The Diva Cup (Not for Men)

I have been doing some research, looking into how to save money in certain ways. This year, we are having a particularly hard time financially. I am looking into all of the ways that we can live more frugally. My main question is: how can live cheaper when prices are rising so quickly and income is not?

Men, you may not want to head down this road with me, so I will understand if you click out of this particular post.

Ladies, we are about to head into the topic of menstrual flows.

I, personally, have a very heavy flow. I have been using both tampons and pads. I was using only tampons until about a year ago, and then the flow was just too heavy.

On top of that, I have two daughters who also use these items.

This is quite the expense for us each month. I am looking at using about $20.00 to $25.00 dollars a  month for pads and tampons alone.  One of my daughters is moving in a week, so that will cut us back to $15.00 to $20.00 a month. We are all very picky about certain aspects of these things, so this is the cheapest we have found that we can get these items in our area.

I was reading the latest issue of Countryside magazine, when I came across and ad for the Diva Cup (This link will take you to there Question and Answer section: http://divacup.com/). I researched different types of menstrual cups years back, but just thought ‘Yuck!’

Now, I can honestly say that this cup is different. First, it does not use latex. Second, when reading through the questions and answers carefully, you get quite the education which helps you to understand how useful these can be for you. And third, they have two sizes, and should make it so that my heavy flow is no longer a problem, ruining panties and such. It will catch all of that. And fourth, one cup should last for years.

Okay, so I looked around on-line for cheaper prices on the site (which you can do easily), and found a source for The Diva Cup at $17.50 per cup. Adding shipping (we will say $4.00 each, though I am not positive), I have done some math.

At $20.00 a month for pads and tampons we will pay:

$240.oo for a year using these products, and

$720.00 over a three year period.

According to the website, these should last for years, but the example says that many women prefer to order a new one every few years. So, if I buy a cup for one daughter and myself, it should cost approximately about $43.00.

The savings would be as follows:

A savings of $197.00 for one year, and

A savings of $677.00 over a three year period.

At that rate, I could save enough money to pay ahead a month or two on bills, go with my daughter and her friend to California to help them get settled into their new home in about 5 years, spend time with them there (a month or two) and then come back home.

That really is a lot of money. I can’t do that, because we have to pay the bills now with the money saved. It was just and example to help to put things into perspective.

I am forwarding the side to my daughter, so she can check it out and see if she is willing to use one. They are cost effective, reusable, and easy to use. I will discuss it with her later.

Shannon

Helping Neighbors

I am the kind of person who enjoys helping people. I like to do things, without wanting money for my efforts.

I have a neighbor who has had many surgeries, and is need of another. She and her husband are going to be moving in the spring, and she needs help going through her things. They are actually selling their home and most of their belongings to travel. What a great experience they will have.

I have been helping my neighbor go through some things, and we still have more to do. I told her that I did not need to be paid. While helping her, she has given my daughters and I many things:

• magazines
• clothing
• a chocolate fondue set
• a purse
• perfume
• many spring planting bulbs and some seeds in a nice duffel bag
• Braille course
• assorted school supplies
• and a few other things

We are very grateful for these free items. What clothes we couldn’t use, we sent to my best friend for her niece to go through. Anything she couldn’t use went to the Good Will store.

Freebies in the Mail

I have received a few notable freebies, which can easily be found on-line through a simple search. They have included:

• a journal and pen
• a sample of curves cereal
• 4 shampoo samples
• 3 conditioner samples
• cookie sample

Happy freebie hunting!

Free Workshop: How to Fund Christmas

If you would like a free PDF workshop that will help you to fund Christmas this year, please email me at slb725writer@aol.com.

Thanksgiving Decorating on a Budget (Updated)

Today, as we were leaving the trailer, I told my daughter that our porch looks naked. She had taken down all of the Halloween decorations, and my other daughter put the outdoor furniture, in the shed over the weekend. We were both in agreement that I should decorate the porch area again.

How can we decorate for autumn when we are living on such tight budgets? Well, for us it begins by purchasing items in stores and on-line just before and right after Thanksgiving. You can get really good prices this way.

Also, I shop yardsales, and sometimes even flea markets, when the weather is warm. You can get even better prices this way, and most people are more than willing to haggle.

Another good source for savings is a dollar store. This is where a lot of our things come from.

We still have a few items from that roadside stand that I told you about in a Halloween post as well. The pumpkins that were not carved, as well as the corn stalks.

So, here are the decorating ideas that I have for you:

• I purchased a small bale of hay at Rite Aid at 50% off. This holds a medium and a small sized pumpkin.  They are placed right in front of the corn stalk that is in the corner in front of the porch. There are a few other pumpkins out there as well.
• I also have a small scarecrow next to the corn stalk.
• I purchased a small decorative hoe, and a matching shovel, which I put out there as well.
• Hanging from the railing of the porch, I have a few other items that I acquired at half price as well. I tiny sign that says ‘Pumpkins 5 cents’, a bell with a painted scarecrow face, and three scarecrows on a swing.
• I had purchased gourds cheaply at a roadside stand as well, and I put them into a basket which is set on a step. There is a pumpkin on each of the other two steps.
• I purchased two strands of autumn leaf garland for 75% off one year at Rite Aid. They are hung on the railings to the steps.
• I have a few metal pumpkin tea-light holders on the porch.
• I made a wreath for the front door.

I have also decorated the inside:

• I made wreaths for the two livingroom windows, as well as the kitchen window. I also have leaf window clings.
• I hung things that the girls made when they were younger.
• I made two fall leaf garlands.
• I purchased some candle holders, a table runner, some treat holders, and little pilgrims and Native Americans and turkeys from Terry’s Village on-line at deep discounts one year.

All f these make nice touches to our home.