Frugal Friday With Marsha -- One Thing Leads To Another

Per my usual self, I am easily sidetracked when I see something of interest on the internet.
Yesterday it was a push notification from Six Dollar Family.  The post was about her and her daughter moving into an extended stay motel.

They went from a 3 bedroom house to a hotel room.  I have thoughts of downsizing all of the time.  I look around at all of the stuff surrounding us in our own 3 bedroom house.

Frugal living and simple living go hand in hand.  Too many times I've tried to start sorting and getting rid of excess (and it's a LOT!).  Well, I've started on it again just with all of the stuff that is piled around me here at my desk.....under my desk, on the printers, under and around my chair, under and on a TV tray that sits by me.

So far I'm only sorting all of these sewing projects and misc fabrics and such, but it is a start.  It also needs to be a very good start to actually getting all of these sewing projects done.  I guess I just say wish me luck at this point as I'm realizing I only have a few weeks now to even get all of my Christmas gifts sewn!

Here are some coupons and other goodies for you this week.  I hope you find something useful.  And, good luck if you enter any of the sweepstakes.


 

 

 

 




FREEBIES

Free Amazon Baby Welcome Box ($35 value)

Free Subscription to Town & Country Magazine

Free Subscription to Outdoor Photographer

Free Subscription to Seventeen Magazine

Free Guardians of the Galaxy & Avengers Comic Books


SWEEPSTAKES

Win up to $5000 in the Wilton Candy Melts for You Sweepstakes

Win an iPad Pro & the Ultimate Prize Pack worth over $2,500

New Amazon Giveaway 11/9

Win $1000 Marshalls Gift Cards in the Holiday Sweepstakes

Make Garbage Great By Tom Szaky and Albe Zakes

Fully titled Make Garbage Great: The TerraCycle Family Guide to a Zero-Waste Lifestyle this book is AWESOME!

It's a large hardbound, 224 page, book.  You will find fascinating information, little-known facts, awesome graphics, and colorful images on every page.  This is in addition to the cool projects that are shown throughout.  Each project includes easy to read instructions and step-by-step photos.
For example, here are the pages for the project that I started with from the book:

While I am here, let me share a picture of one of the finished Food Wrapper Napkin Rings that I made.  These are cool, and lots of fun to make too.

So many other projects that I love in the book and hope to get a chance to make.  Just a few of those are:  Food Pouch Tote Bag, Tin Can Office Organizer, Window Picture Frame, and Eggshell Planter.

Make Garbage Great is set up into 8 chapters:
Plastics
Metals
Paper
Textiles
Glass
Wood
Rubber
Organics

Each chapter examines the material in our every day lives, offers a detailed time time of the substance, addresses the current state of affairs, contains a DIY section, talks about the future, and provides useful resources.  This in addition to lists of reuse ideas, quotes, interviews and more.

It will really open your eyes up to the importance of recycling and reusing plus give you some awesome ideas on things to Make Garbage Great.

I highly recommend it!



Disclaimer:  I received a copy of this book, as well as additional information, for the purpose of this review.  I was not compensated in any other way and all opinions are my own.  Post does contain affiliate links.

Frugal Friday With Marsha--Linky Party 11/22/13

It's a cold morning here in Kansas.  Looks like we've gone from fall to winter.
One thing that I am not frugal about is the heat in my house.  I get cold so easily.  I do have my long johns on as well as a turtleneck under my sweatshirt too.
I really did try to keep the furnace at a lower than normal temp....and I know that I really should keep it lower.  I just don't want to also sit here wrapped in a blanket too.

We are blessed that we do have the choice on the warmth as some don't.  In the summer our gas bill is so low.....usually only around $20 a month.  The electric bill is what is up then when we run the central air.   Not too bad though since I do get cold easily we keep our thermostat set on 80 or 82 in the summer.
No, I don't keep it on that for the winter, just in case you were wondering.  LOL   It is on 76 though.  I'm going to put it down a degree or 2 and see if I can take it.

We've been having trouble financially because of everything that goes out for mortgage, loans, and utilities.  Again, things we've not been frugal on.   Hubby and I really need to work on paying down the debt.......and then not taking out any more loans.

We do only have one credit card with a low limit.  However, hubby is in charge of that.  It's usually almost always to that limit and he rarely pays more than the minimum payment each month.  It's been without interest, but that ends at the end of the year.   I wish he had never gotten it and that I could get him to understand.  Wish me luck there!

I recently took out my copy of The Tightwad gazette: Promoting thrift as a viable alternative lifestyle
again and started reading it from the front of the book.  I'm in hopes that if hubby sees me doing all these other things to live a simple and frugal life that he will follow suit and think before he spends.

Next week I want to talk about Christmas in my Frugal Friday post.

I hope you will link up your frugal/simple living type posts this week and motivate me as well as others.  Thanks!!

Squidoo Hopping---Money Money Money

Yes, money has been on my mind lately---having more of it, saving it, etc.

This week, I ask that you share lenses that have to do with not so much earning money, but saving it---living a simpler life to spend less and the like.
Earth Day is April 22, and comes around before next week's post, so if you have any Earth Day lenses, please also do share those.

As always please share any blog posts you have done regarding squidoo over this past week.  Yes, older blog posts are also welcomed to be linked up as well.

 

Frugal Friday with Marsha--Linky Party

I hope this week has found you saving money, being frugal, accomplishing whatever your goals are!

Here are my shopping trips since last Friday:

Only 55% saved on this trip, but fish for a month and a few more cans of chili in our stockpile.  Spent $13.87, saved $6.40 with coupons and I rec'd a $5 catalina towards my next trip for buying the fish!

 Using the $5 catalina and an addition $2.50 in coupons, I saved 94% on these 5 items, spending just .80!

 The total for this order was $8.98, but I spent nothing out of pocket because I used part of a $10 gift card that was sent to me by bzzagent.com and Kroger to try the Kroger Yogurts.
I used $12.05 in coupons for a savings of 65%

We were stocked up enough that this was the only shopping for the entire week.


Other news this weeks is me cleaning out and reorganizing my craft room.  I am just in amazement (more like appalled) at how many items I have allowed to get into my craft room that don't belong in there.  I won't post the before photos here, but if you would like to see them, you can click over to my gather post: (will open in a new window) Craft Room Before Pictures
I've been wanting my fabric and such organized into cubbies since seeing a photo of a room on pinterest using them.  I've bought myself a couple of small cubby organizers, but hubby bought me a 12 hole unit with part of our state income tax refund.  Not exactly frugal, but will be good for my peace of mind and simple living once my supplies are organized.  If you check out the pictures in my post above, you will know why I haven't had much motivation to get into my craft room and get any real work done.

Your turn to share!
 

Frugal Friday Link Up--4 Uses for Antacid Tablets

Good Friday! I'm going to say thank goodness it's Friday!
This has been Bible school week, with this evening being the last night. I do have to say that I am exhausted! It's hard for me having my evenings full along with the normal things that I do each day of the week. I'm used to having my relaxing evenings at home.

It's been in the triple digits for temps this week. That, is of no help at all for sure. 107 most days so far. They say it will continue being this hot in to next week.

I have been getting the clothes out on the line to dry...doesn't take long at all for them to dry! Waiting on a load of towels in the washer right now to put out.

This week I built a new squidoo lens titled Simple Living. It will be built on continually as I read books, watch tv shows, and learn things to share online. Simple living, frugal living and green living all go hand in hand. The life that I strive for, for many reasons.

This weeks share from the 99 Cent Solutions book are uses for antacid tablets:

1. Neutralize canker sores. Place an antacid tablet directly on the canker sore, giving it time to dissolve, or simply chew one. The medicine stops the acids and enzymes in your mouth from attacking the tissue in the sore, and it will stop the pain.

2. Put the fizz to work. Clean your toilet with antacid tablets. As long as they contain sodium bicarbonate, 2 tablets will do the trick. Dissolve the tablets in the toilet bowl for 20 minutes then scrub the toilet clean with a toilet brush. Flush and you are done. (We use antacid tablets for stains in the wine carafe and such at church and they work great. I'm going to have to use them for toilet cleaning as I bet with sales and coupons I can buy the antacids cheaper!)

3. Make a hot and cold cleaner. Cleaning out a thermos is always difficult, especially if if it's contents have been sitting in it for awhile. Fill the thermos with water and dissolve four antacid tablets in it. Let the solution sit for an hour then rinse and wash as usual. (this must be why we use them at church as I mention above)

4. Say so long to slime. Get rid of green and brown slime mess on your flower vase with a common antacid tablet. Drop one into the dirty vase filled with fresh water and give it five minutes to work. Wipe the inside with a sponge or cloth and rinse. Your vase will be ready for a new bouquet. (Again, maybe this is why we use them at church the way we do)

Stay tuned next week for ways to use aspirin.

Squidoo Hopping--This Week's Theme is Simple Living

This is an extra busy week for me because it's Bible school week.  This is every evening on top of my usual things going on.  What a crazy week!  And, we are having killer triple digit temps too....not helping.

Since I built a new lens this week on Simple Living, I decided to make that this week's theme.  Simple living....frugal living....going green.....any of this type of lens will fit in with the theme.

Don't worry, if you don't write lenses about these subjects, feel free to still link up 2 lenses of your choice in the linky.  Remember that if you do blog about squidoo, no matter what the subject, please link the blog post to the linky too.

Frugal Friday Link Up--4 Uses for Adhesive Bandages

Here we are to Friday again already. It's been the usual busy week for me.
I started this new routine for housecleaning that I found online, but have failed. I've only done 2 days out of 5. My priorities aren't in order as far as what comes first is the basic problem. I'm a lot more concerned with my computer and my crafts over what the house looks like----that is until I take my blinders off and really look around.

I plan on going to yard sales tomorrow. I'm just not really sure if I should. Do I really need to bring more stuff home? Then again, I might find just the storage I am looking for, or craft materials cheap. (sigh) I will have to try to give a yard sale report once we get back home.

I started reading The Tightwad Gazette book. Oh gosh, it's been on my shelf for ages, but with so many books coming in for review I hadn't ever gotten around to reading it. It's 20 years old but still vital information for anyone wanting to live a simple, frugal life.

I also started watching a tv series through Hulu called Simple Living with Amanda Urbanska. Wonderful show! I'm even taking notes to build something on it later.
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This week from the 99 Cent Solutions book I am sharing 4 ways to use adhesive bandages.

1. Test for allergies. You can test that new perfume, lotion, or other product to see if you are allergic to it by applying just a bit inside your wrist or elbow and then covering it with a bandage. Let it sit for 24 hours, remove the bandage and check your skin.

2. Stick it to your skin. Use an adhesive bandage whenever you need to stick something to your skin. For example, you can get rid of a wart by soaking a cotton ball in vinegar and applying it to the wart for 2 hours each day. Tape won't hold that cotton ball in place, but a bandage will.

3. Test your painting power. Before painting a large area, test your walls with an adhesive bandage. Paint a small, clean, inconspicuous spot with the paint you plan to use and let it dry for 2 days. Put a bandage over the area, then strip it off. If the paint comes off then you need to clean the walls more or use a better primer....if not, then get to work!

4. Protect your fingertips. Thimbles save wear and tear of your fingers while sewing, but are too rigid for some sewers to work with. Ditch the thimble and put an adhesive bandage on your fingertip instead. You'll get the protection without the resistance. (I've done this before, but because my fingertips were getting sore. I need to remember to start out with the bandage!)
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I hope to see many of you linking up this week. Hopefully I will get it in gear and start sharing my coupon shopping trips and such again. I will share a few of my grocery buys this past week:

1. The store has a buy 5 items get an additional $5 off your order. Juicy Juice is part of the deal. It's on sale for $2.79, so $1.79 each after the buy 5 deal. I had 2 coupons for $1 off 2 bottles, and if you bought 4 bottles you received a $2.50 catalina coupon to use on your next shopping trip. I needed one more item for the 5 items, so I chose a Beneful meaty meal for .88 after discount.
I spent $6.04 for 4 juices and 1 dog food plus received the $2.50 to use later.

2. I used that $2.50 catalina to get 2 half gallons of milk, which are on sale for $1.25 each half gallon. I paid .20 sales tax is all.

3. Farmland Deli Style hot dogs were on sale for just $1 a package (normally $2.29). I went to farmlandfoods.com and signed up for their email newsletter to receive a printable coupon for .55. I printed 2 from my computer. I then had my husband sign up for the newsletter and we printed 2 more coupons. I bought 4 packages of a good hot dog for just a total of .18 sales tax!

4. Other free foods this week included 6 bags of Pillsbury Bagettes chips that I will soon have a review and giveaway up on my blog----2 bags of Jerky Direct jerky (my autoship is covered by my downline)---and 4 boxes of Dr. Lucy's cookies that I won in a blog giveaway. If I can keep this up, at least we won't go hungry!