10 Steps to a Frugal Life

I must admit that saving money has become a bit of a game to me.  I want to save money and live as frugally as possible without having to sacrifice our lifestyle.  I've combined a list of things I do that save us the most money...

We use .49 cheese cloths from IKEA to wipe counters

1.  Don't use paper towels.  We use cloth napkins with dinner and wash cloths to clean the counter tops.  I do occasionally buy cleaning wipes, but only if I can get them free through couponing.

2.  Use cloth diapers.  It a huge savings even if you only have one child, but if you have more than one in diapers it will save you a small fortune!!  I blogged about the specifics earlier in the month.  Check it out!--Also, if you are an expectant mother, breastfeed your new baby!  It's great for baby and it costs you nothing!  It's a win - win.  Even if you are going back to work after maternity leave, buy a breast pump and give baby expressed milk.  The cost of a pump will be much less than buying formula in the long run!

3.  Buy used.  If you can't do used, buy at discount stores.  Growing children want to have the latest fashions, Plato's closet and Once Upon a Child only buy GENTLY used clothes and have killer deals.  Discount stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross...they have some great deals on clothes that are in style. Sometimes you have to really dig to find things that will work for you.  Make a list of things you need before you go clothes or accessory shopping and stay focused.  Walking into a big store without a defined purpose can be overwhelming and stop you from getting the best deals.

4.  Keep your thermostat on 69 in the winter.  I know it seems a little frosty, but the 3 degrees can change your heating bill tremendously.  Also, if your home is older, invest in the tools to winterize each year.  If you used weather stripping last year, check it again, you may need to do it again this year. $10 for a few rolls of weather stripping will save you a lot of money in the long run.

5.  Repurpose for craft time.  I never buy new products for our at home crafts for the kids.  Our milk cartons be come birdhouses, bottles become windmills and baskets.  If you have to buy new product, buy them ONLY on sale.  Craft time is just as much fun (I think more) with repurposed or sale items.

6.  Stock up when things are on sale and hopefully when you have coupons too.  We lose control over our budget when we run out of something and have to have it.  Try not to have a brand preference, if you can help it.  This way, if you need canned beans, you can buy what's on sale and what you have a coupon for rather than being tied to a brand.  There will be things that you can't compromise on, everyone has them....mine is soap for the dishwasher.  I've found that nothing works quite as well as a gel pack of some kind.  I stay stocked on these when they go on sale and I have coupons. 

7.  Plan your meals, but be flexible.  Make sure to include a couple of things per week that take little to no prep work.  If you plan out what you are going to be doing for each meal it will keep you from waiting too late, forgetting to thaw something or just having a stressful day and deciding to run out for dinner instead.  By flexibility, I mean if you're scheduled to have baked chicken that takes an hour on Tuesday, but something comes up and you aren't going to have time to make it, switch that out with your quick pasta dish that only takes 15 -20 minutes to make.  If you plan a night out check out websites, sign up for the email list at your favorite restaurant (they'll send you coupons and discounts for being loyal).

8.  Buy a coupon discount book (from their site or coupons.com you'll get it cheaper than in stores).  There are TONS of coupons in these for everything from family outings to food to clothing.  If you plan a date night once per month (I recommend you do for your own sanity) use the book to plan your date night.  You'll get out, enjoy yourselves, and not have guilt about the money you're spending.

9.  Shop grocery stores or other stores that offer fuel rewards.  Our Lowes foods does this.  Every time you spend a certain amount of money you get fuel rewards for money off each gallon of gas up to 25 gallons.  Sometimes if you buy certain items they give you additional fuel rewards.  It's pretty easy to earn .20 cents off per gallon from these stores and that's a significant savings on gas!  (Lowes foods does this in my area, but check around at your local stores to see if it's something they offer.  Don't assume just because there isn't a gas station attached that you can't do it, our Lowes has an agreement with Wilco Hess stations around here.  You take your rewards card and swipe it first and the price drops like magic).  If you live close to town and it's convenient (and safe) walk or bike for quick trips to the store. 

10.  Set goals for your savings.  If you have clear defined reasons that you are saving certain dollars, you are less likely to pull money out for a new stereo or the TV on sale this week.  If those are the things you want to save for, put that money in a different account and set a limit on how much you'll spend. 

I hope that these things help you the way they've helped us.  If you come to see it as a hobby rather than as a restriction on yourself, it really can be a fun thing to do.  Leave your money saving ideas below. (:

My Walgreens Shop March 4th

As most of you know I've been terribly sick with my gallbladder and have been in and out of the hospital.  Well while waiting for my prescription to be filled to tide me over until surgery, I found a great deal and made a little shop.  (Hubby thought I was being ridiculous for doing this when I could barely walk by the way).

First I want to show you what I got for a total of 11.73 plus tax.

Now I'll show you step by step what I did.  Walgreens currently has a Register Reward (RR) on Colgate Toothpaste.  The cost is $3 and you get a $3 RR after purchase.  I also had a .75 cents off coupon for Colgate.  I spent 2.25 on the first purchase of toothpaste.

After I paid for the toothpaste a $3 RR printed for the toothpaste.  I took that $3 RR and put it toward the purchase of the Softsoap 2/$6 with another $3 RR printing after purchase.

Sorry about the orientation of the photo.  After I purchased the two softsoap body washes for $3 I got another RR for $3.  Which I used to purchase laundry detergent which was on sale for $3.49.  So the detergent cost me .49 cents.  I also bought a pack of gum (for which I had a $1 off coupon) and it cost me another .49 cents.  Under $1 for detergent and gum?  Deal.

 No it's not a name brand detergent and typically with couponing you can get name brands for SUPER cheap, but the good thing about the drug store reward programs is you can save money on off brands too when you don't have a coupon for a name brand or when your coupon still wouldn't make the name brand as cheap.  Next I bought the toothpaste and a pack of gum.  I spent 2.74 on both (same gum with another $1 off coupon and .75 cents off coupon for the toothpaste).

When I bought the toothpaste I got another $3 RR.  I used that to buy another laundry detergent for .49 cents.  Then I bought the toothpaste in two more transactions with my coupons and got two more $3 RR which I used toward some over the counter pharmacy items that we needed.

So this is a small shop but there are a lot of ins and outs to it.  The Walgreens employees are generally very helpful if you don't understand what you are doing.  I invite you to review the Register Reward policies, but I will give you some general help below.

1.  If you use the RR to purchase same thing that you earned it with, you will not get a new RR.  For example, if I had used the RR I got from the colgate purchase, to buy another colgate, I would not have received a new RR.  It should always be for a different item.

2.  That item CAN be a RR earner.  For example, I used my first colgate RR to put towards the bodywash which also had a RR on it.

3.  Walgreens will not allow you to have more coupons than product.  For example, I could not have used a register reward to purchase only the colgate because I had a manufacturers coupon (the .75 cents off) and a RR (also considered a coupon).  Usually you can add a candy or something cheap to it.

If a RR doesn't print don't lose you mind on the Walgreens cashier.  The Register Rewards are printed using the Catelina machine (the same machines that most grocery stores have).  Walgreens is not like CVS where they can force the ECBs to print if it doesn't work. 

Here's the link to Walgreen's coupon policy.

http://www.walgreens.com/topic/help/generalhelp/coupon_policy_main.jsp?erule=couponpolicy

I like shopping CVS as far as drug stores go, but this Walgreens deal was really amazing.  I was quite happy with the shop.  I invite you to check it out with just a small simple shop the first time.  There are lots of ins and outs, but it is so much fun!

Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions on your own shops in the comments!

Cloth Diapering Beyond the Myths, and onto Savings!

So, I have to admit that I was resistant to the cloth diapering. At first glance it seems expensive and gross and time consuming, but I have come to see the light.  I will start by saying that I have two children in diapers.  One who will be for another year and one who is on his way out right now. 
Disposable diapers are expensive, with coupons, without, it doesn't matter AND more importantly, most diapers are not earth friendly products.


 It's estimated to take 250 - 500 years for a diaper to decompose (http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php). ONE diaper.  Can you imagine just how many your family has sent to the landfill? Can you imagine that multiplied by millions of others?  Even if cloth diapering wasn't cheaper in the end would it make it worth it you to save all of this from going to the landfill?  No ??. . .

What if I told you that the bleaching agents used to make those diapers bright white was known to cause cancer?  What if I told you that this chemical is banned in most other countries, but not the US?
(http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php)  Still no?

What if I told you that a similar product to the "super absorber" that keeps your kiddos from springing leaks in those diapers was once used in tampons, until women started turning up with toxic shock syndrome linked to the chemical? How about now?  Sound like hogwash and you still aren't convinced?

Ok.  Let's say that you have buy one pack of diapers a week per child at $7 per pack.  That's a reasonable enough price and let's say you coupon and are able to get Huggies Pure and Natural or Seventh Generation diapers at this price.  These are earth friendly(ish) alternatives that don't include the bleach or toxins.  You're doing well right?  Not really.  If your child potty trains at exactly 2 years old, you will have spent $728 on diapers in that two year period.  Cloth diapering is MUCH cheaper and there's no running to the store because you didn't realize you were so low on diapers!

There are lots of options for cloth diapering.  Some are cheaper than others.  The key that I thought made it the best value is to use a diaper with a washable insert (not a disposable one that you'll have to flush and buy more of  (g diapers, some fuzzy bunz, etc) and one that is "one size".  One size means basically one size fits all.  From new born to potty training you are all set with these guys.

I found that YoYoo cloth diapers were exactly what I was looking for. Now, I'm not a spokesperson for them, nor did anyone ask me to write this, but I have to sing their praises.  They are one size so they grow with your child.  This means that you buy a set of cloth diapers one time and then you never buy diapers again...even for different children!  I have the same set that I use on my two year old for my very petite eleven month old.  I bought 24 diapers and paid $13.95 per diaper.  Totaling $334.80.  That's less than HALF what it would cost to diaper one child for two years and I'm diapering both my children with them!  They are also very soft and the bamboo material is super absorbent.

Before you ask, I do about a load of laundry a day.  If you are a working mom, don't be intimidated by it.  Come home and throw the dirty yo yoos in the washer.  Hold off on starting the wash until bath time.  As soon as bath time is over throw all the last yo yoo in the wash and start your cycle.  If you have an HE washer you should have a "sanitize" setting.  I use this setting, but I use the same amount of detergent as always.  Once the wash finishes throw them in the dryer and honestly, I usually go to bed and grab them in the morning; you could make this part of your morning routine before heading out the door.  Let me tell you that I am absolutely certain that the one additional load of laundry I do per day is not even close the additional cost associated with disposable diapers. 

Below I've posted some pictures of what they look like and the size comparisons from small to large and some general instructions on care, etc.

This first photo is to show you the yo yoo on it's smallest setting.  It is next to a size 2 diaper from 7th Generation. This is the size that my daughter wears, she's very petite and the yo yoos make her bottom look plump, but it's endearing and it's a conversation starter about the importance of cloth diapering.

The next photo shows the yo yoo on the largest setting.  My fairly stout two year old does not wear them on this setting.  He wears them three snaps in.  In the top photo bottom three rows of snaps are being utilized to make the opening for the leg smaller.  In the bottom photo all of those snaps are left unsnapped to allow for the Yo Yoo to be it's largest possible size.  These diapers truly do grow with your child.

The next photo shows the bamboo INSERT.  I say that because it is not a liner that lies on top of the inside of the diaper.  It is an insert which makes it a lot more comfortable and absorbent.  Every diaper comes with an insert and you can buy more if you'd like.

The next picture shows the insert and where it snaps on the inside of the yo yoo and the pocket in which it slides.  This is a handy feature when washing the yo yoo because if you wash them snapped together you won't have to go searching for the insert when you are pulling them from the dryer (or if you line dry - even more eco friendly GO YOU! - you can still leave them snapped together to dry)

As you can see the liner goes inside the Yo Yoo that means yes the waste will be on the yo yoo it's self.  If your little one has a poop diaper you'll simply need to dispose of the waste in the toilet before washing it.  There's no need to pre-rinse, but if they have a runny stool sometimes I do rinse them with the water hose outside.  (Just as an FYI, it is in the instructions on disposable diapers as well that you dispose of solid waste in the toilet before disgarding the diaper...it's true, check it)

These last photos are of my 2 year old (climbing on our French Mastif who loves him dearly) in a yo yoo & my daughter (just a tiny little nut).  You can't see her yo yoo, but she it wearing one and you can see how much smaller she is than him (she only weighs about 14 lbs)

I bought the Yo Yoos from Blue Moon Goods.  There's much more to learn about them there, she even has a video.  I encourage you to find the right cloth diaper for you and go for it!  It's so environmentally friendly and great on your wallet in the long run too!
http://bluemoongoods.com/yoyoo_one_size_organic_bamboo_cloth_diaper.htm

New!

New to blogger, but I'm looking forward to posting some really great craft ideas for you crafties out there.  Also some great coupon steals when I come across them!  I hope that you'll subscribe and be on the look out for all the cool stuff I post.  One that will be up next week is how to make a bird feeder out of a milk carton.  I'm newly a stay at home mom and I love to do crafty things with my son, who is two years old; while my daughter (11 months) spectates, cherios in hand.  I'll show you how I live frugally, but environmentally friendly too.  I draw the line when "cheap" comes with an earthly price tag, so I'll show you some options that aren't as cheap, but that you can feel better about at the end of the day too!

If you have ideas or requests for what you'd like to see, I'd be happy to share.  I can't wait to jump in with both feet and really get to blogging about things I'm passionate about.  See you soon (I hope)!