Thrifty Thurday

Just a few quick ideas today.


Before you leave to go out be it shopping or to a friends, check your accounts. Know what money is available. Make a goal not to spend more than you need to.

Think before you leave. Grab a snack for the kids, a soda from the fridge, do you have everything you need. Challenge yourself to stop spending money on silly little things that you already have, and to really think before you buy.

Always have a shopping list. Stick too it. Eat before you go grocery shopping.

Got some tricks of your own, or heaven forbid a problem with one of mine, let me know! ;)

Thrifty Thursday

With just a coat of paint.....

What to do with that end table the kids carved their name into? Or an old hutch in drab brown stain? Well add a coat of paint (you may have to do miner sanding first).

Here are a few wonderful examples.

Over at You paid more than me you can see a very awesome hutch that was just painted for a hip new look. Try to just look at the hutches. The rest of her site is so fabulous you will not tend to be to awful thrifty after looking at it. LOL!!!

Check out these cute night stands. A Goodwill find gone well over at jcaroline'sblog.

If you do not currently own any piece you want to redo and are in the mind to shop for some here is a great article on what to be looking for. Also remember Criags List is a great place to look just don't forget to haggle a little.

Thirfty Thursday

I must send you off to another blog today! I read an AWESOME guest post over at The Bargain Jargon today. While you are there look around. Christy is a bargain guru!!

NEVER judge a book by its cover. Same goes for thrift stores!

Go check out this post!

Thrifty Thursday

Think Thrifty

Thrift Stores that is!

My friend Daphne is the queen of second hand store shopping. Goodwill is like her second home. She can find the most awesome finds. Not only the cutest dresses for her girls but every thing from hoodies to dressers. She also knows how to rock it on Craig's list. I often (think at least weekly) find myself ogling her finds.

How does she do it? I ask her this all the time. She goes often. She knows when the racks will be stocked. She is friendly with the workers. She asks questions. She also has their return policy down pat.

Recently Elizabeth and I needed some jeans. So off to Goodwill we went. I got both of us killer dark washed jeans that looked brand new and fit perfectly for $3.99 a pair. NOT BAD!! Not to mention they were name brand not walmart brand.

Parade Magazine (Sunday paper) had a article the Secrets of Secondhand Shopping. A good quick read to get the inside scoop.

Thrifty Thursday

I have got nothing this week so I am sending you over to Christy's wonderful blog!!

The Bargain Jargon

Also check out ALL the blogs in the frugal living catagory on the left hand side bar!!

Thrifty Thursday

7 ways I saved money this week.

1. Planned dinner around my pantry instead of making a grocery run.
2. Using cards I already have instead of buying new spendy ones for teachers thanks yous. Yes the cards are unused!! :)
3. Opened the curtains and turned off the lights.
4. Used a redbox code to get a free movie rental.
5. We ate in all week.
6. Made cookies and bread. Also made rootbear floats at home VS. going to DQ!!
7. Used the BBQ instead of heating up the house.

There are a lot of things I do on a normal basis that most people would consider scrimping it. For me though they are just normal. So are a few of those:

1. Kids and Hubby took lunches to work and school.
2. Used powdered milk in my recipies.
3. Always look at clearance first when shopping.

That's all I can think of right now. LOL!! What are some things you do to save money?

Thrifty Thursday

Just like the Restaurant

One of my families goals is to stop eating out as much. We would like to keep it down to twice a month, but we will probably bee weak and go out once a week. We will try though. So to accomplish my goal I set about to find the foods I love in a cheaper way. Making them at home. Initially this can cost a bit to get set up with the pantry items you will need to have on hand. In the long run though it is way cheaper. Plus can be a whole lot funner than waiting in line and having to possibly put up with bad service or cranky kids (your or theirs).

In may search I found a great little site that hosted some of my top favorites!

Restaurant Recipes

Below are a few of my to die fors right off the top!

KFC original recipe!!!
olive garden bread sticks recipe
Outback steakhouse potato soup recipe

Thrifty Thursday

Take a mini vacation

Not everyone can afford a trip to Disneyland or a romantic getaway cruise. Here are some ideas for local and lower cost day trips and mini-vacations.

The local zoo. For me this is Point Defiance and North West Trek. Also we are planning a trip up to Woodland Park Zoo (here is a coupon worth $2 off up to 4 tickets). Point Defiance and NW Trek have a great combo membership you might want to consider. Remember memberships can make up for what you would pay in one or two visits. Plus when you have a membership it is like a prepaid fun-day!

Local water parks and/or theme parks. For me this would be Wild Waves Water Park & Enchanted Village.

Museums and Historical Centers. Places like the Museum of Flight, the Pacific Science Center, and the Tacoma Art Museum are all great places to visit and learn. If your going to Tacoma visit the the Museum District. If you want to be super local check out the Karshner Museum. Keep in mind most museums offer one free or discounted admission day each month.

Looking for something a little more romantic? A Bed & Breakfast can be a sweet treat. Washington is full of them. Just google bed and breakfast and you will find tons of sites ready to help you choose. My personal favorite is the Chinaberry Hill . The view is to die for, the food is killer good, they have an open snack bar, and the owners are total sweet hearts!!

Local landmarks. Snoqualmie Falls, Decetions Pass, Mount Rainer, Mount St. Helen. Take your pick. Washington has so much to offer. State Parks.com has a great list of all national parks.

Whatever you do ENJOY IT!!!

Thrifty Thursday

Joy in Frugality

As I read my Sunday paper I went right for the easy stuff. The parade magazine. I get my bits of gossip, a few comics, and a look at what easy and quick reads there are. With kids and Sunday mornings this is my quick fix. In this process I found an article I thought perfect for this blog. Finding Joy in Frugality by Alix Kates Shulman.

What a great find and a must read for anyone who thinks life ends when ones decides to be frugal. Here are some quotes that I found most enlightening.

"If you don’t need it, don’t buy it; never buy a new one if your old one works; never buy an expensive one when a lower-priced one will do. I abandoned bookstores for libraries, restaurants for my kitchen, boutiques for bargains—and soon found myself enjoying a gleeful sense of liberation."

" Instead of buying what you think you need, adapt your needs to what’s around you. "

Thrifty Thursday

Need, want and some where in the middle.

Somewhere out there between need and want is what we are really going to get. Most of the time our wants are a glorified version of our needs.

EX #1: I need dinner. I want Sonic. (if you know me you know how joyously happy i am we now have a sonic!) What do I get a hamburger and salad made at home.

EX #2: I need a home. I want a craftsman's style ranch house on 10 acres looking out at Mount Rainier. What I get is a modest home on a quarter acre in a ward not to far from Mount Rainer.

We need food, clothing, shelter. We want dinner out, stylish trendy cloths, and a 6 bedroom house on 10 acres. What we should go for is great affordable meals with an occasional meal out, good quality becoming cloths that will last, and a modest house (I am still shooting for 10 acres LOL!!) we can afford.

You don't have to live bare bones and have nothing to be frugal. You don't need to buy low quality items to be money conscience. Be wise with the money you have. Think ahead. Buy a nice house in a good neighborhood that you can afford. Have that dinner out once a month. Buy the good quality shoes that will last more than a few months(on sale of course).

Just make sure you know the difference between need and want. Find that happy middle ground.

Thirfty Thursday

Inexpensive Ways to Get Emergency and Food Storage Supplies

Okay this week I am referring to another great blog I have found. Prepared LDS Family

This gal is awesome. Go check it out. Be sure to look over the whole site! I was amazed at all the info she packed in!

Thrifty Thursday

On the Cheap

Work outs

I want to get rid of my baby belly. Seriously the twins are 2+ and I still look 6 month pregnant. GRRRRR!! So I am going to get my body back....I hope. So today I scrolled through my cable's on demand and found a plethora of work outs!! No gym fees, no baby sitter needed. Hey I don't even have to worry about a descent workout out-fit nobody will see me!! Oh and if you don't have on demand with you TV service check out the public library's DVD/video section!! So here is to free work outs!

Online shopping

Here are some great sites for those "secret" codes.

currentcodes.com * retialmenot.com * couponheaven.com

Gift wrap and cards

Just come to my house and get some from me!! Seriously I say almost every gift bag and piece of tissue paper that comes in my door. I haven't spent my money on gift bags in probably 5 years!! So save those oh so cute bags, you will use them again!! Also I saw a cute gift tag made from a piece of child's art. Too cute!! Wouldn't the Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles love those!!

Dinner out

Restaurants.com !!!! Check out this entry at the Bargain jargon for more info! The deals are amazing!!

Also for a family night we like to hit up Sheri's on Saturday. Two kids per adult meal eat for free after 4 pm on Saturdays. For us that means all our kids are free!! Plus the kids get a yummy treat for desert.

Movies

I have fallen in love with RedBox!! When you sign up online you get a code for a free rental plus they put out codes every Monday and Wednesday for free rentals, one per debit/card card used. Even if you don't have a code movies are only $1.00 per day!!!

Again here look at your cables/satellite on demand section for all kind of free movies. or your local public library!!

Thrifty Thursday

A Well Stocked Car

No not an emergency kit. But a sanity kit!!

How many times do you get running errands or on a "short" ride to a friend or relatives home and about half way into it you hear, "I am hungry" or "I need a drink!"

Well I don't play the stop and pick something up game. Most of the time they just need a quick snack.

And that is what they get from me!

I keep a big zip lock in my console with snacks in it.

Each seat in my vehicle has a water jug.

What snacks do I pack?

Per child: 1 cracker pack (think pb crackers or cheese sandwich crackers)

1 granola bar

1 fruit snack

1 drink box

So they get a treat and I get to save $$$$$$. Plus these are great to have on hand in case you do happen to have some kind of emergency.

Other items to have on hand:

Blankets: I keep 4 small fleece blankets in my car. They are comfort items for tired kiddos, toys (think peek-a-boo), and great for wrapping up a I-really-messed-up-my-cloths kid.

Wet wipes: I have those little sanitized wipes you get at restaurants and baby wipes.

Tylenol or ibuprofen: MOMMY and DADDY saver!! You know you need it sometimes! :) Put some in the car. Saves you $$ and a headache.

Plastic bags: yucky clothes, food messes, & dirty diapers

In referance to Thursday's entry

My about a Dollar Meal!!!

This is a great example of knowing how to bargain shop. I used my coupons and was able to put a great, yummy, healthy meal on the table last night for a whopping $1.17 !!!

Thrifty Thursday

Shopping Day Prep

Friday is payday, and grocery shopping day at our house. So today I will be getting things together.

I like to start by going over the adds. Then I plan out a menu (Daphne came over and we planned out two whole weeks!!!). Then I go through my coupons and mach them up to sales. Then I write out my deals for each store.

When I am done I have a weekly menu to post on the fridge. My shopping list is all written out and coupons are attached. The coupon folder is organized (hopefully).

Now how is this thrifty? Well, I minimize my impulse buys. I can organize all my shopping into one gas and time efficient trip. I am ready to hit the road right after breakfast so I am not starving while shopping and then I don't buy snacky foods.

Here is a money saving tip I learned from a visiting teacher a few years ago. (If you read this you know who you are and I love you!!) PRAY!! Pray to stay in a budget, pray to find the deals you need, and pray to resist temptation of things you don't need.

Thrifty Thursday

Vinegar and it's MANY uses

Basic cleaning solution (compliments of Sister Ardmore):

½ cup ammonia
1/3 cup vinegar
2 Tbsp baking soda
1 gallon water

Mix in a container, this can be used for cleaning stove tops, bathroom sinks, bath tubs, floors. Anything you would use an all purpose cleaner for.

Use vinegar for a variety of household cleaning jobs. Click here to see and list and how-tos.

It is great for laundry too. Clothes will rinse better if 1 cup of white distilled vinegar is added to the last rinse water. The acid in vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics, but strong enough to dissolve the alkalies in soaps and detergents. For more laundry tips click here.

And of course there are pickles!!! Yummy!!

Bread and Butter Refrigerator Pickles

(Thanks Shirley)

Sliced pickles & onions

Brine:

1 cup sugar

1 cup Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tsp. Salt

1 tsp. Celery seed

Combine all brine ingredients and bring to a boil. Layer cucumbers and onions in a jar. Pour brine over cuc's and onions and refrigerator for at least on hour. Best if you wait over night.

I LOVE these pickles!!! YUMMY!!!