Search Results for: blog what did you do today that was frugal

Not Wasting Food Today

During the holidays, our food waste was a little high. We shopped a lot, cooked a lot and packed the refrigerator with all sorts of ingredients and good things to eat. The environment was just right for food waste, since we hardly knew what we had. Having another person in our home didn’t help, either, since we all tending to save things for each other to the point where some items went bad (a crying shame in the case of the over-the-top chocolate bread). Since one of my New Year Resolutions is to find an extra $5,000 toward my mortgage … Continue reading →

Save Money on Window Air Conditioners

The summer after we put all new windows in our home we found that our existing window air conditioners no longer fit. This meant that we had to get all new ones, and of course that came with an expense for the units. I did learn a few things along the way, though, that I can pass on to you to help you save money on your window air conditioners. Say Farewell to Freon Unless you plan on upgrading your air conditioning units to central air conditioning any time soon, avoid buying units that contain freon, even if those air … Continue reading →

How to Make Your Haircut Last Longer

Save money on your haircuts by making them last longer. With fewer cuts in the year, you can save money, from $20-$60, depending on the going prices in your area. For years, my husband and I got our hair cuts at less expensive places. We were never really happy with the cuts, but being practical, we got them done and moved on. That was until we found a nicer salon that actually did a better job. The extra expense actually wound up being worth it in the end. The better cut not only looked better, but it lasted longer. Because … Continue reading →

Inspiring Fiction for Frugal Living

It isn’t too late for a good Christmas story, is it? I hope not. You see, now that the holidays are done, the tree is put away, the bills are reconciled, and I seem to be spending hours each week waiting for my kids in one room or another as they take part in their extracurricular activities, I am ready to get some reading done. One of the books that I have neglected is a collection of inspiring Christmas stories. One story in particular struck me in a way that I am not likely to forget. It centers around a … Continue reading →

Useful Tips For Lowering Your Utility Bills

Whether you own or rent, chances are that you pay for at least some utilities like heat and electricity. The prices on things like oil, gas, wood, and electricity can fluctuate and make for an unpleasant surprise when your utility bills come in the mail. Regardless of the current price for your utilities, it is always good to reduce your utility costs as much as possible because you probably have plenty of other things that you could spend your money on. Today, I’ve rounded up three tips that can help you save money on your utility bills. For example, did … Continue reading →

Timely Wisdom From The Great Depression

In these tough economic times, we may come to a point where we feel like we are fresh out of ideas for ways to save money and make our dollars go further. When this happens, it may be useful to look back in time and call upon the wisdom of our ancestors who survived the Great Depression. If you are lucky enough to know someone who lived during that time, they probably have many stories to tell about how they got through those lean years. Some of the things that people did during the Great Depression make just as much … Continue reading →

Giant Doorknocker Ad from Kohl’s Has A Great Coupon

Today, to my complete surprise, a giant doorknocker was placed on the door of my home. It was absolutely huge! This one came from Kohl’s, and included a nice coupon that I am seriously thinking about using. Did you get one of these on your door, too? A “doorknocker” is a piece of advertisement that has a hole cut into it, so it can be easily attached to the doorknob of people’s houses. I’ve always heard them called by this name because after the person places the ad on your door, he knocks on your door, and walks away. Most … Continue reading →

Countdown to the Holidays: Donation Day

How are you preparing for the holidays? During the last post I talked about getting the house back into somewhat normal order after a couple of weeks of heavy workloads and church commitments. Well, I am happy to report that we are mostly there. My next order of business in my home is to eliminate the clutter and the excess. This will not only make it easier to keep everything clean, but it will leave room for the holiday decorating. The decorations will have a place to go, especially the Christmas tree, and the house won’t look overwhelmed. It will … Continue reading →

Did You Know eBay Has Coupons?

You never know what you will find on eBay. For years, it has been a popular place to find unique gifts for friends and family members, and to find replacements for broken items. It is also a fun website to browse through. If you shop around a bit, you can get a great deal on whatever you buy. Now, that deal just got better, because eBay has coupons! My husband and I have used eBay quite a few times. We have sold some things that we didn’t need anymore, which was a nice way to make a little extra money. … Continue reading →

You Are Now Entering the World of Solids

We decided to start giving our daughter some “real” food last month. We previously had decided to wait until she was about a year old, but our curiosity got the best of us. Shortly after she passed the 8 month mark, we began the journey into the world of solids foods. We bypassed the rice cereal and canned baby foods and went straight to making our own baby food. We had read online and heard from trusted acquaintances that avocados are the perfect food, for both babies and adults, so we decided avocados would be the first food hitting her … Continue reading →