Money Saving Tips for the Frugal Mom – Homemade Cleaners

01. April 2009 · 1 comment · Categories: Homemade Products, Household, Money Saving Tips · Tags: ,

Click Here for Giveaways & Coupon Codes

Add your giveaways 

I do keep certain eco-friendly cleaners around the house for tough jobs, but for all the everyday stuff like wiping down counters, cleaning mirrors, and general disinfecting, I prefer vinegar water.  When it comes to household cleaning, the best money saving tip I can think of to help the frugal mommy has got to be white vinegar.

I purchased a few spray bottles several years ago – one for each bathroom and one for the kitchen.  I mix about 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 purified water.  For a little extra cleaning power (and to make it smell better), I add a few drops of sweet orange oil.  Shake the bottle well and start cleaning!  There is very little that can’t be cleaned with this simple spray.  I even manage to get stains out of our very white Berber carpet (which was here when we moved – who’s idea was that?!?) If you have tough stains, say on your stovetop, you can sprinkle a little baking soda on after spraying the surface down and scrub most stuck-on stuff right off.

When you purchase white vinegar, make sure it’s made from grains as opposed to being produced using petroleum based methods.  At this point I’ve been using Heinz; my understanding has been this is a safe one to purchase.  I buy big jugs at Costco and that one jug will last months for cleaning and cooking.  As I said, this has got to be one of the best money saving tips I can think of for household cleaning – not to mention chemical free!

Money Saving Tips for the Frugal Mom – Hand-Me-Downs.com

25. March 2009 · 1 comment · Categories: Money Saving Tips · Tags: , , ,

Click Here for Giveaways & Coupon Codes

Add your giveaways 

I have yet to get rid of a single article of baby clothing.  My son is almost three, and since I’m a major bargain shopper, he’s always had mounds of clothes.  So now those mounds of clothes have become boxes of clothes – and loss of a whole corner of the basement.  I have to guess many of you are in the same situation.  Perhaps you just haven’t been ready to part with sentimental ties, but perhaps in this economic crunch, selling some unused baby stuff would help get the family by.  Or maybe you’d like to purchase some gently used items rather than breaking out the wallet for the inflated prices of new stuff.  Hand-Me-Downs.com is today’s Money Saving Tip for the Frugal Mom.

Hand-Me-Downs.com allows parents to shop by region to find the best deals on gently used baby and child items; it also gives parents the opportunity to list their used items for free, or at low cost for premium listings.  This clean, well organized site is one to bookmark for certain.  Better yet, register with them and you could win a $629 Bugaboo Frog Stroller!  

More features on Hand-Me-Downs.com include classifieds offering free items and information on charities where parents may choose to donate their items.  Soon, parents will even be able to bid on celebrity hand-me-downs, including items already waiting in the wings from Nicole Richie, with the proceeds going to charity.  

Overall, this site is a real winner, whether you’re in need of items, spare cash, or just the basement space.  We’ve been really focused on eliminating unused items in our house, trying to take a more minimalist approach (and gain some breathing room!) so I’ll be registering at Hand-Me-Downs.com right away.  I can’t use a Bugaboo Frog Stroller anymore, but if I win I’ll be sure to pass it on to one of you!  Because giving is one of the biggest money saving tips this frugal mom can think of.

Money Saving Tips for the Frugal Mom – Shampoo

19. March 2009 · 8 comments · Categories: Money Saving Tips · Tags: , , ,

Click Here for Giveaways & Coupon Codes

Add your giveaways 

There’s something about a poor economy that makes us all start grabbing our wallets a little tighter, isn’t there?  But how do you stay green while saving green?  I know many people view natural alternatives as being the more expensive choice, but they’re not always. In many cases, choosing a natural alternative can be much, much cheaper.  I’ll be focusing on several money saving tips in the days to come.  Be sure to check the Money Saving Tips category; better yet, bookmark it!  I’ve got some good stuff lined up.  Today is a quick tip on saving money on those great natural shampoos.

I love all-natural shampoos, and I’m always searching for the best ones to review and give away.  But they can be more expensive.  How to make them last longer?  Simple.  Most products these days are pretty concentrated.  Next time you empty that shampoo bottle, rinse it well and add just a few squirts from the new bottle of shampoo.  Mix it with water.  You may need to experiment with how much to add.  I’ve added a lot before, taking just a squirt and putting as much as 1/2 cup of water in the bottle with it.  Giving it a good shake adds so much sudsing power you’ll be surprised!  Since many all-natural shampoos don’t suds as much as their chemical-laden counterparts, this is an excellent way to get the most out of the best.

Also remember, it’s not necessary to wash your hair with shampoo every day.  If you’re using natural shampoos, they don’t contain the chemicals commercial shampoos use to make your hair feel greasy so you use more product! (Yes, they do that.) So try washing your hair every other day, or alternating with a vinegar/water mix.  (Cider vinegar brings out the red highlights, fellow Irish girls!)

Check back for more money saving tips!  And if you’ve got your own frugal mom ideas that celebrate the green, all-natural lifestyle, leave a comment here or drop me an email at themommyspot(at)gmail(dot)com.  I’d love to hear about them!