All those ideas are very creative. Plus, you're teaching your kids not to be wasteful and to use something for other than its intended use (isn't that showing ingenuity?). You're a true Mommysaver! Be proud!

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"Ordinary riches can be stolen: real riches cannot. In your sould are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken away from you." -- Oscar Wilde

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I have embraced my cheapness. I call myself queen of bargains. I don't place negative value on the word, but a positive one.

allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time

I think a great name would be to call you "environmentally conscious". Our country has become a wasteful, disposable society. Everything is so convenient and cheap that most people think nothing of just throwing things in the garbage once they are done with it. If we continue to use up our resources and do nothing about it, what will be left for future generations? So bravo to you for thinking of other ways to re-use things. Remember the motto: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! Save money and the planet at the same time!

I think your ideas are great. I have done alot of cheap thing to get a party.
1. was I have a 10 person tent we sprayed painted alot of colorful colors.
2. I take two liter bottles and put paper or foil in it and hang outside.
3. for a table cloth we use a shower curtain.( putting it in the wash is the best)
and using their own toys help alot. oh don't let me forget the tie die streamers.

Angela

You're frugal and resourceful.

I've been teased because I collect the leftover ketchup packets (like from McDonald's and other fast food places) and squeeze them into our bottle at home. I've only bought about 3 ketchup bottles in the last 12 years!

Keep up the good work!

Uhh I think we have the same inlaws. Mine claim to not make much money. So they go yard saling all the time. Well they will buy things not because they need them but because a) it was a good deal or b) someone may need it someday even though it probably doesn't work. My mil also buys my kids clothes sometimes. Well she will spend all kinds of money on clothes that are obviously to small. My dd is 8 mo. and will buy her 0-3 month clothes. She doesn't care if they are to small or not if the outfit is cute, which 9 out of 10 times its not.

I dont think you are cheap at all. I am a single mum, who needs to be resourceful-my child, i dont think is going to come at me in years to come, complaining that they did not have designer baloons or some other absurdity for her party.
I prefer to use my imagination and involve her in the process when it comes to play, i am not one to provide a mcdonalds pre-packaged-someone has done all my thinking for me existance.
one only has to go to a toystore to see the power corporations have in dictating to our children the toy they need. if we as parents are serious about our childrens future and global warming it is in our best interests to boycott as much as possible the plastic garbage that is being so mindlessly produced. if many parents took this approach, not only would you be saving the environment but hip pocket also. Peer group pressure to keep up with friends fads would somewhat be reduced also.
i tend to buy cloth dolls vintage toys, porcealan tea sets secondhand wooden blocks, handmade puppets and recycle cereal boxes for dolls cots, or turn tissue boxes into cars...creative play using found objects according to the steiner philosophy encorages motor skills, immagination, problem solving etc something devoid in most commercial toys...
good on you for going against the conventional tide...

I dont think you are cheap at all. I am a single mum, who needs to be resourceful-my child, i dont think is going to come at me in years to come, complaining that they did not have designer baloons or some other absurdity for her party.
I prefer to use my imagination and involve her in the process when it comes to play, i am not one to provide a mcdonalds pre-packaged-someone has done all my thinking for me existance.
one only has to go to a toystore to see the power corporations have in dictating to our children the toy they need. if we as parents are serious about our childrens future and global warming it is in our best interests to boycott as much as possible the plastic garbage that is being so mindlessly produced. if many parents took this approach, not only would you be saving the environment but hip pocket also. Peer group pressure to keep up with friends fads would somewhat be reduced also.
i tend to buy cloth dolls vintage toys, porcealan tea sets secondhand wooden blocks, handmade puppets and recycle cereal boxes for dolls cots, or turn tissue boxes into cars...creative play using found objects according to the steiner philosophy encorages motor skills, immagination, problem solving etc something devoid in most commercial toys...
good on you for going against the conventional tide...

Hehehe, thanks for the "toys as centerpieces" idea!

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Katie--mom to ds--21, dd--18, ds--16, dd + dd--6, dd--4