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The Conversion of Sytrofoam Sue Into a Frugal Environmentalist

Who knew that being Green could mean being frugal as well? One of my friends wasn’t aware of this, that’s for sure. Before I started blogging here at Families.com I was visiting her and listening to how proud she felt that she was becoming “Earth Friendly.” Actually, it was a big step since my nickname for her was Styrofoam Sue. That woman would go through more foam plates, bowls and cups than ten people could in twice the time. Okay, the only reason she joined the Green movement was because her latest boyfriend that she met online is into environmental … Continue reading →

No Impact Man Colin Beavan

In this Green Blog, Mary Ann and I have made mostly unobtrusive suggestions of changing your everyday life to make it a little greener. Simple things like choosing reusable water bottles over bottled water, turning the lights off, and composting can make a difference. But, Colin Beavan decided to take it to a whole new level. Beavan, a non-fiction writer and blogger, decided that he and his family (including his wife and then 2 year old daughter Isabella) would try to live a zero impact lifestyle for a year. That means no trash except items that could be composted, food … Continue reading →

Saving Money on Household Beverages

With summer here, your family is probably downing more beverages than ever to keep hydrated. And with an increase of beverages can come an increase in your budget. Here are some ways that you can curb the expense without curbing the drinks. If your kids love chocolate milk, choose the less expensive way to give it to them. Instead of buying chocolate milk prepared in a carton, flavor your own milk using inexpensive chocolate syrup. You can control the amount that is added. Also try a drop of vanilla or almond extra, or stir in a little bit of strawberry … Continue reading →

Things to Do with Terra-Cotta Pots

Do you have some terra-cotta pots around? There are a lot of things you can do with them. Don’t throw them out. Try one of these reuse ideas and keep up with your frugal lifestyle. Terra-cotta pots can be great for storage, especially because of their ability to absorb water. You can use a terra-cotta pot in the kitchen under the sink to store your sponge, scrub brush and other dish-cleaning devices. The pot will absorb any little bit of water that remains to keep everything dry and bacteria free. For Mother’s Day one year, my kids made a pen … Continue reading →

Reuse: New Uses for Old Plastic Bottles

Every time I used to empty out the trash, I was annoyed at all the large plastic bottles that were in there taking up space. Several years ago, we had a recycling program, but now we don’t. So I decided to figure out what to do with all these leftover plastic bottles from anything and everything. First, what types of bottles am I talking about? Milk Soda Detergent, Bleach and Fabric Softener Juice They were the main bottles I always seemed to have lots of. However, since I’ve been saving them, I have realized how many other things come in … Continue reading →

Reuse Review: Items from The Kitchen

Most of the time, the kitchen really seems to be the functional heart of the home. There is generally a lot of ongoing activity in a kitchen. This makes for plenty of opportunity to reuse items that otherwise might be thrown away. You can also repurpose a lot of kitchen items for other functions as needed. I think you will like the following articles. They focus on some creative ways to use everyday items you might find in the kitchen. Real Storage Solutions Using Egg Cartons Unless your are a homesteader, you probably have an almost endless supply of egg … Continue reading →

New Uses for Bottle Caps

Plastic and glass bottles are easy to reuse in some many different ways. But, what about the bottle caps? Reduce your waste and find frugal alternatives. Here are some ideas on new uses for bottle caps. You can use bottle caps to add height to planters, allowing more sun to reach your houseplants. Bottle caps are also great to use as temporary shims. A shim is normally a piece of wood that you buy to make something level. I’ve stuck bottle caps under wobbly appliances, chairs, tables and more, over the years. I also used one to replace a leg … Continue reading →

New Uses for Old CDs and DVDs

Cds and DVDs seems to be everywhere in our household. We constantly get them from so many sources. Many are mailed to us, to encourage us to sign up for internet services or preview some great new gadget. We received a CD when we bought house paint, and another in our box of light bulbs. The are CDs slipped into bags when we buy greeting cards, and others when we visit a local fair. Major appliances now come with their own DVDs that explain how to use them. It is getting pretty ridiculous. But can anything be done with these … Continue reading →

New Uses for Old VHS Cases

We are slowly in the process of getting through our many VHS movies. Over the years, we’ve picked up quite a few of them from thrift stores and yard sales. Friends have given us their VHS tapes when they have upgraded to DVD because they knew that we would use them. We were one of the last hold outs in purchasing a DVD player. Some of the movies are starting to wear out and are so loved that we will have to attain the DVD versions. Others have been watched a few times but are not worthy of precious space … Continue reading →

New Uses for Old Inflatable Toys

Now that summer is here and in full swing, you are probably raiding your garage, closets, attics, shred and wherever else you store your summer swim toys. You know the types of toys I am talking about? Those inflatable tubes, mats, beds, dolphins, snakes, water wings, beach balls, etc. And chances are, when you go to blow them back up, at least a few will be flat as a pancake and unable to be used. Maybe the toys were split at the seams near the end of last summer, got thrown into storage and forgotten about. or maybe they got … Continue reading →