Send the kids to college

Today's Assignment

Get a 529 plan and set up an automatic savings plan to fund it. Visit your local bank for more information.

Save Water

Today's Assignment

Fill a 20 or 32 ounce soda bottle with water, screw the cap on tight, and put it in your toilet tank. That makes the toilet use a bit less water for each flush. If you flush a toilet three times a day, over a year this simple move can save more than a dollar on your water bill - and our toilet certainly gets flushed more often than that

Air up your tires

Today's Assignment

Check the tire pressure in you car's tires. Adjust as necessary.

Air up your tires According to CarCare.org, underinflated tires can reduce gas mileage by 0.4% for every 1 PSI below the recommended maximum on all four tires. Most tires can be as much as 10 PSI underinflated without it being obvious by visual inspection, meaning that a full airing up can save 4% in gas mileage, raising a 12 MPG to 12.5 MPG or 25 MPG to 26 MPG. Over a year of driving 10,000 miles in a 20 MPG car, inflating your tires can save $60 (assuming $3 a gallon for gas) in just that year.

Lights out

Today's Assignment

Go to your local hardware store and stock up on compact fluorescent light bulbs. Come home and install them!

If you replace fifteen bulbs with CFLs and use each bulb for four hours a day, you’ll save $0.22 a day, or $7.50 a month, in your energy bill. Per bulb, your savings each month is about $0.50. Savings: $7.50 a month

Build Relationships

Today's Assignment

Introduce yourself and get to know one or more of your neighbors

In a period of rapid inflation, people often turn to bartering for many of their needs. They’ll trade with their neighbors, swapping skills and items to take care of what they need. The best thing you can do right now to build up your value in that regard is to build those relationships now. Even if a bad situation never occurs, you may find many situations where that relationship is beneficial to you anyway.

Repurpose old clothes and furniture

Repurposing Old Clothes

· A new buckle can update an old belt in no time.
· New buttons can make a huge difference for little money and you can do it yourself!
· Take in the waist of a boxy jacket. It will make it more form-fitting and flattering.
· Many couture jackets have shorter, narrower sleeves so take them in and up if you want to give old jackets a more high-fashion look.
· Adding or changing trim can completely transform a piece of clothing. Be careful though, it can start to add up.
· Spruce up a boring, conservative jacket with a fur collar.
· Get out those scissors! Shortening hemlines, taking sleeves off a dress and cutting off lapels updates tired old clothes. Just remember, once it's gone, it's gone so cut conservatively.
Make a quilt.
Make a dog bed. Cut up flannel shirts and stitch pieces together to form two squares (size determined by the size of the dog). Fill with cotton batting.
Cut up a blouse, preferably with a small print, to wrap nice soaps. Use as a hostess gift or in guest bathrooms.
Turn into an heirloom. If the item of clothing has any sentimental value--baby clothes, for instance--use it as the cover for a scrapbook or photo albums.
Use brightly colored, sturdy fabric as a border for an ordinary lampshade or picture frame.
Use a large piece of cloth to cover a corkboard -- the corkboard will retain its function but will liven up a dull surface.
Clean with them. If you're really in need of dust cloths or bandages, chop, chop !
Sew patches of old shirts onto some jeans.
Make scarves. They probably won't be warm, but they'll look cool.
Make New Clothes! take an old T-shirt(preferably with no graphic)and you can turn it into a tube top, a halter top, or you could even cut from the bottom of the arm holes straight across to make a skirt!


Repurposing Old Furniture

Think outside of the box when deciding how to repurpose your home décor. Look at an object and try to see other uses for it. Here are some ideas to get you started:
· As I've said time and time again, changing the look of throw pillows can change the look of a room, with little work or effort. Don't get rid of pillows you already have, simply repurpose them by sewing new pillow covers, or by adding trim or tassels.
· Old filing cabinets and library card filing drawers are great storage pieces. Store craft supplies, sweaters, toys and more within the modern-looking metal pieces of furniture.
· Old towels and bedding can be repurposed to make bedding for your pets. Simply line a basket with the old material.
· Old boxes you have lying around can be covered in fabric or paper to use as display boxes. Shoeboxes are the perfect size to hold photos.
Have any old baskets hidden in storage? Show them the light! Baskets can be used for lots of purposes around the house. Fill a basket with toilet paper rolls in the bathroom, or slippers at the front door. Fill it with soil and plant a herb garden in the kitchen. Use it to store magazines in the living room. The possibilities are endless…
· Do you have old doors, windows, frames of stained glass, shutters in your basement? Bring them back upstairs! Polish them up, and using wire and screw-hooks, hang them from the ceiling to a desired height. They look beautiful hung in front of windows, and when hung low in a room, can help to separate the room's space.
· You can change the function and look of a bookshelf/entertainment unit with fabric. Simply make curtains for the furniture, and the piece can now act as extra clothing, shoe or knick-knack storage in a bedroom.

Emergency Fund

Today's Assignment

Add $20 to your in-home emergency fund. Smaller bills are suggested. They are easier to use in times of disaster.

Raising Kids on the Cheap

Today's Assignment

Learn a few new ways to save money while raising your family

Ten Tips for Raising Kids on the Cheap

1.Learn to say “No,” to extras children don’t need. This helps children learn the difference between needs and wants.

2. Shop garage sales, thrift stores and discount stores. Great buys can be found on clothing & toys.

3. Use coupons. Careful planning can cut your grocery bill in half.

4.Limit extracurricular activities.

5. Take advantage of free, family community activities. Local parks and libraries are great sources of information.

6. Choose cell phone plans carefully. Save money with a family plan or limit usage for children.

7. Trade babysitting services with other parents.

8. Consider store brands for diapers, formula, cleaning products and frequently used household items.

9. Join a school car-pool.

10. Plan joint celebrations such as birthday or graduation parties with other family members or friends.

Freecycling

Today's Assignment

What do you do with all those adorable things you once loved, but no longer need and cannot bear the thought of in a landfill somewhere? Freecycle!!! That's right. Give them away to someone who really NEEDS them. In return, you may find something for free to take back.

Check out the Freecycle Network HERE

Welcome! The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,665 groups with 6,292,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free.

Cooking Frugally

Today's Assignment

If you don't cook your own meals, start! Being smart at the grocery store and smart in the kitchen can save your family a HUGE amount of money.

Click HERE for some great frugal recipes

Be the "Cool" Mom

Today's Assignment

Find out what activities/attractions/events are going on in your neighborhoods and cities. Get your family involved in their community.

For Information on the Phoenix area, Click HERE

Living Frugally During a Recession

Today's Assignment

Take a good, hard look at your expenses vs. income. Decide what luxuries you can live without in order to live more frugally during the recession.

For more tips, visit THIS great article.

How to Make your own cleaning products

How to Make Your Own Cleaning Products

Laundry Soap
Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above
½ cup washing soda
½ cup borax powder
~You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size~

Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel. You use ½ cup per load.


Window/Glass Cleaner: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a clean spray bottle. Wipe with old newspapers for a lint free shine

Dusting Cloths: Mix together 1 cup lemon oil with 2 cups hot water. Dip lint free cloth in solution. Squeeze out excess liquid and allow to dry. Store in covered metal container until ready to dust.

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc. Another alternative is microfiber cloths which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years.

Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard.

Dishwashing Soap: Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs

The Muffin Man

Today's Assignment

Bake up a batch of these awesome food storage muffins!

OATMEAL MUFFINS
1 c. oatmeal
1 c. buttermilk or sour milk
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. melted butter
1 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
Combine the oatmeal, buttermilk and brown sugar. Soak for 1 hour if using old fashioned oats, 15 minutes if using quick oats. Add remaining ingredients. Spoon into greased muffin tin and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. (My variations: I reconstituted buttermilk powder from my storage, cut the fat in half by using 1/4 c. melted butter and 1/4 c. applesauce, and reconstituted 1/3 c. freeze-dried Honeyville Raspberries. This recipe would be great with raisins, blueberries, or apples from your storage as well.)

Laundry Day

Today's Assignment

Learn to make your own laundry soap

Click HERE for directions.

Thrive in 2009

Today's Assignment

Add a few items to your long-term food storage

For items you can order online, check out this great website.

Multivitamins

Today's Assignment

Purchase a good multivitamin to add to your food storage supplies. If you have children in your home, purchase a seperate one, made for children, for them as well.

Vitamins are important, especially if you have children, since children do not store body reserves of nutrients as adults do. A good quality multi-vitamin and vitamin C are the most vital. Others might be added as your budget permits.

How Long is it good for?

Today's Assignment

Know how long you can safely store perishable food items before they need to be consumed


Fruit and Vegetables: To ensure that your ingredients are fresh, it's a good idea when possible to buy fruits and vegetables when they're in season. They will have the best flavor that way. Fruits like apricots, peaches, plums, pears, and cantaloupes will ripen as they sit, but be sure to buy grapes, berries, cherries, and watermelons at their peak as they won't ripen no matter how long they sit on your kitchen table.

Chicken: Check chicken to see that the skin does not have an "off" color and is not slimy or oily. These are characteristics that indicate the chicken is past its prime.

Beef and Lamb: When buying beef and lamb, check to see that the beef has a bright cherry red color and the lamb is slightly paler. A brownish color is a good indication that the meat may have been around longer than it should. Use or freeze ground beef within a day of purchase; whole muscle meats like chicken, steak and chops can keep in the refrigerator about 3 days.

Milk: Be sure to buy milk with a sell by date at least four days away. Once you get the milk home, it should last up to a week in the refrigerator.

Eggs: Keep eggs longer by storing them in their carton in the refrigerator and not in the door. For the freshest eggs, use them within 3 weeks of purchase.

Cheese: Hard cheeses like Cheddar and Swiss can keep up to two months in the refrigerator; soft cheeses like Brie and Muenster should be used within five to seven days of purchase

Taxes

Today's Assignment

Begin to gather all the necessary documents to file your state and federal income tax returns.

Click HERE for a list of items you will need.

Homemade Cosmetics

Homemade cosmetic products

Shampoos:

Nana's Egg Shampoo

1 large egg separated

3 Tbsp castile soap

In a bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Blend in yolk followed by the castile soap. Wet hair with warm water. Massage half the egg shampoo into scalp. Rinse well then massage remaining shampoo into scalp. Leave on hair about 1 min. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Egg Shampoo #2

1 egg1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp lemon juice

1 Tbsp castile soap

1/2 cup water or herbal tea

Drop of fragrant essential oil of your choice (optional)

Combine all in blender and whip until smooth. Shampoo with mixture using warm, not hot water for the shampoo and rinse. Store any remaining shampoo in the refrigerator for use the next day.

Herbal Shampoo

1/4 cup of your favorite herbal tea, strongly brewed

8 oz liquid castile soap

Add soap to tea. Stir over low heat until well blended. Store in a capped bottle.

Facial Masks

Most facial masks are applied to the skin, left on for 15-20 minutes then washed off with warm water, followed by a cold rinse

.1) Apple & Honey MaskA mask of grated apple mixed with a little honey is an excellent remedy for pimples.

2) Apricot MaskMash the fresh fruit for a good face mask.Variation: Add apricots to a little warm olive oil to form a spreadable paste. Good for dry skin.

3) Avocado & Honey Moisturizer Mask(For Dry Skin)Mash up 2 tablespoons avocado, mix with 2 tablespoons honey and 1 egg yolk. Apply to face, leaving on about 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Finish with a rinse of the vinegar pH balancer.

4) Creamy Avocado MaskMash 1 tablespoon ripe avocado, add 1/2 tsp honey and mix. Stir in a little almond meal until creamy. Apply to clean skin, leave on for 15-20 minutes and wash off with lukewarm water. Finish with a rinse of the vinegar pH balancer.

5) Avocado Honey Mask #2(For Dry Skin)Peel one ripe avacado, mash the meat into a creamy texture. Heat over a double boiler until just warm,iIncorporate 1 Tbsp of honey. Massage into the face and neck. Finish with a rinse of rosewater, witch hazel or vinegar pH balancer

.6) Banana MaskMash a banana and spread on face for a soothing, cleansing and moisturizing face mask. Rinse celan with warm water finished with a rinse of the vinegar pH balancer.

7) Brewers Yeast Mask(For Oily Skin)Make a paste using the yeast and a small amount of warm water

.8) Carrot Mask(For Oily Skin)Carrots make an excellent skin mask for acne and blemishes.Apply raw, grated carrots to the face while lying down, a little lemon juice may also be added. For a cooked carrot mask: Boil three large carrots and mash them, or process in a food processor. Add 5 tablespoons of honey or yogurt (optional). Apply gently, in an upward motion. Leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Finish with a final rinse of witch hazel or the vinegar pH balancer.

9) Cool As A Cucumber Yogurt Facial(For Normal/Oily Skin)1/2 cucumber1 Tbsp plain yogurtPuree cucumber in blender. Mix in yogurt, apply to face. Leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse well.

10) Elder Flower Mask(For Oily Skin)Mix elder flower herb with yogurt to make a paste, apply to face.

11) Fennel Wrinkle MaskMix a strong infusion of fennel seed or herb into a liberal amount of honey and yogurt to form a paste, add some additional dried fennel herb, mix well, apply to skin.

12) Honey Mask(For Oily & Blemished Skin)Massage a small amount of slightly heated honey into skin. Wheat germ may be added for its abrasive action, protein and nutrients.

13) Lemon/Egg Mask(For Oily Skin)Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Apply to face avoiding the area around the eyes. Leave on your face overnight or if during the day, for about 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

14) Oatmeal Facial(For Oily Skin)Make a creamy paste of oatmeal and water. Apply to face, let dry completely. Remove by very gently rubbing off with your fingers.

15) Papaya Skin TreatmentA fresh mashed papaya applied as a face mask will remove dead, flaky skin.

16) Peach Mask(For Dry Skin)Mash a fresh peach, mix with enough warm olive, peach kernel or almond oil to form a spreadable paste.

17) Strawberry Mask(For Oily Skin)Mash strawberries then use as a cleansing face mask.

18) Tomato Mask(For Oily Skin)Use mashed or sliced tomato for enlarged pores.

19) Yogurt Mask(For Oily Skin)Apply natural unflavored yogurt adding honey and/or oatmeal if desired.

Blackheads & Blemishes

1) Heat honey slightly and apply to face, tap face gently with your fingers. Wash honey off with warm water then rinse with cool water. A bit of wheat germ may be added to the honey before applying.

2) To loosen and cleanse blackheads, make a paste of oatmeal, honey and an eggwhite. Apply to the skin, massage for 10 minutes then rinse with tepid water.

3) For blackheads, make a paste of oatmeal and water.

4) For blackheads, make a paste of almond meal and water.

5) Blotchy skin: Make a mixture of 1 part apple cider vinegar and 8 parts water. Store in a decorative bottle in the bathroom. Rinse face 1-2 times a day with the solution.

6) For blackheads, rub with a slice of tomato

Basic Toothpaste

1 Tsp of the Old Fashioned Tooth Powder

1/4 Tsp Hydrogen peroxide

Mix into a paste and brush as usual.

Rosemary-Mint Mouthwash

2 1/2 cups distilled or mineral water

1 tsp fresh mint leaves

1tsp rosemary leaves

1 tsp anise seeds

Boil the water, add herbs and seeds, infuse for 20 minutes. Cool, strain and use as a gargle/mouthwash. If you wish to make up a larger quantity, double or triple the recipe then add 1 tsp of tincture of myrrh as a natural preservative.

Banana Hand & Foot CreamDry hands and feet will become smooth and soft overnight if you mix:BananasHoneyLemon juiceNatural margarineSmear on hands and wear white gloves to bed. Wash off in the morning.

For dry feet, smear the mixture on and wear heavy socks to bed, wash off in the morning.

Who Knew?

Today's Assignment

Pick up a few tips on the many uses for hand lotion


The Many Uses for Hand Lotion

Hand lotion can be substituted at times for much more expensive products.

1.In a pinch, rub the lotion on your moist facial skin for a moisturizer.
2. Hair a bit fly-away? Rub a drop of lotion on your palms and gently smooth over the hair.
3. Don't use expensive static spray on your clothing in the winter; merely smear some lotion on your legs/stockings/socks, and you will have no static cling.
4. In a pinch, you can give yourself a quick shoeshine with lotion; just put some on a tissue, and rub it into the leather gently in circles for a modest shine and to remove soil.
5. Down to your last crumb of lipstick? Add a drop or two of lotion, mix well, and you have a colored lip gloss, or a bit of blusher.
6. I have even cleaned my dashboard with hand lotion! Adds a nice moderate shine, smells good, and conditions the leather.

Oh Baby!

Today's Assignment

Consider making your own baby wipes



Best Homemade Baby Wipes

I started making these wipes with my first baby...they are so gentle - she never had diaper rash! Directions are as follows:
Ingredients:1 tbsp. baby wash
1 tbsp. baby oil
1/2 roll of strong paper towels (cut the roll, including the cardboard tube, in half).
1 3/4 - 2 cups of water
Add all liquid ingredients to a tupperware container (about 6 or 7 inches in diameter, and about 6 inches high). put in the cut roll of paper towels, place top of the container on and turn the container upside down until the liquid absorbs. Remove the cardboard center, and pull wipes from the center.

Frugal WArdrobe

Today's Assignment

Learn how to maintain your current wardrobe and how to shop frugally for needed items


Frugal Wardrobe Tips

Rather than always buying new (or new to you) clothes, take good care of the clothing you already own. Make sure to repair tiny tears before they become huge rips (a stitch in time really does save nine!), treat stains as quickly as possible before they have a chance to set, store clothes properly (not in a heap on the floor), replace buttons or zippers when they need it. When you do need to buy clothing, stay away from trendy items, which are often poorly made and will soon go out of style, and focus on classic pieces that are well made. If you must have trendy items, make it accessories, which are much less expensive to update. Try to stick to a simple color palette, no more than 2 or 3 main colors. That will give you more options for outfits. If you want to add more color, do it with accessories.

Eating Healthy for Less

Today's Assignment

Stock up on all those healthy foods without breaking the bank!

Click HERE for 20 Healthy foods all under $1

Drink Water!!!

Today's Assignment

Make a decision to drink more water. Not only is it better for your body, it also is better for your wallet than juices, sodas, or many other options.

Check out this great link on 9 great reasons to dring water and how to form the habit of drinking water.

Exercising Frugally

Today's Assignment

In your efforts to be healthier this year- Remember, you do not have to spend a ton of money to attain your goal.

Click HERE for 12 ways to exercise more frugally

Living Frugally by Reusing and Re-purposing HOusehold items

Living Frugally by Reusing and Re-purposing Household Items

Ironing board covers
Use less worn areas of a non-stick ironing board cover to make pot holders, barbecue mitts, or hot pads; cut out the shape you need and cover the holder, mitt or pad with scraps of material; quilt together on a sewing machine, then use bias tape to bind edges and add a loop.

Napkins
Make new napkins from worn tablecloths
Use old cloth napkins in your picnic basket or for dust rags
Use cloth napkins for meals instead of paper napkins

Plastic berry baskets
Use these to hold small items, such as baby bottle caps, that often end up on the bottom of the dishwasher. Put the items in one basket, place another basket upside down on top, and then secure both baskets with a rubber band.

Quilts
Use fabric scraps from old clothes to make quilted potholders, placemats, vests, tote bags and baby blankets.

Sand boxes/ Baby pools
Use the sand box or pool your children have outgrown to make a vegetable or flower garden

Soap Chips
Make soapy scrubber. Place small bits of leftover soap into a square of nylon netting, fold the netting so there are several layers around the soap, then tuck in all the edges with heavy thread. Use for scrubbing collar stains or cleaning hands after gardening or painting

Gallon Milk Jugs
Make a pet poop scoop with gallon milk jug. Cut the top out, leaving the handle and a smooth edge for scooping. Place a used plastic newspaper bag or plastic produce bag inside for easy removal of waste.

Kleenex boxes
Empty boxes can be used to store those handy plastic shopping bags. Just stuff them in the hole in the top and when you need one, just pull one out.

Toothbrushes
Use these to clean window screens, jewelry or computer keyboards

Shredded paper
Makes great packing material for shipping gifts. Also makes good packing material if you are moving.

Pickles
If you save the liquid from pickles, whether home canned or bought, you can reuse it at least twice. Pickle cucumbers or other vegetables in it by heating it to just boiling, then pouring it over prepared vegetables in a jar or bowl with a lid. Put it in the refrigerator immediately and in about two weeks, you’ll have pickled vegetables ready to enjoy. ½

Decisions

Today's Assignment

Be aware of the decisions to be made directly following a death. Make as many decisions as possible now . Record them and keep them with your important papers.

Exact location of burial/disposition
Location of service
Casket
Outer burial container
Items for memento display
Clothing and jewelry for deceased
Service type (religious, fraternal, military)
Selection of scripture and readings (poems, etc.)
Clergy to officiate
Funeral director preference
Time for visitation and service
Register book, memorial/prayer cards
Casketbearers
Floral arrangements
Music selections
Transportation for family and guests, including funeral procession lineup
Reviewing and signing all paperwork
Answering innumerable phone calls, messages, and letters
Necessary meetings with funeral director, lawyer, clergy, cemetery, etc.
Arrange transportation and lodging for out-of-town guests
Acknowledging those who help in a special way (contribution of flowers, food, etc.)
Funeral service details and considerations

Vital Statistics

Today's Assignment

Gather the following vital statistics necessary for funeral planning. Keep them with your important papers.

Full name and complete address
How long at current/former residence(s)
Occupation, job title, nature of work, job history
Location of workplace
Social security number
Veteran's serial number
Date and place of service, date of discharge
Date of birth
Place of birth
Family origin
Father's name
Mother's maiden name
Educational attainment

Funeral Planning

Today's Assignment

Research Funeral homes in your area. Find one that meets your needs and make an appointment to meet with their staff. Choose a plan and begin to make payments on it now to ease the financial burden to your survivors when the time comes.