Monday, April 20, 2009
I feel like a bad blogger.
I am a bad blogger. I keep forgetting to update here, and I am actually thinking about closing this blog, or taking it in a new direction. Between work, life, and my part-time stuff, I have been too busy to really give this blog the attention I feel it deserves. Instead of writing about my cheap chick adventures, I might make this more about the different bargains I am finding on-line or in-stores. I love sharing deals with people, and isn't that really what being a cheap chick is about?!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Quickie.... :)
This will be a quick posting, since I am supposed to be packing.
We are moving! Our landlord listed and sold our house within a week, and gave us 10 days to move out since the buyers want to close ASAP. We found, applied for, got accepted to, and are in the process of moving to a bigger home in a nearby town that is just a little bigger than our current intersection-of-a-town.
I will be blogging all about moving on a budget once the internet is hooked up at the new place, but I did want to post this new story from cnn.com, which I LOVE. It's all about.... being a cheap chick!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/03/04/cheap.new.chic/index.html
I promise I will update more in a few days, after the guy (or gal!) comes out to install our satellite dish.
In the meantime, leave your comments about what YOU are doing to stretch your dollar....!
We are moving! Our landlord listed and sold our house within a week, and gave us 10 days to move out since the buyers want to close ASAP. We found, applied for, got accepted to, and are in the process of moving to a bigger home in a nearby town that is just a little bigger than our current intersection-of-a-town.
I will be blogging all about moving on a budget once the internet is hooked up at the new place, but I did want to post this new story from cnn.com, which I LOVE. It's all about.... being a cheap chick!
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/03/04/cheap.new.chic/index.html
I promise I will update more in a few days, after the guy (or gal!) comes out to install our satellite dish.
In the meantime, leave your comments about what YOU are doing to stretch your dollar....!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Knitting is Knifty.
We are getting to the age where we have a lot of friends that are having babies. While I thoroughly enjoy shopping from registries, I have always wanted to be one of those people that gave a gift that would really MEAN something. I am a very basic scrapbooker, so I have thought about doing baby scrapbooks, but they are usually something that the mothers prefer to do. Then I remembered that one of the most cherished items we got for our wedding/shower was a throw crocheted by my aunt. Aha! New projects are born.
I have started knitting. Seeing as how this can be hard to learn and frustrating initially, I started out with help - from The Knifty Knitting series. I bought the Long Looms, a couple of small instructional booklets, and a pound of yarn to start. All the things you can make! Blankets, washcloths, socks, hats, scarves, shawls, sweaters, slippers, etc! Some people even cut up plastic bags and knit those into scrubbies for cleaning!
When you knit, you touch every inch of the yarn, so the gift is loaded with love and thought. It's something to do when you are watching TV or a movie. And (of course) although it's a gift loaded with love, it's not very expensive to make, especially if you buy your yarn when it's on sale!
I have started knitting. Seeing as how this can be hard to learn and frustrating initially, I started out with help - from The Knifty Knitting series. I bought the Long Looms, a couple of small instructional booklets, and a pound of yarn to start. All the things you can make! Blankets, washcloths, socks, hats, scarves, shawls, sweaters, slippers, etc! Some people even cut up plastic bags and knit those into scrubbies for cleaning!
When you knit, you touch every inch of the yarn, so the gift is loaded with love and thought. It's something to do when you are watching TV or a movie. And (of course) although it's a gift loaded with love, it's not very expensive to make, especially if you buy your yarn when it's on sale!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Vinegar is amazing.
If you followed my blog last year, you know that I am very into the eco movement. Although that blog is no longer very active, I am still very into this movement, as well as into saving myself as much money as possible.
As you also know, I blogged awhile ago about DIY detergent. Well, that of course led to a DIY rinse agent or fabric softener. You know that fabric softener (or FS as it will now be called) is expensive. You have probably complained about it to yourself when you see the price on the shelf at Target or Walmart or wherever you shop. I did some research, and found that instead of adding FS to your laundry, a few tablespoons of vinegar works very well to get soap off the clothes, as well as deodorizing them, and repelling dust and lint. There is no vinegar smell left over after the wash, and the clothes look great. Bonus: no chemicals, and it helps keep your washer in top shape, too! Then to reduce static, we use FS sheets, which are a lot less expensive and less wasteful.
THEN! Then I discovered how amazing vinegar really is! Use it in the dishwasher (just a splash) to make the dishes shinier. Add some essential oils to it and use it as an all purpose cleaner at home. It has dozens of uses in the garden, as a natural remedy, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the garage, etc. In fact, it even helps to keep unwanted animals away from your home, and has qualities as a diet-aid!
It costs less than $2 at the store for a larger bottle, and it is turning out to be the most versatile item in my house.
Visit this website and read up: http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/homemaking/vinegar.html
Go now; buy a big bottle! And tell me what you did with it!
As you also know, I blogged awhile ago about DIY detergent. Well, that of course led to a DIY rinse agent or fabric softener. You know that fabric softener (or FS as it will now be called) is expensive. You have probably complained about it to yourself when you see the price on the shelf at Target or Walmart or wherever you shop. I did some research, and found that instead of adding FS to your laundry, a few tablespoons of vinegar works very well to get soap off the clothes, as well as deodorizing them, and repelling dust and lint. There is no vinegar smell left over after the wash, and the clothes look great. Bonus: no chemicals, and it helps keep your washer in top shape, too! Then to reduce static, we use FS sheets, which are a lot less expensive and less wasteful.
THEN! Then I discovered how amazing vinegar really is! Use it in the dishwasher (just a splash) to make the dishes shinier. Add some essential oils to it and use it as an all purpose cleaner at home. It has dozens of uses in the garden, as a natural remedy, in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the garage, etc. In fact, it even helps to keep unwanted animals away from your home, and has qualities as a diet-aid!
It costs less than $2 at the store for a larger bottle, and it is turning out to be the most versatile item in my house.
Visit this website and read up: http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/homemaking/vinegar.html
Go now; buy a big bottle! And tell me what you did with it!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Google Docs
My dad got us a computer last year for Christmas. We have been dragging out the demo of Microsoft Office that came with it for over a year, but I had to face facts that the time was up and I was going to have to fork out over $100 for the real thing.
Lo and behold, I discovered GoogleDocs, and I am in love.
It is a free document creation and private on-line storage mecca founded by the fine folks that gave us gmail. You can create, edit, store, share, etc any typed documents, including spreadsheets, files and presentations.
The great thing is that I can store something on here, and then go somewhere else to print it or view it, simply by logging in from a computer with internet.
I just created my first document, and it is perfect - no problems at all.
So, $100 saved, and I actually find this to be far more convenient than a computer-based system, such as Office.
Website is here: http://docs.google.com
Lo and behold, I discovered GoogleDocs, and I am in love.
It is a free document creation and private on-line storage mecca founded by the fine folks that gave us gmail. You can create, edit, store, share, etc any typed documents, including spreadsheets, files and presentations.
The great thing is that I can store something on here, and then go somewhere else to print it or view it, simply by logging in from a computer with internet.
I just created my first document, and it is perfect - no problems at all.
So, $100 saved, and I actually find this to be far more convenient than a computer-based system, such as Office.
Website is here: http://docs.google.com
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Dining on the run
So, today's blog will be a short one. I did the math on what I was paying to eat crappy food court food each day at work. Roughly $5 a meal, 7 meals a week is $35 a week. Over the course of a year (figure a week for vacation) is almost $1,800. That's A LOT of money on burgers and tacos! So I started taking my lunches with me. I buy soup, EZ Mac, steamed rice, ramen, etc., and take them to work with me. I will give myself 1-2 meals a week at the food court (as a treat), but already I can see a huge cutback in my spending. It also means that by bringing my own food, I don't spend up to 1/3 of my lunch running to get the food or waiting for it to be prepared, and it's better for me!
Since I am not eating 100000000 calorie meals, I am also losing more weight - added bonus!
So, there we go! Bring your own meals to work and watch your savings go up and up, and your waistline go down and down!
Since I am not eating 100000000 calorie meals, I am also losing more weight - added bonus!
So, there we go! Bring your own meals to work and watch your savings go up and up, and your waistline go down and down!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
DIY detergent
I am off work today, so I am working around the house to get caught up on some things that have fallen by the wayside in the wake of the holidays. Part of this means laundry. Personally, I love doing laundry. The clean smells, the soft fabrics, the warmth from the dryer, the delightful pile of clean clothes at the end, the sense of accomplishment, etc. I especially love it because our utility room is on the 1st floor of our house, so I do not have to navigate stairs to check on the progress. But I digress.
Laundry soap can get expensive, especially if you are trying to remain as eco-friendly as possible. We have tried a few eco brands, with mixed results. The best we have found is Purex's natural line, but even then, we are looking at $11 for 96 loads worth. It does not sound like a lot, especially for the volume, but I am very determined to cut any costs that I can, so I have analyze this, too.
I tried to do a DIY detergent in early fall, but it did not work the best. Joel did not like that it did not lather, and we did not think it got the clothes as clean as it could have. So, I tweaked it. I increased the bar soap by 50%, and increased the washing soap and borax by 25% each, thus making it more concentrated.
At the end, we have approximately 4.5 gallons of laundry soap for less than $10, and it is 100% eco-friendly. The soap used to make it was 100% vegan, and the borax and washing soap are both phosphate-free. The only downside is that it is a bit lumpy, but I don't really mind at all.
So, here is the recipe!
Ingredients
4 c hot water
3 gallons hot water
1.5 bars of all natural soap (I used old creamy LUSH soap that was white in colour, but in the past have also used a white castille soap - I would advise against anything that is very moisturizing or has much colour.)
1.25 c washing soda (NOT baking soda!)
1 c borax
large bucket or medium tote with a lid
Shred the bar soap (I use a cheese shredder) and combine with 4 c of water over stove. Heat and stir until dissolved. Mix with 4 gallons of hot tap water, and add in remaining 2 ingredients. Stir for 5 min or so until everything seems well mixed. Cover and allow to set, stirring every few hours. Should be fully set within about 24 hours.
Then I usually just put into an old detergent bottle and keep the tote close by for refills as necessary. I have found I use between 1/3 - 1/2 c per load, which puts me at about 128 loads, give or take. Approximately 30 loads of laundry more than the store-bought stuff, and my biggest cost was the bar of soap.
That's it for today! Gotta go stir!
Laundry soap can get expensive, especially if you are trying to remain as eco-friendly as possible. We have tried a few eco brands, with mixed results. The best we have found is Purex's natural line, but even then, we are looking at $11 for 96 loads worth. It does not sound like a lot, especially for the volume, but I am very determined to cut any costs that I can, so I have analyze this, too.
I tried to do a DIY detergent in early fall, but it did not work the best. Joel did not like that it did not lather, and we did not think it got the clothes as clean as it could have. So, I tweaked it. I increased the bar soap by 50%, and increased the washing soap and borax by 25% each, thus making it more concentrated.
At the end, we have approximately 4.5 gallons of laundry soap for less than $10, and it is 100% eco-friendly. The soap used to make it was 100% vegan, and the borax and washing soap are both phosphate-free. The only downside is that it is a bit lumpy, but I don't really mind at all.
So, here is the recipe!
Ingredients
4 c hot water
3 gallons hot water
1.5 bars of all natural soap (I used old creamy LUSH soap that was white in colour, but in the past have also used a white castille soap - I would advise against anything that is very moisturizing or has much colour.)
1.25 c washing soda (NOT baking soda!)
1 c borax
large bucket or medium tote with a lid
Shred the bar soap (I use a cheese shredder) and combine with 4 c of water over stove. Heat and stir until dissolved. Mix with 4 gallons of hot tap water, and add in remaining 2 ingredients. Stir for 5 min or so until everything seems well mixed. Cover and allow to set, stirring every few hours. Should be fully set within about 24 hours.
Then I usually just put into an old detergent bottle and keep the tote close by for refills as necessary. I have found I use between 1/3 - 1/2 c per load, which puts me at about 128 loads, give or take. Approximately 30 loads of laundry more than the store-bought stuff, and my biggest cost was the bar of soap.
That's it for today! Gotta go stir!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Don't forget about Ebay!
So, I am a big reader. Ever since I could read, I always have books or magazines with me; I even read in the car. I have read all of the Chicken Soup books I can tolerate (probably about 25), and I have read each of the books in the Twilight series at least 5 times. I am fascinated by books.
I also refuse to check books out from a library or borrow them from a friend. I like to bend the pages, and (crazy enough) if I really like a book, I will read it several times.
As I mentioned, I have read all of the books in the Twilight series at least 5 times each. I was evaluating that I am out of books to read, and contemplated starting the series again, when I realized I should branch out. The Harry Potter series intrigues me, and it seems that a lot of Twilight fans also like HP and his gang, so I thought I would give it a try.
I was at a crossroads. Do I buy the books new at Target? Do I try Half-Price books? Then I am reminded of my resolution and inspiration strikes in the form of a 4 letter word: Ebay!
Of course! That beloved place where I have sold many a no-longer-needed item, and even bought many a Christmas gift from this year would be where I would search for my books.
So, I searched. And I found! And as long as I do not want them to be in perfect condition, it appears that I can get them for insanely reasonable prices, even after paying for shipping. These books which were selling for at least $8.79 at Target, are sold for as little as $2 each on Ebay.
The other great thing about Ebay is that when you sell something, you can have the buyer send your money via Paypal. Then if you do not need it right away, you can leave it in your account, so that when the sudden "need" for the Harry Potter series strikes, you have money just sitting in your account, waiting to be sent!
Ebay is even great for new items at reasonable prices. I purchased DVDs and CDs as Christmas gifts with no problems.
So, that is my gem for the moment. Before you pay retail, remember Ebay.
Also, just as a side note, I am really proud of myself today. I walked by the semi-annual sale at Bath & Body Works 4 times while at the mall, and was not even really tempted to walk in.
I also refuse to check books out from a library or borrow them from a friend. I like to bend the pages, and (crazy enough) if I really like a book, I will read it several times.
As I mentioned, I have read all of the books in the Twilight series at least 5 times each. I was evaluating that I am out of books to read, and contemplated starting the series again, when I realized I should branch out. The Harry Potter series intrigues me, and it seems that a lot of Twilight fans also like HP and his gang, so I thought I would give it a try.
I was at a crossroads. Do I buy the books new at Target? Do I try Half-Price books? Then I am reminded of my resolution and inspiration strikes in the form of a 4 letter word: Ebay!
Of course! That beloved place where I have sold many a no-longer-needed item, and even bought many a Christmas gift from this year would be where I would search for my books.
So, I searched. And I found! And as long as I do not want them to be in perfect condition, it appears that I can get them for insanely reasonable prices, even after paying for shipping. These books which were selling for at least $8.79 at Target, are sold for as little as $2 each on Ebay.
The other great thing about Ebay is that when you sell something, you can have the buyer send your money via Paypal. Then if you do not need it right away, you can leave it in your account, so that when the sudden "need" for the Harry Potter series strikes, you have money just sitting in your account, waiting to be sent!
Ebay is even great for new items at reasonable prices. I purchased DVDs and CDs as Christmas gifts with no problems.
So, that is my gem for the moment. Before you pay retail, remember Ebay.
Also, just as a side note, I am really proud of myself today. I walked by the semi-annual sale at Bath & Body Works 4 times while at the mall, and was not even really tempted to walk in.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Use it up!
I am home sick today with what appears to be the flu, and a girl can only rest for so long before she feels the need to be productive!
I contemplated taking a bath (they always seem to help, regardless of the ailment), and I went to evaluate my "stash".
WHOA.
I have enough bath products where I could probably take a bath 3 times a week for a year and never run out of stuff. I admit it; I am a hoarder. I am just realizing that I have had some of this stuff for so long that it will soon not be very effective. The fizzies will cease to fizz, the bubbles will cease to bubble, and the products will be effectively rendered useless.
So, starting today, I will be working toward using the oldest stuff first, and will try my best to buy as little as possible. I received a fantastic item for Christmas (http://www.reynoldspkg.com/reynoldskitchens/handi_vac/en/home.asp)
which aside from preserving food, also does a great job of preserving bath products! (Esp since most of my bath products do not contain a lot of preservatives)
I have also been working on either giving away or using up old lotions/shower gels/etc. I have a skin condition on my arms which dictates that I only use very scrubby scrubs, and I have A LOT of shower gels to use up. I figured out that if I add copious amounts of sugar to a little gel, it makes an incredible scrub and I don't have to waste my old stuff, or spend money on new! The only downside is that I can only make in small batches, since the sugar does harden over time.
All this talk about baths and scrubs is making me antsy for one... TTFN!
I contemplated taking a bath (they always seem to help, regardless of the ailment), and I went to evaluate my "stash".
WHOA.
I have enough bath products where I could probably take a bath 3 times a week for a year and never run out of stuff. I admit it; I am a hoarder. I am just realizing that I have had some of this stuff for so long that it will soon not be very effective. The fizzies will cease to fizz, the bubbles will cease to bubble, and the products will be effectively rendered useless.
So, starting today, I will be working toward using the oldest stuff first, and will try my best to buy as little as possible. I received a fantastic item for Christmas (http://www.reynoldspkg.com/reynoldskitchens/handi_vac/en/home.asp)
which aside from preserving food, also does a great job of preserving bath products! (Esp since most of my bath products do not contain a lot of preservatives)
I have also been working on either giving away or using up old lotions/shower gels/etc. I have a skin condition on my arms which dictates that I only use very scrubby scrubs, and I have A LOT of shower gels to use up. I figured out that if I add copious amounts of sugar to a little gel, it makes an incredible scrub and I don't have to waste my old stuff, or spend money on new! The only downside is that I can only make in small batches, since the sugar does harden over time.
All this talk about baths and scrubs is making me antsy for one... TTFN!
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