One of the ways I began to save extra money was by ditching some of the disposable products we used in our home and replacing them with reusable household items.
In the beginning, this did cost us a few more dollars but quickly turned into big savings each month we weren’t purchasing the disposable versions!
Now, I know the appeal of disposable items. They can be so gosh darn convenient! But by simply switching out one disposable product for a reusable product, not only will it have a positive impact on our planet, it will also have a positive impact on your wallet! Before you know it, you'll be trying to replace every household product with a reusable one!
Below, I've listed the best reusable household items that we’ve been loving in our own home lately!
Wool Dryer Balls
For years now I have been using wool dryer balls in place of dryer sheets and fabric softener. In fact it's been a while since I bought my wool dryer balls so they're finally starting to fall apart!
If I ever feel like having a bit of a scent to the laundry, I'll add a couple drops of essential oil to a couple of the balls.
When purchasing wool dryer balls, make sure they are 100% wool. This will ensure fluffiness, reduce static and reduce drying time.
Reusable Water bottles
Before we leave the house, I make sure all of our reusable water bottles are filled up so we can avoid buying a bottle of water when we're out and about.
While any reusable water bottle will work, our favorites are the ones that are insulated. They keep water cold for much longer! My husband and I are using bottles like these while I like the Thermos ones for our daughters.
Kitchen towels
Ditch the paper towels once and for all! I have one roll of paper towel on hand and that is to check the oil in our vehicles and for wiping up cooking grease. Other than that I use kitchen towels, cloths, and big bath towels for cleaning up spills, and wiping dirty fingers and faces. Basically reusable towels are used for everything paper towels are typically used for.
It's so easy to make the switch to reusable straws! We've got two different kinds that we use at home. Stainless steel and super fun silicone ones. I don't have a preference for myself, but my daughters like the silicone ones the best. Probably because they're soft (safer for kids!) and fun colored.
Be sure to get a small straw brush to keep your straws clean!
Reusable K-Cup
We were gifted a Keurig coffee maker years ago and it's still one of our favorite appliances and gets daily use. The one thing I don't like about it is the k-cup waste. However, we recently switched to a reusable K-Cup and love it! It's so easy to use and the coffee tastes just as good. Plus now we can get a big bag of ground coffee beans (cost effective) or use the locally roasted beans that we love.
Reusable shopping bags
Now that most grocery stores are charging for plastic grocery bags, I want to avoid that unnecessary expense as much as I can! I have reusable grocery bags stashed in the car and both of my bags in hopes that I won't have to use a plastic bag.
The reusable shopping bags that I have are similar to these ones and fold up really small and are so easy to stash in my purse. I love that they are washing machine friendly so I can toss them in the wash once in while!
Silicone baking mats
With silicone baking mats, there's no need to spray your cooking sheets or use parchment paper. That means you could possibly eliminate two grocery items from your list saving you a bundle in the long term.
Silicone baking mats are really easy to clean and hardly take up any space in your cupboards.
Mason jars
Open up the cupboards or even your fridge and you're bound to find some sort of glass jar! Wash and reuse the glass jars that you find for so many things. I use mine for storing dried beans/lentils/rice, freezing broth, holding makeup brushes and so much more.
Mason jars are fairly inexpensive to buy if you want matching jars. Scour the garage sales too!
Reusable Sandwich Bags
This is a new purchase for us and I'm loving it! I used to wash our plastic sandwich a few times before tossing them, but I'm liking this alternative way better.
These reusable storage bags are freezer friendly, leak-proof, come in various sizes and clean easily.
Travel Mugs
These are a must-have in our family! Every morning, instead of hitting the drive thru, my husband makes a travel mug full of coffee for his morning at work. Saves a ton of coffee money over the long run! I'll bring mine along when I've got a bunch of errands to do. But even if you do go to a coffee shop or something, many places offer a small discount if you bring your own mug. (Starbucks, for example.)
Using these reusable household items is such a great way to begin moving towards a more eco-conscious way of living plus you’ll be saving a lot of money over the long term!
I'd love to know what reusable household items you would add to the list!
Summer vacation doesn't have to equal boredom. Here are 50+ activities for kids this summer.
50+ Fun Activities for Kids
Summer vacation is almost here, and if you’re searching for free summer activities for kids, cheap things to do in summer, or easy summer bucket list ideas, you’re in the right place. Keeping kids entertained all summer doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. There are so many fun, budget-friendly ways to fill your days with memories instead of stress. From outdoor summer activities for kids to creative at-home ideas and simple family-friendly adventures, this list is packed with inspiration to help you enjoy a fun, affordable, and memorable summer.
Summer doesn’t have to be expensive to be memorable. With a little creativity and a mix of outdoor adventures, simple at-home fun, and community activities, you can fill the summer months with meaningful moments the whole family will enjoy. Whether you try a few ideas or work your way through the whole list, the goal is the same: less stress, more connection, and plenty of summer memories made right where you are.
What do your kids like to do? What are your favourite boredom busting ideas?
Here is what I would like to know: a friend of mine is trying to start a pantry or a stockpile so that she is not constantly out of everything and so that she can maybe save a bit of money.
What would you consider your must-haves in your pantry? What staples do you always have on hand?
Food is expensive. When it comes to making a budget for your family, you’ll notice that one of the highest costs you have is food. While it's not possible to eliminate food from your budget, you can decrease the costs by growing your own food.
On that note, did you know that many of the scraps from foods you purchase on a regular basis from the grocery store can be regrown in your very own kitchen? Instead of throwing away food scraps, you can start thinking differently about them!
Below, I've listed 7 foods from the grocery store that you can regrow in the comfort of your home. If you already grow your own food right in your garden, you'll have no problem growing your own produce from scraps.
Celery
One of the simplest foods from the grocery store you can grow from scraps, is celery.
Planting celery is very simple: Cut off the base or the bottom part of the vegetable and place it in a bowl with warm water. Place the container in a spot that has direct sunlight most of the day.
After a week, you’ll notice that there are leaves growing at the base of the celery. Once you see these leaves, it is now ready to be transplanted in the soil.
Romaine Lettuce
Romaine lettuce is easy to grow from leftover scraps. Instead of throwing the bottom of the full head of lettuce in the trash, place it in a bowl with a bit of water.
Keep this bowl in a place with direct sunlight. Mist the leaves with water consistently. After two to three days, you will see that there are shoots of new leaves appearing. Once you see them, your lettuce is now ready to be transplanted or simply harvested for salads.
Bean Sprouts
Growing bean sprouts is easy. Just soak a handful of dry beans in water then leave it overnight.
Drain the water and place the beans in a container. Cover it with a towel, leave it overnight, then rinse it again the next day.
Keep doing this until you see the sprouts growing, then you can transfer them to your garden.
Onion
Another easy vegetable to grow, whether it is indoors or outdoors, are onions.
Cut the root of the onions off and plant it in a garden plot or container. Cover the root with potting soil but leave at least half an inch of the onion exposed. In a few weeks, you will start to see leaves growing.
For Green Onions, use the top part of the onion and leave the bottom 2-3 inches with the roots attached. Place them in a container with water covering the roots. In no time you’ll see the tops of the green onions growing new green. You can keep them this way and just continue using the tops and allowing them to grow in the water. Just change the water periodically and rinse the roots.
Garlic
Garlic is an easy way to start growing scraps with fast results.
For garlic, choose a whole bulb or individual cloves that have started to send out green sprouts. Place the bulb or clove in a small amount of water and change the water daily.
Potato
Did you know that you can grow a potato out of potato peelings?
Check the peelings to see if there are eyes on them. Cut the peelings into two to three-inch pieces but make sure that there are at least three eyes on each peel.
Dry these peelings, then plant them in your soil, about three to four inches deep. In a few weeks, you will see a potato plant starting to grow.
Tomato
Don’t throw away the seeds from the tomatoes! Rinse them and allow them to dry.
Once dried, you can start planting the seeds in a rich potting soil. Once the seedlings are a few inches high, you can transplant them outdoors where there is plenty of sunlight.
Turn your food scraps into golden nuggets. Instead of throwing them away, use them as another source of food. You are not only saving money, you are also assured that your family gets better and healthier food.
Over the years, I've learned a few things about building my daughters' wardrobes cheaply. (I just have to be careful I don't overbuy because girls clothing can be so cute!) But as you know, kids outgrow their clothing very quickly so buying clothes can become quite expensive. But, by planning ahead and taking these tips into consideration, you'll be sure to build your children's wardrobes cheaply.
Accept Hand-Me Downs
Nothing is as cheap as free! I took full advantage of the clothes my sister-in-law offered to lend us for the first six months or so of Sienna's life. I know hand-me downs are normally meant to be kept, but our borrowing situation was ideal since we didn't have to store any of the clothes once we were finished with them. We just gave them back!
Buy off the Clearance Racks
Buying off the clearance racks is especially handy if you're stocking up for next season. Last Fall/Winter, I stocked up on quite a few items that will work for Sienna this coming winter, including a snow suit for only $10! Had I waited until she needed the snow suit, I'm sure I would have been paying close to full price. Currently my favourite stores to shop at for clearance prices is the Joe Fresh section in our local Superstore and Old Navy.
Shop online
Similar to shopping the clearance racks in a brick and mortar store, shopping the sale sections online can save you a bundle. Last Summer I stocked up on quite a few outfits when Old Navy had one of their better coupon codes. I think I averaged about $3.00 a piece! I also enjoy shopping online at The Children's Place and Joe Fresh.
Buy used
Garage sales and thrift stores can be a great place to look for gently used clothing. Although I haven't had much opportunity to shop at garage sales myself, I know that the clothes I was selling in our recent garage sale were hot sellers! I'm sure most cities offer this, but our town also holds a twice annual kids garage sale at our Recreation Centre. I picked up some cute sweaters, jeans and PJ's for about $0.50 a piece. I find buying used clothing an excellent way to build a kid's wardrobe cheaply because the items are usually only worn a few times before they're outgrown.
What are your tips for building a kid's wardrobe on a budget?
While spending less is often the best thing to do financially, sometimes it’s good to earn more money if it means it will push you closer to your financial dreams faster.
But before you get excited about the idea of earning more money, it’s important to make sure you manage the money you already have well. If you’re financially strapped, there’s no point in earning extra cash if you’re just going to spend more money for short term satisfaction. Focus on getting a monthly budget figured out and learn how to maximize the money you already have before you go out and try to make more money.
Once you have that out of the way, you can read these ideas to help you earn extra money:
Earn money from your hobbies
I’m sure many of you have a hobby that you enjoy and are quite good at! Why not turn that hobby into extra income? Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
Earn Cash-Back for shopping like you normally do with Ampli(Canada only)
Sell your baking during coffee breaks to local businesses
Enter your work in contests with cash prizes
Paint business windows for the holidays
Bonus idea: If you love visiting websites or blogs, sign up for UserTesting. You’ll be paid $10 for each website or app that you complete a set of tasks on, while speaking your thoughts out loud.
Sell things you no longer need
Clear up some space in your home by selling things you no longer need or care for. Have a garage sale or try selling items on Kijiji, Craigslist, or eBay. Or give a Buy & Sell group on Facebook a try.
Rent out your space
If your home has an extra bedroom or empty space, you could become a landlord. Students and recent graduates are often especially eager for affordable and small spaces to call “home”. Your extra garage space might also be perfect for someone needing to store their collector car, for example.
Try a paper route
Earn a bit of extra money by doing a paper route. Get some fresh air and exercise while you’re at it!
Offer to babysit
Give some friends or even neighborhood families some time away from the kids so they can go on a date or get errands done by offering your services as a babysitter.
Start a part-time business
If you have a bit of time to devote to money making, why not consider starting a part-time business from home? You could try these ideas on for size:
Life/Business Coaching – are people always asking your advice on a particular subject? Consider charging a fee for your advice.
Teach English at Home with VIPKID
If you have a Bachelor’s degree from a US or Canadian University as well as experience with children (such as: teaching, mentoring, coaching, tutoring, babysitting, etc.) you could possibly earn up to $22/hour (USD) teaching online with VIPKID. VIPKID needs thousands of work-from-home teacher’s to teach English online to kids in China. This is an amazing work-from-home opportunity – and don’t worry, you do not need to know any foreign language or have formal teaching experience. Find all the details here.
All in all, get creative or meet a need you see around you to earn a bit of extra money you can put towards reaching your financial goals!
What are your ideas for earning extra money? Do you have any stories to share about how you’re currently earning extra cash? Please share in the comments!
