The Housewife here!
Today, as I was moving through WalMart in search of a zipper and a button, I realized that I was going on another D.I.Y. adventure. It was completely unintentional but happily welcomed! I fixed 2 pair of my husbands shorts for less than $2, instead of replacing each pair for $40 total.
I wanted to share this tidbit with you all because that was a ridiculous amount of savings. It seems that almost no one believes in simple fixes anymore, they'd rather spend extra money and get a quick replacement. I don't understand this logic, to be honest. Sure, it took me 20 minutes to sew my husband's zipper back on, and took me another 2 minutes to sew the button back on another pair of shorts but 22 minutes saved me $40. $40 is what my husband makes in 2 hours, give or take.
Little life lessons help a lot :).
HW
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Bartering
HW here, and I am excited to say that this post is focusing on the awesome art of bartering!
I cannot express to you how much bartering has changed my life. Truth is, I don't always have cash. Heck, sometimes I don't have money, period. BUT, I almost always need something for my house - whether it's a gallon of milk, a stamp, gas or laundry soap.
I would like to encourage each of you to barter with friends and family before going out and purchasing items on your list. I barter on almost a daily basis and definitely several times a week.
Here is an example of how I barter:
Every Thursday, I babysit for my good friends while they go out bowling. My friend puts gas in my car once a week in exchange for babysitting. This is so helpful. I would be spending the cash she pays me on gas anyway, AND she meets my husband at the gas station next to his work whenever we ask her to. Sometimes, I sit for her on the weekends or on another week night and she buys me whatever grocery and household items I need for the week in exchange for babysitting. Heck, I love getting free stuff for playing with other people's kids! They're cute, too!
Craigslist also has a bartering board. Never be afraid to ask around!
HW
I cannot express to you how much bartering has changed my life. Truth is, I don't always have cash. Heck, sometimes I don't have money, period. BUT, I almost always need something for my house - whether it's a gallon of milk, a stamp, gas or laundry soap.
I would like to encourage each of you to barter with friends and family before going out and purchasing items on your list. I barter on almost a daily basis and definitely several times a week.
Here is an example of how I barter:
Every Thursday, I babysit for my good friends while they go out bowling. My friend puts gas in my car once a week in exchange for babysitting. This is so helpful. I would be spending the cash she pays me on gas anyway, AND she meets my husband at the gas station next to his work whenever we ask her to. Sometimes, I sit for her on the weekends or on another week night and she buys me whatever grocery and household items I need for the week in exchange for babysitting. Heck, I love getting free stuff for playing with other people's kids! They're cute, too!
Craigslist also has a bartering board. Never be afraid to ask around!
HW
Go-to list for simple, inexpensive meals
It's the Housewife here! This is going to be a very bare minimum entry. There are no recipes included on this post, it is just a list of quick, inexpensive meals. If you are interested in a particular recipe or all of them (I have them saved to my pc), I will gladly e-mail you what you are looking for! Also, if there are any meals you'd like to add to the list, feel free to let me know!
HW
*MT = mashed taters
Pizza pitas
Crock pot chicken parm
Beef lo-mein
Meatloaf, MT & gravy
Burgers & fries
Chicken fried steak, MT & gravy
Herb chicken & whole wheat penne
BBQ chicken quesadillas & fries
Breakfast steak & potato hash
Asian style eggs & rice
Chicken breasts & rice
Breakfast tacos/burritos
Cowboy casserole
HW
*MT = mashed taters
Pizza pitas
Crock pot chicken parm
Beef lo-mein
Meatloaf, MT & gravy
Burgers & fries
Chicken fried steak, MT & gravy
Herb chicken & whole wheat penne
BBQ chicken quesadillas & fries
Breakfast steak & potato hash
Asian style eggs & rice
Chicken breasts & rice
Breakfast tacos/burritos
Cowboy casserole
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Sometimes a little splurge doesn't hurt
Housewife here...
I just wanted to make a short post (a PSA, if you will) regarding splurging to treat yourself and your significant other. Sometimes, regardless of how poorly you are doing in the financial department, you need a little something. There is absolutely no shame in getting a $12 dinner at a restaurant, or going out for a drink on occasion. Saving money doesn't have to be painful and you don't have to deprive yourself of aesthetic pleasures.
My husband and I actually ate Quiznos tonight. We got an awesome deal through FFM (listed on my "helpful websites" post) - buy one get one free subs! We ate well and it was cheap. It felt good to enjoy the fruits of our labor, even though we only spent $10!
Have a great evening, y'all!
HW
I just wanted to make a short post (a PSA, if you will) regarding splurging to treat yourself and your significant other. Sometimes, regardless of how poorly you are doing in the financial department, you need a little something. There is absolutely no shame in getting a $12 dinner at a restaurant, or going out for a drink on occasion. Saving money doesn't have to be painful and you don't have to deprive yourself of aesthetic pleasures.
My husband and I actually ate Quiznos tonight. We got an awesome deal through FFM (listed on my "helpful websites" post) - buy one get one free subs! We ate well and it was cheap. It felt good to enjoy the fruits of our labor, even though we only spent $10!
Have a great evening, y'all!
HW
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Smart, easy ways to cut household expenses
HW here!
Tonight, just before my husband went to bed, he and I discussed the small changes we have made in our lives over the past few months that have really made a difference. I thought to myself, "what better place to share these tips than on the blog?", so, alas, here I am!
And, here are the tips from myself and my husband!:
1. For men: Let your spouse cut your hair or do it yourself. It's super easy. Sure, you might not look glamorous but if either of you are any good with a set of clippers, you can master a nice, clean cut looking 'do without losing all of your locks!
Note: My husband and I save $20 a MONTH by doing this! That's $240/year!
2. For women: Trim your own dead-ends. Splurge and invest in a good set of trimming scissors from your local beauty supply store and get take care of those dead ends yourself!
Note: My husband trims my dead ends for me and has even cut my hair twice (successfully, too!). I have curly, thick, coarse hair. I need to get it trimmed and reshaped once a month in order to keep it looking nice. We save another $20/month by doing this!
3. Nix the paper towels. I know every one of you out there have at least 2 old t-shirts you would willingly donate to a thrift store. Why not cut it up (or just tear it!) and use the rags for cleaning your kitchen counters and wiping your hands after doing the dishes? Take old wash cloths, towels and socks (use like a glove) and use them to clean surfaces such as bath tubs, sinks and even tile.
Note: My husband and I buy one-two rolls of paper towels a month, whereas before we were spending almost $10 a month on paper towels. I hardly have a load of rags to wash on a weekly basis!
4. Make your own facial wipes. This is painfully simple! For facial wipes (to remove make-up, dirt, etc. on older children and adults), add a teaspoon of facial wash to a cup of water, then add a teaspoon of your moisturizer to the water. Mix and pour over rags of your choice (I'd recommend cut up paper towels if you are going the disposable route, and cut up receiving blankets if you are going the reusable route - I use cloth!) and store them in an airtight container. You can use up to a roll of paper towels or 30-40 thin rags per cup of solution. Use within 10 days, or put solution into a spray/squirt bottle, apply to your cloth/paper towel and clean your face that way. I have an alternative solution "recipe" on a previous D.I.Y. post.
Note: I have had less break outs since beginning my D.I.Y. facial cloth adventure! I am happy to report that my skin looks wonderful!
5. Make your own body scrub. Most women I know spend tons of money on skin softening products. I don't! I refuse to. Instead, I bought a big bottle of extra virgin olive oil and a bag of RAW cane sugar. Voila! Body scrub that will last a year! You can either make it as needed or in several batches and store in air tight containers at room temperature for a month or two at a time.
Note: Let the scrub sit (hands/body/feet) for a bit before rinsing. Your skin will glow!
Enjoy!
HW
Tonight, just before my husband went to bed, he and I discussed the small changes we have made in our lives over the past few months that have really made a difference. I thought to myself, "what better place to share these tips than on the blog?", so, alas, here I am!
And, here are the tips from myself and my husband!:
1. For men: Let your spouse cut your hair or do it yourself. It's super easy. Sure, you might not look glamorous but if either of you are any good with a set of clippers, you can master a nice, clean cut looking 'do without losing all of your locks!
Note: My husband and I save $20 a MONTH by doing this! That's $240/year!
2. For women: Trim your own dead-ends. Splurge and invest in a good set of trimming scissors from your local beauty supply store and get take care of those dead ends yourself!
Note: My husband trims my dead ends for me and has even cut my hair twice (successfully, too!). I have curly, thick, coarse hair. I need to get it trimmed and reshaped once a month in order to keep it looking nice. We save another $20/month by doing this!
3. Nix the paper towels. I know every one of you out there have at least 2 old t-shirts you would willingly donate to a thrift store. Why not cut it up (or just tear it!) and use the rags for cleaning your kitchen counters and wiping your hands after doing the dishes? Take old wash cloths, towels and socks (use like a glove) and use them to clean surfaces such as bath tubs, sinks and even tile.
Note: My husband and I buy one-two rolls of paper towels a month, whereas before we were spending almost $10 a month on paper towels. I hardly have a load of rags to wash on a weekly basis!
4. Make your own facial wipes. This is painfully simple! For facial wipes (to remove make-up, dirt, etc. on older children and adults), add a teaspoon of facial wash to a cup of water, then add a teaspoon of your moisturizer to the water. Mix and pour over rags of your choice (I'd recommend cut up paper towels if you are going the disposable route, and cut up receiving blankets if you are going the reusable route - I use cloth!) and store them in an airtight container. You can use up to a roll of paper towels or 30-40 thin rags per cup of solution. Use within 10 days, or put solution into a spray/squirt bottle, apply to your cloth/paper towel and clean your face that way. I have an alternative solution "recipe" on a previous D.I.Y. post.
Note: I have had less break outs since beginning my D.I.Y. facial cloth adventure! I am happy to report that my skin looks wonderful!
5. Make your own body scrub. Most women I know spend tons of money on skin softening products. I don't! I refuse to. Instead, I bought a big bottle of extra virgin olive oil and a bag of RAW cane sugar. Voila! Body scrub that will last a year! You can either make it as needed or in several batches and store in air tight containers at room temperature for a month or two at a time.
Note: Let the scrub sit (hands/body/feet) for a bit before rinsing. Your skin will glow!
Enjoy!
HW
Good morning!
Good morning, guys! HW here!
I just wanted to share a few of the AWESOME websites, articles and blogs I've found with y'all. Everything I'm posting I have found to be beneficial personally!
Freebie Finding Mom - This Mom is serious about bargain hunting and saving some money! Everything you find on her blog (to my knowledge) is FREE. She is a sweet lady!
Dumb Little Man - 30 EASY money saving tip. DLM is pretty helpful in lots of areas (tips, tricks, etc.). Take a minute to explore the entire site!
Zen Habits - 50 tips for grocery shopping. Like DLM, Zen Habits has lots of useful info. Every Tuesday is Finance & Family day at ZH! I've yet to come across a piece of information that wasn't helpful - the author of the blog is a father to a large family, so he understands budgeting!
Moms Need To Know - The Dirty Dozen & The Clean Fifteen - the 12 fruits & veggies you should buy organic and the 15 you shouldn't. Very useful! MNTK is a pretty awesome site in general. She's another frugal mom that got tired of not being able to find deals for her area so she got out there and found them herself and she's letting US reap the benefits!
I just wanted to share a few of the AWESOME websites, articles and blogs I've found with y'all. Everything I'm posting I have found to be beneficial personally!
Freebie Finding Mom - This Mom is serious about bargain hunting and saving some money! Everything you find on her blog (to my knowledge) is FREE. She is a sweet lady!
Dumb Little Man - 30 EASY money saving tip. DLM is pretty helpful in lots of areas (tips, tricks, etc.). Take a minute to explore the entire site!
Zen Habits - 50 tips for grocery shopping. Like DLM, Zen Habits has lots of useful info. Every Tuesday is Finance & Family day at ZH! I've yet to come across a piece of information that wasn't helpful - the author of the blog is a father to a large family, so he understands budgeting!
Moms Need To Know - The Dirty Dozen & The Clean Fifteen - the 12 fruits & veggies you should buy organic and the 15 you shouldn't. Very useful! MNTK is a pretty awesome site in general. She's another frugal mom that got tired of not being able to find deals for her area so she got out there and found them herself and she's letting US reap the benefits!
Monday, June 13, 2011
D.I.Y. beauty products
The Housewife here!
I am a big fan of beauty products but not a big fan of their prices therefore I make my own stuff! This post is dedicated to D.I.Y. beauty products - you probably have all of the ingredients under your sink!
Milk Face-wash:
Ingredients:
A handful of powdered milk
Lukewarm water
Directions:
Grasp a small handful of powdered milk in your fist and run it under lukewarm water briefly to make a paste. Use on your face like you would any other face wash. Rinse your face with lukewarm water and then splash your face with cool water. Follow with moisturizer.
Note: I recommend putting your powdered milk in an airtight jar to keep in your bathroom. You don’t want to make this in large batches because, well, it’s milk! It’ll spoil. Using the jar enables you to save time and is much less messy than dipping into a bag or a box.
Deodorant powder:
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of baking soda
6 tablespoons of corn starch
Directions:
Put both ingredients into an air tight container. Shake vigorously to mix. Apply to underarms gently and sparingly as though you were applying baby powder.
Note: This is NOT an antiperspirant. You can add essential oils to make it smell good.
Coffee Body Scrub:
Ingredients:
5 tsp. ground coffee (used coffee grounds are fine)
1 tsp. sugar or salt
2 tsp. olive oil (grape seed and avocado work well also)
1 tsp. sugar or salt
2 tsp. olive oil (grape seed and avocado work well also)
Directions:
Mix ingredients together and apply to your body with a rag or a loofah. Scrub yourself and leave the mixture on for 5 minutes. Rinse with warm-hot water.
Make-up Remover Solution:
Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon of body wash - I recommend baby wash or something that is gentle
1 teaspoon of baby oil cream
1 cup of chamomile tea
Optional: 1 teaspoon of honey
Optional: 1 teaspoon of essential oil (tea tree, lavender, etc.)
Directions:
Brew 1 cup of chamomile tea. If you are going to use honey, add it to the tea and stir until it has dissolved. Add baby oil cream, body wash and essential oil (if you are going to use any) to the cup of tea. Stir well.
Note: This recipe is NOT a face-wash. It is meant to be poured over paper towels, face cloths or squirted onto a cotton swab then applied to the face. No rinsing necessary. You can also use this recipe for baby wipes. I recommend using baby wash for baby wipes, and use a full teaspoon versus half.
Enjoy!
HW
Hello from The Housewife!
I'm a thrifty first time, work at home mom to an almost 1-year old little boy. My life revolves around my family and saving money.
I look for any way to save a buck and make improvements to my life in a frugal manner and I would love to share my tips and tricks with you! Keep your eyes open for coupons, inexpensive meal plans, recipes and D.I.Y. adventures!
HW
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)