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Countdown to What?

All right, here it is: we’re making Christmas crafts. Yes, really. And it’s not because I am insanely organized. Far from it. It’s because I know that Christmas will come and we will not be organized, December will fly, and there we will be, with no Christmas presents to give to special teachers and other relatives. As I’ve mentioned before, my daughter and I are rapid-fire crafters. We don’t like to spend a lot of time creating crafts with intricate details – let’s just say that no one will be getting fancy lacework for Christmas, as least not made from … Continue reading →

The Value of a Dollar Can Make a Difference!

Everyone has a comment about the value of a dollar. Either it has gone down, isn’t appreciated (especially by kids) or means nothing these days. At least, that is what I keep hearing all around me. But the value of a dollar can be quite high, if you apply it the right way. Here are some things that you can get for $1. A child’s lined winter coat (at the Goodwill Outlet). Two apple pie deserts at a fast food restaurant A bag of beans that mixed with ketchup and seasonings can make an entire meal that feeds eight people. … Continue reading →

How to Save on Soap

I like to examine different items on our grocery list to see if there are ways that we can reduce the cost of them. With enough things on the list costing less, the overall bill can really go down. One of the things that we seem to go through a lot of is soap. That makes sense. With three children who get into everything, cooking from scratch at home, and trying to keep the illness away during winter, it isn’t surprising that we use a lot of soap. So, with a little thinking, I’ve come up with some ways that … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Stuff and Save

If you want a great way to save money, try making your own items instead of purchasing them. From growing your own food and making your own mixes to creating your own laundry detergent and sanitizing wipes, there are so many ways to save. Plus, it is nice knowing that you don’t have to rely on expensive commercial products if you don’t want to do so. Check out this round up of “Make Your Own” articles. Try one recipe or instructions, or try them all! Frugal Food: Make Your Own Granola Bars? Make Your Own Yogurt Make Your Own Fabric … Continue reading →

Make Your Own Soap Crayons

For a little fun in the tub for your little ones, consider making your own soap crayons. They are fun to use, easy to clean up, and they won’t break the bank. I made mine out of extra ingredients that I wasn’t using. Read below to find out how you can make your own. To make soap crayons, you will first need some soap, or in this case, powdered laundry detergent. I used some Ivory Snow that was given to me. This detergent is very gentle without any harsh additives, so I was confident that it wouldn’t irritate my children’s … Continue reading →

Fun Holiday Gifts and Crafts for Toddlers

If you are trying to navigate the holiday season on a tight budget this year, you are not alone. Many people, parents of toddlers included, are looking for ways to make merry for less. Whether your desire to cut back on spending is motivated by necessity or simply a desire to live a little more simply, here are some ideas that you might want to use this year. For your toddler, here are a few ideas. One thing that you can do is to round up any old, broken crayons that are lying around. Home made “crazy crayons”, made from pieces … Continue reading →

Playing With Colors

We visited New York City last week and we were enjoying the sights at FAO Schwartz. I love crafts, so I went over to the craft section. There were lots of great ideas there, although my somewhat frugal self balked at the idea of spending a lot of money on something that I could make myself. One of the wonderful items for sale was a kit of different craft colors that your preschooler could squish and mix. Yum! Mess! My daughter loves to move all of the colors of paint off the shelf and start mixing them together to make … Continue reading →

Choosing Good Value Toys This Holiday

When you are deciding which toys to buy your kids this holiday season, it helps to keep three things in mind. You want toys that have a long play value, toys that educational or enriching, and toys that are inexpensive. The trick is to find toys that have all three attributes. And let us add a fourth attribute: toys that are safe. The good news is that this year, it may just be the best year to find the toys you want for you kids at the lowest prices. In fact, you may even want to stock up for gifts … Continue reading →

Hosting Santa’s Workshop

Each year, it seems that we wind up spending too much money on the holidays. One of the ways to cut this expense down while reinforcing the validity of Christmas is to concentrate on gifts that come from the heart, gifts that are made by hand. But coming up with something that doesn’t look homemade can be a bit of a challenge. Why not get organized with a Santa’s workshop that will not only yield great gifts but also create a warm social engagement during the holidays. Setting up the workshop Making gifts is really fun when you do it … Continue reading →

Affording Toys for the Holidays

If you are having a lean year, like many of us, you might have started getting concerned about the holidays and how you will be able to afford getting toys and other gifts for your children. Yes, we all know the real meaning of the holidays does not involve material gifts, but what parent doesn’t want the pleasure of giving toys to their children? This will be a two part series on affording toys for the holidays. As I look around our living room, which has been turned into a playroom for the kids, I feel blessed that we are … Continue reading →