frugality

This is a guest post from Mandi of Doodles’ Place. She’s on a bit of a blogging break, but if you enjoy her article, you can find many more crafty ideas on her site!

When Tara asked if I would be willing to write a guest post this week and suggested that one of my “Something Old, Something New” crafts might fit the bill for her frugal readers, I immediately thought of this project that I first shared back in July. I think these would make great disposable “tins” for Christmas cookies. I don’t know about you, but while I love adorable Christmas tins, I really don’t ever know what to do with them afterward, and making them adds an extra special touch to the gift as well.

First, I found snack boxes in the pantry that were the right shape and size. Then I laid out the boxes and got some paint ready for my girls. They painted with two colors each (pink/purple and blue/green), covering the box in one color and then adding a second on top. Because we wanted to take them to our neighbors right away, I stuck them in the still-warm oven (from baking our cookies) to help the paint dry. I used hot glue to re-assemble the boxes, and then we added tissue paper and the cookies.

This is an incredibly easy – and inexpensive – project. Not only did the girls have fun, but they were proud of their work, and the neighbors oohed and ahhed over them appropriately as well. I think they were a really cute way to deliver cookies, and I plan to do the same thing for Christmas this year. To dress them up some, I’ll let the girls add ribbon, buttons and other embellishments once the paint dries.

What about you? What’s your favorite “recycled” gift?

This is a guest post from Mercedes of Common Sense with Money.  If you enjoy her article, consider subscribing to her RSS feed!

photo credit: Tanya Ryno

A couple of weeks ago I was explaining to a friend our frugal lifestyle.  She concluded the conversation making note that she wished she could be cheap like I am.  At the time I didn’t make much of the comment but further thinking about it I realized there is a difference between being frugal and being cheap.

I don’t like when people use the terms cheap and frugal interchangeably.  There’s actually a big difference between the two of them.

For example:

• I am frugal when I research baby car seats and get the highest rated and best value based on this research.  But I am cheap when I buy a popular model at a garage sale.
• I am frugal when I buy a quality used car.  I am cheap when I decide to buy the cheapest new car my money can buy.
• I am frugal when I find an unopened bottle of my sister’s favorite perfume at a garage sale for $2.  But I am cheap when I get her whatever I can find as long as I don’t spend more than $10.

Don’t confuse frugal with cheap. Frugality is about living large for less.  It is about making the most of what you have.  Frugality is about making smart spending decisions.  It is about realizing that safety and quality are above price.  Frugality is about making sure your decision to live with less doesn’t impact other people.

While I may love a great bargain, I don’t like to be cheap.  I always keep safety, quality and other people’s feelings in mind when I spend my money wisely.

photo credit: DeaPeaJay

Best Buy contacted me recently and asked:

“How have computers changed/improved/affected your children’s lives?”

In short, computers have affected our family’s lives dramatically. I became an accidental stay-at-home mom when the office I worked in closed when I was 7.5 months pregnant with my first child. I had every intention of going back to work, but after having my second child only 12 months after my first I was not so anxious. I set my sights on working from home, and after searching high and low and trying out numerous positions, I finally found a career that was both challenging and rewarding.

Blogging is my creative outlet and the deals I provide do help stretch our budget, but transcription is what has supported my family through my husband’s numerous layoffs over the past two years. Both are possible because of the advent of computers, and I’m thankful that they allow me to be here for my children whenever they need me.

Have computers had a positive effect on your children’s or your family’s lives?

photo credit: Randy Son Of Robert

Halloween is right around the corner! And you know what that means – your little ones will be clamoring for one of those ultra expensive costumes from one of the big box stores. My oldest has his heart set on a Star Wars Storm Trooper costume that is priced at a whopping $49.95. Eek!!!  Sorry, hon – that is just NOT happening!

I know that finances are tough for many these days, so the scary prices I’m seeing when I’m out and about inspired me to seek out some ways to help you save on costumes for your little ones.  With just a little creativity, you can still create a costume to be proud of on the cheap!

• Make your own costume. This is probably the most obvious way to save some cents. ALL YOU magazine has some cute ones with detailed instructions and templates included. Parenting magazine has some great no-sew costumes too!  Don’t forget to raid your closets.  You probably have the makings of a great costume already on hand.  Pick up some great, cheap accessories from the dollar store/section, and you’re ready to go!
• Reuse costumes from prior years. We’ve saved all of our costumes through the years.  Before we take the kids out shopping for a new costume, we “shop” what we already have.  It’s very likely that they may have rediscovered a love for Batman or firemen and will be thrilled to wear a costume from a few years back (assuming it still fits).  Or you can recycle them through the ranks.  For example, we have an adorable Old Navy frog costume that we have more than gotten our money’s worth out of.  It’s a running tradition in our family for baby’s first Halloween that will be carried on by baby #5 this year.
• Organize a costume swap with your friends or share with friends. Surely many of them have barely used costumes and would be more than open to trading them for another gently used costume rather than paying big bucks for a brand new one.  Or perhaps their children will be Trick-or-Treating on a different night than yours and they’d be willing to split the cost of a new costume.
• Buy used costumes. Thrift stores are a great place to find items to use for costumes.  Old party dresses and funky suits can be used to create a unique costume that your child will be excited to wear.  Consignment shops are a great place to find gently used costumes as well, but you’ll need to start shopping now because the best ones go quickly!  Other sources to check would be Craigslist and eBay.
• Shop the clearance sections after Halloween or the dollar stores/sections this year to save big next year. You can find costumes at rock bottom prices in the week following Halloween. Stock up for the following year. I’ve even bought clearanced costumes at fabulous prices for the girls’ dress-up box.

We’re actually going to be doing a combination of many of the above suggestions this year.  My oldest is getting a new Storm Trooper costume, but it definitely will not be the $49.95 version.  We’ll be searching out a MUCH cheaper version.  My five-year-old DS wants to reuse the Darth Vader costume that my oldest wore last year, so that’s free!  My four-year-old DD wants to be Barbie from Barbie & the Diamond Castle, and I found a reasonably priced version of this.  Our two-year-old DD I believe is going to wear the Tinker Bell costume that my older DD wore the past two years and actually was a hand-me-down to start.  (Thanks, Chrissy!)  And the baby is going to be the much loved frog, of course.

How are you planning to save on Halloween costumes this year? I’d love to hear your suggestions!

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