Frugal Simplicity

It’s a sad fact that that the heat of the summer can wreak havor on our power bills. The hot summer sun beating through the windows just heat up the home. The air conditioners work overtime trying to keep the home cool, while the entire time the sun continues to make its way through the windows into the home.

So what is a body to do to help keep the sun out and save money on power bills?

There are several things we can do, like keep the curtains closed and shades drawn shut. But then we are left in the dark and often turn on the lights in the middle of the day, thus still running up the power bill.

Awnings are a solution. While they do cost, the money saved in the long run far outweighs the cost of buying awnings. Installing awnings over windows allows the light to shine in but shades the windows, allowing the light in but keeping the hot sun out.

Awnings are great for decks and patios. Having an awning over the patio or deck makes for a wonderful shaded area, much cooler, and very nice for being outside, grilling, working on flowers, etc. And they are so roomy that an awning is a good and safe place for the kids to play in the summer, under the awning and in the shade. When it’s raining, it allows for a cool place to sit out and watch the rain.

Having a retractable awning for the deck or patio area is a cool choice because you can have it rolled away when you want to.

In short, awnings are just a wonderful thing for a home to have! You can also get some free information about the wonders of awnings. These guys will send a free information kit and even a video about their retractable awnings.

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Do you want to save money? There are lots of ways to cut costs, to make your money go further. I will present a few ideas here, most of which I have tried myself, and some of which I still practice.

Why buy storage containers? Those fake butter containers work just as well! Buy a container of the fake butter, use it and wash the bowl. There’s your first container! Keep buying the fake butter, washing those containers, and before long, you’ve got yourself a collection!

Want to save on buying drinking glasses? There are two ways to save on these. You can buy the cheap plastic ones. Or if you buy items in a glass jar, jelly for example, save the jar! Wash it, and there’s a drinking glass. Buy a few of the same items up, and you’ve got a set! Much less than buying drinking glasses, and they work just as well.

How many times have you went to wash your hands or bathe, only to find pieces of small or broken soap? That can drive you nuts! Simple solution! Take one of those fake butter bowls you’ve saved, and each time the soap gets that small, put it in the bowl. After a while, the soap pieces add up. You can get the bowl of soap pieces, add a small amount of water to it, and shape it into a new bar!

Are you tired of constantly buying emery boards to do your nails? Those things never last long. Make your own super duper boards for a fraction of the cost! Buy a package of sand paper. Go to a paint store and ask for some paint stirrers. You can usually get these free in most paint departments. Take a sharp kitchen knife if you have no saw, and cut the paint stirrers into small pieces. Then cut the sand paper into small pieces and glue the sand paper onto the paint stirrer pieces that you just cut up. There you are! A TON of emery boards! You have saved a lot of money, and made yourself something at the same time!

Another excellent way to save money is the brand of food you buy. A few years ago, while working for a company, I made a shocking discovery! I learned that most name brand companies put out the exact same item in a store brand and also off brand names! We all know that most store brand and off brand items sell for less. So I decided to start buying and trying the no name items rather than name brand stuff. I found that most, but not all, of the food items were the same thing I’d been buying under a well known name. I started saving TONS off of my grocery bill just by buying the store brand or off brand rather than a name brand! Add sales and coupons and there is no end to the amount you can save. It can actually trim HUNDRED�S off of your food bill every month!

Do you throw out your old junk mail? STOP! Look on the back of that mail. Is there anything on it? If not, cut it up into small pieces to write notes on! Why buy paper to scribble on and such, just to throw away? Use that junk mail and save money!

Do you need to decorate your walls with something? Take a look at your calendar, the months that have passed. Are there pictures on your calendar? Cut or tear those old months off, take the picture and find where you want it. Get some tape and place it nicely on your wall. Once the entire twelve months are up, you’ve got yourself a nicely decorated wall. And the best part is that you can get calendars free!

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Okay, so you want to get out of the house for the day. Why not have some fun, get things you can use, and save money all at once? Find some yard sales and get happy!

Yard sales are a great way to find all sorts of items. From junk to treasure, you’ll find it when you shop yard sales. You’ll have fun digging through all sorts of things, and be happy and at peace with your pocketbook, because you won’t go home broke.

You might be surprised at just what you can find shopping the everyday yard sale. It has been reported that the innocent shopper has bought, for well under $20, antiques worth thousands! Most of the reported finds were sold so cheap because the owner had no idea what they had or what it was worth.

If your looking for baby items, why pay hundreds of dollars for items that will be used for less than a year or two tops? You can find good used baby beds, strollers, walkers, swings, car seats, carriers, and more at yard sales. You can probably buy all of the needed items used, for the price of the baby bed if bought new. Baby clothes that the baby will outgrow in just months or even weeks can be bought at yard sales.

Do you like crafts? Find more stuff and spend less at the yard sales! Buy old clothes cheap and cut into patterns and shapes to make quilts! You can also use old clothes found at the sales to cut into ribbons and bows to decorate crafts with. Find old candles to melt down and make your own new candle! The ideas are endless. If you collect certain items, shop that yard sale to add to your collection! Again, some owners have no idea what they have and you might find an excellent deal, and make a lovely addition to your collection, for a fraction of the cost.

Did your lawnmower die? Don’t fret over it, look for a used one at the yard sale. Why spend tons of money on a new mower when a used one knows how to cut the grass just as well. So it dies next summer, too. That $10 or $20 on a used one is better than $100 or more on one that won’t last much longer! Are you looking to help someone get started out in a home with homemaking supplies and such? You can find pots and pans, curtains, sheets and blankets, and even furniture at yard sales! Nearly everything, if not all, of what a person or family needs to live, can be found cheap at yard sales. Shop until you find good stuff! There are so many people that have yard sales, that it won’t be a problem to find things in good condition. Some things might even be brand new!

The day is over, and you go home. You’ve had a nice day out, you’ve brought home some useful or wanted items, and best of all you can look in the mirror and smile. You’re happy and at peace with your inner self because you didn’t spend your life savings!

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How many times have you went out for an evening with your family, only to feel terrible at the amount of money it cost? The average family might spend $100 or more on a night out, just for a movie, to eat, and the gas to get there and back.

There is another way. You are not alone in wanting to have fun, yet not be broke before the week is up.

I want to let you in on a secret…..having fun does not have to cost a lot of money, if any money. You and your whole family can have fun, and you can go home and actually sleep at night, being comfortable knowing you did not spend you life savings in one night at the movies and the local diner!

You can treat yourself and your family to a host of entertaining events for under $20. You can find less expensive ways to do things and save money, too.

To make it a frugal trip when you go somewhere, take your own drinks and snacks in a cooler of ice. Leave the credit cards extra money at home, and you won’t be tempted to use them on your frugal day out.

Do you like to fish? Grab that cooler and go to the lake! A container of fresh worms won’t run into that $20, and you get some nice healthy fresh air in the process. Plus if you are a good fisher, you have supper for free! While fishing, you can also go for a nice free swim and cool yourself from all that fun fishing.

Take your kids to the city park! There’s loads of entertainment and more fresh air. Pack up that cooler again and make it a picnic for the day. If you went fishing, there’s a place to grill those fish for a yummy meal! Again, you won’t go over that $20.

If you like to read, take a trip to the local library and read to your hearts content. You still have the $20, though you might not want to take the cooler of snacks and drinks here! Start a reading circle and share books with friends and family.

If you want to see a movie that is playing at the theater, but don’t want to pay that ridiculous price, wait until the movie comes out on video or DVD and rent it! You will save lots of dollars this way and still get to view the movie! For those that just have to see the movie now rather than wait, check for special price showings and you can still save some.

Yard sales and thrift stores are wonderful ways to have fun and save money at the same time. Some people really enjoy browsing these sales. You never know what you will find. People have actually found very expensive items for pennies, because the owner did not know the value of the items they were selling!

Museums and zoos are also great places to visit with the children, and very educational. You generally have to pay a small price to get into these. If you pack your own drinks and snacks, you can still have a frugal day. I do not recommend taking the fish you caught at the lake here!

If you live near the ocean, take a trip to the beach! Pack up that sun screen to be safe, and plenty of drinks and food. Don’t forget that you do have to come back home!

If you want to walk for exercise but are not into the heat, check out your local mall! A lot of people today walk the malls just for exercise. Beware of the food court though, because you might find it difficult to walk and be carrying that cooler of drinks and snacks! Yes, this is one place that you will be spending that $20 most likely, but you can eat comfy knowing you did not expend all of your energy walking outside in the heat.

I am sure you have noticed by now that the common factor is the cooler of drinks and snacks. Just not buying drinks and a meal for you or your family on a day out can save a lot of money. The money saved here will add up and can be used for something else you want to do.

There are many other ways to have fun on a shoestring. There are countless other events that can be done without costing you tons of money to do.

If you put the money you have saved by being frugal into a jar, you will begin to see some serious savings soon. Give yourself a month of saving this way, and see the difference it will make. Then take the money you have saved, and go treat everyone to some ice cream….homemade of course (it’s more frugal)!

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1 can of fruit (your choice of fruit)
1 can of frozen lemonade (or fruit punch)

Puree or mash the fruit in a bowel, using the juice too. Mix the lemonade (or other fruit juice choice) with two cans of water instead of the usual three that the can call for. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, then pour into popsicle molds. Freeze.

Popsicle molds can be found at your local Walmart or Dollar Store.

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