StBridgit's comments

How to Save Money on Cloth Diapers - Blog Entry

15 May 2009 07:39 PM

A couple of things we learned from our foray into cloth diapers with our son.

First, plan to change your child's diaper more frequently if you are switching from disposables. Disposable diapers do a great job of wicking moisture away from the skin, and cloth diapers don't (even the microfiber ones can't compete). You need to change frequently to prevent problems with diaper rash & yeast rashes.

Second, keep your diaper pail or bag small and you will minimize odors. Some people prefer a plastic pail with water in it, some prefer a hanging waterproof bag that can be scented with essential oils. Either way, you want to minimize the amount of time diapers sit (even soaking in a pail) before washing. Doing a small load of diapers a day is better than trying to stretch it out over several days (and you avoid stains).

Third, make sure you are careful about what detergents and rinse aids you use with the diapers. Some detergents and rinse aids will block up the cloth "pores" over time and decrease their absorbancy, causing problems for you. You might need to switch brands of detergents or use a different one for the diapers.

Fourth, be prepared for the extra bulk of cloth underneath clothing. You might have to buy a size bigger for your kiddo, especially if he/she is at the top of the growth curve. This might mean pant legs that are too long and need to be rolled up, etc.

Fifth, if you try it and it doesn't work for you, don't feel bad. Sell your cloth diaper accoutrements and keep your eyes open for stock up deals on disposables. In our case, no matter how often we changed him our son kept getting yeast rashes with cloth diapers, so we went back to disposables. To each their own!

Organizing Your Freezer for Freezer Cooking - Blog Entry

05 May 2009 07:18 PM

Thanks for the shelf tips, that makes a lot of sense! We tend to lose leftovers in the freezer, so having it better organized will really help avoid those 'mystery meals' no one wants to defrost.

Things to Know About Your Freezer - Blog Entry

04 May 2009 08:46 PM

I would love some tips on how best to organize a freezer so that it's easy to find things, and also how to label frozen items for easy retrieval. Thanks!

How to Save Money on Fruits and Vegetables - Blog Entry

23 Apr 2009 06:36 PM

Or grow your own! Can or freeze your garden's largesse and you can eat it for many months after the garden is dormant. We still have corn on the cob in the freezer from last year's garden, plus roasted pumpkin & squash, and canned jams. By the time we've used it all up, we'll be canning and freezing more.

Save Money on Travel - Blog Entry

21 Apr 2009 10:47 PM

Oh yep, definitely. The lowest fares I've seen lately are $300 round trip to London from New York. The travel dates even included the summer, which is traditionally the most expensive time to fly to Europe. There are bargains to be had if you have some vacation funds to use!

Save Money on Travel - Blog Entry

20 Apr 2009 08:53 PM

One strategy that works really well is to travel when traveling is down, in general. Now many airlines are hurting for business, and fares have come down large amounts in proportion to their desire for business. For example, our family traveled to Europe last year to visit family, and it cost us $3700 including fuel surcharges. Now the same fares can be had for $2000. If you are able to be opportunistic in your vacation timing, and just sit tight on some designated vacation funds, you can often get some really good deals every 3-4 years as travel naturally cycles to the downward part of the curve.

Frugal Easter Fun - Blog Entry

12 Apr 2009 07:57 PM

Sure. I shamelessly steal Alton Brown's marshmallow recipe from the Food Network website, I just use my own flavorings instead of vanilla extract. The only caveat is that you really need a stand mixer for them--a hand mixer isn't going to have enough horsepower to whip the marshmallow.

Frugal Easter Fun - Blog Entry

08 Apr 2009 03:35 PM

I find the bag stuffers for birthday gifts to make great little toys and treats to put into Easter baskets. If you keep an eye out through the year you can pick them up on sale for $1 each (i.e. per pack of 8!) at party supply stores and the big box stores. It's less candy and just as fun for the kids.

Also popular for us are bubbles and sidewalk chalk. I also make homemade marshmallows--they taste much better and are easy to make, plus I can flavor them with many different flavors (lemon, mint, coconut) and colors.

How to Have a Frugal Garden - Blog Entry

07 Apr 2009 08:39 PM

You should be able to find local testing companies by contacting your county extension office. They can usually refer you to a local analytical chemistry lab that will perform soil testing.

How to Have a Frugal Garden - Blog Entry

02 Apr 2009 05:45 PM

I think they are okay, but they aren't comprehensive for every area. There is a slightly higher cost with local testing, but you also typically get a "package" test that will test your soil for nutrients that are known to be lacking in local soils.