FACT:  I am 5′1″ tall and basically have to hem all of my pants.  My MIL and best friend usually help me with my sewing needs as I do not have a sewing machine.

FACT: I received 3 pairs of pants for Christmas since I only have 1 pair of jeans that fit and 1 pair of jogging pants that, ironically, are too short.  they have to be hemmed.

FACT: My usual routes of hemming pants were occupied for the time frame that I needed so I took them to the dry cleaners to be hemmed.  Want to guess how much they charged me?

$7.75 per pair of pants.  I can BUY a sewing machine and learn for less than than $100.  That will more than take care of not only my hemming needs but my kids accidents and projects in school and my husband’s pants as well.  I will be investing in a sewing machine soon.  I just can’t afford to pay that for ever!  I can think of so many things I would use my sewing machine for so I guess I will be learning how to sew soon.

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If you are on the internet and reading Thrifty Mommy, then chances are pretty good that you have some knowledge of the internet and computers. Want to know more and still stay within your budget? How about the Kim Komando Show?

I am willing to admit that I married a computer genius because all I seem to be able to do is turn mine on some days and blue screen it. But the Kim Komando Show is a great radio show and website that teaches you all about keeping your kids safe on the internet and it gives great advice on being thrifty with your money when you are looking to upgrade or purchase anything technical. She has free downloads and can hook you up with all kids of free trials and discounted stuff.

I think the site is a wonderful way to find great deals on technical stuff and get good, solid advice on what to get and not waste your money on. Take a look around and let me know what you think. I am trying to get an interview so wish me luck. I know she is really busy but maybe I will get lucky. I think you guys would love to hear what she has to say.

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I recently had a friend email me a reminder of what it was like for us as kids. You know, wanting something so bad and being mortified when we fail. So take it to heart, Diane, that a thrifty lifestyle is lived through the encouragement of others. We have all been there and wanted to do the right thing and failed at some point in life. You just get up and start again. Being thrifty is about learning your limitations and making it your daily challenge for yourself. That’s what I do. I feel invigorated when I get a great deal and want to shout it out to the world. So I hope you enjoy this little story and remember that we have all been wet with non-frugal ways at one point in time. Just start hanging out with the thrifty crowd and let us encourage you to be smart with the money you work so hard to earn.

Come with me to a third grade classroom…..There is a nine-year-old kid
sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his
feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to
stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It’s
never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will
never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they’ll never speak
to him again as long as he lives.

The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and
prays this prayer, “Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now!

Five minutes from now I’m dead meat.” He looks up from his prayer and
here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been
discovered. As the teacher is walking toward him, a classmate named
Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips
in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the
boy’s lap. The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to
himself, “Thank you, Lord!

Thank you, Lord!” Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of
ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him
downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out.

All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around
his desk. The sympathy is wonderful.

But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has
been transferred to someone else – Susie. She tries to help, but they
tell her to get out. You’ve done enough, you klutz!” Finally, at the end
of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie
and whispers, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Susie whispers
back, “I wet my pants once too.”

So admit it, have you been the thrifty one who has sat in the chair more or have you carried the fish bowl more these days?

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This post is for my mom.  She wanted me to write one about the many uses of vinegar. 

It definitely pays to have some vinegar around the house.  I need to go to the store to stock up on vinegar and baking soda.  I’ve had a mustard stain that won’t come out of my daughter’s clothes.  I think I need to try some vinegar or baking soda.  Both seem to be amazing, inexpensive, and safe products.  Definitely a thrifty choice!    

1.  Add 1/4 cup vinegar to laundry, along with the usual soap, to brighten colors and make whites sparkle.  This will also act as a fabric softener.  Also helps kills athlete’s foot germs on socks.

2.  Soak or simmer stuck-on food in 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of vinegar.  The food will soften and lift off in a few minutes.

3.  Remove ink stains from clothes by soaking them in milk for 1 hour.  Then cover the stain with a paste of vinegar and cornstarch.  When the paste dries, wash the garment as usual.

4.  Appliances sparkle if cleaned with a vinegar and borax cleaner.  Mix 1 teaspoon borax, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 2 cups hot water and put it into a spray bottle.  Spray it on greasy smears and wipe off with a cloth or sponge.

5.  Deodorize your sink drains: Pour a cup down your drain, let stand about thirty minutes, then run cold water.

6. Use vinegar instead of laundry softener.  Vinegar prevents your clothes from getting that waxy build up on them.  Vinegar is suggested for using to rinse cloth diapers to keep them absorbent. 

7.  Remove water stains from leather by rubbing with a cloth dipped in a vinegar and water solution.

8.  Loosen food grime and clean the microwave: Place a microwave-safe bowl with 2 cups water, 1/2 cup vinegar inside the microwave and microwave on full power for 3-4 minutes (it needs to boil). Keep your microwave closed for a few minutes to allow the steam to loosen the grime, then open your microwave, carefully remove the bowl, and wipe clean.

9.  Remove grease from kitchen walls: Put straight vinegar on a dishcloth to wipe grease off kitchen walls, or the stovetop.

10.  Prevent mold and mildew in the shower: Wipe down tile or Formica shower walls with a sponge or cloth dampened with water and vinegar. The vinegar will clean the walls and inhibit the growth of mold and mildew.

11.  An excellent toilet cleaner can be made from 1 cup borax and 1 cup vinegar.  Pour the vinegar all over the stained area of the toilet.  Then sprinkle the borax over the vinegar.  Allow it all to soak for 2 hours.  Then simply brush and flush.

12.  Add a cup of vinegar to your mop water or mop floors with vinegar and water after a normal mopping.  Vinegar removes the soap scum.

13.   Annie Berthold-Bond says her favorite window cleaning recipe is to combine 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar, and up to 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap or detergent in a spray bottle.  Annie says the liquid soap helps remove the waxy residue.

14.  Boil vinegar and water on the stove to soak up bad smells from your house.

15.  Fill your water reservoir halfway with vinegar to clean your coffee pot.  Follow up by running 1-2 pots of clean water through to remove the vinegar.

16.  Vinegar also works as a safe degreaser.  No harsh fumes.  Use it on grease, undiluted.

17.  Clean vaporizers and humifiers by soaking unit in vinegar.  Soak unit and then run water through it.  I know, I got this tip from the actual directions that came with my vaporizer, but it really does help to remove the deposits and also to sanitize.

18.  After washing your whites with bleach, run another rinse cycle with vinegar.  The vinegar will help to remove the bleach smell.

19.  If you have fruit flies, put some vinegar in a jar on your counter.  (I wish I would have known this one a few years ago.  I had some fruit flies and bought an expensive fruit fly trap.  It probably just had vinegar in it.  Errrr!)

20.  If your puppy (or child) has an accident on the carpet, apply full-strength plain white vinegar for about 10 minutes and then blot dry. You may want to test an inconspicuous spot first.

21.  Adding a cup of vinegar to a dishwashing cycle will help clean your dishwasher and will also help prevent spots from forming on your glasses.

22.  Vinegar helps to kill bacteria.  Mix up a solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle.  Keep it in your kitchen to spray your sink and countertops. 

23.  Use vinegar to clean your garbage disposal.  Run a tray of ice cubes with 1/2 cup vinegar poured over them.

24.  Use vinegar, hot water, and a little soap to clean baby’s toys.  Rinse well.

25.  I have Pergo floors.  I was glad to find this tip from Frugal Living.  Mix 1/3 part white vinegar, 1/3 part rubbing alcohol, 1/3 part water, and 3 drops diswashing liquid.  Mix this into a (recycled) spray bottle and you have the equivalent of the Pergo floor cleaner. Just spray and mop; also great for deodorizing a room and for a fast cleanup. I also use this on my tile floors with great results. Pergo is better off when water doesn’t sit on it too long, the alcohol is added to make it dry faster.

For more tips on cleaning with vinegar try The Vinegar Book, Housekeeping: About, and Whole Foods Market.

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Mortgage Refinancing – Lenders are being bombarded right now.  People are eager to refinance because of the lowest interest rates we’ve had in a year.

Thrifty Dating – Ideas for romance that don’t take much money.  You could send this link to your hubby.  LOL

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1.  To get rid of bad smells, pour vinegar in a bowl and let it sit overnight.

2.  Put natural spices in a pot and boil them on the stove.

3.  If you have clothes to hang dry, hang them in the room that you want to smell nice.  (The room will smell like your detergent or softener.)

4.  Place laundry detergent in the bottom of your tub overnight.  The bathroom smells good and the tub sparkles.

I will add that baking soda helps to absorb smells.  You can add a refrigerator style box in closets, behind the couch, under the bed, etc.  You can even sift a little bit on the carpet and let it set for a while before you vacuum.

Sometimes I also try a lightly scented candle.  Candles work well for absorbing odors, but be careful; some of them are strong.

Thanks for the tips, Angel.  I am sensitive to smells too.

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My little girl just found the playground over the last few months.  Before that, she wasn’t coordinated enough to walk and play at the same time.  She’s getting so big.  But let’s talk about exercise.  I was playing with her on the playground at our church and was having a ball!  The next day, I felt muscles that I didn’t know existed any more.

So playing with your kids is the cheapest and most fun way to exercise.  I know my little girl loves hanging out and playing with mommy and daddy.  And sometimes we are so busy that we don’t take the time to play anymore.

I have always heard that once you have kids, you can’t blink, because if you do, you will miss their childhood.  I totally agree.  So take the time to exercise by playing and horsing around with your kids.  Their laughter and smiles will warm you heart more than any sweaty towel will!

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1.  Shop end of season clearance for next year’s clothes.  Why pay $35 for a nice outfit when you can get it for $6?

2.  Shop yard sales and consignment stores.  Buy in the next size or two if it’s available, it’s in good condition, and it’s good deal.  I hit a few nice yard sales this summer for my son’s winter stuff.  The stuff was in like new condition and in the right sizes.  As I look over his closet full of fall and winter clothing, I’m pretty sure I have less than $30 in it all.

3.  Cook meals at home.

4.  Cook extra servings and freeze for lunches.

5.  Shop the grocery store sale ads.  I try to shop the sales, buy more than I need at the time, and then supplement with other items.

6.  Plan meals according to the sales.  Why pay $4.99/lb for meat when you can get it for $2.25/lb?  Shop for meats on sale, then freeze them for later.

7.  Order water when eating out.  This really adds up over time.

8.  Use a coupon book when eating out. Many schools sell these coupon books at the beginning of the school year.  Most of the coupons are for buy 1 get 1 free meals.

9.  Raise the thermostat 2 degrees while you’re not at home.  I do this everyday before I leave for work.  Don’t turn the thermostat completely off because it will only cost more to completely cool your house again.

10.  Buy a used car instead of a new one.  We learned this mistake early on in our marriage.  The depreciation is awful!  Unfortunately, we have made the mistake one more time and have paid dearly for it.

11.  Comparison shop online.  The internet is an awesome resource for comparing name brands and getting consumer ratings on products.

12.  Try to buy open box appliances and technology items whenever possible.  My husband and I try to buy our cameras and computers this way.  The savings are amazing and you still get the regular full price warranty!

13.  Shop year round for birthday and Christmas gifts.  Tonight I was shopping the end of season clearance at JCPenney and picked up a pair of $22 shorts for my nephew for $2.50. That’s almost 90% off!

14.  Check ebay for deals.  Recently, we needed a dehumidifier for our basement.  My husband purchased a brand new, in the box dehumidifier on ebay.  The dehumidifier retails for $250 and we got it for less than $100 (including shipping).

15.  Buy used toys.  I learned my lesson quickly on this one.  I remember when my daughter was just 7 months old I went to the store and spent $20 on a toy I really thought she could use for walking.  She spent less than 30 minutes playing with it.  I was not happy.  I began shopping yard sales and thrift stores for used toys.   I could get the same toys for $2-$3.  I just sanitize them when I bring them home.

16.  Buy generic over name brand.  I know that there are a few name brands that are better than generic, but for the most part they taste the same. 

17.  Use less dishwasher and laundry detergent than the package says to use.  The soap really does go a long way. 

18.  Dilute your hand soap.  I have found hand soap to be really rough on my hands.  I dilute it with water because the squirt you get it usually way too much anyway.

19.  Pack snacks for work and refrain from using vending machines.  Pack some granola bars, bananas, yogurt, and other supplies.  You can probably pack a day’s work of snacks for the price of 1 item from the machine.

20.  Buy in bulk whenever possible.  This is great for chicken nuggets, storage bags, snacks, etc. that you know you will use.  Don’t do this with items that you know will go bad before you can use them.

21.  Find uses for foods before they go bad.  Dehydrate fruits and vegetables for snacks or soups.  Make old bread into croutons.  I feed my old bananas, apples, and cereal to our rabbit.  He definitely is rotten!

22.  Brew your own coffee.  I’m not a big coffee drinker, but I can imagine how much money you would save if you took a travel mug of coffee with you to work everyday rather than buying some from the machine or coffee shop on the way.  (Time saver too.)  This tip goes for soda also.

23.  Make a list of errands for the week.  Try to plan out your route to keep you from backtracking. 

24.  Switch to a credit union.  I can’t believe the money I am saving in fees every month since I am using my credit union again. 

25.  Switch your existing credit card balances to a card with a 0% interest.  Make your payments on time to avoid fees.  Don’t be afraid to haggle with the credit card companies.  If you have super credit, then you really have more room to shop around.

Well, these are just some ideas off the top of my head of things that I try to do to save money.  There are many more ideas floating around in my brain.  Be sure to check back to Thrifty Mommy for more money saving tips.  If you like what you’ve read, then you can click the link to subscribe.  Thanks readers! 

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So when I ran across a link from Frugal for Life on the 46 things I wish my mother had taught me about money from Lisa Laprad, I was intrigued. I loved the list! She has some great ideas on how to live the frugal life. My favorites were:

• Spend less than you earn (my fave)
• Pay more than your minimum mortgage payment
• Don’t buy a new car
• Always shop off-season
• Saving money is a positive habit

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy