Archive for Archive for January, 2010
Reader hack: fluorescent bulbs
Kimberly at Frugal Playground says: Do your fluorescent bulbs actually last like they claim? Ours haven’t. We’ve used fluorescent bulbs since we’ve been married (6 years in January!) and in two different residences. We started writing the date with a sharpie on each bulb and saving the receipts with packaging. The box claimed they’d last [...]
Frugal Dates
I really, really, really am frustrated with the fairly modern and very western middle class idea that a married couple MUST have regular date nights in order to keep the marriage healthy and happy. NO, you don’t. What is necessary is time together. My own parents accomplished this by getting up about half an hour [...]
New additions to the Frugal Blogroll
New on the Frugal Blogroll since last time: Puget Sound Prudence “Deal”icious Mom Making My Own Luck Frugal Upstate (an old-time member and occasional contributor, mysteriously lost from the list) Coupon Queeny – One Coupon at a time! A Frugal Housewife In-Training La Vida Cheapo Living Richly on a Budget Frugal in Houston Lovin’ Free [...]
In Praise Of Frugal Friends
Like minded friends can be your best tightwad treasure. Who else will call you when she sees organic eggs slashed to fifty cents a dozen? (True story!) Who knows that your daughter is having an American Girl birthday, and picks up a trunk full of extra clothes at a yard sale down the street? I [...]
Frugal Disaster Prep
We all know that we are supposed to have some sort of disaster preparedness kit or plan in place, and that’s a very smart thing to do. However, you must realize that there is no way to be prepared enough for a disaster like Katrina, which was an unprecedented event in this country’s history, or [...]
New free script from Frugal Hacks: frugal quotes
Check out the frugal quote generator in the sidebar. You like? Grab it for your blog to display a new frugal quote every time you or a reader clicks the button! The code is in the sidebar or get it right here: Frugal Quotes: <script src=”http://frugalhacks.com/quotes.js” language=”javascript” type=”text/javascript”> </script> <DIV id=”ponder”> <script type=”text/javascript”> GetStatement(0) </script> [...]
Quick! I need frugal/money related quotes
I’m working on a fun little bit of script inspired by this post on Gather Little By Little. It will be free to grab from the Frugal Hacks sidebar when I’m finished. Want to help? Leave a great quote about thrift, frugality, money, etc. in the comments. Extra points if it’s funny and true. If [...]
New additions to the Frugal Blogroll
So far, so good. I’m keeping up on new members of the Frugal Blogroll. New since Friday: http://dealwisemommy.blogspot.com http://confessionsofanover-workedmom.blogspot.com/ http://www.halloffamemoms.com http://learningthefrugallife.blogspot.com/ http://frugalapolis.com http://www.javagabble.com http://moneysavvymama.blogspot.com/ http://snoodledoodles.blogspot.com/ http://moosaidthemama.blogspot.com/ http://findingfavorwithgod.blogspot.com http://www.alaskacoupondiva.com http://www.moderatemeans.blogspot.com http://www.syncxpress.com/ http://www.cedarcitymom.blogspot.com/ http://moneysavingsecretsblog.com/ http://frugalplayground.com/ Did you find any new treasures to add to your daily reading? Let us know!
Joining the Frugal Blogroll: a fresh start
OK, people. Here’s the thing. I’m expecting my 10th child and I’m waaaay behind on adding new blogs to the Frugal Blogroll. Some of you asked to be added months ago. You put the badge in your sidebar where it belongs, and you waited patiently. Then your patience finally ran out. You got tired of [...]
For Such a Time As This
Why do we seek frugality? Why should we? Do the two questions have the same answer? Do we just want to pay off our debts, get out of a hole, and then… what? Buy nice things? Get cool stuff? There’s not necessarily anything inherently wicked and unrighteous in having nice things. But if that is [...]
Cloth diaper questions from the mailbag
I received this question from Shannon, Hi KimC, I’ve scrolled through some of your older posts about cloth diapering. We are expecting our first baby at the end of January and I know I want to do cloth now. The thing is though, looking online there are too many options! Brands, prefold, inserts, all-in-one, and [...]
Budget Ruts: 5 Not-So-Radical Cuts
I grabbed a notepad after reading Kim’s 10 ways to cut your food bill (inspired by Simple Dollar’s article on trimming the average food budget.) What figural fat could I cross from the grocery list? And then I put the pencil down. At this point, I’m already buying whole foods, avoiding convenience products, and shopping via the [...]
Bookmark this resource: The Best Time to Buy Almost Everything
The Best Time to Buy Almost Everything gives the best time of year to make almost any purchase, major or minor. Categories include House & Home, Auto, Food, Electronics, Travel, and more. Did you know new mattresses arrive in stores in May; Furniture in January and July; vacuum cleaners in June; appliances in September and [...]
10 ways to cut your grocery bill
Inspired by The Simple Dollar’s article on Trimming the Average Budget: Food at Home, I put together my own list of 10 ways we keep our bill at roughly half the national average. 1. Cook from scratch – consistently. Convenience foods may be tempting and some may even seem affordable, but the habit of cooking [...]
Lessons Learned From Thrift Shopping
“I just don’t have time…” is a response I heard frequently when people would ask me how I could afford to dress a family on an enlisted man’s salary with five (and then six, and then seven) children. I do realize that each family’s circumstances are different, and some people genuinely do not have time [...]
