Stretching Tight Boots and ShoesI have really big muscular calves and wide feet (thanks, Mum!), making it very hard for me to fit into shoes I fancy. I bought these suede boots and pumps online because they were dirt cheap and super cute. When they arrived, not surprisingly, I could not fit into them.
Jot Down Expected DeliveriesI recently experienced a couple of lost deliveries which was extremely disappointing and frustrating not to mention lots of time wasted! I had to be on the phone with the company I purchased from, delivery service as well as my credit card company. All together I spent over 5 hours of my time being placed on hold, switched to different departments and finally was able to dispute the charges. Not only did it take a big chunk of my time, but over a weeks course to resolve everything!
Free Expired ItemsI went to Sprouts today and an item on my grocery list was parmesan cheese for a baked chicken dinner. I came across this brand called BelGioioso on sale for $2.99. Sounds great because there's parmesan cheese as well as 3 other cheeses so I could make pizza too, but when I checked the expiration "best by" date, it had already passed, 7 days ago!
Use Your Own Mind When Making PurchasesWhat is a 'benhad'? It's not the lowest soldier rank in Xerxes Persian army, nor is it the latest hair style craze by Lauri Pedaja. A benhad is simply a person who has been had by the system.
Buy Products With FreebiesChristmas is coming and supermarkets are now open with cheaper items and more freebies. Some brands would drop down their prices and sometimes items would come out with bags, mugs or anything for free.
Decorate Hats with Earrings or PinsHere is a use for single earrings or rarely worn pins. Put them on the brim of a winter hat! You can give these pieces a second life.
Expandable Garden Hose ReviewWhen I heard about the expandable garden hose, I was not impressed. I didn't think there would be much to it. However, three years ago, I saw one in Bed Bath and Beyond and decided to purchase it. It is one of the best buys I have ever made. I really enjoy using it.
Find the Biggest Savings on AmazonWhen you're doing some online shopping on Amazon, this tip can help you find the biggest savings on whatever you're searching for. In this example, I'm looking for paint brushes. When the search results come up, go to the url and add the argument "&pct-off=90-99" (without the quotes) to the end and hit enter. This will bring up the most discounted items in your search. (I marked the url change and discount shown in red.) If you change the argument at the end of the url to "&pct-off=50-99" it will find you items discounted from 50 to 99 percent. Adjust accordingly. :)
Keep Groceries Organized to Save...To keep my groceries organized so I know what I have and don't have, I have been doing the following:
"Sock It To Me" Cell Phone CaseI have a small cell phone. It's not a smart one, but it's fine for what I need it for. My husband had purchased me a nice $15 case for it. Then I lost it and I would not spend another $15 to get a replacement case. Instead, I bought a pair of toddler socks.
Coin Purse for Broken Keyless RemoteMy keychain/car remote broke. The small end that had a hole that allowed the metal ring to loop through it broke so I couldn't hook the key ring to the remote anymore.
Repairing Foggy Yellowed Vehicle HeadlightsMy car headlights were horribly yellowed after 12 years of ignoring them. I could barely even see when driving at night because that's how bad they were!
Research Saves Money When ShoppingA great way to save money is to research what you are buying first even if it is something simple like a coffee pot. You would be so surprised to see how many deals you can find online.
Pants Ex-panderThis comes in handy for those times when you just ate and need a little more room in your pants. All you have to have is a small rubber band loop it through the opening and then it makes a loop for you to put on your button of your pants. So easy to do.
Tips for Using Shower CapsShower caps are inexpensive and very useful when packing luggage for putting your shoes inside. I also use a shower cap to cover my bicycle seat when it's raining and clear shower caps are handy to cover plates of food when dining al fresco!
Flushmate Pressure Flush System Recall Due To Exploding ToiletsAn exploding toilet is quite a comical thought at first with lots of imagined pictures in our mind, but what if you or someone you know actually happens to have this particular pressure flushing system?
Selling Items on CraigslistMany people are now selling on Craigslist and on Facebook swap sites. I can't get over how many of the photo ads show the item for sale covered in dust and in a filthy setting.
Making Non-Slip HangersInstead of buying expensive hangers to keep your silky shirts looking nice and from falling off of the hanger, buy plastic hangers and make a zig zag line of hot glue across the hanger. Ta-da! No slip grip!
Download Store Coupons on Your Rewards CardI downloaded coupons to my Safeway grocery store rewards card for the very first time. Not only did I receive normal rewards card discounts of about $9.00 in savings but I also received an additional savings of about $10.00 from the downloaded coupons!
Reduce Your Chance Of Auto TheftHere are several ideas I've learned over the years. Many of these are everyday common sense things to keep in mind that we already know about but others are, "Why didn't I think of that?" to use as added protection ideas.
Sign Up for Local FreecycleI sign up for the freecycle yahoo posting in our area. I received some really nice furniture this way. Also in Florida, what people don't want they put on the curb, and you are free to take it. We look at the piece to see if it is good or worth redoing.
Read Labels and Avoid Marketing SchemesI, like so many other woman, will try almost anything. Then I noticed companies are betting on just that! Shaving cream for one example: it softens, has aloe or tons of other promises. Maybe they do, but is it worth the extra money you pay for it?
GDTYL - Gotta Drive, Text Ya LaterTelling the kids to ignore the texts while they're driving doesn't cut it because the person texting just keeps it up until they get a response. Tell your kids to text "gdtyl" at the next traffic light and then wait until they can safely have their texting "conversation."
How Do I Thin Nail Polish?I had some nail polish that was getting too thick to use, so instead of throwing it away, I poured nail polish remover in it. I just poured a little at a time. Shake it good and if it's still too thick, add a little more. Do this until you can put on your nails smoothly.
Conserving FuelWith the price of gas soaring, here are a few simple tips for conserving fuel.
Sticky Tack for the RVIf you own an RV or travel a lot, you know it's a constant battle to keep things secure so they don't fall or tip over in the process. If you are not using it yet, try sticky tack, also known as poster putty.
Uses For Hydrogen PeroxidePeroxide is cheaper than bleach, healthier for you, and kills bacteria. Check out these options: Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out to cure canker sores.
Keeping Ice off the CarWinter in Alaska where we live can be so harsh! No matter where you live, though, scraping ice off of your car in the early morning is just no one's idea of fun. This is the BEST WAY to keep your windshield frost free.
Dealing With Unsolicited Phone Calls and MessagesIf you receive unsolicited phone calls and text messages even though you are on the Do Not Call registry, you can file a report with the FCC. But there is something else you can do; report them to the company who's phone service they are using!
Reducing the Cost of Feeding a FamilyI was in the grocery store yesterday and was talking with a lady in the dairy section about the rising cost of food. She was very upset that her kids were eating her out of house and home.
Emergency Car HeaterThe weather outside is frightful. A nice gift to your family this time of year is a homemade car heater.
Use a Well Organized List When Grocery ShoppingWhen shopping for groceries and household supplies, having a well organized list is one of the best money savers (and time savers) that we've tried.
Ask Butcher To Make Sale Roasts Into Ground BeefEvery few weeks the different grocery markets have London broil and top round roasts on sale. What I do is go to the butcher at the market and tell him/her that I want 10 or 15 or 20 pounds of the roasts made into ground meat.
Play Your iPod While Grocery ShoppingI have hated going to the grocery store recently. I keep getting depressed with the high prices! I went today after I went for my morning walk at the track. I continued to listen to my music with one earpiece of my iPod in.
Start Stocking Your Pantry For The HolidaysAlthough it may seem too early to think about the Holidays, they are just around the corner. There are always special recipes and favorite foods that are only prepared for these holidays.
Take Your Forgotten Coupons to Customer ServiceHere is an additional way to use your coupons: Have you ever not purchased an item you needed because you had left the coupon at home, necessitating a trip back to the store at a later date? OR worse yet, paid full price, grumbling all the while?
Buy Frugal Extras When You ShopWhen you go to the grocery store, pick-up a couple of frugal extras for your pantry, or to give to your favorite charity. Stores are always having sales or specials on canned goods.
Saving Money on Office BeveragesHere's my tip about saving money on snacks. I am a administrative assistant at a small office. I noticed that all of us were going out to the local convenience store and buying cans of Diet Coke (the most inexpensive pop) for 79 cents.
Emergency Hemming With StaplesI bought a last minute pair of thrift shop jeans when I found I went off for a weekend without them. New $5 - good deal. But they were too long and I didn't have needle and thread with me.
Office Chair Mats For Car MatsMy older minivan far back carpet got ragged and tattered. A replacement one would cost over $100, which I may never have to spare, being low income.
Keeping a Master Grocery List on the ComputerAfter reviewing my grocery receipts and pantry for a month, I devised a shopping list on my computer that lists everything I use in my home, broken down into general categories like Produce/Fresh; Frozen; Pantry; Office; Toiletries/Household.
