Best painless "stretching things" budget tips?

[disneyfan55]

One thing I try to do is stock up on food and paper/health items when on sale. It not only saves money it helps you become prepared in case of a disaster or inflation.

To add to this, anyone who likes to stock up to be prepared or just save money, should also tell friends and relatives the same. If we are all prepared and the electricity goes out or any other problem, we can live off what is in our homes. I tell all my friends and neighbors to buy a few extra sale items each week With the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, many seafood items may become in short supply or more costly, as well as gas to transport most anything else. I guess we should all be prepared.

 

[chickflick]

Today, I used Baking Soda, leftover from the freezer(3 months in) and used it on my carpet to get it clean. I just sprinkled it, swept it in and then vacuumed it up--all the "grey" gone! Cheap and easy!

 

[Nik's Mom]

Today, I used Baking Soda, leftover from the freezer(3 months in) and used it on my carpet to get it clean. I just sprinkled it, swept it in and then vacuumed it up--all the "grey" gone! Cheap and easy!

I'm new to this thread. That is a good tip. I'll have to try that. I also use baking soda to clean my stainless steel sink. Not sure if that's been mentioned on this thread, but it really does a good job keeping the sink clean and sparkling.

 

[disneymarie]

I'm new to this thread. That is a good tip. I'll have to try that. I also use baking soda to clean my stainless steel sink. Not sure if that's been mentioned on this thread, but it really does a good job keeping the sink clean and sparkling.

I use a 1/2 cup in the laundry. I started that when I ran out of Borax for the summer. 1/2 cup of white vinegar is great for softener, and not leave a smell. Pet Urine stains and odors.

vinegar and water to do mirrors, windows, counter tops...

White tooth paste to get water stains from wood table. White wall bleach white for mold. Simple Green for baby stains.

Mr. Clean Erasers area the greatest. I buy the pack of them and sturdy deep down dirt and grime.

 

[SKWDW]

Bumping...we're ready for more painless "stretching things" budget tips!

 

[chickflick]

Bumping...we're ready for more painless "stretching things" budget tips!

Thought I'd bump this for all of us who are headed to the world in the fall--trying to save all my pennies!

 

[abmitch01]

I stretch money by seeing how long we can live on pantry items and food we have on handle periodically. I also periodically have more taken out of my check for my 403B, I never seem to miss the money if I don't see it.

 

[minnie1928]

With the shortage of rain around here, I've started putting buckets in the shower to catch water. I also put one outside where the AC is to catch the water from the AC. I get about 5 buckets of free water per day to water my flowers, plants, bushes and trees.

 

[bear74]

bumping, with unexpected pregnancy of twins I need all the help I can get.

 

[amandaraye]

As much as I LOVE Dunkin Doniuts caramel iced coffe it's not cheap so I make my own. On Sunday nights I make a full pot of coffe and put in pitcher in the fridge. Come morning I use my big re-esable sports bottle and squeez in some hershey's syrup, cream and coffee and voila! A full pot of coffee and one bottle of syrup (aboutr $2) lasts me all week, rather than paying $3.62 per cup of large iced coffee at DD!

 

[Dictator]

Lisa: I made a new bar of soap by squeezing all our little soap
slivers together! [holds up a multi-colored ball of soap slivers]
Marge: That's very clever.
Bart: And today, instead of buying comic books, I just read 'em and
left 'em in the store.
Marge: Mmm... You shouldn't do that.
Lisa: My jumprope broke, but I just tied it back together.
Marge: That's good, Lisa.
Bart: I didn't take a bath today, and I may not take one tomorrow.

 

[MELSMICE]

bumping, with unexpected pregnancy of twins I need all the help I can get.

Congrats.............I was surprised with twins almost 18 years ago. We just held their grad party last night!

My best money saving advice..................there is no such things with twins!

Just kidding, on a serious note. As much as you are tempted, try not to dress them alike. The main reason being so they can be individuals (if they are same sex twins) but as far as money saving, you can get better deals on clearance items if you are not trying to find duplicates.

The toughest part is that everything is always double the cost, especially for those things you don't necessarily think of. You know that clothes, shoes, coats, etc. will be double but then all of a sudden preschool comes along & it's double the cost, registration for dance classes - double. Register for soccer - double. You're paying for everything twice! This year - 2 sets of senior pics, 2 yearbooks, 2 prom gowns, 2 grad gowns...............you get the idea. However, I wouldn't trade it for the world (of course).

One money saving benefit (if you could call it that) was that I only paid for one grad party last night as opposed to 2 a few years apart. Now, if only I can talk them in to getting married together that would be great!

OT - my DD's call themselves BIBF's (Built In Best Friends). Good luck with your twins. You'll learn a lot & love twice as much!

 

[Dismom55]

Congrats on the twins, never had twins myself, but lets see if I can give you a few tips on how I saved money while my kids were growing.

First I never bought clothes or other items unless they were on sale, used layaway for Christmas as best as I could.

I was good at guessing what size my kids would be the next year, so when summer clothes were on clearance, I stocked up for the next summer.

Pretty much the same thing year around. Just got a bit more tricky once in school.

For PJs, my daughter loved wearing t-shirts to bed, so I bought them a couple of sizes to big, then when she grew into them, instant play t-shirt.

Since my daughter and son were 4 yrs apart, many times I would be getting the same thing for them for Christmas, so I assigned a color to each child and when I would get radios, alarm clocks etc I would get them in their color, then when one broke thier item, there would be no possibility of the one with the broken item claiming the others item as their own. (Not a money saver, but an fight saver between kids).

I still stock up on canned foods, when they are on sale, I buy as much as my budget will allow. Then I need not pay full price when needed. When it is a really good sale, I buy canned veggies and such by the case, then store in my closet until needed.

I have never been one to do garage sales, but think they are a terrific way to not only save, but earn some extra money and clean out the garage all at the same time.

I wait for sales for those bigger items, never pay full price unless it is an emergency.

Now for back to school, I stock up there too. Each year around here they publish a supplies list for kids for back to school, all the store have all those items on sale, the best price you will see all year, so that is when I stock up. I have bought notebook paper and such by the case, then when you kids need another pkg or spiral notebook, you have one on hand and you will not be paying full price or running out to the store late Sunday nite, in the big snow storm, to get notebooks, pens, pencils etc.

Hope I gave you a few good ideas, my kids are no longer little so memories do fade fast.

 

[L107ANGEL]

As much as I LOVE Dunkin Doniuts caramel iced coffe it's not cheap so I make my own. On Sunday nights I make a full pot of coffe and put in pitcher in the fridge. Come morning I use my big re-esable sports bottle and squeez in some hershey's syrup, cream and coffee and voila! A full pot of coffee and one bottle of syrup (aboutr $2) lasts me all week, rather than paying $3.62 per cup of large iced coffee at DD!

I love this idea!

 

[bear74]

Congrats on the twins, never had twins myself, but lets see if I can give you a few tips on how I saved money while my kids were growing.

First I never bought clothes or other items unless they were on sale, used layaway for Christmas as best as I could.

I was good at guessing what size my kids would be the next year, so when summer clothes were on clearance, I stocked up for the next summer.

Pretty much the same thing year around. Just got a bit more tricky once in school.

For PJs, my daughter loved wearing t-shirts to bed, so I bought them a couple of sizes to big, then when she grew into them, instant play t-shirt.

Since my daughter and son were 4 yrs apart, many times I would be getting the same thing for them for Christmas, so I assigned a color to each child and when I would get radios, alarm clocks etc I would get them in their color, then when one broke thier item, there would be no possibility of the one with the broken item claiming the others item as their own. (Not a money saver, but an fight saver between kids).

I still stock up on canned foods, when they are on sale, I buy as much as my budget will allow. Then I need not pay full price when needed. When it is a really good sale, I buy canned veggies and such by the case, then store in my closet until needed.

I have never been one to do garage sales, but think they are a terrific way to not only save, but earn some extra money and clean out the garage all at the same time.

I wait for sales for those bigger items, never pay full price unless it is an emergency.

Now for back to school, I stock up there too. Each year around here they publish a supplies list for kids for back to school, all the store have all those items on sale, the best price you will see all year, so that is when I stock up. I have bought notebook paper and such by the case, then when you kids need another pkg or spiral notebook, you have one on hand and you will not be paying full price or running out to the store late Sunday nite, in the big snow storm, to get notebooks, pens, pencils etc.

Hope I gave you a few good ideas, my kids are no longer little so memories do fade fast.

I do all this already. Luckily we homeschool so I dont really have to worry about having specific school supplies.

 

[Zoesmama03]

I switched from my expensive liquid shower gels back to good ol' bar soap. Walmart had sleeves for bar soap that are the same material as the loofah ball thingies and it works out well to lather the soap without washing a ton of wash clothes. I thought my skin would feel dry but nope the only part that feels dry is my hands because I use liquid on them more or from dish soap. I use Dove bars right now but want to try some homemade natural ones. Oh and I have found that my hair is good with every other day instead of daily washing. I got a sturdy shower cap that has held up for well over a year now.

I gotta have purified water but I bought a water cooler and refill 5 gallon bottles. If I had a house or more permanent living arrangements I would have got reverse osmosis installed instead even if just on the kitchen sink. But this way I can use my glasses from home(well plastic I can't stand drinking out of glass). I picked up a stainless steel water bottle at Walmart for $5 so I can refill it when I go out of the house and dd can take it to school for her desk(water allowed, actually required).

I'm not working now but when I do I bring my own lunches. DD will bring her lunch to school and we are getting a bento box so no baggies needed.

Laundry definitely does not need as much detergent as they recommend on the cap. You can cut that down or even learn to make your own for pennies a load. Dawn dish soap is a good stain fighter. I usually don't use dryer sheets and get dryer balls it cut the static enough for me and naturally freshened the load. They soften too so no softener needed either. Vinegar in the towels helps too.

 

[motocrossmom]

I use white vinegar in the washing machine as a deodorizer, but haven't ever tried it in the dishwasher - do you use the white there too, or the cider vinegar?

I use vinegar in the dishwasher, works great! I also do the 1/2 dryer sheet also works great!

 

[PrincessMom4]

Vinegar works great for a lot of other cleaning solutions.I didn't realize it would help in the dish washer.

 

[Grendalynn]

Vinegar works great for a lot of other cleaning solutions.I didn't realize it would help in the dish washer.

Vinegar is wonder juice!! I have usedit in the washer to help get rid of many odors (Cat Urine, Kid Urine, musty towels, baby puke smell)... Works great!! I have also added it to the dish washer where you would normally add jet dry, I add vinegar!! Its amazing!!

 

[THUNDERMOUNTAINMOMMA]

As much as I LOVE Dunkin Doniuts caramel iced coffe it's not cheap so I make my own. On Sunday nights I make a full pot of coffe and put in pitcher in the fridge. Come morning I use my big re-esable sports bottle and squeez in some hershey's syrup, cream and coffee and voila! A full pot of coffee and one bottle of syrup (aboutr $2) lasts me all week, rather than paying $3.62 per cup of large iced coffee at DD!

Nice!