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Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Pt 2
Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 2 I hope the first half of Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes was helpful to your wardrobe and your peace of mind! Make it easy (well, easier anyway) to purge your closets with our handy decluttering criteria for clothes. Wondering why the black and white rules? Read on to find out! A YES answer here means make it go away! A No answer means stay: Is anybody embarrassed when you wear it? Does it have holes, rips, tears, stains, spots, frays, underarm scarring or seams coming undone? Is it missing buttons, beads or jewels? Is the tag still on? Socks: Are there holes?…
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Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Pt 1
Simple Decluttering Criteria for Clothes – Part 1 Make it easy (well, easier anyway) to purge your closets with our handy decluttering criteria for clothes. Wondering why the harsh black and white rules? Read on to find out! A YES answer here means keep it! No means go… Does it fit now? Is it in style? Does it make you look great? Does it make you feel good when you wear it? Does it look good from the back as well as the front? Socks: Does it have a match? White clothing: is it still white? Have you worn it in the last year? Now we get down to the…
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Exercise Equipment Turned Clutter Catcher
Exercise Equipment Turned Clutter Catcher I have a treadmill and an elliptical workout machine in my bedroom. Unlike a lot of people, I LOVE my exercise equipment and feel lucky to have it in my home (it was a great Christmas present from a relative). However, after an injury I couldn’t use the cardio equipment anymore, and started piling stuff in front of it. Whether the workout machines are in use or not, none of that stuff belonged piled on the floor! So the work began… Most of these items did have homes, they just weren’t in them! Of course some of the stuff had no place to go, which…
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Frugal Friday: What I’m Willing to Give Up
Peer pressure can work for you in some cases. I’m using the positive influence of my frugal peers to trim the fat in these lean economic times, and I’ll tell you why. The recession is hitting many of us hard, some of us medium, and some of us not at all. My family falls between the hard and medium categories, and the only reason we’re not in the “hard-hit” category is because we’re so frugal already! I realized just how many people are in the “hard-hit” category as I scrolled through my RSS feeds a few days ago. I saw headline after headline about giving things up: one blogger said…
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Poll Results: Is Splitting Kids' Meals at Restaurants Okay?
Last week we were inspired to contemplate an ethical question about splitting up full sized meals at restaurants for your kids. Some restaurants frown on the practice, and some will even charge you a fee to bring an extra plate! In most cases, your experience depends on the server assigned to you and their views on parents splitting up meals. I see nothing wrong with it, and feel completely comfortable telling the server as we are ordering that we’re ordering whichever meal for these two (point to the kids) to share! I think often problems arise when people try to be sly about their intentions, asking for an extra plate…
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13 Best Baby Shower Gifts on a Budget
Looking for great gift ideas for a baby shower that won’t break the bank? Everyone wants to give a gift that will be liked, be appreciated, and most of all, be USED! It is possible to give great gifts when you’re on a budget, and don’t forget that sentimental and practical value are king where baby presents are concerned. A more expensive gift is NOT guaranteed to be a better gift! What do new moms really want to get for gifts at baby showers? Surprisingly, these 13 most-wanted gifts are affordable and desirable baby shower loot! 13 Best Baby Shower Gifts on a Budget 1. Diapers. The MOST important gift…
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The 99¢ Menu is Now the… $1.79 Menu?!
Tales of Recession Dining, aka The 99¢ menu at Wendy’s is now the $1.79 menu! My husband got back from his 2 week exile business trip to a remote village and we went restaurant and fast food crazy! We’re normally very well behaved when it comes to not eating out, but this weekend qualified as an exception. We went to Denny’s Friday night after I picked him up from the airport, Wendy’s Saturday before our movie date and Taco Bell on Sunday after some errands. Needless to say, we’re off fast food until the next qualified exception (probably a few months!). However, our restaurant experiences were enlightening ones, and I’ll…
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How to Stretch Ground Meat with Frugal Fillers
Meat is expensive and if yours is like most frugal families, it takes up a significant portion of your grocery budget. While ground beef, ground chicken, ground pork and ground turkey are many times cheaper than full cuts of meat, they are still one of your pricier ingredients. A cooked pound of ground meat does not actually make very much meat once prepared; it usually only yields 1 to 1 1/2 cups depending on how lean the meat is. How can you stretch a pound of ground meat farther and stretch your hard earned dollars while not giving up healthy food for your family? How to Cut Ground Meat With…
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13 Easy Ways to Save on Groceries
A question on every homemaker’s mind at one time or another is, “How can I save money on groceries? I want to spend less on my food budget- how do I get started?” We have a lot of control over our budgets when it comes to grocery spending, even though it might not seem obvious at first. Many frugal people enjoy saving money on necessities so that they can splurge on their chosen little luxuries for their families (like family vacations or a new game system). That’s what frugal living is all about! These tips for saving money on groceries are a good starting point to get you cutting your…
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Kitchen Tip: Freeze Extras in Ice Cube Trays
At times, we may throw things away because there is only a small amount left. Now, you can make use of small amounts of leftovers by freezing them for later use. Just use your ice cube tray! Opening a can of enchilada sauce but only need a few tablespoons? Freeze the rest! Want to freeze soup stock in small quantities so you can take out only what you need for a recipe? Freeze your stock in ice cube trays! Here’s how it works: Pour your leftover liquid into an ice cube tray. Fill each cube only 1/2 to 2/3 full, since the liquid will expand once frozen. Once tray has…
