discovering new uses for items that are used for something else entirely. The stranger the use the better, though we all agree it must be practical too. I have written articles about lots of the things we reuse often, however I plan to write some new ones too. In honor of the new articles that are coming, I thought I would recap my favorite reusable items. A Clever and Very Frugal Way to Use Torn Panty Hose I am completely … Continue reading

New Uses for Straws

With all the cleaning and purging we are doing as we prepare the house to go on the market, we are coming across dozens of items that we seem to have a lot of. The other day I opened a kitchen cabinet and way in the back behind bottles of seasoning and other things, was six – yes you saw that correctly – six unopened packages of straws. Four of them have more than 200 straws in them. Why in the world do we have so many straws? I seriously have no clue, but I do know what I will … Continue reading

Great Frugal Uses for Tennis Balls

Most families have tennis balls somewhere around the home. And if they don’t, consider this. Tennis balls are seriously inexpensive, and make great toys for kids and pets alike. But in addition to pets and children, tennis balls are useful for many different purposes around the home too. For Pets One of my favorite uses for tennis balls is for dogs to chase and cats to bat around the house. They are a cheap toy that can provide hours of entertainment for your pets. For Humans Children can use them to play catch, or any other game that requires a … Continue reading

Free Sample Stockpile: Creative Uses

I love getting free samples wherever I can. In an earlier blog, Top Places for Free Samples, I listed the best sources for everything from shampoo to coloring books. But now that you have all of those great freebie samples, what do you do with them? Well, here are some of the ways I use up my free sample stockpile. My favorite way to use free samples is by creating my own custom travel kits. I have a kit for my husband and myself, one for my older two children and one for the baby. The sample sizes are perfect … Continue reading

10 Uses for Cotton Swabs

Cotton swabs are a wonderful invention. While Q-tips is actually a brand name, cotton swabs is the correct term. Regardless of what you call them, they are so useful all around your home. Here are ten great uses for these tiny miracle wands! 1. Makeup: Nail polish remover works well with cotton swabs, cleaning up nail polish that’s on your finger rather than your nail is easy with cotton swabs too. You can also apply lipstick, eyeshadow and blush using a cotton swap. 2. Crafts: Use to apply glue to a project. Keeps fingers clean and can be tossed afterwards. … Continue reading

A Clever and Very Frugal Way to Use Torn Panty Hose

I am completely fascinated by new and useful ways to use items that have run their course, which you can probably tell by many of the articles that I write. When a friend recently showed me a new trick with some panty hose that had a tear in them, I was so excited to go home and try the same thing. So what was this clever, practical and very frugal thing she did? Cleaning out a hairbrush is simply not fun, but it is sanitary and should be done regularly. It is so hard to get all of the hair … Continue reading

Frugal Tips to Decorate Creatively

Decorating your home with little touches, is a wonderful way to make it yours, and comfortable. However, it can be extremely expensive when you got purchase all the extras and wall hangings. Here are some ideas for decorating a bit more creatively, with not a lot of money. Tip #1 – Stock up on Frames Keep them on hand. Buy them at garage and yard sales, antique stores and on clearance at local department and discount chains. If someone offers to give you some, take them. Store them in a closet until you need them. THEN, when you are ready … Continue reading