| Your Frugal Tips | |
Here are some frugal tips that other stay-at-home parents have shared with us.
For $100, I got enough clothes for the winter for him and if you time it right, the consignment shops have season-end sales and take half off again so you can shop for next summer!
I have been happily surfing for FREE for months now. I use NetZero internet access. It has a small ad bar you have to put up with, but I hardly notice it anymore. It is way more reliable than AOL was (hardly any problems at all).
Alta Vista also has a new free internet access program.
Both have plenty of local access numbers.
Add up what you spend for internet access each month and think what you can save.
When I have to wash 1/2 loads of laundry i.e. 1/2 load of baby clothes or delicates). I try to wash them back to back so that I always have a full dryer load.
Also I have purchased a programmable thermostat, and have probably saved $300.00 a year on my electric bill.
I want to thank everyone for their tips and hints, and please keep them coming!
From Teresa:
Get crafty!
Recently my 3 1/2 yo saw a jack-o-lantern drinking-straw contraption that he wanted. So, I took an old margarine tub (that I used for storing leftovers), punch a hole large enough for a straw to fit through at the bottom, and then painted the outside orange with craft acrylic paint. When that dried, I inverted the tub and used black paint (or you can use a permanent felt-tipped marker) to make a jack-o-lantern face on it (plus thin, vertical, slightly curved lines making it look like a pumpkin). (note: use primer on the margarine tub before painting so that the paint will adhere). Place the tub over a regular drinking glass, and insert the straw through the hole...voila! a jack-o-lantern drinking straw!
From Janet:
Shop yard sales and buy used whenever possible. I find brandname barely used clothing for very little for our family at yard sales as well as toys, furniture and other household goods.It's also a fun and an affordable way to start a hobby (I collect old pottery...I paid $5 for a $200 cookie jar!). My husband stays home with the kids while I yardsale and I am usually home by 10 a.m. One drawback...you have to get up with the chickens to get the best stuff. We save thousands every year and the kids wear nicer clothes that we could afford new.
From Cindy:
Never buy ANYTHING already prepared. Grate your own cheese, make your own garlic spread by mixing minced garlic with butter. Make your own cake and muffin mixes and just add wet ingredients when you're ready to bake them. Make your own "hamburger helper" type meals for much less and it only takes a few minutes longer than the packages plus the bonus is that you don't get all those nasty chemicals.
From Carol:
I never throw away a baby wipe container. I have used them for recipe cards, craft and office supplies, and drawer organizers. My children use them to store small toys and accessories. I have a Huggies wipe container that I covered with decoupage paper (that I received free in my junk mail) that I have turned into a beautiful coupon box.
From Mary:
Hi! Just visiting from the Family Internet Forums and noticed all the wonderful tips everyone here has. But in order to post tips here, you have to have internet access.
From Betty:
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