I realized last night that I'm the epitomy of cheap sometimes. I was undecorating the dining room from Parker's party on Saturday (we leave decorations up for days to really enjoy them) and came to this realization........I'm cheap!!!

Case in point:

*I save the crepe paper to make pompons for decorations for the next party. I hang them on the mailbox, front door, or the lamp post outside.

*I hang movie cases on the walls to help decorate.

*I wipe and save the plastice tablecloth for dropcloths for art or to use for a special lunch/dinner for the kids if they've had a good month at school.

*I use the kids toys as table centerpieces and accent decor around the room.

Does anyone else do this or am I incredibly ridiculous?

PS....if you have any other ideas, let me know.

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Parker, Wyndser, and Carson....................Wyndser (in blue) with her cousin

Embrace it, mama.

To me, the epitome of cheap is the irrational form of cheapness...like my inlaws. My SIL will buy the most ill-fitted clothing ever because it's $3-5. It doesn't look good. She'd save $3-5 if she just didn't buy it. The other thing she does is use paper towels instead of coffee filters. WTH? I bet if you broke it down, the coffee filters would be cheaper! THAT to me, is cheap and weird. Your ideas sound more sensible and creative, and probably don't cause people to look at you funny.

Jeannette, I have to agree. You are not incredibly cheap, you have some GREAT IDEAS! Not cheap at all. I like the using the plastic cloth as a dropcloth for art projects!

I sometimes save crepe paper to re-hang if it didn't get wrinkled ... pompoms - even better idea!!!

And yes, I use toys and things as accent decorations!

My dh does this one, it drives me absolutely crazy!!

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The mighty oak started out as a nut that held its ground.

i don't think you are cheap these are things i would do as well (though my dh calls me cheap) i prefer to call it resourceful...

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'The will of God will never take you where the
Grace of God will not protect you.'

I'm even cheaper...I don't even use crepe streamers...LOL I have saved table cloths before and I have also used toys for decorations. So you're not ridiculously cheap...just creatively frugal!

Not cheap, frugal!! A mommysaver! Seriously, I see nothing at all wrong with what you listed; in fact, I think that's very smart and creative.

Don't forget to save the wrapping paper from the presents! My in-laws do that and it used to drive me nuts (still does to some degree because half the fun of opening gifts is to really tear into the paper--especially when you're a kid), but the big pieces can certainly be used again for wrapping, packing material or whatever. I always save tissue paper, gift bags & boxes, too.

Just think what your "cheapness" is allowing you to do. I know my increasing "cheapness" (I'm still learning!) is allowing me to stay home w/ 6 mo DS.

I save gift bags/tissue paper too. Haven't gotten to the gift wrap yet.

I had a baby shower and got a bunch of baby gift bags. I gave them to my mom/grandma to use if they give me anything at the family baby shower since none of my friends are having babies anytime soon - just passing on my frugalness...

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Mom to Kaylee (10/2006)
Waiting on our second bundle of joy to arrive January 2009!

I love this - I am resourceful too!

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Debbie

"Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves." --Benjamin Franklin