Winter Clearance Items

Check out the stores for deals on winter things like coats, boots, hats and mittens, sleds, shovels and more.

Stock up on everything that you will need for your family for next winter if you can afford to. This will save you more than 50% on your entire families winter needs.

Shannon

A Cheaper Way to do School Pictures

Go to Wal*Mart.

Need I say more?

Oh, okay. It doesn’t have to be Wal*Mart. It can be anywhere that you can get a package deal cheaper than through the school department. You can give the school a picture for the yearbook if you choose.

Shannon

Hello, My Name is Shannon and I Reuse Aluminum Foil

Okay, okay. I admit it. I reuse aluminum foil. I use it on my bake ware to prevent messes. I use it to cover food before putting it into the refrigerator sometimes. I suppose there are a few other uses for aluminum foil as well.

I wipe mine off and reuse it as many times as I can.

Is this insane? Who knows. Does anyone else do this? I have no idea. I just know that I can’t stand the price that they charge for this product.

Shannon

Homemade Laundry Detergent: More than One Choice

A while back Bethany, a reader, asked if I knew of any homemade laundry detergent that does NOT use Borax, which she believes to be a poison. (If so, Yuck!)

I recently found a website that has a few different recipes for laundry detergent. It is called tipnut.com.

I would like to direct each of you to recipes # 5, 7, 8, and 10 on the link above.

Try them out, and tell us all how they work.

Shannon

There’s A New Redemption Center In Town…

…and I am weighing the possibilities. It would be very convenient to be able to drop them off here in town, and they will give me .06 per can rather than .05 per can. I could simply put some in a canvas bag, walk over there, and have a little extra money each day. This would be convenient, and I am always picking up returnables off the side of the road.

 

Shannon

Still Planning Those Updates

I have some great ideas that I am working on for this blog. You will not be disappointed when I am finished working them out.

I just wanted to give you all a heads up, and let you know that I am still in the planning process, and I am still working on content for this blog.

I hope you will all have petience with me.

Shannon

How to Reuse those Plastic Bags and Baggies

Do you have a stockpile of plastic shopping bags? There are many things that you can do with these bags. Consider these options:

• They make great trash bags.
• You can reuse them at the store. Our grocery store gives us .05 for every bag that we reuse.
• You can take them to the grocery store (if yours participates) and put them in the recycling bin.
• Use them to carry things that you are donating in.
• Have your children use them to pack what they want to take with them when they are spending a night with a friend.
• Use them when cleaning out litter boxes.
• Use them as bags for dog bombs: Scoop the poop.

Do you have a stockpile of washed out sandwich, quart size and gallon size zipper bags? They can be used for:

• You can use them when scooping out the litter box.
• You can use them to store cards or other small games.
• You can use them to put soap, toothbrushes and toothpast in when you are going to be away from home.
• You can reuse them for food.
• You can use them to store projects.

There are other types of plastic bags that are also useful when scooping out litter boxes:

• Cereal box liner bags
• Bread bags
• Resealable bags that freezer food comes in.
• English muffin bags
• Produce bags

These make great trash bags:

• Large plastic shopping bags
• Zippered bags that comforters and such come in.
• Compost/Dirt bags
• Ice melt bags
• The plastic from toilet paper and paper towel packages.

Do you have any other ideas for reusing bags? If so, please post them in the comments. Thank you.

Shannon

Free Bread!

Yes, you read that right. I went to a friends WIC appointment with her to help her out with the children. While I was there, I was given two loaves of 100% whole wheat bread, and one package of 100% whole wheat and honey English muffins.

That is a savings of more than $7.00.

Shannon

Returnables for Low-Income People

Do you often see returnables on the side of the road? Do you bother to pick them up? Do you cash them in?

Everyday, I can pick up at least four returnables while out walking, and some days there are significantly more. Saturdays and Sundays are great days for picking up returnables.

I do not pick up all that I see. There is an older couple who also pick them up, so I leave the bagged ones that a neighbor sets out for them. Some mornings I walk first, some mornings they do. We do not always take the same route.

There are also homeless people at the park in the next town who pick up the returnables. I do not touch these, and I leave any soda or other bottles that I may use there for them to find.

So I share. I still end up with tons of returnables.

So, what can a low-income individual or family do with the funds from returnables?

• Pay bills.
• Buy food and other necessities.
• Save for a mini vacation.
• Do something fun!
• Take your child out to eat.
• Get a hair cut.

There are a lot of things you can do with your new found funds.

What would you do?

Shannon

P.S. If I only picked up four returnables a day, at .05 each (.20 a day) I would have $73.00 within a year. I pick up more than double that in a year, so I earn a hefty some from my efforts. Plus, I get in all of that exercise! And, I am recycling!

My philosophy is, “If no one else wants the money, I sure do!”

P.P.S. One of the plans that I am making is for a way to track all of the returnables that I collect on this blog, making it easy for everyone to see at a glance what money I have earned from this venture.

Open those Curtains and Save Money!!!

What is the temperature in your area?

AOL is telling me that the temperature is currently 47*. Not too bad, if I do say so myself. I had a nice, if wet, walk this morning.

These are the days when it is possible to urn your heat down to 55* or less. Maybe even turn it off all together.

This will help you to save money on your heating costs. Just throw open the curtains, and the sun will provide you with plenty of heat.

Shannon