by Kandi Traxel

As the world aspires to become more “green”, my own household has jumped on the bandwagon. We recycle newspapers, shredded paper, plastic bottles and jugs, etc. Everything we can recycle we do recycle.

Many of the items that are used in our homes every day can be recycled. Paper, certain plastics, soda cans; the list goes on and on. But by the same token, many of those same items can be reused instead.

Here are just a few items that you use in your life everyday and the ways they can be reused:

Water Bottles
If your family likes bottled water, but you don’t like the cost, or you would like to find a way to keep those bottles out of the landfills (without overworking the recycling centers), then invest in a charcoal water filter for your kitchen faucet. While the filters will have to be replaced about every three months on average, you can still save money by installing it and refilling all those bottles. You can also refill soda bottles, sports drink bottles, even milk jugs with the filtered water.

Butter, Margarine & Whipped Topping Tubs
There are more uses for plastic butter and margarine containers than I could even begin to list! First of all they make great food storage! If you prefer to use your matching Tupperware for that, there are still a ton of reasons to keep these containers handy.

One of the best ways to reuse these containers is for mixing. I use them for cake & muffin mixes, pancake mixes and even pudding. Just pour in your measured ingredients, put the lid on and give it a good shake. Pop the lid off and pour! You can even give them a bit of a squeeze forming a “spout” to make your mix pour out smoothly! This makes cooking & baking super easy and it’s a great way to reuse the containers over and over again.

I also like to use the 3-pound sized tubs for coatings! Make super easy chicken nuggets! Mix up your favorite coating recipe, drop in your chicken chunks and shake, shake, shake! You can do this with any type of coating!

The small, one-pound tubs are perfect for mixing paint, for holding homemade play dough, for sorting beads, and many, many, many other uses! You are limited only by your imagination on what you can do with these handy little containers!

Plastic and Glass Jars
Many companies are now using plastic rather than glass jars. I reuse plastic peanut butter jars to store my homemade sauces and salad dressings. Some brands of spaghetti sauce use very nice decorative glass jars that are perfect for refilling with gift mixes! You can find gift mix recipes with a quick internet search. Top the jars off with a piece of fabric, cut with decorative shears, or use a lace doily and thread a delicate ribbon through it. Tie it on the jar lid and you are all set with a beautiful hand made gift!

My husband likes to reuse jars in the garage for nuts, bolts, stray nails and more! He fastens the lids of the jars to the underside of wooden shelves, fills the jars with the tiny items and then screws the jar up into the lid. They hang there, freeing up shelf space and since they are clear, it is easy to see what they contain!

Baby Wipe Containers
You can buy refill packs for just about every brand of baby wipes. Save the containers and refill them. If you find you still have too many of these handy plastic containers, use them for just about any small item you can think of. They are washable and stackable, and they are perfect for crayons, colored pencils, markers, hair clips, sponge curlers, cotton balls, cotton swabs; the list goes on and on! Use them in the bathroom, the nursery, the garage or even the home office!

Plastic Grocery Store Bags
There are many, many great ways to reuse the plastic bags you get at the grocery store!

I have little trash cans all over the house. I like to have one in each room so that when I am in that room and need to toss something out, I don’t have to go into another room to do it. With all those little garbage cans around, I need small liners. Instead of spending the money on new liners, I reuse my plastic grocery bags. They are a perfect fit!

We also save them up and use them when we hold garage sales. They are perfect to hold your customer’s purchases, or to wrap breakable items.

These bags make great packing for shipping too! Whether it is for business or you are shipping gifts, they will cushion your items and get them there safely! And unlike newspapers, you don’t have to worry about ink rubbing off and staining your packed items!

Canvas Totes
If you find you have a surplus of the grocery store “can liners”, invest in a few basic canvas tote bags. You can pick these up at craft stores, in a myriad of sizes for very little. Use them when you shop for groceries, books, office supplies (or just about anything else) and ask the check out clerk to bag the items in your totes. Give them as gifts and encourage others to do the same thing!

Plastic Meat Trays
Plastic meat trays come in just about any size, from packaging for a single steak, to a large family pack of ground beef. I have reused plastic meat trays to sort all types of things! Outgoing mail, small toys, art supplies; the list goes on and on. And they fit great on shelves! Just wash them out and they are ready to go! The small ones are perfect for organizing the home office!

Foaming Hand Soap Bottles
Why buy a new bottle of foaming hand soap every time you run out? Those can be refilled with just about any type of soap, body wash or bath gel! For an 8 oz foaming hand soap bottle, refill with 2 oz (1/4 cup) of liquid soap, and 6 oz of water. This will save you a ton of money on buying a new bottle each time, and will help keep them out of the landfills!

Magazines
While magazines are a recyclable product, they also make it a lot less boring when sitting in the doctor’s or dentist’s office! Call around and ask the local clinics if they would be willing to take them off of your hands. You can also try nursing homes. And don’t forget all those Highlights for Children or National Geographic for Kids! If they aren’t badly beat up or written in, your local children’s shelter would probably love to have extra reading material for the kids in their care!

Make an artistic statement!
Art teachers at your child’s elementary school are always looking for donated things like cardboard paper towel and toilet paper rolls, juice containers, milk and egg cartons, colored paper, and much, much more! Call your child’s school and ask what types of things you can save to donate to the art program!

There are so many things that we can reuse in our homes if we just take the time to think about it and get creative! So the next time you get ready to toss something in the trash, instead ask yourself how you might reuse it! You never know what innovative ideas you can come up with!

Now if we could just find a good use for dryer lint!

Kandi Traxel is a WAHM and the owner of Shop With a Mom http://www.shopwithamom.com and A Love of Coffee http://www.aloveofcoffee.com

Article Source: WAHM Articles

by Dr. Daisy Sutherland

Conserving water is something we must all do, especially during the summer months. If you live in the Southern States, you are more than likely still experiencing droughts and conserving water is a must. Below you will find some helpful hints that will help you conserve water this summer and can apply throughout the year.

1. Run the dishwasher and washing machines when you have full loads.
2. When in the shower, place a bucket to catch extra water that can be used to water your plants.
3. Plant native plants to avoid wasting water on irrigation or a better option would be to xeriscape which would require less water.
4. Do not use running water to defrost or thaw your meats or frozen foods. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight.
5. Reduce your use of kitchen sink disposals which require a lot of water to function; obtain a composter to dispose of food waste.
6. Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth or shaving.
7. Check leaky faucets, pipes and irrigation systems and have them repaired as soon as possible.
8. Hot water on demand saves water and energy.
9. Make sure to know the watering rules and conservation guidelines required by your state.
10. Start conserving water today, because every drop counts.

Apply these easy tips to your daily routine and you will be doing your part in conserving water.

This article was written by Dr. Daisy Sutherland, a Chiropractor by profession, and home-school mom to 5 children. Dr. Sutherland writes many articles on health and nutrition. Dr. Sutherland’s first love is education and is able to share her knowledge and experiences through articles as shown. View more of her articles here: www.healthynutritionhints.com

Article Source: WAHM Articles

by Amy Whittingham

As the summer rolls around, those that have well insulated homes are feeling the chill even when it is hot outside. Insulation keeps your home cooler without overworking your air conditioner; hence, saving you money on your energy costs every month. Cooling and Heating bills account for over half of your energy costs every year. Instead of walking around in the dark or washing your clothes and dishes once a week-why not just make sure that your home is well insulated?

Also, this material works as great soundproofing. Wherever the framing in a house is open, such as in the attic or under floors, insulation can be added. Also, there is no need to hire a contractor, since most people can install their own insulation.

Summertime heat can be brutal–especially if you do not have adequate insulation in your house. Heat in the attic can leak through the ceiling and spread throughout your house. Depending upon where you live, most cities require (by law) insulation with an R-value of 30 to R-49. Insulation can be improved greatly by adding batts made of fiberglass over whatever insulation you currently have in the attic. Another option is to do it yourself by buying loose fill insulation at your local hardware store and installing it in your attic.

Many of these companies will rent you an insulation blowing machine freely based on the amount of insulation material you purchase. In olden days most of the houses didn’t have adequate insulation. Insulation is very much required in winter as well as summer as heat transfer mainly through floor. I have insulated many floors in my time. Even though it is difficult work, i can assure you that it is really worth in the long run in terms of cost saving and benefit to the homeowner.

Another reason why your house might not retain cool air in the summer time are air leaks. Air leaks can occur through fireplace flues, badly insulated windows and doors. No one wants to lose their nice, cool, air conditioning air, due to leaks. Something to consider is leaving winter storm windows on during the summer as a way to retain cool air. Or, you could install weather stripping which is easy to install and may save you lots of money in the long term. The best way to check for possible air leaks is on a windy day, light incense and watch for where the smoke blows in or out of the house.

While many people “winterize” their home before the cold hits, it is just as important to “summerize” your home before the heat hits. Ventilation is one of the most overlooked parts of preparing your home for summer. With the ventilation system, double check that foundation vents are open, check that the eave or soffit vents are clear and not clogged with debris. Finally, make sure the attic has adequate ventilation as a build-up of heat and moisture can lead to dry rot.

Amy is a occassional columnist commentating DIY issues, whilst working on Screwfix Direct Clearance Offers on behalf of eComparison.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

By Justin Kander

Short answer - absolutely you can save money going green! The term “going green” typically refers to any activity that lessens your impact on the environment and/or doing your part to conserve and recycle our everyday resources. There are literally thousands, if not more, ways to actually “go green”, and with the help of blogs and the internet in general, we have a real shot as we move into 2009 of going green by leveraging and taking advantage of many different and unique methods.

In contrast to going on a diet when you’re trying to lose weight - generally the diet food costs more than “regular” food, so besides actually losing weight, there is no other benefit to going on a diet, and it can be quite expensive, but that’s quite the opposite when you go on an earth diet (conserving less energy, recycling, etc…). When you make a concerted effort to “greenerize” yourself (yes, new word!), you stand the chance to save quite a bit of cash in the process!

For instance, let’s look at a few popular ways that your every day consumer can go green:

1. Carpooling

2. Public transportation

3. Using compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFL’s)

4. Setting your thermostat a few degrees higher in summer

5. Wash clothes in cold water

6. Hang dry your clothes instead of dryer

7. Install low flow shower heads

8. Using reusable water bottles

I could go on and on about different ways to go green, but the eight ways listed above are perfectly easy and acceptable ways to help the environment, and best of all, you’ll save money using every single method!

Doing a quick average, I would conservatively say that just by doing the above, you could save anywhere from $250-$350 per month, and to your average 4 person family, that’s a nice chunk of change that can be saved or used for other bills (like your mortgage!). Recently, a poll came out that said only 12% of consumers are really “going green”, while another 41% were considered “light green”. Just imagine if we could get that first number higher, it would make a much greater impact than most people could imagine.

So I encourage you to make a list right now that lists out ten ways you can start going green today. At the end of 30 days, give yourself a true estimate on how much money you saved by comparing it with your regular costs. Saving money by going green is so addictive that you’ll find yourself cutting back and conserving even more to enjoy all the extra cash you’re putting back in the bank!

Justin Kander writes for Green Experience, an environmental blog.

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By Wendy Stewart

I’ll bet you’re wondering what organization has to do with saving money.

Actually quite a bit!

Imagine that you’ve been looking all over your house for that book/DVD/sunglasses/whatever and you can’t find it. Or imagine that you’re at the store and can’t remember if you still have any bananas or jars of strawberry jam.

Simple things, right?

Well, when we can’t remember what we have and don’t know where to find what we have, we usually end up buying it again. And then, before you know it, you’re like my aunt with 17 umbrellas.

My mother always says that once you replace something you can’t find, you’ll find the original missing item. I’m sure many of you have heard that as well. But for as many times as we’ve heard this, we still do not take action and bring some organization into our lives to avoid spending money when did not need to spend in the first place.

So, what do we do about this? The answer to almost every organizing problem is to have a system. Why a system? Because we are creatures of habit and mostly prefer to do things the same way every time. Not only that but with a system you have less to remember. You just follow the system.

There are a couple of systems you can put in place to help you save money in various areas of your life. Here are 4 areas in which you will want to find a system that works for you to help save you tons of money in the end.

1. Grocery Shopping

How many times have you been at the grocery store, without your list, and wondered if you should be an item you’re not really sure if you have or need?

I’m willing to be it happens a lot. It happens more when you don’t have a list. It happens even more when you don’t know what you have in your kitchen.

Here’s what I suggest. Go through your cabinets and fridge before you attempt to make a shopping list. The list you’re about to make is what you can see that you’re missing or low on. Next, depending on how often you shop (I suggest no more than weekly) and plan your menus accordingly. So, plan menus weekly if you shop weekly, two weeks at a time if you shop bi-weekly, etc.

Once you know what you’re going to make, you can look at what you’re missing (from your first list), and make your shopping list accordingly.

When you get to the store, do not deviate from this list. Take appropriate coupons if you want to, but don’t go hungry and leave the kids at home.

2. Shoes

What woman doesn’t like to have a variety of shoes? Unlike men, we must have different shoes for different outfits, occasions, and seasons. However, this love of shoes can go overboard.

This has happened to me, I must admit. While shopping for something totally unrelated, I saw a great pair of gray houndstooth heels in Target. The only problem was the heel was a little too high and the size 11 was probably one size or so more than I needed.

I reasoned that my feet would swell and I wouldn’t be standing long anyway. Plus, the shoes weren’t expensive. Well, I stood for a long time on the day I wore them, it rained, and they were too big. They were worn once and are now on their way to charity. What a waste!

I should have taken stock of what I had and thought about what I was going to wear on that occasion. Had I done that, I would have saved my feet and my money.

So, take note: know what you have before you start adding to your collection.

3. Clothing

What goes for shoes also goes for clothing.

I used to get clothing as gifts from my parents and internally wondered where they thought a 14 year old was going to wear a white ruffled shirt in 1995. (I eventually found a use for that shirt in one of the plays I was in.)

The point is, even though they were trying to be nice about it, the clothing choices didn’t fit my existing lifestyle. We do that sometimes. Whether it’s a trend or something great we saw on someone else, we figure it’s just something we have to have. But, by thinking this way, we often ignore the fact that it’s not our style, it’s not flattering, or it’s out of our budget.

The organization here also revolves around knowing what you have. This will help you determine what you actually need and if there is room in your budget and your closet for the things you want.

4. Bills

The key to organization and paying bills is really simple. Pay your bills on time.

One more time: pay your bills on time.

This advice is most important when the bill is a credit card or loan. Late fees and over the limit fees (sometimes as a result of late fees) can seriously hinder your ability to eventually be debt free. (Who wants to stay in debt forever?)

There are a couple of ways you can do this. You can pay the bills as you receive them in the mail (if you still get paper bills) or as you receive notification by email for electronic bills. Or, to make this more automated and ensure the bills are paid on time, sign up for a 3rd party service, one at your bank, or one offered by your creditor where the payment is automatically debited from a designated checking account each month.

There are a number of ways to have as much or as little control over this process as possible, but the point is to set up a system and stick with it so that you don’t lose money to late fees and penalties.

5. Miscellaneous Items

This is the area where so many people get into trouble.

We find ourselves at the store and we see something we like. We think we have one at home, but we’re not sure. So, instead of waiting until we get home to verify (or call someone who is at home), we purchase the item anyway and end up with multiples. (Remember the 17 umbrellas?)

It’s good to wait to make some purchases anyway, but the more organized you become, the more aware you are of what you have. When you know what you have, then you also know what needs to be replaced or what you’re lacking.

Once you start organizing, you will find a surprising number of items you have bought and you can’t remember why or what it is even for. You will also find the things you thought were lost but were really just buried under foolishness and mayhem called clutter.

Do yourself and your family a favor and stop the foolishness. Get organized and save money. You’ll be glad you did.

How Organization Will Save You Money
Copyright 2008
Wendy Stewart
All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Wendy Stewart is your Go-to-girl for being in the know about small business, personal finance, personal style, and wellness. For more free tips on personal finance, visit her blog, Personal Finance Success, at http://personal-finance-manager.blogspot.com

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By Cara Mirabella

First introduced in 1971, the Crock-Pot revolutionized the way we cook meals. The word Crock-Pot is actually trademarked by Rival Industries, but is used in every day conversations instead of the term slow cooker. Many recipes for the crock-pot require little preparation. The slow cooker can then safely be left to run unattended, making it a convenient cooking method.

Crock-pot meals can not only save you time in the kitchen, but they can also save you money as well. The reasons are as follows:

1. It keeps you out of the fast food line. If you had not loading up the crock-pot with the ingredients this morning you’d likely be in the drive through line at the local fast food restaurant this afternoon after work, grabbing a meal for your family. The average fast food meal for a family of four rings up over $20.

2. Stretches your dollar. Most crock-pot recipes and meals can truly stretch your food dollar. Because you can put a whole chicken in the crock-pot to cook then cut it up for several meals, you can stretch your budget with the use your leftovers.

3. Cuts your grocery budget. You can save money at the butcher since the slow cooking process is especially useful to tenderize cheaper cuts of meat.

4. Saves on your energy bill. Instead of running a larger appliance like the stove you are running one small energy conservative appliance, the crock-pot, saving on your energy costs.

The convenience of the slow cooker not only saves you time, but will also save you money. Don’t you think it’s time to take it out of your closet (or wherever you have it packed away collecting dust) and make a Crock-Pot meal today?

Cara Mirabella is a WAHM with one toddler from New Jersey. She owns and manages TheHouseholdHelper.com - a site dedicated to saving your time, money and sanity when managing your household. Her site offers tons of information as well as e-books including http://thehouseholdhelper.com/ebooks/CrockPotCooking.html

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By D Ruplinger

I am one of those people who was under the false impression that I was doing a decent job of being environmentally conscious.

I recycle; donate usable items I no longer want rather than tossing them in the trash; have cut way back on my gasoline usage by planning my trips, walking, biking, or just staying home; cut back on my water usage; compost; grow my own vegetables; and have planted a couple of fruit trees this spring with the hope to have my own fruits to can within the next 5 years. And, even though I have air conditioning I use it as little as possible and instead open my windows to take advantage of Mother Natures air conditioning, the breeze.

I was feeling pretty smug and confident that I was doing my share.

Then I took an ecological footprint quiz at myfootprint.org and found that even with the efforts I have made, it would still take 7.46 planets to sustain life if everyone lives the way I do. It was a wake up call for me to do a lot more.

So I decided to focus on one area at a time with my electric usage being the first thing I am concentrating on because I know my household uses way too much.

My efforts are working. After one month, my electric bill has gone down by 40 percent even though I have had my air conditioning (which uses electricity) on part of the time.

Here is everything I did to slash my electrical usage. Check to see if there are things listed you are not doing. If not, then implement them to lower your electrical bill. It is good for your pocketbook and good for the environment.

LIGHTS OUT

I no longer leave the porch light on at night and I always turn off lights when I leave a room. I had thought I was pretty good at turning off lights but I really was not. It is easy to forget if a person is not diligent about it.

TURN OFF THE TELEVISION

I used to have the habit of leaving the television on even if I was not watching, for the noise. Now I am learning to enjoy the quiet. And, I am less likely to sit down and watch television now. I read more and spend more time outside.

UNPLUG THE CHARGERS

I did not realize that my cell phone and battery chargers were using electricity even when I was not charging my phones and recharging batteries. Now I unplug them when I am not using them.

NO MORE SLEEP MODE

I no longer put my home copier, laptop computer, printer or desktop computer and monitor on sleep or energy saving mode. When I am not using them I turn them off.

UNPLUG ALL AROUND THE HOUSE

Any plug that feels warm to the touch is drawing electricity even if the item is not being used, such as small appliances and space heaters. I now make liberal use of power strips for items I do not want to have to unplug all the time, like my blender, computer, and television since they still draw a small amount of electricity even when they are turned off. It is much easier to turn a power strip off and on than to walk around unplugging things and then plugging them back in later. Yeah, maybe it is laziness but I know that I will not crawl behind the television every day to unplug it or crawl under the computer desk to unplug the computer every day, but I will flip the switch on a conveniently placed power strip.

DITCH THE CLOTHES DRYER

Clothes will last longer if they are air dried, plus it is much easier to treat stains that regular washing may have missed on clothes that were air dried versus ones dried in a dryer. I am lucky enough to have an outdoor clothesline that I use in the summer, but I plan to air dry clothes inside during the winter too. My sister in law has been doing it for 20 years and she has 6 kids plus a full time job. As a bonus, the drying racks double as clothes hangers when there is not time to get the clothes folded and put away. That does not work with clothes left in the dryer. They quickly turn into a wrinkled mess if not folded or hung up.

UNPLUG THE EXTRA FRIDGE

We have always had a second refrigerator just to keep beverages cold, mostly beer. Now, instead of constantly keeping a whole case cold, which we only need once a year, we just keep a couple of cans cold in our regular fridge.

The things listed above are steps I have already taken, but I know I can do more and want to do more. I like having a small electric bill! Below is a list of more steps I plan to take.

CHANGE TO COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULBS

I currently only have a few compact fluorescent bulbs because of their large size, but manufacturers have been coming out with a bigger selection of sizes, so I no longer have any excuse to not swap out all my bulbs. But I am doing it slowly and only change them when the old bulbs burn out. I think it is wasteful to switch out perfectly good bulbs and to toss them in a landfill, no matter what kind of bulb it is.

BUY ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES

Do not toss perfectly good appliances though because that creates a landfill problem.

USE LOW FLOW SHOWER HEADS AND TOILETS

WASH CLOTHES IN COLD WATER

I already do this but I have a gas water heater and not an electric one so this does not save me any money on my electric bill but I have found my clothes come just as clean in cold water as in warm or hot. The only change I have made is to switch to a detergent formulated for cold water washing.

USE THE MICROWAVE INSTEAD OF THE OVEN OR STOVE

CLEAN AND REPLACE FILTERS REGULARLY

This includes filters humidifiers, vacuum cleaners, furnaces, air cleaners, dryers, and range exhaust hoods.

RUN THE CLOTHES WASHER AND DISHWASHER ONLY WHEN FULL

Dorrie Ruplinger is a featured writer for GoGreenForMotherEarth Visit the site for
more environmental news and tips.

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By Jaycee Fox

We want to save more money, but we’re not sure where to begin.

Our first step is to make a budget, so we can then make a plan on how much we can save after our necessary bills are paid. It may seem like there’s nothing left, but even if we’re just putting away a few dollars a week, we’re heading in the right direction. An easy way to do this is if you have a direct deposit with your paycheck. You can automatically have a certain portion put into your savings account and then your savings can just accrue. The secret is to save more and more until it just becomes habit for you.

When we’re saving, we want to have a general goal in mind. What are we saving for? Is it to pay off our house sooner — say we tuck away $100 a month and put $1,200 extra a year on our house. Or maybe we want to buy a new stainless steel fridge with no fingerprints — let’s say a cost of about $1500 — we’re able to save $300 extra a month, so in five months we can have that fridge paid for with cash and with no financial debt to anyone. If we understand the importance of saving, whether for retirement or a long-awaited vacation, then now we must find ways to actually save the money.

So now we have a budget in mind and we have a reason to save. But if we’re not spending-freaks and we actually do live paycheck to paycheck to cover the basics — so it’s not just a question of limiting our wants — then we must find ways to come up with those extra dollars to save. Here are some ideas:

Save On Gas

• Take public transportation or ride the bus. I know that’s not really possible for some — but for some it may be. It can also be an opportunity to multitask — get ahead of your reading.
• Investigate gas prices. The internet is filled with information, including prices of gas — so do your research before you drive around town trying to find the cheapest price on gas while wasting gas!
• Idle no more and get a tune-up. The running engine is just burning gas — wasting money — if the car is idling. Efficiency is lost if the car hasn’t had a regular tune-up and thus gas mileage could be pretty lousy.
• Drive the speed limit. If you change your speed excessively, it uses up more gas — so stick to the speed limit to improve your gas mileage.

Save on Groceries

• Use coupons.
• Buy in bulk.
• Look for sales.

Save on Utility Bills

• Winterize your home. It may seem expensive initially but it saves a lot in the long run.
• Use wood stoves to heat your home. If you live in a colder climate or just have harsh winters — this can really save you on your heating bill and efficient wood stoves can warm up the house quickly!
• Summerize your home. So I know that’s not a real word, but I think you get the meaning. If you live in a hot climate — use window shades and instead of warming up your home even more by using your oven — use crock pots, barbeques etc. so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work even harder in the summer.
• Save on your water bill. Use less water!

Save on entertainment.
Instead of going to the opera and eating escargots at the expensive restaurant next door — maybe we can have a picnic and use our discount tickets at the cinema. So maybe that sounds too restrictive, but it depends on what your interests are — you can have a lot of fun even on the most limited of budgets!

So remember to budget, save, and continually look for ways to live more frugally! Becoming financially independent within your means is a happier stress-free life than being financially yoked to a money-making institution while in your palatial home.

Jaycee Fox writes on subjects with the goal of achieving a healthy and balanced life. She has a
Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters degree. If you’re interested in the many resources
in helping to achieve that balance — even financial and budget resources — then check out Jaycee’s website at http://jayceeliving.com/

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By Stephanie Herman

Most websites encouraging people to clean green at home focus on eco-friendly cleaners. These cleaners fall into two categories: homemade natural cleaners, and eco-friendly commercial cleaners. Websites encouraging eco-friendly and frugal cleaners will focus on the homemade natural cleaners that we already have in the pantry. But what all these websites forget is to encourage people to keep their cleaning tools clean - using green methods!

Why is this important?

Because if you keep your cleaning tools clean, you can use them longer. That translates into less waste; you throw away your cleaning tools more slowly, filling landfills at a slower rate. You’re also buying fewer cleaning tools over time, slowing your rate of consumption of natural resources.

Simple, right? But how can you keep your cleaning tools cleaner, longer, and do it in an eco-friendly and frugal way? It’s a no-brainer: use simple baking soda and vinegar.

Although it has literally thousands of cleaning uses, some people avoid using vinegar to clean the house because of the smell. But when you’re cleaning the cleaning tools, the smell of vinegar becomes much less important.

Take, for example, your toilet bowl brushes. Once weekly, try sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda into the container housing your toilet brush (with your brush in there). Then pour in enough vinegar to bubble up over the top of the brush. The smell of vinegar is probably going to be an odor improvement, in this case! Plus, there’s a great added benefit - there’s no need to rinse your toilet brush once you clean it. You can simply continue its use; the vinegar and baking soda will loosen from the brush the next time you clean your toilet, and will do nothing but add to your efforts!

Are your rags and sponges getting stained and smelly from use? Soak them overnight in vinegar and baking soda to prolong their use and eliminate those odors. You’ll throw sponges and rags away less often if they’re still looking and smelling nice. That means, again, that you’ll be buying fewer new ones. Overconsumption isn’t solved by consuming more eco-friendly products more often - it’s solved by consuming everything more slowly.

And here’s an ecologically unfriendly cleaning tool you can avoid: scouring pads. Instead, use baking soda and vinegar to loosen stuck-on or burnt-on food in your pots and pans. An overnight soak will allow you to easily wipe off the debris with little to no scrubbing.

Think green when you’re cleaning your home, and when cleaning your tools - it’ll save you money, time, elbow grease, and natural resources.

Stephanie Herman runs the Cleaning-Green website where she shares tips and recipes for natural homemade, eco-friendly cleaners.

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By Jill Russo Foster

We all have fixed expenses - mortgage / rent, insurance, taxes, utilities, - expenses that rarely change and are hard to miss because we write large monthly or quarterly checks. But, what about your other expenses? All your little trips to the store can sneak up on you, causing you to spend more than you planned. Variable expenses can take a surprisingly large chunk of your budget. Take a closer look at your spending habits. You’d be surprised how making even a few small changes will leave more in your pocket!

Some of these tips are common sense; some might seem to be a bit “frugal”. Just remember, if you’re working toward a goal, you’ve got nothing to lose by trying something new, frugal as it may be! Sometimes “baby steps” are the best way to start on the path to bigger and better ways to manage your expenses.

1. When you have multiple errands to run, do you have a game plan for accomplishing them efficiently? Take a few moments to check your driving route and plan the stops along the way. Save time and gas by not running all the errands separately.

2. What kind of grocery shopper are you? Whether you shop at discount stores, or by sales flier, remember to buy only what you need. Compare advertised sales prices with other brands (including generic). Remember to check sales sizes as well. What’s being offered on sale might be a smaller size than what you usually buy. Be informed and take a few seconds to consider your purchases - it will save you money in the long run.

3. Do you look at the directions for laundry and dishwashing detergent, or do you automatically fill the scoop and throw it in a load? Make sure to follow manufacturers’ recommendation for the correct load size usage. If you use too much per load, you can use up the product twice as fast.

4. How much does convenience cost you? Here’s a great example: a friend of mine buys pre-bagged salads. Not only is it more expensive than buying a head of lettuce, but she’ll admit that they hardly ever finish it off. Cutting a head of lettuce is an amazingly simple and quick task. When buying for convenience, ask yourself if the actual cost is really worth the time you think you save.

5. How many cleaning products do you have right now? When purchasing a power washer, I was told I should buy three bottles of cleaners - one for decks / fences, one for driveways and the other for home exteriors. Each bottle was $6.00 (a total of $18) vs. the generic bleach I purchased at the grocery store on sale for about $1 (savings of $17). Using bleach full strength or diluted does the trick for a variety of surfaces. Makes you think about how many different types of cleaners you really need to have.

6. Can you stretch an item? For example, will half of a dryer sheet do the same job as a full sheet? I’ve tried it and it works for me. This also works for scrub pads - cutting a regular size pad in half gives you at least several uses. You won’t have to throw away a half used pad because it’s rusty or gunky, and it’s cheaper than buying those “junior size” pads. There must be many more ways to stretch everyday items - what else can you think of?

7. How about reusing or recycling items vs. buying something new? A great example is sharing a magazine subscription with a friend - one issue you both read (works for books, too!). Or clean your used jelly jars and use them for leftovers instead of disposable baggies. Glass jars last, and if you take the lid off, they’re microwaveable. If doing either of these would make you feel unthinkably cheap, think about how much worse it is to be in debt or to not have savings.

8. Can you buy an item used at a fraction of the cost? Our patio furniture - table for six, chaise lounge, two chairs and coffee table - was purchased through the classified ads for $100. Purchased new, the same set would have cost at least 10 times as much. Check classified frequently, and if you’re internet-savvy, online auction sites such as eBay have a treasure trove of bargains both used and new.

9. What about buying off-season merchandise? Now is the perfect time to buy winter items. When the other seasons role around, wait a few months in before buying those “must haves”. This is not only a great way to stock up for next year, but for your vacation, decorating, and gift-giving needs as well.

10. Can you do it yourself? In the town where I live, the trash pickup is handled by private companies. When the bill hit almost $100 a month, we decided to handle it ourselves. My husband takes the trash to the dump (it’s on his way to work) about once a week. What things are you willing to do to save you some money?

The list could go on and on. It’s a matter of rethinking your priorities and taking a new view of your spending routine. Start small today, and you could really see a difference in your savings over the course of a year.

Jill Russo Foster provides practical tips for personal money management. Learn more about protecting your credit and living within your means with Jill’s popular free report, bi-monthly ezine, and credit report reminder program, available here ==> http://www.themortgagearrangers.com/resources.asp

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