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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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13 Ways to Save Energy and Cut Utility Bills
Slashing unnecessary expenses on necessary items like utilities is on everyone’s mind. Saving money may seem difficult when summer temperatures swell or winter chills have you cranking up the thermostat. While we can’t eliminate our water bills or electric bills, there are lots of tips and tricks to keep the costs down. 13 Ways to Save Energy and Cut Utility Costs 1. Switch to LED bulbs. We hear it all the time, and for good reason. LED bulbs use less energy and last longer than regular incandescent bulbs. They also create less heat, meaning your air conditioner bill goes down. 2. Buy blackout panels to hang behind your curtains. Blackout…
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5 Frugal Things I Did Today
5 Frugal Things I Did Today When you live a frugal life and you’ve been doing it for a while, you don’t seem to notice all the frugal things you do anymore! If you start to get down about your budget, your bills, or the economy in general, try this exercise: Grab a pen and paper. Write down the title, “5 Frugal Things I Did Today.” Walk slowly through your house. Every time you see something frugal or remember something frugal you have done, write it down. (Some examples include a great sale stock up in the pantry, recycling an old container into a new use, staying organized so you…
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Are Energy Vampire Taps Costing You Money?
Are Energy Vampire Taps Costing You Money? Vampire taps are in all of our houses right now and chances are, they’re costing you money. Many electrical devices use energy in “standby mode” 24 hours a day, even when they’re not in use. A little extra energy may not seem like a big deal at first thought. However, each extra item using electricity tacks on a little to your electric bill, making your cost higher for items you aren’t even using! Common vampire taps include: Electric razors and electric toothbrushes Computers, monitors, external modems and hard drives Fax machines, printers and scanners Cell phone chargers Telephones and answering machines Stoves and…
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Top Energy Wasters in Your Home
In an article in US News & World Report: “Putting Your Home On An Energy Diet” by Mariann Lavelle, the energy wasters were very surprising to me; top shocker was a digital photo frame. Can you believe it costs on average $9 a year to run one? Also on the list were cable boxes, cell phone charges, older large appliances such as refrigerators, new TVs, and more. We’ve done a lot of work in our family on not being “energy hogs” and wasting energy! My favorite website about energy consumption is the Department of Energy’s website EnergyHog.org. They have an adult entrance to the site that provides great energy-saving tips.…
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11 DIY Projects Using Recycled Food Containers
I love reusing things, and food containers are no exception! Some of the great uses I invented for plastic peanut butter jars in my bathroom are holders for dental flossers and cotton swabs. Peanut butter jars (the small, 17 oz. jar) are the perfect size to hold these small items. The jars are washable and cheap to replace. They’re also lidded, which is great for keeping your hygienic items clean. Lidded containers protect from germs and airborne particulates, such as dust, deodorant, hairspray, and perfume. But what other uses can we come up with food containers, glass bottles, plastic jars, and more? Here are some fun DIY projects and crafts…
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Bulk Storage for Your Frugal Pantry
In my never-ending quest to drive down our grocery costs, my husband and I delved into buying dry staples in bulk. Many staples (rice, beans, barley, flour, and other grains) can be purchased in large quantities for prices that are fractional compared to grocery store prices. Use the Top 8 Frugal Cooking Ingredients to identify some frugal staples you can add to your diet. Overlapping these ingredients in many of your meals will allow you to purchase a few ingredients in large quantities that can be frequently used in your menu. The fewer ingredients you have to purchase, maintain, and store, the better for your bottom line. Rice was our…
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Frugal Mistakes: We Shopped For Bulk Food Storage Without Researching!
My husband and I were interested in buying food staples in bulk to save money on our grocery bill. We jumped in enthusiastically, but not educated about bulk foods. Our first acquisition: a 50 pound bag of rice. Price: $15! Great deal! However, we worried about how to store the rice. So many questions came up, such as: What kind of container would be right? Where could we purchase food-grade containers locally? Would the containers be an expensive investment? Where and at what temperature does the food need to be stored to keep well? We hit a local wholesale supply store and told the associate what we needed. She wasn’t…
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Frugal Splurge: Family Weekend
Living a frugal life doesn’t have to be boring for your family. Your kids shouldn’t feel deprived because you’re not jetting out to movie premieres at the theater every weekend! You can find great free and low-cost entertainment in your community if you just look for it. Our weekend was fun-filled and filled with freebies at that. School function: Total Cost: $16! The PTA at Hannah’s school put on “Caribbean Night” at dinnertime. They served chili and cornbread and had a bake sale in the commons. I brought bottled water from home for everyone in the diaper bag and a bottle for Truett, so we didn’t have to buy drinks…
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40 Uses for Plastic Milk Jugs
Plastic milk jugs / milk containers have many uses after their primary function of holding milk is over. As milk container week comes to a close, we’re left to recap the many creative uses for milk containers! If this list isn’t enough for you, I’ve made an even bigger one! Here is my 99 More Uses for Plastic Milk Jugs & DIY Milk Jug Projects! 40 Uses for Plastic Milk Jugs 1. Utensil holders in the kitchen (cut off the tops to make a wide opening). 2. Plastic paper dolls that won’t tear. Decorate them with permanent markers. 3. Milk jug bird feeder. 4. Princess crowns: just cut and decorate.…
