Category Archives: Saving Money

How to Break the Paper Towel Habit

A joyful dayPosted on March 18, 2010 by Rhonda

How to Break the Paper Towel Habit

On “Thrifty Thursday” I thought I would address the subject of paper towel waste.  I decided that this was another area where I could save a few more pennies.  Paper towels wipe up small messes and are just tossed into the trash…hence you can just imagine hearing the little “cha-ching” going on at the paper towel manufacturers.

A few weeks ago, I decided to invest in a couple bundles of white wash cloths that were on sale.  I also bought a tall, white, round plastic trash container (the kind with the swinging lid on top) to toss in my cloths and other towels when they were dirty.  To be honest, I still keep paper towels on hand to grease a pan or to use when I want to serve some cookies but don’t want to mess with little dishes.  But overall, I feel better about being less wasteful.

I have found that keeping these white cloths nearby are really handy and just as easy to use as grabbing  a paper towel.  When my napkins for the table are gone, I plan to put some of these in my little square basket that I keep on the table.  My boys can toss them into my container when the poor little white cloths are done being abused from wiping dirty hands and faces.

P.S. ~ Here’s a little video on this very subject that I saw just today…

Posted in Cleaning, Kitchen, Kitchen Tips, Miscellaneous, Saving Money, Thrifty Moms | Tagged | 7 Comments

Save Money Creating Natural Beauty Remedies at Home

A joyful dayPosted on February 18, 2010 by Rhonda

Save Money Creating Natural Beauty Remedies at Home

For Thrifty Thursday, I thought I would share a few ways that will keep you from spending a fortune on beauty products at the store.  In fact, all of the ingredients you’ll need are right in your kitchen or pantry cabinet.

Here are three ways in which you can create natural beauty remedies at home in a flash…

Olive Oil: You cook and bake with it; but did you know that you can use it in a variety of other ways? Because olive oil is chemical free, it can be used on your skin; as a bath oil, moisturizer, massage oil, and conditioner.

For example: You can apply a mixture of olive oil and lemon juice to your skin before bedtime to moisturize your skin. To strengthen your nails, soak them in warm extra virgin olive oil for five minutes. Massage your sore muscles with a mixture of extra virgin olive oil and rosemary. Apply olive oil to dry hair as an overall conditioner. It will leave your hair smooth and shiny.

Oatmeal: Wouldn’t you love a facial? Get out the box of oatmeal from your cabinet and begin. This oatmeal facial will not only exfoliate, but moisturize your skin as well…

Oatmeal Facial Recipe:

1 package of instant oatmeal
1/2 cup water
2 TB yogurt
2 TB honey
1 egg white

Mix the water and oatmeal, then add the additional ingredients. Apply a thin layer to your face. Leave it on for about 15 minutes or until you feel tightness; then rinse your face with warm water.

Dry Skin Brushing: Here is a technique that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Before taking a shower in the morning, use a brush or sponge and begin the dry skin brushing process to exfoliate dead skin cells, and improve your blood circulation.

Here’s how to do it: While standing the shower with the water off, start at your feet and begin brushing in small circles toward the upper part of your body. Then work your way down the back of your body to complete the process. Do not scrub hard, but apply even and light pressure. After you have completed this procedure, take a shower.

For extra exfoliating try these homemade sugar scrubs…

Sugar Scrub Recipes:

Lemon Sugar Scrub:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
1 TB grated lemon zest

Green Tea Sugar Scrub:

2 cups white sugar
1 cup honey
3 TB of green tea
5 drops vanilla

*Please  feel free to share some of your own homemade beauty recipes with our readers.

Posted in Beauty Tips, Do it Yourself, Health, Miscellaneous, Saving Money, Thrifty Moms | Tagged | 2 Comments

How to Feed Your Family Healthy Meals on a Tight Budget – Video

A joyful dayPosted on February 11, 2010 by Rhonda

How to Feed Your Family Healthy Meals on a Tight Budget - Video

Thought you might enjoy this video today on “Thrifty Thursday”


How To Feed Your Family Healthy Meals on a Tight Budget on Howcast

Step 1: Start with hot cereal

Start the day with a hot cereal; they’re much cheaper than cold cereals. Oatmeal is a nutritional winner and very inexpensive if you buy a container of plain, old-fashioned oatmeal.

Step 2: Stretch your milk

Stretch your milk dollars by diluting a can of evaporated milk or some powdered milk with water to create whole milk.

Step 3: Stock up on frozen veggies

Stock up on frozen vegetables when they go on sale. Unless your produce was just picked, it’s just as healthy — or even more so — to eat the frozen stuff, which locks in the nutrients.

Canned vegetables are another cheap alternative to fresh, but rinse them before eating because many are loaded with salt.

Step 4: Eat fruits in season

Limit your fruit purchases to whatever is in season, the exception being bananas and apples. The former are relatively inexpensive year-round, and the latter are low in calories, high in fiber, and may reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Step 5: Snack happy

Enjoy healthy snacks without spending a fortune by air popping corn kernels and buying nutritious nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, and peanuts. Buy in bulk.

Step 6: Limit meat consumption

Only eat meat two or three times a week, and make cheap meats as tender and tasty as pricier cuts by marinating them overnight or slow-cooking them in a Crock-Pot.

Step 7: Eat alternative proteins

Make the most of alternative sources of protein, like peanut butter, eggs, chunk light tuna (which is not only the cheapest kind of tuna, but also contains the least mercury), and beans.

Buy bagged beans in bulk — the kind you soak overnight. They’re cheaper and healthier than canned beans, which are high in sodium.

Step 8: Eat brown rice

Eat brown rice. It’s a bit pricier than white, but much better for you and still a nutritional bargain.

Step 9: Indulge in dessert

Indulge in desserts by making them from scratch using nutritious ingredients that you have on hand. Bake your own oatmeal and peanut butter cookies; mash and freeze overripe bananas for “ice cream”; bake bruised apples with a little honey.

Posted in Cooking, Health, Meal Planning, Saving Money, Thrifty Moms | Tagged | 2 Comments