A couple fun tips that save money . . .

I got these next two tips while watching the Rachael Ray Show.

#11

Do you get tired of flat soft drinks? Just squish the air out of your soda bottles after you pour your drink. Replace the cap and stack the soda bottles in the refrigerator. Next time you get your refill, it will be as fresh as if you just opened the bottle for the first time.

#12

Don't you hate it when you buy a gallon of ice cream and you go to get it out of the freezer the next evening and it has already started to crystallize? All you need to do is take some plastic wrap and squish it down into your ice cream container after each use. Your ice cream will be as fresh as the day you bought it! (Seriously! It really works!)

Saving Money

Okay, so it has been a while since we have done our normal blogs posts. Things got pretty crazy around here (and still are!) but we still wanted to show you ways that you can save money since Christmas is approaching.

Money Saving Tip #10

I really love to drink coffee . . . especially Starbucks . . . but that can get a little costly. I’m not afraid to ask for Starbucks gift cards every year for Christmas or my birthday. It makes me happy and Jeremy happy (b/c he’s not spending all that cash on my coffee fetish). I haven't spent money on Starbucks for almost 4 years! Remember, gift cards aren't impersonal if you give someone a gift card to a store they really love.

Money Saving Tip #9

Fix and eat more meals at home.

Eating out all the time can be very expensive and unhealthy. If you are worried that you don't have much time to cook or you don't feel like cooking a whole meal, then crock-pot meals are what you want. You just fix them and forget them! If you're stumped or looking for a new recipe to fix, check out the recipes that we post here on our blog. Also, you can check out www.allrecipes.com.

Money Saving Tip #8

Okay, so you have a savings account but all of that money goes for clothes, food, or buying this years Christmas presents. Why not start a separate savings account for vacations? Just put in about $10 each week. You'll have your money for the every day things that you need and you can make sure that you will have money for that special trip you've always wanted to take.

Saving money while grocery shopping . . .

Money saving tip #7: Always have a grocery list when you're doing your grocery shopping

Then you won't buy things that you don't need. It also helps to write out a meal plan for each week. That way you know what you're going to make and when you're going to make it. If you write out all of the ingredients you need for that weeks meals, you go through your cupboards and pantry and find the ingredients that you already have and cross them off your list. Those you didn't cross off, go on your grocery list. If you follow these steps, you are sure to save money on your grocery bill.

Send a little Greeting

#6: Make your own greeting cards

Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, parties, do I seriously need to keep going?! There are so many family members and friends and there are so many important dates that we had to keep adding to our calendar, that we finally decided that we were sick of going out and getting a card each time. Plus, once we got to the greeting card section, we could never find the card that said exactly what we wanted. That is when I decided that I would make my own. You always have a card on hand, you don't have to waste time searching for the "right" one, and you don't have to worry about anxiety when you flip that card over and realize that the "right" one is in the wrong price range. So, see for yourself! It's pretty simple and you'll save more money than you could ever imagine.

A penny saved is a penny earned...

Money saving tip #5: Make your own cleaning solution

I use white vinegar and water to clean counter tops and tables. It also adds a nice shine to the stainless steel faucets. Do you have a mess in your microwave? Easy! Just add 2 tablespoons lemon juice or baking soda (Using lemon juice leaves a nice fresh scent!) to 1 cup bowl of water and place in your microwave. Heat on high until the mixture boils, then let it boil for 5 minutes so that the steam accumulates on the walls and door of the oven. Remove the bowl and wipe down the interior. Do you hate dusting? Save those used dryer sheets! They work really well on your electronics. The static electricity will repel the dust so you won't have to dust as often. They also work well on blinds.

If you have any money saving tips about cleaning (or anything else!), send them my way. Others might like to read them too!

Cut your costs!

Money saving tips (continued):

#4- We cut our own hair

Actually, Sarah cuts the hair. It's really easy! For men, just use hair clippers with guards. They also have tapered guards that you can use around the ears. For women, if you're wanting a nice layered look, flip your hair over and cut straight across. When you flip your hair back over, you'll get the perfect amount of layers. If you get really good at it, start your own side business!

Save Your Dollars!

It's Wednesday, that means it's time for another money saving tip!

#3- Don't go the Movie Theater

Just wait until the movie is out on DVD and rent it. The cheapest place to rent, that we have found, is out of Red Box (available at Wal-Mart & Walgreens stores) for only $1 a day. Or, if you want to keep it, you can always buy it from iTunes. The best part is that you are in your own home and you don't have to sit in a crowded and chatty theater. Plus, snacks are free!

Money Saving Tips

Since this is a time of economic downfall, I thought that I would take the opportunity to share with you each week, one thing that we are doing to save money.

#1-Shop at discount stores for food and clothing

We buy our food from either Save-a-lot or Aldi. Prices are very reasonable and we have cut our grocery bills by more than half! As far as clothing is concerned, I try not to pay full price for anything unless I am shopping at Wal-Mart. (Wal-Mart's prices are already reduced and they always have clearance racks.) There are other good stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, and Bealls (only in Florida). Thrift stores are good places to check for furniture, shelving, or other things to decorate your house.

#2-If you have a yard plant a garden!

I am adding #2 on this week because it goes along with #1. We planted a vegetable garden and saved money on our grocery bill as well. The summer months here are too hot to really plant anything . . . but that is only 3 months out of the year and we are saving enough money on food anyway. Plus, we were able to help out some of our friends at church with the veggies that we couldn't eat right away.

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I will not always end these money saving tips with a comment but I feel that, since this is our first one, I must! I encourage you to keep track of what you're spending money on each day and week. Ask yourself, "Do I really need this?" Think about what is most important in life. Can you get by with just the bare essentials? One thing that I find important: meditate on Proverbs 6:6-8, which says, Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. The ant is always preparing. Have you ever wrecked an anthill and stood by to see how quickly the ants build it back up? The moment you knock it down, those little ants are scurrying around to fix their home. They are always prepared. I feel that I should prepare how I am going to spend my money and choose to spend it properly. Also, consider the Proverbs 31 woman. How did she spend her money? It wasn't on herself but on the needs of her family. She carefully thought out how she would spend it before she spent it. So, before you buy choose wisely. Good luck and happy saving!!!!