I put out the plea last week for everyone to rally together and list your favorite frugal tip. We had several to participate and I appreciate each and every one!
The first one is from Wendy and her blog A Sunny Place:
First of all - Read the Tightwad Gazette Complete - she's truly the queen of frugal.
Frugal things we do:
Bulk/stock up shopping -shopping more often gives way to buying things we don't need (at least for me it does) So Last Nov we bulk purchased diapers, toilet paper, Kleenex, Sant. Knap., etc and
--Can when items are in season - we canned up a storm in the fall (over 300 jars of stuff) and grocery shopping was local for milk, fresh carrots, etc.
-- Cut our cell phone back to a pay as you go plan - and use it ONLY AS NEEDED and it cut the temptation to talk on it excessively and saved us a bundle! We now spend $200 per year for 2 phones rather than $65/month.
--Stay home! :0) Be a true stay at home mom!
--Buy used clothing (maximize garage sales, hand me downs, Goodwill is the best place!)
--www.homeschoolclassifieds.com has helped make homeschooling affordible to us!
--Don't shop. The only stores I frequent on a regular basis is our local Goodwill and the grocery store. I can't tell you the last time I went into a department store, honestly.
-- Keep a price book - and when you see great sales - if it's local - stock up (on need type items),
--Buy local - especially in the fall and can and freeze what you can. I chop and freeze green peppers and make our own pizza sauce, so I make the dough from scratch and only the pepperoni is purchased - I ration the pepperoni to only a limited amount of pieces per pizza. We eat this weekly - a treat for all - and fairly economical.
--Don't go out to eat. Last year as a family we went to a sit down (Bob Evans) out 1X - with 3 free meal coupons. We went Fast Food a couple times and got carry out pizza only a couple times in the entire year (1X with free pizza coupon).
--Find a scratch n dent type store near you. we have been able to find a variety of things at our local one.
--Buy ingredients and extras (such as chips, etc) are treats (even store bought cereal - try to limit our consumption greatly!) - make foods from scratch.
--Cancel your subs. to the newspaper, or extra magazines you don't really read - find someone to give you theirs when you are done (we get several different magazines second hand from those who know we will read them and are done with them).
--Find local great prices (we have a potato farm nearby and buy 100 lbs at a time in the fall, local dairy sells ice cream half gallons for $2 - including occasionally organic, etc
--we use cloth knapkins (Goodwill $.50 or make your own - we've done both)
--use rags/towels instead of paper towels.
--replace some light bulbs with flourescent
--brown meat - 1 lb and divide into 3 portions - freeze 2 and use only one - in soups/spaguetti sauce, etc. You may not miss it - or supplement with beans or lentils to help with filler
--make a pot of coffee in the morning, and then turn off - then I warm up later in the day for my mid-day coffee what was left from the morning, and don't make a new pot. Some also say you can just add more grounds to save on grounds. I tried, and I must be too spoiled -I didn't like it! But an idea for some...
--we make so many things from scratch that the other day my 6 yr old asked "Mom, can we make our own gum?" :0)
Our next was from Susan at DHC Farm
Here are some links to some posts I've made on my blog about our favorite way to save money.
Find your local salvage grocery store. Okay, so it's not superwal-mart and you'll have to dig in cardboard boxes for items, but it's well worth it with name-brand cereals (even organic at times) at $1 a box and canned foods around $.10 a can.
Serve smaller portion sizes. Okay, so not really a money saving tip, but I tend to king-size our family's portions and making them smaller gives us a better chance of having leftovers for lunch which is not only a money saver, but a time saver as well.
Pack your hubbies (or your own) lunch. This will save you about $25-30 per week or more depending on where you dine!
Carpool to the grocery store. With gas prices so high the neighbor from the next farm and I go together about 1x a week.
Buy less=spend less. Forgo the gourmet starbuck coffees and needless clothes and shoes just because they're way cute! How many clothes do we need really? With twins, I've discovered that if I pared all of my children's wardrobe down to about 9 outfits per week, my laundry would be much less--again, not only in time spent, but in money spent.
These tips are not revolutionary, but thought they might help!
Monica at Books, Bedlam and A Lively Hope
has these thoughts...
Here are some of mine:
Don't assume that just because a store *says* they have the lowest price, that they do. Compare store circulars and shop around, then stock up when items are at their rock bottom price. Most stores are now being built close together, so this should not involve a lot of driving around, either.
Don't go to the dollar store to just browse...and if you think they have something there you need, don't assume that a dollar is the lowest price you can pay for it. You'd be amazed what I have bought for much less than a dollar on the clearance shelves at other grocery/discount stores.
Don't waste money on buying cleaning products without first investigating the uses of vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. There are a lot of good cleaning ideas here: http://www.ecocycle.org/hazwaste/recipes.cfm
Learn to sew.
And of course, for entertainment, education, information, and all sorts of good things, use your local library!
Regina at Homesteading Wife in Training
What I try to use coupons for items that I use regularly and use them on the days the coupons are doubled.
Also buying bread from bread outlets. They sell bread and other baked goods that the supermarkets send them when the bread is getting close to the "sell by" date. They sell it at reduced prices and often have coupons for getting free items when you have bought a certain amount of items.
There are already so many wonderful ideas posted. When I think about saving money I think about my entire house and lifestyle. Take for example right now the three F's (Food, Fuel, Feed) are taking more of our finances, so once you have cut as much as possible from those areas I look at where else I could save money. Turn off lights, I only use the clothes line to dry clothes, I shop for cheaper insurance, canceled newspaper subscription (Too busy this time of year to read it anyway), consolidated freezers (I can use one until harvest), Do necessary tune-ups on vehicles (for fuel savings). In general I trim up the budget everywhere. A dollar saved here can go towards the increased cost in another area. We have increased the size of our garden area, fruit trees and bushes, chicken yard, and rabbit breeder stock. It sounds odd to be increasing in areas but if prices continue to increase we will need to provide more for ourselves and others in these area's. If we plan ahead now and this continues like they say it is then it will be easier down the road.
Kristin Hoffman offers her help on making your own pet food!
I too saw the FaithFarms post! Excellent idea. Last month I went to buy dog & cat food and it had gone waaaay up! In one month! So I figured I could buy a bag of rolled oats at the feed store (about $15) and add my extra eggs, skim milk, buttermilk, table scraps and my dogs would eat better for a lot less money. I also make corn bread for them once a week with some things I already have on hand. The cats are getting milk from the cow & the occasional raw egg. I can get organ meats and bones from the local custom butcher for free. So my feed bill went from $50/month to $15. And the animals are healthier too. I know there is a bit of controversy over feeding all raw vs. grain/cooked but we can't afford that and are doing the best we can!
The recipe I use for homemade laundry soap saves my family so much money! It make five gallons of laundry soap and we use one cup a load.
My homemade laundry soap really gets the laundry clean!
I have the recipe on my blog with a picture tutorial, if you would like to add it to your post.
Another thing that really saves money is cloth menstrual pads and cloth wipes.
We use the cloth wipes instead of toilet paper. You might want to mention on your post about how it can save money.
I do sell cloth wipes and pads for those who can't make them themselves at my blogspot store - http://www.homesteaderbelle.blogspot.com/
Michele at Urban Homesteader
Wow, so many great ideas. Mulching is a great way to reduce garbage and help your garden thrive. I like to reuse as much as I can - ie: clean mayo jars and PB jars to store bulk spices. Garage sales, thrift stores, I can everything, dehydrating, forage for "freebies" such as wild fruits and berries - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, choke cherries, plums, apples, dandylions, ect. I'm relocating closer to work to save wear and tear on my truck along with gas $$$. We have a small store that sells slightly damaged canned goods, soaps, TP, cerials, ect for CHEAP. Buy on sale and getting extra at that time. Use coupons (sadly nobody here doubles) when able, along with many of the ideas already listed. What a great idea!!!
Mama Duke at Humble Beginnings
We do several things to save money. Here's a short list.
1. Consolidate trips into town to save on gas $$.
2. Cook and bake from scratch as much as possible.
3. Make our own body wash from cheap shampoo. Pour shampoo into larger, empty body wash container, add half that amount of water and pour in epsom salts (about 4 TBSP). I put the lid on and shake it all up. For the container, I use an old baby shampoo bottle w/ a pump on it. It costs me about $.96 for a huge bottle of body wash compared to $3-$4 for a small bottle.
4. I make our own wipes as well by cutting a roll of paper towels in half, putting each half in a huge coffee tin. I fill up a small pot with water, add some baby oil or glycerin, a little bit of baby soap and let it come to a boil. Once it boils, I take it off the heat, let it cool down and then pour it over the papertowels. Once those cool down, I put the lids on.
5. Garden, garden, garden and can, can, can. For what I don't grow in the garden, I'll buy at farmer's markets or go to a local "pick your own" farm and then can those items.
6. I also can our venison and chickens (when they go on sale). This cuts down on what's in the freezer.
7. I make meatless meals about 2x a week. And, those meals that we do have meat, there's usually leftovers for lunch the next day. In fact, we usually eat all leftovers for lunch the next day.
8. I buy items in bulk when they're on sale. I also find it's cheaper for me to buy laundry soap locally than to pay for the shipping on the Fels Naptha (which isn't sold here locally). Shipping is getting expensive.
9. I always buy flour, sugar, oil and butter when I go to the store so that I always have some on hand. Always...without exception.
10. My hubby gets paid weekly and I get paid every 2 weeks. Regardless of how much gas is in the vehicles, we fill up every week. Sometimes I only put in $20 worth of gas but I know it's always full and never worry about it (plus it's a mental thing that I'm spending less on gas). It's weird, but it helps.
11. I make all of our household cleaners using peroxide, vinegar or baking soda. I have a bottle of ammonia that I also use to make an "every day" cleaner. It's lasted me more than a year.
12. We use baking soda to brush our teeth. In fact, our children now think toothpaste tastes funny.
13. I now buy "store brand" items at the grocery store instead of the "name brand". Although I despise the store brand as the quality's not as good, it's cheaper.
Anissa at I love my Husband
Great advice so far, ladies! This was a wonderful idea for everyone to learn from each other.
My two cents:
~Learn to make your own bread
~Stop using your dryer. If you have a small yard here's a great space-saving clothes line: http://www.sunshine-dryer.com/
~Make your own spice blends at home. There are tons of recipes out there to make your own chili powder, Italian Seasoning, etc. We all pay an arm & a leg for those little McCormik bottles of spices. If I can save $3 just by blending spices I already have in my cabinet then I'll do it! Here's the food website I use all the time to find those recipes: http://www.recipezaar.com/
~THRIFT SHOPS are the bomb for year-round savings! Garage sales are wonderful seasonal savings (where I live). Swallow your pride & start saving. Anyone with children at home with save a bundle on children's clothing at thrift shops. Childrens clothes can cost just as much as adults sometimes depending on the age of the child.
~Think outside the box. The hardest part for me has been to rethink how I was trained as a child to do things. Just because mom always did something a certain way doesn't mean that that was the best or cheapest way.
~Measure out your dishwashing soap, laundry detergent, etc. I have a 1/3 cup measuring cup on my dryer I use to measure out my soap every time. It's just too easy to dump in way too much soap into my washing machine. The same goes for my dish washer. I measure out 2 T. into each compartment.
~Read "The Tightwad Gazette". Check with your local library & they may be able to borrow it through the inter-library loan system.
***Thanks!!!!!! You guys are so great, these tips are wonderful and I know that they will be an asset to the readers here at HSB!***
From my Homestead to yours...
~Chas~
Chasity L. Burrell
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger My Cup Runneth Over at Heritage Acres Farm
I know if you are like me, you are very aware of the prices soaring on almost everything right now. Some of us here are one income families, some of us have several children, and most of us are homesteaders or in the pursuit of a homesteading goal... so how do you make the most out of what you have... How do you stretch your dollar?
What I would like to do is to compile a post of helpful ideas/hints from our readers to help one another out. Tell me your BEST ways of being frugal in this tough economic time. I will take all comments and then make a large post next week with everyones helpful hints. Really think and share, encourage others to get involved. At times like these we need all the help we can get!
Thanks so much to Karen (Southernbelle) for coming to me with this idea she got from a post of FaithFarms.
I think it was a wonderful idea, thanks so much to both of you, and thanks in advance to all of you for sharing.
From My Homestead to Yours,
~Chas~
Senior Editor Homesteadblogger.com My Cup Runneth Over at Heritage Acres Farm
Some items just seem difficult to store. Perhaps they are an odd shape. Maybe you have items that are like, but you just can't find the right home for them. Are your cupboards full? Do you have some bulk craft items that are taking up precious drawer space because they are not an efficient use of your space? Have small toys but are running out of space?
Consider using those mesh bags from citrus fruit, onions, and potatoes. You can use these to hold rubber stamps, cookie cutters, toys and the like. Once the items are place in the bag consider hanging them on a pegboard, a cup holder hook, or using a curtain ring hung on a rod in a closet.
Keeping like items in one place that are hard to store otherwise helps to keep your home organized without a lot of clutter areas. This idea is simple, frugal, and keeps those mesh bags out of the landfills!
These are my thoughts.
Leslie Valeska
~Contributing Writer~
Want to read more? Come, partake in the Journey to Simplicity where you will find lots of information regarding frugality, simplicity, homeschooling, organization, faith, homemaking, art, and so much MORE! Leslie is a wife and homeschooling mother of four in SW Fl. With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of homemaking. Leslie is also a seamstress for Vintage Vixen, one of the oldest online vintage clothing shops. When time permits she enjoys reading, writing, scrapbooking, painting, and watching old movies. She and her family also spend much time RVing. You simply must come on over to the Journey to Simplicity and see what she is talking about today!
Lots of good advice in this news letter. Thought I would pass it on to you all. Grandma Rosie
Always Ask for a Better Deal Mary Hunt
Today's first tipster reminds us of those six little words that, when put together and spoken courteously, can reduce the cost of all kinds of things, from Internet service to cable TV to, well … medications for your favorite pet. Here are those words: "Can I get a better deal?"
PET MEDS. If your pet takes regular medications, ask the veterinarian whether you can get a discount for buying them in bulk. I used to get 60 pills for $32 until my vet offered me a discount for buying in bulk. I now get 100 pills for $22. Go figure. It never hurts to ask. -- No name, e-mail
BAG HOLDER. The house I moved into had a Dixie cup holder on the wall in the kitchen. But instead of using it to hold cups, I found it is the perfect place to store plastic grocery bags. I put them in the top and simply pull one out of the bottom of the dispenser whenever I need one. -- Lori B., Oregon
FIRE STARTER. Don't you hate it when you have to start a fire, and little bits of newspaper are flying everywhere? Next time, air-dry orange peels, which contain flammable oils that burn longer, and use those instead of the paper. The lively fragrance is a bonus. -- Katherine B., Oklahoma
NUTCRACKER. I found a way to crack nuts by using a plastic grocery bag (the kind used for fresh vegetables) and a meat tenderizer. I put the whole nuts in the bag and hit the nuts with the smooth side of the tenderizer. Then I just pick out the nuts and dump the shells in the garbage. These plastic bags last a long time. Even when I had to crack 10 pounds of shelled nuts, the bag still held up. -- Usha G., e-mail
INK CREDIT. If you have an office supply store near you, ask whether they will give you a credit for bringing in your old ink cartridges when you come in to buy a new one. I have found that some stores will give you a credit of several dollars for up to three cartridges at a time, and they will recycle them. I find this to be a great deal to help cover your office supply expenses. -- Joanne H., California
COOKIE SCOOP. If you are making a huge batch of drop cookies and want to save some time, use an ice-cream scooper with a spring lever to scoop out the cookies and put them on the baking sheet. You won't even have to get your hands dirty. Scoops come in a variety of sizes, too. -- Marilyn T., Wisconsin
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Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 17 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Are you tired of all the unsolicited credit applications and junk mail you receive in the mail. Have you ever thought about how much paper is wasted in sending those out to the masses? Me too.
Some time ago, I had heard that if you take all of the contents of the envelopes and stuff them in the prepaid return envelope the companies will discontinue sending their information. So, we tried this. However, it seemed that for each one we sent back, there were 5 other companies sending us more. Now, this wasn't overly time consuming, but I wondered if there wasn't a better use for this material.
After a little research, I discovered that you CAN use the junk mail to help save the earth AND save you money! Firstly, if you take all of the paper and shred it, you have a constant great source for packing material, kindling, art projects, and mulch. So there is a savings incurred from not having to buy these products. But there is a another over looked option...the return envelope.
At first, I wondered if I could use the envelopes as is and place a new address over the pre-printed address of the company, thus saving the envelope expense AND the postage. However, I found that this is illegal. But there is a legal way to re-use the envelopes. Save all your return envelopes from junk mailers, and shred and use the rest of the information. Once you get a stack of them, take 10 minutes to dismantle the envelopes and turn them inside out. A bit of glue or tape will hold them together. Voila a new envelope for you that cost you nothing!
In addition to this process, there is another way you can eliminate your cost of envelopes. Each time you recieve mail, save the actual envelope. These envelopes can be re-used by placing an address label over the original address (which you be yours). Remove the postage and start anew. If the postage was pre-printed on the envelope, just black it out with a sharpie marker before adding your postage. Those envelopes with the see through address windows really pose a problem for the earth. You see, the plastic used to make those widows is not recuclable. So, the longer you keep the envelopes in circulation, the longer you keep that plastic from the land fills.
Since the time I adopted this system, I have not had to purchase envelopes! Remember the trickle down process. You really have to think about it in order to see how doing so little can really have a BIG impact, both for the earth AND your bank account. If you never bought envelopes again, you would not only save the cost of the envelopes, but by not conusming them, there would be no refuse in their packaging and their ultimate discarding. If you stopped purchasing envelopes and you got 100 families to do the same, that means that 100 families are no longer consuming this product, thus the local stationary store is selling less. You are throwing away less and your mail recipients are throwing away only what is already bound for the rubbish pile. You see they are going to throw the envelope away anyway, so why not send an envelope that would normally be discarded by you along to someone else and then be discarded. You have just saved one more piece of paper from being forced into circulation adn then the rubbish bin! In actuality, you have saved half of your mail paper trash. All this while keeping your dollars where they belong...in your bank account!
These are my thoughts.
Leslie Valeska
~Contributing Writer~
Want to read more? Come, partake in the Journey to Simplicity where you will find lots of information regarding frugality, simplicity, homeschooling, organization, faith, homemaking, art, and so much MORE! Leslie is a wife and homeschooling mother of four in SW Fl. With children ranging in ages from 4-16, she has had a lot of time to learn and experience much of homemaking. Leslie is also a seamstress for Vintage Vixen, one of the oldest online vintage clothing shops. When time permits she enjoys reading, writing, scrapbooking, painting, and watching old movies. She and her family also spend much time RVing. You simply must come on over to the Journey to Simplicity and see what she is talking about today!
Often times when I mention powdered milk, the immediate response of people is a turned up nose or sour puss face. Why? Most commonly, people think of reconstituted powdered milk for drinking purposes, which causes them to not use the product at all. This is unfortunate because powdered milk is an excellent and frugal staple item that every pantry should posess. The use of powdered milk can help a homemaker make items from scratch that they might otherwise buy premade (at HUGE upcharges) for both food consumption or skin care.
If you aren't familiar with Hillbilly Housewife, take a bit of time to visit the site. It is chock full of wonderful ideas for frugal homemaking. It will not disappoint. They have an article regarding powdered milk that is a must read. Included you will find some cost analysis and a neat little paragraph about the actual taste of powdered milk for drinking purposes. I highly recommend it. I am picky about my drinking milk, so I haven't tried drinking reconstituted powdered milk in years. With prices skyrocketing, I am working up the courage, though.
Powdered milk can be purchased in small or large quantities in most every grocery and bulk food store. The cost is so inexpensive, that if you want to try it for the first time, I recommend purchasing a small quantity. Here are some guides of what to look for in powdered milk that are important to me: nonfat, low heat, no artificial anything, no preservatives added. Storage is easy. If you want to keep some in your pantry and become a regular user, you won't need to worry about longevity, as powdered milk stored in a n air tight container will last about 12-16 months. However, I have read that it can be kept for up to 5 years in the fridge. WOW!
The most common usage for powdered milk in our house is cooking and baking. Anything that calls for milk, I grab RPM (reconstituted powdered milk). In order to keep the milk fresh and reduce spoilage (and having to throw money down the drain) I use a 2 quart container to hold my RPM. When I run out, I simply make a new batch. Unlike RPM for drinking, it does not need to be cold when used, so can be used immediately. By using RPM for exclusively for cooking and baking, I am able to save a lot on the cost of regular milk at the grocery.
However, this is not the only usage for RPM. It can be used in other recipes as well, such as making yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. If you use a lot of yogurt in your home, you can save a bundle on making your own. I chalenge you to make a batch and compare the cost to those containers you buy at the grocery. Whoops! Grab that chin off the floor. You had no idea how over priced yogurt was and now you do. So, call the past the past, and save money by making your own! For any recipe that calls for yogurt, you can use your homemade yogurt, which again results in a savings to your wallet!
Do you enjoy some of those wonderful natural bath and beauty products that are made from milk? Stores and home businesses have been established to market just these types of products. If you have a certain product you enjoy, consider searching out a home recipe. You can make a wonderful skin smooting bath soak froom powdered milk. This same powdered milk, made into a paste, makes a great skin revitalizer. Add just a bit of water to powdered milk (resulting in a gritty paste) is an excellent exfoliator and smoother for a home manicure treatment. A teaspoon of powdered milk added to a cup of warm water produces and excellent and soothing makeup remover without chemicals or damage to your skin. After a good foot scrub, try soaking your feet in some warm water with powdered milk added to produce a more smooth and soft skin.
Think that's all there is to powdered milk? Not even close! Mix 1 c warm water, 1 TBSP powdered milk, 1 TBSP vinegar or lemon juice. PLace in a plastic dish basin. Now place any silver items needing to be cleaned and let sit overnight. Simply rinse and dry for beautiful shiny silver! Got a rash? Make a solution of powdered milk and water (equal parts) and add a bit of salt. This will help relieve itchiness as well as help dry the rash to produce quick healing. Clean patent leather to a high, smudge-free shine with a little RPM.
I encourage you to check the internet for other uses for powdered milk and recipes including them in bath and beauty products. I think you might be surprised how this inexpensive staple can accomplish so much in your life, without processing and harsh chemicals. It's simple, frugal, and earth friendly! Be sure to post your uses for powdered milk and/or any questions you might have.
These are my thoughts.
Leslie Valeska
~Contributing Writer~
Please visit me at Journey to Simplicity for more information about frugal living, simplicity, homesteading, food, and homeschooling.
Christmas means a wide variety of things to families across the world. Some focus on Christ's birth, some focus on decorations, others like to hold fast to traditions, while still other families embrace the winter weather. Then there are those that find Christmas as the mark of family time together. We all know the family that loves the hustle and bustle and makes their calendar filled to the brim with wonderful activities. Other families want to stay home around the fire, using the season to focus on their immediate family. Many families focus on buying gifts for their children...taking great joy in finding just the right something for a child. Some families do not celebrate Christmas for themselves until after the New Year, instead focusing on giving to others during December. There are endless ways we celebrate Christmas.
However, I don't know any family that does not want to bring more meaning to Christmas in some way. Most of us are not completely satisfied with everything surrounding our Christmas. Over at the Dollar Stretcher there is a great article with a list of activities to bring more meaning to Christmas. Even if you do not implement any of these this Christmas, you are bound to be inspired to plan for next year, or to give throughout the year in some capacity. So check out Making Christmas Meaningful, and see what fits your family this year!
You likely have your Christmas shopping done (or at least the bulk of it). The toys are purchased and perhaps wrapped, as well. One thing we tend not to think about is where all the new stuff is going to be stored after Christmas.
So, take some time over the next week and review the gifts you know will be coming into your home. For children, this is a great time to take out old toys that are not played with, toys that are missing pieces, and toys that are broken. This purging will help to open up room for the new items.
Once you have purged, take a visual of the space available. Now, think about the gifts you know your children will be receiving. Will anything need a container? Is anything an awkward shape? Is anything to heavy for a shelf? Are there gifts that might be better stored in your craft area, rather than their rooms? Are they getting clothes? (Make sure to purge clothing that is too small to make room for new clothes) Can the clothes be hung? This thought process will help you to organize your home BEFORE the presents officially get there. In this way you will be able to quickly and neatly place gifts in their appropriate place directly after Christmas.
All of this pre-planning will add to returning your home to simplicity after Christmas. If you have never done this before, you will be surprised how quickly you can return to "normal" without fretting, frustration, or chaos.
Tags for Christmas packages can be fairly costly, but it is important to label each package properly so each recipient gets their intended gift, right? Well, I have a few tips on how to keep the cost of these items to a minimum.
Consider making your own labels. A little sticker on an address label, children drawing on address labels, etc will make the most adorable unique and personal labels for your gifts
USe last years Christmas cards. Each year I have a few cards left over for m the previous years mailing. I also save the fronts of all cards sent to us. These make excellent and FREE labels. Use a hole punch so you can attach with packaging ribbon or simply adhere with tape on one corner. Sign the back and you have a FREE Gift Label.
Use a photo. We all have photos that have been printed that we will never use in a scrapbook, photo album, or frame. Punch a hole in a corner and attach as above. Sign the back and a little line about what the picture is. People really enjoy these labels. They aren't free because you paid at some point to have the pics printed, but they cost nothing extra. These are always a big hit with our friends and family.
Not long ago, I posted about using sturdy boxes, cut down, to make customized storage boxes for free. Recently, the hubby had decided to help his little wifey out with her pantry. When our home was built, the contractors installed clothing closet wire racks in our pantry. The down side of this is that the wire bars are set far apart, so when you place things on the shelves, they tip over. Needless to say, we have had a LOT of broken bottles and messes to clean up over the years.
Even cereal boxes would turn and spill out of the closet if not placed precisely on the shelving.
So the hubbby goes to Home Depot and looks for some type of shelving material. This was proving to be a bit expensive and was going to require some extra time at home to cut the panels to make shelving. Until he found a marcite panel (tile board).
A wonderfully kind Home Depot employee agreed to cut the board to the dimensions we needed.
Shelf by shelf I removed items from the pantry placed a board on each shelf and returned the items to the shelves. No More Tippage. Wahoo! Not only that, but I used my box idea to contain like items. All boxes of jello stand upright in a box. Small bags of snacks are housed in a box. I have TONS of boxes tea, which have always been all over the pantry. I used the box from a case of water. Lo and behold, all my tea fits in the box allowing me to see all of my tea choices at a glance! The boxes of plastic wrap, ziploc bags, etc are housed in another box from a case of water. Meal supplement bars are in yet another box. All of my baking essentials (baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch) are contained in a cookie box. Large containers of spices are contained in a pull-up box.
Our pantry is not only clean and tidy, but everything is easy to find at a glance. I am not orginized by nature, I have to work at it. But the results of organization are that I can work more efficiently, and thus be more productive in a shorter amount of time, so it is worth it. Here is the cost breakdown of remodeling our pantry.
5 shelves ( 6 x 1.5 ) = $11
organizing containers = $0
Time spent remodeling the pantry = 3 hrs.
Stress free kitchen work = Priceless!
Here's the before and after for a good comparison.
You have worked, studied, researched, and lived a life that is frugal. Somewhere down the road you have some children to add to the mix. Those children reach school age and life changes again. Were you frugal throughout that entire time? Likely not. None of us are completely frugal all the time. Most of us welcome a more simple life, but experiences periods of life when life begins to control us. Is there a link between frugality and simplicity?
In a simple lifestyle, less is more. That may mean a wide variety of things. Living simply may mean having a non-chaotic schedule. It can mean a life of frugality. Your family may practice simple living by choosing minimal purchases that have a pre-requisite of much thought and prayer before a purchase. It can mean a life filled with all of these components. So where doe syour definition lie?
The best way for you to implement simplicity is to use your current life as a starting point. Now, think of your ideal life. How would it be different? All that's left is to formulate a plan and move forward. Let's take a look at some of the big ideas you can change in your life to make some of these changes.
Look at your calendar. Is everyday filled with appointments and errands away from home? Make a change. Can you reschedule some of your obligations so that you have only 1 or 2 crazy days per week? Knowing that you have scheduled days at home may assist you in getting through those chaotic days away from the homestead. This can be one of the hardest to adjust, but it is crucial. Look back over time. Was there a period in your life when simplicity ruled your schedule? Ask yourself waht were you doing differently then. Perhaps it was a few years ago when your children were younger and now they have schedules that have gunked up the works. Allow your children to take on only what is going to fit into YOUR lifestyle. Honestly, if my is harried, everyone will pay.
Look at your spending habits. If you are making many purchases regularly, consider scaling back. Aside from groceries, determine what is a need and a necessity. Does your family really need another DVD, and on the day of its release? Do you really need more scrapbooking supplies to scrapbook?(oh, please don't make me answer this...please, please, please.) Is it necessary to get the newest video game? Are convenience foods really giving back to your life that validates their cost? Anything that isn't a necessity takes time, energy, & money to purchase. Ask yourself if you weren't to purchase any non-necessities for 30 days, would your lifestyle be significantly impaired? Be honest with yourself. I always say no initially to this question, but then that sale pops up that I can't resist and WHAMMO! I am purchasing again. The bottom line is, the more you purchase the more you have to take care of.
Is there a big ticket item you are thinking about acquiring? While you have been price comparing and researching which is the best buy, have you asked yourself if this will contribute or retract from a simple lifestyle?
There are many other factors to consider, but these are some of the big ones. The truth is, if you want to have a simple relaxed life, you have to work at it. Saying no to people is a must. If you say yes to everything, your life will always remain chaotic. So choose your commitments carefully. Also consider your homestead a commitment. Keep in mind the priorities God has set up for your life..1)God, 2)Spouse, 3)Children, 4)Employment, 5)everything else. If your homeschool support group has taken over the #1 spot, it's time to regroup. If you belong to a woman's group at your church has taken over the #2 spot, it's time to revisit. If you volunteer at a shelter for battered women and it has taken over the #3 spot, you are in the wrong place. All of the above mentioned commitments are worthy, no doubt. However, are they more worthy than following God's hierarchy for life? I know that being frugal can be quite a bit of work. Yet being frugal (unless it takes over your life) contributes to simplicity.
Some of the hardest decisions to make in life, are when to scale back and re-focus your priorities in the right order. We feel guilt and emotional manipulation to the commitments we have made. I have something to say, that I have to say to myself when chaos comes a calling...
If your friends, co-workers, co-volunteers, brothers & sisters in Christ, do not accept or try to discourage you from a simple life and following God's priorities for your life, their opinion is not worth your guilt. You see, if they are who they say they are to your life, they will respect your decisions and efforts to return to God's lifestyle. It's that simple.
Most everyone loves shredded paremsan on a variety of dishes. Our family is no exception. We use it at least 4-5 times per week for items like soup, bread, pasta, rice, eggs, casseroles, etc. Actually, I use a mixture of parmesan, romano, and asiago. I save a BUNDLE on shredded cheese by shredding it myself. Now what I am about to show you is so easy, you will probably laugh. If you don't laugh, you might be thinking, "I don't have time for that," or "That's just to too much trouble." Follow along, and promise you won't form a solid opinion until the end.
To shred the cheese, I purchase 1 wedge of each type of cheese at Sam's Club. Place them in the fridge until you get yourself set up. What you will need is some type of food processor with shredding & chopping capacity. You will also need 2 large bowls and 3 large siploc bags. If you will be freezing some of your cheese, make certain to use freezer bags or food saver bags, for those portions. Set your machine up to shred, but have whatever you need to convert it to chopping mode handy.
Now, take one wedge of cheese from the fridge. Remove wrapper and cut into chunks that will fit in your food processor. Piece by piece, begin to shred the cheese. My machine has a more course grating disc. Sometimes I like to add more coursely shredded cheese to a dish, and sometimes I like more finely shredded. So, I use both.
Once the entire wedge is shredded, pour the cheese into a large bowl. If you want to take some of the course grated cheese and place it in a separate bag, do that now. Replace the shredding disc with your chopping blade. Put approximately half the cheese into the processor and do a little combo of on and pulse until the cheese is at the consistency you want. Pour this into the second bowl. Now repeat with the rest of cheese.
Using a 1 cup scoop, place cheese in your bags (I usually use 3 bags). I try to portion it out equally...3 cups or so per bag. Repeat this process with each wedge of cheese. I normally, use equal parts of the different types of cheeses, but you can mix it up any way you like. When freezing the cheese will last up to 3 months in a freezer bag. If stored in a vacuum sealed freezer bag, it will last up to 8 months. Just for reference, it took me 19 minutes, to grate, chop, and package 5.43 lbs of cheese this week.
NOW, comes the most amazing part. If you are still thinking this is too time consuming, read on. At the grocery if you went to the cheese section and purchased a small plastic tub of grated cheese, you would pay around $10.72/lb. (I am not talking about shaker cheese that is unrefrigerated and located on a shelf near the pasta, but real cheese that needs to be refrigerated. This said, I have never used that type of cheese and thus I have not facts to incorporate into the following calculations.) Ok, so the shredded cheese at the grocery costs $10.72/lb or .67/oz. Keep reading..........
The cost of each wedge of cheese averages .36/oz or $5.70/lb. That is almost HALF the cost of the convenient cheese! In the batch I made this week, I would have spent $58.21 on 5.43 lbs of cheese if I had purchased the convenience package. However, I spent $30.95 on the wedges. I spent 20 minutes + electricity + bags to shred and package my own cheese. This cost is far out weighed by the savings incurred from less gas to the grocery and less rubbish in our landfills. This batch will most likely last about 3 months, which will be a total savings of $27.26!
Now, I ask, is 20 minutes of your time worth $26.72?
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Now, think about the gifts you know your children will be receiving. Will anything need a container? Is anything an awkward shape? Is anything to heavy for a shelf? Are there gifts that might be better stored in your craft area, rather than their rooms? Are they getting clothes? (Make sure to purge clothing that is too small to make room for new clothes) Can the clothes be hung? This thought process will help you to organize your home BEFORE the presents officially get there. In this way you will be able to quickly and neatly place gifts in their appropriate place directly after Christmas. 
Even cereal boxes would turn and spill out of the closet if not placed precisely on the shelving. 
A wonderfully kind Home Depot employee agreed to cut the board to the dimensions we needed. 
Not only that, but I used my box idea to contain like items. All boxes of jello stand upright in a box. Small bags of snacks are housed in a box. 
I have TONS of boxes tea, which have always been all over the pantry. I used the box from a case of water. Lo and behold, all my tea fits in the box allowing me to see all of my tea choices at a glance! 
The boxes of plastic wrap, ziploc bags, etc are housed in another box from a case of water. Meal supplement bars are in yet another box. All of my baking essentials (baking powder, baking soda, cornstarch) are contained in a cookie box. Large containers of spices are contained in a pull-up box. 
But the results of organization are that I can work more efficiently, and thus be more productive in a shorter amount of time, so it is worth it. Here is the cost breakdown of remodeling our pantry.
To shred the cheese, I purchase 1 wedge of each type of cheese at Sam's Club. Place them in the fridge until you get yourself set up. What you will need is some type of food processor with shredding & chopping capacity. You will also need 2 large bowls and 3 large siploc bags. If you will be freezing some of your cheese, make certain to use freezer bags or food saver bags, for those portions. Set your machine up to shred, but have whatever you need to convert it to chopping mode handy. 
