Money Matters (Part 2)

Last summer I posted about various penny-pinching techniques I’d been using at the time. As mentioned in the original post, my goal is to develop more of these skills as time goes on. That said, I thought it only appropriate to report on some of my progress. This has been a fairly eye-opening experience since I haven't kept tabs on my progress this year and frankly, I think it's lacking in the "find easy household tricks" department.  Nonetheless, here are my new discoveries. 

If any of you have some cool frugal tips, please share!

1. Bountiful Baskets: This is definitely my favorite find this year. Every Saturday, Bountiful Basket volunteers drive around the state with promises of deliciously fresh fruits and vegetables to lure me out of bed at 6:30 in the morning. This is a huge accomplishment considering the fact that Saturday happens to be my only day to sleep in and I so look forward to extended sleeping hours. But $15 for an entire laundry basket full of fresh, locally grown produce rings my bell … and I cave.

Plus, they make healthy bread that Tyler and I can’t get enough of for $2 per loaf. They also offer special packages each week in addition to produce and bread if I’m looking for even more excitement.

We usually go every couple of weeks and split our basket with friends or family because they give you so much. One of these days I’m going to work up the courage to arrive extra early and volunteer for them so I can get free additions to my already bountiful basket :)

Visit bountifulbaskets.org on a Monday night to get in on the magic.

(Bountiful Basket x 2)

2. Mini Facials: I read about this on Kandee the Makeup Artist’s website and I love it. Basically if you like facials, buy yourself some organic lemon juice and organic sugar and go to town. It’s as easy as this: dampen your face with warm water, wet a cotton round with the lemon juice and sprinkle with a teaspoon of organic sugar. Rub the mixture all over your face and then wash it off. It feels wonderful! Check out her website if you want to see it legitimized on the face of a gorgeous makeup artist (her link is posted on our sidebar). She also has a cheap teeth whitening technique.

3. Birthday Clubs: I’ve joined so many restaurant/department store birthday clubs I can’t keep count. But the freebie birthday/anniversary/thanks for joining coupons they send out make it all worth it (check out Aveda, DSW, Marie Callender’s, TGI Friday’s, IHOP, etc…)

4. Hydrogen Peroxide: This stuff works as an awesome disinfectant/bleach substitute that is less than a dollar per bottle on sale.

5. Restaurant.com: Especially around clearance time at the end of each month, you can get some steals here! I paid $2 for a $25 gift certificate to a nice restaurant in the area. The downside is that most certificates require a minimum purchase. Play your cards right though, and it ends up being a pretty sweet deal.

6. Hotwire.com: Cheap hotel stays? Yes, please.

7. ACN: Oddly enough, most people sigh when we tell them that Tyler joined a company that brokers landlines, cell phone plans, television, internet, etc…. but like it or not, it has helped many people who have met with him to save money on monthly payments that they're already paying. Sadly, it couldn’t beat our current phone package that we get through my Dad’s business account, but at least it has saved other people money, right? If you ever want him to see if he can save you any or not, just say the word and he’ll look into it. Because if he can’t save us money, he may as well save some for other people to make it worthwhile.

8. Wal-Mart Samples: I’m a little embarrassed to write about this one for some reason. Basically I check Wal-Mart’s website frequently for free samples and order them whenever they’re available. I can’t even begin to count how many mini packages of free girly products I’ve received this way (tampons, etc…), along with travel sized shampoos and toothpastes (my fav. for camping). Many of the samples are just small handouts, but now and then, we totally score.

9.  Dryer Sheets: I have yet to do a price analysis on this due to an unforeseen hiccup along the way, but we really like it so that's got to count for something.  I bought a couple of bright colored wash cloths so they wouldn't get mixed up in our current towel supply.  We periodically soak them in liquid laundry detergent (purchased on clearance of course) and lay them out to dry.  Throw those puppies in the dryer and they work awesome as dryer sheets and last a long time (provided your husband doesn't accidentally wash them with the rest of the towels...  Yes, I'm talking to you Tyler).


Also as an update from last year’s post:

• We are officially x-fans of cheap brownie mixes. They’re great and affordable but once we started making them from scratch, there was no turning back. They simply don’t compare.
• Beingfrugalisfabulous website is no more.  Tragic.
• Still doing the online surveys and delighting in the free American Eagle clothing articles they provide.