What do you do in a pinch?

I thought I'd throw out a question for you, my frugalite friends. And here it is (nothing like getting right to the point!):

What are some things you've had to do or you've used when you've been in a pinch and needed something now? For example, using baking soda in place of toothpaste or taping up a hem because you couldn't find a needle and thread.

Got any fun, crazy or unusual substitutions and/or stories to share?

Good to the Last Drop

I'm sure everyone has noticed the way manufacturers are doing their packaging these days. The most noticeable for me is the upside-down squeeze bottles. From mayo, ketchup, and jelly to shampoo, lotion and makeup. And the way some of them are shaped, you can't get the top off...at least by unscrewing it.

Here's where I break out the scissors!

My makeup used to come in a small bottle, now it's in an upside down tube. When I can't shake, squeeze or cajole anymore out, I've been cutting the end off. I have gotten at least five more applications by doing this (I store it in a ziptop baggie so it doesn't dry out). The same goes for toothpaste. Unless you're the type that can flatten it flatter than a crepe', cutting it lengthwise can get you three, maybe four or more uses.

The list of items you can do this with is endless, and it just takes a minute or so.

~Adding a little water to shampoos and conditioners (or cutting into it if it doesn't unscrew).

~I use the same brand of lotion all the time. It's a pump type, so I know I'm definitely not able get all of it out. Rather than using my scissors on the bottle, I'll start on the next one for a several uses then turn the old bottle upside down onto the new one.

~What about the never-ending bar of soap. Always sticking the sliver of soap to the new bar, or saving all the slivers, adding a little water and remolding them.

~In the kitchen I liked the Bottom of the Jar segments I'd seen on the Rachel Ray Show where she'd add other ingredients to what was left in a jar that we'd normally just throw away. Dressings out of the last dollop of mayo. Marinades out of the last couple spoons of jellies.

Any other ideas you've done with squeeze bottles?

Internet Shopping

If you enjoy shopping from your computer instead of shopping at stores, I read a really good tip yesterday that I want to share with you.

If you see an item you want to purchase at an online retailer, sign in and place the item in the shopping cart. Don't purchase it yet. Wait a day or two if possible. Some retailers will see it in your cart and notice haven't purchased it and will e-mail you an incentive to purchase it. You may get an extra percentage off. Not guaranteed, but worth a try if you are willing to wait.

Also, remember to create an account and shop thru ebates.com. You get cash back based on your total purchase and also they provide coupon codes. Checks are mailed quarterly.
You can also g**gle coupon codes and double stack some codes when you check out.

Example: Recently I had to order flowers for an out of state funeral. I went to www.ebates.com
and decided to use 1800flowers. I also searched the Internet for a coupon code. I found one for free shipping. On a $100.00 order I only paid $80 after my cash back and the free shipping.

Safety at Home

I was just reading on the subject in Good Housekeeping and thought this was a good site to pass on to others. I would suggest that you go and take the room to room tour and perhaps make a little checklist of things you want to remember. I haven't taken the whole tour yet, but I want to go back and visit some of the rooms I didn't get to. There are a lot of common sense pieces of advice, but you never know. Sometimes we all fail to think of the obvious.

Visit MySafeHome.org for more information.

FOREVER STAMP - REMINDER

Next Monday, May 11th, the price for a first class postage stamp is going to increase from 42 cents to 44 cents. Prior to that time you can purchase as many of the above Forever Stamps at the 42 cent rate and they will be good for as long as you have them, regardless of what the postage rate for a first class stamp is raised to in the future.

I posted about this on February 20th here when this rate increase was first announced. I will be buying more of these stamps this week at the 42 cent rate. I still have over 100 I purchased when they raised the rate from 41 cents to 42 cents so I'll be saving 3 cents every time I have to use those 100 stamps.

"Watch your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves!!!

Something my father taught me at a very early age. I'd delighted to watch the pennies I save on purchasing these Forever Stamps.

You have 5 days left to make this purchase.

A Quote

The HAPPIEST people do not

necessarily have the BEST of all.

They simply APPRECIATE

what they find on their way.

Anonoymous

I saw this the other day and jotted it down. I think it well defines a frugal life style that worships the Giver (our Triune God) and not the gift.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17

Have a frugal, blessed day.

The Original Farmer's Almanac

http://www.almanac.com/

I discovered this awesome website after a friend sent me the link.

I know we are all familiar with The Farmer's Almanac. I fondly remember my granddaddy who gardened in South Georgia used his copy to know when to plant his garden each year.

You can go on the website and click on Gardening and key in your zip code and you will find early and late planting dates for your area.

There is so much useful information on this website from recipes, to health remedies and household hints.

Have fun and Happy Spring to you all!

INTRODUCING ANOTHER FRUGAL WRITER TO THIS BLOG

I am so delighted to introduce Tracy as an additional author to this blog. I've known Tracy for some time now and have bought from her Itsy's shop.


Tracy is a true woman of God, wife & mother of a wonderful family. Tracy's blog is Unless The Lord and if you are not familiar with her I hope you'll pay her a visit and get to know her. She also has a Recipe Blog called Mama's Fixins . You can learn more about Tracy by clicking on her name on our side bar under Behind the Blog


I look forward to all the frugal idea's that Tracy will be sharing with us here at Hands & Hearts.....for HIM!!

WELCOME TRACY

Microfiber Cloths

Frugal Fridays is sponsored by Jessica at www.lifeasmom.com. If you have a great frugal tip, join in the fun by signing her Mr. Linky.

I saw an article in Good Housekeeping on the subject of recycling in latest issue, and one topic caught my attention: "Smart Ways to Reduce and Reuse." In particular, the first item in this short list of eight suggestions talked about microfiber cloths. The article stated that one such cloth, before it needs to be replaced, can take the place of sixty rolls of paper towels. Did you hear that? Sixty ROLLS. Even if that's an exaggeration, that's a lot of paper towels we could save by using one of these cloths instead. The last time I bought paper towels, I noticed they are getting quite pricey.

I'm glad I read this article because it reminded me that perhaps I overuse paper towels for too many things. So I went and dug out the package of microfiber cloths I bought a good bit of time ago at BJ's. It was a pack of 25 and there are a bunch of them still left. So far we've just been using them for dusting and washing windows, but there are so many more uses. They are washable, absorbent, and gentle. They can be used wet or dry. Here are ways you can save on paper towels and save a few trees:

1. Cleaning windows, mirrors, and glass doors. You usually don't need a spray cleaner with them, another savings.

2. Gentle enough to use on your eyeglasses. Cut one up and make it smaller.

3. For dusting, of course.

4. Absorbing spills.

5. Wiping counters.

6. Washing the car. Polishing the car.

7. Cleaning the computer screen, glass surface on copiers, etc. and cleaning your phones, ipods. They don't scratch these surfaces.

8. Cleaning most of your appliances without needing to use abrasives or cleaning solutions.

9. Haven't tried it but I'll bet they're good for polishing shoes.

Got any other suggestions? Let us know! Oh by the way: Cutting up my husband's old white cotton tee shirts works good for a lot of these uses too! A friend of mine swears by cut up tee shirts for cleaning her eyeglasses.

Also on the subject of saving trees, the article pointed out that we could save on paper by not being so quick to print out a page when we could just jot it down on the back of something that we've already printed. Also, we could cut up once-used printed sheets and use the backs to write down notes, keeping some handy near the computer or telephone. Or use the backs for shopping lists. Hey, use them for paper projects for the kids, too!!

SERIOUS THOUGHTS & Some Solutions

This re-post in an Addendum to add additional solutions from comments for easy future reference.

The list of practical solutions listed below is a continuation of my post under this heading on my Penless Writer blog. If you have not already read that post. Please go here and do so.

Some practical solutions for getting our home & lives in order to weather the difficult times that may lie ahead in our lives and world:

1. Begin to tighten your belt.


2. Cut back on spending where ever, and how ever, you can.


3. Start making extra payment on any credit card debt you have.


4. Make extra principle payments on your home and/or automobiles.


5. Refinance if the interest rate drops to 4% like they are discussing.


6. Begin to lower the thermostat in the winter & raise it in the summer.


7. Watch food ads closely and stock up when things are on sale, and just don't buy some items when they are not on sale.


8. Start growing some of your own food.


9. Put out some rain barrels.


10. Recycle and reuse as many items as possible. We have become such a "throw away" society.


11. Use your sewing, knitting, etc. skills. Both for your own use and perhaps to sell items.


12. Have a garage sale and sell all the STUFF you really don't need or are not using.

The list could go on and on. I hope many of you will leave your suggestions in the comments. I will go back and add all of them to this list for easy reference in the future. Thanks!!!

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Suggestion added by Mari:

1. Trading talens - using the barter system (my personal thought on this is we will see more of the barter system during really tight times)

Maxine added:

1. Saving glass jars to use for refrigerator/freezer storage. For freezing be sure and leave some air space at the top as the food can expand and break the jar.
2. Use these glass bottle to take chicken noodle or vegtable soup when taking in foor to a friend. That way they don't have to worry will returning an emply dish.

Joy added:

1. Match coupons with sales. Her store doubles up to 50 cents.
2. Using electric blankets allows you to lower the thermostat and uses far less electricity.
3. Making a compost bin.

Joyfulsister added:

1. Use cash instead of debit card and you're inclined to spend less money.

Humble Wife added:

1. Learning to cook more foods from scratch.

Kathy added:

1. Wants to learn ways to economize in the homeschooling arena.

Thanks to these 6 who left these 9 great additional tips and solutions.

Friends of the Library

Visiting our local Library is a favorite outing for my girls and me. If someone recommends a book to me, I usually check the library's online catalog on my home computer. If they have the book I reserve it. They contact me via e-mail when it is available for me to check out. I walk in the door and go right over and pick it up.

When I go to the Library, I can't help but visit the Friends of the Library Room. This is a small store that is staffed by volunteers. People donate their gently used books and magazines and they are sold at a deep discount and the proceeds help provide additional funds for the Library.

Over the last couple of years I have let several magazine subscriptions expire. Every time I visit the FOTL Store there are current issues available for .25 and .10 for older issues. What a deal.

"Check out" the books I've purchased from FOTL recently:

The most expensive book in the store is $3.00 for hardbacks and $1.00 - $2.00 for paperbacks.

You never know what will be on the shelf when you walk in. I picked up a wonderful Quiet Time Bible and this autobiography of James A. Baker III that originally retailed for nearly $30.00... way more than the $3.00 I paid for it. I love to read Kay Arthur and saw one of her books in there and picked it up for $2.00. There is a children's section and cookbook/gardening section.

So visit your local library and if there is a Friends of the Library Store go check it out. You may find some good deals on books you want to add to your home library.

Let someone else pay retail....you can enjoy it for pennies on the dollar after they donate it.

WELCOME to our new blog!

Thank you for coming by to check us out!!!!

You can read our PURPOSE on our header.

On the side bar you can read ABOUT US.

You can read about the 5 of us who make up this blog on ABOUT ME.

Our goal is to have easy access to frugal ideas all gathered in one central, easy to find location. As we develop the site we will have various topic headings for your easy reference.

I was raised by very frugal parents, who had lived through the depression, and I was taught, at a very early age, the importance of being frugal. I was raised in a Christian home and Church who instilled in me that I was a Steward, or manage, of the things God allowed me to have and use. GOD being the rightful OWNER!!!

I believe we are beginning to see very dramatic changes in the world as we have known it. That we are, by necessity, going to have to become more self reliant, more frugal, more sharing with others, more reliant on our Lord and God than ever before.

There are MANY scriptures that speak to us as God's children, as wives, as mothers. I'm sharing a few of my favorite ones that have guided my life and purpose.

Stewardship

I Corinthians 4:2 "Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful."

Wise Woman

Proverbs 14:11 "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands."

Prudence

Proverbs 18:15 "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge."

Wisdom

Proverbs 24:3-4 "Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established. And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches."

The Wise Woman
Proverbs 31:27 "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."
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The one I keep foremost in my heart and mind, as I watch our world changing literally day by day before our very eyes and not knowing what is going to happen to our wonderful country is:

BLESSINGS OF GOD

Psalm 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not see the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."
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We want to include YOUR ideas, tips and secrets. We certainly know we do not know it all!!! Please submit them to us and we will add them to this blog.

Thank you again for coming by and checking us out. We will not necessary be posting every day and some days you may find multiple posts if we all have something the same day. I hope you will add this blog to your favorites, or bookmark it, so you can readily find us. I trust we can all grow together in the Lord as we serve, first HIM, our households, and each other.

GOD BLESS YOU