Archive for Out of the Box Frugality

Building Your Savings Account

One of the most important ways to be frugal is also one of the most difficult, and that is building your savings account cushion- an emergency fund, yes, but also a fund that makes it possible for you take advantage of unexpected bargains. We recently were given an unexpected opportunity to buy 1/4 or 1/2 [...]

Posted by: DeputyHeadmistress on Friday, May 24th, 2013

Making Money, Saving Money, And Free

Making Money: I shared some links to help you find local blood banks that pay for plasma here and here, along with some other tips on bringing in emergency cash. but now I have some more specific information to share on plasma selling, because my 21 year old made 100 dollars this week selling her [...]

Posted by: DeputyHeadmistress on Friday, June 29th, 2012

Warding off the Heat

Sunny windows are wonderful in the winter when they let in light and change it into warmth. In the summer, they can raise the temperature in a room considerably, making you swelter. If you run the air conditioner, a window with enough direct sunlight can make that air conditioner have to work harder, costing you [...]

Posted by: DeputyHeadmistress on Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Frugal Eats On Road Trips

I tried to count the number of road trips our family has taken, but I really just can’t. I have no idea. And when I talk about road trips, I am talking about trips we have taken of several days duration, sometimes weeks, and, a couple of times, road trips that lasted over a month. [...]

Posted by: DeputyHeadmistress on Friday, May 7th, 2010

Frugal and Creative Christmas (or other) Gifts

For children- the best way to reduce your children’s expectations and cases of the ‘gimmes’ is to turn off the television, or at least the commercials, and take them to the library or the park instead of the mall or toy shop.  If they don’t know what’s out there, they can’t yirn for it (yes, [...]

Posted by: DeputyHeadmistress on Friday, December 4th, 2009

Overload, Chaos, and Organizing My Pantry

I started out to write an altogether more philosophical sort of post, but I couldn’t get it done the way I wanted to in the time frame I gave myself, so I’m working on that for next week. I sort of introduced my topic over on my other blog- you can click through here to [...]

Posted by: DeputyHeadmistress on Friday, December 26th, 2008

Look in Somebody Else’s Flower Box

OK, maybe I lied. Maybe I do have a few frugal ideas left. Kim lets me hang around in case I get inspired. Today I’m inspired… and it happens to be Wednesday so I thought I’d post. I have a purple thumb, but I’m persistent. I have killed two of just about every plant I’ve [...]

Posted by: Janel on Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008

Packing Boxes and Closing Shop

When it comes to frugality, I’ve never been a number cruncher. Budget people with spreadsheets that detail every expenditure to the penny make my head spin. Folks who play the CVS game leave me in awe. I know my talents. Understanding and making ECBs dance are not among them. I’m an idea girl and a Providence seeker. My frugal philosophy has [...]

Posted by: Janel on Wednesday, June 4th, 2008

Out of the Box Uses

You know how Real Simple magazine has all kinds of nifty new uses for old and faithful stuff? As the frugal mavens that I know you all are, I’m curious to know how YOU use old things in new places to save money. Some of my favorite ideas are using orphaned stemware for vases, candle holders and displaying little [...]

Posted by: Janel on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008

Warm Weather Fun

It’s about that time again. School is almost out, summer is just around the corner and your kids are soon to start using the “b” word: bored. Phooey on them. Life can be so much fun if you have the right attitude. With just a little prompting, there are lots of frugally fun things to do. I’ve already [...]

Posted by: Janel on Wednesday, May 7th, 2008

Peeking in the Clothing Box

I’ve been to at least six different places (from Goodwill to Payless to Dexter) looking for summer sandals. Because my tailbone injury won’t tolerate some styles and my feet are shoebox width, I was hoping that shopping early would get me something wearable. Silly me. At present, I’m 0-7 with no sandals on the horizon. (I’m hesitant [...]

Posted by: Janel on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008

I missed that box!

This is bad. It’s noon here in New England and I just realized it’s Wednesday. You’d think preparing for a 7:15am meeting with the speaker for next month’s brunch would have helped me notice the day. uuum, no. I suppose it would have been much worse to crawl in bed at 9pm or so tonight and realize I had forgotten [...]

Posted by: Janel on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008

What Can I Bring? – Out of the Box Hospitality

Now that I’ve identified and overcome my hang ups about entertaining, (check the comments) we’ve been having lots of fun with dinner guests! When we invite folks over, the first thing out of their mouths after they agree to come is, “What can we bring?” I used to answer, “Nothing, just come!” only to be met with [...]

Posted by: Janel on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008

Unboxing Munchkin Education

I didn’t miss the fact that it’s April and everyone is wishing that school was out yesterday. But frugal thinking, like education, knows no seasons. Besides, all on the ball homeschooling moms (and that wouldn’t be me) will be looking for next year’s curriculum in a few weeks and will be able to offer lots of [...]

Posted by: Janel on Wednesday, April 9th, 2008

Unboxing Adult Education

Education is the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life. Call me goofy if you want, but I think education is a frugal thing. I warned you that I think outside the box… What could be [...]

Posted by: Janel on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008