Household Solutions
Air Conditioning: Saving Money on Air Conditioning
Saving Money on Air Conditioning
Air conditioning – lower your cooling and heating bills by closing drapes and blinds during the summer and insulating with blankets on windows during the winter months. Sun light coming through your windows throughout the day brings in unwanted heat and raises indoor temperatures, that in turn, makes your air conditioning unit have to work harder, and thereby, costing you more.
In the evening, during the summer, open your shades and such to let the cooler night air in. This coolness will be retained throughout the night. Wood flooring keeps your home cooler and carpeting keeps it warmer. I bring out area rugs during the winter and helps keep the house warmer.
I also insulate my windows with thick blankets for added warmth. Wood floors are colder in winter. Thick comforters work better than thicker made curtains anyway. Bring them down for spring- cleaning and store them until the following winter. With these methods, I have found my electric bill to be incredibly lower and I don’t have to use the heat or air conditioning most of the time.
You can use ceiling fans as well, to keep your cold air circulating and set your thermostat at a higher temperature in the summer. Large trees and bushes also provide shade that lead to lower energy bills. This welcoming shade will also save you lots on energy cost. We have giant Oak trees that shade most of the house as well as large bushes that cover most of the windows – this can also serve as a burglar deterrent.
Do not pay your electric bill or any bill for that matter on a credit card. You’ll end up paying ten to thirty percent on your final credit card statement.
Make sure your refrigerator is just the right size for your needs. Empty shelf or drawer space leads to energy loss. It’s more efficient to cool or freeze filled areas than empty areas.
When wanting to conserve heat or air conditioning, shades work over 30 percent more efficiently than draperies.
Later,g
Holiday Money Saving Tips
Winter Holiday Money Saving Tips
Home made snow – beat together a solution of water and your choice of natural powdered soap flakes. You can find this product in your laundry isle, but to make it even better, buy powdered natural soap flakes from your local health food market…especially if little ones are involved in the application of the home made snow. I did this last year at my son’s school and I was really surprised at how beautiful the project came out.
Anyway, you can hand mix this recipe but an electric mixer is better and quicker. The consistency seems to come out smoother and easier to apply on the tree. Mix until the solution is thick, followed by spooning on ends of tree branches. You can cover most of the branches if you’d like more of a white tree effect. You’ll be really surprised how great it works, and actually ends up being lots cheaper, and you get larger amounts for less money investment.
Here are a few ways to make your Christmas trees last a little longer.
One way to make sure you’re buying a really fresh tree that in turn will last longer anyway, is to rub the base and feel for moisture content. If it feels really ooey and gooey, you’re buying a really fresh tree.
Extending the color life of the needles can be achieved by trimming the base of your tree and putting it in a bucket of cold water (just the bottom part of the tree) with any cup of sweet substance mixed into the water. I prefer organic brown sugar but you can use maple syrup, regular sugar or even honey. No fake sugar products.
Keep in mind, before going to pick out your tree, that certain varieties last longer and stay greener than others. Spruce and Scotch Pine are some of the best.
Homemade gift tags – use your unwanted cards with pretty pictures printed on them and cut out in squares. Fill the blank side out like you would a store bought gift tag.
If you have a newspaper subscription, save the paper to be used as wrapping paper. Use the funnies for kids and apply your homemade tags… free of charge and readily available. Anything to keep you away from the crowds is worth it.
Hoping your Holidays are inexpensive and creative. Later,g
Posted in Frugality, Household Solutions | 
Tags: Christmas, Christmas tips, holiday tips, tips for the holdays, winter holiday tips
How to Store Food Safely
How to safely store leftovers
Cold food storage:
? Products that have been baked – 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator – 34 to 40 degrees
? Cheese cake and fruit pies – 3 to 5 days – 34to 40 degrees
? Unbaked pie shells should stay in the freezer till ready for use at 0 degrees or below
? Dairy products like cheese and cream 1 to 10 days 34 to 40 degrees
? Cottage and ricotta cheese are not recommended for the freezer
? Milk products no longer than a week but yogurt can go about 3 weeks in refrigerator -34 to 40 degrees
? I don’t recommend freezing buttermilk and sour cream
? Eggs – raw eggs should last about 3 weeks in the refrigerator -34 to 40 degrees
? Hard boiled should last about 1 week in refrigerator
? Don’t freeze eggs
? Spreads and oils last about 2 weeks to 1 month in the refrigerator
? You can freeze butter and margarine for up to 2 months but mayonnaise and salad dressings are not recommended
? Ground beef and pork chops for example should not be frozen longer than 4 months at a stretch.
? Deli meats and most processed meats should never be frozen
? Although canned hams can be refrigerated for up to 9 months unopened, it’s not recommended for freezer
? Cooked meats can last up to 4 days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer
? Hot dogs can last up to 2 weeks unopened and about one week after they’ve been opened. Cooked hot dogs should only remain in your refrigerator no more than a couple of days and never cook hot dogs and freeze
? I never freeze cured bacon and only allow it to sit after it’s been opened for no more than a few days – it tends to get slimy like deli meat. If your deli meat gets slimy or smells weird even though it has a longer expiration date listed on the package, go ahead and get rid of it!
? Game birds, ducks and geese for example can be freezer stored for up to 1 year.
? Cooked birds can last up to 3 months in the freezer and about 3 days in the refrigerator
Storing Seafood:
? Uncooked fish can last a couple of days in the refrigerator. Make sure to cover any uncooked meat and always place it in the lowest part of your refrigerator so in case it leaks, it won’t contaminate other foods.
? Shellfish that has not been cooked can be stored in the refrigerator up t0 2 days and can last in the freezer about 3 to 4 months.
? Cooked shellfish can last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and about 2 months frozen
The cold life of food and its handling and storage safety is extremely important in your quest for frugality. When meats are on sale you can buy a bunch and freeze it. If you do the once a week cooking and freeze routine, it’s important to know what to cook and how long it will last. If you happen to be really self-sufficient and hunt for all of your meat products as well as prepare your meats, you need to know how long to store it for and how much you should actually hunt for. Some hunting licenses only allow a certain amount of game per year as well as specific game allowances. Information on safety of storing your meat, how much and how long can be crucial to your budgeting plans. This also works well if you only grocery shop several times a year.
Later,g
My Old Car
My Old Car
Well, here I sit on a beautiful windy and cloudy day. I love any opportunity to open my windows and save on the electric bill. We’re going through a slight car dilemma. It’s not really a big deal, but figuring out the process is what’s really making us having to think. My car has developed this rattling noise and many – including several mechanics and shops, have a different opinion and they all end up with the same solution; the only solution being that of lots of cost to us…so, my husband finally got a chance to look under the car and saw the problem straight away. I saw it as well. The end part of the double exhaust muffler region has a round connecting ring and it’s come lose. We are going to attempt to tighten it for our first try.
We’ve also found out that in order to remove it all together, the area must be cut off followed by a ‘pain in the ass’ welding job. It’s so simple yet so detailed. In order to do it ourselves and save astronomical costs (certainly more than the car is worth), we have to locate specific tools. The noise doesn’t hurt the car in anyway. It’s purely a cosmetic problem but one worth fixing as soon as possible. I don’t think my daughter can take it anymore and it’s beginning to get on my last nerve as well. I’ll keep you updated on the progress and what finally ends up happening. And now, back to some more saving tips!
Homemade Cleansers
I save my dish liquid bottles and make homemade cleansers. Here are just a few.
Pour 20 drops of concentrated Tea Tree Oil into rinsed out dish liquid bottle and fill with tap water. Shake it and use it to clean counter tops, toilets, tubs, sinks, floors and walls. Tea Tree Oil is extremely concentrated and strong but works excellent as a deodorizer, cleanser and carries with it known anti fungal as well as antibiotic properties.
There are Tea Tree Oil oral products out in the market that also work well in the treatment of oral thrush, gum infections and toothaches. Tea Tree Oil is a natural product but keep away from children and never swallow the concentrated oil. Wash your hands after use. I’ve also used Tea Tree Oil for the treatment of lice and to prevent lice altogether and works great in the treatment of foot and nail fungus. Keep away from eyes. You can also use warm salt water as a gargle for sore throat or irritated gums and minor mouth infections. Salt also has many uses as a cleaning product for your home.
Here’s what I also keep around for cleaning and treating.
Baking soda – whitens teeth, prevents underarm smell, mild cleansing abrasive, removes laundry smells cheap deodorizer for toilet, refrigerator and carpets.
Salt – mild cleaning abrasive, oral cleanser, deodorizer, cheap
Hydrogen peroxide – oral cleanser, whitens teeth, whitens surfaces and coffee pots, whitens laundry, cheap,
Rubbing alcohol – wiping surfaces, wiping down toilet seats, door knobs and light switches, wiping down phones and computer keyboards, cheap
Epsom salts – relieves muscle pain and minor abrasions, relaxes, dries out minor skin infections and abrasions, cheap
Lemons – deodorizer, cleaner, use on counters, sinks, tubs, keep a sliced lemon in your refrigerator to keep it fresh smelling – ground coffee works well also. I always keep a little ground coffee in the back of my frig and keeps it smelling fresh. cheap
White distilled vinegar - whitens whites, removes strong smelling odors from carpets and laundry, helps soften your clothes wash, great on glass or any surface you want shined and works excellent as a coffee pot and coffee maker cleanser, leave in a small bowl as air freshener and helps heal pimples; also great as a hair rinse along with lemons.
Ground coffee – instant coffee works well as wood polisher, keeps frig smelling fresh
Baby wipes – I pour a little cleaner of my choice and use them all over the house and we all use them in the bathroom to feel extra fresh. You can wipe down anything with a baby wipe. They still contain a form of mild soap and they’re safer on skin and surfaces than conventional cleaning wipes. You can have your little ones help with house cleaning and know it’s safe for them to handle. I get the unscented ones. I’m sure I have more kitchen tips but not tonight. I’m in the middle of a great book and I’m really tired.
Later,g
In the Kitchen
The kitchen is truly the heart of the home. From here flows comforting smells, healing and fond memories. My kitchen is plain and simple with only the necessary items to produce some tasty treats. Most of my childhood memories originate in the kitchen. This is a place to connect and learn. Children find ways to create and simply hang out and watch mom cook. They learn to cook whether they want to or not. This is the place to create cheap gifts from homemade muffins to holiday cookies.
There are several things I constantly keep in my kitchen as far as food goes.
Rice, beans, lots of pantry food (especially here where hurricanes occur), boxed milk, powdered milk, concentrated juice mix that doesn’t have to be refrigerated, pasta and sauce, simple tomato sauce when jarred sauce is not available, cereals and oatmeal, all purpose flour or economy sized muffin mix, bread and eggs. I also make sure I keep up the bottled water supply -I live in a very old house and I don’t trust the pipes.
Stuff like spices and cooking oils and butter last longer for some reason. Spices are rarely replaced as I try to keep the taste of food more natural and low salt. I don’t care for very spicy foods. If it was up to me, I’d eat with no added flavors what so ever. I do have a little secret I want to share with you though, I keep a box of Sazon Goya with Safron and use it in almost everything. The unique formulation makes everything taste even better. I especially use it in Spanish cooking (when money is good), pasta sauces, egg noodle sauces, soups and stews and even scrambled eggs and omelets. I never add anything to canned or already prepared foods as they are already high in salt. I try to buy low salt items whenever possible.
One thing that saves me money and turns out to be a healthier alternative is, I always think of replacements for conventional snacking and sweets. We eat cereal and milk for sweet snacking or homemade muffins from my restaurant economy sized bag. Canned fruit is also a cheap alternative. Buy the big cans and save what’s left in a covered container in the refrigerator. Avoid individually packaged fruit chunks. They’re really expensive and it’s easier to recycle the cans.
I take my cans to the recycle bin behind the Baptist church at the same time I visit the clothes closet every Saturday morning. They also have a paper and plastic recycling bin. There are lots of companies out there charging to have your recycled trash picked up. Don’t fall for that. They’re there to make money and they charge quite a bit. Look for places where you live that will take your recycling trash. Sometimes schools and libraries offer recycling services. My son’s school recycles paper and electronics. My daughter’s school takes your old cell phones. You don’t end up filling the dump and the schools get money for needed items. We all win.
If you cook big meals on the weekend, store individual leftovers and use that for snacking the next day. We do that a lot with hardboiled eggs. By the way, if you eat the white and yolk of a hard boiled egg, the cholesterol is counteracted, according to a nurse I know. Any other way of cooking eggs will give you unwanted cholesterol.
Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season and try co-ops or local outdoor markets for best prices. I shop at discount grocery stores and take my own canvas bags. They won’t offer bags unless you pay for them and the food is half the cost of other big name grocers.
If you feel your tap water is safe, powdered milk is the way to go. Even if you have to use bottled water, you’ll still save over half the price of fresh milk. Mix up a couple of quarts in the evening and let cool over night. My daughter drinks soymilk but my son loves the powdered milk and doesn’t taste the difference. I buy the economy can and use it for cooking and baking. I always have milk on hand.
Concentrated frozen juice is also more than half the price less then prepared bottled juices. Again, if you use tap water it’s even cheaper. When I do buy prepared bottled juice, I wait till it goes down half way and fill it up again to the top with water. It still tastes just as good and lasts longer.
I do the same with liquid soaps, shampoo, dish liquid and laundry detergent. Diluted dish liquid has come in handy as an emergency alternative to laundry soap.
More to Come-
Posted in Frugality, Household Solutions, Simplicity | Tags: how to save money on food, kitchen, Save Money
How I Survived My Husbands Losing His Job
I want to tell you about the time my husband lost his job. It couldn’t have happened at a worst time. School had just begun and it was my son’s first year. I have to admit we were nervous wrecks. I had to keep it together though in order to think things through and make strategic plans.
By the way, I have some wonderful children. I really appreciate them putting up with the way I’ve chosen to live my life; especially my daughter. She is my best friend and truly understands me. I am so grateful to have her in my life. She puts up with my old car and the noise it makes; but I also know that the legacy I leave my children will not only make them kind and considerate human beings but free thinkers and more self sufficient.
My daughter reads all of my work and gives me honest feedback. Her father, my ex-husband is my publisher and editor etc…my daughter is from my first marriage and I have a son from my current marriage. I’m very lucky that both fathers are extremely supportive and just all around great dads.
Anyway, here are some of the things I did in order to keep us going through the difficult financial times that came our way after having lost the home’s main income. We first calculated the amount of emergency money we had saved up. We have an emergency savings account that can’t be touched unless all else fails. We figured we had a couple of months but I didn’t want to dip into it, so I started working on alternative means of survival.
I first called the county help line. Every state and county should have one. Because I am disabled, I first spoke to social services and the office of disability. They in turn directed me to the help line number. This general information line covers everything from help with paying your rent to transportation if you can’t afford to get your car fixed .The way it primarily works is, different agencies as well as church groups join together and offer help.
A religious charity paid for our immediate bills such as electric and water. We then got help with the rent. This, in turn, allowed us to cover other smaller bills ourselves, such as phone, cable and car insurance. These agencies will only help pay for needs so don’t think you’re going to show up with a cell phone bill or cable bill and expect help. They will let you know the information you need to bring with you by phone before actually meeting with them. Don’t think of this as a handout but a hand up.
Through these help connections, I was able to travel to new places and meet new people that are actually part of my monthly money saving routine. I found connections for children’s school clothes at no cost, free school supplies, free pantry food and supplies, free holiday gift and food baskets, free dental care or dental care involving a 9.00 co-pay, help with job searches, and free entertainment, coupons and even vouchers to pick up toiletries for free at local grocery stores.
I was even able to sign my children up for free school lunches as a result of my being legally disabled. Free school lunches have extended benefits including free or reduced daycare and free school supplies, clothing and footwear.
With all the help we received we were able to avoid dipping into our emergency savings and I was still able to keep the family fed with nutritious simple meals; not to mention plenty of gas money. I only went to the grocery store for needed items I didn’t receive at the food pantries; my kids never new the difference.
We were able to bounce back right away after my husband finally found another job, which by the way, pays more, offers a retirement plan and investment choices and medical and dental insurance coverage for himself. My children and myself have free state insurance covered through my disability status.
I do have to say that my daughter’s father helped out quite a bit by giving extra child support and initially supplying my daughter with school clothes and supplies. I really thank him and appreciate him for that…and here we are, pretty much normalized again.
Things are looking up and life is good again. Don’t wait till you’re homeless or destitute to start looking for help. Make sure you try and build up an emergency savings for those hard times.
By being self sufficient and thinking ahead of time, my extended family and friends didn’t worry, I didn’t have to ask them for money or help and my savings was not lost…and most important of all, we didn’t end up homeless. This only made us stronger to take on life’s next big challenge. As long as my children are healthy and happy, I can get through anything. Till next time, remember…don’t stress about the holiday mess-later-g
Posted in Frugality, Household Solutions, Save Money | Tags: financial survival, government assistance, hard times, losing a job, marriage, no job, no money, surviving hard times
Saving Money at Home-part 2, Regifting
Saving money at home-part 2, Regifting
I want to make some things clear to you as I continue with this section. What I do on the side in order to save money is not always easy. There are always several factors I’ve needed to consider. With gas prices these days, I have to think about driving distance as well as the time it takes once I get to the location itself.
Sometimes I have to wait longer than expected. You should always make allowances for the unexpected. We humans run around this life of ours thinking we’re in total control and don’t realize it’s quite the opposite. I guess we wouldn’t be able to function and carry on knowing we’re not really in control…ok, I digress. I also don’t want you guys to think I drive around all day and try to fill my trunk with free food and free toiletries, etc… I always make sure that in every one of my endeavors and or transactions I try to show appreciation through small donations or kind gestures.
I keep a calendar hanging in my kitchen and mark down days for certain events, give-aways and weekly or monthly visits to places and people that already know me and expect me; like the clothes closet on Saturday mornings. You have to be quite organized and carry pen and paper at all times to write down any new events you might see or hear about along the way. Inviting friends to join in also makes the time spent more enjoyable.
The next thing I’d like to mention is to make sure your family and friends know and understand the way of life you have chosen. Not all family members and friends will understand. Don’t let this stand in your way, it then becomes their issue, not yours, if they choose to be judgmental. This is also a good way to find out who your real friends are!
You do have to have a pretty thick skin to follow through with this frugality way of living; just maintain your focus and center yourself each day knowing you’re reaching your goal to a much more liberating way of life. My family and friends have known for a while now and totally accept it. My way of life is a learning tool for them. They’ll sometimes call me up for some home-remedy for a sore throat or how to clean their tub naturally.
Some of them have actually become thriftier and happier along the way…like my sister in law. We just had a conversation the other day (after months of not speaking on the phone) about how much more liberating and happy she feels. She doesn’t feel as though life owns her. She made quite a few changes too, like removing her children from expensive private schools and finding good public schools. They even take the bus and she saves on gas. We can all do this with a little time and effort.
With the holiday season right around the corner, I’d like to touch on the subject of re-gifting. I rarely purchase new things for family and friends. For example, after I get to know the person’s likes and dislikes, I take time to put a little care package together and they always seem to really enjoy and appreciate it.
It’s so much more personal than going into a store and picking something up. It’s a lot more meaningful for all involved and they always end up with an assortment of gifts rather than just one or two items. It’s fun going through a package of stuff not knowing what comes next!
Recently, my son’s art teacher’s daughter had her 7th birthday. I went into my shoebox collection in the hall closet and decorated the boxes. I filled the boxes with lots of little things I know she’d like; books and movies we no longer used, a bracelet I never wear, a little purse I never use and some tops my daughter can no longer fit into.
I always make sure things are in good condition and clean. I also wrapped up a separate gift containing a beautiful knitted blanket I no longer use. I made a homemade card and wrapped it creatively using last year’s holiday wrapping paper and tied a pretty scarf around the outside as a bow.
The scarf itself was yet another gift. Another touch you might want to try is putting in a sheet of fabric softener inside your packages. When they open up the gift they immediately get a fresh nice smell and makes the gift even better. I also washed and sprayed the knitted blanket with some fabric refresher.
This way of gifting is very beneficial not only to the environment because you are recycling, keeps your surroundings clutter free and saves you loads of money and travel time and gas. You’re also making continuous room for more items you find for free or next to free.
Well, I’ll get back with you sometime later in the day. I want to talk to you about what I did when my husband lost his job several months ago as well as what I do to get help with my own children’s holiday presents. And now, I have to get ready to meet a friend at the clothes closet .I find some really great gifts there all year round which I save for holidays and birthdays. Don’t let the holidays stress you out. Liberate yourself and realize the real meaning of the season.
Later-g
Posted in Frugality, Household Solutions, Save Money | Tags: gifts, home meade gifts, regifting, Save Money, saving money, saving money on gifts
Save Money On Water
I found this short video on Youtube. It shows an easy way to save money in the simplest way by reducing the amound to water in each flush of your toilet.
Still No Ants
Avon’s Skin So Soft is still working. The ants have not returned, however it doesn’t seem to effect palmetto bugs (giant roaches very common here in Florida).
I have a screen enclosed patio in the front of my house, which it seems, is undefendable against these creepy invaders. I sprayed some Skin So Soft around the inner door sill, but the bugs seem to ignore it and continue to enter the house.
No ants though!