Archive for the ‘Frugality’ Category

• Daybook for June 24, 2010

  Date: 2010.06.24 | Category: Baking & Cooking, Bunky, Frugality, Homemaking, Homeschooling, Hubby, Punky, Simple Woman's Daybook, Spunky, mama | Response: 5

  FOR TODAY

  Outside my window… Sunny, humid and HOT.
  I am thinking… that I just saved 65% of my grocery bill!  YEAH for coupons!
  I am thankful for… my wonderful husband!  We discovered a week or so ago that in order to be able to send Punky to the Latin School, we need to seriously tighten our budget.  However, it seemed that it would be too tight for us to be able to put money into savings.  This is not a situation that we want to be in, so we temporarily withdrew him from the school.  BUT we found out today that my hubby got a raise!  Now, Punky will be able to go to the Latin School and our savings won’t be affected.  Yea!
  From the learning rooms… the children discovered the educational toys in the closet and had fun playing with lacing dolls.  Not much else going on in there… summer is here and the kids are outside a lot.
  From the kitchen… we made low gl cornmeal muffins with fresh strawberries this week.  Spunky is on a PB&J kick and Punky is eating a lot of cheese.  I’ve always discovered, through experimentation that Bunky is NOT allergic to dairy like his big sis.  So, now he is enjoying lots of cheese and yogurt.  That kiddos loves to eat… well, they all do!
  I am wearing… a purple v-neck with a sage tank top peeking through, khaki cargo capris, no shoes and I French braided my hair today- it feels so nice and cool this way.
  I am creating… piles of laundry… that need to be put away.  I hoping to get that done today, but right now I am taking a break after a very stressful morning.
  I am going… to the dentist tomorrow.  Apparently, all of the morning sickness from my pregnancies has “eroded” the enamel on my back teeth (I hadn’t been to the dentist in a few years- yes, I know, I’m a bad girl).  So I will be spending two hours in the dentist’s chair tomorrow having my enamel fixed and a few small cavities filled.  I am not looking forward to it.
  I am reading… still….”Strong-Willed Child or Dreamer” (a book I found on a homeschooling blog and it is really helping me better understand my eldest).  Reading has been at a minimum for me this week.  At the end of the day, all I want to do is go to bed (or watch some tv).  It has been a rough week!
  I am hoping… for a decent night’s sleep… less than five hours is not enough for this mama.
  I am hearing… the sound of the water in the tea kettle about to boil.  Punky is all about tea today.  This is his second cup.
  Around the house… a vacuum cleaner is waiting to be used in the living room, dishes need to be put away and then others put into the dishwasher, and, of course, there’s laundry.
  One of my favorite things… watching Bunky pull up on everything.  He works so hard and has such satisfaction when he is able to do it.
  A few plans for the rest of the week: take the kids to see Toy Story 3 as a celebration for Daddy’s accomplishment at work, some alone time for ME on Saturday, church, and possibly the county fair.
  Here is picture for thought I am sharing… Bunky’s first drawing (age 9 months)

  

  The Simple Woman’s Daybook was started here.

• AutoTrader Focuses on Family

  Date: 2010.03.30 | Category: Cars, Family, Frugality, Websites | Response: 1

  

  AutoTrader has a new section on their website called

  Family Focus

  When family safety is top of mind, this is a must-read.
  It provides the top researched SUVs, minivans and wagons,
  allowing consumers to see what their peers are looking at most often.
  It also includes helpful articles and tips on topics
  like what to keep in the car in case of an emergency,
  what to look for in a family car,
  correct installation of a baby seat and more.

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  You can search within the Family Focus section for exactly what you need.  Along with the results, on the right side of the screen, you can see actual vehicles that are for sale on AutoTrader.com.  Then you can even search in your area using your zipcode.  You can also see which vehicles are the most popular and which are being searched for the most frequently.

  You can browse the Top Most Researched SUVs, Vans & Minivans, and Wagons.

  Here are some great articles I found the “Family Focus” section:

  • What To Keep In You Car In Case Of Emergency
  • 3 Money Saving Tips for Car-Shopping Parents
  • Five Tips for Driving with Kids’ Music
  • Who Says Minivans Aren’t Cool? (Not Me!)
  • Summer Road Trip Tips
  • Mom’s Biggest Driving Mistakes
  • Traveling with Pets

• Amazing Coupons for bumGenius! Diapers

  Date: 2010.03.24 | Category: Babies, Cloth Diapering, Environment, Free Stuff, Frugality | Response: 0

  Just click on the coupons, and you will be taken to Kelly’s Closet, where you can find great deals!

  

  I used the top coupon to purchase one Econobum: Individual (One-Size Diaper Cover & One-Size Prefold) and a 3-pack of bumGenius! Diaper Doublers with
  my FREE All-In-One bumGenius diaper.
  The total was around $20, including shipping and handling!
  One bumGenius diaper retails for $15.95.
  This is a great deal!

  

  This would be perfect for someone just starting out!
  The total would be $366.12 with FREE shipping.

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  Are you wondering why I use cloth diapers?

  You can find out Here and Here!

• Pattern Blocks and Mats

  Date: 2010.03.22 | Category: Free Stuff, Frugality, Homeschooling | Response: 1

  

  I recently purchased Wooden Pattern Blocks.

  I found these great Printable Pattern Block Mats at PreKinders.com.

  I highly recommend this site for anyone with young children.

• Mambro Sprouts Pledge and Giveaway

  Date: 2010.03.11 | Category: Environment, Frugality, Giveaways, Natural & Green Living | Response: 2

  Take the pledge to give up plastic bags

  and you could WIN!

  

• “Big Families, the New Green”

  Date: 2010.03.04 | Category: Environment, Family, Frugality, Natural & Green Living | Response: 3

  I LOVE this article!

• Several Homemade Pedialyte Recipes

  Date: 2010.01.26 | Category: Frugality, Health | Response: 3

  For times when you or your little one has a stomach bug and you either can’t leave home or want to save some money, try these homemade versions of Pedialyte.

  Homemade Pedialyte Recipe

  Things You’ll Need:

  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 3 Tbsp sugar or honey
  • 1/2 tsp salt

  Basic Recipe: Mix all ingredients together and sip on as desired.  Refrigerate if a cold drink is prefered.

  Flavored Recipe: Add 1/2 packet of Kool-aid to Basic Recipe.

  Orange Juice Recipe: Add the soda and salt to orange juice mixed with water.

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  Homemade Electrolyte Solution Recipe

  2 quarts water
  1 teaspoon baking soda
  7 teaspoons sugar
  1/2 teaspoon salt
  1 cup fresh-squeezed or bottled orange juice

  Directions:

  Stir all the ingredients in the water until they are completely dissolved. The solution can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days, or for a treat to tempt a child it can be made into popsicles (an ice cube tray and toothpicks work well if you don’t have a popsicle mold).

  Options:

  Add a squeeze of lemon juice or more orange juice to each serving if desired for flavor (but just enough for flavor because juice has a lot of sugar and can make diarrhea worse).

  Thanks, Lauren, for the link.

• When You Run Out of Texts

  Date: 2009.11.30 | Category: Free Stuff, Frugality | Response: 3

  Last month, we added data and text messaging to our phone plan.  (I now have an iPhone, which I am completely in love with!) BUT I ran out of text messages for the month.  Fortunately, our new billing cycle started right only a few days later.

  On a search to find a way to text a friend for free, I found this site.

  MobileMammoth reviews a new mobile website every day, and also has free text messaging.

  • There is no charge for this service. However, standard text messaging rates from the wireless carrier do apply for the recipient.
  • The Site does NOT send any additional text messages or email messages, promotional, marketing, or otherwise, to any phone number or email address provided by The User.
  • This service currently only supports sending text messages to select U.S. mobile carriers. (Although, they recently added India).

• Frugal Lessons to from SimpleMom’s Mom

  Date: 2009.10.02 | Category: Environment, Frugality, Natural & Green Living | Response: 3

  

  SimpleMom has a list of “12 Green and Frugal Lessons from my Mom.“

  It is a must read!  Go check it out.