Search Results for: blog frugal magic erasers

Frugal Cleaning Arsenal

If you want to attack your dirt, you’ll need an arsenal of supplies. But forget the fancy cleaners, battery powered mops, and expensive robots. You can have a sparkling clean house without spending a lot of money. Head over to your local warehouse and/or discount club and pick up the following items. You can use them to make your own cleaners and cleaning equipment arsenal. Baking soda: A natural deodorizer and scrubber that is great for cleaning ovens, microwave ovens and the refrigerator. Combined with the next ingredient, it can clean bathrooms. Vinegar: A grease cutter that makes surfaces shine … Continue reading →

Frugal Living Week in Review: May 12th Through May 18th

I sometimes get asked the question, where do you come up with your frugal ideas?!? I love this question, because it really humbles me. I am by no means someone who comes to frugality with a natural talent for it. Instead, I try to work hard to come up with new ways to save money and resources and help us all be the best stewards of our stuff. Some of the ideas come from research, some from readers and friends, most of the ideas come from a practical need or experience and some just pop into my head at inopportune … Continue reading →

Frugal Magic Erasers

Don’t you just love it when a miracle cleaning product comes along? I remember being skeptical about the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser until I actually tried it. The thing seems to be a miracle worker when it comes to crayon marks, scuffs and layers of grime that have built up over time. Before I start sounding too much like a commercial for this product, let me point out one huge drawback to the magic eraser. That is the price. At $2.50 for 2 magic erasers, the price is pretty steep, especially when you consider that they don’t last very long. … Continue reading →

Is Your Kid a Spendthrift?

We’ve entered a new dimension at Casa Cheplic: Cashdom. Now that my daughter is 7, we’ve bid adieu to threats and time outs and are embracing the wonders of using cash as incentive for good behavior. So, yeah, basically I get my kid to behave by bribing her with big bucks. Actually, it’s mostly coins, but the occasional dollar bill makes an appearance if she achieves a monumental accomplishment. We’ve got the wall chart, the stickers, a list of jobs and rules and, of course, a jar full of shiny, jangly loot. Using monetary rewards as a method of behavior … Continue reading →

Save Money While Spring Cleaning: Use What You Have

As you might have seen from my blog post in the Home Blog, I am ready to start our spring cleaning. The weather may not exactly be cooperating, but hey, there are still some things that I can get done. One of the great ways to save on spring cleaning is to use what you already have, or at the very least, what you can obtain for little money. Makes sense, or should I say cents? Right? Forget wasting those expensive paper towels and store bought cleaners. Look around your home and see what will work well to clean and … Continue reading →

Spring Cleaning Time

Today it is chilly again, although I am afraid that I am already considering it to be spring. You see, we had two days this past weekend in which the temperatures “soared” into the early 70s. The snowdrops are already blooming in the yard, we had our first trip to the playground, and the town has already sent out its flyer about the annual Daffodil Days event. So, even though I am sitting her with cold hands listening to our baseboard heating system click and clack, I know in my heart that it is time to do the spring cleaning. … Continue reading →

Teaching Kids about Maintaining the House

This week I have really been concentrating on teaching my oldest child how to do the laundry. We have gone over sorting, setting the washer and turning it on, adding detergent, transferring clothing to the dryer, setting the dryer and turning that on as well. When the laundry is done, he brings it up two flights of stairs to the master bedroom, where I will fold it (we will work on folding another time). You may be surprised to know that my son is only seven. At his tender age, he also knows how to vacuum his room, wipe down … Continue reading →

Tips for When You Are Overwhelmed with Housework

Yesterday, I posted about how the state of my house was so uncomfortable for me that I felt completely overwhelmed with housework. Whenever that happens, I try to approach things in a way that makes it all a bit more manageable. If you have ever found yourself in the same situation, you may benefit from the following tips. Figure out what bothers you the most and start with that. For me it tends to be a dirty kitchen and bathrooms, although some days I just can’t stand the toys on the floor. Pick one room to start with. Don’t leave … Continue reading →

Chore Wars: A New Way to Do Housework

Is there a way to making cleaning more fun? When I first heard of Chore Wars, I admit that I was a little skeptical. Sure, it might be effective for a day or two, but would it really have any long-term effect on the housework? In this blog post, I’ll share information about Chore Wars. What is Chore Wars? Chore Wars is an online “game” that keeps track of chores that you do around the house and rewards you in a very simplified manner. It uses a sort of Dungeons and Dragons type model in that you form a party … Continue reading →

Your Best Deal of the Year and How to Find This Year’s

What was your best deal from last year and where did you find it? Where do all these good deals come from? Anyone can find them. Of course, it’s probably a lot easier just to check the Deals Blog, but it’s a pretty satisfying feeling to find one yourself, too! I know that I have learned a lot visiting the Deals Forum here on Families.com. There are some pretty savvy savers over there! If you haven’t been there yet, it’s probably the first step. One way I find good deals is that I keep an eye open when I’m shopping. … Continue reading →