The Many Uses for Ikea Bags

If you know anything about me, you know I am a big fan of IKEA. IKEA is a great inexpensive place to go for accessories for the home and for the odd piece of furniture. I also think it is a great place to purchase Christmas presents. A website called IKEA Hacker that profiles all of the cool things you can do with different items from IKEA. The Ikea Hacker website shows you to to take the highly functional and cute IKEA items and turn them into decorative works of art. For instance, the white PS cabinet was transformed into … Continue reading

More Affordable Memorial Day Fun

Since the majority of kids are still in school until June, most families stick closer to home during the long Memorial Day weekend. However, this year, the flailing economy is also contributing to families looking for fun, affordable activities that don’t require traveling long distances. If you are looking for Memorial Day family-friendly fun that won’t put a strain on your family’s budget, consider the following: Take me out to the ballpark: Minor league baseball is an inexpensive way to enjoy time with the family. According to AAA, the average cost to buy tickets for a family of four is … Continue reading

7 Frugal Reasons I Won’t Be Going Shopping on Black Friday (3)

Whether you are home today avoiding the stores as I am, or just returned from you Black Friday shopping trip, I hope that you are having a nice and very frugal day. Personally, I am avoiding it all, the Black Friday shopping and even the Black Friday ads. I don’t want to be tempted to run out for that one special thing that I didn’t know I needed. I have been sharing some of the seven reasons why I won’t be going shopping on Black Friday. If you missed either of those two posts, you can click for them here: … Continue reading

My Personal Scrap Space – Analyzing the Problem – The Other Side

It would surprise me if by now you haven’t seen my earlier post regarding the mess in my scrap space and what my intentions are to fix it. All of that is in the process of being completed, but I thought since I am sharing my work in progress tomorrow, I would share the other side of the area today too. So here is the other side: Much, MUCH worse. That’s of course because it is the most often used side of my scrapbook area. It is where I write from every single day. It is where I close up … Continue reading

75 Things You Can Do to Save Money

If you need or want to tighten your budget, there are so many things that you can do to save money. Pick a few from the list and get started today, or try them all. It will be nice to have some extra money available. Mow your own lawn and perform lawn care yourself. Drink water instead of flavored drinks. Get rid of the cleaning service. Perform your own minor repairs, such as patching a hole or fixing a leaky faucet. Change your oil in the car. Paint a room yourself. Hand wash clothing instead of taking it to the … Continue reading

Got Kids? Saving Money on the Road

Who says the only lodgings that embrace families are the ones where “Kids Eat Free” signs hang above the entryway? With the cost of gas soaring, house prices falling and the word “recession” appearing on newspaper headlines from coast-to-coast hoteliers are getting creative to lure families with children to their properties. The following cost-saving travel packages are not only easy on your wallet, but they are also packed with kid-friendly activities that will truly make your vacation on a shoestring a memorable one. DENVER The 196-room JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek is currently offering their Kids in the City … Continue reading

Frugal Living Week in Review: March 31st Through April 6th

Have you been stocking up on ham and bacon this week? And what about the other great food bargains? If you don’t know what I am talking about, check out last week’s frugal articles. March 31st Goodwill Offers and Finds Do you shop at the Goodwill? Here are some of the finds that were available Saturday at my local Goodwill. Planning Your Frugal Summer Travel I know that we just reached spring, but summer won’t be far behind. And now is a perfect time to start planning your summer vacation. With the economy the way it is, many people will … Continue reading

Celebrities Practicing What They Preach… Or Not

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio could easily be the poster boy for the environment. The Oscar nominee has long been known as one of the most “green” guys on the planet. And now the environmentally conscious movie star is once again showing the world he practices what he preaches with the purchase of his new eco-friendly condominium. DiCaprio just confirmed that he dropped a whole lot of green to buy an ultra-luxe “green” space in New York’s Riverhouse, an eco-friendly building overlooking the Hudson River. The 264-unit glass tower overlooks the river and a park, and boasts low emission paints, a 24-hour … Continue reading

Tips for Managing Your Scrapbooking Organization

Traditional scrapbookers have a lot of stuff. There’s all that paper that needs to be stored. And then there is all the pens, markers, inks, ink pads, stamps, embellishments of every shape and size. It can be overwhelming when you are trying to figure out how to store or organize it all. Not to mention it can be expensive. Recently I have undergone a massive overhaul project of sorting, purging and organizing my stash. I own my own home business, so I need the space to make room for the new stuff I must carry and create with. Here are … Continue reading

How to Afford a Healthy Diet

Dieting right isn’t easy when you’re on a tight budget. Unless you are a full time gardener and have your own greenhouse, fresh fruits and vegetables cost money and shopping for them takes time. Let’s not forget the difference in prices between healthy whole grain breads and pastas and those made from refined white flour. If you’ve done any comparison shopping lately, you know that healthy doesn’t come cheap. According to the Center for Disease Control, two-thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese. Consider also that American schools are seeing a growing trend in obese students and you’ll soon … Continue reading