Kim's
Time and Money
Saving Tips
INTRODUCTION:
This page is dedicated to time and money saving tips I have learned and will share some from friends and family as well.
If you have a time or money saving tip, just e-mail me with the tip and I will be sure to include it on this page.
Traveling With Small Children
Here are some practical suggestions you might find helpful on your next family trip with the kids:
1. Have a walkman for the older kids to listen to their favorite children's tapes. They can play their tapes over and over without driving everyone else crazy!
2. Have a tote bag or backpack for each child's things (toys, books, crayons, snacks, cup, change of clothes, audio tapes, etc.)
3. Have a small car vacuum in the trunk to clean up small messes. A quick vacuum at each major stop may decrease the amount of work you have to do later. Also, many gas stations have vacuum/air centers for a small cost.
4. Avoid sticky foods and drinks, avoid crumby foods!
5. Have garbage bags available for car sickness, dirty laundry, garbage, etc. These are a valuable commodity for a lot of different uses.
SAVING TIME MAKING SPAGHETTI
Next time you make spaghetti try this:
Place your noodles needed for recipe, water and kettle on stove to boil. When the water comes to a boil, remove kettle from heat and let set, covered, for 10 minutes. Your noodles will turn out perfect and you will have saved energy from your stove, not to mention there is less chance of the kettle boiling over!
Baby Bottle Holder:
If you are looking for a place to hold baby bottles not in use - try using the bottom half of an egg carton. Upside down bottles fit in perfectly.
Grocery Shopping/Cooking:
1. Use coupons only for items you know you'll use, but give the generic or store brands a try first. They are almost always cheaper.
2. Ask your grocery store manager about expired coupons, some will take them regularly.
3. Grocery shop in bulk and plan ahead according to current sale ads.
4. Try the "once a month" cooking plan.
5 Shop yard sales and thrift stores often!
6. If you have a Food Lion or Winn Dixie near you, go to Valupage.com to sign up for web bucks!
Make Your Own Dryer Sheets:
Pour liquid fabric softener into a clean spray bottle and spray 4 to 6 times onto a designated rag or old washcloth.
Put into your dryer with clothes and tumble as usual. Wash the rag every once in a while to remove build up.
A small refill carton of concentrated softener lasts about 1-1/2 years this way!
General Frugal Links:
Homemade Cleaners:
So you want to make it yourself?!?
Here are some websites I have found that have recipes to make your own cleaners.
Book Review:
Recommended reading for the "tightwad" or "frugal" woman -- The Tightwad Gazette, by Amy Dacyczyn. Published by Villard Books, 1992 in New York.
If you know a good site that I have missed, e-mail me and I'll ad it to the list.
FEATURED FRUGAL CRAFT:
Flowered Place Mats:
Using a wilting bouquet or gather flowers and leaves to make beautiful place mats. Colors eventually fade to browns for a truly elegant look.
You will need the following supplies:
Clear contact paper
Flowers and leaves
Scissors
Instructions:
1. For each place mat, cut 2 pieces of contact paper approximately 12"x18". Peel the backing off one piece and lay it sticky side up on the table. Remove blossoms and leaves from their stems and arrange them on the sticky side of the contact paper. Press everything flat with your fingers. Some flowers will work better if you remove the petals and use them individually.
2. Peel the backing off the 2nd piece of contact paper. Place it sticky side down over your arrangement. Do not worry about lining edges up exactly. You will probably get some wrinkles. Just press everything down as flat as possible and your place mat will look beautiful. Trim around all edges with scissors.
Tip: Have a second pair of hands help out with the contact paper. You can each hold 2 corners and it will be easier to apply.
Idea: Make decorative edges by cutting scallops or applying colored tape.
Idea: Cut into several different shaped pieces and make a mobile to hang in the window.
Homemade Cleaners:
First, I would like to caution against mixing bleach and ammonia. This combination is deadly! Also, never mix products together that contain bleach with products that contain ammonia! This includes dishwasher detergent (which does contain bleach). I would even say to store them in different places just as a precaution!
Ammonia-good grease cutter, wax stripper and window cleaner.
Bleach- great for whitening anything, removing molds and mildews and for general cleaning. Best used diluted with water. Do not mix bleach with vinegar, toilet bowl cleaner or ammonia. The combination of bleach with any of these substances produces a toxic gas.
Baking Soda- versatile, baking soda is an all-purpose, non-toxic cleaner. It cleans, deodorizes, scours, polishes and removes stains.
Borax- also called sodium borate, deodorizes, removes stains, and boosts cleaning power of soap. It also prevents mold and odors. This is a great alternative for those who do not want to use bleach.
Cornstarch- cleans and deodorizes carpets and rugs and can be used as an inexpensive baby powder.
Ketchup- great for cleaning copper.
Lemon juice- great for whitening items, but vinegar is cheaper. It also cuts through grease and stains on aluminum and porcelain.
Salt- regular table salt makes an abrasive, but gentle, scouring powder.
White vinegar- cheap and versatile, great for whitening and cleaning hard surfaces, windows and shining up metal surfaces. Removes mildew, stains, grease and wax buildup.
More homemade cleaners and info to come! Check back!