Crystal from Biblical Womanhood has a great Frugal Friday post on how you can save money without clipping coupons.
These are great tips for everyone -- even you coupon users. Like she says, coupon clipping isn't for everyone for whatever your reasons may be, and that is okay.
Don't forget to scroll down to the bottom for more Frugal Friday links and ideas.
Showing posts with label Frugal Friday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frugal Friday. Show all posts
20 February 2009
13 February 2009
Frugal Valentine's Day Ideas
It's Frugal Friday over at Biblical Womanhood and Crystal has some wonderful ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day without breaking the bank.
You can read them here.
As for our family, we will be having a party for our youngest son's birthday. I'm planning on making some sweet treats to share with the family.
You can read them here.
As for our family, we will be having a party for our youngest son's birthday. I'm planning on making some sweet treats to share with the family.
It's a build and grow weekend!
Lowe's is hosting a Build and Grow workshop this weekend from 10 am - 11 pm. The event is free.
The kiddos will be building this heart trinket box. This would make a great frugal Valentine's Day or Mother's Day gift.
My boys love these workshops. Lowe's even provided them with mini Lowe's aprons complete with name tags and eye goggles. Each time the kids complete a project, they recieve a patch for their apron and a certificate of achievement.
They are a great way to spend time together as a family. You can read all the details and find a workshop near you here.
06 February 2009
Frugal Friday: Frugal family fun!
It is the first weekend of the month, and that means that The Home Depot is hosting a kid's workshop.
This weekend they are building this trinket box. These would make great gifts or keepsakes.
The workshops are completely free. They are recommended for children aged 5-10. The workshops begin at 9 am and last until noon or when they run out of kits. You can get more details here.
Enjoy your weekend!
This weekend they are building this trinket box. These would make great gifts or keepsakes.
The workshops are completely free. They are recommended for children aged 5-10. The workshops begin at 9 am and last until noon or when they run out of kits. You can get more details here.
Enjoy your weekend!
01 November 2008
Frugal Friday Pt 2 -- Post Halloween Extravaganza
The days after Halloween are a great way to score some super goodies! Depending on where you shop, beginning the day after, you can score items between 50-75% off.
Some great stores to raid, I mean try, are:
**Hobby Lobby - decorations, crafts, candy, etc.
**Kmart, WalMart, Target, Walgreens, CVS -- decorations, candy, costumes, costume accessories, etc.
**Your grocer -- candy, perhaps costumes, decorations, etc.
A few reasons I try to go out bargaining:
**costumes can be very expensive. No one will know you or your children are wearing last year's costume. Leftover costume fare also makes great gifts for dress up boxes!
**Crafts are generally pretty versatile. Orange and black paints, pom-poms, etc. can be used for more than just Halloween. Super cheap Halloween goodies make for cheap Halloween scrap book pages!
**Clearance candy works just as well for stocking stuffers as the other stuff. We pop the bags in the freezer where they'll last for months. The kids will never know the difference, that is unless there are ghosts on their candy bars. In which case, you can claim a "Christmas Carol" theme. =)
**Decorations, etc. don't go bad, but they do make you smile extra wide when you know they were so cheap!
In other news, WalMart today was a mad house. I am truly saddened. Shopping for anything during the holidays makes me want to cry. The stores are full, the lines long, the customers are bitter, and on and on. My husband made the comment that Halloween is the new Thanksgiving. After the long lines and Christmas shoppe at WalMart today, I am beginning to wonder...
Some great stores to raid, I mean try, are:
**Hobby Lobby - decorations, crafts, candy, etc.
**Kmart, WalMart, Target, Walgreens, CVS -- decorations, candy, costumes, costume accessories, etc.
**Your grocer -- candy, perhaps costumes, decorations, etc.
A few reasons I try to go out bargaining:
**costumes can be very expensive. No one will know you or your children are wearing last year's costume. Leftover costume fare also makes great gifts for dress up boxes!
**Crafts are generally pretty versatile. Orange and black paints, pom-poms, etc. can be used for more than just Halloween. Super cheap Halloween goodies make for cheap Halloween scrap book pages!
**Clearance candy works just as well for stocking stuffers as the other stuff. We pop the bags in the freezer where they'll last for months. The kids will never know the difference, that is unless there are ghosts on their candy bars. In which case, you can claim a "Christmas Carol" theme. =)
**Decorations, etc. don't go bad, but they do make you smile extra wide when you know they were so cheap!
In other news, WalMart today was a mad house. I am truly saddened. Shopping for anything during the holidays makes me want to cry. The stores are full, the lines long, the customers are bitter, and on and on. My husband made the comment that Halloween is the new Thanksgiving. After the long lines and Christmas shoppe at WalMart today, I am beginning to wonder...
Frugal Friday -- Your Friendly Local Library
**Due to Halloween fun, Frugal Friday is a Saturday edition this week. And now, back to our regularly scheduled blogging!**
The public library is an excellent resource for frugal fun. They allow you to borrow movies, cds, books, and many other wonderful things without any cost to you and without cluttering your house with extra stuff. Many libraries also offer workshops and sessions for all members of your family.
But, what if you don't have a library? Some city libraries will allow you to become a member for a certain fee. I know that fee is very high where I live for residents who live outside of city limits. It is up to your family to decide if the fee is worth it to your family if a fee applies.
For those of you who don't want to pay, did you know that a library card is free to most public universities? If you live near a university, you may consider becoming a member there as well or instead of membership at a public library. Membership is free to ALL public university libraries provided you are a resident of the state you are applying for membership in. These can also be great resources for materials to borrow. In addition, many of these libraries will have archived information about their local area. They are a great way to learn about the town you are in.
The public library is an excellent resource for frugal fun. They allow you to borrow movies, cds, books, and many other wonderful things without any cost to you and without cluttering your house with extra stuff. Many libraries also offer workshops and sessions for all members of your family.
But, what if you don't have a library? Some city libraries will allow you to become a member for a certain fee. I know that fee is very high where I live for residents who live outside of city limits. It is up to your family to decide if the fee is worth it to your family if a fee applies.
For those of you who don't want to pay, did you know that a library card is free to most public universities? If you live near a university, you may consider becoming a member there as well or instead of membership at a public library. Membership is free to ALL public university libraries provided you are a resident of the state you are applying for membership in. These can also be great resources for materials to borrow. In addition, many of these libraries will have archived information about their local area. They are a great way to learn about the town you are in.
03 October 2008
Frugal Friday -- Frugal Resource Roundup
Yea! What a busy week! I, for one, am very pleased Friday has arrived even though I have a long weekend of housework and homework ahead of me...
Don't forget to head over to Kmart this weekend for their double coupon event I told you about here. The sale runs through Sunday. They are doubling all coupons up to and including $2 off. Refer to the previous post for full details and a link to the list to see if your local store is participating.
Amy over at MomAdvice recently had a great post. She provided a list of tips to help you save money on your grocery bill. The list was full of great tips, some of which I'd never thought of before. You can check out the full list on her blog here.
Also, Crystal at Money Saving Mom has a great post on how to save money while adding more meaning to holiday gift giving. You can check it out here. Be sure to read the comments sections for a lot of great ideas from her readers too--I'm one of them! =)
I guess that's about it for the roundup for now. Have a great weekend!
Don't forget to head over to Kmart this weekend for their double coupon event I told you about here. The sale runs through Sunday. They are doubling all coupons up to and including $2 off. Refer to the previous post for full details and a link to the list to see if your local store is participating.
Amy over at MomAdvice recently had a great post. She provided a list of tips to help you save money on your grocery bill. The list was full of great tips, some of which I'd never thought of before. You can check out the full list on her blog here.
Also, Crystal at Money Saving Mom has a great post on how to save money while adding more meaning to holiday gift giving. You can check it out here. Be sure to read the comments sections for a lot of great ideas from her readers too--I'm one of them! =)
I guess that's about it for the roundup for now. Have a great weekend!
26 September 2008
Frugal Friday: Free Educational Materials!
The Great Books Foundation has updated their free materials list. Go check out the list here, but hurry. They go pretty fast!
These materials are great for teachers, homeschoolers, or just anyone interested in giving their kids an extra boost. Ground shipping is free, and as long as your order totals zero (if you choose the free items/shipping it will) you don't even need to provide credit card information.
The current list includes items for elementary through high school!
What a fabulous resource!
These materials are great for teachers, homeschoolers, or just anyone interested in giving their kids an extra boost. Ground shipping is free, and as long as your order totals zero (if you choose the free items/shipping it will) you don't even need to provide credit card information.
The current list includes items for elementary through high school!
What a fabulous resource!
Frugal Friday: Frugal Fun
Looking for something fun, and cheap, to do with the kiddos this weekend? Head on over to Lowe's for a Build and Learn Workshop. Sign up here. Best part: FREE!!!
My oldest son and I tried out the workshop two weeks ago. He loved it! He built a pirate ship. The kits are simple to use. They have kid-size tools for use. Once he was finished with his kit, he recieved a certificate and patch for the kit he made.
They even give the kids little Lowe's aprons with nametags! How fun!!
Another idea for Frugal Fun:
Do you have a university near by? As a college student and mom, I have an unfair advantage of actually knowing what goes on at the university where we live. Trust me, before, I had not a clue. Most universities offer family activities as well. Check their website to find out.
Examples of activities might include:
**Family fun days
**Seasonal/holiday activities
**homecoming parades
**museums, exhibits, planetariums (most universities have these, and they are usually free or minimally priced)
**sporting events
Don't limit yourself in your thinking of frugal fun. You may just be suprised at the fun you'll have!
What frugal activities does your family enjoy?
19 September 2008
Frugal Friday -- Frugal Fun
Because absolutely nothing is more frugal than free!
For all of you in East Central Indiana:
Minnetrista Cultural Center is hosting the "Living Lightly Fair" Saturday September 20 from 9 AM to 9 PM. Best part, everything aside from food is free! The focus is on living sustainably. What a great way to spend the day! The Farmer's Market will be open in the morning and there will be family events scheduled throughout the day, including yummy natural foods vendors. You can view the event site here.
You bet we'll be there. How about you?
For all of you in East Central Indiana:
Minnetrista Cultural Center is hosting the "Living Lightly Fair" Saturday September 20 from 9 AM to 9 PM. Best part, everything aside from food is free! The focus is on living sustainably. What a great way to spend the day! The Farmer's Market will be open in the morning and there will be family events scheduled throughout the day, including yummy natural foods vendors. You can view the event site here.
You bet we'll be there. How about you?
"Cents"ible Sawyer -- New Video -- Stockpiling
The "Cents"ible Sawyer has a new video post up all about stockpile here. Denise gives you the ins and outs on how to start your own stockpile. She has a lot of super ideas.
Go check them out!
Did you know she was chosen to participate in Wal-Mart's Eleven Moms program? It is a video series designed to save us money. How cool is that? Find out more about the program and meet all eleven moms here.
Go check them out!
Did you know she was chosen to participate in Wal-Mart's Eleven Moms program? It is a video series designed to save us money. How cool is that? Find out more about the program and meet all eleven moms here.
12 September 2008
Frugal Friday - Yummy meals!
In keeping with the money-saving theme, here's a yummy recipe for pizza crust. We usually have it as our Friday night meal rather than eat out. It's quick and easy. Since you're making it at home, you're saving a bunch of money over the store-bought/take-out kind, and it's much healthier! Did I mention it's way tastier than the takeout version?
Easy Pizza Crust
5 cups flour (I like to use 4 white, one wheat)
2 TBSP active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp garlic powder (optional)
¼ cup oil
Dissolve yeast in water. It's much easier if you put the water in the bowl first and then throw the yeast on top. Stir in remaining ingredients. Mix well. It will be very sticky! Let the dough rest while you get your toppings of choice ready. Flour your rolling pan, dough, and fingers. It's easiest to roll it out right in the pan you're planning to bake in. It's okay to roll it thin too. Your pizza will rise as it bakes. Add toppings. Bake for about 10 min on 475o or until cheese melts. Enjoy!
Yields two pizzas or one pizza and breadsticks!
Frugal Friday - Cutting Back
Happy Frugal Friday!
I have spent a lot of time lately trying to think of ways our family can start cutting back on unnecessary expenses. Some things have been pretty obvious like cutting back on take-out, others more of a challenge.
I've made a budget, and for a while was doing fabulous at sticking to it! I was spending just $40 a week for our family of four. That $40 covered all groceries and household items. You notice I said was.
The past few weeks have been a real struggle for our family. My husband and I are both college students, and we just started back to classes. My oldest son started back two weeks prior. Life in general has been much more hectic and time crunched as we all adjust to our new schedules.
As we are finally getting back into the swing of things, I have came up with a few ideas to get us back on track.
End The Take-Out
In our season of busyness, we have became entirely too dependant on junk food, and it's very expensive!
Budget For Drugstores
I get most of our household supplies, medicines, etc. at Walgreen's and CVS. This month I am going to try a new idea and allocate a certain amount to these stores. I am still going to take this out of our grocery budget, but I am planning on doing so at the beginning of the month rather than by week. I'm planning to put the fund directly on gift cards for each store, so I can keep myself from going overboard.
Snack Pack Anyone?
One simple, although time consuming, thing I do is to buy snacks in bulk (think this weeks Chex Mix deal). Once I get them home, I pull out my measuring cups, divide them into portions in snack size bags, and put them in the "snack drawer" or fridge. My boys love the snack packs, and having the items ready to go really helps with the temptation of eating out.
Leave the Card at Home!
This is a big one for me. I am going to try it and see how it works out. I'm planning on leaving my debit card at home while at class, again to try to eleviate that eating out temptation! After all, I'm not going to starve (by any stretch of the imagination)! Nor will I be tempted to make that extra CVS or Walgreen's run!
Pack 'Em Up Before We Move 'Em Out
I'm also going to try to use weekends to get sandwiches, rollups, etc. made that are freezer-friendly for the following week for my husband and I to take for lunch. Obvious, I know.
So, what is your family doing to try to save money? These are just a few of my ideas. Leave a comment and share your own!
I have spent a lot of time lately trying to think of ways our family can start cutting back on unnecessary expenses. Some things have been pretty obvious like cutting back on take-out, others more of a challenge.
I've made a budget, and for a while was doing fabulous at sticking to it! I was spending just $40 a week for our family of four. That $40 covered all groceries and household items. You notice I said was.
The past few weeks have been a real struggle for our family. My husband and I are both college students, and we just started back to classes. My oldest son started back two weeks prior. Life in general has been much more hectic and time crunched as we all adjust to our new schedules.
As we are finally getting back into the swing of things, I have came up with a few ideas to get us back on track.
End The Take-Out
In our season of busyness, we have became entirely too dependant on junk food, and it's very expensive!
Budget For Drugstores
I get most of our household supplies, medicines, etc. at Walgreen's and CVS. This month I am going to try a new idea and allocate a certain amount to these stores. I am still going to take this out of our grocery budget, but I am planning on doing so at the beginning of the month rather than by week. I'm planning to put the fund directly on gift cards for each store, so I can keep myself from going overboard.
Snack Pack Anyone?
One simple, although time consuming, thing I do is to buy snacks in bulk (think this weeks Chex Mix deal). Once I get them home, I pull out my measuring cups, divide them into portions in snack size bags, and put them in the "snack drawer" or fridge. My boys love the snack packs, and having the items ready to go really helps with the temptation of eating out.
Leave the Card at Home!
This is a big one for me. I am going to try it and see how it works out. I'm planning on leaving my debit card at home while at class, again to try to eleviate that eating out temptation! After all, I'm not going to starve (by any stretch of the imagination)! Nor will I be tempted to make that extra CVS or Walgreen's run!
Pack 'Em Up Before We Move 'Em Out
I'm also going to try to use weekends to get sandwiches, rollups, etc. made that are freezer-friendly for the following week for my husband and I to take for lunch. Obvious, I know.
So, what is your family doing to try to save money? These are just a few of my ideas. Leave a comment and share your own!
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