1)  Holding leftovers - Let these become your storage containers for leftovers.  Be sure to grab a permanent marker and some tape or something to label them.  Otherwise, you might forget about your leftovers and think it’s yogurt.

2)  Take to a potluck - These are great for sending food home with others.  Be sure to take extras to Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.  You don’t have to worry about getting back your containers.

3)  Donate them - Take them to a soup kitchen or to your church.  Every few months, I clean out my disposable collection and take them to my church’s fellowship hall.  Our fellowship hall stays busy with baby showers, birthday parties, and other get togethers.  It doesn’t take long for them to disappear.

4)  Organizing - Sometimes you’ll find disposable containers being used in our garage for storing and organizing screws, paneling nails, and other household items.  The boxes and flimsy plastic containers that they’re sold in quickly break and can leave you with a mess.  The disposable containers provide an inexpensive storage solution.

5)  Storing a similar homemade item - Recently, I ran out of vanilla Starbucks syrup that I use to make my own caramel macchiatos.  I decided to become even more frugal by making my own syrup.  I’m so glad I didn’t throw away my syrup bottle as it is great for storing my homemade version.  I’ve also heard of people saving egg cartons for their friends who have chickens.

6)  Crafts - When I was teaching, I would use frosting containers for many things . I have covered them with felt and let the kids make piggy banks.  Frosting containers and peanut butter containers are great for storing glitter, ribbon, safety pins, and other craft supplies.  One of my favorite uses for the frosting containers is using them with young children for “painting” on glue.

7)  Plant starters - If you have some plant cuttings that you want to root, disposable containers will make quick and inexpensive pots for your plants.

How can you reuse disposable containers?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1) My daughter outgrows almost all of her pants in the length. 

2)  It’s hard to find shorts that are long enough.

What is the deal with short shorts anyway????

This year, I decided to take some of her old jeans and try to make shorts out of them.

I cut the jeans right above the spot where she had wore out the knees.  I was just going to roll them up,but decided they might unravel so I had my mom put a stitch in the bottom.

Ta-da. Now we have cute shorts that are long enough and they didn’t cost us any money.   Reusing old pants is a great way to save money on your summer wardrobe. 

You might also like this video on making maternity pants from old jeans.

images (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

All the current information about plastics, BPA, chemicals, and contaminants is enough to make a parent’s head spin.  Lunchbots helps take away the worry and confusion by offering 100% stainless steel containers.  LunchBots provide an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable containers and they go a step further to eliminate all plastics from its containers.  Finally, there is a stainless steel alternative with a lid.  The LunchBots containers are easy to clean, sturdy, and provide a great storage container for lunches and diaper bags. 

LunchBots are available in two styles, both measuring 6.25″ x 4.5″ x 1.75″.  The LunchBots Uno is perfect for packing sandwiches, sushi, burritos, or snacks. The LunchBots Duo has a handy divider for crackers and cheese, fruits and nuts, and more.  LunchBots also provide a fundraising opportunity for schools, which I certainly would prefer to overpriced candy and gift wrap. 

LunchBots is offering free shipping to our Thrifty Mommy readers (US addresses only).  Simply use the code FREESHIP09. 

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Here are some ideas – although I’m sure you can think of more.

Button hair bands: Cut a piece of extra elastic to an average hair band size (imagine if a hair band was cut open). Thread buttons through elastic to create a hair tie for your little one. OR your little one’s dolls.

Use for all sorts of dollhouse furniture and item ideas – pictures on the wall, table tops, garden stones, plates, etc.

Place small bits of magnetic tape on the backs of buttons and use them to create funky letters and numbers on the fridge.

Use them in scrapbooks. Most stores sell scrapbook buttons for insane prices; you can just use the real thing.

Make button beings (requires some extra scraps – but stuff you likely have).

[button beings via Family Fun]

Take an old (but small) glass jar, fill with water, add some buttons, a dash of food coloring, and some glitter. Hand to a happy baby or toddler. Make sure that you hot glue that lid on, and / or don’t leave the room while your little one plays with it. For extra fun pick a sunny spot to play in, because then the glitter really shines.

Of course you can always go super basic too. Make a bracelet, use in old juice containers or oatmeal containers to make a rattle or drum, use if you run out of game board pieces, or do what my son does and glue them on paper to create art.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

In thinking about what I’d like to write about here, I realized that I write a lot about saving money elsewhere. In case you’re interested, here’s a run down of some of the better money saving posts I’ve done on other blogs. This is also sort of selfish, because I’m trying not to repeat myself here, so now I’ll know not to write much more about stuff like…

• 11 Ways to Save Money on Organic Food
• Top 10 States That Offer the Biggest Solar Incentives
• Money saving tip: tell no one your baby’s gender
• Green Homes for Less Money
• How Green Living Saves You Money: Cloth Napkin Example
• Five quick tips for saving on baby toys
• How to afford maternity leave
• Top 7 ways to save money while raising baby
• Money-Saving Tips for Home Builders
• Bulk Food Storage: Flour and Other Dry Basics
• Baby items that are safe to borrow
• Building Green Can Save You Money
• Why Does Being Green Cost So Much?

Can you tell I like green issues, houses, and babies? I do like other things; I swear. Not that you’d guess from my blogs.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

We have received two couches, two coffee tables, a bed, three cribs, two toddler beds, a microwave, a fridge, two dining tables, numerous sets of bedding, lamps, an entertainment center, a desk and numerous toys. We have saved thousands of dollars, just by humbling ourselves enough to accept furniture that somebody else previously owned. This is what my husband calls “Come up.” This week, my mom offered me a really nice computer desk, that her friend didn’t have room for. It is in perfect shape and is a blessing, as I took our small desk and put it in my room. Now I have a mini office to work form!

Today, as we left to take our dog to the groomers, I spotted an exercise bike in my neighbor’s driveway. These neighbors are an older couple, who take very good care of their belongings. The bike had a free sign and looked barely used. I pulled up and asked the husband if he would mind giving the bike to me. He was overjoyed to give me the bike. They had nine kids to raise, so he knows that we are not wealthy. He and his wife are always so kind to us and bring over goodies. God certainly gave us good neighbors on one side! He carried the bike over and brought it in the house for me. He even had the instructions attached to the bike. I am so excited to use my new bike. It is the perfect way to stay fit for free!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Way back in the day before, before there were booster seats, my grandmother would give us telephone books to sit on so we could reach the table easier. Every family I knew had a telephone book on hand for just such an occasion. Now of course we have special seats for the littlest guys.

As you know, I’m annoyed at having to deal with so many phone books. Yesterday I told you how to opt out of receiving telephone books. Today I’d like to offer some uses for the phone books piling up in your home.

1. Recycle – All phone books are recyclable. In fact, many are used to make new phone books. Just pack up with your regular pick up and let the pros handle it.
2. Use to clean windows – Use vinegar and phone book pages for a streak free shine.
3. Use as a booster seat – Just like grandma. When company is visiting and small bodies can’t reach the table, use a phone book or too to help them out.
4. Use to press flowers and leaves - Preserve flowers and leaves for framing or art projects.
5. Use as animal bedding – Shred pages and use for animal bedding for hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and more.
6. Use to line litter pans – Don’t forget to recycle the cardboard covers.
7. Use as packing material – Tear out pages and ball up or shred to pack around fragile items.
8. Use the pages for mulch – This is the same principal as using newspapers for mulch. Tear out the pages and lay them all around the plants to keep out weeds and keep soil most. Cover with dirt or your regular mulch.
9. Use as a step for step aerobics – Add a new challenge to your aerobics workout but stepping on and off the phone book.
10. Keep one in the car – Can’t find your restaurant or lost going to a party? Use the phone book to keep you directed.
11. Use for kids’ craft projects – Paper machier anyone?
12. Use to kneel on when gardening – Prevent muddy knees by using your phone book as a kneeler.
13. Use as a fire starter – Take camping or keep handy by your fire place for starting fires.
14. Use as trivets - Protect tables and counters from hot dishes and pots.

Tell us…what do you do with your old phonebooks?

Image via stock.xchnge

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Is there any (good) reason why I have three or four telephone books delivered to my door, or rather thrown on my front lawn, every year?

There are phone books for just my township and phone books for the county. There’s a phone book just for local businesses and phone books for every business in the county. This is such a waste.

Personally, I think telephone books should only be sent to those who ask. I look online for all my phone numbers anyway. I’m putting an end to it right now. Want to join me?

If you want to stop receiving phone books call:

• ATT/ Yellow Pages: 1-800-479-2977
• Verizon: 800-555-4833, press 4, then 5, then 2
• DEX: 1-877-243-8339, press 2
• Yellow Book: 1-800-929-3556, press 2

(Hat Tip: Triple Pundit)

This is what I’m going to be doing today, and it will totally be worth all that time spent on the phone. Meanwhile, what am I going to do with all the phone books here?

Hmmm….sounds like a post. Check back shortly for some good ideas.

Image: stock xchnge

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I recently received a SoilSaver composter. I prefer a compost bin over a pile in the backyard because it’s tidier and keeps out the pests. My family always had compost heaps in the backyard so I’m well aware of the benefits.

The SoilSaver was very easy to put together and put outside on a level spot of our backyard. My son is all into it and puts even the tiniest bit of organic matter into the compost bowl to bring into the backyard. We also raked up a big pile of leaves taking up space in a corner of our backyard, and put that in the composter too.

In honor of our brand new composter, I’d like to offer up this list of things you can compost.

1. Leaves
2. Watermelon rinds
3. Carrot peels
4. Potato peels
5. Pepper cores
6. Apple cores
7. Banana peels
8. Orange and other citrus fruit peels
9. Grass clippings
10. Leaves
11. Juice and liquid left behind from fruits and vegetables
12. Vegetable water
13. Coffee grinds
14. Tea and tea bags
15. sticks
16. old plants that died after summer
17. Cow and horse manure
18. Egg shells
19. wood chips and saw dust
20. Corncobs
21. Pine needles, branches and cones
22. Acorns
23. Newspaper
24. Tofu and soybeans
25. Moss
26. Pits and seeds from fruit and veggies
27. Bark
28. Flower petals
29. Toilet paper and paper towel tubes
30. Junk mail

Can you think of other things to compost?

Image: Buy at AllPosters.com

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

So we’re still chopping down trees and every now and then a fence panel is replaced. Until all the trees are chopped we can’t take down the whole fence, however. Our backyard is looking pretty bad with old doors, fence panels and more. We were going to call in a dumpster but we found the perfect solution.

Our township has dump days twice a month. To get a ticket we have to apply at the Department of Public Works. Once we have our ticket we can bring over as many loads as we want. Plus, we can get a brush pass as well as a dump pass so now we can bring all of our trees to be made into mulch or compost.

In the comments the other day, one of the regulars mentioned she gets compost from her township – no doubt they make it from their leaf and brush cleanup days. Well we have that too. So we bring all our trees and I think I’ll throw in some ugly bushes for good measure, and a few weeks later we can come back for compost or mulch – as much as we can carry.

The best part? The only money spent is the gas going back and forth to the dump. Not much since it’s in the same town.

Image: Buy at AllPosters.com

Post from: Thrifty Mommy