Thrifty Thursday: A Final Word

With August over and the unofficial days of summer wrapping up on Labor Day, I thought I would  type out a few lines to share some final thoughts on the thrifty lifestyle.  It is always wise to remember that what works for one person, may not work for another.  What a mom of two is able to do to save money may not be what the mom of six is able to do.  What the mom with grown children does to save money may not be practical for the mom whose house is full of littles.  I think it is so important to remember our own current season of life.  I am speaking to myself, too.  It is so easy to compare myself to another and wonder  how she has time to coupon when I can barely get to the store to pick up a gallon of milk! 

Seasons can be short seasons, too.  While normally I do not buy paper plates or plastic cups, we realized after Benjamin was born what a blessing it was to eat dinner and throw away the mess without worrying about dishes for a few weeks.  It certainly cost more money, but it saved a lot of stress and created a more peaceful time of adjustment for our family. 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea on any topic, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!  

Feel free to add the Thrifty Thursday button to your post or blog by copying and pasting the html code (found under the Thrifty Thursday button in my sidebar).

Summer is winding down.  After a summer of 100+ degree days, I am relishing in the milder temperatures this week.  When the children ask to go out a play, I can enthusiastically agree without worrying about keeping them cool.  They still come in with red faces and black feet, but at least I don't fear heat stroke. During these long summer months, though, when drinking cups were being filled hourly, what did we do to keep hydrated inexpensively?  Serve mostly water.  At breakfast, I offer juice (actually a mixture of 3/4 juice, 1/4 water) or milk.  Otherwise, we drink water all day long, even with dinner.  It is a policy we've had since Gavin was a baby so no one complains.  It is just a way of life.  (I am sure to give the children their calcium and fruit requirement through their diets so no one suffers nutritionally.)  The kids get an occasional treat of chocolate milk or lemonade (maybe once a week) and Brian drinks a can of soda in the evening, but otherwise, water it is!

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series.  If you have an money-saving idea on any topic, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else! 

Feel free to add the Thrifty Thursday button to your post or blog by copying and pasting the html code (found under the Thrifty Thursday button in my sidebar).

Continuing to dwell on the topic of learning, this week's tip is teach various ages from the same material.  Instead of teaching three different topics in history, incorporate everyone into the same topic.  Find books that interest all or read the difficult books to the older ones while the younger ones color a related picture.  Or have the older ones read an easier book to the younger ones.  Same goes for Bible and science and art and music.  There is no reason to spend money on multiple grade levels.  Math and English are a little trickier, but just having a younger child in the same room during an older child's lessons can be money-saving.  Having listened to me teach math to Gavin and Maddie, we will not need to purchase kindergarten math for Owen because he has already learned the concepts! 

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea on any topic, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else! 

Feel free to add the Thrifty Thursday button to your post or blog by copying and pasting the html code (found under the Thrifty Thursday button in my sidebar).

My tip for this week is also inspired by our return to formal schooling for the year:  Fully utilize your library.  Though we practice this tip year-round, I am especially reminded of it during the school year.  We use the library to find books for history reading, books for read-aloud time, books for early readers to phone their skills, CDs for music/composition study, and books of paintings for artist study.  We use the library to preview books before we buy.  (Before I committed to using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons for Maddie, I first checked it out from the library.)   We read magazines from the library.  We borrow movies from the library.  As long as we remember to return our materials on time, the library is a totally free source of much of our entertainment and many of our school needs!

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea on any topic, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!  

Feel free to add the Thrifty Thursday button to your post or blog by copying and pasting the html code (found under the Thrifty Thursday button in my sidebar).

The school year begins at our house on Monday.  The books have been purchased or borrowed and the supplies gathered.  Some of us are looking forward to the day more than others, but anticipation fills the air nonetheless.  With learning on my mind, this week's tip is teach children with real-life resources.  This is especially true in the younger years.   Instead of spending major dollars on an expensive preschool curriculum or even workbooks, use the resources found around you:  books, a wall calendar, the clock, maps...

We have been amazed at what Owen (almost 4) has learned by putting a calendar at his eye level.  It hangs near his seat at the table and he begins each morning by pointing out the day on the calendar and often counts how many days until an anticipated event.  (He does this on his own.  It is not required of him.)  The maps work the same way.  A United States map and a world map are pinned to the wall on the children's eye level near the table.  We have many, many opportunities each week to point out locations and often attach something to the map to help remember.   A few weeks ago when Gavin was eating a Hershey Kiss, we talked about the Hershey Chocolate Factory in Pennsylvania and he ended up taping the paper ribbon to the map over the city of Hershey.   Free learning can be a lot of fun! 

Thrifty Thursday: Recipe Week

Notice the new Thrifty Thursday button this week?  A big thank you goes to my friend Allyson who donated her precious time to design it for me.  Feel free to add it to your post or blog by copying and pasting the html code (found under the Thrifty Thursday button in my sidebar). 

As a mentioned last week, this week is an opportunity to share thrifty recipes.  Bananas are a hot commodity in our house.  We like them slightly green but since they only stay that way a short time, when a bunch is on the counter, you've got to be quick to get one!  It usually works so that every banana is eaten except one and then there is a battle over who gets to partake.  Or occasionally, a lone banana passes its peak and no one wants it anymore.  One banana is not enough to make banana bread or banana muffins so I came up with an idea so that everyone gets to share in the goodness of that last banana. 

Banana Drinks

Slice one banana and place the chunks in the freezer for 3-4 hours or overnight.  (It works without freezing, too.  The drinks are just less icy.) 

Place frozen bananas in the blender.  Pour milk over the bananas until contents of the blender reach the 2 cup mark.  Sprinkle 1/8 cup sugar over milk.  (Or as an alternative, leave out the sugar and drizzle 1 tablespoon of chocolate syrup over milk.)  Add one tray of ice cubes (approx. 16 cubes or 2 cups) to the blender.  Blend on high until smooth and the ice no longer rattles against the sides.  Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Don't forget...

Get your recipes together to share for Thrifty Thursday's Recipe Week-- this Thursday, July 29!

(I should have the link up by 10 o'clock Wednesday night. And starting this week, you can use the Thrifty Thursday button, designed by Allyson and found in my sidebar!) 

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else! 

(Next week is thrifty recipe week.  Do you have a recipe that is cheap to prepare or that is thrifty in that it uses up leftovers from the fridge?  Be ready to share next Thursday!)

I have a photo frame in my living room where I keep current photos of my children.  I also have a frame in my upstairs hallway where I keep a photo of the four of them together.  I long ago ran out of incentive to spend the time and money taking the kids to a portrait studio to get great framable shots.  My tip for this week is to be your own "professional" photographer.

When I am in need of a new set of shots or when I realize it has been too long since I've captured a non-candid moment, we head outside for a photo shoot.  I've taken inside formal photos inside, too, but found that the outdoors offers better lighting and more interesting backgrounds.  Not only does this plan save money, but it also saves time and frustration since a couple of my kids are too shy to smile for strangers! 

Occasionally, we desire a family shot.  Then we just trade services with another photographer.  Our go-to person is my sister whom the kids love enough to smile for! 

And those fun Christmas cards you can have printed with your family picture?  A few years ago, I designed my own and had it printed at Walmart.  Instead of paying the fancy card price, I had it printed through their photo department just like any other 4x6 print at the 4x6 price! 

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!

I am always amazed at the published statistics that show how much money it takes to raise a child from birth to adulthood.  Actually, I'm more unbelieving than anything because I know there are so many ways to save money that these figures are not taking into account.  One major way to save money is to feed your baby real food.  Notice I didn't say make your own babyfood.   Being thrifty also means being thrifty with my time and I've found that the process of cooking and pureeing and freezing and thawing special meals for the baby are not the best use of my time.  Instead, we wait to introduce solids until the baby is sitting up alone, unassisted.  He also has to be interested in food, not simply interested in putting things in his mouth.  (Our children have reached this stage anywhere between seven and eleven months.)  Once we realize Baby is ready, we give  him food straight from the table.  With Benjamin we took it a step further and offered him food exactly as we were eating it, spices and seasonings included.  We found that this eliminated the sometimes difficult transition from bland mushed meals to the regularly flavored meals the rest of us eat.  As a result, not only did we save loads of money from not buying baby cereal or baby food, we also had the benefit of a child who was willing to try and like an array of foods, from onions to lettuce to blueberries to chicken!  Saves money, saves time, saves sanity!

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!

In my family, we celebrate a lot of summer birthdays.  And being the type of person that I am (obsessive compulsive, over-organized, etc.), I begin thinking of Christmas gift-giving months before the actual holiday.  I love choosing gifts, but all  this buying and giving can put a strain on the pocketbook so this week's frugal tip is: Be creative with gift-giving. 

I like to sew in the evening after the kids are in bed so I've often used those hours in crafting gifts.  I've appliqued many, many baby onesies to give at baby showers.  I've embroidered T-shirts for older children, too.  For Brian's birthday last year, I had Gavin draw a picture of his daddy and them I embroiderd the artwork onto a piece of fabric and made it into a bookmark that will be a forever heirloom. 

You don't have to be crafty to be creative either.  In the spring, I picked up a dainty ramekin at Target and filled it with a bit of potting soil and a sprig of mint from my backyard.  It held such a cheerful place on my kitchen windowsill while we waited for it to grow that Maddie and I hated to see it go when the time came to give it away! 

In our own house, we've discovered a delightful money-saving idea for Christmas morning.  Once a baby or toddler outgrows a toys, we squirrel it away in the spare bedroom.  As the child gets older, we allow them to give the toy to a sibling.  Gavin had a special affection for his corn popper toy when he first learned to walk so last Christmas when Benjamin was the same age, we let Gavin give the toy to his little brother.  Both boys were delighted and the toys now has special meaning to two little people! 

You don't have to stop with the actual gift either.  Be creative with the wrapping and the cards.  For Father's Day, my children wrapped their gifts for Brian in brown bags that they had colored and decorated themselves.  And all the beautiful paper and stamps and stickers that I collected when I still had time for scrapbooking?  Instead I use them to make easy cards and gift tags. 

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!

The muggy days of summer are upon us and though the children love to soak up the rays, I'm cautious about letting them stay in the sun too long in the heat of the day.  Therefore, many summer afternoons are spent sucking on popsicles and playing quietly in the house while Benjamin naps.  How do the children stay occupied day after day during the summer?  My frugal tip for this week is: Limit yourself to simple toys.  Blocks and balls are not only for babies.  Children can imagine up amazing activies with a few simple items.  On a recent afternoon, I left the three older children with instructions to play with the blocks while I settled Benjamin in for his nap.  When I returned, they had built a fantasy city that kept them occupied for the rest of the afternoon.  (And by 3:30, they were ready to toss the blocks back into the basket and line the books back on the shelf in favor of a few laps around the sidewalk on their bicycles!) 

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!

Are you always as surprised by the increase in stamp prices as I am?  It seems as though in recent years, the price increases just as I am getting used to the old rate!  My solution: buy Forever Stamps in bulk.  Each year at income tax time, we buy a large quantity of Forever Stamps and keep them with our mailing supplies.  If the postal rates goes up during the year, it doesn't effect us because we already have our supply of stamps purchased at the old, cheaper price.  While this usually amounts to only 1 cent per stamp, over the course of the year the pennies add up, not to mention that it helps us use our time frugally since we are not running out to the post office each time we mail a birthday card or a bill.  I will admit, though, as much as I hate to spend money unnecessarily, I bend my policy at Christmas and buy Christmas stamps no matter how many booklets of Forever Stamps are stacked in the house.  I am a sucker for pretty mail in December! 

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!

This week's tip is a lot of fun!  Save your coins.  Because we pay for everything with cash, we have a lot of spare change and it is our general habit to empty our pockets and wallets when we get home.  We've chosen to keep pennies, nickels, and dimes in a box in our bedroom.  When we have accumulated quite a pile (usually $15-20), we roll the coins and cash it in for dollar bills.  Most of the time, we use the money for something fun like going out for icecream or a yardsaling outing.  When we rolled the coins a few weeks ago, we tucked our savings into the summer movie envelope.  We've chosen to keep our quarters in a large separate container and let them pile up much longer.  It is amazing how much money can accumulate!  Several years ago, we saved enough to pay for our hotel room on an overnight family trip.  Another year, we took a day trip to a local resort town with our savings.  Saving coins is a super easy way to fund little extras that otherwise may not be possible!

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!

My tip for this week is pay with cash.  It really helps control spending when you see the dollars leave your hands!  We do not have a credit card and we reserve our debit card for our twice-monthly grocery trips, the occasional online purchase, and emergencies.  All other expenditures are paid for with cash.  We have a weekly spending allotment and we keep cash envelopes for regular expenses such as gas.  We have a Christmas envelope that we add to throughout the year that is dipped into only for Christmas purchases, and we have are currently slipping extra dollars into another envelope in an effort to save money for a family trip to the movies this summer.  This system involves a high amount of self-control, but it also saves quite a few impulsive bucks! 

Thrifty Thursday

It is possible to be thrifty without feeling deprived and I'm sharing ideas in this summer series. If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post. The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!

My tip for today is invest in a set of hair clippers!  We bought a set about five years ago for less than $20 that included the clippers, 8-10 different size guide combs, and scissors.  While I have no training in cutting hair, cutting little boy hair with clippers is a breeze.  With the guide combs attached, you can't make a mistake!  I use a 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch guide on most of the hair and use a 1-inch guide on the top.  Trim around the ears carefully with the scissors and I'm done.  I figured that within two home haircuts, I had recouped the money spent on the clippers.  And using the scissors, I've always cut Maddie's hair, too, until recently when she wanted a Kit haircut and I had to admit that style was beyond my limited skill!  (Confession: I've even cut my own hair several times, though that was taking a risk.) 

Thrifty Thursday

This is the first of my summer series on being thrifty without feeling deprived.  If you have an money-saving idea, consider sharing it on your blog and leaving your link at the bottom of this post.  The only rule? Share what you know. If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it. The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic. It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else!


My first tip is quite simple: When cooking, cut back on meat.  Many thrifty people and websites will suggest serving meatless meals to reduce costs.  While I do serve a few main dishes without meat (homemade macaroni and cheese, simple bean tacos...), we really enjoy meat and don't like to have many dinners without meat on the table.  My solution is to simply cut the measurements in half.  If a recipe calls for a pound of meat, I use half a pound instead.  Most casseroles are full of other fillers-- beans, veggies, pasta-- so no one notices the reduction.  At least no one in my family does! 

A Weekly Venture

Apparently, we are not the average family.  When the new babe arrives, we will be a family of seven...living on one relatively low income.  We pinch pennies and we save and scrimp and go without sometimes, and yet no one (especially not the children) feels deprived.  Whether frugality comes naturally to me or whether I've learned to live that way out of neccessity, I'm not sure, but I realized recently that I have frugal ideas to share...and you probably do, too! 

So...starting next Thursday, I'm going to begin Thrify Thursday where each week during the summer, I'll give one of my frugal tips.   And if there is enough interest, I'll add a place for you to link up to your frugal tips each week, too.  The only rule?  Share what you know.  If I've never personally tried an idea, I won't write about it.  The same goes for you, but don't assume an idea is too simplistic.  It could be new to someone or it could re-inspire someone else! 

If anyone has experience making blog buttons and would like to design one for this weekly feature, contact me.  You'll be sure to get credit for your creativity on my blog!