Money Saving Monday: Laundry and Towels

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Malia

Personalized Towels For years I have been of the mindset that you can use a towel more than once. If you are just using a towel to dry your clean body, it is fine to hand it up and re-use it. This has been great. It reduces the laundry and subsequently saves money-less water, less detergent, and less electricity for drying. Also, less work for the laundry person.

However, in the last couple of years, more of the children are bathing in my bathroom,and they have developed this habit of taking my towel off the rack. Continue reading →

Money Saving Monday: “Prepping” on a Dime

Posted on June 11, 2012 by Malia

Being prepared is something we try to do in a gradual but effective way. I have seen many sites and articles which talk about being fully prepared for emergencies and what you need to keep on hand. If you look at those huge lists, it can seem overwhelming. Then one day I received a list someone made of $5.00 “preps.” This was a list of items that you could purchase for only $5.00 – something you can do over the course of several weeks or months to be more prepared. Here are a few ideas to jump start your own ideas.

5 pounds of beans
5 pounds of rice
1 flashlight
10 cans of vegetables on sale
Package of batteries
5 gallons of water.
Water purifying kit
Bag of dehydrated fruit
Package of jerky
Vitamins
Cooking fuel
Several packages of seeds
Water treatment tablets

What other $5.00 items can you add to your weekly shopping list? Just adding one or two things per week is affordable for most families. If you watch for special sales or coupons, you can stretch your money even further!

Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan, thankful mother to five children, ages 2 to 21 and an author, conference speaker and director of www.homemaking911.com and www.wheat-n-things.com. Visit her site for inspiration, encouragement and practical help in your roles as a godly wife, mother, homemaker or home educator.

Money Saving Monday: Birthdays on a Budget

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Malia

With our first daughter, we had a HUGE first birthday party. We had 50 guests. We purchased a few very expensive toys. Everything was wrapped beautifully and we had a bakery-made cake. It was a fun party, but she had to take a nap in the middle of it. It was a huge endeavor, and a huge expense.

Fast forward 20 years. We have learned a few things about children’s parties.

Children have much lower expectations than that. For my youngest son’s recent two-year birthday, we invited just our immediate family and his grandparents. For our dinner, I made a baked potato bar. I made 20 baked potatoes. For toppings I had sour cream, cheese, butter, broccoli, taco meat mix (refried beans, venison, taco seasoning), salsa, salt and pepper. We had ice cream and a homemade cake, complete with sprinkles. His sister made the cake for him. We did buy special birthday plates to serve the cake and ice cream.

Instead of expensive party games, I bought a bag of balloons and we blew up half a dozen or so that the children enjoyed bouncing around the house for several days until I got tired of them. The balloons doubled as decorations.

Daniel thought the party was so much fun! Because we kept it small and casual, he was in a good mood throughout and did not get tired and cranky.

As for gifts, we found a bubble making machine for around $18.00. We did purchase that new. For his other gifts, his siblings gave him wooden puzzles (50 cents each at a second-hand store), a Fisher Price family farm (thrift store item), and a weasel ball that was found in their grandmother’s house – but was brand new and had never been opened. All it needed was batteries.

Now, as children get older, we do tend to spend more for gifts, but I really try to make the gifts ones that will have lasting value and that can be passed to other children. When you start making plans for the next birthday in your house, think of ways you can reduce costs and still have a pleasant party. Can you make some things homemade, rather than buying them? Can you reduce the decorations you will throw away anyway? Can you reduce the cost of the food? Do you need to have so many guests? Can second-hand or homemade gifts work for this child, given his age or preferences?

Money Saving Monday: Reduce Paper Use

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Malia

Several years ago, the cost of paper towels increased. One day I was at a friend’s house, something spilled and I asked for paper towels. My friend told me she does not buy them. She said they were a waste of money. I was surprised, but I immediately started my frugal wheels turning.

I realized if we stopped buying paper towels and paper napkins I could save a little each week – and a little each week adds up over years of time. I started by getting some cloth napkins. I already owned one set I used for nice dinners, but I added to my collection until I have enough for every day.

I also stopped buying paper towels.

I do keep one roll in the house, put high upon a shelf that I can use if something really bad happens (like a stomach virus going around the family). I found that if I stored it under the kitchen sink (or worse, on the kitchen counter) they would rapidly disappear. Making them difficult to access solved that problem.

We also played around with using cloth baby wipes when I was using cloth diapers, but I had a hard time keeping them moist without them getting a musty smell to them. I researched and learned that I could use baby shampoo and some essential oils in the water to keep them fresh. I still prefer to use store-bought wipes, but if I am in a pinch, I can use the cloth ones with no problem.

Some will argue that I am using water and electricity in washing and drying these items, and it is, in fact true, but I am usually just adding them to loads I already plan to wash, so I do not see any expense effect at all.

If you decide to make the switch to cloth napkins, try to purchase ones that are patterned or dark-colored. White ones do not clean as well as I hoped and stain quickly. You can often find sets of cloth napkins at a local Goodwill or thrift store or at a discount store.

[Editor's note: Our family's first stash of cloth napkins was from the clearance shelves at our local Target store - super handy since we had a gift card from a holiday that we used to pay for them. Make sure you let family members know you're switching to cloth too; my Nana passed on some cloth napkins that had been in the family for generations that she'd had stashed in a closet as she thought no one wanted them! Check online for easy DIY tutorials for making up cloth napkins from other items around the house that are worn out in spots, but could be reused. ~MK]

Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan, thankful mother to five children, ages newborn to 21 and an author, conference speaker and director of www.homemaking911.com and www.wheat-n-things.com. Visit her site for inspiration, encouragement and practical help in your roles as a godly wife, mother, homemaker or home educator.

Money Saving Monday: The Grocery Budget

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Malia

One thing I resist making cuts to is our grocery budget. I naturally try to be very frugal in this area, but I know I can always find more ways to save. If you are looking for a few fresh ideas to get you motivated to make some cuts, here are some ideas I use to get back in the “Money Saving” mindset.

Do not try to look at the whole budget – just tackle one small area at a time.

Try to make one breakfast a week less expensive. Oatmeal is cheaper than cereal – make the switch for at least one breakfast.
Dedicate one night per week to a low-cost meal night such as: baked potato bar, meatless meals, soup and bread night, garden night.
Examine the use of beverages. Sodas are very expensive and not healthy. Can you replace that beverage entirely with homemade tea? If your family just loves their sugary fix, limit it to one special meal per week – like Friday pizza night. Juice likewise is a very expensive beverage. Eliminate it or consider watering it down. Milk can also be purchased ahead when on sale and frozen for later use.
Switch to homemade baby foods if you currently buy them. This will be a huge cost savings. Learn how to make them in bulk to save time and energy.
If you buy prepackaged breakfast foods, set some limits on consumption. I must admit that two of my children enjoy Pop-tarts. If I bought a box as a special treat, they would be gobbled up quickly by my two sugar-seekers and they would be asking for more! Now, when I purchase them, they know they can only eat these on Fridays.
Talk portion size. Often we will get a special snack such as cookies or chips and the children will enjoy these for snacks. Left unattended, three children can snarf down a bag of chips in the course of one afternoon! Now, when they ask for a snack, I have them check the portion size and have them limit their use to one appropriate serving. Of course, fruits, veggies, and other very healthy snacks are offered in nearly unlimited quantities.
When you cook extra to freeze ahead or to plan for leftovers, remove the “extra” from the serving dishes before they ever get to the table. Once it is there, it is fair game and you may find that doubling your meat in order to have an extra meal later may be doubling your cost for one meal instead.
Eliminate the television during any meal or snack time. Studies prove that distracted eating leads to people feeling less satisfied even though they often eat quite a bit more. Make your mealtimes enjoyable without the TV and you may see your grocery budget drop, too.

Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan, thankful mother to five children, ages newborn to 20 and an author, conference speaker and director of www.homemaking911.com and www.wheat-n-things.com. Visit her site for inspiration, encouragement and practical help in your roles as a godly wife, mother, homemaker or home educator.

Money Saving Monday- Personal Finance Audit

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Malia

Once a year we take the time to look over all our bills and see which normal and regular bills we can reduce. Every single month, money is going out the door for things like:

Water
Trash collection
Recycling
Phone (cell and land line)
Internet
Insurance
Prescriptions
Banking Fees
Electricity
Car Expenses (oil changes, air filter, gas)
Parking

All of these expenses come month after month and frankly, because they are so regular we often do not even think about them beyond simply paying for them. However, sometimes there are easy ways to reduce these bills that we have never applied. It may mean switching companies, switching carriers, or just giving your current company a call and asking for a reduced bill or a long-term customer discount. Remember that saving only $5.00 per month on a bill may not seem like much, but when expanded into the next ten years, it becomes significant. While you are on the topic, make sure you are taking advantage of things like automatic bill pay and online banking where you can save the cost of postage and of course, the cost of late fees due to forgetfulness.

So, take the time this month to sit down with your spouse and talk about all these “fixed” expenses and see where you can save some money.

Money Saving Monday: Meal Planning

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Malia

I have to admit that making a meal plan can be hard. Preparing food is easy. Coming up with 90 meals and 60 snacks a month is not – at least not for me. If, like me, you find yourself struggling a bit to come up with lots of meals, here are some ideas:

Switch to a super-simple plan. You can make a quick list like this:

Monday – Chicken

Tuesday – Fish

Wednesday – Pasta

Thursday – Mexican

Friday – Pizza

Saturday – Beef

Sunday – Crock pot dinner

Then, you can plan to simply fill in with any number of a large variety of vegetables. Within the chicken category you can make hundreds of variations!

Another option is to make a plan for two weeks, then reuse it over and over. Two weeks is usually not too often to repeat a meal.

If you really want help creating a meal plan, there are online resources where you can get weekly menus based on sales, or your family’s dietary preferences, or other preferences.

Having a good meal plan in place will save you money. You won’t be tempted to order carry-out or fall back on convenience foods. You can also do a better job of using what you have on hand before it gets a chance to spoil. If your family has a lot of leftovers, you can even put in a leftover night or two per week. If you want to eat out occasionally, you can plan ahead to make sure you have coupons, or can take advantage of “Kids eat free” nights. Put a few of those meals in your plan if you can afford it, and it will allow you to have a break now and then, while still staying on your budget.

Money Saving Monday: Take Off Your Shoes

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Malia

Several years ago I was researching asthmatic children and things to do to reduce “triggers” to asthma attacks. One of the things I discovered was that simply taking your shoes off when entering your home can help reduce asthma attacks.

What happens is that as you walk outside your home, your shoes gather all kinds of chemicals – from the grass, from the concrete, from the asphalt, from store floors, etc. Taking your shoes off at the door helps keep all those chemicals and dirt from getting spread all around your house.

With a daughter with asthma, I was more than willing to institute this small change – then, of course I discovered another benefit.
Less shoes in the house meant less dirt and grime spread around the floors. So, I get to sweep and mop less often. Also, I get to vacuum the carpets less often. Most carpet cleaning experts will tell you that much of the wear and tear on carpets is due to dirt getting ingrained in the carpet. Less dirt means less dirt to cause wear and tear.

Instituting this simple measure meant saving money in several ways:

Fewer cleaners are needed for mopping.
Less asthma attacks mean less trips to the doctor, less maintenance medicine, and less ER trips.
Less wear and tear on the carpets mean they last longer.
Less electricity from running the vacuum so frequently.
In addition to saving money, it also saves time – which can mean more time to work on saving money in other areas. I can spend that extra 20 minutes a day researching prices on a big-ticket item, or clipping and organizing coupons, or preparing something from scratch that I would normally buy pre-made.

For those that prefer to wear shoes for comfort for their back or feet – go ahead and invest in an extra pair for wearing in the house. You will find that these will last much longer when you are not wearing them outside.

One final benefit to our “Shoes-off-at-the-door rule”: We have a nice organizer in our entry closet where everyone stores their every day shoes. We never have to search for lost shoes around the house!

Money Saving Monday: Cloth Diapering

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Malia

Considering our current budget and our financial goals, I started toying with the idea of TRYING cloth diapers for our fifth child. As I considered it, one major drawback was that to use cloth diapers, you have to sink quite a bit of money into it, just to give it a fair try.

After lots of encouragement, I decided to try to make my own diaper covers. A friend mailed me her pattern. I bought the material for about $4.00 per cover, including the PLU to make them waterproof. I should mention now, I hardly ever sew. I have sewn about 3 things in my life, and each time with much nervousness and pain involved.

But, even for me, these were fairly easy. I watched several YouTube videos on sewing cloth diaper covers, called my friend 4 times,and did it. I made my first cover. It took all day. (Remember, I never sew and I am not very good at it.)

Here is what it looked like:

Then, as soon as I finished that one, I was hooked! I LOVED how adorable it was, how easy it was, and how well it fit. It was planned to fit him until he was 22 pounds. After that, I did the remaining four assembly line style and finished them all in about 3 hours.

Now, I take a prefold cloth diaper (free from freecycle) and put it inside there, then velcro it onto him. Five were plenty to get me through the day, since you can wipe them out after each use (hence, the PLU).

When I change the baby, I take the soiled diaper to the bathroom and rinse the soil into the toilet. Then, I drop the diaper in a bucket in there, already partially filled with water and a small amount of detergent. When I wash them in the machine, I first drain the water from the bucket into the toilet, then put them in the washer with detergent and wash them in HOT water. I hang the covers to dry and put the pre-folds in the dryer. Usually one time through the dryer is not quite enough, so I hang them on a line to finish drying.

Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan, thankful mother to five children, ages newborn to 20 and an author, conference speaker and director of www.homemaking911.com and www.wheat-n-things.com. Visit her site for inspiration, encouragement and practical help in your roles as a godly wife, mother, homemaker or home educator.

Money Saving Monday: Coupon Organization

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Malia

Getting started using coupons is not as hard as you may believe. I took a basic couponing class and from there, I gleaned a lot of helpful information, but then I needed to find my own way to make things work. When standing in line at the supermarket, I get tons of questions. This post should address many of them.

So where do you find coupons?

There are many places where you can get coupons, such as online printable coupons, e-coupons that you can download to your store loyalty card, and in flyers distributed by local stores. Of course, we all know that coupons come in our area newspapers. This is probably the location from which most shoppers acquire their coupons, thus I’ll focus primarily on this resource. Usually, an individual will buy only one paper a week. I purchase four and recommend that you purchase multiple papers a week as well.

Every week there are usually one to three sets; such as Red Plum, Smart Source, as well as P&G (Proctor and Gamble) brand in each paper. Make sure that when you buy your papers that each one has the correct number of sets in it. Really all you need for easy couponing is…coupons!

1. Preparing: Now that you have the coupons, you can start clipping.

Make sure that you have a large, flat, clean area to work on. Next, take all the sets of one type, for example all of the Red Plum sets, and then take the first page of each set and stack them on top of each other. I cut each set of pages stacked together. Repeat this process with the other pages.

2. Cutting: Avoiding the bar-code, staple the coupons together or use paperclips to prevent the pages from sliding around. Cut your coupons out slowly and carefully, to keep from cutting the bar-code. Paperclipping or stapling is optional. It just helps keep everything straight and neat.

3. Sorting: After cutting out the coupons, the sorting begins. During the cutting process, I sort my coupons by alphabetical order into an index card filer. You can also sort them by product, such as: meat, fresh produce, dairy, breads/crackers, household cleaners, medicine, and so on. Alphabetical is the way I settled upon after much trial and error.

4. Organizing: After coupons are cut out and sorted, you will need to put them into some type of organizer. There are many different styles out there. I use a three-ring binder with baseball card protector pages in it. I place tabs in alphabetical order on thirty-six pages (one for each letter). You will find that most letters will need additional pages. The beginning of each week check what type of deals your store is having and pull the coupons you plan to use. Place them into an envelope and they are ready to use. On days that I have limited time I take the envelope of coupons for advertised deals only. When I have plenty of time to shop, I take my binder with me, to match up unadvertised deals and clearance items.