As I search around the blogosphere and read blogs of other frugal or work at home moms, I sometimes feel like I'm just not cutting it. What I'm saying is, I seriously lack time management skills and I can't understand how they find time to do it all in one day. I know we're all given the same 24 hours but how we use it makes so much difference in the amount we can accomplish. I have no problem admitting I am terrible at time management. I have poor organizational skills and it's making my quest for frugal living even harder. Cutting coupons, searching sites for the best deals, managing the CVS Extracare buck deals, making a shopping list, creating frugal meals from scratch, housework, taking care of the kids, earning an income at home... Some days I feel like I don't have time to go to the bathroom! It's even difficult for me to find time to blog and read other blogs. Sometimes I feel like I'm spreading myself way too thin but all these things need to be done!
I need to get myself on a schedule and maybe I need a life coach but I can't afford one so I'll have to be my own. I'm reading all the information I can find online about time management and organization. I try to prioritize but I feel like I'm buried under a huge mound of EVERYTHING and I don't know how to start digging my way out.
How do you manage your time and keep your sanity? Any advice is welcomed ( and much needed!)
Updated to add that I found www.beingfrugal.net and the tips are awesome. LOVE IT! =)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Frugal Beauty Tips
If you've been reading my blog you know about my dental problems. Now I know you're thinking, what the heck does that have to do with frugal beauty tips? Well, I have been taking a lot (and I mean A LOT) of Aleve for pain and I wanted to make sure I flushed it out of my kidneys so I've been drinking tons of water. Guess what? My skin, which is usually plagued by adult acne, is clearer than it's been in a LONG time. I know it has to be the water. I do normally drink water but probably not enough. My skin looks so much better and I even think the fine lines that I had seem to be reduced. Amazing.
Since we're on the subject of frugal beauty tips, I have a few that I'd like to share with you. Everyone should take time to pamper themselves and make themselves look and feel gorgeous. How can we make taking care of ourselves a priority without unloading hundreds of dollars at the cosmetics counters? There are quite a few ways to save money on looking great.
Use witch hazel as astringent. It's very cheap and can be easily found. Just use it the same way you would any commercial astringent.
Vaseline - I LOVE Vaseline. I use it to soften the skin on my knees and elbows. I put it on my feet then cover them with cotton socks overnight to help with dry, cracked heels. Vaseline is also great to use as a lip gloss. And speaking of lips, add some sugar to your Vaseline covered lips and rub with your finger for a couple minutes. This will exfoliate your lips and keep them smooth and soft.
Get enough sleep - This is completely free and not only will you look better, but you'll feel better too. Sleep is the body's way to recharge so make sure you get at least 6-8 hours a night.
Unscented baby wipes - Baby wipes are great for removing makeup. REALLY. I use them all the time. Why buy prepackaged commercial brand makeup wipes when these work just as well for a fraction of the cost?
Wash your hair every other day - Unless your hair is extremely greasy, too frequent washings can strip hair of essential oils.
Stay soft with a homemade sugar scrub
Mix-
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/8 cup vegetable oil
Before your shower, rub this all over especially elbows, knees and feet. You probably want to do this while standing in the shower otherwise you'll end up with a sticky mess.
Save money on cosmetics -
Ask for for free samples at department stores and shop drugstores. CVS has a lot of great deals on makeup and you can even earn extracare bucks!
Become a representative for a company like Avon or Mary Kay. Not only can you earn a little extra income, you can also save on your own purchases.
Do your own nails. It takes a little time and practice but it definitely pays off in the end. Search the internet for details on how to do your own manicure. In my area a manicure is between $25 and $40 so the savings can add up fast.
Buy products from a company with a good return policy. I'm not sure if they still do but Rite Aid used to offer a no questions return policy for makeup. I know Cover Girl will refund you if you're not satisfied. Do your homework before you buy.
Read reviews before making a purchase. If there's something specific you're looking for such as a great moisturizer or a new foundation, check out sites like ePinions and read beauty blogs for reviews on the latest cosmetics.
Buy cheaper makeup. A lot of the high price brands have you paying extra just for the name. When you compare ingredients, you'll see that many of the lower priced items are basically the same as the pricier ones. Aziza, Cover Girl, Bonnie Bell and Wet n Wild are a few brands that have some really good products that aren't expensive.
Beauty Supply Stores - These places are a wonderland for anyone who wants to save money and look great. I could spend hours inside Sally's Beauty. I can buy anything from products to highlight my hair to makeup sponges for really great prices. There's even a SallyBeauty.com Clearance Center to help you save even more.
What are your frugal beauty tips and ideas?
Since we're on the subject of frugal beauty tips, I have a few that I'd like to share with you. Everyone should take time to pamper themselves and make themselves look and feel gorgeous. How can we make taking care of ourselves a priority without unloading hundreds of dollars at the cosmetics counters? There are quite a few ways to save money on looking great.
Use witch hazel as astringent. It's very cheap and can be easily found. Just use it the same way you would any commercial astringent.
Vaseline - I LOVE Vaseline. I use it to soften the skin on my knees and elbows. I put it on my feet then cover them with cotton socks overnight to help with dry, cracked heels. Vaseline is also great to use as a lip gloss. And speaking of lips, add some sugar to your Vaseline covered lips and rub with your finger for a couple minutes. This will exfoliate your lips and keep them smooth and soft.
Get enough sleep - This is completely free and not only will you look better, but you'll feel better too. Sleep is the body's way to recharge so make sure you get at least 6-8 hours a night.
Unscented baby wipes - Baby wipes are great for removing makeup. REALLY. I use them all the time. Why buy prepackaged commercial brand makeup wipes when these work just as well for a fraction of the cost?
Wash your hair every other day - Unless your hair is extremely greasy, too frequent washings can strip hair of essential oils.
Stay soft with a homemade sugar scrub
Mix-
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/8 cup vegetable oil
Before your shower, rub this all over especially elbows, knees and feet. You probably want to do this while standing in the shower otherwise you'll end up with a sticky mess.
Save money on cosmetics -
Ask for for free samples at department stores and shop drugstores. CVS has a lot of great deals on makeup and you can even earn extracare bucks!
Become a representative for a company like Avon or Mary Kay. Not only can you earn a little extra income, you can also save on your own purchases.
Do your own nails. It takes a little time and practice but it definitely pays off in the end. Search the internet for details on how to do your own manicure. In my area a manicure is between $25 and $40 so the savings can add up fast.
Buy products from a company with a good return policy. I'm not sure if they still do but Rite Aid used to offer a no questions return policy for makeup. I know Cover Girl will refund you if you're not satisfied. Do your homework before you buy.
Read reviews before making a purchase. If there's something specific you're looking for such as a great moisturizer or a new foundation, check out sites like ePinions and read beauty blogs for reviews on the latest cosmetics.
Buy cheaper makeup. A lot of the high price brands have you paying extra just for the name. When you compare ingredients, you'll see that many of the lower priced items are basically the same as the pricier ones. Aziza, Cover Girl, Bonnie Bell and Wet n Wild are a few brands that have some really good products that aren't expensive.
Beauty Supply Stores - These places are a wonderland for anyone who wants to save money and look great. I could spend hours inside Sally's Beauty. I can buy anything from products to highlight my hair to makeup sponges for really great prices. There's even a SallyBeauty.com Clearance Center to help you save even more.
What are your frugal beauty tips and ideas?
Friday, April 24, 2009
Free Build and Grow Class at Lowes
Free fun for kids at Lowes, tomorrow, April 25th! If you have one near you, check it out =)
Frugal, Fun Ideas for Bored Kids
With summer right around the corner, I'll have a house full of bored kids. I'm trying to come up with some interesting things we can do that are fun and frugal. Aside from sending a couple of them off to summer camp (not really cheap but they need the break) we don't have much planned this year. Here are my ideas so far..
Going on picnics - Even if it's just on our own patio, it should break up the monotony of things a bit.
Visit any local museums. There are a few that I know of that we've never been to. I'm pretty sure they're free too.
Free concerts - They hold concerts every week throughout the summer at area parks. I need to find a list and choose which ones they'll enjoy most.
Library - We'll visit the local library to rent movies and check out some great books. Our library even has a story time and special activities for kids.
Computers - There are lots of fun sites that are child friendly and geared toward kids.
Draw pictures or color in coloring books - Coloring has always been one of my favorite things to do. Fingerpainting is another fun thing we'll have to try.
Cook together - This will teach them skills they'll need in the future and also be fun. I'll be seeking some easy, kid friendly recipes that we can all make together.
Boardgames - This is an old standby but it can be lots of fun. We can also play charades, hangman or a card game like go fish.
Go to the mall- You don't have to spend money to have a good time at the mall. People watching is fun, and we can enjoy the air conditioning and hit the sales racks for bargains. One local mall has a pet store, and we won't miss out on that!
Read books to each other- It's really fun to start reading and then take turns making up your own endings. I love some of the things the kids come up with. They have great imaginations.
Treasure hunts - I give each child a dollar or two and head out to the thrift stores and yard sales to see what cool things they can find for their money.
Water battles - use old, rinsed out shampoo bottles or dish soap bottles, squirt guns and pails.
What activities do you do during the summer to occupy the kids?
Going on picnics - Even if it's just on our own patio, it should break up the monotony of things a bit.
Visit any local museums. There are a few that I know of that we've never been to. I'm pretty sure they're free too.
Free concerts - They hold concerts every week throughout the summer at area parks. I need to find a list and choose which ones they'll enjoy most.
Library - We'll visit the local library to rent movies and check out some great books. Our library even has a story time and special activities for kids.
Computers - There are lots of fun sites that are child friendly and geared toward kids.
Draw pictures or color in coloring books - Coloring has always been one of my favorite things to do. Fingerpainting is another fun thing we'll have to try.
Cook together - This will teach them skills they'll need in the future and also be fun. I'll be seeking some easy, kid friendly recipes that we can all make together.
Boardgames - This is an old standby but it can be lots of fun. We can also play charades, hangman or a card game like go fish.
Go to the mall- You don't have to spend money to have a good time at the mall. People watching is fun, and we can enjoy the air conditioning and hit the sales racks for bargains. One local mall has a pet store, and we won't miss out on that!
Read books to each other- It's really fun to start reading and then take turns making up your own endings. I love some of the things the kids come up with. They have great imaginations.
Treasure hunts - I give each child a dollar or two and head out to the thrift stores and yard sales to see what cool things they can find for their money.
Water battles - use old, rinsed out shampoo bottles or dish soap bottles, squirt guns and pails.
What activities do you do during the summer to occupy the kids?
Thursday, April 23, 2009
No dental insurance - BIG mistake, HUGE!
I've never really given much thought to having a dental plan until this past week. Of course, I make sure the kids have their check-ups and routine dental care but I've put off having things done and now I'm paying for it (figuratively and literally).
Last week I started having some pains in my jaw. I dealt with it until the pain got so intense I could barely open my eyes. On Saturday, I had to go to the ER. I had a fever and was really scared of getting sepsis from an infection. They told me I had an abscess under my teeth, in the roots, and gave me a prescription for antibiotics and a painkiller, Tramadol (which doesn't work, by the way).
I won't be able to get this completely taken care of for about 10 days. I saw the dentist, they told me to keep taking the antibiotics and the infection should clear up. Today is the first time I've really felt any relief so obviously, the Amoxicillin has kicked in. Too bad it took about 98 hours. I can honestly say, the pain I was having rivaled labor and delivery.. and I've had seven kids so I know what I'm talking about.
Now, for the dental plan that I don't have... I know we need dental insurance. I'm looking into it. It seems pretty affordable for the most part. Any savings is welcome because dental visits can get pricey. Did you know for preventive care it only costs an average of $150 a year and that's without insurance? I just regret letting it get to the point where I need such extensive work.
If you have any suggestions for dental plans or ideas on how to save money on dental care, please feel free to share!
Last week I started having some pains in my jaw. I dealt with it until the pain got so intense I could barely open my eyes. On Saturday, I had to go to the ER. I had a fever and was really scared of getting sepsis from an infection. They told me I had an abscess under my teeth, in the roots, and gave me a prescription for antibiotics and a painkiller, Tramadol (which doesn't work, by the way).
I won't be able to get this completely taken care of for about 10 days. I saw the dentist, they told me to keep taking the antibiotics and the infection should clear up. Today is the first time I've really felt any relief so obviously, the Amoxicillin has kicked in. Too bad it took about 98 hours. I can honestly say, the pain I was having rivaled labor and delivery.. and I've had seven kids so I know what I'm talking about.
Now, for the dental plan that I don't have... I know we need dental insurance. I'm looking into it. It seems pretty affordable for the most part. Any savings is welcome because dental visits can get pricey. Did you know for preventive care it only costs an average of $150 a year and that's without insurance? I just regret letting it get to the point where I need such extensive work.
If you have any suggestions for dental plans or ideas on how to save money on dental care, please feel free to share!
There's no such thing as "Cheap" Child Care
I've found out one of the most difficult tasks as a parent can be finding someone you trust to watch your children. Whether it's for a night out with your partner or a full-time sitter while you work, you have to be careful and thoroughly research the people you leave your children with. There's just no real way to be frugal or cheap when it comes to paying for child care. This is one time when money can't get in the way of quality. Cheap just won't cut it when your child's safety, emotional and educational needs are involved.
How can you assure your child will get quality care without going bankrupt?
You'll have to learn to scrimp in other areas to afford care for your child. Being frugal in all other areas could afford you to pay for childcare. It's a sacrifice of course, but well worth it.
See if a trusted family member can watch them. While you probably wouldn't want them to keep your child every day, a family member works out nicely for special occasions. Perhaps one of them would like additional income and if need be, watch them while you work. It would most likely be more affordable than hiring someone outside the family.
If you have a job that is flexible and allows you to stay home, then you can do most of your work while your child is sleeping. Maybe hire someone to come in one day a week to care for the kids so you can get a huge chunk done and meet deadlines.
Trade child care with a friend. Setting up a child care exchange system can work out well if you have kids around the same age. Take turns watching each others children and it won't cost you a dime.
Work opposite shifts than your partner so one of you will always be around to watch the kids. In tough times, this can be a great solution but be sure to find time to spend alone with your partner.
Universities will sometimes have a daycare affiliated with it. They usually offer open spots to faculty and students but if there are any left over, you may be able to have your child placed there. Typically, child development students are caring for the children and it's very affordable.
Don't be too proud to seek financial assistance for childcare if you qualify. The US Government has state listings for child care information available. It's definitely an option to explore if you've exhausted all others.
Remember, the care of your child is the best investment you'll ever make so you never want to opt for the cheapest care just because it's cheap. Ask family and friends for referrals, check with your church, search classifieds and online for local babysitter listings, do background checks and ask for references. You can never be too careful.
How do you afford childcare? What sacrifices do you make?
How can you assure your child will get quality care without going bankrupt?
You'll have to learn to scrimp in other areas to afford care for your child. Being frugal in all other areas could afford you to pay for childcare. It's a sacrifice of course, but well worth it.
See if a trusted family member can watch them. While you probably wouldn't want them to keep your child every day, a family member works out nicely for special occasions. Perhaps one of them would like additional income and if need be, watch them while you work. It would most likely be more affordable than hiring someone outside the family.
If you have a job that is flexible and allows you to stay home, then you can do most of your work while your child is sleeping. Maybe hire someone to come in one day a week to care for the kids so you can get a huge chunk done and meet deadlines.
Trade child care with a friend. Setting up a child care exchange system can work out well if you have kids around the same age. Take turns watching each others children and it won't cost you a dime.
Work opposite shifts than your partner so one of you will always be around to watch the kids. In tough times, this can be a great solution but be sure to find time to spend alone with your partner.
Universities will sometimes have a daycare affiliated with it. They usually offer open spots to faculty and students but if there are any left over, you may be able to have your child placed there. Typically, child development students are caring for the children and it's very affordable.
Don't be too proud to seek financial assistance for childcare if you qualify. The US Government has state listings for child care information available. It's definitely an option to explore if you've exhausted all others.
Remember, the care of your child is the best investment you'll ever make so you never want to opt for the cheapest care just because it's cheap. Ask family and friends for referrals, check with your church, search classifieds and online for local babysitter listings, do background checks and ask for references. You can never be too careful.
How do you afford childcare? What sacrifices do you make?
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Happy Earth Day 2009!
Today, in honor of Earth Day, I want to talk to you about Freecycle. For those of you who don't know, Freecycle.org has local email groups listed where you can find things you need and give away things you don't use for free. The idea is to keep as much as possible out of landfills. Not only will you be saving money by using Freecycle, you'll also be helping save the environment!
I've given away quite a few things and my washing machine came from a very nice gentleman on my local freecycle list. It works wonderfully and saved me at least $200! You can find everything from baby clothes to car parts and everything in between. If you haven't already, I urge you to sign up for the freecycle nearest you. You can start clearing out some clutter and perhaps find something you need. Why pay for something when you can get it for free?
I've given away quite a few things and my washing machine came from a very nice gentleman on my local freecycle list. It works wonderfully and saved me at least $200! You can find everything from baby clothes to car parts and everything in between. If you haven't already, I urge you to sign up for the freecycle nearest you. You can start clearing out some clutter and perhaps find something you need. Why pay for something when you can get it for free?
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