How to Save Shopping on Amazon Canada

Shopping on Amazon is one of my favorite ways to save money. After all, I can find almost everything I need at competitive prices and enjoy the convenience of having it shipped right to my door. But wouldn’t saving even more money be great?

Take a look below at 7 tips on how to save big shopping on Amazon Canada to get your household essentials, books, clothing and more at even better prices.

1. Take Advantage of Amazon Resale Deals

A great way to save some money on Amazon Canada is to shop through Amazon Resale!

The Amazon Resale section (previously known as Amazon Warehouse) on Amazon.ca, offers great deals on quality used, pre-owned, or open box products.

With all the benefits of Amazon fulfilment, customer service, and returns rights, Amazon provides discounts on customer favorites such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, home & kitchen appliances, and thousands more.

For each used product they sell, they thoroughly test the condition of the item and provide detailed descriptions to make it easier for you to make a decision.

2. Become a Prime Member.

For $9.99 per month or $99 per year you can become an Amazon Prime member and enjoy many money saving benefits!

With an Amazon Prime membership, you will enjoy:

• FREE Two-Day Shipping on eligible items. Free standard shipping on other items.
• Unlimited streaming of movies and TV episodes on Prime Video
• Amazon Music
• 30-minute early access to Lightning Deals.
• Prime Reading: Borrow books, magazines, and more. Read them on your Fire tablet, Kindle e-reader, or the Kindle reading apps for iOS and Android.
• Secure unlimited photo storage, enhanced search, and organization features in Amazon Drive.
• Access to exclusive Prime Day sales.
• Free DashPass.

If you make a lot of Amazon purchases throughout the year, a Prime Membership will pay for itself in no time.

Are you a student? Check out the Prime Student membership to save even more.

3. Try the Subscribe & Save option.

Is there a product you use often? Toilet paper, dish soap or diapers perhaps? If so, try the Subscribe & Save option!

If you decide to do Subscribe & Save on certain products, you can save up to 15% off and have that product automatically delivered every 2 weeks to 6 months. Shipping is also free. You can cancel your Subscribe & Save at any time.

4. Look for Coupons & Promo Codes

My favourite deals on Amazon are those that are on sale AND have a coupon to apply or a promo code to redeem! Here are some screen shots of what I mean:

When available, these coupons and promo codes are found below the price of the item you’re looking at.

You can find available coupons by browsing this page on Amazon Canada. As for promo codes, as far as I know, there isn’t a specific page for these. Which leads me to my next tip…

5. Follow Me for Everyday Deals.

Every day I post deals over on Instagram and in Facebook stories. I like to post a variety of items that are actual good deals from Canadian retailers, including Amazon. You’ll see deals on everyday essentials, clothing, decor, household items, holiday items and more!

As I mentioned before, my favourite deals are those that are on sale and have a coupon and/or a promo code. You’ll find plenty of these over there!

Also, on Fridays I update my Simply Frugal Weekend Deals post. This is a great all-in-one article for easy deal browsing featuring only Canadian retailers.

6. Add an Item to Your Cart, But Don’t Buy

This is a trick I use time and time again. If you have your eye on a particular item and it’s currently not on sale, add it to your shopping cart, but don’t buy it! Amazon will save it in your shopping cart and let you know when the price changes.

Sometimes the price will increase first, but you will also see when the price decreases. To find if there has been any changes in the pricing, click on the “Cart” button in the top right corner. If there has been any changes to the pricing, you will see a message at the top of your shopping cart. Once the price drops low enough for me, I buy it!

7. Utilize Camel Camel Camel

Camel Camel Camel is an Amazon price tracker. It tracks the price history of products available on Amazon. You can also sign up for a free account and add items to a Price Watching list to get email alerts when the price drops on the items you’re watching.

See how simple it can be to save some extra cash with Amazon Canada? Give these tips a try and see how far you can stretch your Amazon bucks!

I’d love to know what your biggest deal was if you’ve shopped online at Amazon in the past. Let us know in the comments!

Here are 6 ways being organized can help you save money:

Know what you already own

Having a spot for everything will help ensure that you know what you have on hand at all times. No need to buy the beans that are on sale because you know that you already have plenty in the pantry! Being organized (or more organized because we can’t be perfect!) stops you from spending money to replace items you can’t find.

You’ll avoid late fees

When you have an organized system in place for paying bills and returning borrowed items on time, you’ll certainly avoid the ugly late fees. Avoid paying late fees by implementing a system that will work for you. I have to tell you a story about the one time I had a late fee on the Visa bill. My bill paying “system” is not how my husband would do it and he suggested I try it his way.  His way was to pay off an amount as soon as there was a balance. My way is to pay it once a month on the due date, the balance of the statement in full. As soon as I receive the statement in the mail, I log into our online banking and schedule the payment to be made on the due date. Sure, it may be a larger amount doing it my way, but I’m never late in paying it! My husband has learned to just let me do my thing in that regard. 😉

Have time to plan a menu

When you’re organized, you’ll have time to set aside to plan the menu for the week. I’m a firm believer that having a menu plan in place will save you unnecessary trips to the grocery store and your sanity.  In our case, it saves us a ton because we’re avoiding the drive thru and actually eating what we buy from the grocery store.

Have time to cut and use coupons

If you’re a coupon user, being organized means you most likely have some time set aside for printing and organizing your coupons. Which also means you are probably organized to use the coupons at the store to pay rock bottom prices!

Know what projects you have on the go

Let’s pretend that I don’t know all about incomplete projects. (you know, those unfinished sewing and knitting projects that I found…) Every once in a while I get an urge to do something creative. But when I take the opportunity to have an organizing session, I usually discover a few unfinished projects.

Most recently, as I was going through my fabric stash, I found two unfinished projects.  A purse, which only needs to have the handles sewn on, and material for a sweatshirt I’ve cut out for my husband.   I now have two projects to finish to satisfy my creative urge without spending any more money!

Buy gifts well in advance

When you’re on the ball with upcoming special occasions, you can buy ahead when you find a great deal online or in the store. Helping you to avoid paying full price for something near your deadline.

How does being organized save you money? In what ways would you like to be more organized so you can save more?

Today’s post is coming at you because I scored a couple of great baby items this weekend. They were great deals because they were FREE!  Mostly because I was online at the right time.

I’m a part of a few Facebook buy & sell groups (I love, love buying and selling this way) and I happened to be browsing one group at the right time. (I tend to browse when I’m selling stuff.) Anyways, someone was offering a baby swing and a bouncy/vibrating chair for free to the first person to come by her garage sale. I happened to be on my way out the door anyways so I just changed my direction. I was first to the loot so I loaded up the car. Score!

While many of you may not be a part of these buy & sell groups, you can still nab free stuff if you look, and ask.

One of my favorite ways to get “free” things is by borrowing something I need. I particularly like this technique because I always give the item back once I’m finished, and it doesn’t take up any precious storage space! I always accept hand-me-downs, unless I really don’t need the items.

Another way to grab free stuff is by watching the curbs! My Mom snapped up a baby chair and a playpen in good condition one day while she was driving past a storage centre. She’s also found free walnuts because of a sign by a tree.

So, that’s my tip for the week!  Always be on the look out for free stuff. You’ll save big!

Have you scored any freebies? How and what did you get? Let us know!

See the other articles in this series, here.

Become a One Car Family

I feel a bit like a hypocrite writing today’s post, because I would find it very challenging to become a one car family, but I think if you can do it, you’d save a ton of cash!

Since having my daughter, I have found I have to get out of the house at least once a day. For both of our sanities. 🙂 We don’t always hop in the car, but quite often we do. I also don’t like the idea of being stranded at home in the event of an emergency. However, my husband usually doesn’t work full time in the winter, so we sell his car. (and earn a bit of extra money because we bought a cheap car that we can fix up a bit.) Then once he’s back to work full time, we buy another cheap car that we can sell once more.  That really works for us. Once in a while we do need two cars in the winter, but we have amazing family members who will lend their vehicle or pick us up if need be.

I estimate by being a one car family for even only the winter months, we’re saving at least $500. That could be significant savings if we were to do it year round!

Becoming a one car family means there will most likely be some sacrifices and changes that have to take place. More thought and effort will have to be put into organizing how everyone will get to where they need to be. In my mind, I think it would be easier to be a one car family in a big city because I imagine public transportation would be quite efficient.  Meaning, you can most likely catch a bus or train to anywhere you need to be. (We live in a smaller city so it’s harder to grab a bus to the more rural places.)

Here are some transportation ideas aside from a second car:

• Walk
• Ride a Bike
• Use Public Transportation
• Carpool
• Buy a Moped

Are you a one car family? If so, tell us your tips and secrets for making it work!

See the other articles in this series, here.

Sorry for the late post once again!  We’ve had a whirlwind week with family in town!  We’ve been having so much fun playing with cousins that we don’t see often!

While this tip isn’t for everyone, it is perfect for those that are headed back to university!

Skip the university or college bookstore this year! The best place to buy (or rent!) your textbooks is online.  Here are a few places that you can buy used or rent textbooks:

Textbook Rental

Simply type in the title, author or ISBN number of the books you need into Textbook Rental and they’ll send you a copy at a huge discount! Textbookrental.ca is the leading website for Canadian students looking to rent or buy their textbooks at a huge discount. Students can also sell their textbooks to Textbookrental.ca and earn cash.

Amazon.ca or Amazon.com

If you live near the US border, Amazon.com might be a better option for you, but Amazon in general is a great place to buy used textbooks! All you need is the ISBN number from the list of books your instructor tells you to get, and then you just enter that into Amazon.ca or Amazon.com.  I think it’s even possible to resell your books to Amazon and then get a gift card for the value of your used books.

Kijiji or Craigslist

Kijiji and Craigslist could also be a good place to look for used textbooks. You could simply do a search for the books you’re looking for or even make an ad listing the books that you’re in search of.

Of course, there are probably a lot of other places to buy or rent your text books. If you have experience with getting textbooks cheaper, I’d love to see your tips in the comments!

See the other articles in this series, here.

Signing up for Swagbucks is a great way to save money!  Swagbucks is my internet search engine of choice because I earn points called SB, which I can then redeem for Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards and even PayPal credit!  Talk about a great way to purchase gifts or even every day essentials for free!  I’m a huge fan of Swagbucks.

It’s completely free to sign up. So go sign up now, then I’ll tell you my top 9 tips to earn points called SB!

Tip #1 – Refer your Friends

Swagbucks has a great referral program.  For each new person that you refer to Swagbucks.com, you will earn 10% of the referrals earnings. You will continue to earn 10% for as long as your referral is active on Swagbucks.com, with no maximum limit.

And while I’m at an advantage because I have a blog, you can still earn referrals if you have a Facebook page, Twitter account, or email address!

Start sending out invites to everyone you know.  Here’s how:

1. Once you have signed up for Swagbucks, go to “Invite Friends” located at the top of Swagbucks.com.
2. Choose how you want to connect with them – Facebook, Email, Twitter, etc.
3. Send out a request.

I recommend updating the status of your own Facebook Page with your referral code when you win Swagbucks or when you receive a gift card.

If people see you are earning free stuff, they’ll want in on the action too!

Tip #2 – Download the SwagButton

The SwagButton makes it faster to earn points (called SB).  The SwagButton is an extension for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer. With the SwagButton, you will have access to all the earning opportunities Swagbucks has to offer. Earn for searching the web. See the coupons and special offers. And enjoy one-click access to Swagbucks TV, Games, Surveys, Coupons and much more. You will also be alerted when there is a new Swag Code made available.

How to Download the SwagButton:

1. Log in to your Swagbucks account.
2. Scroll down the Swagbucks homepage until you find “Quick Links” on the left side of the page.
3. Then click on SwagButton from the list.
4. You will then be directed to a page to add the button to your browser. I use Chrome so it gave me instructions for adding it to Chrome.

Tip #3 – Follow Swagbucks on Facebook and Twitter

Not only do you earn points for searching online, but there are always swag codes to be found that you can type into your account for extra points. (Log into your account then enter the code into the box that says “Swag Code” at the top of the page)

You’ll want to follow the Swagbucks Facebook Page because:

• Quite often there are codes that are Facebook exclusive that are put in plain sight on the Facebook Wall.
• If there is a code somewhere else, like on the Swagbucks Blog, other users will let you know.

You want to follow Swagbucks on Twitter because:

• When a Swag code becomes “live” you ‘ll know within a few minutes on Twitter because everyone tweets or retweets.
• Tips on how to earn more points

Tip #4 – Follow the Swagbucks blog

You want to follow the Swagbucks Blog because:

• Swagbucks releases codes on the blog as often as once a day.

Tip #5 – Watch Swagbucks TV

Find the “Earn” section on the left sidebar of the homepage then click “Watch”.  You will earn a different amount of points depending on what you watch.

Although this may be tedious, if you’re doing something on your computer anyways, you could turn the volume down and still tinker away!

Tip # 6 – Do the Daily Polls

Click on the “Daily Poll” button on the left sidebar of the homepage.  Take the Daily Poll and you’ll win one point.  This isn’t the biggest reward out there. But it takes 10 seconds and every Swagbuck adds up!

Tip # 7 – Use Shop & Earn

Canadians can Shop & Earn! Every time you’re doing some online shopping, make sure to head over the Swagbucks homepage and click on the “shop” button on the left sidebar. Depending on the store you’re shopping at, you will earn a varying amount of points for every dollar you spend. (Currently you will earn 4 SB for every $1 spent online at Walmart.ca)

Tip # 8 – Join Team Challenges

Quite often, Swagbucks will put together team challenges. When you join a challenge, you will automatically be assigned a team and when you contribute a certain amount of points to your team, you will earn a bonus!

Tip # 9 – Swag Code Extravaganza

Another thing Swagbucks does quite often is they have Swag Code Extravaganzas! They will release about 6 swag codes throughout one day on their various social media and other platforms.  The last extravaganza they had, if you collected all the swag codes, you would have had an extra 30 points for your account!

I hope this helps those of you that want to earn more!  Swagbucks is a great way to save on the things you need! Happy earning!

This post includes affiliate links, and I earn matching Swag Bucks if you sign up with my link. Thanks for your support of this site!

See the other articles in this series, here.

Here are some ideas to help eliminate or reduce paper/plastic products that you may purchase on a regular basis. I wouldn’t try to eliminate all of these products all at once, just slowly reduce and eliminate them one at a time.

Paper Towels

I still purchase paper towel, but maybe once a year? It’s honestly for my husband. Ha!  For big wet messes I like to use beach towels (or any dirty towel I have laying around.) Washcloths work great for cleaning windows or small messes.

Napkins

Well, we don’t really use cloth napkins, but those little baby washcloths sure come in handy for cleaning up my daughter. We also have a pile of napkins from restaurants in the drawer and car that come in handy. (since they’d be thrown out at the restaurant anyways, we take them home.)

Plastic shopping bags

I try to have my own reusable shopping bags on hand at all times, but sometimes I forget!  Plus, if I’m being honest, I like to bring home plastic shopping bags once in a while to use in our garbage cans.

Sandwich/freezer bags

I’m the crazy lady who washes and reuses sandwich and freezer bags. (I can’t be the only one?) I’ll have them drying out all over the place in the kitchen. I don’t wash the really yucky ones though or the ones that had meat in them. Those get tossed. I actually had to purchase sandwich bags the other day and I was surprised at the cost! (I didn’t even have a coupon!)

Aluminum foil

We don’t use aluminum foil very often, but sometimes when we do, I can reuse it because it wasn’t touching any food. I just fold it up gently then pull it out next time I need some for grilling veggies or covering a cheesy lasagna!

Straws

I have switched from plastic straws to stainless steel straws over the last few years and we have been loving them! Most of them come with cleaning brushes so they’re really easy to keep clean.

I think by eliminating or reducing the amount that you use these items, you can save big through the year.

What disposable products have you eliminated from your home? What items would you like to eliminate?

See the other articles in this series, here.

I’m going to be honest with you and say it’s been a busy/disorganized season of our lives so we’ve been eating out a lot more than we should be 🙁 This is something I want to remedy because truthfully, it’s only because I’ve been “lazy” and frustrated with trying to please everyone’s taste buds. Ugh! Several years ago we decided eating out once a week for a cheap dinner was okay. But lately I’ve been finding we’re eating out once a week plus stopping midday for some lunch or even a treat at least once a week. That really adds up!

I’ve come up with several ways that I think will get our family back on track and eating at home more. I think these tips will help you eat out less too!

Menu plan

Since I’m being honest in this post, I’ve been completely slacking in the menu planning department. And this is huge for me because I’m such an advocate for planning a weekly menu! I know the benefits it has for my family, yet I’ve still been slacking.

I don’t find it difficult to plan a menu, I’ve been doing it for quite a few years, yet it has become a chore to me trying to please everyone. (And there’s only three of us right now!) A wise woman I know, who has many children, once gave me some wonderful advice. I was wondering how she managed to serve meals that her entire family would eat. She told me that she mainly tries to think of what her husband would enjoy. Make him happy and the kids will have to learn to like what’s put on the table. I loved that because I don’t want my children to be picky eaters and it takes the pressure off trying to please every single person! Which would ultimately end up with several different meals being made at each meal time. No thanks.

If you have troubles planning a menu, there are plenty of meal planning services out there like: eMeals, The Fresh 20, Once a Month Mom.

Use the slow cooker

I love my slow cooker. Most recipes I use don’t involve any precooking. Just plunk all the ingredients in the cooker, turn it on, and walk away while dinner is being made! Using a slow cooker in the hot summer months is especially great because it doesn’t heat the house up!

You’ll find many amazing slow cooker meals on Pinterest, in books from the library and even Googling slow cooker meals.

Freezer cooking

Another time saver is using your freezer to stash a whole bunch of freezer meals that you can pull out in the morning to thaw and have on the table just in time for dinner madness.  I’m a big fan of setting aside some time to prepare as many freezer meals as I can, especially when I know a busy season is coming up. (a new baby, guests in town…etc.)

You will find an endless amount of freezer cooking ideas online, but I also have some articles you may enjoy:

• Slow Cooker Freezer Meals: 9 Meals in about 3 hours
• My Great Big List of Freezer Cooking Meals/Starters
• Freezer Meal Planning Part One: It’s Not All Or Nothing
• Freezer Meal Planning Part Two: Tools of the Trade
• Freezer Meal Planning Part Three: The Finish

Eat the Leftovers

We often have dinner leftovers that get pushed to the back of the fridge.  But by making a conscious effort to eat the leftovers, we can really start to eat out less for lunch or dinner. Besides, leftovers are so easy!  Just heat and serve!

Keep it simple

Who cares if you eat tacos every Tuesday or have pizza night every Friday? If your family enjoys it and it’s healthier than eating out, just roll with it!  Keeping it simple, especially in busy seasons can be just the ticket to keep you from eating out more than you need to be.

Make treats at home

Maybe it’s just our family, but I find we’re going out for ice cream once a week, or Ice Capps. Especially on nights when my husband plays soccer.  Sienna and I like to bring a treat if we’re going to be watching his game. One way we could save, is by making treats at home before we leave.  It’s easy to whip up a delicious blended drink or even bring a bowl of ice cream with the ice cream I bought from the grocery store. I just have to be more diligent in trying!

Give yourself grace

One of the most important things, though, is that you need to give yourself grace. If you have the wiggle room in your budget to eat out and it’s something that your family enjoys, I encourage you to budget it in.

Plus, when it’s in the budget, there’s no guilt!. Maybe that means you can budget to eat out once a week, once a month, or every six months. Figure out what works for you and then do it and don’t feel guilty!

How do you eat out less?  How often do you eat out?  Is this also something you want to change?

See the other articles in this series, here.

How to Negotiate a Good Deal

Do you have friends who always seem to find great deals? Does it seem like no matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to land the deals they do? Well the trick is dealing smarter, not harder. Learning to negotiate a good deal can help you to save big bucks throughout the year. If you want to learn to negotiate a better deal whenever you purchase a product, take a look at these helpful tips below.

1. Do your research.

It’s best to go into a deal scenario well educated. If you know that item X can be purchased for a lower price at another store, this is excellent information to know. Know what the average retail price is of any product you are purchasing, so you know what you have to work with as far as price ranges.

2. Never disclose your budget.

Many times a salesman will ask you what budget you are working with when making a deal. Don’t tell them. They will still try to sell you at the higher end of budget. Instead, ask for your options to make a decision on. You are never obligated to disclose your budget, as it could actually hinder you from getting a good deal.

3. Don’t appear to be in a hurry.

If you appear to be in a hurry to purchase, it can be used against you. Instead, act as though you have all of the time in the world to make this decision. Make the salesman bring the good deal to you and attract your business.

4. Ask for a manager.

A manager may be able to give you a better deal than a floor salesperson. If you feel as though there is a better deal to be had, ask to speak to a manager. See if the price is firm by simply asking, “What is your best price on this? Is it firm?” and go from there.

5. Know your discount status.

Always ask if there is a discount for seniors, students, teachers, military, etc. It is always wise to ask the salesperson if they offer discounts AND if discounts can be stacked. For example, can you use your senior discount on top of a coupon or sale price? If so, the savings can add up!

6. Quote your competitors.

This is where it’s wise to go in educated as mentioned above. Knowing the price of the store’s competitors can make a huge difference. Quote these prices even if they are about the same or more, and ask if they can beat the price. Some retailers will not only price match but offer an additional discount as well!

7. Be polite.

You can catch more bees with honey! Always be polite, charming, and put on a smile. Be respectful of the salesperson and they are more likely to want to work with you and give you a great deal.

See how simple it can be to negotiate a great deal? Give these tips a try and see what savings you can score!

I’d love to hear what sort of deals you have received over the years thanks to some negotiating!  Let me know in the comments.

See the other articles in this series, here.

Maybe you can relate, but every once in a while, I find we’re spending money left right and center. Bills need to be paid, groceries need to be bought (again) or a birthday party comes up.

June is an especially spendy month for us because on top of our regular expenses, we also have our house insurance, car insurance and property tax due. Ouch!

While we do have our finances under control and carry zero debt, it’s still nice to intentionally stop spending money for a time. I like to call this a No Spend Challenge.

That brings me to today’s post on 52 Ways to Save: Have a No Spend Day/Week/Month!

In the past, we’ve done several no spend months where we don’t spend any extra money for an entire month. Groceries and bills are the exception.

You don’t have to have a No Spend Month to see savings. Even setting aside one day a week can significantly help your bank account. Especially if you find yourself making several small purchases on a daily basis. (Those small purchases can really add up!)

If the idea of having a No Spend Day/Week/Month strikes fear, I know for a fact that it’s not so bad once you’re into a groove. You may even find your mindset changing about the way you view money!

I asked the wonderful people over at the Simply Frugal Facebook page what they like to do for fun that is 100% free.  Here are their answers:

• Picnic in the park
• Read books (from the library or free kindle ebooks from Amazon)
• Sit at the Waterfront
• Hike
• Breathe
• Weed the Garden
• Take the dog for a walk to new places
• Visit the Farmer’s Market (free if you don’t buy anything!)
• Visit the beach
• Go for a bike ride
• Walk
• Sleep
• Enjoy the scenery
• Stargaze
• Backyard Camping
• Collect shells, rocks or beach glass

Related: 10 Things to Do Instead of Spending Money

As you can see, the options are pretty endless when it comes to having a fun day without spending any money. And if you ask me, that all sounds pretty relaxing and good for the soul. 🙂

Have you ever done a No Spend Challenge?  How did it go for you?

See the other articles in this series, here.

One way to save a lot of money is to make your own snacks. Buying snacks from the grocery store can really add up. Plus, not only are they more delicious than pre-packaged snacks, they are usually much healthier for you too!

10 Quick & Easy Homemade Snack Ideas

1. No-Bake Energy Bites
2. Veggies with homemade Ranch Dip
3. Fruit
4. Nuts/Seeds
5. Homemade Ice Cream Sandwiches
6. Healthy Strawberry Banana Ice Cream
7. Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets
8. Popcorn
9. Homemade Applesauce Sauce
10. Tropical Pineapple Peach Slushie

Something I’ve been wanting to implement in our home is a snack bin.  The idea is to set aside some time over the weekend to put together a bunch of snacks in a bin that you can grab easily throughout the week. My daughter is a snacker (she gets that from me…) so I love the thought of telling her to grab something out of the snack bin! Then I know she’s eating something nutritious!

What sort of homemade snacks do you like to have on hand?

See the other articles in this series, here.

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:

• Stylebook Closet App: A neat looking app! (cost: $4.59)
• Putting Me Together: a blog that shows you how to wear your staples in creative ways.
• 8 Ways to Wear Sneakers
• 12 Ways to Wear Your Striped Shirts
• 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?

See the other articles in this series, here.

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.

See the other articles in this series, here.

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!

Ever since my husband and I were married almost 8 years ago, I’ve been planning our weekly menu.  Even if I didn’t take the time to write things down, I still had a few meals in mind that would get us through the week.  It’s in my nature to be a planner so planning a menu was obvious for my own sanity.  But, even if you’re more of an impromptu cook, today I’d like to touch on the importance of menu planning. Especially if you’re looking to save money and some sanity. We’re all busy people so the power of a plan can help each of us tremendously!

Menu Planning Keeps the budget in check

Groceries cost a lot.  Save yourself some financial stress by planning your meals and your shopping list based on what’s on sale and what you already have in your pantry.  With a menu plan in place, you only have to purchase the ingredients you need create the meals you’ve picked.  That’s how I spend less than $50 some weeks on groceries.  

Your Time and Sanity are Important Too

Whether you work outside the home or you’re a stay-at-home parent, we’re all juggling a ton of activities on a daily basis.  While planning a menu in the first place takes a bit of time, it will definitely save you time and restore sanity in the end. You will always have the ingredients you need to create a meal from your planned menu. No running to the store for a last minute item or opening the fridge and cupboards 500 times to figure out what to make for dinner.  Or realizing it’s 5pm and you just spent an hour trying to find a great recipe when dinner could have already been on the table.  With a plan in place, all you have to do is pick a meal from the list and make it!

Menu Planning Reduces Waste

Have you ever bought food from the grocery store thinking you’ll use it for something, but end up throwing it out instead?  If you stick to the grocery list that you created based on your planned meals, you won’t be purchasing anything that you won’t use.  In turn, creating less waste, both in the food sense and financial sense!

Related:  11 Ways to Reduce Food Waste

I believe that having a menu plan to save money and your sanity cannot be stressed enough.  Menu planning has made my life so much easier and I’ve heard the same from many others. Sometimes, the menu plan is the only thing in the day that goes as planned! 

See the other articles in this series, here.

Are you guys enjoying this series?  Have you learned anything new or gained some inspiration? I’ve been having a lot of fun writing these posts!

One way to save a bundle every day is to make substitutions for things you buy or do regularly. I think it’s possible to find a substitute for so many things these days. The list could go on and on!

When I say make substitutions, I don’t mean necessarily have to stop doing and eating everything you love. Just find a cheaper, and quite possibly, a better way to do it. If you love to stop for coffee, purchase a french press or an Aeropress for at home or work and start making your own instead of going to a coffee shop.  Or, if you enjoy getting your nails done, why not find a friend who enjoys painting nails to do it for you?  Make an afternoon of it!

Here are a few of the ways I like to make substitutions at home:

• Homemade flavoured coffee cream
• Homemade pancake mix
• Use towels instead of paper towels for messes
• Use cloth diapers instead of disposable diapers
• Make my own cleaning supplies
• Homemade taco seasoning, Ranch seasoning, Italian seasoning
• Homemade Granola bars
• Homemade flour tortillas

Sometimes making substitutions could be as simple as buying a carton of whipping cream (to whip yourself) instead of a can of pre-made whipping cream.  Or for some frugal fun, why not find a new-to-you hiking trail instead of dishing out money for a local attraction.  Or maybe you’re forced to make a substitution because you ran out of something. Check out this list of 100 Emergency Ingredient Substitutions.

As you go about your week, try to think of some substitutions you can make. Challenge yourself! I’m going to try my hand at some homemade bread. The bread maker has been sitting for far too long. 🙂

What are some ways you make substitutions in your life to help save money?

See the other articles in this series, here.

Today’s 52 Ways to Save post is inspired by this amazing community garage sale that I hit up with some friends over the weekend.  It was great!  There were at least 40 garage sales in this one community. They even provided a map of all the sales!

And with that, learn to save big at garage sales with these tips:

Find the Sales

Before you jump in the car to find garage sales, you might be wise to do a little research beforehand. The night before you head out, be sure to take a look at the sales in your area. When you look at the garage sales in your area, you can plan to hit the sales closest to you so you’re not driving all over the place. Plus, having a clear plan of action in place will help you save big because you’re not going from one end of the city to the other then back again.  Here’s where you can look for garage sales in your area:

• Your local newspapers
• Craigslist/Kijiji
• Facebook Buy & Sell groups (I find people often post about their upcoming garage sales)

Write a List

Making a list of items you’re looking for can also be a money saver. Garage sales can be really exciting with all.the.neat.things that you must have for so cheap. All those neat things can add up to a lot of clutter and wasted money. So grab a pen and paper and start listing the items you hope to find that you will actually need.  Get specific, especially when it comes to kids clothes. Over the weekend, I was on the hunt for 2 pairs of pants, 3 t-shirts, 2 pairs of summer PJ’s and a great pair of sandals for my daughter. I managed to keep most of my money because I could overlook all the cute things she didn’t need (dresses! skirts! sweaters!).

Be prepared

Now, it’s garage sale day. But before you jump in the car, make sure you’re stocked up on snacks and your beverages of choice.  A day of garage saleing can be long and you don’t want to spend more at the drive-thru then you did on your garage sale treasures.

Bring cash

Make sure to have cash on you when you start. If you come across something that you must have, you don’t want to run to the bank and risk that item being sold to someone else!  Having smaller bills and change is ideal.

Get ready to bargain

I’ll admit that bargaining isn’t my forte, but I did however, manage to do a tiny bit of bargaining over the weekend!  I think most people expect you to offer a different price actually. So, just ask! The worst they can say No and the best they can say is Yes!  Just make sure you offer something reasonable. Sort of lame, but one person said I could have my purchase for $8, but I countered with $7 (because I had a $5 and a toonie). He accepted and I’m pleased with the deal I got on two jeans in brand-new condition and a t-shirt!

Another trick I learned is to see if they’ll let you fill a bag for a fixed price.  As I was digging through the kids clothes at one home, I was offered a plastic shopping bag that I could fill for $5. I would have jumped on this but I couldn’t find anything in the right size for my daughter.

Buy these items

I find that buying these types of items at garage sales will save you a load of cash in the long run:

• Wedding supplies: Once our wedding was over, I sold all the candle holders and table runners that we had purchased. You might find similar items yourself!
• Craft supplies: I’ve also sold a ton of fabric and card making supplies in garage sales over the years.
• Collector items: If you’re a collector of a particular item, garage sales could be a gold mine for you!
• Kid clothes: Can’t go wrong with buying kids clothes. Most of them will be in excellent shape since kids usually outgrow them before they get too worn.
• Large baby/kid items: While I am quite hesitant to buy used car seats, I don’t think you can go wrong buying things like excersaucers, baby swings, high chairs and outdoor toys.

Since I didn’t find everything on my list at the community garage sale this past weekend, I plan on hitting up more future sales armed with the tips I listed.

What are your tips for saving at garage sales?  What are some of your must-buy items?

See the other articles in this series, here.

Here are more unique ways your library will save you money:

DVDs and CDs

Our local library offers a great selection of DVD’s and CD’s. While you can purchase these items fairly cheap these days, borrowing from the library will save you a ton in the long run!

Audiobooks

If you’re a fan of audiobooks, check the selection at your library!  While I have yet to figure out a good way to listen to audiobooks (I get distracted), once I do figure it out, I’m going to check out a few. I noticed that our library system offers downloadable audiobooks.

eBooks

I often list free ebooks that are available through Amazon, but your local library may also give you access to a ton of ebooks. I believe you need to download the OverDrive app.

Digital Magazines

It’s possible to read digital magazines for free through many local libraries!  Take a look online at your local library’s website for details.

Kids Programs

Most libraries have a kids story time. My daughter attends regularly and enjoys the story and songs they sing. Our library systems also offers a Summer Reading Club.

Free Activities

I was doing a bit of browsing through our library website and discovered a bunch of fun free activities they offer. One night they offer a Lego Builders program. Another night they have a movie night based on books.  On yet another night, they have Chess night.  The list goes on!

As you can see the library is a great place or service to take advantage of if you want to save some big bucks!

How often do you use your library?  Do you know of any other services or activities most libraries offer?

See the other articles in this series, here.

For today’s 52 Ways to Save post, we’ll be talking about buying items in bulk!

I find that buying items I use often end up being cheaper in the long run when I purchase them in large quantities.  Most grocery stores sell items in bulk which can result in a lower price. (When you’re comparing the cost per weight between a small package and a large package).  For example, purchasing a 10kg bag of flour is cheaper (according to weight) than a 5kg bag.

However, it’s not always good to buy everything in bulk. Take the example of a 10 pound bag of potatoes For our family specifically, since it’s just my husband and I and our daughter (who doesn’t eat much), buying the big 10 lb bag of potatoes is not a good use of money for us.  If I purchased the large bag there would be guaranteed waste. Which is essentially like throwing money down the drain!

What to Buy in Bulk

What you should buy in bulk will depend on your own family.  Take a look at the items you regularly buy a lot of that have a long shelf life or will keep well in the freezer.

For our family, I buy flour, tomato soup, rice, meat and beans in large quantities. Up until recently, I was also buying large boxes of diapers and baby wipes.

What not to Buy in Bulk

Buying in bulk can often save you a lot of money in the long run, however there are times when it’s wise to skip the large quantities.

1. Don’t buy things you won’t use up in time

Going back to my example of the 10 pound bags of potatoes. As I mentioned, this would not be a smart purchase for our family because I know all the potatoes won’t be used up in time.

2. Don’t buy things if you’re not sure you’re going to love them

Sure, that big bag of dried beans may be a great deal, but if your family doesn’t love beans then that bag is just going to sit around collecting dust. You may have good intentions in wanting your family to eat more beans, but you are better off getting them used to the taste of beans with smaller bags or cans.

3. Don’t store your bulk items carelessly

Make sure to store your bulk items properly and check them often.  the last thing you want to do is find your grains bug infested!  Many bulk items can be frozen to extend their life.  Here are some things that freeze well:

• Meat (either cooked or uncooked)
• Flour
• Fresh fruit (strawberries, peaches, cherries)
• Vegetables (beans, corn, tomatoes…etc)
• Butter
• Breads, pastries and baked goods (cookies, muffins)
• Cooked rice

Another option for bulk purchases is splitting a large purchase with friends or family members. You’ll all reap the savings while reducing the possibility of waste because you have a quantity that is more manageable for each family.

So tell me, do you buy in bulk? Have you ever made a bulk purchase mistake?

See the other articles in this series, here.

One way to save money is by earning a little extra money! One of my favourite ways to earn a little extra happens to be selling my unwanted clothing. While I’m not a big name brand shopper, I often have clothes that are in great condition that sell well in consignment shops.  You’ve probably seen me write about the powers of selling used stuff in local Facebook Buy & Sell groups, but for what ever the reason, I don’t have much success selling clothing on these sites.  So consignment is my go-to for selling unwanted clothes.

Here are my tips to help you get the most money out of the items you bring to consignment:

Make sure your items are clean

Give your gently-worn clothes a wash to freshen them up and to get any stains out, you’ll have more luck selling items that are in great shape.

Make sure your items are ironed

Going along with my previous point, having clothes that are newly ironed will help your items sell for top dollar.

Make sure your items are current/in style

You will have the best luck selling more “current” clothing; nobody wants to wear your grandmother’s polyester pants!

Don’t hold on to something you know you won’t wear

The longer you hold on to an item you know you won’t wear, the less it will be worth when you decide to finally clear your closet.

Brand names sell well

There are many many people out there that want the brand name clothing at a fraction of the cost.  Consignment stores are a great place to bring your brand name clothing to get a bit of return on your investment!

On the opposite side of things, consignment stores are also a great place to find a deal on clothing you may need yourself!  This week’s 52 Ways to Save post will have you earning and saving! 😉

Do you have any tips for selling your clothing in consignment stores?  Have you ever snagged a brag worthy deal?

See the other articles in this series, here.

9 Tips for Gardening on a Budget

Are you ready to “get growing?”  The arrival of spring has many ready to get outdoors and start planting their gardens, but what if you are working on a limited budget? Well the good news is, gardening doesn’t have to be expensive, and in fact it can be a great way to save yourself some cash in the long run. If you are considering planting a garden this season and want to do so for less, take a look at these 9 tips for gardening on a budget. You will be amazed at how easy it can be to “get growing” for less!

1. Start your seeds indoors.

Sure you can buy seedlings, but starting your own seeds indoors is cheaper! A seedling cost at least $1-$5, while you can get an entire pack of seeds for $1 or less. So start your seeds indoors using seed starters and some basic soil, and you can have your own seedlings in no time. (Read this how-to post for details on how to start your seeds indoors!)

2. Check out your local dollar store.

Dollar stores have a great selection of gardening gear for just $1 each. Choose from seeds, flower pots, gardening gloves, fertilizer spikes, watering cans, starter trays, and more! It is a great way to build your gardening stash for less.

3. Use natural fertilizers.

Instead of buying plant food and fertilizers, try making your own! Crushed egg shells and coffee grounds make excellent plant food. You can also use fruit peels to help nourish the soil and keep your plants healthy.

4. Practice chemical free pest repellent.

Again, you can buy your own pest repellent, but why not make your own for less? A simple spray bottle of water and a few drops of Dawn Dish Soap can help keep many pests at bay! This is a great way to save cash and omit chemicals in your garden.

5. Start a rain barrel.

Instead of spending money on watering your garden, catch rainwater instead. A rain barrel is the perfect trick for catching rain perfect for watering your garden with. Even a small barrel or bucket can give you enough water to keep a small garden satisfied.

6. Make your own garden markers.

You can make garden markers out of all kinds of household materials. Try making some from wood craft sticks and markers to get started. This is a great way to keep your garden organized for less.

7. Team up with friends.

Team up with friends and neighbors  to borrow each other’s gardening tools and equipment. You can even share seedlings and thinned out plants you no longer need. This is a great way to get the items you need for cheap or even free.

8. Use a small space.

Rather than tilling up a large piece of land for a garden, try out small space gardening!  Living in a townhouse, we actually don’t have the land for a big garden so I put container gardening to use.  Sometimes that might even feel overwhelming. If so, try growing just a few herbs that you often buy from the grocery store.  Or grow a lasagna garden so you have all the ingredients for a delicious marinara sauce on hand.  Here are a few more ways to grow a garden in a small space.

9. Look into community gardening.

Community gardening could be a great option for those of you that want a big garden but don’t have the space or want the time commitment. Do a little research about the community garden options in your city to see if this might be a good fit for you.

Gardening is a great way to grow your own food and save some cash. Give these tips for gardening on a budget a try and see how easy it can be to grow for less.

See the other articles in this series, here.

One of the ways we like to save money at home is by doing at-home hair cuts for my husband.  (I’m not willing to let him have a go at my hair quite yet :))  While I’m not an expert in the least, no one has ever said anything bad about his hair!  After all, I simply cut his hair the same length all over, then trim his neck with the trimmer and around his ears with a pair of scissors.  Simple!  I estimate were saving at least $20 every 6 weeks or so.

I think it also helps that we have a decent hair trimmer to work with!  We have the Wahl 3231 22 Piece Home Pro Haircutting Kit which we purchased after reading the reviews on Amazon. So yeah, if it weren’t for this great $18 tool, we’d be spending a lot more on haircuts throughout the year!

While I’m not quite brave enough to cut my own hair at home, I have cut my own bangs. I’ve also trimmed my daughter’s bangs. (Which I’ve now decided to grow out.)  Here are a couple of tutorials I found that may me useful for you:

• How to Cut Your Own Bangs
• How to Cut Kids Hair
• How to Cut Men’s Hair (Video)

Do you cut your own hair at home?  How did you learn?

Using your slow cooker on a regular basis can help you save in quite a few ways.  Read on for some of my favourite tips, tricks and recipes for making your slow cooker a great money saving tool:

52 Ways to Save: Use a Slow Cooker

1. Purchase Cheaper Cuts of Meat

When you have a slow cooker, there’s no need to buy those expensive cuts of meat. Because the slow cooker cooks slow, it’s great for tenderizing cheaper cuts of meat.

2. Save on Electricity Costs

Did you know that slow cookers actually use less energy than the stove top or oven? It’s true! Don’t just save dollars on your grocery bill, save on your electricity bill too!

3. Use Less Meat

Perhaps it’s the recipes I use, but I’ve noticed that I use less meat when I make a slow cooker meal.  Meat can be one of the more expensive things on your grocery bill so making it stretch can help a ton. I often times shred the meat I use or the vegetables far outweigh the meat quantity. Of course, you can skip the meat entirely and create a delicious pot of baked beans, lentils or what ever strikes your fancy.

4. Resist the Take Out

The slow cooker sort of takes away a lot of the excuses you could have for ordering take-out. After all, you put together your meal in the morning, when you’re (hopefully) your freshest. So when you’re tired at the end of the day, your dinner is already cooked!

5. Double Up

Or in other words, make a huge batch and freeze the extras for a super easy meal that you can just pull out and heat up!

6. Round up the Fridge

Do you have a few leftovers that are staring to pile up in the fridge? Vegetables that are just about on their last legs?  Throw them into your slow cooker and create a delicious soup or stew!  Try out this Pantry and Pasta soup for some ideas.

7. Not Just for Soups and Stews

Slow cookers are good for sooo much more than soups, stews, and chilis. Check out this post for 5 Unique Ways to Use Your Slow Cooker.

So, are you convinced that the slow cooker will save you money? How often do you use one? Do you have any great recipes to share? 

Below, you’ll find a bunch of our favourite slow-cooker recipes:

• Spaghetti Sauce
• Meatballs (I usually make a sweet & sour sauce)
• Sesame Chicken
• BBQ Pork
• Beef Stew
• Caramel Sauce
• Turkey Chili

One way I really like to save money is by making, from scratch, items that are normally bought at the store. Some of my all-time favourite products to make are homemade cleaners. I’ve mentioned before, but I’m really into DIY projects that I can complete in an hour or less.  Homemade cleaners definitely fall under that category. In fact, you could create a whole line of cleaning products that will clean your entire house in well under an hour. That my friends, is a good use of time and money for me! (Now, if only doing the actual chores was that quick…)

I’ll admit that we’re not 100% store-bought cleaner free. I still buy laundry detergent and Windex. Though often times I’ll just use water and a cloth for the windows/mirrors. As for laundry detergent, I just can’t get enough nerve to try making my own homemade laundry detergent. Maybe one day, but for now, buying those two things is what works for our family!

In the very basic sense of homemade cleaners, all you really need is vinegar, baking soda and water. Those three ingredients together and separately create the basis for your clean house.  The best part? Those ingredients cost just mere pennies to use each time you create a DIY cleaner.

Over the years, I have posted quite a few Homemade Cleaner recipes on Simply Frugal that I thought I’d put together in one post for you.  Here are my favorite, tried & true homemade cleaner recipes:

All-Purpose Cleaner

This all-purpose cleaner is a step up from a really basic recipe. It requires a couple of products that you may not have on hand initially but once purchased, a little goes a loooooong way.

DIY Natural Soft Scrub

This DIY natural Soft Scrub works so well!  I would suggest making just a little bit at a time since it does solidify and becomes hard to get out of the jar.

DIY Super Citrus Cleaner

This Super Citrus Cleaner works really well for the soap scum we had in our bathtub!  Try it out for yourself!

3 Ingredient Drain Cleaner

About once a month, I freshen up our drains with this 3 Ingredient Drain Cleaner.

Homemade Dryer Sheets

Sometimes I add white vinegar into the fabric softener dispenser in our washing machine. Other times I throw in one of my Homemade Dryer Sheets!

Those are the homemade cleaners that I regularly use in my home.  I know that if you do a search on Pinterest you will find a ton of other homemade cleaner recipes.  Try the ones that catch your eye. They may work for you or they may not!  Just keep trying and eventually you’ll be saving a whole bunch of money because you stopped buying store-bought cleaners.

If you’re looking for more information on how I clean our house without chemicals, read this post: How to Clean Your House Without Chemicals.

If you use homemade cleaners, what recipes do you use?  Have you had any epic flops?  What about laundry detergent, have you tried making that?

Staying home more often is one of the simplest ways to have more time, spend less money, accumulate less clutter, and to simply live a less busy lifestyle!

Staying home used to be so hard for me. I’d go out to the mall or even drive over to the next city over for some ‘better shopping’, way more than I needed to. These trips would always result in money spent on lunch out, deals I may have thought I needed, and probably takeout for dinner because I was too tired to cook! Totally not worth it.

Staying Home means I have More Time, More Money, Less Clutter and a Simpler Lifestyle!

I’m amazed at how much I can get done at home when I limit my time out in town. I actually enjoy my twice a week grocery shopping trips because I have had time to plan the grocery list and meals. (and actually create the meals that I bought the groceries for!) I’m also somewhat impressed at what I can get accomplished around the house by staying home more often. I also have more time to play with my daughter one on one.

Another perk to spending more time at home is that I do less unnecessary spending. So I’m keeping more money in my bank account and bringing home less clutter. Win win!

Since having Sienna, I’ve found myself needing to be out more often. (For sanity reasons ;)) But I have also consciously chosen activities for us that don’t cost much or any money at all. We’ve gone to the library for story time, joined a Mother Goose program and gone for playdates at friends’ homes. We recently started going to a drop-in gymnastics class that costs only $5.  As for me, I have a bi-weekly date with a couple of longtime girlfriends at my one girlfriend’s home. We bring snacks, but the conversations we have, no money can buy!

So as you can see, I don’t cut out every activity because I do value time spent with others in the community and my friends and family.  But staying home more often really allows me to focus on what I value most and allows me to become refreshed so I can be a blessing to those I see when we do go out.

Staying home more often really works for me!

Here are some ideas to be happier at home:

• Invite friends or family over for a movie/dinner night
• Buy/pick some inexpensive flowers such as daffodils
• Read a good book
• Take a nice bath
• Enjoy a dinner by candlelight
• Clear out as much clutter as possible, clean off the kitchen countertops, get rid of at least one pile of papers
• Listen to your favorite music
• Listen to your favorite music LOUD when you’re cleaning
• Surround yourself with the things you love, allow no room for things that don’t make you feel happy
• Take time to enjoy your favorite hot or cold beverage in the mornings (or evenings)
• Keep your favorite candle burning
• Play hard with your children
• Bake: it tastes great and smells wonderful
• Try a new recipe that you found on Pinterest or another recipe site
• Work at wanting what you have rather than having what you want
• Play board games with family or friends
• Stop resenting what your house isn’t and start appreciating what it is.
• Display family photos

How does staying home save you more money? Please share in the comments!

Make Your Own Homemade Mixes

This money saving tip might not save you much if you regularly get mixes for pennies with coupons. But if you’re in the habit of buying expensive baking mixes, seasonings, pancake mixes and individual sized oatmeal packs, you’ll save a ton.

Homemade mixes will not only save you money because it’s more economical than buying them pre-made at the store, but they can also save you money by encouraging you to eat at home. If you have pancake mix already made or pizza dough in the freezer, you have fewer excuses to go out for breakfast or order pizza.

How to Make Your Own Homemade Mixes

First of all, you can check out my March Mixes series for recipes or inspiration. You could first try something that you regularly purchase at the grocery store. Pinterest is also a wealth of information for homemade mixes. Experiment often. When you find a great recipe, keep it on file! Pretty soon you’ll have a nice collection of tried and true recipes, plus, a stockpile of mixes in your pantry or freezer!

Here are some of my favourite Homemade Mixes:

• Homemade Baking Mix (Bisquick)
• Homemade Montreal Steak Spice
• Homemade Cake Mix
• Homemade Brownie Mix
• Homemade Ranch Mix
• Homemade Taco Seasoning
• Homemade Whole Grain Pancake Mix
• Homemade Granola
• Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packs
• Freezer Friendly Pizza Dough

For storing the mixes, I like big mason jars for the recipes that make a lot and small mason jars for the spices.

Do you have any links or recipes for homemade mixes you can share?