Friday, January 31, 2014
40 Eco-Frugal Ways to Repurpose Household Items
http://www.freeshipping.org/blog/40-eco-friendly-ways-to-repurpose-household-items/
© Copyright:www.freeshipping.org
Combine tight budgets and ecological mindedness and you've got the new Eco-Frugal Movement: Good for your pocketbook and good for the planet. Repurposing -- a popular part of this movement -- was actually a way of life for those raised during the Great Depression and World War II. It was simply second nature for the Greatest Generation to"repurpose" flour sacks as clothes and milk bottles as flower vases. Now it's our turn to make this old idea new again. We've found 50 new and creative ways to reinvent stuff typically found in trashcans across the U.S.
1. Baby Food Jars Dad stored screws, nails, anchors, etc. in empty baby-food jars long after his babies were off to college. The smaller jars also make great spice storage containers for those who buy in bulk.
2. Brown Paper Bags Tightly twisted bags make good fire starters with more staying power than newspaper. Or slit, poke holes throughout and use to line your flower garden before adding mulch or potting soil to reduce weeds and serve as a natural mulch.
3. Butter/Margarine Wrappers Empty wrappers allow you to grease baking pans without greasing up your fingers. Fold the wrappers up and store in the freezer for future use.
4. CDs Use unwanted or promotional CDs as a glittering scarecrow in fruit trees and on corn stalks. Glue two discs together with shiny sides face out and string together through the middle hole as you would a wind chime. Hang and the shimmering reflections will scare off thieving birds and raccoons.
5. Cereal Boxes Cover with brown paper to repurpose as shipping boxes. Or make desk organizers for your kids by cutting boxes with a utility knife at the desired angle and height. Wrap with decorative contact paper or leave as is for a funky look. Alternately, use to create sketchbooks for your kids. Cut off the top and bottom, punch holes with a 3-hole punch, add scrap paper (3-hole-punchedmis-fed printer paper) and tie together with a ribbon or string.
6. Cereal Box Liners Use instead of wax paper. Layer between meat patties before freezing. Cover food to maintain moisture while microwaving. Slit and use to roll out dough.
7. Citrus Peels Make homemade citrus cleaners; make candy citrus peels; grate as zest in recipes; dry and toss into fires for a fresh smell.
8. Coffee Cans Pack cookies or other baked goods for mailing. Use as a cheap and quick "dog pooper scooper" or to store food scraps in the kitchen before adding to an outdoor compost pile. Store your child's collection of crayons, magic markers and pencils.
9. Coffee grounds A great natural plant fertilizers. One teaspoon of coffee grounds mixed with your favorite moisturizer is an inexpensive and effective cellulite treatment.
10. Cooking or Bacon Grease Mix bird seed into grease, freeze and hang outdoors to feed the birds and (if you like) squirrels.
11. Detergent and Soap Boxes Eileen Hull came up with a great way to turn empty boxes into gift "bags." The results are more durable and original than store-bought gift bags.
12. Diaper Boxes The handles on diaper boxes are a real asset when you have to move stored items frequently. Cover with wrapping paper or contact paper and use in closets or other small places.
13. Dry Cleaning Bags Tie a knot in the end and use to line a tall trash can. Reduce wrinkles by using to pack suits, dresses and formal clothing. Prevent knits from snagging in the closet.
14. Dryer Lint Dryer lint is quite flammable, so stuff an empty toilet-paper roll and use as a fire starter. (Wonder if this works with belly button lint?)
15. Dryer Sheets Remove foods stuck hard on your pots and pans by filling the pan with water and drop the sheet inside. Let soak for about an hour and wash as usual. Quilters can use old dryer sheets to keep block-edges straight and all the same size. Dust furniture; put them on a hanger in the closet to add freshness to the closet; or hang on the shower curtain to add a fresh scent to bathrooms.
16. Egg Cartons Organize small toys, golf balls or tiny craft materials (i.e., sequins, buttons, beads, etc.). Start seeds indoors before it's warm enough to transplant outdoors. Cardboard containers make good fire starters. Either Styrofoam or cardboard egg cartons can be used to store golf balls. Make bird feeders by removing the lid, threading string through holes in each corner of the tray, filling the cups halfway with birdseed, and hanging in a tree.
17. Envelopes Use junk-mail envelopes for your own mail by scratching out the old address and adding your own. The blank backs are a handy size for grocery or to-do lists.
18. Facial Tissue Boxes Repurpose as a plastic bag dispenser. Toddlers can use as doll beds and garages for miniature small cars. Store yeast packets, instant drink mixes, gravy packets and other flat, thin items that get lost in drawers and refrigerators.
19. Food Boxes Cover with brick-patterned contact paper to create giant, lightweight building blocks for infants.
20. Hair Product or Cleaner Spray Bottles Clean thoroughly and refill with homemade cleaners or spray starch. Spray plants with water.
21. Laundry Bottle Caps & Powdered Detergent Scoops Wash thoroughly and use as sandbox, pool and bathtub toys or as pet-food scoopers.
22. Light bulb Put inside socks to serve as a darning egg.
23. Magazines Drop read magazines off at hospitals, oncology offices, art classes or hair salons. Alternately, shred the pages and use in place of tissue paper in gift bags or bubble wrap when shipping or packing. Shred a perfume ad for a subtle fragrance.
24. Packing Foam Peanuts Toss several into the bottom of a large plant pot before adding dirt to aid in drainage. Some shipping companies buy garbage bags of peanuts in good shape as they're expensive to purchase.
25. Paint Containers Clean empty quart containers, spray paint, solder together into a big square, mount it on the wall, and use to sort papers, pens and small computer accessories without wasting precious desk space.
26. Pantyhose Put a cake of soap in the foot when camping and tie the top end to a low-hanging tree branch. Cut into strips as a gentle way to tie plants securely to stakes. Cut across the leg to make rings, roll them up for a stretchy ponytail holder that won't break and damage hair like rubber bands do. Put some human hair clippings into toe of the stocking and place around the garden fence to keep deer away.
27. Paper Towel/Toilet Paper Cardboard Rolls Keep extension cords and Christmas lights from tangling by wrapping around an empty roll before storing. Protect sharp knives. Pet gerbils or hamsters enjoy gnawing on and crawling inside tubes. Double up and stuff bathroom appliance cords inside to keep cupboards and drawers organized.
28. Phone Books Use the pages as window wipes, package filler, fire starters, etc.
29. Plastic Grocery Bags Use as garbage pail liners, paint tray covers, stuffing for various craft projects, protection for hands and household items, or packing materials.
30. Plastic Produce Mesh Bags Wad into a ball and tie to make scrubbers for pots, car windshields or bathtubs.
31. Plastic Milk Jug Turn into a watering can with a few holes punched into the plastic cap. Cut off the top and fill with bird seed. 32. Plastic or Wine Bottles Place a narrow soda or wine bottle in tall boots to keep their shape when not in use. Also helps speed drying of wet boots.
33. PVC Pipe Every garage seems to have some PVC pipe pieces hanging around. Use 4-inch (or wider) pipe around bird-feeder poles as a squirrel andraccoon guard. Animals can't climb the slippery and wide pipe.
34. Socks Wrangle straggling cords behind your entertainment centers and computer desk into a trouser or sock to keep them separate and organized. Cut into strips to gently tie-up plants in the garden. Also useful in place of cotton gloves to clean chandelier crystal drops.
35. Strawberry Baskets Make candy baskets for the holidays by weaving ribbons through the holes and attaching decorations. Makes an interesting bubble machine or playpen for small dolls.
36. Styrofoam Meat Trays Clean thoroughly, wrap in foil and use as serving trays when giving baked treats. Sort small craft items when crafting or use as a paintbrush rest that can be tossed after a project is complete.
37. Tin Cans Paint a bevvy of cans to store pens, pencils and other tall items on your desk, as vases and to corral plastic spoons and forks at casual gatherings. If you don't like to pain, glue contact paper or fine-art pictures from magazines or old books onto cans.
38. Toothbrushes A great way to clean difficult-to-clean items, like grout, cheese graters, jewelry, around faucets, window screens and computer keyboards.
39. Window Screen Staple onto over-sized wood frames to display earrings.
40. Cut-off a small piece and place on the back of a picture to avoid scratching walls.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
The Fine Art of Line Drying Laundry
The Fine Art of Line Drying Laundry
http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-fine-art-of-line-drying-laundry-lm.html
http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/the-fine-art-of-line-drying-laundry-lm.html
When it comes to energy hogs, did you know that your electric dryer, when on, consumes the most electricity compared to every other appliance in your home? It’s true, it easily beats your refrigerator and your water heater (those in total energy consumption, those appliances use more because they are always on). So, if you’ve ever considered line drying your clothes to cut down on your electricity usage, you picked the right appliance to target. Not only will it save you big bucks on your electricity bill, line drying your laundry will make your clothing last longer, saving you money on clothing expenses too.
Many people don’t like to line dry their laundry though. They cite too much work, too many wrinkles, and “still” clothing as some of the top reasons for not line drying laundry. Fortunately there are some techniques to make line drying clothing a little easier and more practical, so you can keep money in your pocket.
The Equipment
- A Warm, Dry Location. Obviously in order to line dry your laundry, you need to have a place where laundry will actually dry. In the summer, it’s usually easy to find such a location in your yard. In the winter, however, line drying can be more difficult. If you have a basement or spare room that stays fairly warm, you can set up drying racks there. But if you don’t have a space where your clothing will dry in less than 24 hours, you’re going to have to use the dryer during the winter months. You don’t want mold growth on your clothing!
- A Proper Clothesline or Drying Rack. A clothesline doesn’t need to be expensive. A simple nylon rope tied to a sturdy object on each end will suffice. The important thing is to have enough room on your line for your laundry. If you have several laundry lines in a row, you want to make sure there is room between them for air to circulate.
If you’re drying laundry indoors, a retractable line over the bathtub works well. That way if laundry drips, it drips right into the bathtub. If you have a basement or other suitable room, you can hang a retractable line or lines from wall to wall. Then if you need the room for another purpose, you can just retract the line, so it’s out of the way. - Clothes Pins. I prefer plastic clothespins, because they’re bright and easy to see, so you don’t lose them. I actually keep mine in a ziplock bag. The important thing is to store them inside, away from the elements, our they will get nasty, and you won’t want them touching your clean clothes.
Line Drying Technique
- Use Vinegar in Your Wash. I like to use 1/2 cup of vinegar in my washing machine, because it acts as a fabric softener. I put mine in a Downy ball at the beginning of the laundry cycle, but you could also put it in your fabric softener dispenser, if your washing machine has one.
- Snap Your Laundry. As you’re hanging your laundry, give it a good shake before putting it on the line. Doing so will get rid of wrinkles and loosen the clothing fibers, making your clothing dry softer.
- Spread Your Clothing Out. Do not bunch your clothing up on the line. If you squish everything together, you will create wrinkles and cause your clothing to take longer to dry. You want to stretch everything out on the line enough that your clothing hangs straight down, without actually stretching and ruining the fabric.
- Hang Shirts Upside Down. Yes, that’s right. By hanging shirts upside down, you don’t get funky clothespin marks on the shoulders. Hang upside down, using one clothespin on each side and one in the middle. Your shirts will dry faster, and there’s a good possibility you won’t have to iron them! That’s a huge bonus in my book!
- Hang Dress Pants Upside Down Too. Lightweight dress pants can be hung from the bottom. Put the legs together, matching the seams, and use two clothespins to secure. Smooth them out, and let them dry. There’s a good possibility you won’t have to iron your pants, either.
- Dry Jeans Right Side Up. Hang jeans from the waist, and smooth out the legs. Jeans are so heavy, that if you hang them upside down with the legs together, they’ll take forever to dry.
- Sheets and Towels. I fold my sheets over the line, securing with a few clothespins, because that’s the easiest way to do it. If you don’t like a crease down the middle of your sheets, though, you can fold sheets over and hang them from the end where the two sides come together, leaving the folded edge hanging at the bottom. Hang towels up vertically with two clothespins.
- Hang Colored Items Inside Out. Believe it or not, the sun has a wonderful bleaching effect. Well, it’s wonderful for your whites, but not so wonderful for brightly colored items. If you don’t want your colored items to fade, hang them inside out to protect them from the sun’s natural bleach.
- Do I Dare Hang My Underwear? Personally, I don’t want the whole neighborhood to see my unmentionables. If you have a backyard with a big fence, this might not be a problem. If you are like me, and most of your yard is visible to your neighbors, though, you might be embarrassed to hang undergarments. If you are, you can always hang them on the innermost line, with lines of other clothing hanging on the outside.
That’s really all there is to it. It’s a little more time consuming to line dry laundry than it is to use the electric dryer but the benefits are worth it. You save money on electricity, your clothing lasts longer, you get to spend some time in the fresh outdoor air, and you don’t have to iron as much. Try it! You may never use your electric clothes dryer again!
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Exercise, Finance or other Buddy
Do you have an exercise, frugal, finance or some other type buddy to help keep you in check?
Find an Exercise Buddy or Two
One of the biggest challenges of picking up a positive but challenging habit is finding the consistent motivation to stick with it. If you’re operating by yourself, it’s very easy to talk yourself into taking the easier path.
This phenomenon is true no matter what the habit is. From changes in how you spend money to alterations in your fitness, motivation is often a big determining factor when it comes to success.
I can certainly see it in my own life. When I was changing my finances around, my “buddy” was Sarah. We were constantly there, pushing each other to make better choices, talking over difficult decisions, and congratulating each other on good moves. There was a large social push to make good financial decisions, both for me and for her.
In other aspects of my life, where Sarah and I are not chasing a mutual goal, it’s much more difficult. The simple presence of someone that you’re accountable to that’s also cheering you on makes all the difference.
As was discussed yesterday, exercise has a pretty impressive impact on your financial state. It staves off health care costs and adds to your own energy level, allowing you to tackle more earning or money-saving tactics.
However, exercise is one of those “positive but challenging” habits described above. It takes a ton of internal resolve to succeed at this alone, and many people fail (at least in part) because of this. The force of the short-term desire to relax can easily take precedent over the long-term goals of exercise without some proper motivation.
An “exercise buddy” can provide that motivation.
An “exercise buddy” is someone that you’re essentially in a “mutual coaching” relationship with. You provide some of the role of “coach” to each other for the purposes of exercising. You encourage each other to actually get out there and do it. You provide positive feedback for success. You provide a sounding board for the other person’s ideas. You offer up suggestions. You do everything you can to ensure the other person can succeed.
Most importantly, an “exercise buddy” provides that short-term social pressure that can often be enough to convince you to get out of bed at six in the morning for a jog instead of hitting the snooze button.
Of course, you can have a “buddy” for pretty much any personally challenging positive habit that you’re trying to establish. All you need is to find someone facing a similar struggle, then agree to work together to ensure your individual successes.
Having a “buddy” can make all the difference if you’re attempting to achieve something that’s really personally challenging. If you’re struggling to achieve your goal, whether it’s exercise, money, or something else, a “buddy” can go a long way toward making it work out.
This post is part of a yearlong series called “365 Ways to Live Cheap (Revisited),”
Find an Exercise Buddy or Two
One of the biggest challenges of picking up a positive but challenging habit is finding the consistent motivation to stick with it. If you’re operating by yourself, it’s very easy to talk yourself into taking the easier path.
This phenomenon is true no matter what the habit is. From changes in how you spend money to alterations in your fitness, motivation is often a big determining factor when it comes to success.
I can certainly see it in my own life. When I was changing my finances around, my “buddy” was Sarah. We were constantly there, pushing each other to make better choices, talking over difficult decisions, and congratulating each other on good moves. There was a large social push to make good financial decisions, both for me and for her.
In other aspects of my life, where Sarah and I are not chasing a mutual goal, it’s much more difficult. The simple presence of someone that you’re accountable to that’s also cheering you on makes all the difference.
As was discussed yesterday, exercise has a pretty impressive impact on your financial state. It staves off health care costs and adds to your own energy level, allowing you to tackle more earning or money-saving tactics.
However, exercise is one of those “positive but challenging” habits described above. It takes a ton of internal resolve to succeed at this alone, and many people fail (at least in part) because of this. The force of the short-term desire to relax can easily take precedent over the long-term goals of exercise without some proper motivation.
An “exercise buddy” can provide that motivation.
An “exercise buddy” is someone that you’re essentially in a “mutual coaching” relationship with. You provide some of the role of “coach” to each other for the purposes of exercising. You encourage each other to actually get out there and do it. You provide positive feedback for success. You provide a sounding board for the other person’s ideas. You offer up suggestions. You do everything you can to ensure the other person can succeed.
Most importantly, an “exercise buddy” provides that short-term social pressure that can often be enough to convince you to get out of bed at six in the morning for a jog instead of hitting the snooze button.
Of course, you can have a “buddy” for pretty much any personally challenging positive habit that you’re trying to establish. All you need is to find someone facing a similar struggle, then agree to work together to ensure your individual successes.
Having a “buddy” can make all the difference if you’re attempting to achieve something that’s really personally challenging. If you’re struggling to achieve your goal, whether it’s exercise, money, or something else, a “buddy” can go a long way toward making it work out.
This post is part of a yearlong series called “365 Ways to Live Cheap (Revisited),”
Monday, January 27, 2014
Start Walking 10,000 Steps A Day Using 9 Simple Lifestyle Hacks
Start Walking 10,000 Steps A Day Using 9 Simple Lifestyle Hacks
Posted: 15 Jan 2010 01:00 AM PST
After much research, I have solved the mystery surrounding why I am out of shape. I don’t move enough. Shocking, isn’t it? Getting to this simple conclusion took a little help from a basic workout tool, and the recognition of my lazy habits. My new goal is to start walking 10,000 steps a day, and here’s how I plan to get there.
Armed with a new pedometer, I began taking little steps each day to increase my physical activity. Sure, I hit the gym a few days a week, but I’m only there an hour. The other 23 hours were filled with inactivity. The last thing I wanted to do was implement a formal walking program – sorry, but it’s boring to me. The following moves helped me reach my goal of 10,000 steps a day consistently, with minimal interference with my regular routine.
1. Get a pedometer. Unless you are really good at counting, you will probably want to pick up a quality pedometer to measure your steps. Some pedometers also monitor distances, and even heart rate, calories burned, etc. For this exercise I am most concerned with steps, so any decent pedometer will do. And since I’m a goal-oriented person, I love the challenge of trying to sneak in a few more steps than the day before.
2. If you have a desk job, stand up and walk every hour. I spend a lot of time in front of a computer – somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 hours a day. That’s rough on the eyeballs, and even rougher on my gut. Instead of sitting for three hour marathons writing an article, I have started forcing myself to get up and walk for a few minutes. Sometimes I just wander around the office, and when the weather is nice, I stroll outside to my truck and back. On the occasion someone stops to ask what I am doing, I simply tell them I am taking a “non-smoke” break.
3. Park farther away from entrances. We’ve heard this one over and over again, but according to my handy pedometer it really does work. I began parking at the far corner of parking lots and counting the number of steps to where I would normally park (and then double that number for the return trip). It wasn’t uncommon to earn an extra 200 steps from that move alone.
4. Put down the phone, cancel that email, and walk. Throughout the day I often call or email coworkers, even if they sit just a few steps away. Of course, it’s better to put some things in writing, but many things can be handled by a quick conversation.
5. Walk or jog in place during your favorite television show. In the evenings, after dinner and when I generally start to feel like a sloth, it’s hard not to just kick back and watch a couple hours of television, or surf the web. I enjoy only a couple television shows, but when they are on, I want to watch them because they represent my three or four hours during the week of mindless entertainment. So, I started standing during the program and walking in place, pacing the living room, and doing jumping jacks. If this disrupts your viewing pleasure, only do it during commercial breaks. Anything is better than just sitting there doing nothing for hours on end.
Bonus: If you have a treadmill at home, consider setting it up where you can watch television or surf the web. That’s right, it is possible to surf the web on your laptop while you walk thanks to a product called Surf Shelf - a laptop holder for home exercise equipment. Talk about increased productivity!
6. Take the stairs. Elevators and escalators were fun when we were kids, but taking the stairs adds steps to your daily total, and it is a great calorie burner.
7. Pacing. Spend a lot of your day standing around waiting? For the bus, the subway, a ride home, on hold on the phone? Instead of sitting or simply standing still, try pacing back and forth. This single act could add a few hundred steps to your day.
8. Take the dog for a walk. You and man’s best friend will benefit from a quick stroll around the block. This is something I need to do more often. Our dog loves to be walked, but when it’s cold and getting dark at the end of a long day, it sure is hard to go for the leash and head outside.
9. Hit the mall. Speaking of cold weather, did you know most malls open an hour or so early for walkers? And even if the stores are open, you can leave your cash and credit cards at home and simply stroll around the mall in a temperature-controlled, relatively safe environment. As long as you plan your route away from the food court, you’ll be fine.
After I bought my pedometer, I went about my normal routine for a couple days to get a baseline for my daily steps. Without additional exercise or behavior modifications I was walking around 3,300 steps a day. That’s a fairly low number considering 10,000 steps is roughly the equivalent of 30 minutes of moderate exercise.
On days I hit the gym that number increased to 6,000 steps thanks to a little time in the cardio area – still some 4,000 steps short of my goal. It was obvious I couldn’t make up all those steps from the gym alone, so I began implementing the steps above. Since the first of the year, simply by incorporating these simple tweaks, I’m averaging about 10,300 steps. I’d like to improve to 15,000 or so by the end of January. In that same time I’ve managed to drop seven pounds without much change to my diet (although admittedly, I am trying to eat less these days).
What other tips can you share to help walkers get a few extra steps each day?
Post by Frugal Dad
Posted: 15 Jan 2010 01:00 AM PST
After much research, I have solved the mystery surrounding why I am out of shape. I don’t move enough. Shocking, isn’t it? Getting to this simple conclusion took a little help from a basic workout tool, and the recognition of my lazy habits. My new goal is to start walking 10,000 steps a day, and here’s how I plan to get there.
Armed with a new pedometer, I began taking little steps each day to increase my physical activity. Sure, I hit the gym a few days a week, but I’m only there an hour. The other 23 hours were filled with inactivity. The last thing I wanted to do was implement a formal walking program – sorry, but it’s boring to me. The following moves helped me reach my goal of 10,000 steps a day consistently, with minimal interference with my regular routine.
1. Get a pedometer. Unless you are really good at counting, you will probably want to pick up a quality pedometer to measure your steps. Some pedometers also monitor distances, and even heart rate, calories burned, etc. For this exercise I am most concerned with steps, so any decent pedometer will do. And since I’m a goal-oriented person, I love the challenge of trying to sneak in a few more steps than the day before.
2. If you have a desk job, stand up and walk every hour. I spend a lot of time in front of a computer – somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 hours a day. That’s rough on the eyeballs, and even rougher on my gut. Instead of sitting for three hour marathons writing an article, I have started forcing myself to get up and walk for a few minutes. Sometimes I just wander around the office, and when the weather is nice, I stroll outside to my truck and back. On the occasion someone stops to ask what I am doing, I simply tell them I am taking a “non-smoke” break.
3. Park farther away from entrances. We’ve heard this one over and over again, but according to my handy pedometer it really does work. I began parking at the far corner of parking lots and counting the number of steps to where I would normally park (and then double that number for the return trip). It wasn’t uncommon to earn an extra 200 steps from that move alone.
4. Put down the phone, cancel that email, and walk. Throughout the day I often call or email coworkers, even if they sit just a few steps away. Of course, it’s better to put some things in writing, but many things can be handled by a quick conversation.
5. Walk or jog in place during your favorite television show. In the evenings, after dinner and when I generally start to feel like a sloth, it’s hard not to just kick back and watch a couple hours of television, or surf the web. I enjoy only a couple television shows, but when they are on, I want to watch them because they represent my three or four hours during the week of mindless entertainment. So, I started standing during the program and walking in place, pacing the living room, and doing jumping jacks. If this disrupts your viewing pleasure, only do it during commercial breaks. Anything is better than just sitting there doing nothing for hours on end.
Bonus: If you have a treadmill at home, consider setting it up where you can watch television or surf the web. That’s right, it is possible to surf the web on your laptop while you walk thanks to a product called Surf Shelf - a laptop holder for home exercise equipment. Talk about increased productivity!
6. Take the stairs. Elevators and escalators were fun when we were kids, but taking the stairs adds steps to your daily total, and it is a great calorie burner.
7. Pacing. Spend a lot of your day standing around waiting? For the bus, the subway, a ride home, on hold on the phone? Instead of sitting or simply standing still, try pacing back and forth. This single act could add a few hundred steps to your day.
8. Take the dog for a walk. You and man’s best friend will benefit from a quick stroll around the block. This is something I need to do more often. Our dog loves to be walked, but when it’s cold and getting dark at the end of a long day, it sure is hard to go for the leash and head outside.
9. Hit the mall. Speaking of cold weather, did you know most malls open an hour or so early for walkers? And even if the stores are open, you can leave your cash and credit cards at home and simply stroll around the mall in a temperature-controlled, relatively safe environment. As long as you plan your route away from the food court, you’ll be fine.
After I bought my pedometer, I went about my normal routine for a couple days to get a baseline for my daily steps. Without additional exercise or behavior modifications I was walking around 3,300 steps a day. That’s a fairly low number considering 10,000 steps is roughly the equivalent of 30 minutes of moderate exercise.
On days I hit the gym that number increased to 6,000 steps thanks to a little time in the cardio area – still some 4,000 steps short of my goal. It was obvious I couldn’t make up all those steps from the gym alone, so I began implementing the steps above. Since the first of the year, simply by incorporating these simple tweaks, I’m averaging about 10,300 steps. I’d like to improve to 15,000 or so by the end of January. In that same time I’ve managed to drop seven pounds without much change to my diet (although admittedly, I am trying to eat less these days).
What other tips can you share to help walkers get a few extra steps each day?
Post by Frugal Dad
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The Importance of Family Meals
The Importance of Family Meals
by Veronica Bowman
Surprising reasons to have a family meal time
Americans are currently experiencing the "near extinction" of
a very important custom. This endangered custom is that of
family meal time. It seems there are negative repercussions
occurring as this tradition diminishes. There are many
benefits to gathering as a family around a table at home to
enjoy good food and meaningful conversation.
According to studies done by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control, more than one third of American adults are obese.
Their statistics also indicate that childhood obesity has more
than tripled in the past thirty years. An increase in the
obesity rate is connected to the increased frequency of eating
unhealthy meals away from home, an increase in a sedentary
lifestyle, and the amount of exposure children have to
advertisements that encourage the consumption of foods and
drinks with high sugar content. Reviving "family dinner time"
would be a positive step toward establishing healthier eating
habits. When you prepare meals at home you can:
* control the quality of ingredients
* control the amount of sugar and salt that goes into each
dish you prepare
* maintain greater portion control
From a cost perspective, eating at home is more frugal than
eating at a chain restaurant or at a fast food location.
Dining at home enables you to prepare food in a healthier
manner. One of the most common excuses given for abandoning
family meal time at home is that eating out is faster. For
your health and for the health of your family, there are
things you can do to make preparing meals at home quick, easy,
and healthy.
* Set aside some time on the weekend to pre-cut vegetables for
future meals and for bag lunches.
* Prepare large quantities of food and freeze some for quick
and easy meals on days when you're experiencing a time crunch.
* Enlist the help of your spouse and children. Extra hands can
reduce the preparation time.
According to the National Restaurant Association, 49% of every
food dollar is spent in restaurants. Preparing meals at home
definitely qualifies as a more frugal way to feed your family.
One quick internet search will reveal an abundance of frugal
shopping tips to help you stay within a budget as you make
plans to revive the custom of having family meals at home.
There's also a wealth of healthy, budget-friendly recipes and
cooking tips available to help you with the transition from
drive-through to sit down meals. You can get the whole family
involved in this new adventure.
* Let each person claim a certain day as "their" day to choose
the menu. This may require some parental guidance.
* Once a week, introduce everyone to a new fruit or vegetable.
* Keep in mind that diversity is the key to keeping meals
interesting.
A budget bonus that comes with preparing meals at home is that
leftovers can be used to prepare bag lunches for the following
day. That will enable you to save the money you were spending
at fast food locations and assure that the whole family is
getting a healthy lunch.
The whole family can become more physically active if you grow
some of your own vegetables. Gardening is good exercise that
yields more than just edible rewards. It provides an
opportunity for everyone to get outdoors, enjoy the sunshine,
and get involved in some physical activity, all of which are
beneficial to everyone's health.
A report by Martha Marino and Sue Butkus of Washington State
University provides detailed information regarding the
benefits of family meals. Among the benefits mentioned are
improved communication with children, improvement in a child's
school performance and better nutrition. The report also notes
that children actually appreciated the dependability of family
meal time.
Maybe, due to the busyness of today's family, having breakfast
or dinner together every day is not a reasonable expectation.
However, the custom of eating together as a family is so
beneficial that striving to revive it is well worth the
effort. The financial benefits are certainly a bonus during a
time when many of us are pinching pennies and stretching
dollars.
Take the Next Step:
- Sometimes as a busy family, meals have to be eaten on the
run. Please visit <www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-g.htm#grocgo>
for healthy meal ideas on busy days.
- For information on freezer meals, please visit
<www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-g.htm#grocery-freezer>. As a
working parent, being able to pull a meal from the freezer is
always a welcomed experience.
by Veronica Bowman
Surprising reasons to have a family meal time
Americans are currently experiencing the "near extinction" of
a very important custom. This endangered custom is that of
family meal time. It seems there are negative repercussions
occurring as this tradition diminishes. There are many
benefits to gathering as a family around a table at home to
enjoy good food and meaningful conversation.
According to studies done by the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control, more than one third of American adults are obese.
Their statistics also indicate that childhood obesity has more
than tripled in the past thirty years. An increase in the
obesity rate is connected to the increased frequency of eating
unhealthy meals away from home, an increase in a sedentary
lifestyle, and the amount of exposure children have to
advertisements that encourage the consumption of foods and
drinks with high sugar content. Reviving "family dinner time"
would be a positive step toward establishing healthier eating
habits. When you prepare meals at home you can:
* control the quality of ingredients
* control the amount of sugar and salt that goes into each
dish you prepare
* maintain greater portion control
From a cost perspective, eating at home is more frugal than
eating at a chain restaurant or at a fast food location.
Dining at home enables you to prepare food in a healthier
manner. One of the most common excuses given for abandoning
family meal time at home is that eating out is faster. For
your health and for the health of your family, there are
things you can do to make preparing meals at home quick, easy,
and healthy.
* Set aside some time on the weekend to pre-cut vegetables for
future meals and for bag lunches.
* Prepare large quantities of food and freeze some for quick
and easy meals on days when you're experiencing a time crunch.
* Enlist the help of your spouse and children. Extra hands can
reduce the preparation time.
According to the National Restaurant Association, 49% of every
food dollar is spent in restaurants. Preparing meals at home
definitely qualifies as a more frugal way to feed your family.
One quick internet search will reveal an abundance of frugal
shopping tips to help you stay within a budget as you make
plans to revive the custom of having family meals at home.
There's also a wealth of healthy, budget-friendly recipes and
cooking tips available to help you with the transition from
drive-through to sit down meals. You can get the whole family
involved in this new adventure.
* Let each person claim a certain day as "their" day to choose
the menu. This may require some parental guidance.
* Once a week, introduce everyone to a new fruit or vegetable.
* Keep in mind that diversity is the key to keeping meals
interesting.
A budget bonus that comes with preparing meals at home is that
leftovers can be used to prepare bag lunches for the following
day. That will enable you to save the money you were spending
at fast food locations and assure that the whole family is
getting a healthy lunch.
The whole family can become more physically active if you grow
some of your own vegetables. Gardening is good exercise that
yields more than just edible rewards. It provides an
opportunity for everyone to get outdoors, enjoy the sunshine,
and get involved in some physical activity, all of which are
beneficial to everyone's health.
A report by Martha Marino and Sue Butkus of Washington State
University provides detailed information regarding the
benefits of family meals. Among the benefits mentioned are
improved communication with children, improvement in a child's
school performance and better nutrition. The report also notes
that children actually appreciated the dependability of family
meal time.
Maybe, due to the busyness of today's family, having breakfast
or dinner together every day is not a reasonable expectation.
However, the custom of eating together as a family is so
beneficial that striving to revive it is well worth the
effort. The financial benefits are certainly a bonus during a
time when many of us are pinching pennies and stretching
dollars.
Take the Next Step:
- Sometimes as a busy family, meals have to be eaten on the
run. Please visit <www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-g.htm#grocgo>
for healthy meal ideas on busy days.
- For information on freezer meals, please visit
<www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-g.htm#grocery-freezer>. As a
working parent, being able to pull a meal from the freezer is
always a welcomed experience.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Eliminating Allergy Causing Dust Mites
Eliminating Allergy Causing Dust Mites
I found this information in a health newsletter. It stated
that dust mites are one of the most common household allergens
and a major risk factor for asthma sufferers. The article
suggested that washing your bedding with eucalyptus oil
virtually eliminated these pesky critters, according to
researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia.
The researchers got rid of 99 percent of the mites on wool
blankets by soaking the blankets for 60 minutes in a solution
of 6 tablespoons eucalyptus oil (0.4 percent concentration), 1
1/4 tablespoons liquid laundry detergent, and 13 gallons of
water. They then rinsed the blankets in cool water. Without
the oil, the laundry detergent alone got rid of only 2.4
percent of the mites. You can purchase eucalyptus oil at most
natural food stores or wherever essential oils are sold.
Carolyn
Additional TDS Resource: More suggestions on how to get rid of
dust mites at
<http://www.stretcher.com/stories/05/05jan10a.cfm?DS0107>
I found this information in a health newsletter. It stated
that dust mites are one of the most common household allergens
and a major risk factor for asthma sufferers. The article
suggested that washing your bedding with eucalyptus oil
virtually eliminated these pesky critters, according to
researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia.
The researchers got rid of 99 percent of the mites on wool
blankets by soaking the blankets for 60 minutes in a solution
of 6 tablespoons eucalyptus oil (0.4 percent concentration), 1
1/4 tablespoons liquid laundry detergent, and 13 gallons of
water. They then rinsed the blankets in cool water. Without
the oil, the laundry detergent alone got rid of only 2.4
percent of the mites. You can purchase eucalyptus oil at most
natural food stores or wherever essential oils are sold.
Carolyn
Additional TDS Resource: More suggestions on how to get rid of
dust mites at
<http://www.stretcher.com/stories/05/05jan10a.cfm?DS0107>
Friday, January 17, 2014
Handy Seasonal Storage
From The Dollar Stretcher
Love this one!
Handy Seasonal Storage
Some years ago, I got tired of always trying to deal with winter hats, gloves, and scarves in the summer and summer hats and gardening gloves in the winter. So I went to Wal-Mart and bought a large hanging shoe holder that has clear plastic pockets. I hung it inside my coat closet door and stuck pairs of gloves and hats inside each pocket.
One will hold one pair of ski gloves, one scarf, two winter hats, one or two baseball hats, or two to three pairs of one-size-fits-all knit gloves. To this day, this method works really great for our large family, and I've had many friends and family say that it's a great idea. Try it! And everyone will think you're brilliant, too!
Celeste A.
Love this one!
Handy Seasonal Storage
Some years ago, I got tired of always trying to deal with winter hats, gloves, and scarves in the summer and summer hats and gardening gloves in the winter. So I went to Wal-Mart and bought a large hanging shoe holder that has clear plastic pockets. I hung it inside my coat closet door and stuck pairs of gloves and hats inside each pocket.
One will hold one pair of ski gloves, one scarf, two winter hats, one or two baseball hats, or two to three pairs of one-size-fits-all knit gloves. To this day, this method works really great for our large family, and I've had many friends and family say that it's a great idea. Try it! And everyone will think you're brilliant, too!
Celeste A.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Better return on emergency fund
Taken from The Simple Dollar.
I am drooling over having a $10,000 emergency fund!
Better return on emergency fund
My husband and I have have built up an emergency fund ($10,000) in a savings account at our local credit union. We would like to get a better return on our money, but are not sure where to invest it. Is a mutual fund a good option? Do you have any recommendations, or at least know of a resource to start looking?
- Shelley
The purpose of an emergency fund is to have liquid money available whenever you need it. Putting that emergency fund into a risky investment undermines that need.
What you should do is figure out how much you actually need in an emergency fund. It really depends on your situation, but if you’re a married couple without kids, somewhere between two and four months of living expenses is a good number.
Keep that much in savings. Invest the rest, but before you do, figure out a goal for that money. What do you want to do with it eventually? That will help you to figure out how you should invest it (the shorter the timeframe, the safer you should invest).
I am drooling over having a $10,000 emergency fund!
Better return on emergency fund
My husband and I have have built up an emergency fund ($10,000) in a savings account at our local credit union. We would like to get a better return on our money, but are not sure where to invest it. Is a mutual fund a good option? Do you have any recommendations, or at least know of a resource to start looking?
- Shelley
The purpose of an emergency fund is to have liquid money available whenever you need it. Putting that emergency fund into a risky investment undermines that need.
What you should do is figure out how much you actually need in an emergency fund. It really depends on your situation, but if you’re a married couple without kids, somewhere between two and four months of living expenses is a good number.
Keep that much in savings. Invest the rest, but before you do, figure out a goal for that money. What do you want to do with it eventually? That will help you to figure out how you should invest it (the shorter the timeframe, the safer you should invest).
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Fabulous Folger's Coffee Plastic Container Upcycle
Remember this project? We're showing how to make it on a live hangout, along with 4 other clever organizing hacks! Click here to watch:
http://www.hometalk.com/1829050/fabulous-folger-s-coffee-plastic-container-upcycle
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Tough Toilet Bowl Cleaning
From The Dollar Stretcher
Tough Toilet Bowl Cleaning
I am getting a home ready for sale and have been cleaning furiously. One area that I could not get cleaned was the toilet bowls. They had accumulated this dark gray stain that I couldn't get off. I had tried everything. I finally found the answer in a pumice scouring stick. All I had to do was wet it and rub away at the stain. It came off like magic! Best of all, it didn't leave any scratches. I now have three sparkling white toilet bowls!
G
Tough Toilet Bowl Cleaning
I am getting a home ready for sale and have been cleaning furiously. One area that I could not get cleaned was the toilet bowls. They had accumulated this dark gray stain that I couldn't get off. I had tried everything. I finally found the answer in a pumice scouring stick. All I had to do was wet it and rub away at the stain. It came off like magic! Best of all, it didn't leave any scratches. I now have three sparkling white toilet bowls!
G
Appliance 411
Sometimes all you need to get your major home appliance working is the use and care, owner's manual or user's guide that has long since disappeared. The resources listed here will help you to get a replacement manual with the minimum of fuss.
http://www.appliance411.com/service/ownersmanual.shtml
http://www.appliance411.com/service/ownersmanual.shtml
Monday, January 13, 2014
Greedy children
How would you handle this?
Greedy children
Do you have a solution for dealing with greedy children? My oldest son actually complains about gifts if they’re not good enough and basically won’t get rid of toys he doesn’t play with because he prices them really high at yard sales. Ideas?
- Andrea
There are a lot of things you can do in this situation. It really depends on your parenting style.
One thing to do is to simply say that for every new item that comes into the house for him, one has to leave. When it leaves, it goes into the yard sale box (or the Goodwill box) and you price it, not him.
If you have relatives that overindulge your children, talk to them. Tell them that you’re witnessing a lot of greedy behavior and that you need them to back off a little until he matures.
Get them involved in a service project where they witness people who don’t have much in their lives. Spend some of the holiday season doing volunteer work so they see how much they have.
If none of that works, I suggest taking away privileges. One good technique is to take away the power cord for their video game systems for a while.
Greedy children
Do you have a solution for dealing with greedy children? My oldest son actually complains about gifts if they’re not good enough and basically won’t get rid of toys he doesn’t play with because he prices them really high at yard sales. Ideas?
- Andrea
There are a lot of things you can do in this situation. It really depends on your parenting style.
One thing to do is to simply say that for every new item that comes into the house for him, one has to leave. When it leaves, it goes into the yard sale box (or the Goodwill box) and you price it, not him.
If you have relatives that overindulge your children, talk to them. Tell them that you’re witnessing a lot of greedy behavior and that you need them to back off a little until he matures.
Get them involved in a service project where they witness people who don’t have much in their lives. Spend some of the holiday season doing volunteer work so they see how much they have.
If none of that works, I suggest taking away privileges. One good technique is to take away the power cord for their video game systems for a while.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Homemade Lavender & Eucalyptus Bath Salts
I saw a post on another blog about homemade Lavender & Eucalyptus Bath Salts.
It is basically the same as mine. Below is mine then I will post the link to the other site.
1 cup Epsom Salt
10-15 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
5-10 drops of food coloring.
Clean mason jars.
I made these for Christmas gifts one year.
I used 2 separate bowls. One bowl I mixed red food coloring along with the other ingredients until well blended. The other bowl I mixed green food coloring along with the remaining ingredients again until well blended.
I layered the red then green until the top of the jar. (The only thing is the red didn't come out a true bright red like I wanted.)
I then took Christmas fabric and hot glued scraps to the tops of the mason jars.
When ready for bath time take about 4 tablespoons to your bath water.
That's it.
http://moneysavingmom.com/2014/01/homemade-lavender-bath-salts.html
It is basically the same as mine. Below is mine then I will post the link to the other site.
1 cup Epsom Salt
10-15 drops of lavender essential oil
10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
5-10 drops of food coloring.
Clean mason jars.
I made these for Christmas gifts one year.
I used 2 separate bowls. One bowl I mixed red food coloring along with the other ingredients until well blended. The other bowl I mixed green food coloring along with the remaining ingredients again until well blended.
I layered the red then green until the top of the jar. (The only thing is the red didn't come out a true bright red like I wanted.)
I then took Christmas fabric and hot glued scraps to the tops of the mason jars.
When ready for bath time take about 4 tablespoons to your bath water.
That's it.
http://moneysavingmom.com/2014/01/homemade-lavender-bath-salts.html
Monday, January 6, 2014
Eliminate Your Cable Bill and Still Watch TV
Eliminate Your Cable Bill and Still Watch TV
by Jessica Michelle
Even TV junkies can live without cable
Reducing your regular monthly expenses can be tough, but
there's one option that's gaining popularity. More and more
people are cutting the cable cord. I'm a self-professed TV
addict and I dropped my cable subscription a couple years ago
and haven't looked back. Even though I don't get cable
anymore, I'm still able to watch new episodes of all my
favorite shows on my TV. How do I this? Read on for ideas on
how to survive as a TV addict without a huge cable bill.
Use an antenna.
Did you know that over the air channels are still free? And
they're HD too! You can hook up an antenna to your TV and get
a lot of channels with great quality. And the new antennas
aren't the bunny ears they used to be. Most are sleeker,
smaller and provide much better quality.
Another option is to sign up with Aereo, which allows you to
watch live TV through their remote antennas. It's just
$8/month and includes a remote DVR so you can schedule
recordings. The downside is that it's only available in
certain areas now, but they are rapidly expanding, so check
their website to see if your city is covered now or coming
soon.
Watch online.
There are a lot of free and low-cost ways to watch TV online.
You can watch directly from TV network websites, or watch
recent episodes for free on Hulu. Hulu makes most TV shows
available the day after they air. Amazon Instant Video has a
great selection of TV shows and movies available for free for
their Prime members. Also, Netflix is a great way to catch up
on past seasons of TV shows. And don't worry about having to
watch it on your tiny laptop. A lot of tablets have built in
streaming devices that let you stream content to your TV. Or
you can invest in a $5 HDMI cable and hook up your laptop or
tablet to your TV.
Hook up a streaming device to your TV.
If you don't want to stream through your laptop, you can
purchase a steaming device that will allow you to stream many
TV shows and movies, such as Roku, AppleTV, or the lowest cost
option at $35, Google Chromecast. Some are free and some
require subscription services, such as Netflix. Or if you have
a gaming console, such as Xbox or Nintendo Wii, you can stream
movies and TV shows through them as well.
Getting rid of your cable subscription is a great way to save
money every month. One thing to be conscious of is how many
pay streaming services you join. You don't want to eliminate
your cable bill only to have a bunch of online subscriptions
to pay for each month! It will take some exploration to figure
out which service and method is best for you, but the money
you'll save every month will be worth it.
by Jessica Michelle
Even TV junkies can live without cable
Reducing your regular monthly expenses can be tough, but
there's one option that's gaining popularity. More and more
people are cutting the cable cord. I'm a self-professed TV
addict and I dropped my cable subscription a couple years ago
and haven't looked back. Even though I don't get cable
anymore, I'm still able to watch new episodes of all my
favorite shows on my TV. How do I this? Read on for ideas on
how to survive as a TV addict without a huge cable bill.
Use an antenna.
Did you know that over the air channels are still free? And
they're HD too! You can hook up an antenna to your TV and get
a lot of channels with great quality. And the new antennas
aren't the bunny ears they used to be. Most are sleeker,
smaller and provide much better quality.
Another option is to sign up with Aereo, which allows you to
watch live TV through their remote antennas. It's just
$8/month and includes a remote DVR so you can schedule
recordings. The downside is that it's only available in
certain areas now, but they are rapidly expanding, so check
their website to see if your city is covered now or coming
soon.
Watch online.
There are a lot of free and low-cost ways to watch TV online.
You can watch directly from TV network websites, or watch
recent episodes for free on Hulu. Hulu makes most TV shows
available the day after they air. Amazon Instant Video has a
great selection of TV shows and movies available for free for
their Prime members. Also, Netflix is a great way to catch up
on past seasons of TV shows. And don't worry about having to
watch it on your tiny laptop. A lot of tablets have built in
streaming devices that let you stream content to your TV. Or
you can invest in a $5 HDMI cable and hook up your laptop or
tablet to your TV.
Hook up a streaming device to your TV.
If you don't want to stream through your laptop, you can
purchase a steaming device that will allow you to stream many
TV shows and movies, such as Roku, AppleTV, or the lowest cost
option at $35, Google Chromecast. Some are free and some
require subscription services, such as Netflix. Or if you have
a gaming console, such as Xbox or Nintendo Wii, you can stream
movies and TV shows through them as well.
Getting rid of your cable subscription is a great way to save
money every month. One thing to be conscious of is how many
pay streaming services you join. You don't want to eliminate
your cable bill only to have a bunch of online subscriptions
to pay for each month! It will take some exploration to figure
out which service and method is best for you, but the money
you'll save every month will be worth it.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Helpful Money Habits to Adopt
Years and Years ago when I was single and looking to buy my first house I worked 2 jobs. I set automatic deposit up for the 2nd job at a bank that was 30 min away. There wasn't online banking at the time and I didn't get a debit card or checks. Best way for me to save was not to be able to touch it.
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