The Crock Pot is My New Best Friend
Posted: January 31, 2012 Filed under: Cooking, Frugal, Money Saving Recipes, Saving Money | Tags: beans, cooking, crock pot, Save Money, saving money, slow cooker, soup 10 CommentsI shared my exciting job news in my last post. While I’m ecstatic to finally be bringing home a pay check, I’m still committed to saving money. I do not want to start spending frivolously just because my husband and I will be making more. Thus, I’ve decided the Crock Pot is my new best friend. It cooks while I’m away, makes plenty of food for left-overs and does not require expensive ingredients! Perfect! This week I’m going to cook up some Festive Black Bean Soup. It looks super tasty, healthy and not to mention easy on the wallet. Take a peek!
Hired…
Posted: January 29, 2012 Filed under: Frugal, Saving Money | Tags: Frugal, saving money, unemployment, work 9 CommentsI recently wrote about my unemployment frustrations. I’m happy to share that I was recently offered a full-time job and I accepted! This unemployment era (this is what I have nicknamed it) of my life has taught me a lot about saving money. I will continue to apply these principles to my life, but I’m sure I will look for CONVENIENT ways to cut down costs while working. Does anyone have any suggestions?! I’d love to hear them!
Gift Conundrum
Posted: January 25, 2012 Filed under: Gift-Giving, Saving Money | Tags: birthday, gifts, marriage, relationships, saving money 12 CommentsMy husband’s birthday was last week. I did not buy him a present. Wondering how I could be so heartless? Well, here’s an explanation for my seemingly callous action. We set up a gift budget at the beginning of the year and decided not to give each other Christmas gifts. I assumed this rule applied to our birthdays. I was wrong.
I saved a few bucks by failing to buy my husband a birthday gift, BUT I did not strengthen our marriage with this choice! I just wanted to point out that saving money is important, BUT so are relationships! 🙂 Has anyone else made an epic mistake like this? I’d love to hear about it.
*my husband was not mad at me for not getting him a gift. he’s amazing like that*
A Little Motivation…
Posted: January 24, 2012 Filed under: Saving Money | Tags: DIY, Frugal, Motivation, Save Money, saving money 4 CommentsSometimes my will to save money falters. Bad days tempt me to spend. How about you?
When my will power is starting to fail, I read posts by fellow bloggers who are also trying to squirrel some cash away. Their words usually inspire me to keep my credit card tucked in my wallet.
Enjoy. Hope these blogs motivate you!
Budgets are Sexy Their blog will make you think.
DottieDomestic-Her blog will inspire you to count the sheets of toilet paper you use. Wow!
How I Save Money.Net. I just found her blog today. Gotta love the clear skin tips, too.
Design Sponge This blogger really knows how to DIY! I love DIY because it can really save some dough.
I Tried It: DIY Drawer Divider
Posted: January 23, 2012 Filed under: Do It Yourself and Save, Frugal, Organize, Saving Money | Tags: DIY, do-it-yourself, Frugal, Organize, Project, saving money 4 CommentsMy work out clothing has never been organized. It’s always bothered me. So, I tried Design Sponge’s DIY idea. I made my own dividers out of cardboard, except I didn’t measure because I don’t believe in using measuring tapes 🙂 Here are the directions, step by step:
1). Hold cardboard over drawer and estimate wear you need to slice it (or your can measure if you REALLY want to), by slitting it with an exacto knife. (Do this with all four pieces of cardboard)
2) Cut a slot into the tops of the cardboard that will serve as your base. Do the same to the cardboard that will help divide your drawers, except cut the slots into the bottoms of those.
3) Fit all the pieces together and organize your drawers!! Super easy!!
Slit cut with an exacto knife…believe me, it doesn’t have to be very exact!!
The finished product!
ahh…I can find stuff in my drawers!!
I would say this project was worth the effort! I even labeled the compartments when I finished. Now my husband can’t tell me he doesn’t know where my clothes go when we’re folding laundry!
Cost-$0
Money Saved-At least $10. I own a couple of drawer dividers that cost $12 for a pair.
Make Your Own Drawer Divider
Posted: January 21, 2012 Filed under: Do It Yourself and Save, Gadgets, Organize, Saving Money | Tags: DIY, Frugal, Organize, saving money 2 CommentsYesterday, I gushed over pinterest. I know. I’m way behind. The world probably realized how great the site was 5 years ago!
I did find a gem of a blog via pinterest, though. I’m very excited because it includes a picture tutorial on how to make a drawer divider out of cardboard. CARDBOARD! I’ve drooled over drawer dividers for years. NOW I can make my own for FREE! Who knew?!?
Next week I’ll attempt (I’ve never been good at measuring!) to make these handy gadgets and post the results! No more spending $6 per plastic ugly divider at Bed, Bath and Beyond and no more messy drawers.
I secretly dislike the lamp shades in my master bedroom. I know. This is a minor problem, but I think I may have found a solution. Pinterest. This site is CHALK-FULL of frugal yet creative ideas! Here are some other reasons I love this site:
1) There are inspirational ideas for EVERYTHING. Not only can I look up a pin on how to fix my drab lamp shades, I can learn how to organize the cans in my kitchen and make my own wall art.
2) There are so many DIY tutorial’s. (This is a frugal person’s dream!)
3) The site lead me to some other blogs I am in love with.
So, before you go buy a new lamp shade, light fixture, piece of art or etc…check out Pinterest. You may be able rig up something you like on your own and save a few benjamins while you are at it!
*I was not paid to write about Pinterest. I just tried their site and really like it!
School
Posted: January 17, 2012 Filed under: Budget | Tags: Budget, college, decisions, expense, people, saving money, tuition 10 CommentsSomeone recently told me that it would cost $50,000 per year to send her twins to college (This number is based on 2013 tuition). Yikes. How does one ever save up for that kind of expense? Please tell me, because I am contemplating returning to school. It won’t cost me $50,000, BUT it will take some dough. I’ve juggled the pros and cons in my head nearly 500 times. I have not been able to answer the following questions.
1) Will a more advanced degree increase the chances I will be hired in this economy? I work in health care. I thought I was set for life with the degrees I already have. I learned this was not true when I moved to a different state.
2) Will going back decrease the amount I will be able to give my future children for their advanced degrees? Or will I be able to help them MORE because of the investment I put in my own education.
Blurg. Such difficult questions! I’m sorting through my decision day-by-day.
Do you plan on paying for your children’s (or future children’s) advanced education? Did your parents help you with your degree?
Keep Your Kitchen Towels ON the Rack With this Tip
Posted: January 13, 2012 Filed under: Do It Yourself and Save, Frugal, Gadgets, Saving Money | Tags: DIY, Kitchen, Saving-Money, Tip 8 CommentsWe recently moved into a home with no towel racks in the kitchen. I used the bar on the oven door, but the towels constantly slipped off. It was driving me crazy! So, I thought of a solution! I clipped my towel into place with a clothes pin! Ta-Da! I’m so glad I thought of this, because I was thinking about buying a towel rack from Bed, Bath and Beyond. This is way cheaper and I don’t have to drill any holes in the wall!
Mini Kitchen Hamper
Posted: January 12, 2012 Filed under: Frugal, Gadgets | Tags: crazy, Frugal, organization, saving money 14 CommentsA few months ago, I quit using paper towels. Due to this fact, I started accumulating dirty rags at the bottom of my staircase. (My laundry room is upstairs and the kitchen is on the first level.) So, today I spent the rest of my Christmas gift money on this cute little magazine holder. I call it my mini kitchen hamper because that’s what I re-purposed it to be. It cost $16 at Target, which is probably what I used to spend at Costco for a large pack of paper towels. I like this mini-hamper WAY better and definitely don’t miss spending cash on paper just thrown in the trash. Do you think it’s crazy I don’t use paper towels, anymore? I know a lot of people do! Tell me what you think.
ihavetriedit 