Home replicators! Looks like we won’t have to wait for the twenty fourth century after all. Check this out. It’s called RepRap. It’s open source and, I predict, will be a common appliance in our homes within a few years. “Like having your own China in your home.  You saw it here first folks. Get ready to have your mind blown.

Ways to save…

Write down everything you buy and every activity you spend money on. Make sure you write down what it was for and file it under ‘needs’ or ‘wants’. Be really honest with yourself and ask if you could really have lived without spending the money. When I started this plan years ago, I also wrote and ‘alternative’ column and found free ways of achieving the same thing.

Pay all your credit cards and debts off. Avoid charging and just keep a debit card that can also be used as a credit card. If you do have credit cards with lots of credit, use these as an emergency savings account.

Write down a list of spending triggers. Check yourself out as you go through your day and maybe try to figure out what makes you spend. Are you sad, lonely, bored, excited, etc…

Figure out and write down ALL of your income sources, then eliminate any services you are paying on a monthly or weekly basis.

Write out your savings goal. Don’t eliminate things all at once – do it little by little and don’t get upset if you fail at first. Just keep on trying. Reward yourself with a little something at the end of each week. Remember, you’re trying to break and addiction so you’ll need to try and replace an unhealthy habit with a healthy one.

Just like you carry pictures of your children in your wallet, carry a little note to yourself with an affirmation of your savings plan and look at it throughout the day to remind you and give you strength. Create a wish list and look at that several times as well.

Here are some new books I’ve found to be quite helpful:

Growing money by Gail Karlitz
The Teen Girl’s Gotta have it guide by Jessica Blatt
The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn – great for moms and families
Extraordinary uses for Ordinary things – Reader’s Digest – I love this one!
Semi-Homemade Money Saving Meals by Sandra Lee quick. Simple and inexpensive
The Millionaire next door by Thomas J. Stanley – interesting read

Eliminating bad spending habits…

Here are some tips that have helped me to reduce my habitual spending habits:

1) If you work outside the home, make sure you pack your own breakfast and lunch. Find jobs close to home and save on gas or carpool. If you drive an older car, the money you save on food and gas can go towards car repairs.
2) Purchase work attire with more natural fibers, this way you can eliminate dry cleaning all together and wash and iron your own clothes at home. You might not even need to iron if you get used to setting your washer and dryer on permanent press.
3) Give yourself a weekly allowance and remember that once it’s gone it’s gone. Pretend a certain amount is all you have left and you have no other money sources.
4) Eliminate expensive and unhealthy manicures and pedicures. Try doing your own at home or go without it all together. These can add up to some big chunks of money coming out of your monthly budget.
5) When you’re in need of services such as haircuts or dental work, you may consider Barber schools or student dental centers. I cut and or trim everyone’s hair at home. I’ve had loads of experience cutting hair, not to mention, my Father was a Barber, so I hung out at his shop a lot and learned from just watching him. My Brother is also a Barber and Hairstylist now, but he lives in another city, and it’s much more time and money saving for me to cut my own family’s hair.
6) Try not to use other ATM machines other than your own bank. Those service charges can add up and at times I’ve even forgotten to add the fees and have thrown my checkbook off balance.
7) Replace the shopping habit with healthier alternatives. If shopping used to be the way of fulfilling yourself or making yourself happy, try lower cost hobbies or forms of entertainment. Got to the library or out for a picnic. Get some new interests and hobbies that are free or can be started with very little investment. If you don’t have the money to buy something, don’t buy it on credit. Wait till you have the cash, find some alternative replacement or try to do without it all together.
9) Be smart if you’re into the whole coupon thing. Don’t buy something you rarely use just because you found a coupon for it. I find shopping at discount food stores is actually cheaper than taking time out to cut coupons. If it works for you though, go for it.
10) Avoid eating out. It’s both expensive, habit forming and very unhealthy. It will make you lazy and you won’t be able to stay on budget. Your extra money can surely go to more than a dinner out or calling for delivery. Plan your weekly menu and shop list and try cooking meals for freezing on the weekend. Just bring meals down from the freezer the night before or morning of.
11) Use generic wherever possible. A more expensive item isn’t always better. I use  inexpensive fragrance oils and they always get me compliments, and because they’re a pure oil, they stay on me pretty much all day long.
12) Try buying in bulk for larger families. Again like coupons, be careful not to fall into the over buying trap simply because it’s on sale and there’s large amounts offered.
13) Check into switching to a credit union. They offer free checking and lots of other free and convenient services that large banks won’t.
14) Try snail mail or email instead of calling long distance. Purchase some inexpensive stationery and let it be an incentive to writing to family and friends. Beware of cheap phone packages that offer lower rates. Make sure the rates are continuous and not just for the first couple of months.
15) Insulate and weather strip areas of your home and keep your air ducts and filters clear of dust. Your air conditioning unit will work more efficiently, last longer and your electric bill will be a lot lower.
16) Never pay for shipping on your purchases unless you absolutely need it and can’t find it elsewhere. The worst is buying off television or on the internet with shipping added.
17) Avoid buying fire- wood in grocery stores. It’s most expensive there. Try getting your own or bartering with friends. Try finding folks that will deliver wood in bulk.
18) Stay at home when funds are running low or are gone all together. Avoid driving as much as possible. Do activities that will bring you a sense of peace and comfort so you won’t sit around worrying until funds become available again. Separate yourself and take time to rest, you’ll need your energy for errands and responsibilities that will soon come again.
19) Use up pantry food after fresh food is gone. Take it down to bare minimum if possible. I do #18 and #19 several times a year before getting paid the first week of every month. Some months have more spending than others. This month, for example, I have the yearly car registrations due. Always have some money on hand for life’s little emergencies.
20) I have replaced a lot of bad spending habits with reading. Books take me away and some of my best reads have been free or real cheap second hand buys. I’ve actually come across some first edition books signed by the author for free or very little cost.

Books are one of the best things you can leave your children. Reading is a very powerful tool that benefits every life young or old. Just relax and don’t worry yourself when funds are low. If you know money will eventually come in, worrying won’t solve anything. Keep a positive attitude and make the most of what you have. Be creative and figure out some ways to make a little money on the side. I often think of people that have absolutely nothing and it makes me take a good look at how much I really have and how much I really don’t need, especially to survive. Survival is basic and that’s where simplicity and frugality comes in. Keep it at need level and when you have a little extra, you’ll enjoy it and appreciate so much more. It’s great if your children can witness this as well.

Later,g

Education and money…

I just got back from picking up my son from school. I had to write this as soon as I got in. I was speaking with one of the other mothers whose child is in the same first grade level. She was telling me how stressed she was as a reslut of she’s been running all over the place while driving her child to extra curricular activities.

Well, children really don’t need all that after school activity. We should let them go at their own pace and have lots of down time to re-coop from the day’s events. This helps bring a sense of balance and calmness to a child. I find that most of these activities are brought on by the parents themselves, and most times, the kids aren’t really that happy to participate…not to mention all the money one has to shell out.

Anyway, back to my main point. She spends around 50.00 a week to have her child tutored. That’s the problem these days. We put our children in expensive private schools and somehow think they’ll end up learning more. Some people even go as far as military schools for young ones and even boarding schools. These parents seem to want to get rid of their children, or are not willing to take a little time and help their children themselves. Before there were schools, parents taught at home and soon special study programs were being offered through the mail. Home schooling came long before public schools.

One of the ways this woman could cut cost and have a little extra time is to simply get rid of some of the after school activities, thereby, allowing her a bit more time to spend tutoring her child herself…not to mention she’d save herself over 200.00 dollars a month!

We really need to bring education to a simple and frugal level. It’s gotten very commercialized from baby Einstein to special pre schools that offer special accelerated educational programs. I’ve even read about some pre schools in the Los Angeles area that  interview your baby before they’re ACCEPTED…and then they end up costing you an arm and a leg anyway. It’s become a status symbol and parents somehow feel on top expressing to other parents that their child attends a certain school. Whatever happened to basic reading and writing? We as parents are certainly able to help with at least the primary grades. There’s a ton of help out there from the internet, to your local library, on guidelines for helping your child. Believe me, I know, I do it myself, each and everyday.

I know there are exceptions and there are times your child will need specialized care you are unable to provide, but if you are able to do it, you’ll not only save money but be rewarded time and time again. There is no one better than you to teach or tutor your child, and it will be something he or she will remember for the rest of their lives. You’re also setting up an important and valuable pattern of self- sufficiency and smart, simple, frugal alternatives for future generations to come.

Here are some ways to help your child succeed no matter what school they attend. Remember, education does begin at home and the tools and guidelines can be both simple and money saving. If you are interested in home schooling your child, your local county should offer FREE home school courses based on public schools county curriculum.

1) Involve yourself with your child’s school and teachers. Keep up with special events and volunteer whenever possible. I volunteer quite a bit, as it requires no money out of pocket. Most times, the volunteer parents are much more appreciated than the ones who flash the cash and don’t really care. Your child will also develop a more positive attitude towards learning in school. They come to realize how hard you’ve worked with them and learn to appreciate and value learning. I love when my Son looks into my eyes, and with very loving eyes of his own, smiles and says ”thank you mommy, for helping me…you’re the best teacher and I love you so much.” That’s all the reward I need right there.

2) Keep a printed out copy of the grade’s expectations throughout the whole year. I got an expectation sheet from Scholastic and printed it out. I keep it nearby when we work together at the table. From time to time I review certain sections that might be forgotten. Don’t teach subjects ahead of time as this might cause the child to become bored and feel out of place. Unless your child has been tested for Gifted, for example (as my daughter was and ended up being Gifted), just go with the flow.

3) Print out next year’s expectations and do some summer fun work.

4) Sit daily with your little one and help him or her with homework. Use the homework itself as a learning tool. Make sure they truly comprehend the lesson and review it on other days if necessary.

5) Try being creative at home and come up with some educational fun things to do such as, cooking, and baking. These are excellent tools for encouraging science and mathematics.

6) Work with them on the fundamentals such as making their bed or helping with the yard work. You can’t really learn life lessons and responsibilities at school.

7) Create a social base for your child. Manners and good choices really do begin at home. Have a family board game night and reduce television time or even non- educational computer and or video games and go for a walk to talk about the events of the day. Have a special dinner night that introduces foods from different countries and discuss its people and cultures. Help the child see how very connected he or she is with the planet. This is a great social studies lesson time and most of these fun activities will not be taken has having to learn something.
Keep important papers such as upcoming tests, sight words and reading or writing logs so your child’s reading abilities expand, their comprehension as well as writing skills. You have to remember that at every turn you are re enforcing what academically they are learning in school. Children who were on the way to being held back from a certain grade have turned it around with these few easy steps. Find creative ways to enforce school learning…be an extension of the teacher so to speak.

9) Read every day with your child. Use weekends to review lessons learned and keep them fresh in their minds.

10) Try giving mini tests on subjects covered at school and always make sure they’re prepared for upcoming tests such as spelling words or even a math quiz.

11) Take advantage of your local library and its many programs offered for free. Sign up for free summer workshops for your child as well as yourself. Take advantage of local community centers. They will at times offer a yoga class, for example, at a much cheaper rate than a private owner would.

12) Go to the park and learn about the animals and plants in nature.

13) Go grocery shopping together and figure out a budget. Buy your kids a piggy bank or get an old shoe- box and encourage them to save and count their money monthly. That’s a great math lesson in itself.

14) Go to as many free workshops at their local school and take them along. For example, Literacy nite or Math nite. You’ll both learn tips on learning methods. It doesn’t hurt either to let the school notice your attendance and involvement.

15) And to round it all off, try taking your child with you when you volunteer with the poor or encourage them to make up a care basket for needy children. This will encourage empathy and acceptance of diversity – which is what we need more of in this world. Their teachers will notice the difference and they will be so proud of themselves and build up their self-esteem, which in turn, will push them to believe they can accomplish anything with a little hard work, a willingness and positive attitude towards themselves and others as well. And all of this is TOTALLY FREE!…so, don’t feel you need the latest most expensive learning tools or gadgets, if you really want to help your child, you can do it in a frugal and simple way.

Later-g

This idea works especially well if you have children or living communally with other extended family members.

Keep in mind, when attempting to impress your significant other, it really IS the thought that counts. Anyone can simply go and buy some expensive gift that really has no meaning and no thought went into it. It’s the time spent together and the place that will most likely linger in your hearts and minds.

Maybe you could have a big box and start collecting special items your mate likes. Do this little by little and watch it grow. Buy or make little inexpensive items that in the end will look like you’ve really taken your time to put together.

We all love when people take the time to think about what someone would really like and not just buy one gift. I love practicing this concept. It works great every time! People are so excited to look through this huge box filled with goodies. As I’ve said before, I collect from garage sales, church closets, secondhand stores or free stores and have even found some nice chocolate filled candies at local food pantries.

Make your own card and wrap it in pretty material and use a pretty scarf or bow that could be used later. Believe me, you’ll really make a statement and everyone will look forward to receiving your big box of goodies every year, and the best part, you’ll have spent next to nothing. I’m actually known for that method of giving now, and all the feedback has been extremely positive.

Try this when a gift is called for from birthdays, anniversaries or holidays. The worst thing you can do is to buy gifts in season – the opposite of food buying. You should always try and buy foods in season.

This is how I remember. Special holidays like Mother’s day will charge more for flowers and Valentine’s Day has more expensive chocolates. Buy off-season for such things as candy for Halloween, a box of generic cards if you don’t make your own. Or even try planting your own rose bush and have expensive roses available as needed and therefore be able to create your own flower arrangements, which tend to not be worth the money you pay for them anyway.

If you really want to get radical, plant your own fruit trees and make your own fruit baskets or simply by fresh fruit in season and make your own creative arrangement. I also like putting together dry goods baskets. What can be more romantic than to have bought a few bags of seeds of the flower of your choice and watch the plant grow as your relationship grows.

If you’re planning a romantic dinner out at a fine restaurant, why not plan some kind of an outdoor picnic instead. Pack some simple and inexpensive foods that keep well and maybe add a cheap bottle of wine. Choose a special spot that you both remember and have maybe really enjoyed in the past, and let your creativity flow.

And one last thought. Try having a movie night in. Be creative and set the mood. Light up some of those unused hurricane candles and spread some extra cozy blankets and pillows around. Top it all off with some simple and inexpensive finger foods and your favorite drink. You’ll save a hell of a lot more money and save yourself from the aggravations that can occur when one goes out to the movies…parking, people talking constantly in the theatre, the same person bumping into your chair, waiting in long lines to get food and snacks, driving long distances and gas expense.

At home, you can wear whatever you want and go barefoot or even naked for that matter… Oh, and you may even avoid catching a bad case of hair lice. Movie theatre seats are very well known for harboring lice and their eggs.

Small ways to save money…

Saving money can sometimes mean you have to put on your creative thinking cap. Think about what you already have to work with. Think about what’s already been provided and create from there.

Entertainment:

First think of your intent as well as outcome. If you’re planning a vacation, let it be just that. Some folks end up needing a vacation from their vacation; the same goes for finding ways of entertaining yourself. Entertainment doesn’t necessarily mean tiring yourself out. I think of it almost as a form of recreation. This way, you’ll find many more ways of using what’s already out there, and not having to purchase items or give others money to entertain you.

Hiking in nature is free for the taking. Try going on short hikes at first and pack your own food. Don’t fall for all of the equipment some backpacking places tell you you’ll need. You’ll find you don’t need as much after all. If you do need more travel gear, as your hikes get longer, go for simple secondhand stuff. Think of things you’ll basically need for your own protection and survival. Check out books at your local library or go on line for simple hiking tips. Some community centers as well as backpacking retailers offer instructional classes for free. You’ll be healthier and find it to be incredibly enjoyable and educational as well. Make sure you take a camera along and create memories that’ll last a life- time. You could even put holiday cards together that include your hiking family photos and there you’ll have a simple, personal and inexpensive gift. Keep a hiking journal and draw some nature pictures.

Sometimes, your own hobbies can be a basis to developing ideas for family fun. Activities like collecting seashells, camping, or even volunteer work, like saving sea turtles, can be both rewarding and entertaining. Stay at home or close to home whenever possible. Find ways of staying at home and come up with fun and free ideas.

Use your local library:

Your library offers free rentals on tapes, dvd’s, cd’s and some really cool movies. I’ve introduced my daughter to some of my favorite movies from checking them out at the library. I hardly ever purchase new books, instead, you’d be surprised how quickly the library system brings in the latest publications from newspapers, magazines and books. As soon as the novel Pillars of the Earth came out, the library already had it and I even had to get on the waiting list. It only took a couple of days before one came available, and I finally got to enjoy this extraordinary novel for free.

Take the kids out for library night and check out some books or movies. Afterwards, pick up a few cheap snacks and enjoy your free movie at home together.

The library also has some really great free programs all year round and especially throughout the summer time. Sign you and your kids up and some presentations even offer free food and drinks. This is also good to get you connected to other free and educational activities throughout your community. Sometimes, they’ll even offer coupons at my library. It’s really a catalyst for all kinds of free entertainment!

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-