The Economy and a DEPRESSION?

I recently was introduced to a book that the title really shocked me! It talked about a "second depression" like was experienced in the 1930's. . . IS ANYBODY hearing any of this in the media?? NO! But folks, not to be a doomsday prophet, LOOK AROUND~unemployment is at an all time high since the depression that literally had people in soup kitchen lines and starving! Ever watch the movie, Grapes of Wrath? This is one of the saddest movies about a family looking for economic viability after losing their home; from place to place they wonder, looking and working~being cheated and down cast! Now I am NOT saying that we are in such straights, but I am so fearful we may head this way that I am continuing to write about tried and true old timey ways of making it with less!

OK..so what I am saying isn't fun or popular! I understand that if you aren't in economic straights right now and life seems secure you don't think you need these ideas.   But rest assured that if you ever do, SisterT will be sharing right on, as now that unemployement has reached somewhere around 20-25% it's NOT getting better! Read the economic forecasters, the journals! No one is predictiving a good outcome~and while some markets have improved, people are still losing jobs, losing homes and businesses.  Outsourcing over seas~ha! EVEN THE proposed North American Alliance will suck jobs out of America and if a leveled playing field is established then think what kind of conditions Americans will live in to compete with Mexico!

Soooo what to do?
SAVE and become Thrifty! I know it's not a fun topic. I know it's not fun to think about every nickle and penny. But IN THE END, there will be peace in knowing your family will not be on the streets! I am never more amazed at the women I see prefering foreign made items to those that are produced by American workers or yet~cottage industry! We've BEEN SUCKERED folks by our own greed! Sorry, but this frugal blog can't dance around the issues any longer, and we must address our situations before we LOSE THE FARM~literally! Wise economic decisions can be a blessing for years to come as can poor decisions reak havoc for just as long! Sometimes it's longer!

Please consider your spending and saving habits~your lifestyle! WHERE can you cut your excess? What can you make do, live without, find a new purpose for, recycle, change and just flat get rid of? 

These are not easy questions, and they are intensely personal.  I ask you, what's better: A NEW bauble or paying the light bill? Sound silly? It's not. There are people everyday who are in the situations of having to ask for help because their money doesn't go far enough, and when that high bill comes in~"what they hay, I can't pay it anyway...so I'll take my poor kids to the fast food joint (because I don't want them deprived!) and pray to God somebody helps me pay the light bill! YOU THINK I AM KIDDING? NOT! And listen, turning off lights when not necessary is only one stategy for lower the light bill. 

I am CALLING YOU to ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now is the time! NOW NOW NOW! 
If you would like to speak with me concerning any ideas or how I can help leave me  comment where I can contact you.
Saving NOW

Post 100~It's ALL About Saving!

This is Thriving's 100th post!
Let's celebrate!
I would like to offer a FREE Frugal Consultation to a randomly drawn winner if you will leave me a comment and tell me where you have shared this give a way with others.

Drum Roll Please~

You CAN WIN a FREE Consultation with me to discuss debt busting and budget boosting in this economy~how do you need to tighten up or buckle down?

Don't be misled~there are many out there who are telling you HOW to SPEND your money, but few are telling you HOW TO SAVE IT~

Leave a comment with your contact info.  I will randomly chose a winner on Nov. 1st so you can get going on a debt busting/budget building plan for your family.

I am looking forward to hearing from you! Pass the word!

Square Foot Gardening Post

If you are short on yard, but long on desire for a garden this coming growing season, here is a link Square Foot Gardening to show just how it is done.  We had a traditional garden in the yard kind of garden, along with a raised bed in an old car-top carrier for our leaf lettuce, spinach, celery and basil.  This kept the bunny out of our patch because it was up high away from his reach . . . and hubby had strung some wire about ear height to prevent him from WANTING to come into the patch to get the tomatoes, peppers, squash and pumpkins. 

Enjoy planning NEXT year's harvest~

Homemade Laundry "Soap Box"

There was a little debate going on today over the most economical way to have laundry soap for doing clothes.  Apparently the Duggar Family have put on their website the "recipe" for homemade laundry soap that I've seen around for several years, and even seen some YouTube demos on how to make it...guess she's economizing too~which is GREAT!

Well, the questions were something like "did it really work" and "how many loads?"  I have never made this stuff. I have seen the demos like I said from YouTube, but it looks like "goop" to me, and well, up until recently I had my favorite 'brand' and was unwilling to part with it...but then the economic crunch came, and I got on the band wagon to economizing~hence my 200 loads for $15 at Sam's Club which I use 1/2 the amounts so I am getting 400 loads for the same price equalling 4 CENTS a load!!!!!!!!!! and IF I were to use the full amount, just double it to 8 cents a load! This is amazing...and I don't have to cook and gloop and glop...and slop....sorry folks, but SisterT while she is thrifty, and Oh soooo frugal...has a few limits...ever found some of those supplies the recipe calls for? Fels Naptha soap??? PLEEEEEEZE! OK...so IF you think it's GREAT~leave me a shout...otherwise, I am NOT going to try this one...sorry folks... not me.
You can read all my laundry tips  HERE !
Counting my time as money too,

Using It UP~Oatmeal boxes and Coffee Cans

I really hate to throw out stuff that can be re-purposed.  I have a couple of neat uses for ~

Oatmeal boxes:

1.  Cookie/candy give a way containers.  Line with wax paper and decorate with Christmas paper.  Use to give away your fresh baked goods for family and friends.  Let the kids decorate them for a personal touch!

2. Store dry goods.  I have stored extra items such as bulk macaroni and dried beans.  They stay very nice.  It's food grade, so it stores things very nicely.

3. Child's drum. Let your child decorate with construction paper and with the lid on, tap for a drum sound!

4. Sewing thread storage.  Do you have loads of the stuff and have no where to keep it? Here ya go!

5. Small toy storage for a child's room...remember that drum? Well, this box can be decorated and small cars and other toys can be stored inside it.

Coffee Cans:

For metal cans~

Party lights~I like to take an "all" and punch holes for a pattern.  Then I turn the bottom right side up and place a candle over for a neat outdoor party light to line my walkway...

Food storage~everything from bake goods as gifts, to anything that will fit.

GREASE trap~I like to pour grease off my cooking into a coffee can with a lid so I can store it until it's pretty full or before it goes bad and then toss.

Kid's cooking fun~ Take an empty metal coffee can, punch some holes~you can use the can opener or an all, but make some holes so the can will breathe near the rim of the top.  Be sure the label is removed.  Scrub the bottom.  Take a sterno can and light. Place this on a sturday table and place over it the can with the holes with the bottom facing the top.  Prepare grill cheese for the 'stove' and set on top...flip when heated through...This is fun for an outdoor camp out!

For plastic coffee cans~

I like the way they stack.  Store sugar and other dry goods in these.  Label with a permanent marker.
Use as a huge scoop to remove water in larger quantities such as in a pool or decorative pond.  The handle makes this nice!

You can use as storage for food items...but I don't care to use them as gift givers because they aren't as attractively shaped and are more difficult to decorate, but they make wonderful rice, flour, bean, pasta storage and MORE!  Remember these stack really nicely!

What are you doing with these? 

Winter Time Prepardness

There's already snow in some areas of he United States in an early blast of cold frigid temps! I am looking at my home and thinking I had better get it in gear to make our home winter ready...we live in a climate of snow and ice~blustery winds with a chill of often 30 below...it's harsh condition such as these that require some measures to keep us warm and safe in winter.

My hubby has been doing repairs to our home's siding and windows.  If you don't know, we recently purchased our home, a repo that was a great deal financially for our family with the goal of becoming 100% debt free in five years, so that an older home with needed repairs was the way to go in this "buyers market." But along with this purchase came needed and REQUIRED repairs.  (Be sure to calculate these costs into your home's sales price if you are looking to purchase a home like this...but for the handy, it's very economical...more on this another time!)  So we have a cracked window and a storm window missing.  Today, the window is going to the glass shop and the storm will have to be replaced.  It's not salvagable!  Along with these, I am going to put up a check list of things, some maintence, and others just plain ole housekeeping to get us ready for winter...STAY WARM!

Evaluate your bedding situation.
Do you have enough blankets and comforters to keep the beds warm at night? We turn down our thermostat at night, and this makes for cooler sleeping and needed bedding.  Do you purchase or make your bedding? Begin crocheting or quilting or even shopping for what you need.  We like electric blankets.  I invested in one for each bed several years ago.  Also consider if you lose power.  If you do or don't have an alternate heat source, covers on a bed will make a great difference in comfort and possibly survival...

1. Crocheting a blanket.

2. Quilting a blanket.

3. Purchasing a blanket, quilt or electric blanket.

Links 

for Crochet:

Crochet Pattern Central
For warmer blankets, I like 100% cotton yarn:
Peaches and Cream 100% cotton yarns
Wool  and Acrylic yarns
Lion Brand Yarn

for Quilting:
Love to Know~Quick and Easy Quilting
 I've made something not unlike this quick and easy quilt which I have heard called a "cheater quilt."  The biggest difference in the size of the project is this~the size of the pieces of fabric (front and backs with batting) you are working with.  I made both my children 'cheater quilts' about seven or eight years ago. 

Cheryl's Cheater Quilt Method:

Chose two coordinating patterned or one solid, one patterned fabrics.
Purchase 1 and 1/2 yards OF EACH TWICE~this may sound silly, but let the fabric store lady cut two pieces of your fabrics 1 1/2 yds each.
Do this for both top and bottom.  You should have six yards total.
Purchase batting whichever loft for a twin bed.
Bring home and wash the fabrics to preshrink and release dyes.
Take one of the either top or bottom fabric 11/2 yd pieces and cut down the center vertically.
(You should have two long 1/2 width pieces of your fabric now.) Do this for the other as well.
With right sides together, stitch the salvage edges of one top side fabric to the other side so that when pressed and opened, the pattern is facing each.  You will do both sides of the unsplit 11/2 piece with the split 1/1/2 pieces.  This will make your top or bottom a double width of the fabric width your purchased either 36" x2!  Press open all the seams! This will lay ever so nicely on a twin bed as the seems will fall to the edges.
Do the other fabric the same way.
When both are stitched up, then go to your bed or the largest bed  in your home OR on a large table or carpeted floor. I like to use a big bed.
With right side facing the bedspread, lay the bottom fabric down on the bed.  You will see the seams of the bottom where you have pressed them open. 
On top, lay the batting for the quilt you purchased.
Then facing the ceiling, lay the top of the quilt top onto the layers.
Use quilting pins to secure all over.
Begin at the center and work to the edges to smooth any wrinkles.  Pin as you go.
When you get to the outer edges, roll the top over the bottom for a "rolled edge" where the top is seen on the bottom. Pin all the way around to secure your quilt.

The first handsewing you will do is to hand sew with a 'whip stitch" around the edges of this quilt. Short close together stitches with double thread in the needle will work to secure the blanket tighter and will be less likely to come apart. 

There are a couple of options for securing the inside of this quilt:
1. You can stitch around (quilt) any repeating motif in the pattern.  For my daughters, there were butterflies, so I did a certain colored butterfly.
OR
2. You can use a very large bore needle and yarn, running it through all layers and tying it in square knots.
OR
3. You can use flat buttons of any shape, color or variety if you like. If you have them too ;-))
OR
4. You can hand stitch lines like a grid pattern to hold the layers.

Once your quilt is all secure, you are ready to place it on your bed.  These are very nice, and I have found much more durable than purchased comforters which with washing generally come apart.

For purchased blankets, I suggest shopping sales.  I like yard/garage sales and thrift stores as well. To match color schemes, I have made covers for my blankets and comforters to keep costs down.

Stay warm and let's all get prepared for winter's chill with checking on our bedding for the season!

TRACK those Expenses!

I seem to say a lot about how to be cheap and frugal to save all we can so we have all we can, but along with all the thrifty measures you can take, it's soooooo wise to keep track of all of your money by tracking where your money is going.  I have encouraged keeping a list of shopping prices in that handy dandy notebook, but what about tracking where the money is actually going each day, week, month and year? It's essential to know where a "leak" is occurring before it can be fixed.  When we know where our money goes, then we are more prepared to make the decisions needed to either slow or stop the money going out of our lives...

Several Choices to TRACK $
I can think of several ways to track your spending. There are several computer programs designed to track the trends for you in the form of spread sheets and IF you already own one,,,go right on a head and USE it! But if you don't have Quicken or another one...then you can use Excel to create your own spread sheet, OR purchase a ledger style tablet to put in a notebook...but I have an even more economical idea:

Notebook paper or spiral bound notebook. You will want to track over the next month and year even...so a notebook, or a way to keep up with each month is essential.  KEEP up with the papers! I like a notebook. For less than $1 you can economically have a way to keep up with the "bills" and expenses~everywhere money is spent.  A stapler is handy too.  Staple receipts to the back of the page.  A stapler is multi purpose, so it's a good investment. 

• Set your pages up for each month. 

• Begin NOW~start the month you are reading my post.

• Write the name of the month on the top line. To the right put the year.  

• Skip down a line.

• Take a ruler or straight edge and make a line so that you have five (5) columns.

Column 1; DUE DATE
Column 2: ITEM
Column 3: AMOUNT DUE
Column 4: DATE PAID
Column 5: CATEGORY

The column are useful to track the money going out of the home.  The most important column is CATEGORY.  These can be as you set them up in your budget: Mortgage, Rent, Utilities, Food, Clothing, Fun...you can list these any way you want.  Be sure that you cover even such things as Fuel, Insurance (health, life and auto), Care Maintence, and Gifts.  Don't make separate columns for each of these, but devise a code for them, and WRITE IT DOWN in the notebook, just in case you forget...It's essential to track all the spending so you can see just where the funds are going. 

Sometimes it's going to be tough in catagorizing the expenditures.  When going out to eat, is this necessary so it would be food, which it is, or is it fun, which it is?  IF you are trying to lower your expenses because there is not enough to cover each month, then categorize it under fun and keep that category on a strict "budget" meaning you a lot just a certain amount either weekly or monthly so you can pick and chose what you want to spend your FUN MONEY on~it might be eating out or you might want a movie rented or at the theater...THIS method gives you choices~AND the money is there...in the budget for such, not stolen from the essentials.

I will talk more about budgeting and categories next time.  For now, hunt up and repurpose a notebook not already used UP! This is a great way to save, even if it's just the $1 start up cost!

Using It UP~Cardboard boxes

Ever notice how much cardboard comes into our homes? There's packing boxes, shoe boxes, boxes for appliances and gadgets, all kinds shapes and sizes! So what are we going to do with all that cardboard?

Here are a few ideas, and if you have one or many~let me know...

USES:
1. Organizers.  Small boxes can be cut down to fit whatever item needing storage. Cover with pretty paper or fabric of a finished look.

2. Shelving backs. I love bookcases, and my husband has build quite a bit of those for us, but I don't like the backs open where books or other objects can fall right out...but stapeling cardboard to the backs with a stained finish or even wallpaper or painted surface, this will finish off the look of the piece and keep things looking nicer...

3. Signs for various usages.  I have used large card board box panels for yard sale signs.  They can be a large as you are willing to cut and display for your event. It can be used to point the way to all sorts of possibilities.

4. Gift giving. Wrap up your old boxes in gift wrap for a holiday box.

5. Postal shipping. Use your box to ship something to someone else!

6. Moving? Save your boxes! This can cost a lot if you don't have enough! 

7. Furniture.  Sounds goofy, I know, but if you need a side table to hold lightweight items, cover with a sheet or decorative cloth...THERE ya go! Here's a link for a cool chair!

8. Children's blocks. Save up small boxes and let the kids build with them as blocks.

9. Forts/Castles and puppet stages. Again, this could be child's play, but it's a good use and economical! More ideas!


10. Fair/Carnival/Party play.  Use the box for games such as "Go Fish" or other carnival came...Toss the Beanbag into one...it's endless! (See below for the fishing game idea.)

Use up those cardboard boxes...To store them empty, break them down and lay flat. You can store them behind, and underneath things OR even in garage rafters....You can never have too many boxes!

Fishing Game

Large box~big enough for a person or two to get into...the bigger the person~the bigger the box needed.
Fishing poles~make these from willow branches or other soft limbs.  Tie string or yarn onto the end of the "pole" and attach a hinged clothes pin to the end of it.  This is so when the player "fishes" a prize of either wrapped candy OR a small carnival prize can be attached.  Another variation is to have either colored disks (poker chips will work) or even colored note file cards.  Attaching a different color means a different prize that the 'fisher' could win!  The prizes are displayed and the color chip or file card bearing "fisherman" redeems their prize from the displayed prizes categorized by colors: however you desire, but here's an idea: red~biggest prize: maybe a stuffed animal (Do you have loads you need to get rid of???) blue: 2nd place prize (carnival toy~oriental traders type small items (the bulk carnival prize stuff) yellow: 3rd place prize~piece of candy only.  Have fun with your boxes!! AND it's carnival season~whoohoo!

Using It UP~Cardboard boxes!

Falling for the Garden!

I've written a great deal about our garden efforts this year and the wonderful harvest from it! 54 qts of tomatoes are just waiting for my pot this next year along with squash, peppers, and in a few weeks~celery! I've had all the tomato and summer salad greens (spring mix and spinach) with cucumber a gal could enjoy FRESH from the patch! But Autumn is here, so now is the time to prepare for NEXT year's garden and bountiful harvest!

We have an overgrown and wieldy mess out there NOW~

Pull it out~chop it down and put into the compost.

One of the best things I am doing NOW for the future is composting!

All of our garden refuse will be chopped into the composting area so it can decompose...

We are tilling up our bed now, will put into it leaves and manure for the winter rest of the land...

Our yard does not have hardwood trees, but evergreens so we will offer to rake some leaves for some leaves for our bed...

We are falling for our garden this Autumn so our garden will produce for us next season!

Mortgage Issues In THIS Economy??

There's loads of talk about short sales, foreclosures and bankruptcy being solutions for many...but the fall out is HUGE~hence why I am a proponent of buckling down to PAY debts as best we can: living and loving on less so that IF at ALL possible, mortgages can be taken care of and paid.  These are tenuous times for all of us. . .hardly is there an American who has not felt the economic crunch of job losses and the declining economy.  Even if you haven't experienced an economic shift, none is secure! I really do advocate that everyone attempt to live a life in more simplicity and frugality.  Better to do it long before a disaster when savings can be built and appetites for "things" isn't fed, than when all havock breaks loose and there are so much change that have to be made just to stay afloat! 

Access your mortgage situation.  Find every way possible to pay it if AT ALL possible!
Find new money in the forms of creative jobs and living frugally.  Saving really does equal more disposible cash~less utilities, food costs and all other expenditures will equal a little bit more to place on the mortgage situation. 

I have heard of stories of ugliness from mortgage lenders when folks have tried to "negotiate" differing terms...FIND a WAY~ do what you can do! Work a good solid plan to manage debt.  Consider consumer credit counseling and QUIT spending on anything but essentials! ESSENTIALS...I know I am saying hard and irritating words~but losing a home is so traumatic, and as you will be able to SEE Clark Howard on Shortsales, Foreclosures, and Bankruptcy  the answer will not be in a ONE of those IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!

These are tough times, and the old trite saying still holds TRUE:

When the going gets tough, the TOUGH GET GOING!

Busting Debt,

Why Thriving With No Green$?

I am debt busting and budget boosting! I don't profess to know all the answers! I encourage and want to hear all about what you are doing to make it too!  Hello & leave me a comment! ;-))

This is a blog about doing life on the Saving and Frugal~living on less to have more later! There are many sources out there on this subject, but I am paring it right on down to using up, making do, and extending out so that we can make it, survive and thrive is this busted economy! Never has there been a greater need in the past thirty years to squeeze so much out of our financial resources.  Some methods out there just don't work! Gimicky stuff, spending to "save" and all that will just keep us spending our hard earned money when what we need are ideas and methods that are solid to live as well as we can on what we have to live on. 

Yours for busting debt and boosting budgets!

Using It UP~Tissue Cardboard Rolls

Waste will fill up our dumps and landfills before the stuff we throw away can decompose! I won't use any stats here, but we all need to remember that recycling and re-purposing is a great effort to reduce waste and save our money.

So what do you do with your toilette paper rolls when you have finished with the tissue?  They are nice card board tubes, and there are some neat ideas to do with them.

1.  Snowflake, flower or star gift decoration or ornament: Cut in 1/4 inch circles so that you have circles from the tube.  Glue them with sides to each side in either of the three shapes using clothes pins to hold the glued sides until dried.  When dry, spray paint the color of your choice.  If a snowflake, white; star, gold or silver and flower, red.  Use the matching color in glitter to add sparkle.  When completely dry, you can hang with an ornament hanger for the Christmas tree or use a thin ribbon or cord to tie on a package.

2.  Party Favors for a Girl's Birthday Tea Party:  Once we held a Birthday Tea for our daughter and used tissue paper tubes to place small gifts inside for the guests.  You cut a center slit in the tube so it will break open in the center.  I wrapped the tube with gift inside with tissue to old it tightly with the gift wrap about 3 inches longer than the tube on each end.  I used ribbon to tie each end closed and made bows.  This made such cute favors, and all one has to do to open is hold each end of the tube and bend away from the middle, and it will break open easily.

3.  Easter Egg Holder: Cut the tube about 2 1/2 inches so that the circles are even on both sides.  You can paint them or cover with paper or fabric.  They can look nice natural too! If you want, you can get dried grass and twigs from the yard and glue them on, or even use Easter grass to decorate the egg holders.  When you have decorated your Easter Eggs and want to display them on your table, set the eggs in the circles to hold them upright!

4.Give them to your children along with other craft supplies such as markers, scissors, glue and colored paper and let them CREATE! You would be surprised what they will come up with~preschoolers LOVE to make things...what about a finger puppet or a Christmas decoration using some ribbon or yarn to tie off one end to make streamers.  The tube can be colored, covered or decorated and then the end without the streamers can have one string to make a way for it to hang by putting a hole in opposing sides of the roll. A hand held hole punch is good to use for this one!

5. Your idea (WITH CREDIT) here!


Here's more ideas from Frugal Families: 
http://frugal.families.com/blog/creative-uses-for-toilet-paper-rolls
Squidoo.com idea with YouTube videos (lots of ads, but nice ideas!)
 http://www.squidoo.com/reusepaperroll
Loads of printables to use with your tprolls!
http://www.dltk-kids.com/type/tp_roll.htm
About.com

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/cardboardtubecrafts/Cardboard_Tube_Crafts.htm
 Have fun with this "renewable" resource~ya NEVER run out of these!!

I Just Pressed the HELP Button!

Yeah, I did...and WHAT I really need is a HELP BUTTON for my frugal efforts...I am wasted today.  Can you relate? Do you feel like your efforts are just a drop in the bucket for everything you need done or need to do? I have been there, and honestly sometimes I think I am still there~but I do have to recognize that my efforts are making a difference for my family: in some parts are making a huge difference! But right now, I am ticked, truly ticked at my family. I am ranting and venting so you can see that SisterT isn't just so full of herself that she isn't willing to share in the struggle! Oh yeah,,,this can be a struggle! Here's my tale:

Saturday I spent the whole day~literally doing the "Laundry Fairy" thing getting the clothing and add ins for a family of four~not 20, and so my darling hubby was so kind as to make some homemade wonderful speghetti sauce with the tomatoes from our garden, 1/2 a Japanese pumpkin (seed was supposed to have been acorn squash lol!), peppers and onions.  Yum! Honestly it was good~I know the pumpkin sounds like an odd addition, but it was fine in it! So husband cooked and made noodles and a whole gallon of his sauce...well...well...I didn't come down nor did I work on Sunday to clean up my kitchen.  NOPE~so it's all really MY OWN fault for this,,,but what gets me is not the sink of dirty dishes, but spaghetti that got left in the pot uneaten or un-stored. . . Aren't WE supposed to be saving and savoring every drop, working to maximize our yield so we don't have to purchase more that will save us money in the long run??? WHY was there spaghetti THAT I DIDN'T cook still in the pot dried~dead ~working on being wasted and rotten?????????????????????????????? Can't you tell I am not only kicking myself, but disgusted because I do believe in the "waste not want not" ideals. I have found over the years that often if I have gotten rid of something without thought, I ended up needing or wanting it later on...hence a well thought out plan is best!

Family cooperation MUST be a tremendous part of our budget/frugal plan...It has to begin with and end with each of the family on board... 
With waste and destruction comes cost!
Each family member has to do their part to pull the cart towards financial freedom from debt and worry.  I am worried about debt, and what would happen should my husband have an economic down shift in his earnings verses his abilities now to support us.  What would most of us do if suddenly our spouse or ourselves, for that matter, finds the employer sitting down with us/them and saying the dreaded words: layoff, downsizing, restructure or worse yet: fired.  The fallout from such is devastating financially and emotionally.  We've "been there and done that"~you think WE'D learn! Hence my efforts and mostly the efforts of my family, but not in this instance, have worked to save every cent and be frugal while making life as pleasurable as possible within our means.  I am not just heart sick over my lost spaghetti noodles, shoot! That's not much money, really...but any is too much! But in the discovery, I also found destruction occurring of my only few months old counter top that hubby installed, and we had gotten for a song~literally! Please pray for our family.  It's MEETING TIME to get on the same page and to shore up our previous goals had set so we can march forward towards them.

So where are you in the journey to debt free or making it on less? Do you need to re-eval your methods and goals? Do you need a MEETING with all family members to discuss ways EVERYONE can help? You won't accomplish this alone; it will take the whole family! Here's some ideas:

1. Re-eval goals.  What is and isn't working?
2. Revise as needed.
3. Get the family together to discuss their vision and goals. Enlist their help AGAIN!
4. Discuss ways everyone can economize.
5. Make a plan.
6. Make goals with rewards.  This is as is all of this individual.  Do you have a debt you want to conquer or a vacation or renovation or some utility item you want to save for? Discuss with the family and gain cooperation and let all have a say in how the rewards are spread.  For our kids we increased their allowances.  But I will tell you that if destruction continues, I will be docking instead of paying!
7.  Post up the goals in public (your home now) places so you can be reminded.  Keep your eye on the prize!

I wish there was a REAL help button to push in this instance! My counter top which we obtained for $20 as a damaged item at a budget store which hubby was able to trim to fit perfectly is now with an imperfection. I am NOT happy! BTW~this exact pattern if had I special ordered it would have cost me 5 times the price we paid for the piece.  With damage, it's value now has decreased.   This "issue" isn't that easy a fix...

GET the family's cooperation! Everyone on the same page makes the journey maximized towards success!

Using It UP~Empty Tissue Boxes

 "Have I lost it," you might be wondering? NOT YET, actually I am finding it! Finding new ways all the time to use what I have to re-purpose them into something I can use or would like to use. . .

On top of my TV which, BTW will sound REALLY extreme if I share that we have no channels, no cable~all we watch are DVD/VHS tapes on it! Another post for another time, but think of my savings in this area per year much less just what I am saving keeping that JUNK out of our minds!! But on top of the thing is a tissue box.  It's almost empty. I have another under my kitchen sink where in an old apple crate I am storing trash bags, cleaners, cleaning rags, cleaners (I only use a few), dishwasher powder and odds and ends like this. . .but that tissue box is there for the purpose of storing my grocery and discount store plastic shopping bags for future use!  Yup, I put them in this already attractive enough container...it beat the fabric bag I had that was nice, but you know what? When I get tired or this tissue box gets worn, I can toss it.  A cloth bag can hang around too long~lol!! But at any rate, consider that these boxes can add new uses long after the tissues are gone.

Uses:

1. Cut the top off and use as a vanity/dresser organizer compartment.

2.Use the cut top for a picture frame for a cute pic~make a card board stand and there ya go!

3. Let your preschooler wear them as 'play shoes'! They will have a ball!!

4. The construction of light weight cardboard is good for many uses...wrap for a fake gift at Christmas.  You can place these "fake presents" under your tree if you have small children and don't want them peeking in the packages! OR you can use them with other trees and decorations in the home.

5.  Use them as building blocks for small children.  Save them up...loads of fun!

6. Use in the bathroom vanity drawers for organization. They will hold a lot of stuff!

7.  Any ideas on using these UP?  Give me your ideas !!

Finding new ways to live budgetly!

Manicure Tips from a Cosmotologist Mom/Homeschooler!

Thanks Tracy for your Tips at Memo Monday on The Post
http://hsbapost.com/

http://hsbapost.com/2009/09/beauty-school-the-post/
 Easy and will save huge bucks to do this yourself or with a friend.

You can read my post
http://sistertipstersthriving.blogspot.com/2009/08/pedicure-pamperingsimply.html


JUST CAUSE we are living on the "cheap" doesn't mean we have to LOOK that way!

Saving more! Enjoying MORE!

How Low Can You Go?

Remember the Limbo Game? It's a ton of fun to see who can scoot under the pole and shimmy without touching at the lowest point...Everybody who's playing is usually excited and laughing to see the players contort to get below the mark~to get the lowest to go lower and lower...and lower...

I want to ask you, if you were facing financial ruin or hardship would you make any changes before it hit to prevent or minimize the effects? What strategy would you employ to minimize the situation in your family's livelihood?

We all would do what it would take to keep our families safe and sound. I know that thinking about these economic times with all the fear and uncertainty is not the mindset many of us want to have, nor should we live in fear and anxiety. But we would be better to think in terms of strategy and methods for doing what we can to lower our outgo so that if we should face these kinds of issues we are more prepared. I don't want to be presumed to be negative or a "dooms day" prophet, but I do want to offer a honest evaluation of the economy and situations for many in our communities and even some of us...we are looking for ways to cut expenses, make do, thrive and survive so that we live...and how low we are willing to go can just like the game~and we know life is NO GAME, but like that game...how low we are willing to go can make the difference in our staying in the economic playing field or even winning~staying viable!

I have been practicing methods of thrift for sometime, years actually because of economic conditions long before the recession. I had to ask myself that question too~how low was I personally willing to go? Each person has to do this for themselves, and it's a personal decision for each of us. But I want to encourage everyone to begin making changes small, bigger, huge, whatever changes you can to lower the outgo so you can sustain any changes that are necessary.

Almost anything you can do will help, and I've read so many times that it is the small amounts of money that add up to huge amounts...that sounds silly doesn't it? But it's really true!

If you are in a situation where the mortgage is threatened with foreclosure the situation will demand greater efforts to go forward. Cutting expenses won't have to equal cutting satisfaction and pleasure out of life. Unfortunately our society places great importance in the value of the things here on earth, but remembering that the simplest pleasures offer the greatest fulfillment will make the choices made easier to bare. It's making up one's mind that thrifty living is a priority and that nothing will surpass this effort.

I received a link, THANKS Marla for http://www.truthinforeclosure.com/ to help us who are in the trench over our homes.

What ways are you lowering your outgo each month? Are you practicing thrift to save each Lincoln so you will thrive in this economy? I'd love to hear what you are doing.

Remember we can do this! Simple and FREE is best!

Use It UP~Empty Bread Bags

Today I made my lunch from a home grown tomato and using the ends from two loaves of bread that we get from a "dent can store," the ones with the damaged packaging where we only paid~ARE YOU READY? $.50 per loaf and while this is a great savings, AND I enjoyed my thrifty sandwich (the mayo came from there too!) I had two empty bread bags that I was looking at, and they began to "inspire" me...

Call me nuts if you wanna ;-)) but I remember back around 30 plus years ago before baby wipes, moms carrying wet wash cloths for babies in used bread bags for excursion diaper changes. They carried one with the wet cloth(s) and another to hold the soiled cloths. This way costs very and still is a great way of dealing with messy babies or littles who need a wipe down while out and about. It's been a few years...my kids are teens now, since I had to wipe them down. If you want to save in this area, think of your bread bags and wash cloths. I'd suggest using thin older cloths, but you might have nice baby grade wash cloths too...but use what you have...and if you have a towel with a hole developing, you can cut it up, bind the edges either by hand or machine and use up the towel for baby rags or any other cleaning for that matter. Now binding can be done with a blanket stitch by hand or the zig zag or rolled hem on the machine. Go to the end for a simple and homespun but all you really need to know to do the blanket stitch on anything~

Bread bags are useful for many things. I was thinking of my uses today, and they are really food grade plastic~our food/bread is stored in them, so it's not like a grocery plastic sack, these are safe . Here are some ideas:

1. Store your iceberg lettuce in it down in the crisper~when you open your iceberg lettuce set the head of lettuce on your table or counter with the stem side facing up. I take my palm and hit that spot very hard, and sometimes I have to use my fist and the whole stem will come out. Do not wash it unless you are going to use it all right then. Just break off what you need, using paper napkins or towel, wrap the unused lettuce and place it in the bread bag and store in your crisper. It will keep crisp a whole lot longer and if you don't use a metal bladed knife to cut it, it will not turn brown. Tare lettuce and break it from the head~it will last longer, and you have a great lettuce keeper in your old bread bag.

2. Messy clean up bags~It's never EVER a good idea to put any type of oil or grease down the kitchen sink. To clean it out, I've used bread bags on my hands to scrape out messes from the fry pan into the trash as well as food stuff that is not consumable. In the south, and I hardly ever ever do this, but you might~because it's delishous: fry with flour or cornmeal...like fried chicken or porkchops. I don't HONESTLY do either for health reasons, but I have in the past, and using a bread bag to clean out the residue...now some will drain the greese (no recipe here ;-)) and make gravy~can't you imagine a zillion calories per bite, but it's so good~ Anyway, cleaning up this mess is just that...a mess~and we can't put that pipe clogging stuff down our sinks, so use the bag as a glove. Also in the kitchen I will use it to tie up small messes~like the tomato stems and skins I was working with that I wasn't composting and didn't want to smell~fish is another thing~even if you are hauling the trash out right away, another 'layer of protection' in a bread bag against the juices or odors getting in the can is not a bad idea...also when I deal with watermelon or any kind of melon...it's great to use these to place sees and rhines til you can compost or get them out. Now you can also use it for a glove for many other gross (ewww) uses too which I won't name, but you can get the idea! My husband has hauled bags with him when walking our dog to be polite to neighbors...they're great for cat box duty and more...

3. Tie up your sandwich with them or other tie-able foods. Just remember these are food grade so they are already safe enough to store food. I've made whole loaves of bread into sandwiches and put them in the bread bag for trips and excursions for our family. I'm passing out the sandwiches as we need to eat them on trips and using a lose knot to hold the bread bag closed~when I'm done I can toss it out...I've even put fruit and used them to hold popcorn that we needed to carry. A tip about popcorn: be sure it cools before placing it or your bag will melt and a hole will develop into it. (I love homemade popcorn~it's cheeper...) You can take dry cereal, homemade snake foods like homemade granola, chex mix or trail mix too...it's endless really!

4. Crafting can take on a different edge~if you crochet, you can crochet them up into floor mats for the doors~or you can use them to store items like craft paints by type or color, fabric remnants, and even other small items for crafts. I have a good stash of lace, and sometime back I organized using baggies and bread bags~this will work well with yarn too~the shape is right. Just be SURE the bag is clean as you don't want to draw bugs or other 'visitors' with your bread bags. I've cut open a bread bag and used it for a placemat to paint on protecting the kitchen table. Bread bags are limitless!

5. Keep one or two in the glove box of your vehicle for unexpected sickness in the car~if you have children they are the right size and will get you home without having to really clean the upholstery of your vehicle.

6. Bread bag lunch 'plates'~cut it up and eat your sandwich on it...it's FREE and while not as pretty as a paper towel for eating on~the price is right! Why throw the thing out without some good use?

What would you do with a bread bag? Have you ever used them for other than storing bread?
Tell me! Share your tips!! I'd love to hear what you've done or are doing!

Using it up just makes good sense to our budgets~
bread bags have many uses!

Here's that YouTube Video on the blanket stitch~simple by will demonstrate...use yarn with a big eyed needle or crochet thread with a large eye needle. You will want a thread that is thicker than standard thread for binding wash cloths. Thanks to dreamalittle7 for this video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJht13Bcw-U

Using It UP Ideas~Bath Products

Do you love good smelling bath products? I enjoy them myself, but they can be costly if we don't be sure we are using them up before discarding the containers. It seems like there is always some product left in the bottom when it's no longer easy to get it out...I want to see an empty container~no product when it no longer pumps or is easy to get out! But as we all know, the container is not empty~there's always a little bit more in there~so here's what I do...actually depending on how the container is made.

For the pour type bottle, I will set or lean it so the product will flow through gravity to the bottom. Sometimes if the top won't allow for this, I prop it against something so it will have the gravity to flow toward the lid so I can get it out. I have wedged bottles upside down in between the towel bar in the bathroom too if it will fit~get creative so gravity will help get the last little bit where it's accessible!

For the tube type containers, I practice rolling up the bottom towards the opening. This is a method that works well with toothpaste too, but the different type of material for the kind of tube will hold the rolled shape with toothpaste, but not with most generally bath body wash tubes~so each time after you have found it near impossible to get any out, just start rolling. You can shake it down with the lid on and towards the ground a few brisk shakes. If this fails to produce results, then try rolling the end. Now if this fails, get your handy-dandy scissors and cut it open. This is not a container you can reuse and there isn't a good way to add water into it to "rinse out" any unused product...so cut the sucker open ;-)) Cut at the end so you can add water for one last bath with it~GET IT ALL OUT~use it up!

For the pump~I actually like these as I recycle the pump containers by purchasing new product to add into them. Since I add more product into them, there is not waste, but IF I were going to throw one away, I would "rinse it out" using water by unscrewing the top and then either pouring or using the pumper. Dilution doesn't have to be so thin that the effectiveness of the product is lost. Just dilute enough to cleanse out the container so nothing is wasted at you're using it up!

Bar Soaps~REALLY these are still sold and we use them! If you do too, they can be a great money saver~here's a tip: open the wrappers and let them set on the shelf to air dry before you put it out for use. I have read before that this doesn't work to make a bar last longer, but I have found that info to be false! It will last longer if the bar is air dried first. The other secret is to keep it in a place as it is used where it can stay air dried or drying. If it's left in a tub of water or on a pool of water beside the sink it will soften and melt...this isn't making it last for sure~so be sure it gets and stays dry after each use! NOW what can we do with those soap slivers? I have used my grater to shave them into small pieces; I have even used an old leg of panty hose...yeah, some still use these too, to put a collected handful of slivers and tied it to the tub for kiddo baths...this way the soap all stays together and the kids can have fun with a stretchy funny looking bath soap "thingy!" ;-)) Also I have tied this panty hose leg with soap onto the outside hose faucet for outside clean ups before kids come in the house after playing! Oh yeah...it's got some pretty practical uses to it because it you but the hosery leg with just enough length to tie a knot (if you aren't going to tie it TO SOMETHING) you can carry it to wherever you need soap just like a bar soap. It works well in camping and loads of messy outside clean ups! The hosery also acts like a scrubbie! For the flakes, I disolved them and put them into water for a hand soap. I have never cooked them on the stove to disolve them, but I have heard of it...I did use in my laundry once, but didn't like the results~could have been the brand of soap because some soaps have moisturizers that will not work well in clothing. You decide about using soap shavings in your washer~ok? But use it all up~don't waste a bit...find a way...AND if tell me too~ I am ALWAYS looking for ways to do more with what I have or with the less I have~ ;-))

Using it up~all of it~prevents waste, which, in the long and short run, is a money saver! The less I have to purchase as a result of the product lasting longer is GOOD for the ole pocketbook!

Let's keep at it~saving that is!
Don't forget to share your bath product saving secrets with me ;-))

Beating the Blues With No Green$

I love Blues music. Growing up in the south has acquainted me with the saltry sounds of blues, jazz and southern rock for years. . .there's a sadness, a cry to it underneath the tones that soothes and calms...Without sound finances, the blues could be more than a genre of music for us who are living on less than we once had or less than we had hoped or less than is adequate for our "needs." So how do we beat these blues without green$ or money? Many people find that the ability to do things that cost money, to bring loads of "joy:"travel, possessions, experiences and more can suddenly be out of reach and now there's a need~a void where something once was that NOW may or may not ever return...how can we be happy and joyful, beating the blues without the green$?



Here are some ideas:

1. Consider our 'mindset' to think about what's really important or satisfies.

I wrote about this an entry or so back...what satisfies you? Is it touchable by human hands or is it something that is inward, inside your being that does this? The ability to be satisfied is rooted in our priorities. God should be our number one, but then where do the other areas find their place in our lives? Prioritize the things and ideals of this life...

2. Create a plan to do something with what we already have as a ready and able resource. Huh?

Yes, look at what is available and within our grasp that we might not be utilizing to its fullest. Do we have a deck or porch, an out door swing? Get on it and listen to the birds! Sit in the sunshine for a few minutes and breathe the fresh air! Does it need scrubbing? Go do that! Sidewalk? Sweep it~clean it, edge it... While outside, hear, smell and feel all of God's beautiful nature! Take a walk. Pick wild flowers by the side of the road (as long as it's legal to do so!) Do you have a bike? Take a ride! Craft items unused~get them out~work on a project...does your office or school room or den or kitchen pantry need organizing? WHAT about creating something in the kitchen to eat? Do you cook? What is there to do? What is there to use up and or re-purpose for another item! Find a way to use those ready and able resources that are just THERE without us using them~busy hands and minds lifts the spirit!

3. Concert with true joy!

Music with positive effects will chase the blues and beat it! Turn on music when you can...I like a quiet home with the sounds so low that you literally hear the dog snore, birds sing and keyboard keys clicking, but some homes have the noise of the television and radio constantly around them. Is NOISE a problem? If so, quieten down the atmosphere. If quiet is too much, then add some musical sound~I like online radio and radio theature. I always have liked a good radio drama or story. I enjoy a dramatic reading of books and the Bible. These can be found online or at the libray to be borrowed for FREE~

4. Creation~God's showcase!

Living with a sense of the wonder of God and creation beats the blues with no green$ I have enjoyed looking at the sky from time to time. Did you ever like I did lay in the grass and watch the cloud formations change with the breezes to create different looks that could be most anything my imagination could see? I love looking and watching a sunset, sunrise and the moon cycle. I like star gazing and have been known to check out when mediaorite showers were occurring or other night sky activities. Appreciating God's creation lends itself beyond skyward watching but into all of nature. I love wildlife. We have a bunny living in our back yard~little wonder if our garden didn't survive, but my hubby put wire around it at the level his ears would have touched and he didn't like it, so he's pretty much left it alone! But I love bunnies and dear and raccoons, possums, beavers, badgers. . . I like turtles, not snakes so much or lizards, but most else...they are amazing! I enjoy the seasons watching our follage change with the times...ALL this stuff is FREE! Amazing that the greatest amusements are not man contrived and are true budget boosters!

5. Camp out for fun!

Do you camp? I am not a tent camper. In fact, we own an old OLD hard side shell camper with air just because I am not a real rough it kind of gal...but for vacationing, it's really less to go to state and national park camping sites for a few~going rates now for full hook ups are around $15-20 per night...Camping in the rough without bathhouses is less. . . I CAN see why! ;-)) But when we have vacationed, the camper provided our own home with our own facilities for minimal money. How cheap can you go? Is a good question here~but since I like to go this way...it works for us...tent camping if you already own it, or if you can borrow it or get it for a song is really less! But camping can really make travel affordable~and relaxation back to nature!

6. simpliCity~

Simplicity~I just realized that on my kitchen table is a mayo jar that we had cleaned out~I save these for bulk spices and left over storage in the fridge as well as craft projects and even kid science~bug homes! This jar has some wildflowers in it that I am certain my son went out and found beautiful that he has brought home to share with all of us. Simple? YES! But I wouldn't trade my mayo jar-vase and my son's flowers for the nicest boquet of roses I could be given~there's love in that bunch of flowers from a son to his family~simple? Oh yes...but also priceless! I've written about all kinds of things that can be used for things they were not originally intended for in their uses~but do the trick inexpensively...simplicity is an art form of simple which can lend itself to clean and oderly. Less really is more!

7. Cool cost saving water!

Water is a cost saver! Drinking water is healthy and loads healthier than almost any other fluid we can consume. First by drinking water, we will save on all the other drinks that we've been socially conditioned to drink...LET ME SEE...CoolAid, CokaCola, Pepsi, CountryTime, Tea-many brands...somehow have come to equate wealth or a sense of having, but as our ancestors and even the original peoples of society knew, water is at the VERY core of all of life! Drinking it is the best thing not only money but health wise...OH I forgot the very fashionable pricy coffees these days...I happen to not like coffee, so this is no draw for me~but it's a challenge to drink water, but so so sooo good to do so...whole towns and cities grew around clean and good water sources~now we can truck or pipe it in...the desert regions are populated...but water is essential to survival and it definitely beats the blues! Just turn on the tap...chilled or not...mmmm, it's so wonderful!

8. Celebrations can be cost savers

They need not break the bank! Simplicity is the key here too! But inviting friends and family into our lives to share our joys and even our sorrows beats the blues. Fixing a simple meal, desert or just a glass of tea or water. . .now our culture says we generally offer something! But it need not be elaborate! Gatherings can perk up the spirit. I like Christmas open houses, or New Year's Eve gatherings~these can be fun!

9. Country roads and rides...

Going for a drive~I like long country roads with nothing but trees and nature. My favorite road is called Stagecoach Road in Bloomingdale, GA where it once was an actual stagecoach trail with double ruts where wheels were pulled by horses...today it's paved from one end to the other and has grown with houses, but as a child riding this with my parents taught me so much about the landscape of how people travels before cars and the modern highway system...the trees overhung to the point of brushing our old stationwagon...the canopy was dense over where it was shady and cool. . . Where can you find the past in the view of your vehicle? These kinds of rides beat the blues by bringing a sense of wonder and curiosity~who was here? What did they do? Where did they go? I also like..OK, I am weird...cemetaries. I love old and historical ones with old old old old headstones and markers...I want to KNOW the people of the past...this must be part of my love for history! I am not saddened by these places as death is part of life, but find in the types of remembrances in the markers a testament to those who once lived. I come from a city full of history, but really no matter where you live, whether it's "historical" or not, it ALL is history...all places, people and things have a story to tell. . .I guess I just want to know...I care...So get out like I and find your community's history and story...these are pricess!

10. Contribute...

Tell your own story~share something about yourself or even share yourself. You can blog like I am doing~which is virtually free-we already have the items needed in computer and internet sevices, but sign up to share pieces of what you uniquely bring to others. . .visit retirement or rest homes for added boosts of busting the blues...in giving there is more receiving! I've never given that I ever received less than what I gave! God has seen to this in my life~and even in my most depleated worn out state, He has shown me that what I gave returned multifold. But share, give and reach out to someone~there's no price in this kind of love and goodness! AND it's generally free on our end of it...of we give of ourselves to show love with either listening or helping~can we volunteer in an effort to help? Can we show a help to someone who needs to know they are loved? Beating the blues can happen without money!

What are you doing to beat the blues, the depression that can accompany an economic downturn? What are you trying, have tried and how's it working?

Singing a little song and beating the blues...

Using It UP Ideas~Dryer Sheets

Beginning here, I will post what I am going to call: Using It Up Ideas on items that we either throw away or could have another use other than the advertised or intended ones so that we can get as much utility as possible for our items~and save the landfills a bit! So while I was in the laundry "palace" today, I realized that using all those dryer sheets and then throwing them away needs to come to some "greater good" for a second go around of use! I examined those white thin "airy" looking rectangles and gave it some thought. I came up with a few ideas, but I want to thank my mother, Betty for her ideas too! Mamas know best~this is undisputed!

Here's the ideas~

1. Dryer lint remover
2. Sachet craft idea or perfumed for a dresser drawer or suit cases
3. Static remover
4. Dust rag
5. Doll clothes pattern material
6. Stuffing for crafts
7. Material for scrapbooking/card cutouts


Dryer Lint Remover

The lint filter of an electric or gas dryer if not properly cleaned can make the machine operate so poorly! I use my dryer sheet from the load I am taking care of to wipe the lint out of the mesh screen. This really does a nice job, and reduces any static that might accumulate in the area. With one easy swipe, I have all the lint and into the trash it goes! Easy!!


Sachet or scented "cloth" for dresser drawers/suit cases

I knew a lady once who made the cutest sachets for her dressers~she utilized the used dryer sheets which have a thin and airy look to them~almost like homemade paper to put popourri into and tied them with a pretty ribbon. Now the trick was to cut the rectangle into a circle with some sharp scissors that can have a decorative edge or straight. The idea though is a nice neat edge. After tying in a pretty bow, then silk flowers were added. The scent was very nice. These made nice little favors or gifts for "Just Because!"

Put used dryer sheets into your luggage to keep it smelling fresh between uses. You can also save them and layer them into your clothing being packed. Smells good!


Static Remover

Carry one in your purse during the windy seasons in your area to use to rub on your clothing if you find yourself with static cling. For those who wear nylon hosery or unmentionables, this use can really help if you find you are clinging in unbecoming ways~always rub the undersides of the cothing next to your skin as that's the direction of the charge pulling the fabrics toward you...or rub it in between your layers if that's where the problem is occurring. You don't want to be clingy!



Dust Rag

I'd make sure my dryer sheet had gone twice in the dryer before rubbing it on my monitors and TV screens...you don't want to smear the softner there~what a mess that could be! But after using all the softening agent, then the tiny bit left will draw the dust and make cleaning easier! I know what to call this~Magnetic Cleaning with DRYER SHEETS!!


Doll Clothes Pattern

Granted dryer sheets won't make a pattern for large items, but for some doll clothes they will make nice permanent patterns. Just trace the original onto the dryer sheet and cut it out. Be sure to mark which piece that it is and what the pattern is so that if a single piece gets seperated, it can be easily found and placed with its coordinating items. This is a great idea to piece together!



Stuffing for Cloth Crafts

If you save enough you can use them to stuff things with instead of purchasing additional materials. This definitely saves on the overall cost of the project~whoohoo more savings!

Material for Scrapbooking and Cardmaking Cut Outs

I love making my own cards. In recent years I've not made very many, but I even like to handmake the embellishments for my cards and scrapbook pages. The almost lacy or handmade paper look makes dryer sheets a unique material to make objects~snowflakes, snowmen, hearts, candles...anything you could use white: wedding motiffs and more! Use good sharp scissors and go to town! With some good craft glue, these will adorn anything you are doing in the paper craft world!

This is the Using it UP Ideas~Dryer Sheets post. If you have an idea to share I'd love to hear from you! Look for more Using It Up Ideas!