Frugal Friday With Marsha 3/21/14

It sure seems like it's been a lot longer than just one week since my last Frugal Friday post.
I've been super busy and on the go almost constantly.
My computer was acting up and I had to use hubby's for a couple of days. Then I took it in, they said they fixed it, but no, it was doing the same thing again.
Back to using hubby's computer while it was in the shop again.
This time they assure me that it's really fixed. I sure hope so!

This past week the heating element has gone out on my dryer. At least it picked a good time with Spring finally being here. I've been hanging the laundry on the line again.
I have been bringing it in and putting the load in the dryer for 10 or 15 minutes to fluff them. I don't have any type of fabric softener right now, not even vinegar.
I love using vinegar in the laundry in place of fabric softener.

I've used all of my vinegar making an all natural citrus cleaner. Forgive me if I've wrote about this before.
You put orange peels in with a jar of vinegar. You put the jar in a dark spot for a minimum of 2 weeks. Once it's been in the dark to soak for the 2 weeks, remove the orange peels and you have your cleaner.
It works quite well!

This past week I shopped on 'experiment'.
With my teenager only here for supper on occasion anymore and hubby coming home later than usual, I made a decision....like I said, an experiment of sorts.
I've been thinking a lot about keeping the freezer stocked with lots of varieties of frozen entrees and meals.
This past week the store offered Lean Cuisine and Stouffer's frozen entrees and meals 5 for $10. They then offered a $3 off 5 e-coupon to add to our card, which we could use the e-coupon up to 5 times.
I saw my opportunity and went for it. I bought 15 of them.
Nice price, plus lots of variety, plus codes to use for their rewards programs.

Now, that's not all I bought. I bought apples, bananas, and pears (fresh) for our fruits for the week. We always have bread and butter around.
I also bought 2 bags of chips for something different than bread if wanted.

I'm having a good time this week as I'm so busy and I've just not felt like cooking lately. Of course this week it happened that we were eating away from home twice too.
I figured hubby would be really upset with me.
I think under normal circumstances he would have, but he attended a Men's Encounter this past weekend and he's a change man in a lot of ways now.

What have you done this past week or so to live frugally?

I hope to see some link ups....keep us motivated.

An InLinkz Link-up

Frugal Friday With Marsha ---Link Up!

Another week has passed us by and we are now in to May.
Spring left us again the past couple of days. We had lows below freezing the past couple of nights and even seen some snow yesterday morning.
I had to go out Wednesday morning and cover the plants. I do hope they survive!

This week has just sped on by me. I've stayed busy as usual.
I did make one shopping trip this week. An online friend sent me some free coupons and I used those as well as bought a few other things.
One thing that I bought is a gallon of white vinegar. I am now using it for fabric softener. I'm really liking it! Plus, it's cheap and natural.
I did get a couple loads of laundry done on Monday and Tuesday that I was able to hang out on the line to dry.

I've been working a lot this week on cutting out my coupons and getting them into my binder. I have a long ways to go! I will be working more on that today. If I can just work a little each day I could maybe keep them caught up. I have a pile of expired coupons to turn in for the military families.

I need to run along, another busy day away from home for me, but I do look forward to the posts you will link up this week!

Frugal Friday Link Up--Even More Uses for Vinegar

Happy Friday!
I have spent this week working on getting myself back into some routines, using my index card system from the Sidetracked Home Executives book.   I love the system but when my computer chair was hurting my back, I moved away from my desk and sat on the couch----away from my box of cards.
Once I got a different chair I didn't get back to using the cards.  There are lots of systems out there on staying organized, this is just one that happens to work for me.   I've been feeling a lot better about things this week, and getting more done.

I'm also still keeping up with my coupons like I should too.  I've already saved over $20 more this month than I did last month and the month is only half over.

This week I am sharing the last of the uses for vinegar from the  99-Cent Solutions: Easy Ways to Save Thousands of Dollars
book.

1. Stop excessive barking. Fill a spray bottle with water and add a few tablespoons of white vinegar. If your dog is known for a lot of barking while out on a walk, just spray a mist in front of him when he starts. He will soon get the idea, but be careful not to spray it in his eyes.

2. Eradicate a carsick odor. Yuck! You know that smell after someone has gotten sick in your car. Erase the smell overnight by placing an uncovered bowl of half-full undiluted white vinegar on the floor of the car. This will also work for other odors as well.

3. Mark your car gleam. Skip the wax and use vinegar instead. A teaspoon of undiluted white vinegar in the bucket of soapy wash water will help remove road grit and tar from the paint. Add another teaspoon of vinegar to the bucket of rinse water. For an added touch, wipe down the windows with vinegar to repel rain and frost.

4. Treat a cold sore. When you feel that cold sore coming on, get out the apple cider vinegar. Douse a cotton ball and dab your lip three times a day. If you already have the cold sore, do the same. The pain and swelling will subside and the vinegar speeds the healing.

5. Use as an aftershave. If you've got sensitive skin, commercial aftershaves with their strong scents can result in itching and irritation. Splash on a handful of white vinegar instead for a bracing tonic with no redness. (There's a Father's Day gift idea for you--LOL)

6. Save a paintbrush. If you forgot to wash out the paintbrush, it's not lost. You may be able to revive it by soaking it overnight in undiluted white vinegar. Bend it as it starts to soften to let the vinegar work in. When it's soft again, wash with hot soapy water.

7. Keep plaster pliable. Plaster dries quickly. Buy yourself some time by adding in a few tablespoons of white vinegar as you mix the plaster. It will dry more slowly.

8. Protect plants from mildew. A quart of water and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar sprayed directly on the leaves--preferably in the early morning or evening---will stop those powdery mildew or rust spots on your garden plants.

Frugal Friday Link-Up--More Uses for Vinegar

First I want to apologize for missing last Friday.  I overslept so it was out of bed and on the run the entire day!  Today isn't much better.  What happened to my free Friday's?  Oh yeah, for one thing I took the merchandising job and Friday is one of my work days.

I am continuing with the many uses of vinegar from the 99 Cent Solutions book.  Vinegar is one of the most versatile and useful, as well as cheap things on the market.

1.  Keep Your Flowers fresh.  Keep those blooms a-bloom for as long as possible by adding 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons of sugar to the vase, then fill it with water from the tap.

2.  Shiny scissors.  Water might rust those scissors, so instead, dip a cloth in white vinegar and wipe the blades well.  Dry with a towel.

3.  Keep water bottles fresh.  Adding a few drops of apple cider vinegar to your bottled water when you are out hiking and such will keep the flavor bright and the bacteria down.

4.  Keep cats out of the sandbox.  Drizzle a pint of white vinegar over the sand and stir it in with a spade.  It will dry overnight, but cats will avoid the place for weeks. (We need to try this!)

5.  Skip chips---on your nails that is.  Paint your clean bare nails with white vinegar and let it dry.  When you apply the polish, it will stay on without chipping for days longer.  (I need to try this!)

6.  Clean dirt off the blinds.  Nobody likes cleaning the window blinds.  Now and then the grime and dust is just too much and you have to give it a go.  Use socks and vinegar.  Mix half water and half vinegar.  Put a clean cotton tube sock on each hand.  Dip the socks in the vinegar mixture and pull your hands along each blind.  The dirt will slip right off.  Dip them in clean water to rinse the dirt off, then back in the vinegar mixture for the next slat.

7.  Avoid oven odors.    Soak a clean sponge in white vinegar and use it for the final wipe-down after you have finished cleaning the oven.  Let the vinegar dry completely before turning the oven on again.  This will eliminate the strong chemical smell the next time you use the oven after using a chemical cleaner.

8.  Fluff sweaters after washing.  Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse water whether hand washing or machine washing.  Your wool and acrylic sweaters will not be flat and dull.

9.  Clear the air of grease.  Put a small dish of white vinegar in the kitchen and grease will miraculously collect on the surface rather than hanging in the air.  Try it and see the next time you are frying chicken.

What posts have you done over the past week to include in this week's linky?

 

Frugal Friday Link Up--Vinegar Has Many Uses

Good Friday to all. We are finally getting just a bit of rain this morning. We sure need it!
No hanging clothes on the line today, but that's ok. I will just get hubby's uniforms washed and dried and call it good for the day. The other day it was super windy outside. I debated on hanging the laundry out. There I was getting blasted by wet laundry as I tried to hang it up. It was quite a sight. LOL A couple of things did get blown off the line, but what I found out is that they clothes dried on the line like in the dryer. They were soft instead of stiff like they usually come end up. If you have any hints on making line dried laundry not come dry stiff, please let me know.

There may just be something with vinegar as I start to share the many uses of vinegar this week. Vinegar will be a 3 week share as it is so versatile! These are from the book 99-Cent Solutions: Easy Ways to Save Thousands of Dollars

1. Perk up a rug or carpet. Bring your carpet back to life from the foot traffic, dust, and dirt that is wearing down the carpet's fibers, dulling the pattern and color. Use a solution of 1 gallon warm water and 1 cup of white vinegar. Dip a clean broom in to the mixture and brush it into the rug. Let it dry. The fibers will stand up and the color will be revived. (I must try this)

2. Brighten wood paneling. Wipe down wood paneling with 2 cups of warm water, 1/4 cup white vinegar and a glug of olive or vegetable oil. Wipe down the whole area and then rub with a dry cloth. This will easily remove grease and grime from the wood paneling.

3. Get rid of bird poo. Pour vinegar onto a rag to wipe the bird mess from your windshield. On your patio or deck, just pour a little vinegar straight on to the spots and watch them dissolve like magic.

4. Make an all purpose wash that is simple, cheap and green. Mix 2 parts water and 1 part white vinegar in a spray bottle. You can use this to clean anything including grease spots, spills, and bathroom surfaces.

5. Say so long to stickers. If you can't get that price sticker off, or if you are like me and have grandchildren who have stuck stickers to your kitchen floor, just soak the paper with plain vinegar and scrape the stickers off with a credit card or a plastic spoon. Use a dry cloth or paper towel to wipe away the remaining glue. (another must try for me)

6. As clear as glass. No need to buy that special cleaner for your eye glasses, just spritz them with white vinegar and polish with a soft cloth. This works just as well as that tiny overpriced bottle of eye glass cleaner. (along with #5 above--when I worked as a housekeeper at a motel, we used the vinegar mix to clean the mirrors--saved the motel a lot of money over buying glass cleaner)

7. Say goodbye to odor. Wet a cloth in vinegar and wave it around the room that you are trying to air. This gets rid of smoke or cooking odors quickly.

8. Make salt surrender. In the winter when you salt your sidewalks, you can really do a number on your leather shoes or boots. Wipe your footwear as soon as you get inside with a cloth dipped in white vinegar. You will get rid of the rings, but you will also prevent damage to your shoes.

I will have more to share about vinegar next week!