My first post!!

One of my best investments was a Swivel Sweeper. That sucker picks up everything. It really saves time to pick up a little mess. And it keeps the floor cleaner longer so I don't have to wash it as often. It works on hard floors and carpet, which also saves on vacuuming.

OK, if anyone is still reading by page 15, here are some ideas (that I think have not yet been stated)

--- My biggest tip is buy out of season/end of season - I save huge on kids clothes this way! Ex: this one hat my ds wanted desperately for XMAS was $30!!! Then after XMAS was marked down to $12 -- better but still too high for me! We just happened to go into this same store in late March when the hat was all but forgotten and it was marked down to $1 with 30% off of that!! Hello a $30 winter hat for 70 cents!!!! I bought 2!!! Also buy sneakers, boots and winter coats when they are on clearance. About 2 years ago I found kids' winter ski coats for $5!! They originally retailed for $80 and up! So I stocked up and haven't bought coats since and my kids always have new ones each year (helps that I have 2 of the same sex, so if one doesn't wear it the next one will). These new items are cheaper than Goodwill or yard sales!!

Some smaller things:

-- I cut the Cascade tabs in 1/2 and stretch the box- dishes come out the same (same theory here that I use w/ other cleaners, dilute, dilute). Of course Cascade is gotten on sale w/coupon!!

-- Use hotel shampoos as bubble bath for the kids

-- I have been buying Fantastic-type cleaners every week, but just discovered a BIG thing of Spic & Span cheap, so will use that in the Fantastic bottle, just add water...

- Use pump-type dispenser for kids shampoos (discovered this one after ds2 dumped 1/2 a bottle of shampoo down the drain - this way no spill, no waste! I have one container that I just keep refilling.

- Tie open end of dry cleaning bags and reuse as trash bags

- Organize coupons, I bought an organizer for $1 and it really helps to categorize things that you will use. It takes some time up front (and I have been known to put this task off), but it can pay off pretty well if you do it right!

OK, boys are arguing, so time to go...

Believe it or not, a trip to the mall works for us. The weather doesn't make or break our day. I bring drinks and snacks from home. We get our exercise from walking the mall. We play in the childrens' stores (Disney, Lego, etc....and when Daddy is with us Sharper Image). We started early enough, so the kids enjoy the time with us; and don't need to buy everything they see. The few dollars we do spend is going on the merry-go-round, and throwing coins in the fountain.

We usually just stay at home and watch movies together or play board games. We run the fans and control the thermostat and still get to spend time together. We don't get to see my husband that often so he usually wants to stay home and not get out.

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Okay, if these have been mentioned already, sorry.

1. Cut softener sheets in fourths. It takes a box of 40 to a box of 160 sheets. They still work great and the laundry smells fresh even with only a fourth. The only time I ever use a full sheet is for bedding.

2. I pack my husbands lunch every day, two sandwiches and chips, that is 3 baggies a day. So to save on baggies I reuse them throughout the week and pitch them on Friday. So instead of using 15 baggies each week, I only use 3.

There are two and I will post more as I think of them!

-Jenifer

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Jenifer
Proud wife to one amazing man
Proud mom to four awesome kids

October is breast cancer awareness month!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

--One thing I do to save money is buy a lot of hamburger when it is on sale, and then I brown it with onions, garlic, salt and pepper. I then freeze it in ziplocs to use for quick meals later on. Cooked hamburger freezes really well, and I can pull it out and have it ready for tacos or whatever in less than 3 minutes.

Today I bought 20 pounds of ground beef. It is normally $11.95 for 5 lbs, but was on sale for $9.95. On top of that, there were $3 off coupons on the package. So I got enough beef to last us at least 6-9 months for $27. I was pretty excited!

--Whenever I make soups or chili I always freeze half for later. This means it doesn't go bad in the fridge before we're ready to eat it again.

--I keep a running list of what I put in the freezer (which was given to me for free) and cross things off when I use them. That way I know what I have to work with without digging around.

I keep a small crayon "piggy " bank in the car. You would be amazed at how much change you can accumulate in a month. When it is full, it goes into our vacation fund.

I've been known to sift through our neighborhood recycle container for coupons left in the sunday newspapers. And no, I don't climb in neither.

I send my Dh to work with a thermos filled with yummy Folgers Hazlenut coffee. Pricier than regular coffee, but much cheaper than a daily Starbucks run! I also pack his lunch everyday.

I put baggies of goldfish in my diaper bag to ward off the snackies when I go out with the kids.

I also shop at goodwill for baby clothes and sometimes resell them at consignment if they are still in good shape.

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Wife to Thomas and Mom to Claire, Carter, Caroline and Cale

Go to the library and get the coupon inserts from the Sunday paper from them. Let your neighbors/family/friends know to save them for you. Coworkers bring me bag fulls every month or so.