Thursday, January 12, 2012

Fabulous & Frugal: Laundry Soap

Fabulous & Frugal: Laundry Soap: Okay... Here it is!!! Everyone has been asking me to post my laundry soap recipe so... here you all have it 2 cups Borax 2 cups Super...

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Extreme Cheapskates

TLC has done it again....  I watched this show last night.  Extreme Cheapskates looked at the lives of 4 families, The first guy was a dumpster diver who found wilted roses, and a tea kettle for his wife for their 25th wedding anniversary.... yes he found these "treasure's" in the dumpster.  While he was at a cafe for dinner he would go around to other people's tables and ask them for their left over food.  He embarrassed his wife a couple of different times. 
The second family features a creative way to save on toilet paper.  She makes her own toilet paper out of cloth, her clean cloth's hang right next to the toilet (in her bathroom) and her used cloth's go in a bucket right next to the toilet...  she claims she never has to touch them, just picks up the bucket and dumps them in the wash machine.  This lady has 6 kids and shops at a grocery outlet that deals with expired food, and that is what she feeds her kids along with salad that she picks or forages at the park.
The third story featured a couple that I am actually familiar with...  Jeff Yeager has actually written a couple of books.  The Cheapskate Next Door (and I cannot remember the other one right now.) At various times during the year he goes on a fiscal fast, where he spends absolutely no money for the entire week.  At least not his money...  he does scrounge around for loose change in couch cushions, phone booths, and laundry mats.  Jeff did some bargaining with a butcher for a couple of goat heads that he cooked for he and his wife for dinner.  Jeff was very funny and entertaining...  I enjoyed his take on frugality. 
The last story featured a young man who bartered for different things...  he recited poetry at a donut shop for a donut and coffee, and helped out his friend with bartering who was putting together an engagement party.  He also worked by taking out trash and sweeping at a barber shop so that he could get his hair cut. Very creative ways to work for things that you need. 

This show was completely entertaining and gives a whole new meaning for the definition of Cheapskate....  It was an extreme look at outrageous ways to save a dollar....AND after watching this show, my kids no longer think of me as a cheapskate....

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Get Out Of Debt Using Snowball Method

This is exactly the snowball method I am using...  It seems to be working, yes, at times it seems like it is taking forever...  but I am just going to hang on in there and keep my nose to the grindstone..  Debt Free Baby!!!!

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!

http://christianpf.com/?utm_source=ChristianPF+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=d4a3a294bf-DAILY_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email


Get Out Of Debt With The Debt Snowball Method – GS4


Jan 05, 2012 08:00 am
Bob



Debt Snowball: The Preferred Method for getting out of debt

Creating a debt snowball is my preferred method of getting out of debt. The strength of using this method is that it focuses on the behavioral side of personal finance rather than the mathematical. Since we are not robots that always do exactly what we know we should, I recommend this method for most people.


These are the simple steps to snowball your debt

Create a list of all of your debts: credit cards, car loans, student loans, mortgages, etc…

Next to each one write down the total balance owed.

Re-order these from smallest to largest debts (use Excel or Google Docs to make this simpler.)

Pay the minimum payment on all of the debts – except the smallest one.

Put every extra dollar you can find towards paying off that smallest debt.

Celebrate like crazy when you get that first debt paid off.

Take the amount you were paying towards the first debt and put towards the next smallest debt. Do this until this one is paid off.

Celebrate again!

Continue this process until each one is paid off.

What you will find is that each time you pay off a debt, the “snowball” gets larger. Since you are taking the amount you used to pay off the first debt and putting it all + the minimum payment that you were already paying to the second together, you are making more of an impact towards that debt. Each time you pay off a debt, the snowball gets larger and more powerful – which is great, because it just increases the speed that each debt gets paid off.



The numbers don’t lie

If you are like most logical people out there (like me ) you are probably saying, “you could save more money by paying the highest interest rate cards off first.” You are right – calculators do not lie and they will give you the correct logical answer. Paying your credits cards off starting with the highest interest rate to the lowest is “mathematically” the best idea. But, let’s look it at from another angle:



If we DID what we knew we SHOULD do 100% of the time, using the mathematical approach would be best. But, we are emotional beings and even the most disciplined among us still have emotions and are affected by them.



Computers use logic 100% of the time. Humans do not. We were not created to. We make decisions based on our emotions. We get let down, we get encouraged, we feel motivated, we get scared, we feel hopeful, we feel like quitting. These are all emotional states that each one of us could feel on any given day!!



Knowing that we are emotional beings, the key is to use our emotions to our advantage. Just like jogging with the wind at your back, it is a nice little boost to use our emotions to give us a little edge. So, rather than tackling the debt like a math problem, we can tackle it in a way that will give us emotional boosts! After all, isn’t it better to get out of debt and spend an extra $100 in interest than to give up half way to our goal because we were discouraged?

Monday, January 2, 2012

Homemade Dishwasher Soap

Happy New Year!!!  My goals are to pay off debt and live as frugally as possible.  I am also going to add to my Emergency fund this year.  What are your goals or resolutions for this year? 
Here is a recipe I found for Dishwasher soap...  I will be making up a batch of this and giving it a try. 

Homemade Dishwasher Soap


I make my own soap by using 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and 1/2 cup Borax 20 Mule Team. I use about 2 tablespoons in the dishwasher compartment. I've also added Citric Acid (from either canning products or tang) if needed. To tell if Citric Acid is needed, look at your silverware. If it seem to be a little gray then check your dishwasher book and it will tell you what to add and how much. My silverware has actually been sparklier with this than the expensive dishwasher tabs.

Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Car Troubles in Cold Weather

This is a fantastic article found at teh Lesley Voth site...  a must read for everyone who lives in cold weather

http://simplyfantasticbooks.com/2011/12/22/car-got-the-cold-weather-blues/
Car Got The Cold Weather Blues?

by lesleyvoth

I am not a lover of cold weather and in some cases your car feels the same.

It does not really matter how well maintained your vehicle is kept, there are times when it is very temperamental and does not want to start. This has happened to me many times over time.

Here are some tips if you turn the key in your car and nothing happens.

1. Take a deep breath - Relax. You are not going to make it in time to wherever you are going. Get used to that idea. That's ok, there could be lots of reasons for that. Some people have missed a plane crash because they could not get to the airport on time. So tell yourself it could be a good thing. Now that you are feeling better lets look at the more practical things that could help your situation

2. When you turn the key - It just clicks or nothing then most likely in the cold weather it will be the battery.

3. Did you leave the lights on? - The inside light left on will flatten a not so healthy battery by morning. Left the headlights on? Yes that will do it.

4. Battery connections - Give the battery connections a wiggle. Loose? Get out the screwdriver and tighten the connection. Give the key another turn, see if that will do the trick.

5. Corroded connection - Check for corrosion on the connection. If it looks like it could be, give it a light brushing to clean it up. Try to start it again.

6. Jump Start - Not all vehicles can be jumped started. Read your owner's manual, first. Your manufacturer may advise against jump starting a vehicle due to sensitive electronic circuitry.

7. Frozen Battery - Don't try to jump-start it while it is frozen

8. Check Battery - If you see that it is cracked or leaking Do Not try to jump-start it. You need to go buy a new one or get a tow truck to take your car to a repair shop.

9. Dry battery - Check to see if the battery has fluid inside. If it is dry then you will have to fill it to the fluid levels. There is a caution here though as batteries usually need pure clean water. You need to check with your manual.

10. Sparking connections - If you are jump starting the vehicle make sure the hook up clamps do not touch. You could have a fireworks display that could be a bit scary

11. Tow Truck - Still not able to start it then you may have a more serious problem like a bad starter or alternator. I think you are going to need a tow truck.

THE CAR CRANKS BUT DOES NOT START

If the starter turns, but the engine won't start, the problem can be much harder to diagnose. One common problem is a frozen fuel line. In the winter, be sure to always keep your fuel tank half full. If water accumulates in your fuel line, the condensation will freeze and your car won't start. If you've been driving in wet conditions or deep snow, wet spark plugs or other engine components can prevent your car from starting.

Here are some items you should always carry in your car in case of emergencies

Jumpstart cables - the longer the better

Jumpstart Gloves - protect hands from acid

Flashlight - a must in any car

Paper Coveralls - inexpensive and will protect your clothes

Jumpstart manual - a must read before you attempt to jumpstart any car


Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!  As well as a Merry Christmas!!!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Do You Need To Make Extra Money?

Check out this fabulous article at this fabulous website....  I am really not really big on Christmas, and I am already looking forward to 2012.  If you need to pay down debt or just need some extra to make ends meet, this is a great article.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!


http://www.girlsjustwannahavefunds.com/make-extra-money-8-easy-ways-to-earn-extra-income-now/

As we ramp up financial plans and resolutions for the new year, we’re all looking for ways to make extra money. It’s no secret – if there’s debt to be paid, there’s money to be made. Check out the following ways to make extra money while putting a dent in your debt or better yet saving for a rainy day.


Pet Sitting, Especially Overnight Pet Sitting


Pet sitting is a great money maker as pet owners are willing to shell out the cash to make certain their pets don’t lose their furry minds while they are gone on vacation or just away for the weekend. The hours are convenient for someone who already has a 9-5 as the overnight portion typically starts late evening and goes into the next morning. The rates for this can run upwards of $50 per night if you own your own pet sitting business. If you go through a pet sitting service then you can expect to net around 25%-50% of the total fee paid by the owner. If you have the time to attend to the pet during the day then there’s extra cash in this as well: walking, cleaning the litter box, administering medication etc

Mystery Shopping

Mystery shopping is a great way to earn money during down time since it requires very little effort. Many companies allow you to sign up and get started on the same day which is great since you get the cash within 1-2 weeks after your assignments have been completed and verified. EMPSonline.com has always been a consistent place which lists “shops” that pay $40 per shop. The best part? They offer direct deposit and the ability to submit your reports online. This streamlines the process and lessens the time between starting a shop and getting paid.

Sell Old Stuff On Ebay And Craigslist

Ebay and Craigslist are great for selling old stuff. Your trash is another man’s treasure and they are more than willing to pay you for it. Go forth and list your items there and get your money! Another tip? You may sometimes come across an item that is grossly under-priced on Craigslist and sell it on Ebay if you’re willing to ship it to someone in another state. This tends to be the case with so computers and other electronics if the person is desperate to get rid of it. This is also found this to be the case with exercise equipment. Ebay tends to pull bidders into a frenzy towards the end of the auction so if you have an item that most people are searching for then buying low on Craigslist and selling high on Ebay may be the way to go.

Date Night Childcare

If you love children, then this is a great option! Market yourself to local parents as the date night solution. Parents of young children are always looking for trustworthy and reliable people to babysit so that they can have a few needed hours to themselves. Offer overnight babysitting and you’re in it to win it! Parents appreciate it and you will certainly be passed around to their friends to do the same. Tip: It helps if you’re CPR and first aid certified. Parents want to know that if something happens that you know how to tackle the situation with skill.

Get a 2nd Job

Right now it may seem that jobs aren’t plentiful but there are indeed many lower paying jobs that you’d be surprised aren’t being filled. This is to your advantage as you may be able to negotiate better hours in exchange for filling a position, especially during the holidays.

Make Your Hobby Your New Money Maker


What do you spend most of your time doing? Take that and make some money doing it! This isn’t always immediately obvious, so take some time to think about how you can combine 1 or a few of your passions into something that can net you some cash for a rainy day. For example, if you have a Type A personality and love organizing spaces then advertise yourself to friends and family as an organizer. The same goes for make up. If you happen to do makeup really well then market yourself to local brides as the makeup guru to get their faces done on the big day.

Start A Bath and Body Products Company

Don’t gloss over this just yet. There’s a huge market for naturally made soaps, creams and perfumes. If you can find a good supplier for unique and quality scents with a fresh base then you are set. The drawback of this is of course becoming too popular and then falling behind on orders since they are handmade and made to order. Research this opportunity carefully and thoroughly. One should only enter this arena if they truly have a heart of creating lovely smell goods!

Tutoring

This is pretty self-explanatory. Put flyers up at local schools and post and ad on Craigslist detailing your specialties and rates. It helps to have great references and the ability to coach children through difficult topics while helping them learn the information in a way that they are unable to in class.

Earning extra money may seem difficult, but put some thoughts into where your energy will be most profitable prior to jumping in. What are your best money makers when you need extra cash?

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Saving An Additional 114 Dollars Each Month

Last week on my days off I spent about an hour and 1/2 on two phone calls.  The first call was to cancel my home phone.  I had been a customer for 21 years (amazing). Really for about the last 2 years due to my screwy work schedule, I wasn't using the phone much.  I would un-plug it because I desperately needed to sleep in the morning and in the afternoon and I was just inundated with phone solicitors.  I would un-plug the phone and leave it un-plugged for weeks on end.  I just decided that it had become a huge waste of money.  $43 per month. 
The next call was to my cell phone company.  My daughter and her boyfriend got their own cell plan so there was just no need to keep her line.  So my hubby and I combined our lines on a family plan, and my line alone was about $82 per month.  Then, there are some additional savings going to happen too, because we ended up with a credit from the cell phone company for switching things up.  But the monthly savings will add up to $114 dollars.  That is a fantastic savings for a little time spent on the phone.  Obviously I was spending too much money and am happy that I wised up!! 
What are you wasting your money on???
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!