Is Television Costing More than You Think?
Television has become such a part of our lives that most of us seldom think of what it may be costing us, but there are a number of costs in owning and watching TV, not all of them financial.
• Cable or satellite fees.
Cable and satellite TV services can run from $20 a month (for a minimal package) to nearly $100 if you get all the bells, whistles and movie channels. Take a mid-range cost of about $50 which is average and multiply that by 12 months. You’re spending $600 a year to watch TV. That’s a lot of money and when money is tight, you may need to reconsider your decision.
• Advertising that entices you to spend even more money.
How many commercials have you seen recently? How many times have you thought, “I could use one of those!” I can’t count the number of commercials I’ve watched, some of the items that have appealed to me include a handy vegetable chopper, bags that make produce last longer, a battery-powered floor sweeper that swivels, toothpaste to whiten my teeth, long-lasting fragranced candles, and a stain-removing pen.
Want to know how many of those products I actually bought? Over half! And I’m usually pretty cautious with my spending. The fact is that as much as we say we hate them, commercials do get us to buy. That’s why ad agencies are still in business.
The next time you make a purchase, ask yourself, “Where did I first see this product?” Chances are the answer will be on TV.
• Advertising aimed at your kids.
If it weren’t bad enough that you have your own shopping temptations to contend with, you also have to deal with commercials aimed at your kids. And these aren’t just toy ads anymore! Advertising for cell phones, clothing, cereals and soft drinks are all designed to get kids to say “I want that!” And if you have kids, you know the results of those campaigns firsthand.
• Food advertising that makes you eat more.
I firmly believe that one reason Americans today weigh more than in generations past is because of the hours we spend sitting in front of the television watching a parade of commercials that make us eat. It’s not that we’re hungry. It’s just that they make everything look so good, we want what we see!
And eating more, costs more. Not only in the amount of food you eat – which is an expense – but in the type of foods you buy. TV commercials are typically for higher priced convenience foods or fast foods, which any fan of frugality knows cost more than homemade.
Add to that the cost of new clothes when we outgrow our old wardrobe and the cost of television just keeps rising.
• Using more electricity.
Not only does your TV use electricity when you’re watching it, but it uses power even when it’s not turned on if you leave it plugged in. And while the power usage is minimal, like everything else, it adds up.
• Renting or buying movies and DVDs.
You’d think with the prices you have to pay for cable or satellite, you wouldn’t have to have movies, too. But that’s not the case. The average family is said to rent 1-3 movies a week, and at about $3 a pop ($10-20 if you buy one), you’re spending anywhere from $150 to $1,000 plus a year.
• VCR and/or DVD player/recorder.
Of course, you have to have a DVD player and/or VCR to watch all those movies. And while you can save money with these gadgets by recording your own movies instead of buying them, there are still expenses involved including the initial purchase price(s), potential repairs, cleaning tapes and DVDs or tapes to record on. All of these costs add up.
• Time lost that could be better spent.
One of the greatest costs associated with watching TV is our loss of productive time or time spent with our loved ones and friends. Our time could be better spent in activities that help us interact with each other, or even communicate.
As you can see, there are many varied, and even some hidden, costs of owning a television. And while I am certainly not advocating that we burn all our televisions, it does make sense for frugal moms to evaluate their family’s television usage. Maybe your family could turn the TV off one day a week, or even one day a month. The financial savings might be minimal but the investment in your family could pay off tremendously.
25 “Necessities” Worth Reconsidering
There really are so many ways to save money. When it seems as though you couldn’t possibly trim another extra from your budget, it may be time to start examining some of the things that you consider necessities.
True necessities and levels of frugality will vary from family to family, so just consider this list a jumping-off point to reevaluating some of those things in your life. When you decide to cut even little things from your life, it is amazing how quickly all that spare change can add up.
1. Eating out and ordering in. This really is a great “necessity” to cut when you are trying to live frugally. It’s pretty painless and the savings add up quickly, especially if you eat out once a week or more.
2. Buying a daily cup of coffee. For the price of a small cup of coffee at any of the major chains, you could make at least 12 cups at home. Instead, invest in a thermal mug or thermos and take coffee from home when you head out the door.
3. Convenience meals. If time is an issue when it comes to cooking, look for less costly alternatives. For example, spend a few days stocking your freezer with homemade meals. They’ll be ready to reheat for those days when you just don’t have time to cook.
4. New books. If you love to read, take advantage of your local library. If there are certain books you just love and need to add to your collection, look for them at used book stores, library sales, or one of the many websites that sell used books. You can usually find a book in great condition for just a fraction of the cost.
5. Name brand personal care items. The primary ingredients of most shampoos, conditioners, soaps, toothpaste, cosmetics etc. are virtually the same whether you buy top-of-the-line or generic. Experiment with lower-priced products to see if they’ll work for you. Most of the time you won’t even notice a difference. If you do, you can always switch back to the old brand.
6. Cable or satellite television. Consider how much t.v. you watch and which channels you really watch most often. Look into alternatives and see if some of your favorite shows from cable stations may be free to watch online through websites like Hulu. If you truly cannot cancel the service altogether, see if you can at least scale back to a less-expensive programming package.
7. Phone services. If you have both a cell phone and a home phone, look over your bills and see if it would make sense to cancel one service or the other. Cell phone package options have become so varied and reasonable that home phone service is becoming obsolete. However, if you do not make long distance calls and rarely use your cell phone, perhaps staying with a home phone and just a pre-paid cell phone for emergencies would be the smarter way to go. And again, just like in #6, if you really cannot get rid of either one entirely, examine your plans and see if there is a way to cut back.
8. Video rentals. Whether you have a membership in an online video service or you rent from a storefront, look for more cost-effective options. Most libraries have a wonderful movie selection and the rentals are either free or nearly free. And again, take advantage of the online options like Hulu.
9. Health club memberships. First of all, decide if you visit your health club often enough to justify the expense. If not, cancel the membership right away. If you do find it justified, see if there are other exercise options available that would give you equal benefits. Videotapes, walking outside or even through the mall, self-designed cardio programs, even investing in a piece of your own exercise equipment may all be better options.
10. Professional haircuts. If you get your hair cut at an expensive salon, try a less-expensive chain and see if you are pleased with the results. To save even more, see if you or your spouse could handle some of the hair-cutting duties yourselves, even if just for your children.
11. Dry cleaning. With a little research, you can learn some wonderful D.I.Y. alternatives to dry cleaning. You’ll quickly realize that most clothes really do not require professional dry cleaning.
12. Air conditioning. During the warmer months, don’t instantly turn on your air conditioning as soon as it reaches a certain temperature outside. Instead, see if your family will be comfortable with the windows open and fans blowing. On really hot days, only open the windows for a while in the morning, then close them and shut all blinds or curtains. It’s worth experimenting.
13. Name-brand laundry or dish-washing detergent. Try the less expensive or generic brands and see if you are happy with the results. If you’re happy with the cleanliness of the items but miss the scent of more expensive brands, research alternatives, such as using a tiny drop of essential oil.
14. Brand new ink cartridges. There are so many options nowadays when it comes to printer ink. Check around and find a local store that will refill your cartridges for you for a fraction of the cost. Many even offer a discount if you bring in your old cartridges. To save even more, look into purchasing a do-it-yourself refill kit.
15. “Instant” foods. Convenience always comes at a cost, and you can often recreate the convenience in your own kitchen. For example, you can make your own packets of instant oatmeal with quick oats, some brown sugar and cinnamon, a food processor or blender, and plastic baggies.
16. Several different pairs of shoes. Instead of purchasing 20 different styles of shoes, even at discounted prices, consider investing in only two or three high-quality, versatile and functional pairs of shoes. You may spend more initially, but the savings will quickly add up over time.Not to mention, your feet, legs and back will thank you!
17. Manicures and/or pedicures. You can easily give yourself a manicure or pedicure at home for next to nothing. If you’re not good at doing your own nails, see if a friend or family-member can do them for you. If you view these services as a time of pampering for yourself, see if a less-costly afternoon at a coffeehouse or some other alternative might fulfill that need.
18. Mailing your bills. This is a small one, but every little bit helps! If you are still paying for stamps to mail your bills every month, switch over to online billing with every company that offers it as a free service.
19. Electronic educational toys. We all want to help our children learn, but learning can happen just as easily with a picture book or some flashcards and a little bit of time as it can with the latest electronic gadget out there. That’s not to say that educational toys don’t have a place in our homes. Just be selective and don’t feel the need to get the newest thing on the market all the time.
20. Snack foods. If you cannot do away with purchased snacks altogether, decide on only 2 or 3 favorite snack foods for the whole family and purchase just those. Fill-in with homemade snacks or other options.
21. In-style clothing. Opt for timeless pieces that are well made and avoid the latest trends. If you really feel the need to stick with current fashions, choose just one piece per season.
22. Baby items. The amount of baby items available on the market today is mind-boggling. You really do not need most of them. Pay attention to what you purchase and really use and see where you can cut back.
23. An overabundance of extracurricular activities. Choose just one or two (if any) well-loved and enriching classes for your child. Then look for no-cost options or create your own where none are available.
24. Cleaning gadgets. Out of all the cleaning gadgets on the market, the ones that really get the job done are elbow grease and a good cleaning solution. Skip the swiffers, automatic shower cleaners and similar products. Instead, choose a good multi-purpose cleaner (or even better, make you own with baking soda or vinegar) and clean with your own hands. Your hard work will pay off quickly.
25. Vending machine/convenience store purchases. If you buy a snack or pop from one of these places on a daily basis, consider purchasing a pack or case of your favorites. You’ll typically be able to purchase these items for less than half-price when purchased this way as opposed to the single-serving option.
A frugal lifestyle isn’t about doing without – it’s about shifting priorities. Where can you shift priorities or reevaluate what is truly necessary? I hope this list has spurred you to reconsider some of your habits.
18 Ways To Practice Frugality As A Family
photo credit: Samuel Mann
When someone embraces frugality they often view it as a common sense way to live. Frugal methods and tricks quickly become a daily routine. However, it is much easier to make frugal habits permanent when the whole family is on board. One of the easiest ways to do this is to make frugality fun and to practice it together.
Here are some ideas for practicing frugality as a family.
- Start teaching early. Even a child as young as 2 or 3 can be taught to turn the lights off when leaving a room or to not let the water run unnecessarily.
- Present a united front. Dad and mom need to agree on how frugality will work in their family, or at least they need to pretend like they do. If one partner or the other is discontent and looks down on frugality, the rest of the family will as well. If there is no unity when it comes to frugality, do your best to find a happy medium so that everyone in the family can work as a team.
- Menu plan together. This is one that everyone can really get involved in together. Work together to plan out meals, perhaps letting one child pick out all of their favorites for a certain day of the week. (However, if the favorites don’t fall into the frugal category, you may need to present them with acceptable options first.) Make sure every voice is heard, from the oldest to youngest, and carefully consider each suggestion. If there are suggestions made that will not be added to the menu plan, make sure you explain why. This will prevent hard feelings towards both menu planning and frugality.
- Form a coupon-clipping team. As soon as a child is old enough to use scissors correctly, let them begin clipping coupons for you. Many children take real pride in this task and even view it as a fun way to spend some time. With older children who are less inclined to enjoy this project, let them make some of the choices. Tell them if they can match up coupons with sales on some of their favorite items that are not ordinarily purchased, you will purchase that item if it comes in under a certain amount. They will quickly learn the thrill of the bargain-shopping chase.
- Make lists together. A grocery list is the easiest way to teach the value of a list as well as the importance of sticking to that list. Even young children can grasp the concept that only things written on a grocery list will be purchased at the store. But once that skill is understood, move on to other lists. Encourage your spouse and children to write lists for things that they really need. Use this as an opportunity to teach what “real need” really is. Then together watch for sales on those lists.
- Create a set of “Frugal Family Rules” together. Frugality looks different for every family and is not one size fits all by any means. So decide together what is important to your family. Write those rules down, let the kids decorate the paper they are written on, and post them in a place where everyone can see them as a reminder. If there are financial or other goals tied to your frugality, make sure those are included on that list as well.
- Shop together. There is no better way to teach real world frugality to children then to have them shop with you. They can learn to price compare and quickly realize the difference between quality and price, brand names, and doing things from scratch or using second-hand items versus costlier options.
- Teach the importance of saving money. When a child really wants something, have them save up the money to purchase that item. Together, look for the lowest price. Help your child understand that immediate gratification isn’t such a good thing if they can save money by delaying a purchase or going to a different store. Encourage them to look for cheaper alternatives on other items, and if they find a great deal, give them the difference in price to bolster their savings.
- Show the benefits of hard-work. This can go hand-in-hand with #8. Show children that their hard work will be rewarded with an allowance or special treat that doesn’t cost money.
- Display a cheerful attitude toward frugality. When you are trying to instill frugal attitudes in your family, it is important to keep your own attitude in check. Do not let your children hear you bemoaning the fact that you can’t purchase something because it isn’t frugal. They will follow your example.
- Brag about yourself. There is nothing wrong with letting your family know of your frugal successes. This is really easy in the kitchen. For example, if a restaurant is advertising a dinner special of $8.99 per plate and your entire dinner for the whole family cost less than $5, tell them! Give them a break down of how much it would cost for the whole family to eat out and the savings of eating at home.
- Remember it’s easier to stick to a task when there is a goal in sight. Even if your goal is intangible for the children, such as getting out of debt or building up a savings account, let them know your frugality is serving a purpose. Share as many of the details as you are comfortable sharing. And if necessary, relate your goals to something more on their level.
- Work together to maintain your belongings. Teaching children practical, frugal skills is a great life lesson. Teach them to, or let them watch you, remove stains, mend clothing, maintain household appliances, or even fix “broken” toys. Stress the importance of properly caring for their belongings.
- Turn price comparisons into a game. Frugality doesn’t have to be boring. Put a fun twist on frugal shopping by challenging children to find the lowest price on an item. Give the winner a reward, even if it’s just a big smile. Let older children have a mock competition with the ads from a few different stores and a list of products you need. Whoever gets the lowest total once the “shopping” is done wins.
- Divide and conquer. Just like most household chores, certain family members will gravitate toward certain types of projects. Take advantage of that and use it enhance your frugality. If your spouse is great at finding the best deals on electronics or furniture, let him or her have that job. If a child likes to cook, teach him or her how to cook from scratch.
- Have free or low-cost fun together whenever possible. Visit the library together, take a picnic to the park, explore museums on half-price days. If someone in the family discovers a great frugal activity or outing, do your best to make sure the whole family participates together.
- Sometimes, let the kids have a final say. If you are planning a vacation and there are two options – say, staying at a hotel but not being able to go to a costly attraction vs. camping and being able to afford costlier attractions, discuss this as a family. If the end result is inconsequential to you or your spouse, let the kids decide which option makes the most sense. There is real pride and accomplishment in having a little power.
- Don’t be afraid to indulge on occasion. Rewards help maintain a cheerful attitude. On occasion, treat the family to take-out pizza or an ice cream cone. You deserve the treat, and so does the rest of your family!
25 Low Cost Or No Cost Ways to Celebrate the Season
photo credit: lepiaf.geoWe all long to celebrate the holidays but often times we lack the funds to do the things we see others doing or that we wish we could do, but, there are ways that you can celebrate this wonderful season of the year if you’re strapped for cash.
1. Chop down a tree. Especially if you or a relative has property with trees on it you can get your Christmas tree for free, by simply going out in the woods and chopping it down. It will also be a great learning experience for your children. Make sure you ask permission first.
2. Make your own decorations. From stringing popcorn to creating a paper chain you can create your own holiday decor and will enjoy the process as much as the actual decorating itself. Make memories with your family that will not soon be forgotten.
3. Bake cookies. There are many recipes that are quite inexpensive to make and you’ll enjoy the time spent together as well as the yummy treats to eat afterward.
4. Go Christmas Caroling. There are many places to go in every community such as nursing homes, children’s homes, and homeless shelters that would love a visit from you as well as to hear some holiday tunes. Why not share the joy of Christmas by doing so. Check with the facility beforehand to make sure you’re welcome and following their rules.
5. Serve at a local charity. Whether it’s a soup kitchen, or packing boxes to sending overseas or writing letters to our troops for Christmas, serving others is a great way to celebrate.
6. Make Christmas crafts. There are a ton of sites that have directions for crafts that use things you already have on hand. You can make them just for fun, keep some and give some away as gifts.
7. Attend church. This is the time of year for family and friends. Nothing can be more special and significant than to remember the reason for the season together.
8. Looking at lights. Pile everyone in the car and go looking around town at all the Christmas lights. Don’t forget to check your local paper for other free activities.
9. A candlelight dinner at home. Start a new tradition. Show your family how much fun and different eating by candlelight can be. It’s a great way to celebrate.
10. Dollar store finds. Take a trip to the dollar store giving everyone a set amount of money and allow them to purchase gifts or stocking stuffers for the family members. This is a low cost way to enjoy gift giving even on a small budget.
11. Send E-Christmas cards. Rather than purchasing Christmas cards or photo cards why not send the same type thing online. They are free, and can be sent to anyone with an email address.
12. Hot Cocoa Night. Take one night during the season as an honorary hot cocoa night and make up a batch of steaming hot cocoa to enjoy with your family or maybe even invite the neighbors over for a cup. Buy some extra special cocoa mugs to make it even more special.
13. Build a snowman. That is if there is actually snowfall in your area. This can be a fun way to celebrate this time of year. If you live in a warmer climate think about dressing up one of the kids or even a tree with Frosty’s hat & scarf.
14. Attend local Christmas events. From musicals to tree lighting ceremonies there are usually lots of events associated with this time of year and can be a great way to celebrate on a budget.
15. Shop the sales. If you have a little money to spend why not use it on sale items that will make great gifts. Amazon.com has some great Christmas deals.
16. Make a list of things for which you’re grateful. Teach the family an important lesson of thanksgiving. After all there is nothing more celebratory than enjoying what you have already rather than worrying about what you can get.
17. Sing Christmas carols around the fireplace. Taking some time as a family to sing favorite songss can be a great way to spend time together and to celebrate the season all at once.
18. Take pictures. Nothing says you HAVE to get them developed but dressing up and standing out in the snow or in front of the tree to snap a few shots can be fun plus with today’s digital world you can use them to create digital cards or just save them on your computer for later.
19. Go window shopping. It is fun to ohhh & ahhh over all the gifts that are available even if you can’t buy them. It’s good exercise after all those holiday yummies, too.
20. Build a gingerbread house. Make it during family night or better yet make it a family tradition. It”l be something you can always think of during this time of year and they are fun and inexpensive to create.
21. Fill a penny jar and send the money to your favorite charity. There is nothing like giving to help you feel that you’ve truly celebrated, especially giving to those who truly need it.
22. Visit Santa. You know you’ll find him every where this time of year so make a date to go let your children climb up in his lap and tell them their wishes. If the kids won’t sit on Santa’s lap consider having Santa give them a call – ask a friend for help with this.
23. Write letters to each other. You can use this time of year to write loving letters to each other as your “gifts” helping to show each other how truly special you are.
24. Light the advent candles. During the advent time of year it is a great way to celebrate by lighting the candles each day together.
25. Read the Christmas story together. It is a wonderful way to celebrate and remember what made Christmas possible.
Remember that this season isn’t all about the gifts we get but about the memories we make.
25 Time Investments That Yield Frugal Returns
That old cliche “Time is Money” really proves true when you are trying to live as frugally as possible. There are many ways that we can spend time in order to save money. Usually all it takes is commitment, motivation, and a little hard work.
Here are 25 wise ways to invest your time in order to save some money:
- Learn to bake your own bread. If you do not already cook from scratch, learning how to bake your own bread is the easiest first step to get you on your way. Also, the fact that the results are so satisfying doesn’t hurt either. Once you feel the confidence boost from baking your own loaf of bread it becomes easier to attempt the next thing on your cooking-from-scratch-to-save-money list.
- Research all purchases. Spending money is sometimes an inevitability, but spending and frugality are not necessarily counter-intuitive. It is possible to spend frugally by researching all purchases to guarantee that you are getting both the best product possible and the best price possible.
- Use the internet to search for coupons and coupon codes. Going along with tip #2, do not buy anything online without doing an internet search for a coupon code first. Simply type the name of the product you are purchasing, or the company you are purchasing from, and the words “coupon code” into your favorite search engine. You might be pleasantly surprised. Similarly, there are countless blogs out there that compile all of the grocery coupons available to print online. They are definitely a worthwhile stop before heading out to the grocery store.
- Make your own clothes. This is a tough one, and it may only be for the die-hard frugal lifers, but there’s no question that it is a skill that will save you money.
- Menu plan and use a master grocery list. Menu planning and creating and using a master grocery list takes time, especially if it is a new idea to you. However, if keeping your grocery budget low is important to you, it may just be the best 20 minutes of time you can spend. A menu plan helps you focus on what you truly need to purchase versus what you already have on hand and it allows you to take advantage of the weekly sales. A master grocery list keeps you focused at the store. If you use a list that is set up according to your store’s layout, you can avoid unnecessary aisles and temptations.
- Create a price book. A price book works hand-in-hand with a master grocery list. By listing the regular prices of products you usually buy at the stores you usually shop at, you can tell at a glance where you should shop based on your needs for the week. If you do not feel like spending hours walking up and down the aisles, there is an easier way to create a price book. Save all your receipts for groceries at your regular stores for a few weeks. Then, using your receipts, mark down the regular prices on a price sheet. There are many blank price book forms that you can find online.
- Freezer cook. Freezer cooking doesn’t have to mean doing a large once-a-month cooking marathon. It can be as simple as making doubles of some of your favorite meals – one to eat right away and one to go in the freezer. Having meals on hand in the freezer reduces the need for take-out.
- Make your own laundry detergent. The process may seem tedious at first. However, once you realize that you’re spending only pennies to wash your clothes every week, the tedium will not matter.
- Learn to re-create convenience foods. Convenience foods are often the costliest items at the grocery store. Most of them can be recreated from scratch though. Bisquick, canned soups, and macaroni and cheese are just a few of the items that are easily duplicated for a fraction of the original cost.
- Mend your clothes. If you mend a small hole before it becomes a large one, the time investment is minimal. Yet for that minimal investment, you prolong the usability and life of the item. Darning holes in socks is another quick fix if done in a timely manner.
- Use proper stain management techniques. A stain that is caught quickly and treated properly usually will wash out. Don’t let your clothes end up as rags just because you hoped a stain would wash out on its own.
- Change all of your light bulbs. Swap out regular incandescent light bulbs for CFL light bulbs. They last longer and require just a fraction of the energy to light your home.
- Sort through all hand-me-downs, thrift stores, and garage sales. Many treasures lie hidden in the piles of clothes from these three sources. It may take perseverance, but the result is usually well worth the extra effort.
- Plant a garden. Gardening is a great way to beat the rising costs of produce. It also allows you to eat seasonally and to practice whichever gardening techniques you prefer. An organic tomato from your own garden costs virtually nothing.
- Can your excess. Whether you grow a garden or not, take advantage of excess produce throughout the growing and harvesting months. By learning to can, you can stock your pantry with chemical-free, fresh-tasting goodness to last until the next year. You also reduce the need to throw away any produce that is verging on spoilage.
- Visit used book stores and library book sales. There are usually many gems hidden among the shelves if you are willing to take the time and look. These places are also a great way to begin exploring the large, but profitable, world of reselling books on Amazon, half-price books, or many of the other websites out there.
- Track all expenses and purchases. Commit to a certain number of days and then record every single bit of money spent during that time. This is a great way to get a clear picture of where your money is really going and see where you can cut back.
- Research frugality. Many people write on frugality. There are shelves of books at the library dedicated to the subject and scores of similar websites and blogs. If you want to live more frugally, do some homework and turn to the trusted-advice of those that already live that way.
- Learn a free or low-cost hobby to replace a more expensive one. Hobbies are fantastic things, and often can be frugal when you turn creations into gifts or decorations. However, some hobbies are just plain expensive. If you are really trying to cut back, see if you can find an equally filling, but less costly, substitute.
- Check for drafts throughout your house. Feel around window sills and door frames to see if you notice cold air blowing in at all. If you do, use caulk to fill in the small spaces or rolls of cloth (as simple as a rolled-up towel works) to cover larger spaces, such as the bottom of a door frame. If you have to purchase the caulk, it is an investment that will pay for itself almost immediately when your heating bill goes down.
- Clear out the clutter. If you are constantly having to buy new things because you “lost” something, stop losing things! The easiest way to do that is to get rid of unnecessary clutter and organize what remains.
- Maintain your car properly. Taking good care of your car helps prolong its life, ensures maximum gas mileage, and helps to avoid costly repairs in the future. Most simple car maintenance tasks can even be done on your own if you’re willing to learn how and take the time to put that knowledge to work.
- Walk instead of drive. Even when gas prices are not outrageously high, walking is a very frugal option. If the weather is friendly and the destination is close enough, leave the car at home. The savings add up quickly.
- Examine all luxuries. Many of the everyday things in our lives are truly not necessities. Examine all of the little luxuries in your life and cut back wherever possible. Some things to consider: internet, cable tv, home phone or cell phone (in many cases, you really don’t need both), gym memberships, movie rentals, dining out, etcetera.
- Set up a good filing system. A filing system that is set up properly ensures four things: 1) you’ll never lose your warranties on appliances, 2) you’ll never lose owners manuals that could have saved you money on repairs, 3) you’ll never pay a bill late because you forgot about it or lost it, and 4) you’ll never miss a tax-deduction.
Spend a little bit of time now to save money in the future. It’s the frugal thing to do!
Be Creative With Halloween Decorations!
by Jill Cooper
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
I just stepped outside and took a deep breath and then another one and another one. No I don’t have a breathing problem or anything. It’s just that for the first time in months, I don’t feel like I’m breathing in an aquarium. The air is crisp and cool and that means fall is here and the humidity is gone!
At one point in our lives, that would have been the signal for us to haul out boxes and sacks full of Halloween decorations and go to work. It would usually take us at least a month to put everything out. We were one of those families who would put out a “monstrous” (Ha!Ha! No pun intended) display. We literally had hundreds of people drive by our home just to see our decorations. It really was a lot of work, especially because back then you couldn’t really buy much to use for outside Halloween decorations. We had to use our imagination and make our own.
We like to have fun at Halloween and not scare the wits out of everyone, so we try to keep our decorations cute and funny looking. To us, Halloween is a time for children to dress up and for one night a year be what they always dreamed of being, whether it’s a fairy princess, a ballerina, Superman or even a robot. They get to be on the “stage” for one night to show everyone how beautiful, strong or funny they look. And to end a perfect night they get tons of candy, bags of candy and did I mention, a whole bunch of candy??
Here are some ideas of things we did to have a whole lot of fun for very little money. You can use these same basic principles for any holiday decorating.
1. You don’t have to have a lot of decorations for your display to look nice. I drive by one home every year and each season the owners put out one simple something. For example, in the summer they have one beautiful pot of flowers sitting on their porch. In the fall a pot of mums, for Halloween, one pumpkin with a smiley face and at Christmas one pretty lit up wreath on the door. It’s never a lot, but I always get pleasure when I drive by the place and see their one simple decoration.
2. We work all year buying things at garage sales or thrift stores for our decorations. We started out with about 25 plastic pumpkins to set out for a pumpkin patch. The next year we added another 50 and drilled holes in the bottoms so we could put lights in them. After a few years we had 200-300 of them that we had collected. We never paid more then 5-10 cents for them. If you want to have a big display, start small and just add a little bit more to your decorations each year.
3. Cute homemade decorations make Halloween fun! If you see something in a magazine or somewhere that you think is cute but too expensive, try to copy it and make it yourself:
* I saw a cute rake in a magazine that I loved. It was an old rake that had a few silk flowers tied on it and a sign that said “Free leaves, rake all you want.” I just happened to have a dead 50 year old rake in my shed I was going to throw away, so I pulled it out, found an old board and some paint (I could have used a marker too), painted on the words and tied on a couple of stray silk flowers that I had and voila! I had a cute rake and saved about $25.
* It takes nothing to stuff some old clothes with plastic bags and make a scarecrow family.
* If you are a little handy, put your talent to good use. My husband took and old metal trash can and motorized it so that the lid moved up and down and when it opened it popped out a Sylvester the cat.
4. We found decorations in unusual places. Once we went to the grocery store where they had a gigantic pumpkin. The thing was about 8-10 feet across. We asked the manager it they threw it out at the end of the season and he said no. We told him what we needed it for and discovered that he had seen our display and liked it. He said “Come by on Halloween morning and you can take it to use and then bring it back.” It doesn’t ever hurt to ask about anything. Most people aren’t mean and hateful, but are usually kind and helpful.
5. Get more bang for your buck. Buy things that have a big impact but cost little. A couple of bags of spider webs and plastic spiders can cover a lot of area and look “cool” but cost very little. I use spider webs for everything. They’re great to use to cover throw pillows for a party, put in your hair, hang on the lights or wrap around the handles of silverware. You just can’t have too much.
6. Use what you already have around the house.
* We were having a Halloween party and to add to the effect, we dug out some black sheets and covered all the furniture. It changed the whole look of the room.
* Another year, my husband found some 10 foot long, thin metal rods. We stuck them in the ground, added styrofoam wig heads to each one and hung some large pieces of sheer fabric I had gotten for free from a friend over the tops of the heads. Everyone loved them. The sheer material had a much more realistic see through look then just a sheet. At night, you couldn’t see the rod so it looked like these ghosts were floating 10 feet up in the air.
7. Start the day after Halloween to prepare for next year. If your kids get a bunch of plastic spiders when they go trick or treating, save them and add them to the decoration box. If your child dressed as a pumpkin this year, save the costume, stuff it next year and set it out with the decorations. Try to think of ways to incorporate any old costumes into your decorations.
To Roast or Not to Roast!
By Tawra Kellam
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
Peter Piper Picked a Profoundly Plump Pumpkin — Now What does he do with it?
Every fall I get many questions about what to do with pumpkins. Many people find curious fascination in imagining what it would be like to grow these versatile little gems, as if growing something that produces a large fruit is somehow more respectable than growing, say, a serrano pepper. Many people eventually venture into pumpkin experimentation. Some succeed and many fail. Much like a dog that chases a car, many people never give thought to what they would do if they actually succeeded in successfully raising a patch of these fall favorites. Whether you have found yourself with more pumpkins than you know what to do with or you are one of the people who had to buy pumpkins and duct tape them to the vine, these tips for roasting and using pumpkins are sure to help you make the most out of them (no matter how you acquired them)!
How to Roast a Pumpkin
You can only do this with a freshly carved pumpkin! Do not use on a pumpkin that has been carved and sitting out for several days. To bake a fresh 6 to 7 pound pumpkin, halve the pumpkin crosswise and scoop out the seeds and strings. Place halves, hollow side down, in a large baking pan covered with aluminum foil and add a little water. Bake, uncovered, at 375 for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until fork-tender. Remove. When cool, scrape pulp from shells and puree, a little at time, in food
processor or blender. Mix with a little salt.To freeze pumpkin puree. Put 1-2 cups in freezer bags along with spices and use in pies.
To use pumpkin puree for recipes: Line a strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth or a flour sack dish towel and let the pumpkin sit to drain out the extra moisture BEFORE cooking with it. Pumpkin is very moist, so in order for your recipe to come out correctly, you MUST strain it.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Boil seeds in water for 5 minutes. Drain well. Sprinkle with salt or seasoned salt. Place a thin layer on a cookie sheet. Bake at 250 . Stir after 30 minutes. Bake ½-1 hour more or until crunchy.
*Squash seeds may also be used.
Pumpkin Smoothies
½ cup pumpkin
¾ cup milk or vanilla yogurt
¼ tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. brown sugar
4 ice cubes
whipped cream (optional)
sprinkles (optional)
Place all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into 2-3 glasses. Serve with a small amount of whipped cream on top. You may also add orange sprinkles if you like. Serves 2-3.
Pumpkin Pancakes
2 cups flour
2 Tbsp. brown sugar, packed
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp. salt
½ cup nuts, chopped (optional)
½ cup pumpkin
1 large egg
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cups milk
Combine ingredients. Stir just until moistened; batter may be lumpy. Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat; brush lightly with vegetable oil. Pour ¼ cup batter onto hot griddle; cook until bubbles begin to burst. Turn and continue cooking 1 to 2 minutes. Serve with Pumpkin Maple Sauce and nuts.
Pumpkin Maple Sauce
1 cup maple syrup
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice
1 ¼ cups pumpkin
Mix together until well blended.
Frighteningly Frugal Fun!
By Tawra Kellam
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
The average American family spends over $100 per year on Halloween goodies. As your kids drag you through aisles full of ghosts and goblins, the scariest thing about Halloween is threatening to leave bite marks in your pocketbook. No wonder so many moms flee screaming from the store… It can be much less expensive and a lot more fun to devise your own chilling creations. Here are a few tips that you can use to stave off the greenback gremlins and exercise your creative muscle. It won’t hurt a bit! These and other free frugal tips are available at http://www.LivingOnADime.com/.
Face Paint
1 tsp. corn starch
1/2 tsp. water
1/2 tsp. cold cream
food coloring
Mix all ingredients together in an old muffin pan and you are ready to paint. This amount makes one color.
Fake Wound
1 Tbsp Vaseline
tissue
cocoa powder
2-3 drops red food coloring Place Vaseline in a bowl. Add food coloring. Blend with a toothpick. Stir in a pinch of cocoa to make a darker blood color. Separate tissue. Using 1 layer, tear a 2×3 inch piece and place at wound site. Cover with petroleum jelly and mold into the shape of a wound. The center should be lower than the sides. Fill the center with the red petroleum jelly mixture. Sprinkle center with some cocoa. Sprinkle a little around the edges of the wound to make darker.
Fake Blood- Mix 2/3 cup white corn syrup, 1 tsp. red food coloring, 2-3 drops blue food coloring to darken and 1 squirt dish soap (helps blood to run well).
Abrasions -Dab brown, red and black eye shadow on area. Apply blood over area with cotton balls. Use comb to gently scratch area in one direction. Apply cocoa or dirt over wound with cotton balls.
Black Eye -Apply red and blue eye shadow to depressions around eyes.
Bruises-Rub red and blue shadow over bony area to simulate recent bruises.Blue and yellow eye shadow to create older bruises.
Look Old – Cover face with baby powder. Draw dark lines on your skin for wrinkles. Smooth edges to blend. Cover again with baby powder. Add baby powder to your hair to create gray hair.
Deviled Eyeballs- Make deviled eggs. Add a green olive with pimento in the center for an “eyeball”.
Radioactive Juice- Mix equal parts Mountain Dew and blue Kool-Aid
Toxic Juice- Add some green food coloring to lemonade for a spooky color!
Brains- Scramble eggs with some green, yellow and blue food coloring
Bloody Eyeballs- Boil cherry tomatoes 30 seconds. Allow to cool; then peel skin.
Goblin Hand- Freeze green Kool-Aid in a rubber or latex glove, float in punch.
Use the tape from old cassettes or black yarn to make spider webs.
Use cotton balls stretched out for small spider webs.
Glass Jack-o-Lantern- Outline a pumpkin face on a spaghetti or pickle jar with black paint. The paint around the outside of it with orange paint. Place a candle inside for a jack-o-lantern.
Halloween Guess It Game
In this game, you challenge the participants to reach into mystery boxes filled with creepy things and try to guess what each item is. The person with the most correct answers wins the game. An example is if you want them to guess “grapes”, you might try to confuse them by saying, “I think it’s eyeballs…”
Cut a hole in the top of a shoe box or laundry box for each item to be used. Cover the box with black spray paint. Decorate each box with pumpkins or spiders for a more festive flavor.
Place the following items inside, one per box. Be sure to place enough of each item so the guests can adequately “feel” the guts.
Eyeballs – grapes or peeled cherry tomatoes
Intestines- Cooked Spaghetti
Skin- oil a piece of plastic bag
Brains- scrambled eggs
Hair- an old clown wig
Bones- thoroughly washed chicken bones placed in some sand
Vomit-chunky salsa
Fingers-hot dogs cut into finger sized pieces
Teeth- corn nuts, pine nuts or popcorn
Have a Pumpkin Hunt
Hide mini pumpkins like you would Easter Eggs. Let the kids find and decorate them. For small children use glue sticks with construction paper cut-outs for decorations.
Edible Slime
Pour lime gelatin into a glass bowl. After it is partially set, add gummy worms. Chill until lightly set. Then serve slopped all over the plate.
Bloody Popcorn- Add red food color to melted butter and pour over popcorn.
Freeze gummy worms in ice cubes and add them to drinks. Cut gummy worms in half if needed.
Acres of Apples, Frugal to the Core
By Jill Cooper
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
I’ve always dreamed of having an apple tree in my back yard. You know the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for?” Now that I actually have my own apple tree, I stand in my yard watching the apples piling up around me thinking, “Oh no — What do I do with this mess now?” If I could make gasoline out of apples, I could retire, but since that is not an option and my frugal mind will not allow me to waste one apple, I have had to come up with some yummier “apple disposal” methods. If you find that you have a few dozen more apples than you know what to do with, these recipes from LivingOnADime.com will help settle your frugal dilemma.
Other Uses:
~When you have a partially eaten apple, save the good part and chop into pieces. Place in a microwave safe dish. Blend together 1 tsp. each brown sugar, flour, oatmeal and margarine and a dash of cinnamon. Top the apple with the topping and microwave until tender.
~Core and slice apples very thin. Dehydrate and use in granolas, eat alone or soften in warm water to use in recipes.
~Slice and use in Pancakes or waffles.
~Freeze. Peel, slice and core and then store in 2 cups portions in freezer bags.
~Use soft apples in cooking.
~Cut into small pieces and add to salads with a fruit based dressing.
Apple Butter
9 to 10 apples, cored, peeled and chopped
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. cloves
1/8 tsp. salt
Place everything into a crockpot. Stir, cover and cook on high 1 hour. Cook on low for 9-11 hours or until thick and dark brown. Stir occasionally. Uncover and cook on low 1 hour longer. Stir with whisk until smooth. Refrigerate or Freeze. Makes 2 pints.
Apple Pie Filling
9 cups baking apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice
5 cups water
2 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
Toss apples with lemon juice and set aside. Combine the rest of ingredients in Dutch oven and bring to a boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add apples and return to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until apples are tender (6-10 minutes). Cool for 30 minutes. Then ladle into freezer containers or bake immediately. Makes two 9-inch pies.
Fried Apples
4 large apples, cored and sliced
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
Cut apples into 1/4 inch slices. Heat butter in a large skillet. Put the apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon in the skillet and cover. Over medium-low heat, cook apple slices 7-10 minutes or until they begin to soften and the syrup thickens. Serve coated with excess syrup on top. Serves 4.
Baked Apples
apples, cored
raisins (optional)
1 tsp. margarine
dash of cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
1 Tbsp. honey or brown sugar
(These amounts are per apple.)
For each person use 1 apple. Fill the center of the apple with all the ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees until tender or put in a Dutch oven on top of stove and simmer on very low until tender.
Apple Snack
2 qts. apples, peeled, cored and halved
Coarsely grate apples. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 225 degrees until dry. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.
Apple Crisp
6 apples, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. cinnamon and/or nutmeg
1/2 cup water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange apples in well-greased baking dish. Blend all remaining ingredients except water. Spread evenly over top of apples. Pour water over the topping. Bake 45 minutes until apples are tender and top is crisp. Serves 6.
Peach Crisp
Use peaches in place of apples.
~When you have a partially eaten apple, save the good part and chop into pieces. Place in a microwave-safe dish. Blend together 1 tsp. each brown sugar, flour, oatmeal and margarine and a dash of cinnamon. Top the apple with the topping and microwave until tender.
Surviving and Saving When You’re Sick
by Tawra Kellam
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/
My husband and I paid off $20,000 in debt and medical bills in five years on $22,000 per year averaged income, and I am disabled with Fibromyalgia and ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Here are some of the ways we lived frugally and made it work:
#1 Keep meals simple.
Try any of these simple meals:
-Chicken, with a bottle of hot and sour sauce dumped over the top and served with rice.
-Taco salad made with bagged lettuce, hamburger browned with taco seasoning, sour cream, salsa and olives.
-Baked chicken with freezer rolls and sliced cucumbers, peppers, carrots, tomatoes and ranch dressing.
Most of our meals take under 20 minutes to prepare. Write down 10 quick meals that are family favorites. Keep the “quick favorites” list in a specific spot and always keep the ingredients for these favorite meals on hand. Then, when you are sick and can’t spend a lot of time cooking, you can make something quick and easy.
Also, make as much of dinner as you can when you are feeling your best. Then if you aren’t feeling well come dinner time it will be almost all done and you won’t be tempted to send for take out.
#2 Get the kids to help with daily cleanup.
Kids can help pick up most of the house with proper direction. Mine are 10, 9, and 5 and have been helping since they were 3. I ask each of them to pick up toys. Then I ask each of them to pick up four more things. Later, I might ask them to empty all the trash cans and the dishwasher. Let the kids help as much as possible. Mine spend about 10 minutes a day helping and it makes a world of difference!
#3 Use paper plates.
They are cheap, come from a renewable resource and can be composted – use them! They cost about one cent each, so spending five cents for our family of five is way cheaper than the $40 take out!
#4 Give each person his own color of drinking glass.
This way, you can prevent family members from getting confused about whose glass is whose and constantly getting out new glasses.
#5 Try to do at least one load of laundry a day.
That way you won’t get overwhelmed or behind.
#6 Let non-critical things go!
Ignore the dust, the dirty windows, and other things like that. If you are lying sick on the couch where you look right out a dirty window, then ask your kids or hubby to clean it, but otherwise forget it until later!
By doing just these few things, you can keep yourself from going insane and save some money, even when your sick.
