Save Money While Staying Organized in the Bathroom

No one like searching for deodorant, brushes, hair bands, or any other item that is commonly misplaced in the bathroom. There are many thrifty and easy ways to make getting cleaned up easier in the morning.

Of course, you are going to want to start out by clearing out your bathroom supplies and throwing away expired or empty containers.

Using an over-the-door storage system in this room is practically essential for any shared bathroom or for those who require many accessories.



Over-the-toilet storage is great if you have the room for one. This is great for storing extra toilet papers, personal hygiene items, QTips, or whatever else will fit in the cabinets.

Use smaller organizational trays for under the sink or long drawers.


Another cool idea is to use hanging baskets in the bathtub area to save space and have a convenient way to store sponges, soap, razors and more!

Organizing can be done on a budget and be fun at the same time! All it takes is a little extra time and ingenuity!





Are Coupons Really Worth the Hassle?

Do Coupons Help You Save Money?


Many of us spend a big chunk of our budget on food, especially if we have kids. To make matters worse, many of us are getting laid off or losing our jobs altogether. To add insult to injury, food prices are creeping up yet again. Unfortunately, we can't change this, but we can find creative and relatively easy ways to save money while grocery shopping!


Coupons are very helpful, but collecting any and every coupon you can find is not going to help you save you money. In fact, you may spend more if you buy items just because you have a coupon for them. In my case, I collect coupons somewhat sparingly because I purchase mostly name brands. Besides, the store brands are usually cheaper than the brand names, even with a coupon!


Caveat: Some store brand foods do not taste as well as their competitors. Do some experimenting to see what you are willing to tolerate. I can't stand generic mac and cheese, so I look for sales and coupons on Kraft.


We all have our favorite grocery store (mine is Walmart), but we should all take time out each week to check out other store ads in the neighborhood for specials. Check the mailbox  or the Internet to avoid wasting gas on driving. If you go to the store, pick up the sales paper if you didn't already get one in the mail. Some stores do not mail them anymore, such as Walgreen's, so you may want to sign up for newsletters from your favorite stores.


I Have My Coupons...Now What?

• Put all of your coupons in a coupon organizer or envelope
• Keep coupons accessible during the grocery shopping trip
• Keep coupons organized and updated
• Save Money!

So, if you use coupons as an ally instead of an enemy, then coupons ca be worth the hassle of looking for them and clipping them out of the newspapers and junk mail ads!

Preventive Maintenance Saves Cash on Car Repairs in Long Term

Taking care of your vehicle properly can help you avoid a huge hassle (and a huge repair bill) later on. Even those of us who are not car savvy can learn some basic things to make our cars last longer and to prevent future problems.



Unless you have a car with space age technology that does not allow you to work on it yourself, you should invest in a car repair manual from the auto parts store. Even if you do not know how to fix the problem, you can at least have an idea of what it is. This made a huge difference for me when a repair person tried to tell me my transmission needed replaced. Based on what my car manual said, the linkage was just stuck and the repair was covered under the warranty I had. It's sad but mechanics do try to take advantage of those that do not know the basics of how a car works. It pays to do your research!



It is also a good idea to keep a few other things on hand in your vehicle so that you are prepared for simple repairs on the road.

• Keep a battery jumper in car and know how to use it
• Screwdrivers (flat head and Philip's)
• Flashlight
• Tire pressure gage
• Car jack
• Tire iron
• Quart of oil
• Container of Antifreeze
• Old rags
• Water
• First Aid Kit

*Unless you have AAA or some similar type of service, you should consider knowing how to change a tire. This could save you $80 or more alone.



Once a month, you should take some time to check out the components under the hood to see if they need any servicing. This can help you catch problems early on to avoid a large hassle (not to mention the bill on top of it) and more inconveniences than necessary.

• Check tire pressure and know what is recommended
• Know what types of fluids the vehicle is required to use (consult owner's manual)
• Check all fluids including oil, antifreeze, brake, transmission/clutch. and windshield wiper fluids
• Make sure all belts and hoses do not feel brittle, are swollen, or have cracks or shreds

Thrifty Living is in Style Again

Thrifty living is now more popular than ever since the world has hit an economic crises of a lifetime. Thrifty living is becoming a "badge of honor" with those who used to snub their noses at thrift and discount stores.  People are starting to change the way they view their spending habits and are trying harder than ever to make that dollar stretch like it has never done before.


I would like to share my ideas on how to save money to help those out who are new to living on a limited budget and learn some new things from those of you that are already thrift savvy. We can all help each other out with new and fresh ideas on how to save when shopping.

There are literally millions of ways to save money on an every day basis. I feel that it is definitely worth the time to do a little extra research. It doesn't hurt to have a thrifty living manual (notebook)to be used to record lists, sales, savings, comparison shopping, Internet sites, or wherever you get your deals at. It is helpful to save this information for future reference allowing you to remember where you got that great deal!