November Grocery Pantry Stock Up Prices

In this day of rising food prices, I am always looking to save. Every month I try to stock my deep pantry when I find rock bottom grocery prices. I like to keep a stockpile sale price list so I know when to stock up.

November grocery stock up shopping is the time to save on:

1. Baking supplies. From butter to flour and sugar, stock up now. Butter freezes well.

2. Snacks and party foods. Holiday gatherings spur the stores to use these foods as loss leaders.

3. Canned goods. If you live in a state that has case lot sales you may find better deals then but for the rest of us, November is the month to stockpile canned goods.

3. Soda and adult beverage ingredients. Again party season.



Check out our entire page of Frugal Tips.

Stock Up Alert - Wheat And Beef Prices Rising

Stock Up Alert - Wheat and Beef Prices Rising

Recent late season snow and flooding have damaged wheat fields and will affect harvests this year. Experts are expecting prices to rise.

Beef prices will be rising as well with damage to feed crops and even loss of some cattle from recent storms.

Flour and products made with flour like pasta and baking mixes may rise as well so I will be stocking up.
I have picked up 20 pounds of flour today and I will get some more in the large sealed plastic bags from Walmart. These are great for my long term storage and I keep them in large plastic bins and rotate.

Watch the video for a stock up alert and what I am buying.

How To Save Tomato Seeds

One way I save money and garden frugally is by saving my own seeds. Here is how to save tomato seeds.

Growing your vegetables and even flowers from seeds saves so much money. One pack of seeds around 

$1 to $2 can give you many plants where even at our local garden center, one plant is over $3 now.

How to save tomato seeds:

1. Make sure you are using a tomato where the seeds will actually germinate. Grocery store tomatoes might not germinate if they are gmo so try heirloom plants and organic ones to start with. You can try with anything though because what do you have to loose.

2. Pick a great tomato at the peak of season. When you slice it just save some of the seeds in a dish. 

3. Rinse the seeds under cool water in a strainer.

4. Now lay out the seeds on a plate to dry thoroughly. I like to dry them on a plate and not paper so they don't stick.

5. Store in a cool dry place to save for planting next season. These printable seed packets are perfect for saving your vegetable seeds.

You might like these other posts:

Here's how to grow tomato plants from cuttings.
Tomato plant gift idea.
A guide on how to plant tomatoes the right way.

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Walmart Haul - Emergency Preps, Back to School and Coupon Deals

Today I popped into Walmart for some coupon deals, back to school items and some emergency preps.

I have been couponing to save money shopping and using my savings to purchase our emergency preparedness supplies.  I will share what I bought in hopes to help others save money and get prepared for fall and for emergencies.

Walmart Coupon Deals 7/11

• The Gain Flings are a great deal. A $3 coupon made them a little over a $1 but I read in some stores they are clearanced so with the coupon they are 50 cents. 
• Other coupon items I felt worth picking up were the organic gummies. With the coupons they were around 50 cents and will be nice to have for camping or for a movie night. 
• Pretzel crisps
• Stir Fry Sauce
• Ban deodorant

Refer to Grocery Smarts for the coupon details

Back to school deals 

Walmart has the best prices for school supplies. I picked up some items and will probably go back for more.

• Notebooks 17 cents
• Glue sticks 2-pack 50 cents
• Dividers
• Filler paper

I am hoping for some deals on computer paper and scissors as I need to stock up on those.

Emergency supplies from Walmart

• 6 gallon water container
• Propane
• Bleach
• Canned goods
• Zote soap (I can make so many cleaners from this bar)
• Extra toothbrushes
• Extra OTC meds
• Plastic school cases will be used for something else I will share later. So many uses for these.

You can see my video of my haul and tips here. You can comment and subscribe there too. I am going to do a couple of videos a week going over new topics as well as videos on some of my post viewed posts.

Saving Money Doing Laundry

With a large family, I do a lot of laundry, I mean a LOT OF LAUNDRY. Saving money doing laundry is important and a skill I have worked at over the years. I am happy to share my money saving laundry tips.

From the cost of laundry detergent to the rising costs of utilities used to wash our laundry, it can be costly to keep our clothes clean. I will break down my steps to save money while I wash our clothes.

Saving Money Doing Laundry

Save on detergent:

1. Make your own laundry soap. Low cost, easy and easier on sensitive skin.

2. Use less. You can use about half and your clothes will come clean. Unless a load is really soiled, try using as little as you can to get your clothes clean. Think about it. According to the laundry container of course you have to use a certain amount so you have to buy more.

How To Soften Stale Bread And 7 Ways To Use Up Stale Bread

In order to save money on food, I try to make my groceries last and here is how to soften stale bread. In the picture below I was trying to soften a stale baguette. We had it for a few days and I needed to use it.

How To Soften Stale Bread

Step 1. Take your loaf of sourdough or French bread or a long baguette and wrap it completely in a       slightly damp paper towel. Not soaking but the paper towel should mostly be evenly damp.

Step 2. Place in the microwave for about 20 seconds depending on the strength of your microwave. You may have to increase the time to 30 seconds for crusty breads. Less for softer breads. You can also soften bread in the oven by doing step one and placing on a cookie sheet and popping in the oven at 250 degrees for about ten minutes.

Ways To Use Up Stale Bread

Soften and use as normal.

Make homemade breadcrumbs.

Make French toast.

Make bread pudding.

Make bread pizza.

Make bruschetta.

Make a breakfast casserole.

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Simple Tricks To Stay Cozy All Winter Long

Simple Tricks to Stay Cozy All Winter Long

Some really great tips you may not know of to save money on winter heating bills and to keep you cozy.

Plummeting temperatures tend to lead to grumbles as you start to turn into an icicle, followed by groans as you spend money to stay warm, but it doesn’t have to be that way. A few easy changes help your home stay toasty without emptying your wallet every month. Here are a few tips to keep your home snuggly warm.

Area Rugs and Carpets Are Your Friends

As much as ten percent of a home’s heat loss can occur through the floor, so it’s important not to neglect what’s underfoot. Not only are area rugs and carpeting stylish, they also act as layers of insulation keeping warmth inside where it belongs. The delightful feeling of an interesting texture on your feet is a creature-comfort bonus! Insulation performance varies by type, size, and weave, so take the time to do a bit of research to find the best match for your décor and temperature-control needs.

Throw Comfort Over Your Furniture

Not much beats the humble throw blanket for creating a cozy bubble of happiness on your favorite sofa or easy chair. Like a blanket for your seating, throws come in a wide variety of fabrics and designs for different seasons and to complement different aesthetics. Choosing a throw that holds in heat while allowing perspiration to pass through is key to staying toasty instead of feeling like you’re in a sauna. The right throw could help you go all day without even turning on the heat!

Change Bedding for More Than Style

Satin and silk feel delightful, but they’re not so great for keeping the chill at bay. When temperatures slide south, it’s time to change the sheets. Consider flannel sheets to help stop heat loss and to avoid the shock of ice-cold fabric against bare skin when you hop into bed. Add nice, thick comforters to create a pocket of coziness you won’t ever want to leave. Pro tip: mattresses absorb ambient temperatures, so a thick, flannel blanket can be a game changer when used directly on the mattress as a sheet.

Give Your Fan New Direction

Take a good look at your ceiling fans from several angles. You’ll find small switches somewhere on the bodies of the fans. Those switches change the direction in which the fans rotate. Flip the switches to one position for a clockwise spin and to the other position for a counterclockwise spin. You want your ceiling fans to be rotating clockwise in the winter at the lowest speed. This produces a slight updraft, causing warm air, which naturally rises, to be circulated more efficiently. Make sure to turn the fan off when you’re not in the room to save even more.

Check the Furnace, Love the Furnace

Everyone’s first response to cold weather is to turn on their trusty furnace. Yet many neglect to ensure the furnace is ready to do the job. It’s one of those things no one thinks about until there’s a problem requiring furnace repairs. Making time each year for a furnace inspection is an important maintenance step every home should take. A furnace that is beginning to fail loses efficiency and costs more to heat your living space. Also, the worst way to find out there’s a problem is to have the furnace go kaput right smack in the middle of winter.

This is my job in our house. I am a stickler about this and in months when we run the furnace, I change the filter every 30 days. Stock up and always have them on hand.

Treat Your Windows

Your windows are easily where most heat is lost. Luckily, just as with throws and blankets, adding an appropriate covering helps stop heat loss. Adding heavier window coverings helps by holding air between the window surfaces and the drapes, which acts as insulation. The denser material also helps keep heat from passing through. Specially designed cold-weather window coverings even include reflective material within the fabric layers, maximizing the amount of heat the coverings hold in. There are myriad choices of colors, patterns, and cuts from which to choose, so your décor won’t have to suffer.

Not a Good Time to Vent

A surprising source of heat loss is the bathroom vent. Bathroom vents lead outside, so when they are in operation, they are pulling the heat being produced by your furnace right out of your living space. It’s like having the heat running with the windows and doors open. You’re just pumping the warm air back out again. You can minimize the impact of the bathroom vent by resolving to run it only when absolutely necessary. When you do operate it, do so only for as long as you need. Don’t leave it running and costing you comfort and cash.

Warm Yourself from the Inside

Your body is adept at producing its own heat to keep you going, but your internal furnace could still use some help. The cold months are perfect times for hot comfort foods, steamy soups and beverages. Put away the cold cuts and iced teas and break out the warm pies and hot cocoa! If you’re worried about your waistline, there are plenty of alternatives that are healthier and less likely to linger on the hips. The key is to make sure most of your cold-weather meals are hot enough to give you some extra pep.

Sometimes You Have to Close a Door

It’s obvious that you should keep your exterior doors closed during the cold months, but not so obvious that you should do the same with interior doors. Your furnace is working to equalize temperature and can do so much more efficiently if areas are compartmentalized. Simply put if you’re not using a room, keep the door closed. This holds heat within the unused room, while allowing the warmth in the areas being used to be more evenly distributed. The result is a more comfortable home without the furnace needing to run as much. Don’t forget the bathroom counts, too!

Snug As a Bug In a (Very Warm) Rug

Living comfortably during the cold months without breaking the bank is a matter of looking at your lifestyle and making simple choices to be more efficient. Recognize where heat is lost and take steps to put up barriers in those places. Stay on top of routine maintenance to keep your furnace going strong. Follow these basics, and you’ll spend your time in Winter Wonderland snug as a bug and twice as happy

Maintaining The Roof Of Your Home

Your Roof Keeps You Comfortable; It’s Time to Return the Favor

With what the experts are calling an epic El Nino coming our way, we have been making preparations to ensure our home is ready to withstand higher than normal amounts of rain and likely heavy winds. 

The roof is the most important part of your home, providing shelter from the elements and keeping your family safe. But like anything else that braves the outdoors for 20 years or more, your home’s roof is bound to eventually show its age. You may get to a time when you need to use the repair services of a roofing company, or you might be in the market for a whole new lid for your house. Perhaps you just bought a new commercial property and want to learn about your options for roof replacement materials. We’ve gathered the basics of roof top considerations for you so that you can treat yours with care.

Types of Roofing Materials

The materials on your roof can depend largely on where you live and what type of building you’ve got. Commercial buildings often have flat – or low-slope -- roofs that are topped with hot asphalt and layers of felt or with polyurethane. Foam roofs are ideal in hot climates as they cut down on thermal shock and can help reduce energy costs.

Residential properties are much more likely to have asphalt shingles or clay tiles on top. Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roofing around the country as they handle all types of weather well and have a long life. They also can be purchased in many different colors or even patterns. Clay or concrete tiles are popular in hot, arid climates and fit in nicely with Spanish- or Mediterranean-style architecture. They are extremely long lasting and also come in a variety of colors. One caveat with tile roofs is their weight. If you are considering installing a tile roof in place of an asphalt one, be sure the structure can support the additional load.

In the eastern part of the nation, metal roofs are more common, especially in places that get a lot of snow. The strength and durability of metal roofs make them perfect for that type of weather.

Places Damage Can Occur

No matter what type of roof you have or want to add to your home, there are certain parts of the system that are prone to problems. Water leaks are the most obvious indication that there’s an issue with your roof, but a visual inspection can also reveal a number of problems.

Flashing is the term used for metal that is used in roofing systems to divert water away from seams and valleys. Deterioration of the metal can lead to leaks and should be corrected right away. Sealants around vents and chimneys also are worth checking periodically for damage and should be re-caulked immediately if a leak occurs. Of course, Mother Nature can play a role in the lifespan of your roof. High winds can send trees crashing down or at the very least lead to missing or broken roofing materials.

Homeowners or commercial-property owners should plan a semi-annual inspection of their buildings to check for damage to the roof. The expertise of a roofing company can be helpful in assessing the damage and deciding which repairs should be made.

Extending Its Life

Regular inspections and repairs are two ways to prolong the life of your home’s roof. There are plenty of other actions you can take to boost its longevity, though. For example, if you have a tree located near your home, make sure none of its branches are scraping the top of your house. Repeated rubbing will damage the shingles or tiles and could lead to leaks. Leaf debris piles on the roof retain moisture and harbor pests, so they should be removed promptly. The same goes for your gutters. If they are full of leaves and can’t drain properly, there will likely be damage to the fascia boards around your roof line that could result in the need for costly repair.

Plan to conduct an inspection of your roof periodically and address any issues you find right away. Don’t wait until you have a water leak to take care of problems or you could be in for a much bigger bill. Plus, extending the life of your roof and home will

Roofing Contractors

When you do need the services of a roof repair company, be selective about which you choose to work with. Only consider candidates who have a contractor’s license, a tax identification number and liability insurance. Ask for references from recent clients and check the companies’ online reviews.

Don’t be afraid to ask detailed questions about your project. An experienced roofing contractor should be able to explain the process and products clearly, as well as indicate why he or she prefers certain materials. Walk away from any person who doesn’t plan to work under contract. You need that document in order to get an accurate representation of the scope of work and other details of the job. The contract should outline the materials, timeframe, responsibilities, and costs involved throughout the process. Don’t sign the dotted line until you are 100 percent comfortable with the details as stipulated.

How Your Roof Helps

Because the roof of your home or commercial building is a basic structure, you probably don’t spend time thinking about it unless there is a storm on the way. However, there’s a lot to know about how a roof affects your lifestyle. For example, if you are into conserving energy, you might want to install solar panels up there. Make sure to choose a licensed installation company that can do this without causing roof leaks.

Your roof also serves as a place to mount holiday lights or decorations. Never use nails to hang lights; removable plastic hooks are available for that purpose and don’t introduce holes. The soffits under your roof line likely have vents that allow air in the attic space to escape and minimize heating and cooling costs. Don’t let those vents get blocked or closed in any way, or you could be looking at come costly repairs.

The crown of you home does more than keep the rain out. It provides a safe structure that is important to your family’s comfort. When you take some time to make sure it can operate to its maximum efficiency, it can protect you for years to come.

With the drought we have had, I say bring on the rain. We are ready and prepared.

Easy Way To Make Foaming Hand Soap Yourself

I have an easy way to make foaming hand soap yourself. I love the way foaming hand soap lathers up so nicely but I hate having to buy the expensive bottles of hand soap for my two bathrooms and the kitchen just to wash it down the drain.

Making your own two ingredient foaming hand soap is so simple and will save you lots of money.

Trying to be more frugal in new ways is always a goal in our house. One more way to save money is to make my own foaming hand soap and refill the dispensers I already have. And you will love this, it only takes two ingredients.

How To Make Your Own Foaming Hand soap

Take your bottle and fill about 1/4 with body wash. Fill the rest with warm water and gently shake to mix and you are ready and have this:

This works great! You can customize making your own hand soap by buying organic body wash, whatever you like. Watch for deals and use coupons to make this frugal hand soap. Some may ask why I don't try making my own hand soap from scratch. I tried a hand soap recipe using castile soap and I do not like the oily residue castile soap leaves on my sinks. Find this the easiest way to save big on hand soap. You can visit our frugal tips page to find homemade recipes for cleaning supplies and more.

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How To Stretch Your Laundry Detergent To Save Money

I am going to share how to stretch your laundry detergent to save money. 

First in a new series of home keeping frugal tips, is a simple way to save money on laundry soap.

I am on a mission to spend as little as possible on all my cleaning supplies and am going to share weekly in this series, new recipes to save money on cleaning products and updates on all my old, but still awesome, homemade frugal recipes for cleaning products.

I love to save money by making my own laundry detergent, but maybe you don't want to go that far, you get a great buy on some laundry detergent or you love the smell of your favorite laundry soap brand. Here is how you can still use store bought but make it last longer.

First, buy a bar of Fels Naptha or Zote Soap in the laundry section or do like me and buy it for pennies at the dollar store. Sometimes they have Zote three for a dollar. Can't beat that.

After you use some of your detergent or by pouring some into another container you will have space to add your diluted soap. Take a two cup measuring cup or anything with about two cups of hot water and just drop the bar in the water and let sit for about 15 minutes until the water is nice and white and milky.

Now just pour that two cups of diluted soap into your detergent, shake well and you have stretched your detergent by at least two cups. If I have a large bottle like above I will pour half into another container and dilute by four cups.

This really stretches your detergent, making laundry soap last longer while still washing your clothes wonderfully and saving you lots of MONEY!

Stay tuned for next week's new cleaning recipe but check out our frugal tips page  too for many other money saving tips.

How To Make An Inground Composter For Your Garden

I am going to show you how to make a super easy DIY inground composter and for free too!

Not everyone has the space or desire to keep a large compost pile that you have to turn and maintain. Maybe you don't want to worry about attracting critters to a compost bin in your backyard. I am going to show you how I made an inground composter that also acts as a worm composter you place right in your garden.

To begin, find a spot in your garden where maybe you want to revive the soil. Cause this is going to do it for you. 

1. Take a five gallon nursery pot. They have large drainage holes and you want that.

2. Now dig a hole where you want the compost bin about four inches deep and set the pot drainage holes down in the hole. Fill in the dirt around the pot.

Now find an old bucket. I use a galvanized one. They fit perfectly down in the pot. This will act as a lid keeping flies and rodents out. I have even used a terra cotta pot that fit too.

Begin adding your kitchen scraps. Only fruit and vegetable scraps. But don't forget the eggs shells and the coffee grounds. Throw them in there too cause the worms will love them.

About twice a week, squirt some water in there. It helps flush the nutrients down into the soil.

Keep the lid on at all times. Every once in a while, lift the pot and you will see all the worms that are coming into the pot through the drainage holes. They are breaking down the scraps and making great fertilizer.

I usually plant around the base and the plants will love it. In the photo above I have an inverted tomato cage and have planted cucumber vines to grow up the wire supports.

When your plants are done and you are ready to pull them out, go ahead and move the pot to a new hole and area of the garden you want to revitalize the soil a bit.

Summer Tips and Tricks To Beat The Heat And Save Money

We are in the dog days of summer. Here are few summer tips and tricks to help deal with the summer heat.

How I Keep The Kitchen Cool In Summer

Summer Time Cooking Tips

Swim Bag Storage

How to Clean those Dirty Summer Feet

Save on Your Electric Bill

And from the web some of my favorite tips and tricks for summer:

What is cuter than this? How to keep bugs out of your drink while enjoying the great outdoors from mom4.real.com

And from Pinterest I spied this tip cause what is summer without watermelon EVERYDAY!