The Frugal Files: Teach Me How to Save, 8 Ways

Hey there frugalicious folks!!

People always ask me how to save and want me to teach them how to save. For me, it’s a loaded question, and unless they are looking to save in one particular way, it’s almost impossible to answer the question. For me saving money and being frugalicious is a way of life. It’s every moment of every day and it’s the thinking that I can live fabulously and pay less than fabulous prices.

One tip I can give anyone who ever asks me about saving is that I play games and attempt to trick myself. My basic saving rule of thumb is, “never pay full price”. Then I set out to experiment with that theory on everything I ever need or want. Here are eight ways that I “trick” myself into living a frugal life and saving in every direction I go.

Comparison shopping. This is a game many people pay, and many salesmen pounce on you. Anyone that is trying to sell you something will always create a sense of urgency, that really isn’t a factor. They try to make you think it’s a factor, so they can get the sale. The fact is, you have plenty of time to shop, you can wait it out and the “hot item” is not going that fast. You want to know why? Because, if you want to buy it, they will have one for you to purchase. They always want the sale, but want you to think it’s urgent, so don’t fall for it. Take your time and do not give into the instant gratification. Chances are you can find a better sale or some discount.

Freecycle. This is kind of a comparison shopping trick for me too. Things I really don’t want to buy because maybe it’s a small thing or maybe just not in the budget this month. So many great things pop up on freecycle and sometimes you don’t even have to ask. I have found some great home décor items there. They were a little dusty, but were in great shape. Recently, I was at Savers looking for a pair of black shoes for work. Nothing fancy, just something comfortable in a basic black. I found a pair, but was not sold on them, so I didn’t purchase them. Then, that evening, a freecycler posted a “like new” pair of black, leather mules…in my size. I knew they were just for me, so I emailed them and I was able to pick them up the next day. They are perfect, just what I needed. Free!!

Bank Games. On the financial side, I keep my checkbook in check by fudging the numbers, but in a good way. First, I watch my bank account online daily, so at any given time, I know what I have. However, when I’m not online and I glance at my checkbook, it’s balanced off by $50. I use that amount as a buffer in my account, so that I’ll never get it down to $0. It helps keep it balanced knowing I always have a $50 cushion in there in case there’s a bank or purchase mishap like a double charge. It keeps stress levels down.

DIY. Many ask me all the time, what is "DIY"? It simply means "Do It Yourself" and when you live a frugal life, this is a staple in it. While I'm not opposed to paying for someone else's expertise when I just don't know what I'm, most times, I find I can get a better deal if I do it myself. "Myself" occasionally includes family and friends that will assist me in my goal.

There are so many DIY articles, videos, blogs including my own. I even did a DIY series a while back. Check out these links to read them: DIY Beauty, DIY Faces & Body, DIY Decor, DIY Cleaning I and DIY Cleaning II. There are plenty of ways to save by doing things yourself, if you just try.

Entertainment Tricks. I think with the stress of jobs, family and overall living, everyone is looking for an outlet and that's typically in the form of entertainment. Ways to save there is to rent movies from Redbox or even the library, play games you already have at home. Attend free events your local library, museum or university is sponsoring. What to see concerts or plays for free? Sign up or get hired as an usher. You get to meet great people, while ensuring you and them alike are thoroughly entertained.

Creative cooking. This is can be you cooking up some fancy vittles for a dinner party, but in this case, creative cooking means cupboard cooking; cooking what you have. My daughter would always whine that we didn't have anything to eat. It's because she'd already eaten up the easy snacks and things, but it is not my custom to go out and buy more of the easy stuff, when there's plenty of food on the shelves and in the freezer. Take an inventory of what you have and make a weekly or monthly menu. Mix and match meats, veggies and starches. Skip the meat occasionally and experiment with snacks. You might find that down deep, you're some kind of sous chef!!

Couponing and Sales. You all know this is my favorite savings tip. Make this your personal shopping mantra. If you want to buy something, find a coupon or coupon code to use on your transaction. Ask for a discount right at the counter. Buy something irregular or in the case of furniture or cars, purchase the display model. They can't charge you full price for it and it's often in really great shape. When grocery shopping, shop the stores with the best deals that will match with your coupons. Check out some additional Couponing Tricks of the Trade.

What ways can you teach yourself how to save? Where can you spend less? Set out to challenge yourself this week. Always ask yourself how you can get a better deal. Good luck to you and happy saving!!

Frugalicious Diva
Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: Last Minute Tips of Summer

Good morning folks!!

I apologize for the delay in my blog, but sometimes life just gets in the way. Juggling careers, kids and homes, plus trying to maintain Diva status…I know you Belles feel where I’m coming from and it’s not easy, but very possible!!

Anyway, let’s jump right on in. Last week, we talked about how we can save money with our children’s schedules, demands and priorities during the school year. This week, we’re talking last minute things to do before the season changes and we’re hit with a full fledged Fall and Winter season. We’re already getting a few nippy days, so it’s time to get in gear so we’re prepared.

Garage Sale – it looks like it’s just warm enough to have that last minute sale to clear out the old before packing it up for the winter. Choose a nice weekend and it is one last shot to rid yourself of old junk. Decide what you’ll get rid of and give it away or donate at the end of the sale. You’ll hopefully make a few bucks and have less to handle inside your home. When you’re finished, take this opportunity to switch out your fall/winter wardrobe. Launder your spring/summer clothes and put them away.

Frugal Tool Tip: Donate leftover garage sale items to a good cause and get a tax deduction slip to use against your taxes when you file next year.

Yardwork – the warm, sunny days are winding down, but it doesn’t mean we just let our lawns go by the wayside. It’s time to trim back those trees, so there will be less leaves and branches to be weighed down by snow. You don’t want the heavy branches to cause damage to your home or your neighbors’ homes. Also, get rid of your weeds, spray some weed killer and replace mulch if you need to. This will allow for you to keep down the weeds in the future and keep the ground covered and secured for the colder weather.

Frugal Yard Tip: Use a natural, cheap weed killer. Just heat up 1-2 bottles of vinegar (the 16 oz is good size), pour into a clean spray bottle and spray in areas where you want the weeds to be gone. Then lay the mulch to smother any that will try to come up.

Project Stockpile – it’s going to be cold soon, which means it’s time for heartier meals. Consider cooking in bulk and freezing for easy dinners for the entire week. The weather may begin to prolong rides home from a child’s practice, work or other extra curricular activities and you don’t want to waste money by stopping for fast food or take out every night. The better you prepare now, the easier it will be to ease into the weather change.

Frugal Stockpile Tip: The soup and hearty meal coupons are currently in rotation. Look for the sales to correspond with your coupons and start stockpiling food that will keep you warm in the winter and will limit your need to have to go out in inclement weather.

Get Your Tools – along with the seasons changing, your gear and tools change too. Now is the time to begin gathering and dusting off what you’ll need for the next several months. Get your rakes, shovels, rock salt, snowblowers, winterizer window treatment kits, storm windows (if you take them out) and tarps to cover cars, boats or in my case, patio screens. If you hire someone to take care of your winter lawncare, make sure you have their number on speed dial and they are ready to assist you when you call.

Frugal Tool Tip: Change your furnace filters. It’s a good idea to change them every three months (or even earlier if you have pets), so this is your reminder.

I hope these four tips will help make the transition to the next couple of seasons easier for you. We all have so many things to worry about, it’s always nice when we can be prepared. These tips are to keep down the stress in hopes you have a great Football season!! Shout out to our beloved Editor-In-Chief, Aja B. Stubbs, who LOVES her Jets!!

Until next time, stay Frugalicious!!

Frugalicious Diva

Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: Substitute to Save: Re-Purpose Round Up!!

Hey frugal folks!!

We’re back in The Frugal Files; our Substitute to Save series. This week while thinking about what to write, so many ideas came to mind. So many, in fact, I declare this week our Re-Purpose Round Up!! From Fashion to Home, I’m going to share some ways either people I know or I myself have re-purposed our belongings. You’re bound to find something that works for you!!

Accessories

* Turn your old jewelry into treasures again. Make necklaces bracelets or ankle bracelets. If the bangle doesn't fit or you don't like your hoop earrings anymore, use them on your wall as drapery holders. Or on your formal table, use them as napkin holders. Be creative; paint or bedazzle them for added sparkle.

*Do you remember shoe clips? Still have some? Guess what? They double as hair accessories and clothes accessories. Jazz up a plain blouse with a clip and strut yourself to work or into your business meeting!!

Beauty

* Always the bridesmaid and have beau coup dresses? Go from bridesmaid to Beauty Queen. I had a gorgeous gown from a friend's wedding. It was the color of wine with a bodice top. It had a shawl, that I turned into puffy sleeves and used it as a pageant dress. No need to buy ANOTHER dress I'll never wear again. I just used what I had and I suggest you do the same with yours. Give them another life!!

Coupons

* I helped a friend declutter her daughter's old room and ran across last year's school binder. It had a zipper, plenty of space and just by chance, it was time for me to upgrade my coupon binder. So instead of putting it in the freecycle pile, she gifted it to me!! Score!! Free and Re-purposed; from studying to storing, and of course, SAVING!!

* You know, your picture photo album, with no pictures, can also be used as a coupon book to keep your coupons in. I've seen this method and it's very easy to find and store coupons!!

Food

* Have a hankering for Sloppy Joes tonight and you're out of Manwich? Well, never fear, other condiments are here!! Make your own by mixing ketchup and mustard together with your meat. Add a few diced onions and voila!! Like them a sweet? Use barbecue sauce instead of ketchup. Another tip: if you're running low, tap into your restaurant condiment stash.

* Want it grilled, but no charcoal? Skip the outside and pull out your Foreman grill. It will give you the grilled taste without the heat or the expense of full fledged grilling!! It will grill ANYTHING!!

* Looking for a tasty, decadent dessert without the extra calories? Substitute Greek yogurt for your beloved ice cream. You still get a great dessert and it's healthy!!

Holiday

* If you keep your old Christmas cards in a bin in your basement. Arrange them, take a picture and tear (or cut is you're neat) in half. Use them as holiday postcards to send to family and friends. It's a frugal and easy way to spread holiday cheer.

* One of my coupon friends is planning to do this next one. Remember that old chandelier? It may be  outdated for your home, but not for a festive outing. Clean it up, polish it and paint it for an elegant wedding or birthday cake/cupcake holder. It's the most creative thing I've seen in while!!

Home

* Towels are expensive, so even when it looks like they are dead, be sure to breath new life into them. Designate them as your pet only towels or specifically for when getting your car washed. If they are a great terry cloth, cut them up to use as your dusting rags. No need to buy disposable when you have plenty of terry at home.

* If you just have some general craft stuff laying around, see if there's an art business that will use your recyclable art. Here we have a place called Scrap for Art and they are the re-purpose gurus when it comes to anything art related.

* Lastly, if you're a couponer like me, then you have boatloads of toothpaste in your stockpile. (I currently have 30+ and I donate monthly). This is my FAVORITE article on re-purposing a household item. Look just how many times you can re-purpose toothpaste!! Check it out: Endless Ways to Use Toothpaste

Hope you found some ways to use and reuse what you already have!! Save on everything you need in life by just looking at it a different way; re-purposing your stuff!! Share your re-purposing adventures with me on  Facebook or Twitter!! Until next time!!

Frugalicious Diva

Follow Me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: Substitute to Save: At Home

Hey frugal folks!!

We're back for another Substitute to Save edition of The Frugal Files!! 

In your kitchen, there’s a great opportunity for you to use your substitution skills. So many things can be made there and you don’t have to buy the latest and greatest gadget to get the job done.

First, let’s talk about cleaners. On the market, there’s a spray for this and solvent for that, and of course someone decides to combine them all into what we know as a multipurpose cleaner. Let me confess, as much of an advocate as I am for natural household products, I will get some mild commercial cleaners if I’m getting them for free with my coupons. For instance, just this week, I got free air fresheners. I will certainly use them…in moderation.

Otherwise, get some vinegar (personally, I’ve been getting lots of this for 0.12 each or less), baking soda, and lemons. Add elbow grease and your appliances are clean, disinfected and fresh. No harsh chemicals for the kids or pets to get into and no coughing or gagging from the strong smells. Want some recipes on making your natural cleaners, check out goodies from the archives: DIY Cleaning I and DIY Cleaning II.

As for things in your home...You know that pinterest.com is a wonderful thing!! Such clever ways make life much more interesting. Yes, it’s fun, but warning to the frugalicious divas, some of the fun, kitchen gadgets are not happy to you wallet!! The creativity of the pins are marvelous and although I've been sitting on an invitation for months, I still find items on there fascinating. Some fun things I saw this week were a strawberry de-stemer, an avocado slicer, and a cherry pitter.

I have to admit I like these because I was just thinking about making a blended drink and adding the cherries I got (almost free) and anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE guacamole, so this would be handy. However, you can simply use a small knife to take out the stems, a straw to de-pit the cherries and just simply score the avocado (make criss cross marks) and turn it inside out, the pieces will simply fall out and you can scrape whatever is left.

Now, about those other things at home. Here's a few items I feel are a complete waste of money because there are probably substitutes available right in your home. 

• If you have an abundance of binder clips, they double as chip clips. You can use them to fasten anything in a bag. No need to purchase those plastic things, even though some of them are cute!!
• Have knicks on your wooden furniture? No need for smelly shoe polish or an expensive refinish, use a marker in the same color. You won't even notice.
• Use your TV trays as a printer stand. Cover it with a small cloth to disguise it.
• Likewise, if you have a old bar stool, cover it with a nice piece of cloth and use it as a plant stand.
• Use your additional storage areas in the kitchen to store stockpile items, instead of buying expensive shelving units.

My last tip for today actually is paragraph worthy. While helping a friend pack, I noticed she had a covered bowl of garlic bread on the counter. No big deal right? When I asked what it was covered in, she bragged about these being the greatest thing since sliced bread...I can't remember the name (because I thought they were ridiculous), but after some research found they are similar to the Saran Quick Covers...yeah, they are SHOWER CAPS. If you really want to cover your counter food, do yourself a favor and get the 20 pack of shower caps for 0.99 instead of buying a box of 13 for some exorbitant price. If one doesn't feel secure, wrap it in two!! 

Hope you found this helpful and I would love to hear your Substitute to Save stories!! Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter and let's chat!!

Frugalicious Diva

Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: DIY Challenge: Do It Yourself Cleaning Part II

Hey there frugalicious folks!! Welcome back!!

Last week we took care of some of our easy and medium cleaning areas: glass, surfaces and the kitchen floor. I hope you tried some homemade recipes for your natural, non-harsh cleaning regimens. These concoctions are easy to find and easier on the wallets. I love being able to do things myself and save, don’t you?

I hope everyone had a great holiday and was able to celebrate service men and women who fight or have fought for our freedoms here in the US. It’s a day of thanksgiving and if your family is anything like mine, it’s one of family time too. Every Memorial Day, my family gets together to visit my Grandparents’ graves, cleans off their headstones, fellowships and says a prayer for those living and those that went before us.

My cousin invited me to Savers, since it was half off day, but I was a good Frugalicious Diva and declined…this time. I didn’t need anything so I opted out this year. Just so you know, this sale comes around again for Veteran’s Day in November. I will catch that one, so join me and set aside a little cash to spend around then.

Back to the holiday. Again, if you’re like us, you know this family day is complete with barbeque, potlucks, kids, games, sun and plenty of drinks. Along with the food, comes a major mess. Certainly, with all the kids and pets we have around, we want to clean with products that won’t hurt them, but will still be effective to cut grease and sanitize.

That brings me to the area we missed last week, which if you had company this weekend, I know took a toll on your home:

Difficult Cleaning Areas

·        Bathroom Grout/Toilet Bowls

·        Kitchen Walls

·        Ovens

Like I said last week, you’ve been introduced to the tools needed (well most), but I’ll remind you of my favorite ones to use for these areas. In addition to elbow grease, you’ll want to have the following on hand: lemon, vinegar, water, salt, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide.

For the easiest of these difficult places, let’s start with the toilet bowls and drains. This is one is isn’t completely natural for us, because I was able to score some free toilet bowl cleaners with my couponing a little while back, but you can guarantee when it’s gone, I’ll be using my own mix. There are many ways to clean; you need a dry agent (baking soda or borax) and something acidic (vinegar or lemon). Sprinkle the dry over the sides, sit for 30 minutes, then pour the acid in and use your brush to clean. Add lemon for a fresh smell.

Speaking of smells, a tip if you have young men in your home, use this recipe to get rid of the “boy” smell. I thought it was entertaining and useful: Ask Anna Moseley

Want to naturally clean your drains and your plunger isn’t doing the trick? Add salt and baking soda together and pour down the drain. Follow that by pouring a medium size pot of boiling water down with it. It should be clear in no time!!

Bathroom tiles are the worst to clean, if you let the task get away from you. If you have tough tile/grout stains, mix, in a dark bottle, water and hydrogen peroxide and heavily spray it on the walls. Wait an hour, then rinse and scrub if you need to. To prevent mildew in the future, keep a spray bottle mix of water and vinegar by the tub and spray immediately after every shower and bath.

Now, if you didn’t use anything else yesterday, I know you used the oven and if you don’t have a self-cleaning feature, it’s a monster to clean sometimes!! Make it easy by creating our own self-cleaning oven. Mix a cup of each: water, baking soda and salt all together and smear the paste all over the inside. Put your oven on 450 for an hour and keep the door closed. Once it cools down, rinse off everything inside with a damp cloth dipped in vinegar to get rid of leftover cleaner.

You can use this same paste to clean the kitchen walls of the greasy matter that won’t stay in on the stove. In addition, you can clean with the trusty all purpose cleaner of water and vinegar, let sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean. Really dirty? Simply heat the vinegar, dip in your cloth and wipe it all away.

As you can see there are so many ways to clean our homes with the simplest ingredients, many that we usually have on hand at any given time. All it takes is a little time and effort and you can kick those harsh chemicals to the curb. Simple, natural products is the way to go to keep a clean and healthy home and the best part is that you can DO IT YOURSELF!!

I’ve really enjoyed this DIY series this month and it was a challenge to clean everything at home!! Thanks for joining me and have a great week!!

Frugalicious Diva

Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: DIY Challenge: Do It Yourself Cleaning

Hey frugal folks!! Welcome back!!

True story. I loved that low-priced and effective product, AWESOME!! I even blogged about my love for its cleaning strength and ability to remove the toughest spots. Plus, it was cheap, so it was “Frugalicious Diva” approved. However, I had to end the relationship because it tried to kill me and it DID kill some of our clothing.

My daughter cleans the bathroom and though she’s a little heavy handed, AWESOME was choking me!! I was on the main floor and she was in the second floor bathroom. I won’t even mention what it did to our unmentionables. Stained clothing got clean, but the fabric was weakened and finally tore apart. That is too harsh!! I made it a vow to transform all household products to natural ones. We’re not completely there yet, but we have changed some habits drastically.

Did you just spray the last of your favorite household cleaner? Well, instead of going out to get another bottle (especially if you don’t have a coupon), make your own recipe. You don’t have to be a chemist, just someone who wants to have a clean house without all the harsh chemicals. Belles, it’s time to Do It Yourself!! 

Easy Cleaning Areas

With all the surfaces around the house, I did a lot of research to find what works best for each. Here are the easiest surfaces I clean in the house:

·        Glass surfaces, including mirrors

·        Kitchen countertops

·        Microwaves

·        Furniture that requires light dusting.

My favorite staples for easy cleaning areas: lemon, vinegar, water, olive oil and newspaper.

Reuse old bottles, rinse thoroughly and mix up one part white vinegar to three parts water and use as a glass cleaner. Instead of paper towels to wipe the glass, use newspaper. It keeps the glass from streaking. When the paper dries, simply toss it in the recycling. This same bottle can be used to clean off countertops and anything needing a good cleaning. Vinegar may have an unpleasant smell, but it deodorizes the surfaces it touches. If the smell really bothers you, add 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil to your mix. I always use lavender; it’s calming.

Need an easier way to clean your messy microwave? Cut a lemon in half and fill up a microwavable bowl with water. Place the water and lemon inside for about 30-40 seconds. When it’s done, get a sponge and simply wipe away the grime. The acidic nature of the lemon interacts with the steam and makes the dirt easy to wipe clean. Also, if you have a garbage disposal, toss your old or used lemons in. They helpsharpen the blades and freshen the disposal!!

Furniture polish is easy too, by adding all of the ingredients in my list together and Voila; your own duster and polisher. If you like fragrance, add a few squeezes of an orange to your mix and it’s your very own Murphy’s oil and Orange Glo!!

Medium Cleaning Areas

These are surfaces that will take a little more effort than a wipe down, but not too bad to clean, especially if you stay on top of it regularly:

·        Sink surfaces and drains

·        Stove surfaces

·        Kitchen floors

Tools for these areas: Vinegar, baking soda, dish soap, isopropyl alcohol

Sink surfaces just need a bit of warmed up vinegar and dish soap and they are disinfected, clean and shining like they are brand new.

Since everyone doesn’t have a Swiffer for the kitchen and wood floors, we can still make the work easy on ourselves. Get the same recipe as the glass cleaner (water and vinegar), add a little dish soap (for the suds) and rubbing alcohol and you have your own floor cleaner. If you do have a Swiffer, you can use this solution with it and skip the expensive refills. The great thing about this recipe is you can use it on your kitchen tile floor too!!

Wow, I have been chatting on and on, so much so that we’ve run out of time today!! Looks like you’ll have to stay tuned for tips on the most difficult cleaning areas. I’ll give you a hint though…you’ve already been given most of the products used to make your own cleaners, but will add more next time.

Thanks for being here and feel free to share your DIY cleaning secrets with us in the comments below!! Enjoy your week!! Make it a frugaliciously clean one!!

Frugalicious Diva

Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: DIY Challenge: Do It Yourself Decor

Hey there frugalicious ones!! I’m so excited about this week’s topic because it’s one of my favorite things to do since purchasing a house. It’s still May, so Belles, we are doing it our way, DIY style!! Last week we learned how to create natural, healthy, homemade products for our hair and our bodies. I hope you have given yourselves daily mini spa days since then.

It’s still Spring cleaning time and sometimes we get bored with what we currently see. Let’s do some DIY home makeovers within your budget!! Thumbing through a catalog will have us believe we can’t afford to do something new in our homes, but it’s so not the case. We can decorate, not really on a dime, but for just a few dollars.

I’m sharing tips I’ve learned and implemented, so you can change up your room too. Let’s start with your Living Room. When I wanted to change up my room, it was really a matter of rearranging the furniture, so I suggest you do the same. Change it around to create a new look. Then, just like when we wear our trusty black dresses, let’s jazz it up with accessories. Try these ideas on for size:

-         Set a vase and picture next to a lamp

-         Add or change an area rug under your coffee table

-         Move a floor lamp from one space to another corner

-         Add new pillows to your sofa or love seat

-         Place a chess board to the middle of your coffee table

Have trinkets you don’t know where to put? Add them as decoration on your mantle or tables in the room. It adds a personal touch.

For the Dining Room, sometimes adding a rug or a tablecloth changes the entire look of the room. That’s great for the center, but try out these accents:

-         adding a storage box to an empty corner

-         placing an artificial tree in one of the corners

-         keeping your table set with a bowl of fruit and chargers

Don’t have a home office? Use a portion of your dining room by getting a corner desk with shelves. It can match the décor of the overall room, but it is a space of its own. Add a cork Vision Board to this “office” and you are ready to realize your goals, from home.

Often, we have miscellaneous items like table vases, artificial flowers, books, frames and baskets just sitting around the house. Be creative and put them in places you never imagined. For instance, cover a chair stool with a long scarf or piece of fabric, and it doubles as a plant stand. Bookcase a little bare? Use it to showcase your library books, a miscellaneous painting or even your vintage magazines.

Thrifting is great to use in our re-décor efforts. First, be on the look out for anyone decluttering on Freecycle. If folks are giving away home décor, ask for it. You can also place your WANT there and if they have it, may give it to you. I’ve personally gotten great decorations from my local freecycle including wicker, frames and candles.

When that’s not enough, head to the thrift shops. Just walking around will get your creative decorating juices flowing. If you venture to Savers, take a donation of your items as you’ll get a coupon, along with your tax deduction slip. $3.00 off of $10.00 spent will come in handy. There you can find items to spruce up your place:

-         a unique clock that would look perfect on your kitchen wall

-         wooden bowls to accent a table

-         faux fruit to use for decoration (I have pears and grapes)

-         frames or shadow boxes to put your favorite artwork set in

-         glasses, vases, and wind chimes galore can be found here

Lastly, if you’re willing to spend more, head to Craigslist. Here you just might find rare finds for less. Perhaps placing a standing globe in your living room or den to fill an open space. Maybe a bathroom rug set to help you spruce up your facilities without painting. If you must paint, check out Home Depot’s Oops Paint. If you’re not picky about color, then take advantage of someone else’s mistake and pay less for your paint.

There’s always a way to redecorate for less. You know your personality and your style, so who can do it better than you? Do it yourself!! Enjoy your week!!

Frugalicious Diva
Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: DIY Challenge: Frugal Faces & Body

Welcome back frugal folks!! Last week we ventured into creative beauty regimens that are inexpensive and easy to make!! We’re going to continue in that vein and whip up some other recipes for you to make yourself at home.

We’ve already cured your headaches and soothed your sore spots with our lavender scented pillow that doubles as a heating pad. We’ve also tamed our tresses and defined the curls, so let’s just see what else we can do for our hair.

Looking for a cheap conditioner? Look in the fridge. Gather your eggs, mayo and honey and stir. If you’re into Greek yogurt, then grab that instead. All of these elements make up the perfect hair food. It doesn’t smell great, but your hair will love it.

I’ve always been a fan of flaxseeds. When I learned it helped digestion as a great source of fiber, I was completely convinced. I bought it ground and sprinkled it on all our food (don’t tell my daughter); salads, soups, rice, casseroles and even the batter of baked desserts. Imagine my surprise, when I found out I could use it on the outside of my body too. Yes naturalistas, we can!! So let’s talk hair!!

Instead of buying ground flaxseeds, buy them whole. They are cheaper too. I got whole bags for $2.99 each, at a health food store, and they last a really long time. Here’s a note, they don’t have to be refrigerated until you grind them, so just store them in your cupboard. Here’s what you’ll need for your Flaxseeds Hair Gel:

o       2 cups of water

o       2/3 cup of whole flaxseeds

o       Old/cheap pantyhose

o       Jar to hold the gel

o       Your favorite essential oils

Add water and whole flaxseeds to a pan and begin to boil. Stir with metal spoon constantly, so the seeds don’t stick. After a few minutes, check your spoon. When it begins to congeal on your spoon, it’s ready. Prepare the container by putting the pantyhose over the edges and slowly pour the contents of the pan into the pantyhose. Use a pair of thongs to strain the remaining gel from the hose. Be careful it’s hot!! Once all the gel is out, put in your drops of essential oil, which are used as preservatives, stir, then put the lid on it and store in the refrigerator.

Get another container and strain the seeds off the pantyhose into it. Lid it and refrigerate that too. You can reuse the flaxseeds when you’re ready to make another batch of gel.

Now that we’ve taken care of our heads, let’s talk about body. There are hundreds of products that promise smooth and supple skin, callus and dead skin removal and healthy and glowing skin. Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could achieve those same results at home? Well, Frugalicious Diva says, you can!!

I know you have salt and sugar at home. With all the health benefits of olive oil that we talked about last week, I know you have that too. Well, along with your favorite essential oil for a great scent, those are all you need to peel off old skin and bring forth new skin, leaving you moisturized with a sunkissed glow.

Frugal Face: Grab a container with a top. Add sugars (white and brown), squeeze in some lemon juice, honey and our special ingredient: wet parsley. I learned that parsley helps tone skin, as well as reduce swelling, redness and blackheads. Stir and put in the fridge. When ready to use, rub gently into the face and décolleté area, let sit for 60-90 seconds, then wash off in the shower with a washcloth. It smells good, tastes good and refreshes your face.

Frugal Body: Grab another container with a lid, pour in sea salt, add olive oil and moisten the salt with a spoon, making sure the oil is evenly distributed. Add a few drops of scented oil and you’re done. Leave it near your tub; it’s ready when you want to slough off the dead skin, especially from elbows and heels. You will leave your shower exfoliated and moisturized.

I’m not saying throw out your favorite moisturizers, but if you don’t have a coupon for it this week, try doing it yourself, right at home. I promise you’ll love the results and the money you’ll save!! Enjoy your week!!

Frugalicious Diva
Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: DIY Challenge: Frugal Beauty

Good day to you frugalicious ones out there!! Welcome back to The Frugal Files!!

In May we are going to expand our minds, all while expanding our purses. The goal here is to save as much as possible by cutting out the middleman. In fact, we’re cutting out everyone else we would have to pay, because we are going to be using our own resources to get results in our own lives.

All month long will be a challenge to us to keep our money and use our talents. So, welcome to May, our Do It Yourself Challenge Month!! All month I’ll be taking notes on various subjects and blogging about ways for us to save by doing it ourselves in beauty, education, gardening, home and anything else I can find to share. If I want to do it, I know there are many others who do too!! So, let’s just see what we can get into!!

Let’s talk beauty first!! We’re always Belles of the ball, so it’s probably safe to say that we like to feel attractive and confident in what we wear and that includes what we put on our bodies. The beauty DIY is my favorite because I already make some of my own products right at home. It’s fun to do and frugalicious because it’s what we already have at home. If you’re a Naturalista like me, then you will certainly love some these recipes!!

Seven years ago I got my wisdom teeth pulled. It was a 20-minute outpatient procedure. I went to sleep and when I woke, I was done, but the pain lingered on. My doctor prescribed a strong drug and after taking one, I realized just how powerful. So I cut the pills in half. Even that had me slurring words and I just didn’t like the way it made me feel. I stopped taking them completely and vowed to not take drugs ever again.

Whenever I tell that story, people always ask me, “What do you do for headaches?” I’m glad you asked. That same year, I was involved in a Christmas present exchange and my Secret Pal was from Australia. She sent me this beautiful, wonderfully smelling lavender aromatherapy pillow. It was the best gift ever because it is now what my household uses for headaches. Lavender has soothing, healing properties, great for headaches. Just rub in on your head and let the scent take you to another place. It always works.

Grab a satin pillow and make your own aromatherapy pillow. If not, get a pillowcase, potholder or even an old sock. Fill it with rice or beans may even work. Tie or sew the ends to keep in your stuffing then add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to your pillow. Lavender is best for us; when our pillow loses some of its scent, we just add a few drops.

Another natural beauty’s friend is oil. Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Jojoba Oil. Pick one and start using it along with Shea Butter. My hair has been natural for 13 years, but I used to be a serious product junkie. This is an issue many face today. You went natural and thought it would save you money, but you spend so much on products to eliminate frizz, define curls and moisturize that it became more expensive than when you wore it processed. Well no more!! Frugalicious Diva says, Shea Butter is all you need (along with the other oils mentioned).

Now, you will have to make the initial investment, but the products last a long time, saving you money in the long run. You want moisturized, well-defined, shiny hair with lots of body, then take a look at my favorite Youtuber’s recipe for her Homemade Creamy & Fluffy Shea Butter. 

It’s great for your hair and the best thing about Shea butter is that it’s also good for your body. So, you guessed it…no more pricey lotions and body butters for me. I’m a Shea Butter Belle!!

Looks like we’re out of time, but be sure to tune in next week and when we discuss Frugal Beauty Tips!! Enjoy your week!!

Frugalicious Diva
Follow me on Twitter at @FrugaliciousDva

The Frugal Files: Externally Beautiful...I'm Doing Me!!

Hey there Frugalicious ones!!

I hope you took advantage of great deals and coupons last week!! Your family will definitely thank you for all that you do now and later for them. So between using coupons, increasing your investments in your 401k and securing a financial advisor, you are setting them up for a great life. That is a true gift.

Now, this week, you'll be happy to know we're going back to thinking about you!! I know it's sometimes difficult for us to think about ourselves, especially when we have families, bills and jobs to think about. Women, particularly don't always take the time to do something nice for ourselves; we make ourselves last. Not this week!! We are bringing our sexy back and doing it FRUGALICIOUSLY!!

So, during this last full week of October, we're going to end the LIFE series with "E", which stands for External. Two weeks ago, we focused on the Internal, so it's to be expected that we work on the outside too.
Although we're calling it External, this week's theme is a tribute to living life DIY Style. DIY means Do It Yourself, which is how we can keep it frugal.

Challenge #1: Produce your own Beauty and Pampering salon. With all the information available on the internet, especially YouTube, we can learn and teach ourselves how to do everything. Makes a list of beauty regimens that you love and set out to do them yourself. Perform your own manicures or pedicures. If you have a significant other, make it a date with them to indulge in those treatments. Make your own body scrub. Don't know where to look, try these recipes: Homemade Body Scrubs You can find all the ingredients right at home.

Challenge #2: Attempt a new hair style. My DIY beauty project for this week is to trim my own hair. I love that my hair is natural because it affords me the opportunity to have so many options for my hair. I can style it countless ways and after finding numerous tutorials online, I find it easy to follow along and get a nice style. I challenge you to do it too. Join me in making my own Shea butter creme; this will keep the hair soft, moisturized and manageable. That's the biggest benefit for me because my hair tangles easily.

If you want to take on this challenge, follow my FAVORITE natural hair YouTuber's recipe here: Natural Homemade Shea Butter Cremes

So we're ending this great month of LIFE challenges by checking hair and pampering off our list; valuing our true Diva selves this week. What else can we achieve? I know!! Let's revisit frugal fitness!!

Challenge #3: Set out to spark your interest with a fresh outlook on physical activity. Try an unorthodox exercise; something that will make you feel pretty or sexy. Here are my ideas:
- Belly Dancing
- Pole Dancing
- Hula Hooping
- Yoga
- Salsa

I was recently given two exercise videos from Freecycle, and I'm trying them out this week: Yoga Booty Ballet. It looks like it's fun, easy to follow and will give great fitness results without me looking bulky. It struck me as a truly feminine workout, so I know it will make you feel like a woman. You can get yours free too. Pull out your library card and check them out!!

So, you have your instructions, so face the week and all it's challenges, then come home and put yourself first!! Here's an affirmation to remind you that you are beautiful and worthy of being first!! Enjoy!!

"Everyday, I practice feeling beautiful and I am a beautiful person inside and out."


Frugalicious Diva