Owner: Your Frugal family URL:http://yourfrugalfamily.blogspot.com Join Date: Sat, 01 Sep 2007 15:02:36 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Your Frugal Family is here to help families make the most of their money. This is the place to learn how to pinch every penny and make the most of your spending decisions.
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Mvelopes Budgeting Tools 2007-08-31 16:31:00 I have been introduced to a new budgeting tool and I'm really loving it. It seems to have quite a following already. It's called Mvelopes Personal. Mvelopes is a personal budgeting tool like Quicken, only a thousand times better. You put together an online home budget, track all your spending, and always know exactly how much you have left to spend. Frugal familes know that budgeting is key. Tracking where your money is going helps you eliminate the expenses that you should not have and make better choices. You can take a tour of Mvelopes Personal and see what you think. They have a FREE debt calculator you can use and a financial fitness quiz with 25 simple multiple choice financial questions that tells you how financially fit you really are. There is a FREE 30 day trial to try out their budgeting and see what you think. You can also download a FREE budgeting E-book from them to read called Money4Life. It's a great read for anyone getting into the business of budgeting for thier fa Read more:Budgeting
, Tools
Welcome! 2007-08-30 16:16:00 Welcome to Your Frugal Family!Living frugally is important to so many today. As prices continue to go up many families are needing to find ways to cut down their spending. That's where I come in. As a stay at home mom I have made saving money an artform. Finding the best deals, the cheapest items, and the easiest ways to save a little money is important to meI hope to be able to share some of the tips and tricks I have learned and pass on any new savings I find. With a little budgeting and time anyone can save money and live more frugally.Be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed to get updates of my blog daily. Also subscribe to my Frugal Living Tips. A new tip comes out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to help you learn simple ways to live a little more frugally.
Read more:Welcome
Tips For Using Coupons 2007-09-07 09:45:00 Using coupons can be a great way to save money on the things you need. But in the excitement of saving money some people can use coupons and end up spending more than they planned. How? It is all in the fine print.Coupons
often have limits put on them. Where you can use them, how many items you can buy, and if you can use them on with other sales are some of the limitations that companies can tack onto their coupons. Not knowing these limits can sometimes end up costing you more. Before you go shopping take the time to review what limits are on your coupons and decide if they will really help you. Saving a few cents off a frequently purchased item may seem great, unless you have to drive out of the way to use it or you can only use the coupon with the purchase of a product you do not normally buy.Also always be sure that the coupons you are using have not expired. Some may last months while others may have a usage time of a few days or weeks. Taking a stack of coupons to the counter on
Garage Sale Shopping Tips 2007-09-05 10:24:00 Garage sale season is winding down. As the summer ends and fall begins to show more and more the typical weekends full of yard sales seem less and less frequent. But you can still take advantage of those sales to get great bargains on things you need. With patience and an eye for a discount anyone can save money by visiting garage sales. Here are some tips to help you:Find good areas and stick with them. Driving all over town trying to find deals can end up costing you time and money. Instead find an area that you know has the best selections. Often high class areas will have items for sale that are of higher quality and used less. Also stick to areas that you know you can get what you need. if you are looking for children's clothes an area populated by singles or elderly is less likely to have what you might need.Shop with a list. Often we can be dazzled by all the things for sale that we end up walking away with far more than what we need. Instead keep a list of what items you are l Read more:Garage
, Shopping
Coupons Can Save You Money 2007-09-02 22:53:00 Every frugal shoppper knows that coupons can save money. Though it may not seem like much one by one those few cents can add up. That's part of how America's cheapest family saves money on groceries. You can clip coupons from newspapers that often have flyers featuring coupons from local grocery stores. Certain brands of food will also toss in aditional coupons into newspapers around the country. You can also get coupons online. Visit the websites of your favorite brands and you will often find special discounts only available online. Even some grocery stores offer special coupons you can only find online. You can also visit websites specifically designed to help you save. Coupons
.com and Wow Print Couons Coupon Chief are two such sites that allow you to pick which coupons you want to use and print them off to use instore. Other sites such as Coupon Chief and Coupon Cabin have discounts that you can use when shopping online. To those trying to be more frugal coupons can be a great w Read more:Money
Save Money While Washing Your Hair 2007-09-27 08:36:00 I wrote a couple days ago about saving money by making your own beauty care products. Making your own products, such as the ones I listed recipes for, is a great way to be frugal without giving up your beauty routine. But one other way that you can save money and still look great is by going No Poo. No, it isn't what you think! What the "poo" in No Poo stands for is shampoo. That's right, skipping the shampoo when you wash your hair can save you money each month. But don't think that it means letting your hair become a dirty, oily mess. There is a system to No Poo that, when done correctly, can leave your hair looking better than ever. That's because most shampoos are made with chemicals that actually strip and damage your hair. Choosing to go No Poo can save your hair's health.And it can save you money. With shampoo costing $4 per bottle and up you can spend quite a lot to keep your hair clean. Those who go No Poo spend just pennies a month to make their own cleaning paste from b Read more:Money
Low Cost Baby Care 2007-09-25 10:18:00 Having a baby can be expensive, that's what they say. But what if there were a way to lower your costs? I've written an article on how to have a baby without spending a lot of money as well as a tip on making your own baby food. So what else can you do?If you are crafty you can skip buying and go straight to making new thins for your little one. Clothing, bibs, even the bedding can all be sewn for a fraction of the cost of new. Thre are several sites that offer free clothing patterns, even patterns for knitting and crocheting too. There are even patterns to make crib sheets and quilts if you need to.Thre are many baby items that are freguently needed and can cost quite a lot lof money. Diaper rash cream is one such item that can add up. Instead using Vaseline or petroleum jelly works just as well in creating a protective barrior. The gel from an Aloe Vra plant works wonders on diaper rashes also. Many breastfeeding mothers also swear on applying breastmilk to a diaper rash to both so Read more:Low Cost
Make Your Own Personal Care Products 2007-09-22 22:29:00 Making your own products is a great way to save money. Not only that but using natural ingredients is often better for you than the chemicals found in many ovr te counter personal products. In the spirit of saving you money and time I am going to share my three favorite recipes for personal care products. I hope you enjoy!Facial Cleaner4 very ripe, medium sized strawberries1 drop peppermint essential oilThis is a very easy to make, low cost, and effective way to clean your face. Slice the strawberries and remove the green stems. In a small bowl mash the strawberries slices into a pulp. Then squeeze the strawberries, you can use a cheese cloth or even nylon hose, catching the juice in a small bowl. Mix the oil with the juice and stir. Apply this mixture to your ace and neck, avvoiding the eyes, and let sit for one minute. Then rince with cool water.pH Restorer2 cups water1/4 cup raw apple cider vingar10 drops your favorite essential oil (lavender or lemon work nicely)Combine in a plasti Read more:Personal
, Products
Save Money By Saving Water 2007-10-04 10:37:00 A while back I had a tip up on saving money by turning things off and unplugging them when you are done. In the tip I briefly mentioned a few ways you can change your water usage to save money. I thought that was something that I should talk about a bit more.In the tip I mentioned using cold water instead of hot to save money. When washing your hands, rinsing off food, and even washing your clothes using cold can be an effective way to save. You no longer need to waste water down the drain waiting for the hot water to come and you can save on your gas or electric bill by not needing to use your hot water tank's supply as often. But there are other ways to lower your water usage and save money too.One trick is to turn your toilet into a "low flow" toilet. By doing this you reduce the amount of water used in each flush, and take a bite out of your water bill. You can do this by filling up an empty 2-liter soda bottle or an empty milk jug and placing the bottle in the tank of your toilet Read more:Money
, Saving
Make Your Own Cheap Halloween Costumes 2007-10-02 08:33:00 Halloween is approaching fast and many people are still trying to find the perfect costume. But let's face it, store bought costumes can cost a lot of money and you end up looking like everyone else who bought the same costume. Halloween can be fun and still be frugal if you are willing to put a little effort into making your costume.Check out thrift shops for decades old clothing. Be a hippie or a disco dancer with clothing that is really from that era. If you are lucky you might even be able to find nice clothing from much older than that. You could even go through any old clothing that your parents or grandparents might have stored. You might be surprised by what you find tucked away in an old trunk somewhere.If you don't want to go retro with your costume there are still great ideas you can put together. A fancy dress can make you a prom queen or a beauty pageant winner. Baggy, brightly colored clothes can easily be transformed into a clown or a hobo. Old plaid pants, a button up Read more:Cheap
, Halloween
, Costumes
Shopping the Clearance Rack 2007-10-01 06:01:00 I'm the queen of the clearance rack. At least in my own mind I am. Buying clothes on sale is great, but when they slash the prices to get them out of there then you can start finding some real bargains. And the best time to hunt through the clearance rack? Right as the seasons change.Now that autumn has taken over the local clothing stores are desperate to get rid of all the summer attire that is still hanging around. And I am more than happy to help them out. Over the weekend I found two new baseball caps for my sons, marked down to $1.50 each. And they are adjustable so I know they can still be worn next summer. I also found for myself three new short sleeved shirts for $3 each that I can wear next year.With children it can be a bit harder trying to buy out of season clothing in hopes of wearing them next year. Children are still growing, and often they grow in unpredictable rates. Will there be a growth spurt over the winter? Will they suddenly slim down or bulk up? It's hard to t Read more:Shopping
, Clearance
Sponsor Spotlight 2007-10-15 15:06:00 Every week a featured sponsor will be showcased right over there on the right. Companies that are about saving money, saving time, and saving you from headaches are who will be shown. I promise to always inspect any advertiser before accepting them into the spotlight so that you can always trust who you are seeing.This week's advertiser is Debt Match, one of the nation's top debt help companies based on years in business, clients served and overall customer satisfaction. They are dedicated to help people in debt find solutions to get out. You simply complete a short 1-page form (6 fields and 2 drop-downs) and you will receive a FREE debt assessment in just a few seconds. Perfect for those who are trying to be more frugal but are already drowning in debt.
Read more:Spotlight
, Sponsor
Make Your Own Rice Milk 2007-10-13 00:50:00 Buying milk can be expensive, and the prices seem to keep going up. For many there is the cheaper option of buying powdered milk. But for those with milk allergies or those who are vegan the cost of cow's milk alternatives can be high.That is why I was so excited today when I was given a grat tasting and low cost recipe to make rice milk. You can make it yourself and save money. And it tastes great! Try it yourself and see what you think.1/2 cup brown rice8 cups water1/2 teaspoon sea salt1 cup or more cold water3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon1/8 teaspoon granulated kelp (optional) Place rice, 8 cups water, salt, and kelp in pan. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low and simmer 3 hours, or until rice is very soft. (You can also do this in a crockpot overnight.) In blender, puree rice mixture with remaining ingredients. You will have to do it in two batches. Puree each batch at least 2 or 3 minutes to completely liquefy the rice. Add
Make Your Own Laundry Soap 2007-10-11 09:12:00 A friend of mine recently pointed out that she has begun making her own laundry detergent and saving a ton of money. I was curious. How easy is it to make, does it work, and how much money could she really be saving?The answers surprised me. It's easy to make, the ingredients are common and don't cost much, it works beautifully, and the cost is incredible. Less than a penny per load! Yes, you read that right. It comes out to $0.007 per load of laundry. I knew I had to pass on the savings.The recipe is easy to make. I was able to get most of it in one place, though the washing soda took a trip to a second store. But even with the added trip it was too easy to make and saved me so much money. You can find the original recipe and an interesting discussion on it in the comments by reading here. But I'm also going to share it here.1/3 bar Fels Naptha or Ivory Soap1/2 cup washing soda (not baking soda!)1/2 cup borax2 gallon containerGrate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups wa Read more:Laundry
Do You Know Where Your Money is Going? 2007-10-06 06:48:00 I read an older post today over at Frugal Mania on the top ten money drains people can have. It is interesting to think about where your money is going when you don't think it is going anywhere. That is why having a solid budget is so important! Keeping track of how much you are really losing on all the little things will help you see how to better spend your money.No body is perfect and often the most seemingly frugal person finds themselves spending more money than they thought they were. Before I cracked down on the budget I was losing money in little places and wasn't sure how. Here are just some of the ways I was letting money go down the drain.Stopping to get "just a drink" and "just a bite to eat" at the gas station on my way out of town. If I'm really in a rush and need to eat in the car it's cheaper to bring my own bottle of water and a snack from home.Running single errands during the day. I burn more gas by running out once to the post office then later to the store than Read more:Money
, Going
Save Money By Saving Water 2007-10-04 10:37:00 A while back I had a tip up on saving money by turning things off and unplugging them when you are done. In the tip I briefly mentioned a few ways you can change your water usage to save money. I thought that was something that I should talk about a bit more.In the tip I mentioned using cold water instead of hot to save money. When washing your hands, rinsing off food, and even washing your clothes using cold can be an effective way to save. You no longer need to waste water down the drain waiting for the hot water to come and you can save on your gas or electric bill by not needing to use your hot water tank's supply as often. But there are other ways to lower your water usage and save money too.One trick is to turn your toilet into a "low flow" toilet. By doing this you reduce the amount of water used in each flush, and take a bite out of your water bill. You can do this by filling up an empty 2-liter soda bottle or an empty milk jug and placing the bottle in the tank of your toilet Read more:Money
, Saving
Make Your Own Cheap Halloween Costumes 2007-10-02 08:33:00 Halloween is approaching fast and many people are still trying to find the perfect costume. But let's face it, store bought costumes can cost a lot of money and you end up looking like everyone else who bought the same costume. Halloween can be fun and still be frugal if you are willing to put a little effort into making your costume.Check out thrift shops for decades old clothing. Be a hippie or a disco dancer with clothing that is really from that era. If you are lucky you might even be able to find nice clothing from much older than that. You could even go through any old clothing that your parents or grandparents might have stored. You might be surprised by what you find tucked away in an old trunk somewhere.If you don't want to go retro with your costume there are still great ideas you can put together. A fancy dress can make you a prom queen or a beauty pageant winner. Baggy, brightly colored clothes can easily be transformed into a clown or a hobo. Old plaid pants, a button up Read more:Cheap
, Halloween
, Costumes
Shopping the Clearance Rack 2007-10-01 06:01:00 I'm the queen of the clearance rack. At least in my own mind I am. Buying clothes on sale is great, but when they slash the prices to get them out of there then you can start finding some real bargains. And the best time to hunt through the clearance rack? Right as the seasons change.Now that autumn has taken over the local clothing stores are desperate to get rid of all the summer attire that is still hanging around. And I am more than happy to help them out. Over the weekend I found two new baseball caps for my sons, marked down to $1.50 each. And they are adjustable so I know they can still be worn next summer. I also found for myself three new short sleeved shirts for $3 each that I can wear next year.With children it can be a bit harder trying to buy out of season clothing in hopes of wearing them next year. Children are still growing, and often they grow in unpredictable rates. Will there be a growth spurt over the winter? Will they suddenly slim down or bulk up? It's hard to t Read more:Shopping
, Clearance
Save Money While Washing Your Hair 2007-09-27 08:36:00 I wrote a couple days ago about saving money by making your own beauty care products. Making your own products, such as the ones I listed recipes for, is a great way to be frugal without giving up your beauty routine. But one other way that you can save money and still look great is by going No Poo. No, it isn't what you think! What the "poo" in No Poo stands for is shampoo. That's right, skipping the shampoo when you wash your hair can save you money each month. But don't think that it means letting your hair become a dirty, oily mess. There is a system to No Poo that, when done correctly, can leave your hair looking better than ever. That's because most shampoos are made with chemicals that actually strip and damage your hair. Choosing to go No Poo can save your hair's health.And it can save you money. With shampoo costing $4 per bottle and up you can spend quite a lot to keep your hair clean. Those who go No Poo spend just pennies a month to make their own cleaning paste from b Read more:Money
Low Cost Baby Care 2007-09-25 10:18:00 Having a baby can be expensive, that's what they say. But what if there were a way to lower your costs? I've written an article on how to have a baby without spending a lot of money as well as a tip on making your own baby food. So what else can you do?If you are crafty you can skip buying and go straight to making new thins for your little one. Clothing, bibs, even the bedding can all be sewn for a fraction of the cost of new. Thre are several sites that offer free clothing patterns, even patterns for knitting and crocheting too. There are even patterns to make crib sheets and quilts if you need to.Thre are many baby items that are freguently needed and can cost quite a lot lof money. Diaper rash cream is one such item that can add up. Instead using Vaseline or petroleum jelly works just as well in creating a protective barrior. The gel from an Aloe Vra plant works wonders on diaper rashes also. Many breastfeeding mothers also swear on applying breastmilk to a diaper rash to both so Read more:Low Cost
Make Your Own Personal Care Products 2007-09-22 22:29:00 Making your own products is a great way to save money. Not only that but using natural ingredients is often better for you than the chemicals found in many ovr te counter personal products. In the spirit of saving you money and time I am going to share my three favorite recipes for personal care products. I hope you enjoy!Facial Cleaner4 very ripe, medium sized strawberries1 drop peppermint essential oilThis is a very easy to make, low cost, and effective way to clean your face. Slice the strawberries and remove the green stems. In a small bowl mash the strawberries slices into a pulp. Then squeeze the strawberries, you can use a cheese cloth or even nylon hose, catching the juice in a small bowl. Mix the oil with the juice and stir. Apply this mixture to your ace and neck, avvoiding the eyes, and let sit for one minute. Then rince with cool water.pH Restorer2 cups water1/4 cup raw apple cider vingar10 drops your favorite essential oil (lavender or lemon work nicely)Combine in a plasti Read more:Personal
, Products
Tips For Using Coupons 2007-09-07 09:45:00 Using coupons can be a great way to save money on the things you need. But in the excitement of saving money some people can use coupons and end up spending more than they planned. How? It is all in the fine print.Coupons
often have limits put on them. Where you can use them, how many items you can buy, and if you can use them on with other sales are some of the limitations that companies can tack onto their coupons. Not knowing these limits can sometimes end up costing you more. Before you go shopping take the time to review what limits are on your coupons and decide if they will really help you. Saving a few cents off a frequently purchased item may seem great, unless you have to drive out of the way to use it or you can only use the coupon with the purchase of a product you do not normally buy.Also always be sure that the coupons you are using have not expired. Some may last months while others may have a usage time of a few days or weeks. Taking a stack of coupons to the counter on
Garage Sale Shopping Tips 2007-09-05 10:24:00 Garage sale season is winding down. As the summer ends and fall begins to show more and more the typical weekends full of yard sales seem less and less frequent. But you can still take advantage of those sales to get great bargains on things you need. With patience and an eye for a discount anyone can save money by visiting garage sales. Here are some tips to help you:Find good areas and stick with them. Driving all over town trying to find deals can end up costing you time and money. Instead find an area that you know has the best selections. Often high class areas will have items for sale that are of higher quality and used less. Also stick to areas that you know you can get what you need. if you are looking for children's clothes an area populated by singles or elderly is less likely to have what you might need.Shop with a list. Often we can be dazzled by all the things for sale that we end up walking away with far more than what we need. Instead keep a list of what items you are l Read more:Shopping
, Garage
Coupons Can Save You Money 2007-09-02 22:53:00 Every frugal shoppper knows that coupons can save money. Though it may not seem like much one by one those few cents can add up. That's part of how America's cheapest family saves money on groceries. You can clip coupons from newspapers that often have flyers featuring coupons from local grocery stores. Certain brands of food will also toss in aditional coupons into newspapers around the country.You can also get coupons online. Visit the websites of your favorite brands and you will often find special discounts only available online. Even some grocery stores offer special coupons you can only find online. You can also visit websites specifically designed to help you save. Coupons
.com and Wow Print Couons Coupon Chief are two such sites that allow you to pick which coupons you want to use and print them off to use instore. Other sites such as Coupon Chief and Coupon Cabin have discounts that you can use when shopping online.To those trying to be more frugal coupons can be a great way Read more:Money
Mvelopes Budgeting Tools 2007-08-31 16:31:00 I have been introduced to a new budgeting tool and I'm really loving it. It seems to have quite a following already. It's called Mvelopes Personal. Mvelopes is a personal budgeting tool like Quicken, only a thousand times better. You put together an online home budget, track all your spending, and always know exactly how much you have left to spend. Frugal familes know that budgeting is key. Tracking where your money is going helps you eliminate the expenses that you should not have and make better choices. You can take a tour of Mvelopes Personal and see what you think. They have a FREE debt calculator you can use and a financial fitness quiz with 25 simple multiple choice financial questions that tells you how financially fit you really are. There is a FREE 30 day trial to try out their budgeting and see what you think. You can also download a FREE budgeting E-book from them to read called Money4Life. It's a great read for anyone getting into the business of budgeting for thier fa Read more:Budgeting
, Tools
Welcome! 2007-08-30 16:16:00 Welcome to Your Frugal Family!Living frugally is important to so many today. As prices continue to go up many families are needing to find ways to cut down their spending. That's where I come in. As a stay at home mom I have made saving money an artform. Finding the best deals, the cheapest items, and the easiest ways to save a little money is important to meI hope to be able to share some of the tips and tricks I have learned and pass on any new savings I find. With a little budgeting and time anyone can save money and live more frugally.Be sure to subscribe to my RSS feed to get updates of my blog daily. Also subscribe to my Frugal Living Tips. A new tip comes out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday to help you learn simple ways to live a little more frugally.
Read more:Welcome
Winter Gardening 2007-10-19 19:31:00 Many frugal people know that growing a garden is a great way to save money on groceries. A few dollars for seeds and tools can return a few hundred dollars in fresh fruits and vegetables. But when winter comes what can you do with your garden tools so that they last until the next season? There is a great article in Mother Earth Living that shows you just How To Winterize Your Garden Tools. Taking care of your tools so that they last year after year is a great frugal step to take.If you are not ready to put away the gardening tools just yet there is also an article on Winter Gardening that shares some great tips for gardening through the winter and how to get your soil ready for next spring.
Living On A Dime's Pre-Order Sale 2007-10-18 08:01:00 I just ordered two books that I hope will become valuable resources. "Penny Pinchin' Mama: 500 ways I lived on $500 a Month" and "Dig Out of Debt". Both are on sale right now at Living
On A Dime. The books are at the printer and should be ready to ship out on November 1st. So until then they are taking pre-orders and offering 20% off both books. If you buy them together you also get free shipping and 4 free downloads:Gifts In A Jar" e-book from Tawra Kellam at LivingOnADime.com.Introduction to Baking Bread e-book from Marilyn Moll at UrbanHomemaker.comFree Halloween e-book from Erica at TheBabyBoutiqueAtWombsWindow.comFree audio download - "Keeping Young Ones Happy and Occupied During School Time" From Malia Russell at www.Homemaking911.comAll together I paid $27.92 for both books plus the downloads. That is about what I could expect to pay for one new book at the book store. It certainly seems like a good deal, but time is running out. If you want to pre-order your copies you should Read more:Order
Do You Want To Be A Stay At Home Parent? 2007-10-17 22:38:00 Choosing to be a stay at home parent is a difficult choice. Can you handle being home with your kids all day? Will you go crazy from lack of adult interaction? And, most importantly, can you afford to stay home? It is something every family must think about, and no two families will come out the same way. For some it would be impossible to survive without two incomes, and for some staying home seems the less expensive choice.There is a great calculator at Today's Parent
s that you can use to crunch the numbers and see what your family can afford. But what if you truly want to stay home and the numbers aren't in your favor? Where there is a will there is a way.Where are your spending money each month that you can do without? Can you make it from scratch cheaper than you can buy it? Do you really need it? If the cheaper version just as good? Would buying it in bulk save money in the long run? These are just some the questions to go think about as you look at where your money is going ea
Eating Healthy Frugally 2007-10-17 09:44:00 I read a great post on nutrition and eating foods we love this morning. She emphasised not stressing as much about what your kids are eating and not to feel guilty if the only way you can get your kids to eat vegetables is to sneak them in. For me, I want les fight at the dinner table. So if that means sneaking in veggies on top of an extra cheesy pizza then I will do it. The kis are happy, they eat it, and they are still getting something good in them.But those trying to live more frugally it can be difficult having even some healthy foods on hand. It seems that the "junk" foods are often cheaper and easier to come by than fruits and vegetables. If you are lucky enough to have a nice sized yard you can start a garden and frow your own for just a few dollars worth of seeds. Even those living in apartments or in homes with little to no yard space can grow a few things indoors in pots. Another trick is to buy your foods in season. Apples are at their prime in late summer and autumn. That
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