Here are some thrifty ways to help the environment, and possibly your wallet too:

1)  Replace light bulbs with CFLs.  Last year, I replaced several light bulbs in my home with CFLs.  They use at 2/3 less energy than standard bulbs.

2)  Don’t waste food.  When you waste food, you’re throwing out more, buying more products, and putting more packaging into the environment.

3) Shop online.  Shopping online saves gas from driving to the stores and it can be done at night when the kids are in bed.  I’ll admit that I don’t do much shopping online due to shipping costs, but thanks to this site, now you can shop with no shipping.  

4)  Make your own cleaning products.  I am amazed at the cleaning power of vinegar and baking soda.  It’s good for the environment, less expensive than cleaning products, and healthier for your home.

5)  Bring your own bags to the grocery store.  Some stores charge you for their bags and some stores will give you an incentive for bringing your own.  Bringing your own also helps keep bags out of the landfills and saves you the time of recycling them.

6)  Air dry your clothes.  Air drying your clothes can save a lot of money on your electric bill and it also keeps us from using more energy.

7)  Conserve water.  Click on the link to find 25 ways to reduce your water bill.  Simple things like checking for leaks or installing an aerator on your spout can really help out.

8)  Conserve electric.  Here are some tips for saving money on your summer electric bill.  I’m sure all of us could use a little help on cutting costs this year.  We could all implement a few of these tips into our lives.

9)  Buy used items whenever possible.  I try to buy items used if I can.  It saves a lot of money and enables items to be reused rather than being wasted. Selling your stuff helps you to get rid of things you don’t want, clears up needed space, enables you to earn a little money, and helps someone else that wants to buy it used.

10)  Learn to be content.  You don’t need the latest gadget and gizmo to be happy.  Accumulating things takes up room in your house, causes burdensome debt, and only leaves you longing for something bigger and better.  Materialism is a barrier to contentment.

11)  Join your local freecycle group.  Freecycle is an opportunity to give away things that you don’t need and to get things you want or need for free!  I have given away a pair of crutches, a crib, and a bunch of children’s hangers.  I have received clothes for my children.  Don’t put more stuff into landfills.  Find someone that can use it.

12)  Don’t use so much gasoline.  I try to do all of my errands one day each week or plan my errands in a way that will use the least amount of gas.  Check here for more ways to save gas.

13)  Buy Energy Star appliances.  If it’s time to replace your appliances, then you should buy energy star appliances.  These save money on electric and water usage.

14)  Use rechargable batteries.  Rechargable batteries last longer than regular batteries and keep batteries from being throw away.

15) Use the library or get second hand books from others.  I do not have a magazine subscription.  My mom saves some of her old magazines for me.  This is fine by me because I usually don’t have time to read them anyway.

16)  Email whenever possible.  An email isn’t as personal as a handwritten letter, but it saves time, money, and paper.

17)  Buy clothes that don’t need to be dry cleaned.  Dry cleaning is expensive and harmful to the environment.  If you do have clothes that need to be dry cleaned, then check out these safe alternatives.

18)  Use cloth diapers.  Now I could never bring myself to do use cloth diapers, but I had good intentions.  Over the long run, cloth diapers save a lot of money and of course, they’ll keep you from throwing away about 3,000 diapers.  Even though I didn’t use cloth diapers, I’m trying to do my part by putting my two-year-old son in underwear whenever I can. 

19)  Grow your own fruits and vegetables.  You’ll save lots of money, get stuff to can or give away, and then you can keep out the pesticides.

20)  Repurpose old items that you have.  Use curtains or sheets to make pillows, take an old skirt and make doll clothing, glue buttons onto a picture frame.  Lots of stuff can be repurposed.

21)  Cut out junk mail as much as possible.  This is something that is on my to-do list.  I’ve looked into a few companies that can help with this problem.  Some are free, some cost a few dollars.  Maybe I should just try all of them.  That might work.  

22)  Send ecards through care2.  When you send ecards, they’ll make a donation to the rain forest.  Check out their Click2Donate page.

23)  Recycle!  This one’s pretty easy and self-explanatory.  Most cities have a recycling service that will pick up the recycling, along with your trash.  Check with your local area to find out the rules.

24) Join the Arbor Day Foundation.  For only $10, you can get 10 trees.

25) Use the internet.  You can find recipes, tips, send pictures and emails, and check out great blogs.   

What can you add to this list?

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

 1.  Use over ripe bananas to make banana bread. 

 2.  Use apples, peaches, etc to make a pie or cobbler.  Umhmmm!

 3.  Leftover grilled chicken tastes great on top of a salad!

 4.  Have excess bread?  Make stuffing or croutons.

 5.  Use your excess hamburger to make a sloppy joe sandwich.

 6.  Save your beef or chicken broth and freeze it.  Use it later for soups. 

 7.  Save those last few pieces of bacon from breakfast and add them on a baked potato tonight.

 8.  Have left over rotisserie chicken?  Use it to make Rachael Ray’s chicken taco soup.

 9.  If you boiled too much chicken, use it to make chicken salad.

10.  Use leftover sausage in a breakfast casserole.

11.  Freeze it.  There are lots of foods that you can freeze.  Some of my favorites are lasagna, spaghetti sauce, chicken, and soups.

12.  Make baby food. 

13.  Dehydrate your fruits for a tasty snack.

14.  Have some meat that you absolutely have to use now?  Make beef jerky.

15.  Feed the birds.  Each day, I throw something out for the neighbor’s (illegal) chicken.  I’ve given him corn on the cob, bread, tortilla chips, etc.  The chicken is very appreciative.   

16.  Freeze your bread scraps until you have enough to take your child to feed the ducks at a pond.

17.  Use leftover chicken or beef to make quesadillas.

18.  Use extra tomatoes to make tomato sandwiches or BLTs.

19.  Freeze casseroles into lunch size portions.  This will keep you from going out to eat while working.

20.  Need to find a use for your extra tortilla chips?  Use them to make chilaquiles.

21.  If you have extra herbs from your garden, then dehydrate them to use during the off season.

22.  Sprinkle leftover coffee and tea grounds on your plants.  Most Starbucks shops even provide free bags for their customers.

23.  Use it to make compost or a worm bed.

24.  Use vegetables in a casserole or soup.

25.  Organize leftovers.  If leftovers are shoved here and there in your refrigerator, then you’ll forget about them or find them when they’re no good.  This past week I have eaten leftover salad, pizza, chicken taco salad, pork chops, and more.  I planned my lunches so that I had very little waste.

26.  Use your leftover fried chicken, pork chops, or steak to put on a biscuit. I used my leftover pork chops today for a biscuit.  Yummy!

27.  Use leftover diced potatoes, steak, etc to make breakfast burritos. 

28.  Cut up extra onions and bell peppers and put them in your freezer.  They won’t be as firm as fresh ones, but they’re still great in spaghetti, casseroles, and fajitas.

29.  Have leftover turkey during the holidays?  Who doesn’t?  Check out 20 Things to Do with Leftover Turkey.

30.  Those with a bountiful garden can tell you the benefits of canning vegetables.

31.  This may seem like a no brainer, but only cook what you need.

32.  Share with a friend!  It is a shame to waste food.  If you can’t find a use for it, or if you just want to help someone out, then pass your food along. My neighbor likes it when I have too much potato salad or pinto beans. 

33.  Use excess onions to make french onion soup.  Oh, I’m getting hungry now!

34.  Chop up your leftover roast, mix in some barbeque sauce, and have barbeque beef sandwiches.

35.  Vacu-Seal your food to keep it extend its shelf life.

36.  Throw your extra fruit into the blender to make a smoothie. 

37.  Use your leftover pinto beans to make refried beans.

38.  Make potato soup.

39.  Put your extra meat and veggies on a homemade pizza.

40. Top your cereal, oatmeal, or yogurt with sliced strawberries or bananas.

41.  If you have oatmeal that going out of date, use it to make oatmeal cookies or no bake cookies.

42. Freeze your milk before it spoils.  Some people say they can tell if milk has been frozen, so rather than drinking it, use it in casseroles or mashed potatoes.

43.  If you have cream cheese that’s getting ready to go out of date, make a cheesecake or stuffed jalapenos.  (I’ll be posting a recipe for stuffed jalapenos next week.)

44. Use milk, fruit, chocolate, peanut butter, etc to make homemade ice cream.

45.  Save your vegetable water for your plants.

46.  Boil your turkey or chicken carcas until it’s really tender and the meat falls off.  Use the meat and broth to make soup.

47.  Boil your noodles in your leftover chicken or beef broth.  It gives them a great flavor. 

48.  Make fruit preserves.

49.  If you have sour cream that is about to expire, you can mix it with some french onion soup mix and make dip.

50.  Use your corn muffin mix before it expires to make this delicious corn casserole.

51.  Freeze leftover wine into ice cube trays.  Use it later for casseroles or cooking.

52.  Make horchata with your rice.  Would you believe that Mexican restaurants charge $1.50-$2 for this drink? 

53.  If you have some eggs you need to use, then try making crepes.  They’re really easy to make and are good too.

54.  If you have fresh spinach that’s about to go bad, wilt it in a pan with butter and use it to put inside your crepe.  My husband made these last night and they were yummy!

Other helpful articles:
25 Tips for Freezing Food
What kinds of foods can you freeze?

Well, that’s only about 50 ways to keep from wasting food.  I know there are hundreds more.  What are your favorite ways?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

For many, Christmas is a favorite time of the year.  Unfortunately, many times it can be the most stressful.  Here are 30 ways to help you save time and money, and avoid unnecessary stress. 

Gift Giving and Shopping Tips: 

1.  Let friends and family know things you’re shopping for.  When I do this, other people let me know when they spot a good deal on something I need.

2.  Be specific in your requests.  If someone asks what to get your child, try to be as specific as possible.  Tell them the exact name of the toy or their specific pants size.

3.  Ask friends and family what they want.  Hopefully, this will avoid countless hours shopping, racking your brain, wasted gas, extra unwanted products in the environment, and the hassle of returns. 

4.  Try gift cards.  Some people may think this is inappropriate, but I think it’s a great solution.  Gift cards save time, wrapping paper, shipping expenses, and help avoid unwanted gifts.  Let the person buy what they want.

5.  Save your receipts.  Get an envelope for your purse or have a special file folder in your filing cabinet.  You never know when you’ll have bought the wrong size or something that didn’t work. 

6.  See if your store offers a gift receipt.  I think it’s nice when someone includes a gift receipt in the box.  This avoids the uncomfortable situation of asking where they bought it or if they still have the receipt.  I’ll admit that many times I’ve been left with things I couldn’t use or return.  Gift receipts are great!

7.  Consider drawing names with co-workers or family.  We did this with my husband’s family for several years.  To make it more fun, we kept the names we drew a secret and were surprised when we exchanged gifts.

8.  Buy just for the children.  This is becoming a common practice in our families.  We buy for our parents and the children.  This has really cut down on spending and getting unusable gifts.

9.  Consider playing a game instead.  Try a white elephant or dirty Santa game.  Some games involve bringing a nice gift or a funny joke-style gift.  It’s funny to see other’s reactions when they get the gift you brought and it’s interesting to see the things others chose.

10.  Consider regifting.  I regifted some children’s toys for the shoeboxes we did for Samaritan’s Purse.  Here are some regifting tips.

11.  Be realistic.  Much of people’s Christmas shopping is for themselves.  And no one can blame you since there are so many good deals out there.  It’s important to realize that since you’ll be shopping, you’ll probably be picking up some things for yourself.  Budget those things in.

12.  Make a budget of what you really can afford and stick to it.  NO CHARGING!!!!  If you can only afford $20 per gift, then find a creative way to make those dollars stretch.

13.  Take the plastic out of your wallet.  Go ahead.  Do it now!  You don’t need a debt hangover come January when the bills come in.

14.  Make a list for each person.  Once you have your list and the grand total you can spend from your budget, you need to put a dollar amount next to each person’s name.  If the numbers don’t add up, you may have to drop some people off your list or reduce the dollar amount by each name—including yours—until it fits within your intended budget.   Take your list with you when you shop.  Use it when you make a purchase.  If you overspend on someone, you’ll have to make cutbacks somewhere else.

15.  Try homemade gifts.  (Don’t roll your eyes at me. lol)  There are some nice homemade gift ideas out there.  Martha Stewart and Better Homes and Gardens have some nice gift ideas that you can do yourself.

16.  Give baked goodies.  My mom is well-known for her homemade yeast rolls.  Is there something you’re good at making?  Make a big batch and use those for gifts.  You could find some nice tins or coffee mugs to put your goodies in.  My friend Revka has a recipe for homemade hot chocolate mix.  You could make that and put it in a nice jar with some pretty material and/or ribbon.  It’s very inexpensive to make.  If you’re stressed about time, then try making peanut brittle.  It can be made weeks in advance.

17.  Take a look at Sam’s Club, Costco, or other warehouse stores.  At Christmas time, they usually carry imported chocolates, food gift sets, bath products, toys, and other items at less expensive prices.

18.  Keep a gift closet or specific place for gifts.  This avoids you forgetting where you put things after you bought them.  (There is a certain person in my family that forgets where she puts gifts.  Sometimes I’ll get things out of the blue for no reason because she found them.  lol)

19.  Keep a few extra things in the gift closet.  These can be things that you bought on sale or clearance.  You never know when you’re going to need a last minute gift.  Of course, you should try to match the gift with the person so that you’re not just giving them something they can’t use.

20.  Check your local Good Will or other thrift store.  I have been into Good Will several times and found new items that are still in the packaging.  Many of them are overstock items that other stores donated.

21.  Know the person you’re shopping for.  When we would draw names at work, I would pay attention to the person’s dressing habits, type of jewelry they wore, and food they ate.  I would also ask someone that worked closely with them for some tips.  You want to buy a gift that the person will enjoy.

22.  Don’t wait until the last minute.  Don’t wait until December 23rd to do your shopping.  By then, things are picked over and you may end up buying something that you really didn’t want.

23.  It is not your job to keep up with the Jones’.  Happiness comes from being thankful and content with what you already have, not with how many possessions and gadgets you can accumulate.

24.  If you’re shipping your gifts, give them plenty of time to arrive.  You should ship them two weeks before Christmas.

25.  Check the dollar store for wrapping supplies.  Our Dollar Tree has Princess, Dora, and other famous character wrapping paper.

26.  Be sure you’re shopping on a secure site.

Decorations:

27.  Check the dollar store for decorations.  I have actually found Hallmark ornaments for $1.  They were from the previous year, but they’re still nice ornaments.

28.  Consider using an artificial tree.  Over time, this will save you money and will also avoid killing trees. 

29.  Put your lights on a timer.  You can probably pick up a timer for $10 or less.  Set your lights to go off and on at desired times. 

30.  Shop after Christmas for lights, decorations, ornaments, gift wrap, and other items.  I never pay full retail for decorations or gift wrap.  I wait until it’s 50-75% off and purchase what I need for the following year.

Top 10 Regifting Tips for the Thrifty

Do you have any tips to add to this list?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Turkey & Gravy
Herb-Butter-Roasted Turkey
Healthy Holiday Turkey
Turkey Gravy
Roast Turkey and Gravy 101
Good Gravy

Stuffing & Potatoes
Caramelized Onion and Cornbread Stuffing
Good Old Country Stuffing
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Teri Hatcher’s Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Vanilla Sweet Potatoes
Mashed Potatoes
Easy Mashed Potatoes

Vegetables
Green Bean Casserole
Green Beans
Broccoli with Lemon Crumbs
Butter Beans
Candied Butternut Squash
Roasted Vegetables

Cranberry
Deep Fried Cranberry Fritters
New Cranberry Sauce
Frozen Cranberry Salad

Bread
Quick Yeast Rolls
Sweet Potato Biscuits
Harvest Bread
Drop Biscuits

Desserts
Pumpkin Crunch Cake
Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie
Deep Dish Pecan Pie
Caramel-Pecan French Silk Pie
Spicy Pumpkin Bundt Cake
Pumpkin Roll Cake
Cheesecake
Broiled Apples
Pumpkin Rice Pudding

Which dish is your favorite during the holidays?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

For this week’s Frugal Friday, I am giving you an additional 25 ways to save money.  I am adding these to the other lists.  Now we’re up to 75 ways to save money (or not spend it).  I hope these ideas will help you to keep more of your money.

Numbers 1-25:  Top 25 Ways I Save Money 

Numbers 26-50:  25 More Ways to Save Money

51.  Buy clothes that don’t need to be dry cleaned.  To be honest, I avoid clothes that need to be dry cleaned and clothes that need to be ironed.  That doesn’t mean that I don’t have any, but I try to avoid them.

52.  Get organized.  Disorganization causes missed payments, lost coupons, late payments, and so forth.

53. Order checks from a check company, rather than from your bank.  Take advantage of first time offers.  Each time I order checks I order them from a different company.  I usually pay $20 for 4 boxes.

54.  Swap babysitting with friends.  One week you watch their kids so that they can go out.  The next week, they watch your kids so you can go out.

55.  If you like a song, buy the song instead of the entire cd.

56.  Take advantage of free shipping offers.  This saves on gas, time, and impulsive buying.

57.  Try to make some cut backs.  Do you really need all those cell phone minutes or all those cable channels?

58.  Check your bills for errors.  Are you being charged the correct percentage rate?  Are you being charged for a service that you didn’t request?

59. Raise your deductibles on your car insurance policy.  I did this just this week.  I wouldn’t want to claim anything under $500 anyway.  If you raise your deductibles, your premiums will drop.

60.  Look online for recipes, rather than buying expensive cookbooks.

61.  Avoid looking at things you like to buy.  My husband has a weakness for cookbooks, hats, and t-shirts.  When we go shopping, I try to stear clear of those items. 

62.   Install a programmable thermostat.  Set it to go up a few degrees while you’re at work and then to come back down right before you come home.  If you normally keep your a/c on 72, then try having it go up to 76 while you’re away.  You’ll really save a lot during the blazing summer months. 

63.  Check your phone book for coupons.  Many times you will find coupons such as buy 1 get 1 free on pizza or take-out meals.

64.  Put water into empty laundry detergent, shampoo, and dishwashing liquid bottles.  Put the cap on and shake the water around to remove the soap that is left.   This will allow you to get a few more uses from the bottle before you toss it.

65.  Check restaurants and stores for punch cards.  I have a coffee card that I am using.  After 6 coffees, I get a free one.  Next week I’ll get my free coffee.

66.  Trade services.  Clean your neighbor’s house in exchange for him mowing your lawn.  Babysit your friend’s children in exchange for use of their swimming pool.

67.  Toss out the catalogs.  If you start looking through catalogs, you’ll find all kinds of things that you don’t need. 

68.  Pack food for road trips.  When I go somewhere with my kids I make sure I have dry cereal, granola bars, graham crackers, grapes, bananas, cereal bars, and a little junk food in case they get cranky.  This saves time and money.

69.  Change light bulbs to CFL bulbs.  Energy efficient bulbs could save you $30 per year per bulb!

70.  Whenever possible, do your own home repairs.  There are numerous videos and home repair websites.  Check your local Lowe’s and Home Depot for free classes too.

71.  Clean your own house.  Some people spend hundreds of dollars each month having someone else clean their house.  While I do dream of someone else cleaning my home, it just isn’t thrifty.

72.  Join your local freecycle group.  So far I have given away a set of gently used crutches and some buy 1 get 1 free restaurant coupons.  I have received some boy’s toddler clothes.  I’m hoping for some furniture! 

73.  Use your dishwasher.  According to Consumer Reports, an efficient dishwasher can use less water than washing dishes by hand, no matter how frugal you are at the faucet.

74.  Clean with vinegar.  Type “vinegar” into the Thrifty Mommy search bar and you will see that there are countless uses for vinegar.

75.  Cut your own hair.  My husband bought a nice set of hair clippers.  He cuts his and my son’s hair.  The money saved on hair cuts has more than paid for the clippers.

Which things save you the most money?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

 2.  Cool foods before placing them in the freezer.

 3.  Wrap foods well to prevent freezer burn.   Freezer burn is the dehydration of foods.

 4.  Pack foods in freezer and microwave safe containers.  This will save time when going to reheat the foods.

 5.  If you want to freeze something in glass, make sure you use glass that is tempered or specificially labeled freezer safe.  Mason jars are probably the best glass to use in the freezer.

 6.  Squeeze out as much air as possible.  If you are using glass, completely fill the container.  If you are freezing sauces, soups, or stews, leave a little room for expansion of the liquids when they freeze.

 7.  Do not stack food that has not been frozen. Wait until the food has been completely frozen before stacking it.

 8.  To prevent waste, keep track of the foods that you have.

 9.  Recipes with a condensed-soup base usually freeze well.

10.  Freeze casseroles unbaked or baked.  Allow additional baking time for frozen casseroles. 

11.  When cooking a casserole, use an instant read thermometer to check the center.  It should reach 160 degrees F.  If not hot enough, continue to bake the casserole and check it every 15 minutes.

12.  If a casserole recipe calls for cheese topping, freeze it without the cheese.  Add the cheese during the last 10 to 20 minutes of cooking.

13.  Store frozen meals at 0 degrees F, or colder. 

14.  For best quality, use foods within three months. 

15.  Label freezer packages with content, date, and cooking instructions.

16.  For quick, single-serving lunches, freeze foods in individual portions.

17.  Blanch or steam all vegetables and cool them quickly in ice water before freezing.  This will save the flavor and texture of the vegetables.

18.  You can freeze fruits with or without sugar, but freezing them with sugar will help retain the texture and color.  Use citric or absorbic acid on lightly colored fruits  such as apples and peaches, to keep them from discoloring.

19.  Repackage meats from the grocery store before freezing, or place the entire package in a freezer safe container or freezer bag.  The plastic wrap on the meats will allow oxygen to get to the meats and enable foods to become easily freezer burned.

20.  If you thaw meat, you should cook it before you refreeze it.

21.  To keep bacteria from growing, thaw foods in the refrigerator.

22.  Slice bread and half bagels before freezing so that you can easily remove the slices you need.  Slip the bagel halves in freezer bag back to back to prevent them from sticking together.

23.  Cool pancakes and waffles before freezing and put a sheet of wax paper inbetween each one.

24.  Another convenient way to freeze soups and broths is to use plastic ice cube trays.  Let the soup or broth cool and then fill the ice cube trays with the liquid.  After it is frozen, pop out the cubes and place in a freezer bag.  Later you can pull out as many as you need.

25.  If the power goes out, frozen food can remain frozen for a few days.  Keep the freezer closed and cover it with blankets, keeping the blankets away from the compressor.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

A few weeks ago, I gave you some tips on saving money on your summer electric bill.  There are more ways to save throughout the year that you might want to consider.  Here are some ways to cut back on the expense of water usage.

1.  Put an approved insulation jacket/blanket on your electric hot water heater.

2.  Insulate hot water pipes.

3.  Wash clothes in cold water, if possible.  Always rinse clothes in cold water.

4.  Clean and maintain hot water heater.  Drain water from bottom of water heater to remove sediment, at least once a year.  This one definitely needs to be done at my house.

5.  Take showers instead of baths.

6.  Make sure your shower head is one that is designed to reduce water usage.

7.  Try not to stay in the shower more than 5 minutes.

8.  Fix leaky faucets.

9.  Use your dishwasher.

10.  Shut off faucet when shaving, brushing your teeth, and doing dishes.

11.  Only use washing machine and dishwasher when you have a full load.

12.  Adjust washing machine water levels to match your load.

13.  Use cold water in the garbage disposal.

14.  Check water efficiency ratings before buying new appliances.  Some washing machines use a few gallons less per load.

15.  Avoid using sprinklers and water soakers to water your grass.  Instead, collect rain water in buckets.  You may even want to invest in a rain barrel.  These can also be attached to your gutters to help collect the most water.  We considered purchasing one of these a few years ago because of water restrictions. 

16.  Check toilets for leaks.  The inside plumbing for a toilet is only a few dollars.  A few years ago, our water bill kept rising every month.  The water dept suggested that we put a packet of unsweetened Kool-Aid in the tank to see if it drained into the bowl.  The color immediately drained into the bowl and we got our toilet fixed, which saved us a lot of money.

17.  Chill water in refrigerator, rather than running faucet for water to cool down before filling a glass.

18.  Consider getting an on-demand hot water heater.

19.  If you have a gas hot water heater, make sure your pilot light is adjusted and working properly.  Make sure your flu pipe is clear with no bird or insect nests inside.

20.  To reduce water usage from your toilet, fill a small water bottle with sand or water and place inside the tank.  Do not use a brick because the brick can dissolve and cause future problems.

21.  Reduce your water heater temperature to 120 degrees.  If your dishwasher does not have a booster heater, you may need to set it higher.

22.  Install aerators on your faucets, which will reduce the flow of water.

23.  Cover swimming pools when not in use to help keep the water from evaporating.

24.  Avoid using the toilet as a trashcan.  Throw away cotton swabs, tissues, and other items rather than flushing them.

25.  If you need to water your plants, try to water them in the early morning or evening.  Watering them during the heat of the day will cause the water to evaporate quickly.

Ok, I’ve racked my brain for too long.  Do you have any tips to share?

Picture from sirrusshowers.com.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

2)  Register for your shower.  People will be more likely to get you what you need.  Also, if you are registered at Target, they have a more flexible return policy.

3)  Nurse if you possibly can.  Formulas can cost a lot of money.  If you’re lucky, formula will cost about $1200-$1400 a year.  If you child has colic or some other tummy problems, the more expensive formulas could cost double that amount.

4)  Check the consignment store for breastpumps.  The consignment store where I shop usually has a nice Medela single or double breastpump for sale.  You’re going to sterilize a new one or used one anyway, so get the used one and save $100 or more.

5)  Find out where you can get free breastfeeding advice.  Some hospitals have a free lactation center and others have lactation nurses that will call and check up on you.  You could also check with your local La Leche group for help.  Finding support is important if you want to continue breastfeeding.

6)  Don’t rush out and spend lots of money on a breastfeeding wardrobe.  More than likely you’ll spend the first two weeks inside resting and breastfeeding anyway.  After that time you can see what your needs really are.  Many times we overestimate what we’ll need and we buy too much.

7)  Don’t worry about brand names.  Wal-Mart and Target have come out with some cute lines of clothing.  You don’t have to have the most expensive name brands.

8)  Accept hand-me-downs.  Don’t give people the idea that you’re too good to take second hand stuff. 

9)  Be sure and tell people how much you appreciate the things they’ve passed down to you.  If you don’t seem thankful, then they may find someone else to give their stuff to.

10)  Shop thrift stores, consignment stores, and yard sales for baby clothes, baby equipment, bottles, toys, and more.  I can’t say that one enough.  Two weeks ago I was at a yard sale and picked up some Avent bottles for 25 cents each!  I don’t have any babies, but we have some friends that use these bottles with their baby.  I spent just a few dollars and they will be happy to get the extra bottles. 

I think this picture speaks volumes about why you should shop at consignment stores. 

11)  Buy some neutral things so that they can be used by your next baby, no matter the gender.  I have been saving a lot of my daughter’s jeans and denim overalls for my son. 

12)  Make your own baby food.  Parents.com has some recipes to get you started.

13)  Only buy what you need.  There are so many gadgets and products on the market.  Many of these items are unnecessary.  Talk to some of your friends and find out what their favorites are and why.

14)  Say “Yes!” if your doctor asks if you want to be added to a mailing list.  You will get lots of freebies in the mail.

15)  Keep those samples of formula the doctor gives you or that you get in the mail.  Even if you plan on breastfeeding, you might still need them.

16)  Visit websites and get put on their mailing list.  I did this with some formula and diaper companies.  They will sometimes send free samples and coupons.

17)  Before leaving the hospital, make sure they give you your free stuff.  Usually Similac or Enfamil provides hospitals with a diaper bag full of goodies for all new moms.  Inside, you will usually find diaper cream, lotion, coupons, and all sorts of great things.

18)  Forget about buying expensive shoes until baby can walk.  Unless your baby can walk, there really is no need to buy the $35 shoes.  All your baby needs is some socks or booties. If you want your baby to have on shoes, then go for the less expensive pair or a pair from the consignment store.  More than likely, your baby will kick them off anyway and you certainly don’t need the more expensive ones since your baby won’t be walking.

19)  Set up a photo website, email pictures, or make photo cds for everyone.  Making copies of photos can be really expensive.  I learned that lesson early.  Now I email pictures of the kids.  It’s less expensive and everyone gets regular updates.   Family members and friends can print off their favorites or save them to a cd.  About once a year, I make a photo cd for the grandparents.  Speaking of which, it’s time to do that again!

20)  Test drive a stroller before you buy it.  This one saved us at least $200.  My husband and I thought we would need a double stroller.  Thankfully, we test drove them around the baby store and realized how difficult and awkward they were.  Plus, I don’t think it would have fit very well in our van.

21)  Use cloth diapers.  Cloth diapers aren’t what they used to be.  Cloth diapers now come with elastic legs and snaps or velcro closures.  You can even buy them used or new on ebay.

22)  Make your own baby wipes.  Here’s my post on how to make them.

23)  Use bibs!  I am a firm believer in the use of bibs.  Bibs will save you money since you won’t be ruining good clothes and they will save you money because you won’t be washing clothes so much.  When my kids eat spaghetti, I usually take off their shirt.  It seems spaghetti always gets everywhere.  Another alternative to bibs is to buy larger shirts at a yard sale.  Put the oversized shirts on your baby when he eats.  You will get more coverage that way.

24)  Try out generic diapers and see which ones work for you.  Some people say generic diapers didn’t work for their children, but I’ve never had any problems with my two kids.  I’ve tried Target, Wal-Mart, CVS, Food Lion, Sam’s, and more.  Never any problems.  I think it depends on the child.  Give them a try and if they don’t work then take them back to the store.  Most store brands have a guarantee statement printed on the package.

25)  Shop the clearance rack frequently.  I once got a $100 stroller at Target for $22.

Well, there are the 25 ways I could think of.  That’s certainly not every way to save money with a baby.  Perhaps one day in the future I could post another 25 ways to save.  Do you have any ways that you save on money on your baby?  Let us know!

Images from morrisons.co.uk, tgtbt.com.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Kelly and I have throughly enjoyed writing for Thrifty Mommy this past year.  Below are highlights from our top posts.  Here is our top 10 for 2006:

Top 25 Ways I Save Money – Obviously, this is a list of 25 ways I save money.  LOL

25 MORE Ways to Save Money – I decided the 1st list of 25 was too easy to write.  I decided to pick my brain for more.

Top 10 Ways to Exercise for Free – Kelly has suggested 10 ways that we can exercise without it costing us anything.  Free is a great word!

Top 10 Ways to Take Care of Your Clothes – Kelly gives us ways to take care of our clothes so that they will last a long time.

Top 10 Uses for Duct Tape – This was intended as a silly post and it received more attention than I thought it would.  Thanks, people. 

The Top 10 List to Beat All Top 10 Lists – This is a blog carnival featuring Top 10 lists from other blogs.

Oriental Ramen Noodle Salad – This post has a recipe for a great salad made with ramen noodles.

Kevin Federline Returns to Thrifty Lifestyle – Since the break up of Britney and Kevin, Kevin has returned to watching his spending habits.

Need A Thrifty Way to Make An Air Freshener? Ask Heloise. – This post features Heloise and the air fresheners that she makes.

Another benefit to vinegar . . . weight loss? – Vinegar has many medical and cleaning benefits.  Does it also aid in weight loss too?

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

26.  Shop close out stores.  Many times you can get the same name brands, just at close out prices.  I’m thinking “Big Lots!”. 

27.  Get magazines second-hand from friends and relatives.  I don’t have much time for leisure reading, but I do enjoy looking at magazines when I have the time.  My mom passes down her old Better Homes & Gardens magazines to me.

28.  Borrow books from the library or trade books with a friend. 

29.  Send pictures, notes, and letters through email rather than mailing them.  I love emailing pictures of the kids to relatives and friends.  Everyone gets an update about the kids and it doesn’t cost me anything.

30.  Save on stamps and pay your bills online.  This is free service through most credit unions and some banks and also saves time.

31.   Subscribe to The Grocery Game.  Terri’s list can help you coordinate coupons with the sales.  Many times you will come home with free or almost free products.  If you would like to join, please use my email address as your referral so that I can earn free weeks.  knowhimwell at hotmail dot com  Thanks!)

32.  Don’t smoke.  Smoking increases costs of health and life insurance.  Plus, we all know how expensive cigarettes are!

33.  Check your receipts.  I can’t tell you the amount of times I have been overcharged at the grocery store.  Better yet, watch the prices as they ring up your stuff so that you can avoid wasting time going to the customer service desk.

34.  Pay attention to the front page of a sales paper.  That is usually where they list their best deals to lure you in.

35.  Keep your coupons and coupon books in the car.  As I stated in the previous post,  Top 25 Ways I Save money, you should buy a coupon book . . . BUT if you don’t have it with you, what good is it going to do?  I usually keep my coupons and coupon books in the car. There have been a few instances where my family was out and about and I needed a coupon.  I was really upset when I remembered that the book got taken inside the house.  Errr!

36.  Shop at stores where everything is a dollar; stores such as The Dollar Tree, Everything’s a Dollar, Dollar Duz It, etc.  Sometimes you can find some really great deals in there.  I was at The Dollar Tree recently and found a 12 oz bottle of hand sanitizer for only $1.00!  I also found some name brand hair mousse, nice coloring books, and other good deals.  You just never know what you will find.

37.  Check your toilet for leaks.  Sometimes you can have a leak and not even know it.  In one particular house we lived in, our water bill kept going up every month.  Finally, when it was ridiculously high, I called the water department.  They told me to put a colored kool-aid packet or some food coloring drops in the tank of my toilet.  If the color ran down to the bowl with a few minutes, then I had a leak.  It only took a few seconds for my water to get into the bowl.  Problem solved, but with an outrageous water bill!

38.  Plan your meals at least 1-2 days in advance and put your meat in the refrigerator to thaw.  When you don’t have something in mind for dinner, then you will be more likely to get take out or go out to eat.  Also, if hubby suggests going out, you can tell him that you can’t because the meat will go bad. 

39.  Open blinds during the winter to use the light to warm and give light to your house.  I try to keep mine closed during the summer as much as possible.  The heat is horrible!

40.  Be on the look out for inexpensive entertainment options.  Take your family to the park, to a school or church fall festival, drive around looking at Christmas lights.  Take your wife or husband on a date to a coffee shop, $2 theater, the waterfront.  I’m sure there are cheap ways to find entertainment in your area.  You just have to look for them. 

41.  Don’t buy something just because it’s cheap.  I have done this in the past and regretted it later.  I found my house to be full of crap.  Just because something is 75% off doesn’t mean I need it!

42.  Raise your deductibles on your home owner’s insurance to $1000 or $2500.  You wouldn’t want to claim anything under that amount anyway or you run the risk of being dropped by your carrier.

43.  Treat clothing stains as soon as possible.  Avoid the aggravation of wasting time and money trying to get stains out.  Also, make sure the stain is out before putting it in the dryer.  What a horrible way to ruin an outfit.

44.  Buy crackers, snacks, yogurt, and other food items in containers or large bags, rather than in snack size packages.  I was appalled when I saw that snack size Ritz crackers averaged to be 50 cents a package.  I can buy a whole box for just a few dollars.  Buy the box and separate the snacks into containers or ziploc bags for easy use.

45.  Avoid buying extended warranties on inexpensive items such as car seats, cordless phones, and cameras.  More than likely, you will never use the warranty.  (You may want to consider buying a warranty on computer purchases though.  We always get our money’s worth on those.)

46.  Sign up for rewards programs whenever possible.  I signed up for the Food Lion Extra MVP card.  Periodically I receive checks from Food Lion good for future visits.  CVS also offers Reward Bucks.

47.  Use a Brita filter or other such type filter instead of buying bottled water.  We have been using a Brita filter for years now.  We actually have people come over and complement us on how good our water tastes.

48.  Don’t make impulse purchases.  Have a rule that you will wait at least 24 hours before buying.  Another good rule is to keep your credit cards at home.  Sometimes if you see something and don’t have the money to get it, you’ll simply use your credit card.  That instant gratification will get you!  Keeping your credit cards at home gives you time to think about the purchase and decide if you really need the item.  More than likely you don’t need it or you’ll realize it’s not worth driving back out to the store to get the item.  I think this tip would keep a lot of people out of debt. 

49.  Call your cable company. Find out exactly what is covered on your cable/satellite package.  See if you can’t cut out some channels.  Sometimes you can cut out $10-25 a month on this one.

50.  Watch movies at home.  Rent movies or subscribe to a service like Netflix. 

Well folks.  There you have it.  25 more ways that I save money.  This list certainly wasn’t as easy to compose as the first, but now you have a list of 50 ways.  I want to hear some feedback about how you all are doing on saving money.  Until next time . . .

Post from: Thrifty Mommy