Posts Tagged ‘alternate uses’
A lot of people don’t associate being frugal with fashion friendliness. Most fashionistas will argue that the more expensive, the better. That doesn’t always have to be true, use some of these tips to stay “à la mode”, not “à la broke”.
1. Buy To Last
When you are buying clothes, try to purchase durable products, even if they are more expensive. Well-made clothes have heavy seams and added reinforcement at stress points to ensure the product survives daily use. Avoid items with flimsy seams or fabric that won’t wash well.
2. Get Student Haircuts
Student hairdressers will often give you a free or discounted haircut. Find your local beauty school and see what their policies are for giving walk-in or appointment based haircuts. Some will even do colors, manicures/pedicures, and waxing.
3. Buy Vintage or Hand-Made Jewelery
Most specialist vintage boutiques usually have the reputation of being pretty pricey. A lot of flea markets have sellers who have a passion for vintage items and usually offer them at lower prices. It’s a good way to find items that might not be collector quality, but they will still capture the character and beauty of a bygone age. Also, when it comes to hand-made items websites like etsy.com or ebay are another great resource for jewelry that would normally cost three times as much (if not more) in a store.
4. Lotions Have Many Uses
A cheap generic product, such as an unbranded baby lotion, is a great fallback item that can be used as an everyday moisturizer and skin lotion. Some other uses include: cleanser, massage oil, shaving balm, and frizzy hair control.
5. Classic Shoes or Trendy Shoes?
Every season there is a way to buy shoes that are classics, but still fit the current trend. The best bet is to usually go middle of the road – try to find something that will go with many different outfits – without appearing too in fashion. A classic mid-heel in the latest color can mean you’ve bought to last, but it’s a good way to look up to the minute.
6. When washing – Turn It Out
Before you wash your knitwear or brushed cotton, make sure you turn the item inside out. This helps prevent piling and bobbling of the material, which can makes clothes look over worn.
7. DIY: Make Your Own Stuff, Save Money
- Clothing – Plenty of women’s magazines have free patterns so you will only end up spending money on material. Buy materials from markets and discount material stores. Find a pattern that suits you and use it several times.
- Jewelry – You can make your own jewelry at a fraction of the price with wire, elastic, beads and jewelry fasteners. Save broken necklaces, bracelets or earrings for spare parts you can use to make something completely new.
8. Have A Rummage
Once or twice a year, make a point of visiting a garage, church or rummage sale to stock up on essentials like scarves and other key pieces. Choose colors that will compliment your existing clothing.
9. Lovely Lashes
Turn ordinary (cheaper) mascara into the lash-lengthening variety by dusting your lashes with loose translucent powder before you apply the mascara. This will help the mascara stick to the whole lash and is a great way to get the effect of an expensive product at a fraction of the price.
10. Splurge on Shampoo
Good quality shampoo does not contain detergent ingredients that strip hair, so if you’re budgeting, it’s better to buy a good shampoo than conditioner. Conditioners are pretty much universal in their hair-smoothing offerings, so don’t worry about trying cheaper versions.
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Tags: alternate uses, DIY, generic brands
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1. Dried Out Bread
Save slices in a freezer container or bread bag until you need to make bread crumbs. Grind up in your blender or food processor. When using as a topping, toss in melted margarine, and season. Also, here is a recipe for a yummy bread pudding:
Pioneer Bread Pudding
- 2-cups of leftover bread cubes
- 2-cups of milk
- 3-tablespoons of butter
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 2 Eggs
- A dash of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
Use day old bread , crusts and all, cut into 1/4 to 1/2 inch cubes. Place these in a 1 quart buttered baking dish. Scald the milk,butter and sugar. Beat the eggs slightly; Add the salt then stir in the warm milk and add vanilla. Pour over the bread cubes.
Set the baking dish in another pan containing warm water up to level of the pudding. Bake at 350 degrees For one hour or until a small knife comes out clean when inserted into the center of the pudding. Makes 4-6 servings.
2. Toilet Paper Tubes
Use to gather up that unsightly, excess electrical cord on your kitchen appliances, lamps, entertainment center, etc.
3. Crayon Bits
Place a variety of crayon colors in a muffin tin and melt them down in the oven. This makes a scribble cookie. Each one has its own unique color and pattern. Use for an inexpensive stocking stuffer.
4. Dryer Lint
According to a lot of gardening experts i’ve spoken with, you can compost dryer lint. There is one catch, the lint must be from cotton material. Although, synthetic lint can be composted for flower garden use.
5. Milk Jug Rings
Use these to keep socks together when laundering. Store in a drawer with rings. When taking socks out, keep ring on bureau. Replace ring around soiled socks before them tossing in a hamper.
6. Carrot Peels, Onion Skins, and Celery Leaves.
Frugal cooks can use these when cooking up turkey and chicken bones for soup stock.
7. Tuna Fish Can
Use to make cookie cutters. Cut off bottom of can and shape with two pliers, preferably needle nose. When making a symmetrical design begin working at opposite points of the can.
8. Leftover Rice
Make a rice crust for a quiche by combining 1½ cups of cooked rice, 1 ounce of shredded cheese, and an egg. Pat out in a pie plate. For a larger quiche dish, increase the rice and cheese portions slightly. Do not Pam or grease the dish. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes.
Comment in the box below, letting us know how you reuse any of your household items.
Thank you to Amy Dacyczyn from her book titled “The Tightwad Gazette” for these helpful frugal ideas.
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Tags: alternate uses, DIY, kids
Posted in Family, Featured, Homecare | No Comments »
Our guide to low-cost, frugal camping.
1. Buy used gear.
Buying used gear on either ebay or craigslist is a great way to find deals on even name brand equipment. Make sure you thoroughly inspect anything before buying it, and we would avoid buying things like used sleeping bags.
2. Stay in a national forest or BLM (Bureau of Land Management) owned land.
Many of these campgrounds are free or have a small fee. The national forest campsites will not have electricity, but usually have running water. If you plan on staying at BLM owned land, make sure to bring your own water.
3. Borrow gear from friends or relatives.
One of my favorite tips that I just used. If you have any friends or family that love the outdoors, ask them if they have any items that you could use. Afterward, you can take them out for coffee or lunch to thank them.
4. Plan your meals ahead of time.
Especially if you’re going with more than 4 people. Call or use email to start a pot luck (eg. one person brings hot dogs, the other brings buns, etc). Write up lists of whose bringing what so everyone doesn’t end up bringing the same food item.
5. Freeze jugs of water and use them as ice in your cooler.
This works on two levels. You have free ice and when or if it melts down you have drinking water. This is a very inexpensive alternative to buying bags of ice that would go to waste.
6. Bring your own dishes from home.
Obviously you don’t want to bring your fine china out to the campsite, but any standard re-usable plates and utensils you have will save you from buying disposable cookware. Just make sure you set up a system for cleaning your dishes.
7. Used plastic food containers make for great storage.
Old coffee cans, Cool Whip containers, empty water jugs, etc. Use these to store any of your favorite foods. It recycles and saves you money.
8. Sleep in your car.
This may take the fun out of camping for some people, but if your car is big enough, sleep in it! This saves you from having to buy a tent, and for some will be more enjoyable.
9. Bring exercise mats to sleep on.
If you have any exercise mats (yoga mats, etc) or know someone who does, bring them. These work as little portable pads, which means you don’t have to go out and buy specialized outdoor sleeping pads.
10. Make a temporary shower.
Fill a black garbage bag with water and hang it from a tree. If you let it hang on a sunny day, by the evening you’ll have a nice warm shower you can use to freshen up with. Simply poke a hole in the bag and enjoy!
Please leave some of your favorite tips or experiences you’ve had while camping in the comment box below.
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Tags: alternate uses
Posted in Featured, Travel | 2 Comments »
We have found one product that has many uses. Did you know that AVON’s Skin-So-Soft Bath Oil is more than just a bath oil? Check out the list below and you will be amazed.
Personal Use:
- It’s a bath oil and after shower moisturizer.
- It can be used to remove makeup.
- Great tanning oil (no sunscreen).
- Hot oil treatment to soften cuticles.
- Great massage oil for tired muscles.
- Cleans off tape marks left from bandages on skin.
- Cleans ink off the skin.
- Insect repellent.
- Helps relieve itching caused by dry skin.
- Cleans oil and grease off of skin.
- Painting something? Use Skin-So-Soft to remove paint from the hands. (Instead of turpentine).
- It soothes light sunburn.
- Rub hands with it before washing, it helps get them cleaner.
- Rub on dry, cracked skin….helps heal skin in 2-3 days.
- Put 1-2 caps full in liquid soap and use it for shaving legs and under arms. Helps razor glide and leaves skin feeling smooth.
- Pour a little into your Foot Saver to help moisturize your feet while you relax them.
- It removes chewing gum from hair, skin, and most non-pour us surfaces.
- Cleans permanent ink off stamps.
- SSS Original Bath Oil works GREAT on Head Lice. Saturate head and let it set for 15 minutes. Then rinse under an outdoor faucet. Shampoo hair a couple of times to get the oil out, but the lice should be gone and stay gone!
- It kills ants instantly.
- Spray on skin to relieve dry itching skin. Helps skin retain its elasticity.
- Wash hair with shampoo and conditioner like always and after it dries….Use about the size of a dime of SSS and rub it in your hair. It goes straight in and leaves hair as shiny as the ads on TV, not greasy at all, just soft and shiny.
- Use bath oil towelettes — cover window sill with towelettes to keep ants out.
- Sometimes, using bath oil, like Avon’s Skin So Soft, will work to loosen the glue which holds the nits to the hair. There is a product called Neon Nits, which when sprayed on the hair, will highlight the nits so you can see them to then snip them out with a small scissors.
- Psoriasis on elbows. Try Avon’s Skin-So-Soft bath oil spray on affected areas.
- Bath use, fill bath with water and a little skin so soft, very relaxing and gets rid of dry skin. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: alternate uses, DIY, Homecare, pets
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