Quick Thrifty Tip for Dog Lovers

Hello!

Between needing to do the weeding, cleaning the chicken coup and  bunny hutch, walking the dogs, swatting mosquitos and all the other fun stuff that goes along with summer, I am making this a short tip.

While continuously playing ball with my dogs, I am noticing my elbow is becoming quite sore.  I know there are items on the market that allow you to “chuck” the ball further and possibly not even need to touch it.  Checking out this nifty item, I found it to cost over $7.00 and my “thrifty” blood asked, “Isn’t there something I already have that will do just as well for helping me throw the ball without throwing out my arm?”

Yes, there is, a tennis  or racquet ball racket (even a badminton racquet works, you just can’t hot it as hard).  I just toss the ball up and off the dogs run, and run and run!  Now yes, I do have to touch the ball, but I’m standing in a field getting swarmed by mosquitos so for me, it really doesn’t matter (comparatively speaking).  I do have to give one additional hint, after the ball becomes a bit “wet” (or slimed if I am really being honest here!), toss the ball to one side of your body as you hit it or you may get a bit of a shower!

Don’t have a racquet?  I have seen many at rummage sales for only a few dollars, still a savings over the “chuck” toy.  I know many of you may say for only $7 it is not worth it, but I am all about reusing what we have or what is out there to be given away or tossed out from someone else before we go and add to the consumerism of the marketplace. (Heck, ask around, someone probably has one they are not using and will give it to you just to get rid of it!)   That is why I am working on the book, Being the Thrifty Naturalist, 365 Ways to Save Money and the Environment. So, watch for more tips and hints and stay thrifty!  It benefits both you and the environment!

© Marie Boyum, July 2, 2009

Do You Reuse?

I have a challenge for you today.  How many things can you reuse that you were going to throw away?

For example, let’s say you finished your box of cereal this morning.  There are two components you may be thinking of throwing away, the liner and the box. Saving the liner to use as a freezer bag (you just ned a twist tie) and the box to stuff old socks in for dust rags are just two simple and quick thoughts on how you can reuse each item instead if throwing them away.

My parents use the boxes as garbage  liners to make the bottom of the bag more sturdy, prevent leakage and make the bottom of the bag more flat and squared off so as to sit in the can better and reduce the risk of the bag slipping down the sides as it gets filled.

The mornings paper juice carton has so many uses I am writing a book on it (as well as 365 other items from A-Z).  One thing you can use it for is a planter. It already is waxed and if you cut the top off (save it for more thought I will give a t a later date) you can plant seeds and have a great window box.  Cutting it vertically or horizontally works, whatever you have the room for.  The milk carton makes a greta pet food scoop, and the bread bag, a nice “pooper picker-upper.”

Those are just a few quick tips to save your breakfast trash from having to hit the landfill while saving you money in the process; a great way to start your day, don’t you think?

Write me and let me know how you met the challenge.

Until next time, be a “thrifty naturalist” and make your day fun and creative and the earth smile!

Marie

© Marie Boyum, June 15, 2009

Thrifty Housekeeping Tip # 8

Saving money is just a matter of being a bit more aware; it does not have to mean a huge life change.  Paper towels and paper napkins for example have risen in price dramatically in recent months.   It is one simple way to reduce your grocery bill- use rags, kitchen towels and cloth napkins.  Doesn’t have to be fancy, and the little bit of extra laundry does not add up to the cost of a roll of paper towels; you already have to do laundry anyway.

 

Buying in bulk, does it really save you money?  Buying in large quantities has its advantages and several disadvantages.  If it is a non-perishable product it can save you time and money running out to buy more but, don’t be fooled into thinking that just because it is the “economy” size it is really a savings.  Many times sales on smaller packs are cheaper than the large sizes. 

 

The downside comes when the item has a shelf life and/or it is something you can grow tired of.  That mega can of almonds sounds good when you were hungry and in the store but, four months later as they grow stale and everyone is sick of them, then what do you do?  Food for thought…

Three Money Saving Gas Tips

The price of gas keeps going up and down with no real certainty as to what we will pay from day to day.  Although we may not be able to do anything about the prices at the pump, we do have some control over needing to stop for gas as often.

 

Here are three simple, inexpensive and free things will help you save dollars and cents at the pump.

 

According to auto mechanics, gas and fuel injector additive treatments do help increase mileage.  By cleaning out fuel lines and removing clogs from your injectors you car will run smoother and cleaner, all for usually under $2.00 a bottle.

 

Turning one to two blocks ahead of that busy intersection helps avoid traffic and wait time, which means less idling and less gas used.

 

Driving around in the mall parking lot looking for that close space sometimes adds more mileage than the drive from your house.  Improve your gas consumption as well as your health and park right away taking a spot towards the back of the lot as you first drive in.  Walking is the best way to save on gas.

 

Watch for more money saving gas tips soon!

More Money Saving Information

I cannot take credit for this information but, it is worthy of passing on.

 

Here are two sites that help save you money:

www.cheapuncle.com

www.couponcabin.com

 

You can also do a Google search for company names or products add a + and the words coupon or discount code and see what you come up with.  You may save money where you were unaware you could!

 

Happy shopping!  I will continue to pass on information when I learn of it- any way to stay thrifty!

 

Marie

Thrifty Housekeeping Tip # 7

As you go through your day there are many ways to save money, time and the environment.  Here are three simple ways that I did just that yesterday.

Doing laundry, I finished the bottle of liquid laundry detergent.  Instead of just recycling it, I washed it out throughly and used a sharp cutting tool, tuning it into a great scoop for pet food.  I also hung out my clothes on the line to dry.  It does not take as long as you think and they smell so great!  If you cannot do that where you live, you still can hang at least some of them in up in a bathroom or a basement, saving money and energy.

After filling my car with gas, I pushed the “pump stop” and squeezed the handle for some extra drops; may sound silly, but as gas prices begin to rise and doing that every time, I may get as much as a gallon over the course of a year.  Hey, we’re talking thrifty here!

While washing my dishes, I let them air dry on a towel.  It actually is healthier that way and saves a lot of time.  

 

These tips may be simple but sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference in the long run.  Continue to watch for more; I know not everyone will find all the tips helpful or something they are able to apply, but even if you only implement one, it will assist you on the road to being a thrifty naturalist and that will make the earth, your wallet and you smile when you see how it saves you time and money.

Money Saving Sites

Here are a few quick sites to check out to save a few bucks!  They are interesting ways to buy, clean green and receive some new things to try!

Happy surfing!

 

www.startsampling.com

 

www.twistclean.com

 

www.amazon.com/subscribeandsave

Nature Tip #1

I have an interesting way to help the birds out in my yard each spring.  Some people have said I am a bit nuts, but that’s okay- I like thinking differently, saving money and helping the environment and nature.  

So, here it is:  Create a nest building box to help the birds add to the comforts of their nests while reusing okd materials we would throw away.

1. Save an empty paper milk or juice carton. 
2. With scissors, carefully cut  one side of the carton (over a sink so the extra juice or milk does not spill on you or the floor) creating a large oval opening big enough for any sized bird to  fit through.
3. Let the carton dry and place it on its side.
4. Poke two pencil holes about 4″ apart on the side of the carton that would now be the top compared to where the oval cut was made.  
5. String  10″ of  yarn or sturdy string through the holes and tie the ends of the string together; it now should have a loop big enough to be able to slip through a tree branch and hang.
6.  Fill the carton with fluffed and separated lint from your dryer, hair from your hairbrush and  extra pieces of string and/or yarn.  
7. Monitor the box during the spring to add any additional materials the birds may need.  

It is fun to watch the birds take the items and even more exciting when you see these things being used to either create a nest or soften one!  Another win-win situation; you get rid of “trash” and nature recycles it to create a better living space – amazing!  

The other great thing is that this can be done with children from pre-school ages and up – a great free bonding activity!  Have fun!

The Thrifty Naturalist Is Back!

In our current economic times, I felt it only fitting to revitalize “The Thrifty Naturalist” ©.  I welcome all to revisit the previous posts as they still apply, maybe even more so than in the years before when I began writing this blog.

It shocks me to read about people who really do not know how to live a thrifty life and yet not feel as if they are making huge sacrifices.  Thrifty does not mean sparse or cheap, it is just thinking in regards to the best way to use everything to its fullest possible potential.  That means being creative but it also means you save the enviornment and money at the same time- a win-win situation!

So, let’s begin with another basic and thrifty tip  to help make life easier, more green and save you money and who doesn’t want to do that?  

New Tip #1

Pay attention to how you open up packages.  ”What?,” you say, this is her advice!  Yes, simplicity is the key-keep reading…

Specifically, cereal bag inserts, foil cracker bags, plastic wrap around the large paper towels packages.  These as well as most every other type of wrapping has an additional use.  If nothing else, they make great dog potty pick-up bags!  Yes, I know, they may not be biodegradable, but you were going to throw them out anyway, right?  Why not save another product from going in the landfill and save yourself money at the same time by reusing the  bags things come wrapped in?  Think of all that could entail, bread, newspapers, parts to items we buy that needs assembly, and the list goes on.

Getting back to the specific bags first mentioned, cereal bags become storage bags and yes, again, poop pick-up bags.  The foil type bags like crackers and the like come in make great reusable freezer bags, and even the wrapping that comes around the 8 or larger packs of paper towels becomes a trash bag liner.  You do of course, have to make sure there are no holes in the bag before using it for that, but it is always worth a try.

In addition, paper towel tubes can be great to hold the plastic grocery bags so that they are not flying everywhere.  No, they do not hold as much as the holders you buy or find that someone made and sold a craft fair, but it is a free way to reuse, simplify and clean up.  Besides, it helps you to turn all the extras in to the store for recycling and not save the 500 you usually hold on to- do you really need that many at once? (Okay, maybe not 500, but I bet it can take on a life of its own in your cabinet at times!)

There are MANY more tips and hints that can save you money and help keep our earth green, so keep coming back and tell your friends!  If everyone was a “Thrifty Naturalist” we may have a much better world and more money in our pockets and that’s always fun!

 

More later- until then, keep life simple, be happy and healthy (:

Marie

Mistakes, Lessons and Thrifty Household Tip #6

SOOOO sorry for the long absence, I had major technical difficulties!  Technology is a humbling experience at times!  Well, if we learn from our mistakes, screw-up’s, goofs, and %$#@&!, then we all are better for it.  Anyway, I learned  a really neat thing this past Thanksgiving from my son who is in culinary arts school (the same one as Rachel Ray and Emil went to…who knows?!)  The reason onions make you cry is because your knife is not sharp enough.  You are actually smashing the onion as you try to cut it with a dull knife, and that is what releases the juices that make you cry.  So, next time that begins to happen, you don’t just have to sit there and cry- grab a sharper knife and save the make-up job, or if you are guy, your dignity.