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!





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Save Time and Money in an Organized Kitchen

No cook can work in a disorganized or disfunctional kitchen. Read on if you need quick and easy ideas to make life easier and save money in the most used room in the house!

Inventory

First, you want to take everything out of your cabinets and drawers to see what is hiding in your kitchen. You may find things you have been looking for or forgot about!

Asses your kitchen tools and look for broken or rarely used items. Set rarely used items aside for a better storage location.

Organization Resources

If you find yourself in need of new organization ideas that won't cost an arm and a leg, here are some good ideas.

Look at The Dollar Tree, 99 Cent Stores, or Big Lots for great prices on plastic storage containers or other containers that will fit well with your decor and budget. Thrift stores are excellent places to find unique and and low priced bargains to organize and decorate any room in your home.

Pull it Together!

Use storage containers to keep sugar, flour, coffee, rice, beans, or other bulk items fresh and dry. 

Use ceramic or glass cylendar shaped containers to store wooden or plastic cooking utiensils for quick and easy access. 

Organize cabinets and drawers with items that go together, keeping in mind to place most used items in the most convenient place for them. 

Pick an area of cabinets that are easily accessible for every day pots, pans, and any baking items you use regularly to cut down on prep time for meals.

If you have a kitchen with awesome storgage space ( like I do), then try to use an out-of-the-way cabinet to store holiday cookware and others items you don't use weekly. If you are not blessed with many cabinets in your kitchen, try storing items in a garage or closet to maximize your kitchen space.

Consider hanging baskets to store fruits or anything else that would be useful.
Install a Lazy Susan in corner cabinets for easier access. 
Food Storage

• Empty your food storage cabinets and look for and throw away any expired food.
• Group items together and keep foods that are used together near each other in the organization proces.
• If you don't have a spice rack or small cabinet for spices in your kitchen, you could put them all in a drawer instead and label the lids for easy identification.

Last Ideas

If you need extra storage space, consider using a microwave cart, baker's rack, or kitchen island to store more items.

Use whatever materials and ideas that work best for your cooking style and don't spend money on expensive organizers!

Organize on a Budget for the New Year

If you are starting the new year looking at a cluttered home and wondering what to do with all of the gifts and goodies you have acquired over the holidays, then you should  continue reading on to get some great tips and ideas. Getting organized and decluttering your home is not as hard or as expensive as you might think.

Plan it Out

What Plan !?!  Pick a room to start on and decide (realistically) how much time you can spend on it a day. You could choose do to this all in one weekend, day, 1 hour, or 15 mins. every day. The key is to plan some time to accomplish tasks, big and small. If you work full time and have kids, make a step-by-step plan that allows them to help out with simple chores of decluttering. Once that plan is set, then you can go on to the next step...

*Depending on the level of disorganization in your home, this process could be fairly painless and definitely cheap (unless you have the sort of issues that require a professional).



Throw away all trash and anything that is not fit to be sold, donated, or recycled. The best time to do this is the day before your trash gets picked up so you don't have to look at that mess all week!




You can put these together cheaper than buying them this way!



• Each week, pick a room or closet that you will try to work on.
• Break each room down into small easy projects such as;
• go through your Cd's and movies and keep the ones you really like and donate or sell ones you don't need or want.
• Same goes for all of those books. If you have kids books, it would be really nice to donate them to churches, schools, or libraries that could use them. Or be a sweetie, and give them to some of your kids' friends that may not have them.
• Find a place for your mail if you tend to read it in the Living Room. The best suggestion is to get a 3 shelf file holder and put it in a convenient place labeled READ,TO READ, and TO MAIL or whatever works for you!

Doubles as a seat and a Bookshelf!

My next article will be about organizing the most used room in the house... The Kitchen! If you have any great ideas to share, please feel free! 

Coupon for free Excedrin

I found another useful coupon (especially if the holidays give you a migrane) for up to $5.99 of of Excedrin. This is a mail in offer, but legitimate.

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Free 6 Piece Screwdriver Set

Click this link to print a coupon for a free 6 piece screwdriver set at Harbor Freight Tools. Hurry, coupon expires 1/17/11!

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Thrifty Living is Great for Your Health!

By deciding to have a frugal and simple holiday season, you not only save money, but can lower your stress levels and stay healthy. Many people grow up believing  that Thanksgiving and (especially) Christmas have to be expensive and lavish events when in reality most of the best memories are made when the focus is on spending quality time with your loved ones. I know my daughters value the time I spend with them more than they would electronic toys or dolls.

I think that making simple and fun plans for the holidays also allows you more time for the best part: enjoying vacation time with family and friends.. My family has always stuck to the motto “K.I.S.S” during the holidays and we still do today. We never have a set time for dinner (we are usually eating around lunch time), no dressing up (unless you want to), no expensive dinners, or lavish gifts.

For example, on Thanksgiving we share cooking and supplying food. We pick one home to go to and cook together so that no one feels left out of the festivities or like they are doing all of the work. Half of the fun is cooking together and sharing each other’s “secret recipes” or just catching up on what has been going on. We also cook early so that everyone can sit down and relax.

If you have kids, consider letting them decorate for Christmas or do it together. I have more fun watching my girls decorate the tree and the house with homemade projects than decorating. Also consider that kids should not be brought up to expect many presents for the holidays because if the economy is hard on your family, it could cause your child great disappointment. I have seen it turn many kids into spoiled and uncontrollable kids.  My daughters mostly get things they need (like clothes) and a few fun items like crafts and educational toys. My girls find these items more entertaining than electronics and games.

The tips above can greatly reduce one’s stress levels as well as save money. Many people fail to realize that kids would rather spend quality time with their families than have expensive toys and games. family bonding is an easy way to save money and to reduce stress levels.

Have A Great Thanksgiving Without the Bird Breaking the Bank

Keeping things simple will help keep costs and stress down. Simplicity will allow you to save time and money in the kitchen and spend more time socializing with your family.


Decorating


If you choose to decorate your home for Thanksgiving, there are several inexpensive ways to accomplish this without having to skimp on dessert:

• Hang up decorations and coloring pages your kids make at school. They will love showing off their creations to your holiday guests.
• Find tablecloths, centerpieces, and other fall items at The Dollar Tree for inexpensive and festive pieces.
• Check out the Clearance section this year and get more expensive items at a large discount, usually 50%-75% off the day after Thanksgiving.
• Look up crafts on the Internet to find new ways to spruce up the house.
• Look at thrift stores. This is a great place to find lots of things for your home at a great price!
• Consider borrowing items to use from someone who has extras.

Now to the Best Part....FOOD!


If you need ideas on how to make a fantastic turkey dinner on a budget, check out http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Budget-Thanksgiving-Dinner/Detail.aspx for new ideas and old favorites.




Turkey





Turkey is often under $1.00 a pound during the holiday season. Be sure to keep an eye out for deals after about the second week of November. Turkeys are cheaper the closer to Thanksgiving, you just have to be willing to take a chance that the store may not have the size you want in stock. Many stores also offer special prices on turkey if you spend a certain dollar amount on other items in the store first. Look around and see what sale will work best for your needs.


Spices


The Dollar Tree and Big Lots have great prices on spices. Depending on your cooking style, you may already have some of these spices on hand. Check your inventory before you shop! You might luck out and have everything you need.


Stuffing


There are countless ways to make this wonderful comfort food. Some like to add fruits and veggies. Whichever way is your favorite, you can find all the ingredients you need on sale. Be sure to check around for the best deal.






Homemade Mashed Potatoes


Homemade mashed potatoes are a frugal yet yummy dish that everyone loves. Potatoes can be found as cheap as $3.00 for 10 pounds. If you prefer a particular type of potato (Russet, red,or Idaho), look for specials on them to utilize the best prices. Use as many as you need and add a little butter, milk, salt, and pepper for a thrifty side. You can even add a little excitement by adding cheese, chives, ranch, or any other favorite ingredient. The time it takes to boil and mash those potatoes will be well appreciated by your guests and you will save money (and preservative intake) by not using potato flakes.


Green Bean Casserole


Whether you require fresh or frozen green beans, you can still create this dish on a modest budget. My favorite is the classic recipe that calls for mushrooms, mushroom soup, and fried onions. Find your favorite recipe and go for it!


Homemade Macaroni and Cheese


Buy an aluminum pan from The dollar Tree and they may even have the macaroni noodles there. Find Velveeta and cheddar cheese on sale and walla! You have a scrumptious dish without putting a hole in your wallet.


Cranberry Sauce


Unless you make a special cranberry dish during the holidays, buy a couple of cans of cranberry sauce and your done! There are no huge fans of this dish in my household, so we use this dish a small side.


Biscuits


If you can follow directions, you can make homemade biscuits. Bisquick has a good one for drop and regular biscuits. Not that kitchen savvy? Fear not, there are biscuits in a can that taste just as yummy, or look in the bakery at you favorite grocery store.


Pie/Dessert


Homemade pies a the best, but they can be costly. You may find it easier to hand make your favorite pie and then buy the others at the grocery store in the bakery. They usually go on sale for 2 for $5.00 in my area. No matter the dish, there is always a way to "have your cake, and eat it too!"





Take  the time to shop around, collect coupons, and look for sales. Shopping a little early will ensure that popular items are in stock. You will also avoid the hassle of last minute shopping and crowds (unless you enjoy that sort of thing). However, if you want to save the most money, you may have to make an extra trip to the store during the week of Thanksgiving.

Saving Money on Your Electricity Bill Without Freezing Your Butt Off

Saving money on your electric bill is not that difficult. There are a few easy ways to reduce the amount of electricity that you are using.


In the Winter Months You Can:

• Buy and install a window insulation kit
• Use a fireplace (if you have one). Watch out for No Burn days in California and other states that have these warnings
• Put rugs under drafty doors
• Open curtains and blinds to let the sun warm your house
• Use a heavier blanket on your beds
• Wear sweats, socks, and slippers in the house
• Snuggle with your favorite person or pet

Tips That Work all Year:

• Use a programmable thermostat
• Use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs
• Close vents in unused rooms
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use

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

Different Ways to Save at the Grocery Store

Besides collecting coupons, you can also look for sales and special deals at the grocery stores in your area. Here are a few ideas that will also help you pinch your penney harder!

• Obtain a store card of any place you shop, even if you don't go there often. Later, they may have a super sweet deal that you can get only with the card.
• Get on mailing lists for your favorite grocery stores.
• Invest in a deep freezer to store all of your frozen food and meat deals.
• DO NOT go the store hungry! It will be easy to entice yourself with all of those needless items in the store.
• Don't forget your grocery list and coupons.

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!