Being frugal frequently means coming up with creative ways to use leftovers to avoid throwing food away, but when I realized we had just one overripe banana I was not quite sure how to use it up. Most recipes for banana bread call for 4 or 5 bananas, and even banana muffin recipes usually call […]
Frugal Gift Idea — Chili Mix in a Jar
December 11, 2008 by
Nothing takes the chill out of winter like a warm bowl of chili! This mix in a jar is a quick, simple, and frugal gift idea everyone is sure to love. Kids could easily help to make this. Be sure to attach a tag with instructions to make the chili. Add some big soup bowls, […]
Frugal Gift Idea — Chocolate Covered Pretzels
December 10, 2008 by
I am not much of a baker. Instead, Emily and I did some holiday “baking” by making chocolate covered pretzels. There is no measuring required, and they are always delicious. Wrap in cellophane bags and tie with ribbon for a great (and frugal) gift! To make chocolate covered pretzels, you will need: 1 bag of […]
Frugal Gift Idea — Festive Winter Journals
December 9, 2008 by
Emily and I enjoyed making these winter journals. They are so simple to make, and they came out looking great! To make the journals you will need: Pretty paper (I used snowflake print, but any pattern will work.) Plain marble notebook Exact-o knife — DO NOT LET CHILDREN USE THE EXACT-O KNIFE!! Book binding tape […]
Give Green Holiday Gifts — For Free!
December 8, 2008 by
This holiday season, promote a better environment with these green gifts that help reduce waste. The best part — they are FREE! Stop Junk Mail — Junk mail uses a tremendous amount of resources. Use CatalogChoice.org to create an account for the recipient to pick which catalogs are of genuine interest, and CatalogChoice will work […]
Frugal Gift Idea — Handpainted Block Print Kitchen Towels
December 7, 2008 by
Looking for another great frugal gift idea? Try these cute kitchen towels! You and your kids will love making these, and they turn out looking great. To make these, you will need: Plain white flour sack towels (these can be purchased at Target for about $1 each) Fabric paint Holiday stamps (snow flakes, holly, […]
Frugal Activity — Paper Dolls
December 5, 2008 by
MoneySavingMom recently featured a post on the McCall paper dolls, so I printed some out for Emily to enjoy. Here she is playing with the January 1996 Betsy with two outfits — pajamas and ice skating. She enjoyed the maze as well. Great frugal fun! You can download the entire series here.
Coupon Giveaway – Last Chance to Enter
December 5, 2008 by
My very first giveaway is almost over. The coupon giveaway ends at 6pm EST, so be sure to get your entry in. You could win 50 coupons (many are for organic items)! Details here. FYI: Another giveaway starts soon!
Frugal Gift Idea — One Day Carbon Free
December 4, 2008 by
Visit BrighterPlanet.com to find out how you can give the gift of being carbon neutral for a day, for free! From the site: Forget fruitcake. This year, you can spread your holiday cheer by giving presents that contribute to the fight against climate change. Give the gift of carbon neutrality for a day — […]
Fabulous Frugal Gift Tags
December 4, 2008 by
Emily and I spent some time this afternoon making these great gift tags from last year’s greeting cards. To make the gift tags, you will need: Some old greeting cards — Many of the ones we received last year had no writing on the inside left, so we used those. Hole Punch Ribbon – I […]
Save Money on Baby
December 2, 2008 by
(Clara Sage at 4 months. Isn’t she cute??) Let’s face it, babies are expensive creatures. Between the diapers, formula, baby food, and clothes, the cost of raising a child can really add up! Here are some of my favorite ways to save money on babies: Diapers: Consider cloth diapers. I know, I know, but before […]
A Great Mail Day!
December 1, 2008 by
I am so excited because today I received some great goodies in the mail! Here is a list of what arrived today: Letter from my Aunt (she lives in Argentina). Hola Tia Ines!! I love getting cards from friends and family, so this just made my day. Sample of Tide laundry detergent. To get your […]
Frugal Gift Idea — Homemade Bath Salts
November 30, 2008 by
There is nothing more relaxing than a nice warm bath with scented bath salts, and I thought bath salts would make a great holiday gift. That is, until I saw how much they cost. Have you seen the outrageous prices of bath salts recently?? This prompted me to come up with a homemade version […]
Online Shopping — Getting a Good Deal
November 29, 2008 by
If you are looking for some great websites to help you save money while shopping online, MSN’s Money Central has an article with 8 top sites for online shopping that can be very helpful. I like to combine orders with Amazon and get free shipping on orders of $25 or more. If you use […]
More on Thanksgiving Leftovers
November 28, 2008 by
Getting tired of turkey yet? Give your leftovers some fresh appeal with these great recipes: Paula’s Home Cooking — Includes recipes for Pumpkin Bars and Turkey Pot Pie. Leftover Cranberry Sauce — Mix with Cream Cheese for a great bagel spread. CD Kitchen — Easy recipes for leftover turkey. Turkey Casserole Recipe — Uses leftover turkey and […]
Frugal Fall Craft — Autumn Tree
November 26, 2008 by
Here is a frugal fall craft I did with Emily (4). You will need construction paper in fall colors, a sheet of cardstock (for the background), and some glue. For younger children, pre-cut the tree trunk and leaves for them. The older kids can do this by themselves. Put down lots of glue, and let […]
Thanksgiving Leftovers
November 24, 2008 by
Making the most of your Thanksgiving leftovers can save you money, and there is no reason why leftovers should be boring. Here is my all-time favorite turkey chili recipe. It’s so easy! Make a batch of corn bread to go with it, and you have a fabulous post-Thanksgiving meal to use up that leftover […]
More Fun with the Fireplace
November 23, 2008 by
We have been taking advantage of our fireplace during this cold time of year. Last night we roasted hot dogs over the fire. We had hot dogs w/buns, and baked beans for dinner. Then we read The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog. This is one of Emily’s favorite books, and we enjoy the other Pigeon […]
