Frugal Tip Tuesday: Do It Yourself (DIY)

We recently took a trip to the neighborhood garden center to pick up some flowers. I love how the hanging planters look and thought we could pick one up for the hook on our shed. I got sticker shock after seeing the price was a steep $24! These were just some average annuals. You'd think I was buying two dozen red roses!

Today's tip is DIY or Do It Yourself.

I had a hanging planter; so instead of shelling out $24, I bought a flat for $3.99. I then transplanted the flowers into the hanging planter. Not only was I psyched to save $20, but the planter looks beautiful!

Now if I really wanted to save, I would've started the flowers from seedlings. But that can be time intensive. My husband is beginning his garden from seeds and I hope to provide an update soon.

What do you DIY to save money? I'm always looking for tips!

Frugal Tip Tuesday: How to Recycle Pillows

Here's another fabulous post from our friends at The Greenest Dollar -- good stuff!

I watched the “Story of Stuff” the other night. If you haven’t watched this 20-minute documentary about where our Stuff truly comes from, then give it a look. It’s an informative, sobering look at the true costs of all the stuff we buy and use on a regular basis.

So, what does this have to do with recycling pillows? Well, I’m getting there…

In the Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard talks about how our pillows (and our mattresses and couches and carpeting and curtains…) are treated with flame retardant chemicals, called PBDEs. These chemicals are highly toxic, and yet we’re laying right on them 8 hours a night. Every night.

The problem is that these chemicals leach out of the products they’re put in. And, they’re leaching into us. These chemicals have been linked to infertility, slow brain development, and cancer. Especially in babies and children.

Ironically enough, the very next day Michigan Radio (part of NPR) did a story on these PBDEs. They said that although these chemicals are highly toxic, they’re still allowed because the government doesn’t require companies to list all the chemicals they put in their products.

Of the 100,000 chemicals that are used in this country for manufacturing, only 4% have ever been tested for safety in human interactions. 

And, none of them have been tested in the real world, when they’re in a product and reacting with other chemicals in other products.

Yeah, scary.

So, all of this is still leading up to recycling pillows. Promise.

Now, I consider myself pretty eco-savvy. But I had NO IDEA PBDEs existed, and I sure didn’t know how bad they were. I was shocked to learn that I was completely surrounded by these chemicals.

I know I can’t replace everything in my home. After all, PBDEs are in everything: carpeting, curtains, TVs, cell phones, couches, computers…other than moving to a cave with hay on the floor, I’m probably not going to get away from them.

After feeling sad and miffed about it, I had a EUREKA! moment. I can’t completely eliminate them. But I can work towards getting rid of them where I spend the most time. That is, my bedroom (night sleeping), and my office (day working).

My Tiny Steps To Reducing PBDEs

The first thing I decided I could do is get eco-friendly pillows. And when I say eco-friendly, I mean pillows that are made from buckwheat and kapok, and made here in the U.S.
I found a few options I’m considering.

1. Buckwheat Pillows on Etsy

Courtesy enhabiten on Etsy

I found a lovely little shop called Enhabiten, on Etsy, that sells handmade buckwheat pillows.
The fabric is hemp that she’s stained with tea, and the filling is balsam and buckwheat hulls.
No chemicals!

She’s selling these awesome little pillows for $28. So far, buying from her is my favorite option.

2. White Lotus Organic Pillows

It’s important to really pay attention when you’re shopping for organic pillows.

For instance, I found out that GIAM makes organic pillows. But, they’re made in China. I’m not 100% confident that their pillows are chemical free, which is why I’m not buying from them.

I did find some awesome kapok and buckwheat pillows over at White Lotus. White Lotus makes all their organic pillows here in the U.S., and they offer free shipping.

How To Recycle Pillows

So now that I’m replacing my pillows (which is Step 1 in my plan to reduce PBDEs in my home), what do I do with the old pillows?

I really don’t want to just chuck them in the trash. But, I can’t donate them (Salvation Army won’t accept used pillows). So, where should they go?

Here is an idea:

1. Your Local Animal Shelter- Many animal shelters need used pillows all the time. They make great dog beds! This is what I’ll be doing with my old pillows.

There were plenty of other ideas (like turning them into smaller pillows, using the stuffing for chair cushions, etc.), but my goal is to get it out of the house because of the PBDEs. Which is why I thought the animal shelter was the best idea.

I did find this creative tutorial at the Undomesticated Wife on how to turn old pillows into cozy dog beds. No sewing involved! I could do this and create some “outdoor beds” for the backyard.

My Next Step To Get Rid of PBDEs
Like I said, replacing everything in my home just isn’t an option. That would be wasteful, and expensive. But I am considering going with a buckwheat or kapok mattress, and donating my current one (which is almost 10 years old anyway). We’ve been thinking about doing this for a while, because our current mattress is so heavy that with just the two of us, it’s almost impossible to move without bursting a vein.

I’ve only just started looking at organic/eco-friendly mattresses, however, and the ones I’ve found are really expensive.

If any of you know of a good company that makes organic mattresses I’d love to hear about them! And if you’re sleeping on a kapok or buckwheat mattress, I’d love to hear about your experience. I’d really like to go with something smaller and more lightweight than what we’ve got right now.

Frugal Tip Tuesday: Think Before You Buy

Before you make the plunge for a high-cost purchase. Wait a day or two and see if you really want the item. This can be anything from TV stands to a new car to a new outfit.

Also, search high and low for a coupon. Depending upon the savings, it can sometimes be beneficial to buy coupons on Ebay.

Wait for the item to go on sale if it's something that isn't a rush. For example, if you know you'll need a patio set, wait until the end of the summer season to make the purchase. Prices will be at their lowest. Add a coupon to that sale price and you're really saving money.

See if it's worth to buy the item used. Grills, furniture, large kids toys -- these are all great items to buy used.

How do you make sure to maximize cost savings when you're making a purchase?

Frugal Tip Tuesday: Buy Easter Baskets Only Once

Do you buy new Easter baskets and grass each year? Suddenly, after a few years, you have loads of cheesy misshapen baskets and discolored grass. I finally broke down two years ago and bought my two children personalized Easter baskets that I reuse year after year. I actually look forward to breaking out the baskets each Easter season. They're cute, functional and reusable. I just fill them up with some candy and small toys. 

Frugal Tip: Know when to make an investment in an item versus trying to save money by buying something on the cheap.

Easter baskets are just one example. What have you bought that's high quality and will last in the long run?

Frugal Tip Tuesday: Plan Ahead

If you want to be successful at anything, a little planning is always required. Being green and frugal is no different.

Photo Courtesy Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey

This weekend, the hubby and I took the kids to the Ringling Bros. Circus. How could I resist when I got $20 tickets? Following our Disney on Ice visit to the Rutherford, NJ Izod Center, I made sure to feed the kids a big breakfast and promised them a very fun lunch at Sonic after the circus. (Okay, my husband and I are the ones who really love Sonic and the one in Rutherford is the only one remotely near us. And that's still a 20-mile ride.)

I mentally prepared both kids for all of the toys, candy, food, light-up made-in-China gadgets, programs, balloons, pennant and every other ridiculous object that was for sale. To make matters worse, the vending stands were located every couple of feet. It was ridiculous!!!!

Once we were seated, I desperately needed another cup of coffee and my husband wanted a Powerade. "Great, he could share his drink with the kids," I thought to myself. $8 later, we had one small Powerade and one medium Dunkin Donuts coffee. For $8, I could have bought a pound of ground Dunkin Donuts coffee and made coffees for the next month. I also could buy an entire case of Powerade.

Frugal tip: plan ahead. I should have thought to bring two bottles of water with me and some snacks just in case. Since both kids are out of diapers and don't use bottles, I like to travel light. But it would've saved me $8 in the long run. Don't get me started on the $15 parking fee...

Any tips you'd like to share on how you plan ahead to save money or be more green? I'd love to hear them (and add them to my arsenal)!

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Create a Price Book

This week's tip is one I've been meaning to do since 2010 kicked off. And now I'm finally going to start it.

The best way to know whether or not you're getting a good deal is through a price book. What's a price book? Essentially, you track your most purchased grocery items and see what is the best price that you can get the item. When you see it at that price, you know to stock up.

It can seem overwhelming at first (hence the reason that I've waited so long.) To get started, pick your top five most purchases groceries. Then, create a column for the store name, price and weight. Tracking the cost per unit will enable you to get a more accurate view of the cost.

As you get more comfortable with your price book system, you can gradually add more grocery items. The best part of your price book is always knowing when you'll pay the lowest price.

Do you currently use a price book? How does it work? Any tips you'd like to share?

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Hit Those Sales

As a Green and Frugal Momma, I try to limit clothes shopping for myself (it's such a weakness of mine). However, over the past few days, I've hit some amazing sales where I was able to get discounted, high-end clothes for a fraction of what they normally cost. Plus, I got a bag full of clothes for my kids at Children's Place for free!! (Okay, almost free...but I consider gift card shopping 'free').

Tues., Jan. 26 -- Children's Place
I head to Children's Place to use a $25 gift card that my daughter received as a birthday gift. My son desperately needs jeans (nearly every pair have a hole in one knee and they're short (aka floods), so I also check out what's available in his size. The prices are considerably marked down. Boys jeans on the sale rack are $7.99 (a bargain from the original $19.50 price). However, when I get to the register, every single item rings up for $3.99. So I run around the store like a crazy lady grabbing more clothes.

Final spend: $24.62
What I bought: 2 shirts and one pair of jeans for my daughter and four pairs of pants (cargo pants and jeans) for my son.


Wed., Jan. 27 -- Talbot's
Next stop is Talbot's. They feature lots of 50% signs, so I head right back to the sale racks. The 50% discount is for the lowest marked price. Score!

Final spend: $80
What I bought: lime green sweater twin set, two ruffled button-down cardigans, sequined burgundy shell/tank top (most of these items are normally $40-$80 a piece)


Thurs., Jan. 28 -- Ann Taylor
I had plans to meet a girlfriend for dinner at a restaurant in the Shops at Riverside, one of the more high-end malls. It includes Tiffany's, Louis Vitton, Coach, Burberry, etc. I head straight for one of my favorite stores -- Ann Taylor. Once again, I make a beeline for the sale racks. And once again, I score paydirt.

Final spend: $60
What I bought: black trouser pants, gun-metal gray sweater with funky ruffles down the front and a fuschia shell with cap sleeves. The pants were $19 (normally $80), the sweater was $29.99 and the shell was $9.88 (normally $65).


If you haven't figured out this week's tip, it's this: this time of year the stores are turning over their winter merchandise in preparation for the spring collections. Head for the sales racks and work those deals!!

Any recent sales where you scored a major deal? We want to hear about it!!

Green Tip Tuesday: Get Rid of Your Junk Mail

The Ultimate List For Stopping Your Junk Mail

Courtesy Wikipedia

Heather at The Greenest Dollar enlightens us all with another fabulous post:

Ah, junk mail. According to experts we’ll spend 8 months of our life reading, sorting, and recycling the stuff. That’s a lot of time we could be devoting to napping, playing with our kids, reading, or pulling weeds. Anything else, for that matter, besides dealing with junk mail.

Junk mail accounts for 1/3 of all mail sent in the United States. In fact, each household gets over 800 pieces of junk mail per year.

Want to know how many trees that is? 100 million. Every single year. Just for junk mail.

This is equivalent to clear cutting all of Rocky Mountain National Park, every four months.

And the emissions from junk mail creation are terrible. According to DoNotMail.org, junk mail creates more emissions than 9,377,000 passenger cars each year.

And in spite of the major strides we’ve made in recycling, the Huffington Post reports that over 44% of junk mail ends up in landfills, unopened.

Sigh.

Yes, it hurts my heart to think about it. And although I signed up for the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) “Do Not Contact” list, I still get stuff like Val-Pak coupons and flyers from my local furniture store. I recycle every bit it, of but still. Those are trees that don’t have to die.

So, here it is folks. All the resources I could find for stopping your junk mail. ALL OF IT.

1. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA)
I started with the DMA, and to give them credit I did see a pretty dramatic drop in my junk mail, especially when it came to credit card offers. You can customize your mailing preferences through the DMA by heading here.

If you’ve lost a family member and want to get their name off mailing list, you can sign up for Deceased-Do Not Contact through the DMA here.

2. Val-Pak
Yep, Val-Pak is that blue envelope of useless coupons that shows up every month. What a waste! Unless you’re re-asphalting your driveway or thinking about getting cellulite removal surgery, then these coupons are a waste of time and paper.

You can get off the Val-Pak mailing list here.

Yes, you’ll still need to do this even if you sign up with DMA. After I did DMA, I was still getting Val-Pak coupons.

3. Opt-Out Pre-Screen
Opt-Out Pre-Screen stops you from getting “pre-screened” or “pre-approved” credit card offers.
To sign up, click here.

You can also call 888-567-8688 from your home telephone to opt out.

4. Catalogs
If you get catalogs, it’s probably because you bought something. Anything.

Companies are notorious for selling lists, so if you bought a sweater through L.L. Bean then chances are you’ll start getting a J.Crew catalog, an REI catalog, and a Hearth and Home just for good measure.

If you want to stop the flood of catalogs, then send an email to: optout@abacus-us.com

Or write to:
Abacus, Inc.
P.O. Box 1478
Broomfield, Colorado  80038

5. Tacky Store Flyers
I wish I had a picture of the one I got today. It was a “HUGE FURNITURE BLOWOUT!!!!” newspaper type flyer from the local furniture store. I get them almost daily from car dealerships, hairdressers, pizza stores, department stores… blergh.

These are the flyers that are addressed to “Resident”. And they usually come from Red Plum marketing.

Want to stop them?

Click here to get off the Red Plum mailing list. You can also call: 888-241-6760.

6. Publishers Clearinghouse
Ok, I’ve never been solicited by Publishers Clearinghouse, but if you have, you can get off their list by sending an email to: privacychoices@pchmail.com.

7. Other Junk
So, what about those AOL cds and “Happy Birthday” cards from our dentist that we don’t want or need?
We just have to tell them we don’t want it. If, after signing up with all the resources listed above, you’re still getting some junk, then call the company directly. Ask them to take you off their mailing list.

They can hardly be rude; after all, this is saving them money too.

And your dentist? Ask the receptionist to take you off the mailing list except for cleaning reminders. Better yet, ask if they’ll email you.

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Learn to Cook & Do It

If you know me, you know I do not cook. My husband is the chef of the house. Although I do try to pitch in with a crock pot meal or some baking. But I digress. So here's this week Frugal Tip of the Week -- plan out your meals for the week and cook them yourself. We all know how expensive eating out is. Just think how much money you could save each week by eating in instead of eating out.

What's your favorite frugal recipe? (Maybe it will inspire me to cook!)

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Returning Gifts

Whether it's Christmas, Hannukah, a birthday or some other gift-giving occasion. There's always the off chance that the gift you receive isn't exactly what you wanted, doesn't fit right or is the wrong color. I always thought I would insult someone by returning or exchanging a gift, but if it's just going to sit in your drawer or closet, you're wasting money and creating clutter!

Within one week, you should return the item for cash or store credit, or exchange the gift for something you will use.

How many unused gifts do you currently have sitting around the house? Dig them out and post them on Ebay to make some quick cash.

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Plan Ahead

As you may know, I work a full-time job. With an on-site cafeteria and no microwaves or refrigerators, lunch can be very costly. I had written a post about lunch and snack options for But a girl's gotta eat, right? I try to limit myself to eating in the cafeteria on Fridays. That means I have to plan ahead for the other four days of the week.

So that's this week's tip. Plan ahead. No matter what it is, a little planning can be green and frugal. Here are some examples:

• Meal planning for family meals can help you create (and stick to) a shopping list
  
  
• Bring those recycled bags when you go grocery shopping -- save money and be green
  
  
• Planning ahead can help with dieting and exercise -- plan your meals and your exercise sessions and you'll be more likely to stick to the routine

What do you plan ahead for that's helped you be more frugal or green?

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Seal Those Windows & Doors

After a leisurely trip to Home Depot, we ended up coming home with plastic window sealers and an item to prevent door drafts. The window kit includes double-sided tape and sheets of plastic (does it get any easier?)

You put the tape along the outside of the window, let it set for 15 minutes, cut the plastic to fit the window and then use a blow dryer to make the plastic taunt and prevent drafts.

I had my doubts, but it works like a dream! Our windows are really drafty and they're fairly new (installed in 2002). The plastic has eliminated the drafts! I'm excited to see how this change impacts our heating bill.

The best part (besides how easy it is to install) is the kit was $9.95 for 9 sheets. We have small slider windows, so it was enough to do our bedrooms and bathrooms.

Have you used this kit and what has your experience been?

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Reuse Dryer Sheets

I'm pretty neurotic about this one. I'll take the same dryer sheet and reuse it 3-4 times. It gets clothes just as soft and I save around $10 (cost of two additional boxes of dryer sheets).

Once I've beat up that dryer sheet, I'll usually also use it to either dust the top of the washing machine or to clean out the lint trap (gotta keep that thing clean to ensure your dryer is as efficient as possible). Cleaning the lint trap also help prevent fires.

Remember, recycle those dryer sheets!

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Create a Weekly Spending Budget

How often do you get spending money out of the ATM each week? I try to limit myself to once a week (unless something unexpected comes up, like one of the kids has a class trip and I need to use cash). Usually I'll take $40 out and try to get that to last the whole week (Sunday through Saturday). I use this cash mainly for breakfast and lunch. However, if I make or bring breakfast and lunch to work each day, I can basically 'save' that spending money towards something else.

That's my incentive, saving that money that I've budgeted each week for something bigger, like a massage or some new clothes. When I know I'm saving towards something that's a treat, it makes bringing in my own food each day (which can be really inconvenient) less painful.

So that's this week's tip -- save towards something more meaningful and it'll be less painful to save!

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Eliminate Paper

When you think about all of the ways we use paper, you'll soon realize that this is a large part of the waste we produce. From mail to magazines, do what you can to reduce your paper consumption.

Here are some tips:

• Read the newspaper online.

• Stop the junk mail by visiting the Direct Marketing Association
  
  
• Receive your bills online and pay your bills online -- no paper, no envelopes, no stamps
  
  
• Instead of getting a magazine subscription, get your fix at the local library

If you feel that you can't quit your paper fix, please be sure to recycle! Any other paper tips that I may have overlooked?

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Gather Those Coupons

Ever notice that you find coupons virtually everywhere? They're in your mailbox (postal and e-mail), newspapers, magazines and inserts. The key is to try and find a coupon no matter when or where you are spending. Headed to McDonald's? Make sure you have a coupon. A dollar here and 50 cents there quickly adds up. The best way to keep a ton of coupons handy is to buy an Entertainment Book in your car. They have anything from Dunkin' Donuts to local amusement parks. I even found multiple $5 coupons for ShopRite.

What are your favorite coupons? Any that you use on a regular basis?

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Wash & Dry

The laundry is one place to easily save money and energy. When you wash your clothes, use cold water. The agitation and soap are enough to remove tough stains and dirt. Obviously, heavily soiled clothes may need hot water.

Hang dry your clothes instead of using the dryer. Not only do you save energy, but you can also extend the life of your clothes since dryers tend to fade, shrink and wear out clothes more quickly.

Frugal Tip Tuesday -- Collect $5 Bills

Each day, take all of the $5 bills you have and put them in a dedicated piggy bank or other container. This is an easy and painless way to save money each month towards something you want, whether it's a new car, massage or other treat. You won't even miss those $5 bills and it becomes somewhat of a fun game.

How much can you save each month by stashing your $5 bills?

Frugal Tip Tuesday: Making Versus Buying

I saw this great wine cork bulletin board kit (pictured here) that I really liked. The kit was for a bulletin board made out of corks. When I saw the components -- wooden frame backing, glue and some padding (I had to provide the corks) -- I realized that I could easily make this myself without paying $19.99 for a kit.

It got me thinking. What other things could I make myself versus buying that would save me money in the long-run? While you always have to consider the time investment (figure out what your hourly pay is or would be, how much time it would take to make your masterpiece and compare that to the retail price.)

Here are few items that come to mind:

• Food (the less pre-packaged, the less expensive)
  


• Exercise (all you need are sneakers and a place to walk or run)
  


• Gifts
  
  
• Cleaners -- all you need is some vinegar, baking powder and salt
  


• Cards (greeting, birthday, holiday, etc.)
  
  
• Wrapping paper (use comics or take butcher paper and decorate it yourself)
  
  
• Toys (how often do children end up playing with the box the toy came in vs. the toy itself?)
  

With some ingenuity, there are loads of things you can make versus buying. What others did I miss?

Stay-cations Aren't Always Cheaper

A Not-So-Frugal Family Vacation to Hershey Park
The weather was not our friend this past weekend as we packed up the kids and headed to Hershey, PA for a long weekend. We met my brother, his girlfriend and her two kids for what was supposed to be three fun-filled days at Hershey Park. It turned out to be one and half days of rain and one and half days of fun.

Hotel = $298 (includes a $30 credit)
After much research and asking around, I made reservations at the Mainstay Suites, a Comfort Inn property. The main reason was because we needed three beds as well as a efficiency-type room with a kitchen and eating area. It helps to have some extra room for my 2-year-old and 5-year-old to run around.

Plus, the hotel boasted an indoor mini golf course, basketball court, arcade and swimming pool with a giant slide. A hot breakfast was also included each morning.

Curious about the credit? The hotel was fairly new, so there were a few quirks, one of which included our door lock not working properly. We realized this when my son showed us his new trick -- how to open the door without the key. The hotel manager was very apologetic and credited our account. Needless to say, while we weren't thrilled about compromising our security, we were very happy that they were so accommodating.

Food = $200
If I had more foresight and ambition, I would've packed lunch meat, bread and lunch fixings like my brother's girlfriend did. But the vacation sneaked up on me and I was completely unprepared. We packed snacks and drinks for the 3-hour ride. But we stopped at McDonald's for breakfast ($18), at lunch at Red Robin once we arrived at Hershey Park ($42) and then treated for dinner that evening ($38). (My brother treated the following night.) Then there was lunch the second day ($38) and snacks for the ride home ($11).

Park tickets = $270
The most economical way to get tickets for three days was with a 3-day flex pass. We purchased two adult and one junior 3-day flex pass. My daughter was free since she was under 3 years old. (Amen for that!!) Unfortunately, it began to rain one hour into our first day. As we left, we got three vouchers that were good for 30 days. Plus, you could come back to the park after 7:30pm to get a free preview with the purchase of tickets for the next day. Once the rain stopped, we returned to the park and stayed until it closed (11pm).

The second day we hit the water park, went back to the hotel in the late afternoon, ate dinner and then went back for the evening. The third day was severe rain and thunder, making it impossible to even go to the park.

Essentially, we have three 2-day passes to Hershey. We plan to put these on eBay to see if we can recoup some of our ticket costs. Looking back, we should've bought tickets each day, but we really didn't think the weather would be such an issue.

Misc. (e.g., gas, parking, etc.) = $100
Then there were all of the other incidentals that come with a road trip. We filled the tank before we headed out ($30) and when we headed home ($30). Parking was $10 per day ($20), but you could leave and re-enter as many times as you wanted. I bought my son ice cream one night ($5) and we rented a locker when we hit the water park ($15).
TOTAL = $860

Whew! That's pretty steep for a 3-day vacation! We used coupons whenever possible. But for the most part, it was hard to save money on this trip.

Any frugal vacation stories you'd like to share?