How to Begin Saving

Hi there, saving money is never easy and especially if you are new at it, I have tips and strategies for getting started and sticking with the savings plan. I only recently began saving in 2009. I started out with 5 dollars a week which was equal to 25.00 a month. I did this for 4 months and decided that it was not hard to save 5.00 a week, so I went up to 10.00 a week. I also did this for 6 months, so then I decided that I wanted to save 100.00 a month… So, what I did was take 5% of my income and on my payday I would calculate 5% and put it in my savings account. I have done this type of savings for basically a year now. Also, anytime I cash in cans and bottles or I get a check for my birthday or for Christmas….. I take that amount no matter how small it is and put it in my savings account. My new goal for my first Paycheck in January is now 10%. I believe that if you start small, and then work your way up it is far less painful. I also can tell you having that money in my savings account has saved me from having to put car repairs on my credit cards, at least the entire amount anyway ;-)
Think of this method of saving like the old drip coffee pots.  A drip here and a drip there, and pretty soon, you have a full pot.


Happy Savings and a very Happy New Year to all of you.....  Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

25 Amazing Uses for Baking Soda

  

Check this out.....  Totally amazing!!!!  I will be using some of these tips and tricks.  Baking Soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is convenient and econimical for house cleaning and personal care. 

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!  25 Amazing Uses for Baking Soda You've Never Thought Of @ http://look.ac/9j9R0t

2011 Tax Breaks

Ok....  the tax laws have been all over the news for about the last month now.  I have decided that if in fact I end up getting a little more on my paychecks beginning in 2011, I am going to use 1/2 of whatever it may be, for my savings account and the other 1/2 for my credit card debt.  Currently I am making some headway on my credit card debt...  I have 2 cards that will be paid off in January and that 60.00 that I am currently using on those cards will go to the balance of the next card on my list.  I am using the snowball effect.  I am super happy and actually elated, because I am beginning to really see the efforts of 2 years of  total Frugal Living, and I am really starting to feel accomplished.  I am really looking forward to 2011, especially with my goals in place.

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!

Save Money On Gas

If you live in an area like I do with regular intervals of snow and ice....  Save on your gas mileage by clearing all snow and ice completely off of your car before you drive it each day.  Everything needs to come off the windows, as well as the entire car.  A hundred pounds can reduce your mileage, so save your mileage and your gas costs by sweeping and scraping ice and snow daily.  You might as well get the best possible mileage for your money.

Have a Fabulous and Frugal day!!!

After Christmas Sales

I know that it is a little early to be talking about the after Christmas sales, but I am completely finished with my Christmas and I am so grateful.  I get to kick back now on my days off and make home made Amaretto for my friends and family for a little something extra. 
This year I am looking forward to the after Christmas sales, I have actually put money aside.  I am going to get my wrapping paper, bows, tree ornaments, and Christmas decor' for somewhere between 50% to 90% off.  These are the standard savings.  You can also cash in on savings on household items, clothing, food items and candy.  Seriously everything will be on sale.  So...anything you did not get for Christmas but really wanted......  This would be the time to get it. 

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!

Hurricane Lamps

Okay.....  I did it!!!!  Here are my Hurricane Lamps, I decorated them with a Christmas decorations and garland from the dollar store.  They were easy and fun, not to mention inexpensive to make.  These are the gifts for my co-workers. 

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!

Rules for Re-Gifting

It is that time of year again (smile).....  and I am going to give you tips and pointers for regifting.  I think most of us re-gift but few will actually admit to doing it. I believe that it is better to re-gift something you are not going to use or something that you do not like, rather than letting it clutter up your house or throwing away a perfectly good item....  Think of it like recycling . And, when it comes to gift giving isn't it suppose to be the thought that really counts?  I believe that re-gifting can be done thoughtfully, fabulously and classy.  Here are the rules.

1.  Make sure that the gift you are re-gifting is a good match for the person that you are giving it to.  Make sure it is something they will like and use.  Isn't this how you got in the position to re-gift in the first place?
2.  Quality counts.  Make sure that the gift is in good (new) shape.  If it is worn out, then give it to a thrift store or charity of your choice. Do not re-gift used items.  They should be in their original box and packaging. 
3. Wrap it up nicely.  This will personalize the gift (at least in your own mind)
4. Do not give the gift back to the person who got it for you.  If you are going to re-gift you have to keep track of where you got the item in the first place.  

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!!

Crock Pot

All I can say right now is "Thank God" for my Crock pot.  The weather has turned really bad here, lots of snow and ice.  My commute is grueling, and long.  It has been taking me about an hour and 10 minutes to travel 32 miles.  This week I made chicken hindquarters in the crock pot, added 1 cup of orange juice and seasoned it with garlic and pepper.  I cooked some white rice and removed the chicken from the bones and threw it in the rice and just a little bit of the juice from the crock pot....  and this is what I have taken in my lunch the last 2 days.  Today before I left my house, I put a bean mixture together.  It is 16 bean variety of soup and I also had about 3/4 cup of split peas left over from the last time I made soup.  I mixed the split peas with the 16 bean variety and soaked them overnight.  When I got up I threw 2 ham hocks in the crock pot...  rinsed the bean mixture, added about 8 cups of water, chopped up 1/2 an onion and a 1/2 bag of baby carrots, seasoned with garlic and pepper...put the crock pot on low, and left for work.  I cannot wait to get home and have hot soup.  The temperature here is 19 degrees, and I just think there is nothing better than hot soup on a cold day.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!

Til Debt Do Us Part

I have recently discovered a Fabulous show on CNBC, it is called "Til Debt Do Us Part" .  This show is hosted by a Canadian lady named Gail Vaz-Oxiade.  I just love listening to her talk, she is adorable cute.  So what she does is she gets together with couples that need financial help.  Gail has a no-nonsense approach to getting to the root of the financial problem by giving weekly "challenges" to her couples.  I believe they work in 4 week increments and when the couples have successfully met the challenges, they are rewarded with a check by Gail...  usually the checks are about five thousand dollars to help pay down their debt.  Gail puts couples on budgets, takes away their debit and credit cards, and puts their weekly allowance into jars for them that are labeled, as to how the money will be allocated. 
I find this show to be quite fascinating and extremely educational as well as entertaining.  Gail is a genius, and it is so cool to know that the folks in Canada are faced with the same problems financially that we in the U.S are also faced with.  If you get the opportunity to watch this show or check her out on line, I guarantee that you are going to learn something.
Have a Fabulous and Frugal Day