Yard Sales, Thrift Stores & More!

Summer might officially be over, but there are still plenty of yard sales going on! Now is a great time to be on the lookout for Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations as people are cleaning out to make room for the new.

Look for:

• Pretty tins to package home baked Christmas goodies in
• Cute & funky ornaments to add to your tree's collection or to attach to gifts
• Turkey & Pumpkin decor
• Costumes and/or props for Halloween
• Fall/Winter clothes for kids/family
• Fabric & craft items to make gifts with
• Gentle used toys for gifts

I LOVE yard sales! I was able to hit quite a few today and scored some great finds for my little man. I stopped at three different sales/stores and scored everything above for only $3.50! That makes each item a little under $0.40 for name brands like: Baby Gap, Carters, The Children's Place and others.

Also, don't forget about church sales and thrift stores. One of the places I stopped at today was an area church was having a fifty cent sale, but by the time I showed up everything was $1 a bag!

Another great resource for local readers is the Another Chance thrift store located in North Berwick --kids clothes are only $0.75 each and all adult clothes are only $1!

What unique and useful items do you look for when shopping at yard sales?

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Mama's Frugal Living Tips: Saving on Your Electric Bill!

Afraid that your electric bill will rise along with this hot and humid weather? Use the following tips to help combat cooling exprnses.

Plug it in ...into a power strip! Plug all small appliances, cell phone chargers, any and all gadgets that use standby power into a power strip that can easily be turned off when not in use. 

Make the switch! If you haven't already, switch all of your incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. CFL's help lower your electric bill by using less energy than conventional bulbs --plus they generate less heat. Also get into a habit of turning the lights off intermediately when leaving a room.

Close those curtains! Rooms will get hotter without shades or curtains to help block the sunlight (especially south & west facing windows). Try investing in insulated curtains that will work double duty  --helping to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.  Also, try and seal up any leaks or cracks around windows and doorway frames that will let warm air in.  Buying some chalk or weather stripping from your local hardware store should be all that's needed to seal these up.

Keep it Clean! Make sure to clean out your air conditioning filters at least once a month to keep it running efficiently. In the market to buy a new AC? Be sure to use the Energy Star Guidelines to determine the size unit that you will need. Buying a unit that is too powerful for your space not only wastes energy but is also less effective in reducing humidity.

Turn off fans! That gentle breeze can help make the room feel cooler, but be sure to turn them off when you're not around. Always remember that "fans cool people, not rooms!"

What frugal tricks do YOU use to help save money on your electric bill? Leave a comment and let us know!

(Thanks, SmartMoney!)

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Mama's Frugal Living Tips: Baby Powder to the Rescue!

My hubby and I had a BIG hornet problem this past spring. There was no visible entry point for us to seal up or nest to take care of as the experts had advised us to do, but somehow they kept getting in! I wasn't too keen on these hornets constantly buzzing around my little one and me *or* the idea of bombing and covering everything we own in a nice coating of toxic chemicals. What's was a Mama to do!?

My solution? -BABY POWDER!

I don't know how or why, but IT WORKED! In my desperate attempt to eradicate these pests I simply sprayed the baby powder directly on all the windows and closed the curtains (I imagine you could place some in a bowl and it would work just as well). And, can you believe it, I have not had a single hornet intruder since!

I have also read that applying a thin coating outside of the house and especially near all entry ways not only helps keeps hornets away but also helps repel ants too! You have to reapply after every rain to continue to be effective.

Have more resourceful uses for baby power or other natural remedies for keeping insects out? Please share in the comments!


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Mama's Frugal Living Tips: Yard Saling!

 One of my FAVORITE summer activities is yard saling! Check out my tips below on how to maximize your shopping experience -but most of all have FUN!

Here are My Top 5 Tips for shopping a Yard Sale!

1. Make a List! Be prepared and armed with a game plan. The goal isn't to accumlate a bunch of stuff that you don't need just because it was a 'great deal'. Make a list of everything that you are in need of and/or want. You can categorize it by person, room, or any other category that will make it easy for you to use and read (e.g. Kitchen, Children, Crafts, Books, ect.). Now, that you have your list -put it in your purse or car so you will always have it with you when you shop!
2. Map out your route ahead of time! Not only will this save you time, it will also help save you gas! Use sites like Craigslist or your local paper to find yard sales in your area. Then use Google maps to plan your route.
   Other GREAT sites that will help do all this work for you are:
       * http://gsalr.com/
       * http://yardsaletreasuremap.com
3. Get there EARLY! "The early bird gets the worm" is how the saying goes. It's best to get there early while the selection is at it's largest and all the "good" stuff isn't taken and accounted for. Can't shop until later in the day? Don't beat yourself up, as it gets closer to pack-up time, sellers will be anxious to get rid of things and may give bigger discounts to move an item, plus they might even have even started a pile labeled FREE!
4. Leave the kids at home -if at all possible. If you do need to bring along your little ones, try giving them a couple of dollars for them to spend on their own treasures. It will help prevent them from bringing EVERY stuffed animal or toy car to you for purchase while also helping to teach them about money. 
5. Haggle! While this is not required to have a satisfying and enjoyable time yard saling, sometimes it can be fun! If that antique dresser you have your eye on has a sticker a little too high than your comfortable with, ask the seller if they'll take a lower price. What harm can it do? Worst case scenario they say no, best case scenario you just bought a great new piece of furniture for a fantastic price!

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Mama's Frugal Living Tips: 1001 Uses for White Vinegar!

Many of you already know how handy white vinegar can be inside the home, but with summer officially here =D I thought it would be fun to share 10 ways that white vinegar can be used outdoors! White vinegar is a great alternative to harsh chemicals as it is all natural, making it environmentally safe and toxic free (not to mention easy on the wallet)!

PLUS be sure to check out this website for over a 1000 different uses for white vinegar both inside and out.

1. Polish car chrome. Apply full strength.
   
2. Deter ants. Spray vinegar around doors and along other areas where ants are known.
3. Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting. Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching
4. Relieve sunburn. Lightly rub white vinegar; you may have to reapply.
5. Freshen cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water.
6. Clean plastic patio furniture with a solution of 1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar to 1 gallon of water.
7. Kill weeds. Spray full strength on growth until plants have starved.
8. Discourage cats from getting into the kids’ sandbox with white distilled vinegar.
9. Get rid of rust on spigots, tools, screws or bolts by soaking the items overnight or for several days in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
10. Remove the leftover odor after a rider has been carsick by leaving a bowl of white distilled vinegar overnight on the floor.

What's your favorite way to use vinegar? --leave a comment and let us know!

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