How to Save Money on Summer Clothing – learn how to update your summer wardrobe with these simple money saving tips!
Now that summer is pretty much here, you might be thinking it’s time to update your wardrobe. Buying a new summer wardrobe doesn’t have to be pricey, in fact, if you know a few simple tips you can really save some cash. Take a look below at how to save money on summer clothing this season and get a fresh look you want for less.
1. Stock up on maxi dresses.
I love, love maxi dresses. Maxi dresses are great because they can be worn informally during the day, to the beach, or even dressed up for evening wear. Their versatility makes them a great deal. You can often find maxi dresses for as little as $10. Simply add accessories to change their look.
2. Try basic colors.
Stick to a handful of basic colors that you can mix and match with each other. A simple color scheme of red, navy, white, and tan is one great combination idea. When you keep your clothing color palette simple, you can create more wardrobe combinations. If you do want more color, add it into these schemes with your jewelry and accessories, or, even your shoes.
3. Check out second hand stores.
Check out local thrift and consignments shops for second hand finds. Many of these shops carry gently used items that are sure to be in season, in style, and looking great. Plus, these items will cost you a fraction of the price of new.
4. Repurpose what you already own.
There are all sorts of tutorials online that will show you how to make a dress out of a t-shirt, how to make shorts out of jeans, and how to turn other clothing staples into something fun and fresh. Try your hand at some of these projects and see if you can turn something old into something new.
Find your favorite clothing retailers online and pair your purchase with a coupon code. Retailmenot.com is great for coupon codes and a quick search can save you huge. Many retailers also offer free shipping with a minimum purchase, so you save not only money but gas and time as well!
6. Get rid of old to get cash for new.
Sell your old clothing items in Facebook Buy & Sell groups, at a garage sale, or at consignment shops. You can then take your earnings and use them to buy new clothing items. Not only will you free up some cash this way, but you will free up space in your closet too.
7. Be patient.
If you can wait until the end of June, many summer staples will be on sale if not clearance already. Be patient and see if you can wait just a few weeks longer – you are sure to enjoy the savings!
See how simple it can be to save money on summer clothing? With these tips you can get the clothes you need while keeping some cash in your pocket for other summer time activities.
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
One way I like to save is by shopping my own closet. When ever I feel the urge to go out and buy a new piece of clothing, I’ll first take a look at what I already own. Often I’ll pull out something that I haven’t worn in a while to see if I can create a new outfit. Many times, I’ve found some new favourite combinations without even hitting the mall!
Or, I’ll find a few pieces (shirts usually) that I’ve forgotten about. Gotta love that!
Since I’m no fashionista, I complied a list of links to help you create new outfits by shopping your closet:
Outfit Posts: another blog that helps you learn to ear your staples in new ways.
A great way to create new outfits with what you already own is by heading to Pinterest for some inspiration. Do a search for outfits, then find some favourites. Next, head to your closet to find similar pieces so you can try recreating the ideas you found. On a few occasions, I’ve found a similar piece, but never even thought of wearing it the way the inspiration picture shows.
When you do shop for new clothes, make sure to buy clothes that are versatile enough to be worn with several other items.
Do you shop your closet before you head out shopping? How many fun new outfits have you discovered because of this?
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
How a Home Energy Audit Can Help You Save on Your Energy Bills
The following post is a guest post by Hilary of CallMePower.ca. Enjoy!
How energy efficient is your home? What are the most cost-efficient changes you can make to save energy and on your monthly utility bills? Getting an energy audit done on your home can help you find out the answers to these questions and more. If you are thinking of renovating your home, here’s why you might want to consider having a home energy audit done first.
What is a Home Energy Audit?
A home energy audit is performed by an independent home energy advisor who inspects your home in order to evaluate its efficiency. They are specially trained to evaluate heating and insulation characteristics of a home, and are licensed by Natural Resources Canada. During a home energy audit the inspector will examine the performance of your home’s heating, insulation and air leakage, hot water, and ventilation systems, and will suggest cost-effective energy efficiency improvements and upgrades.
How Does a Home Energy Audit Work?
A home energy audit has several steps:
1. Walk-Through Assessment
The home energy advisor will start the assessment by walking through certain parts of your home to note aspects of how it uses energy. First, the home energy advisor will take some measurements and pictures of your home from the outside. Next, he or she will look at your furnace and basement in order to examine the age and performance of your furnace and water heater, as well as the level and quality of insulation in your basement. The home energy advisor will also look at other appliances throughout the house, such as the toilets, kitchen appliances, lighting, etc. He or she will also examine how well insulated your attic is.
2. Blower Test
Once the home energy advisor has examined the house from basement to roof, he or she will detect any drafts (which, in technical speak, is also known as “air infiltration”). This is often done by a “blower door test”, in which the technician put the house under reverse pressure by hooking up a powerful fan to the main door. How does this fan work? When turned on, the fan draws air through your home at a constant speed so that it reaches a certain (constant) pressure. This allows the advisor to measure how much leakage takes place within your home, and identify where the drafts are. Identifying the location of the drafts in your home will enable the technician to recommend where in your home needs sealing.
3. Home Energy Assessment Report
Once the inspection is finished, the energy advisor will create a report that breaks down how much energy your home uses for space and water heating, lighting and other appliances, and identifies where in your home energy is lost (windows, doors, basement, attic, etc). Your home energy advisor will explain the results of the report to you, and will answer any questions you might have. The report will identify which energy upgrades would be the most cost effective. Your home will also be compared with similar homes in the NRCan database so that you can see its relative efficiency. It will receive a current rating and a predicted rating for the suggested energy improvements.
Why Get a Home Energy Audit?
To run your home cheaper and more efficiently. Having a home energy audit done on your home will show you how much energy it uses to run, and will give you some ideas on how to cut down on operating costs.
To make sure your renovations are smart ones. The energy efficiency improvement suggestions that you will receive following the evaluation will give you an idea of which renovations are the most energy- and cost-efficient options for your home.
To improve the value of your home. Your home will be given an EnerGuide rating as part of the report given to you following the home energy audit. Having your home reassessed once you’ve made some of the suggested improvements can improve your home’s resale value, as the improved EnerGuide label proves that you’ve made the important renovations for your home.
Where Can I Find a Licensed Home Energy Auditor?
NRCan has a list of licensed NRCan home evaluation service organizations in Canada. Only licensed organizations are able to give your home an EnerGuide label.
How Much Does a Home Energy Audit Cost?
Energy audits generally cost a few hundred dollars, but may be eligible for government rebates. Check with your local municipality or provincial government to see if you are eligible for a rebate if you have a home energy assessment performed on your house.
Hilary is the author of CallMePower.ca, a website that provides information about energy prices in Canada to help Canadians find the best prices for their electricity and gas supply. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, DIY projects, and scoring deals at thrift stores.
6 steps to Plan a Family Staycation that everyone is sure to remember for years to come.
Are you lacking the funds or time this year for a family vacation? If that's the case, don’t worry. A family staycation is a great way to spend time together and “get away” while still keeping some cash in your pocket. If you have never planned a family staycation before, take a peek below at these helpful tips for how to plan a family staycation that everyone will enjoy!
1. Choose a theme.
One of the best ways to start is to decide the theme of your staycation. Do you want tropical? Exotic? A camping theme? A destination? Whatever the case may be, choose the theme and “destination” as a family. This will help you best plan the activities of your staycation.
2. Set up the location.
You now want to set up your location based on the theme you chose. For example if you picked tropical, decorate the backyard with a kiddie pool, sand spot, umbrella, colorful plants, etc. If you picked a Paris theme, a bistro set, candles, a small Eiffel tower centerpiece, etc. can all be fun. Think of ways to bring the feeling of the theme to your space and start decorating.
3. Plan your menu.
Create a fun menu based on the theme of your staycation. A tropical staycation might include pineapple, smoothies, and lots of grilling out. A camping theme could include campfire food, while a Parisian theme could include cheese and small appetizers. Plan a menu as a family and get creative with your food.
4. Choose your activities.
Once your theme, location, and menu are in place, choose some simple activities. This could include local sight seeing that goes with the theme or activities and games you can enjoy at home. Pick games and activities that are family friendly and easy! Some suggestions could include a water balloon fight for the tropical theme or a trip to a local art museum for the Paris theme.
5. UNPLUG.
One of the best parts of a staycation is unplugging! Turn off the phones and computers and enjoy your time together as a family. Let family and friends know of your staycation so they can give you space during this time as well.
6. Don’t forget to document your trip!
Don’t forget to take lots of pics so you can always remember your staycation together and all the fun you had. If you wish you can even create a scrapbook when done!
See how simple it can be to plan a family staycation? It is a great way to enjoy some family fun without ever leaving your home. Give these planning trips a try and you can plan a staycation with your family that they will always remember!
Every Monday in 2015, I’ll be sharing a different idea to help you save money! Add all of these tips to your frugal repertoire and you’ll be able to save a lot of money this year! I hope you’ll gather a few new ideas or at least some inspiration from this series.
My sincere apologies for not having last week’s 52 Ways to Save post up! You’ll see my excuse in this post. I’ll be sure to have 2 in one week to get caught up 😉
One great way to save money on your grocery bill is to eat less meat. I’m not saying to get rid of it completely if you don’t want to, but by simply putting less on your plate, you will be saving a lot in the long run. Here are some ideas to help you get started eating less meat:
Don’t make it the focal point
Limit making meat the focal point of your meal. Instead, use it as a topping for pizza or salads, or put some into stir fries or soups. You’ll be amazed at how far meat will stretch when it’s added to something!
Have a meatless night
I’m sure you’ve heard of Meatless Monday, one day a week that many people have decided to eat a meatless meal. It’s actually a whole global movement that you can read all about here. The website also features a ton of great recipes that may interest you! While Meatless Monday is a “thing” you can do your meatless night on any night of the week 😉
If you family is having a hard time with the idea of having meatless meals, why not make it enticing by setting some fun goals? For example, you could put the money you’re saving by not buying meat for that meal into a vacation fund or even the local fair fund. Or perhaps you could use that money to go out for ice cream! Talk it over with everyone so you can come up with an exciting way to use your savings.
Stretch it with beans and lentils
If your family is really opposed to going meatless, it’s always possible to make meat stretch by adding beans or lentils. Mexican dishes, chili, and soups are meals that you can easily add in extra beans to replace some of the meat.
Lentils hide especially well in taco meat. Just add in cooked lentils to your ground beef along with your usual seasonings and there’s a good chance your family won’t even notice!
How do you save money on meat? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
7 Frugal Ways to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden
Attracting butterflies to your garden is not only ideal because of their beauty, but because they can help pollinate your flowers and plants as well! Butterflies are an excellent asset to your garden, which is why attracting them should be on your to do list. Attracting butterflies doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult; in fact, you can get them to come flocking for just pennies! Take a look below at 7 frugal ways to attract butterflies to your garden so you can enjoy them and the benefits they bring all season long.
1. Place out “sweet spots.”
Give butterflies sweet spots to feed on when you place out shallow lids with sugar water in them. The lids of Pringles cans or butter containers are perfect for this task. Then, watch the butterflies come and take a sip.
2. Try sponges.
Cut up sponges into cubes and soak them in sugar water. You can then place the sponges out in your garden and wait for butterflies to find then. They will love perching on the soft sponges and drinking the sweet water.
3. Give them watering stations.
You can do both of the suggestions above using plain water instead of sugar water so the butterflies have a place to get a cold drink. They get thirsty just like we do, and will flock to spots where water is available for them.
4. Plant ground cover.
Plant some low laying plants and ground cover that butterflies can find shade in. They will appreciate a retreat from the sun and enjoy a shady place to lounge in.
5. Plant butterfly friendly blooms.
Butterflies love Rose of Sharon, Butterfly Bush, and many other flowering bush varieties. Add some of these plants to your flower beds and landscaping and the butterflies will return year after year.
6. Forget the pesticides.
If you use pesticides in your yard, they will scare and/or kill butterflies off. Instead, avoid using chemicals in your yard and by all means avoid pesticides. Try natural pesticide options instead such as lady bug releasing or a simple spray of Dawn dish soap and water.
7. Let them eat fruit.
Butterflies love fruit rinds and peels. Place these items in shallow dishes and place them out for butterflies so they always have a snack on hand!
See how simple it can be to bring beautiful butterflies flocking to your yard? Give these tips a try and in no time you will be enjoying beautiful butterflies in your garden, even on the tightest of budgets!
To run your home cheaper and more efficiently. Having a home energy audit done on your home will show you how much energy it uses to run, and will give you some ideas on how to cut down on operating costs.
