Archive for the Category »frugal living «

Aug

Good Morning! I follow at lot of money savings sites and I love to get great deals.

I really wasn’t ready for Tightwad Tuesday to be here already…but I do have some random thoughts related to savings:)

First, going organic has affected my couponing and I am still trying to regroup…but I see that Little People Wealth has a GREAT list of printable organic coupons up today.

Also, because I am thinking Homeschooling with Fall coming, I want to remind people to get the FREE Homeschool 101 Digital Magazine–it is a pdf download, and you do not need to print it if you do not want to, just download it. It has a crazy amount of information and I especially liked the articles by one of my friends, Kristen, who blogs over at A Day In The Life…she did some articles on types of homeschooling that helped me understand some of the nuances in edu-speak. You can download Homeschool 101, here.

I also searched my archives and realized I only have one post officially tagged as frugal savings! Really? And I am always saving! Anyway the post is on how to make homemade laundry detergent if you are really lazy…which I often am. Or busy. I am that, too. You can find Homemade Cheap and Easy Laundry Detergent, here.

Category: curriculum, frugal living, homeschooling Tags: Frugality, Home and Family, Homemaking, homeschooling, Laundry, Little People Wealth 2 Comments

Nov

Holiday Savings

quinnschilling

I LOVE getting great deals in my reader. Right now, there are all kinds of deals popping up for the holidays.

I do follow several really great savings sites. Thank you guys!

Right now, I loved this Yankee Candle coupon deal, Thanks, Together We Save!

Also, check out Little People Wealth for some great Christmas Savings Ideas. I need to join her Christmas Challenge!

Category: frugal living Tags: frugal living One Comment

Oct

Old Navy: $2 Costumes

quinnschilling

Saw this over at Deal Seeking Mom and had to share! Sounds like Old Navy is marking down all Halloween costumes and other Halloween treats to $2 on Friday, October 30th and Saturday, October 31st.

Note: I have been burned by posting a sale about Old Navy that did not happen once- but this is worth a look:) Good Luck getting a deal!

Category: frugal living Tags: deals Comments off

Oct

Cheap Laundry Detergent

quinnschilling

Tired of paying tons of $ for laundry?

Today is a Lazy Tuesday Tip from…a SAHM who doesn’t want to get up at 6 am. Quick, cheap laundry detergent that works.

Well, I have been sitting on tons of items I’d like to post…but just have been too busy…or lazy…(I suppose a bit of both!)

Anyway, I learned about this when I was frustrated by spending so much money on laundry detergent. We have five kids and luckily for me, most of them do their own laundry (yes they are good!) The bad part is, I could spend up to $15 bucks a week just to have detergent–not to mention spray n wash, etc.

So, when I began to read about homemade laundry detergent, I was very interested. Then, I read about having to have the 5 gallon bucket and boil everything, etc and, well, I just did not want to try it. I was already way overstretched beginning to homeschool, with my husband out of work and I also did not want a 5 gallon bucket of liquid rolling around in our laundry room! I could almost imagine the spill:) I did feel guilty, though:)

OK. So. I mentioned my reluctance to change my ways to a friend and her husband. He gave me his secret for easy laundry detergent:

Grate one bar of Fels Naptha Soap (.99 at our grocery store)
Add 1/2 cup Borax (We use Mule Team Borax–you can find at any grocery)
Add 1 cup Washing Soda (We use Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda–again, you can find easily)
Use about 2 Tbls. of this dry mixture in each wash

We have been doing this for about a year and I really love it. It is super easy and easy to store with the washer. My oldest kids grate the soap for me–they actually like to do it. I suppose we could also use a cuisinart, but mine broke a while back so I haven’t tried that. This leaves no scent (which I like, I’m allergic to stuff) I have had no problems with clothes being clean.

So, if you like the idea of making your own laundry detergent, but it sounds like a pain…do this one! Then, if you get all into it, there are plenty of fancier homemades to try. Good Luck:)

PS: we still do use spray-n-wash sometimes–I suspect it is bad for us, but I haven’t gotten around to doing something about that yet!

Let me know if y’all have any lazy Tuesday tips of your own!

Category: Lazy Tuesday Tip, frugal living Tags: frugal living, Lazy Tuesday Tip One Comment

Apr

How did it get 2 b Thursday?

quinnschilling

Wow. Between homeschool planning and spring cleaning & reading up on preparing for the Swine Flu, (H1N1 Flu). It is suddenly Thursday. The weeks just fly by:) Anyway, I have been busy getting my son’s school work in order, reviewing to take the Iowa test, for legal documentation for homeschooling in North Carolina. All good stuff (except the H1N1 Flu), but definitely busy!

Seriously, if you are wondering, this CDC website gives clear updates on the Flu and ways to get prepared in case your family gets sick. While I know we are all in God’s hands, I do want to get stocked up on tylenol and fluids, clean sheets & towels, etc. Anything I can do ahead of time helps, because I am Horrible at getting up in the middle of the night:) No joke, it is HARD to wake me! I need to be prepared for stuff….

Well, anyway, as this is our first year Homeschooling, I am learning mainly through trial and error, skimming all kinds of websites and asking my local support group folks. Still, I always feel behind. From some of the blogs I’ve been following, it seems this is pretty typical for the first year experience…and then we’ll all be soaring….I hope!

So far I especially like the following homeschooling sites:
http://www.hslda.org,
http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com,
http://www.econobusters.com/, and
http://www.aophomeschooling.com, especially their “the daily focus” reading.
Oh–this site is gorgeous: http://www.aholyexperience.com/. These are just some of the wonderful, helpful sites I have found this year. Do you have any favorites? Any advice? Let me know!