Smart Moms Save Money

(A penny saved is worth 1 1/2 cents earned) 

Tip #1      

   The newest frugal thing we’ve been doing lately saved us right over $20 on our electric bill, and that was for one month.   That’s more money then I even thought would be possible.  I thought we may see somewhere in the ball park of $5 or maybe $10 if we were lucky, but $20?  Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining, I am just amazed.  I would have started this a lot sooner if I would have known this.  

     I had heard a few times over the years you should use your most energy during off-peak hours.  I thought yeah, it sounds good, but I just never tried.  I don’t really have an excuse why, because I am a night person anyway so it’s easier for me.  “For those of you who don’t know what peak hours or off peak hours even mean,  it’s the time more or less energy is being used.  On peak is when everybody is using the most and off peak is when they are using it the least.” 

     Your city’s peak hours may be close to mine, “look below at our chart”   If you want to know what time your peak hours are you can either call your electric company and ask or maybe you can google the information in your area.  I started washing our clothes and dishes on those off times, not running the small air conditioner we have in our laundry room since it’s night and not that hot then, and I do most of my computer work during the same time, besides that I don’t really know anything else different.  It seems to be working great! 

Tip #2 

   We have purchased food from Angel Food Ministries before and will be ordering this month too.  If you’re not familiar with this program, you should take a minute and check them out.   Angel Food Ministries is a non-profit, non-denominational organization that helps people put food on their table by offering affordable food in many communities throughout the United States.  Every month Angel Food Ministries puts together a medium-sized box of food which they sell to the public for $30. Each month’s menu is different than the previous month and consists of both fresh and frozen items with an average retail value of approximately $60.  They also sell other deals which are available after you buy the first box.  I like the second boxes better than the first box, really.  I love the fruit and vegetable boxes which run around $14, or so. 

      I find buying from them is a lot cheaper then you can get in your local super market or even at most of your local farmers markets.  I do coupons and save tons, but it’s hard to get coupons for fresh produce; they give coupons for frozen but not very often fresh.  So, that makes it right for us.  You don’t have to qualify, or join any group,  and you don’t have to get it every month if you don’t want to.   Another great thing they also accept food stamps.  I saw it listed on their site and also on the wall where you pick up, so if you get them, check it out it may help.   Here is the link to their main site http://www.angelfoodministries.com/ you can put in your zip code and it will bring you to a local one in your area.  

Tip #3 

Beauty Tip

For super shiny hair Put 1 cup of vinegar in your hair for 30 minutes and after it’s BLING!

Step 1.)

 Start with clean damp hair you’ll want to put 1 cup of vinegar for short 1 1/2 for medium and 2 cups for long hair now if your hair is thin you may want to go a little less.  “This will stink to high heaven so make sure you’re alone or that cute mail man won’t be stopping by.

Step 2.)

 Okay, after you get this in your hair put on one of those sexy shower caps.  Then just stay busy for at least 1/2 an hour or so and maybe stay away from the windows or open drafts.

Step 3.)

When time is up rinse well in warm water and right at the end rinse one good time in cold just to make sure you’re alive.  

Step 4.)

Dry your hair and style; then try not to drool all over when you see how hot you look after. The shine will last about 30 days maybe a little shorter or longer depending on how often you wash your hair.

     Another Good hair tip for those that may not know, never brush your hair while it’s wet always use a wide tooth comb. This keeps your hair from breaking.  Also another tip when drying your, don’t rub with the towel. You want to either wring your hair “not to tight” and squeeze your hair between your towel covered hands.  Don’t over dry your hair with the hair dryer either.

Tip #4

  To save money on fabric softener take a clean damp rag.  I find an older one works best - anything that won’t leave a lot of lint.  Now take a cap full of your favorite fabric softener and pour it on to the rag “best if you do this over the rinse water of your washer” ring your rag into your rinse water, now hang it somewhere to dry over night. 

     Next time you wash your clothes don’t put any fabric softener in the wash cause you can now use your rag that you treated.  Toss it in the dryer with your clothes and it can be used many times. It works great! Use it until you feel it doesn’t smell very much any more or your clothes don’t seem to be staying as soft or static free.  This will save you a lot of money and it works much better then the dryer sheets.  The only thing I miss is having such a great little lint cleaner like before.  Those dryer sheets work awesome to get the lint trap clean without dirtying your hands.

 Tip #5

Are you a big tea drinker? If so did you know tea bags can be used more then once at least twice.  If you make your own tea and use the kind with tea bags then you can get more then 1 pitcher of tea out of it.  I make a gallon at a time we drink a lot of tea in the South, well okay I drink a lot of tea in this house.  Anyway after you make your tea don’t throw your tea bags away set them in a pot with a lid, another pitcher or some place with a few cups of water covered.  Now since I make a gallon a day I leave it out covered, but if you won’t use it that fast maybe you may want to put it in the fridge.  If you don’t drink it within a couple days I don’t know if it will taste that good.  This is more for people that drink it faster.  If you think it’s too lite when you make it this way, then just add another tea bag.  The main point is that it will make more than what the directions say it does.  When you’re done with the tea bags don’t throw them in the garbage put it in a compost pot.  Tea, coffee and all house hold scraps like egg shells, fruit and veggie peels anything like that works great!  We use almost everything except meat.  We have the best soil ever all the soil we need to grow our garden which is looking great, by the way.

 Tip #6

     Are you tired of taking your shower in ankle deep water? Are your drains always backing up? Then you need to follow this cheap, easy and green friendly drain cleaner. 

Step 1 -

Pour 3/4 cup of baking soda down the drain.  “If there is standing water, then try and get the water out first anyway you can”  

 Step 2 -

Make sure you have either a stopper or a rag, just something to try and keep this all inside the drain.  Okay, now pour 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain right after the baking soda. Hurry up and cover the drain immediately.  This is because the interaction of the two will cause a mini volcano that will want to come up and out of the drain. Don’t worry it won’t come out the sink, just a small volcano. Now if you can’t get the baking soda to go in the drain since it’s stopped up just put it all on top.
Step 3 -

 Leave this in the drain for about 30 minutes. While you are waiting, boil a tea kettle full of water.
Step 4 -

After 30 minutes, remove the plug and slowly pour the HOT water down the drain.

All done! Your drain should flow smoothly now. If not, just do it again.

Tip #7

     To prevent your shower from becoming clogged again you should invest in one of those cheap dollar store drain catchers.  It’s plastic and sits on top of the drain as you shower all your hair will get caught on the drain catcher instead of going down the drain and stopping it up.  If you don’t have one of these you’ll be surprised at how much hair you do lose as you shampoo your hair.  It’s normal everybody loses some hair and the longer your hair you’ll have even more since it’s so long. All you need to do is after you rinse the shower down, pull the hair off and put it in the trash, then just rinse off the drain catcher and places it back.  You’ll need to clean it or mold will form on the back just clean it off when you clean your tub, it’s simple.  Now you won’t be standing in ankle deep water when you shower anymore.

Tip #8

     An easy thing to do to save money on utilities is to simply replace all of your light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. They last at least 10 times longer than conventional bulbs and can save up to $60 in electricity per bulb over time. 

  

Tip #9

     You should change your air filter monthly, especially if you have pets, allergies, live close to the beach or get a lot of sand and dirt in your house. You can save money by getting one of the ones you take out and vacuum.  “It didn’t work for us, but we do have 1 big dog, 2 cats, 1 bird and a fish.”   We have a lot of pets as you can see, so our air filter just gets too much hair in it.  We use the replaceable ones they are only a couple dollars and we do it once a month or at least every 6 weeks.  You need to keep your filter clean to save money on your electric bill, save wear and tear on your unit and it helps your house smell better also.

Tip #10

     Save money and time on cleaning your silver jewelry it will look like new again!   All you need to make your jewelery look great is white vinegar,  washing soda, either a plugged sink or a shallow dish.

(Steps)

Pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar in your dish.

 Add  two tablespoons of washing soda

Put in your jewelery and soak for three hours

Rinse well with cold water

Dry well with a soft cloth.  - This also works well on silverware too.

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Here is what our town’s chart is for peak and off peak hours.
TO SAVE MONEY REMEMBER THIS SIMPLE RULE.
ON PEAK MEANS BUSY DO NOT USEOFF PEAK MEANS NOT BUSY DO USE
SUMMER - JUNE - SEPTPEAK HOURS 1PM - 8PMOFF PEAK HOURS 8:01PM - 12:59PM
NOT SUMMER- OCT - MAYPEAK HOURS 7AM - 6PM

OFF PEAK HOURS 6:01PM - 6:59AM

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