Home and Family

My Daughter's Room

Brandy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:03:16 GMT

I have been posting about finding frugal furniture and decorating my youngest child's room. She wants a princess, floral and butterfly theme.

My parents gave us my brother's old solid wood bed recently and this past week Mom called to offer the wood nightstand that goes with it. With the other freebies and great deals we have found this past year, her room is close to being done and hasn't cost us much at all.

I had found this adorable rosebud print curtain at a yard sale over the summer. I had intended to match some bedding to it whenever I found something but two days ago changed my mind.

I was browsing Goodwill for deals and found a bedskirt that I thought my daughter would love. It is light purple with dark pink flowers. Farther on, I found a purple curtain in a shade that was almost a match to the skirt. I also was able to get two Barbie pillowcases, also in matching shades. I spent $6 total.

On getting this home and wondering if I was making a good choice in changing to this purple and dark pink stuff from the intended light pink and white, I was pleasantly surprised. Her generic princess wall decor and throw pillows that I bought at various dollar stores, the nylon butterflies I put on the wall, the pinks and purples of various Disney princess items, her flower vase on her nightstand, even the plastic pink drawer sets and pink and purple toy tubs are all in fairly matching shades to the purple and pink on the bedskirt.

All that's needed to really complete the bedding and decor is a comforter or bedspread. I'll be looking for a good price on something in a solid pink or purple. For now, she has a regular light pink blanket with a fleece Disney princess throw over it. That doesn't look bad so it's doable until I can get a really good deal on something that can be used after she passes beyond the age of Disney.

Favorite Frugal Cleaners

Brandy — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:39:18 GMT

I know we have discussed this many times but new folks here deserve the chance to share in a new discussion!

What are your favorite frugal cleaners?

Do you do anything different to prepare your home for the holidays such as deep cleaning or changing scents on your cleaners?

Book Cases

Virginia Needlewoman — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:14:03 GMT

I have to purchase some book cases because there are so many books loose in the house.

The bad news is that Ollie's has sold out of book cases.

I will try to find them at a good price over the next few months.

I got two iguannas, they need names...?

TiffanyJohnson — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:49:12 GMT

One male, one female, I want to name them halloween-ish names...imput?

my mom likes witch and vamp

What are your tips for winter survival?

sparkle — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:30:27 GMT

The winter servival subject come up alot in topics and everyone seems to talk about hard this winter will be. So lets all get on board to be totally prepared for this winter. Post your tips,tricks,plans, ect. for staying afloat this winter!

Mine so far are as follows:

1. Growing my own lettuce indoors in several recycled planter boxes.

2. I have enough clothing on hand for all children for winter. I recieve a lot of hand me downs from others.

3. Sock up on dry goods now as much as possible

4. Find new ways to conserve energy in the house, find ways to beef up the insulating in the house.

5. Trying to stay on budget or below budget this winter

6. Gathering items I would need for homemade cold remedies and other winter illnesses

7. I only plan on driving into town once a week for neccesites and church

8. Saving scraps of evrything to make homemade birthday cards and presents.

Jenn

Sweaters for Cents - In Dollar Stretcher

Edey — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:39:15 GMT

Sweaters for Cents

This article has some very good tips on refurbishing used or discarded sweaters. Check it out - it could save you some money.

Edey

Protect carpet from stains

LindaC52 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:22:56 GMT

The most common things to have on hand to protect your carpet from stains are powdered laundry detergent, clean toothbrush, foamy shaving cream, kitchen spoon ladle, waterless hand cleaner and fabric protector spray. Carpet should be vacuumed or swept frequently, particularly when the area is exposed to sand or dirt. You should use prompt attention to household stains and have the appropriate cleaning supplies on hand. Spills should be treated immediately, in order to protect the carpeting from staining. You should never rub the carpet when something has spilled or this will make it more difficult to remove the stain. You should use a dry, absorbent material such as a cloth or towel to blot and absorb the stain onto the cloth or towel, according to Billings carpet cleaners.

Avoid excessive wetting of the carpet with water or whatever cleaning solution you are using to treat the stain. Otherwise, you will cause the stain to penetrate deeper into the carpet fibers and can lead odor and mildew to set in. Do not walk on the carpet if it is damp, but rather let the carpet dry from the cross-ventilation in the home or smooth the carpet area and use a hand-held hair dryer or fan to dry the area that was cleaned.

Powdered laundry detergent will protect the carpet from staining because it will absorb the stain rather than soak into the stain. Using a clean toothbrush, you will need to move the detergent around the area of where the stain needs to be absorbed. Never rub the stain, as it will only allow the stain to penetrate deeper into the carpet fibers and this can cause damage to the carpet’s backing and reduce the life of the carpet. Once you see the stain has been absorbed into the detergent, scoop it up with a kitchen spoon ladle. Allow the carpet to dry and then vacuum thoroughly.

Foamy shaving cream should be applied to the carpet when you are treating household stains such as coffee, tea, blood, ketchup, spaghetti sauce or any tomato-based stain. Using a clean toothbrush, you will move the shaving cream around in the area of the stain. Do not rub the stain, but allow the foam to bring the stain to the surface and you can then scoop it up with a kitchen spoon ladle. Rinse the area with cold water, but do not soak the area. Then blot the area with a clean cloth or towel. Allow the carpet to dry naturally or use a hand-held hair dryer or fan to dry the area.

Waterless hand cleaner should be applied to the carpet when you are treating more stubborn stains such as oil, grease, pop or bubble gum. You can also use it to treat tomato-based stains. Using a clean toothbrush, you will move the hand cleaner around in the area of the stain. Again, do not rub the stain, but allow the hand cleaner to bring the stain to the surface and you will be able to scoop it up with a kitchen spoon ladle. Then blot the area with a clean cloth or towel. After the area is dry, you can vacuum it to insure all the stain has been removed. For more stubborn set in stains, you may have to repeat the process, but remember not to soak the carpet.

Once you have treated a stain and allowed it to dry, use a fabric protectant spray that will give the carpeting a safeguard to future stains. This will make it easier to clean stains once they occur. Follow these simple household tips and you will protect your carpet from various household stains, which will allow it to last longer.

True sign of cold weather switching kids clothes

nattieandtjmom — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:05:34 GMT

This last Sunday I spent the whole day taking the summer clothes out of my daughter and son's dresser. Then I put all of their winter clothes in. It really surprised me that I had enough clothes for both for the winter. Most of the items were from thrift stores and rummage sales. If anything was bought at a department store it was on clearance and no more that 3 dollars. The only items they now need is underwear, shoes,socks and Natalie needs a belt and tights. Now I just have to start collecting clothes for summer.

Shannon

Guidance on Purchasing a Manufactured Home

mommatothree — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:04:47 GMT

Has anyone ever bought a manufactured home new? We are seriously looking into moving with my parents within the next year or so. My parents plan on purchasing a home w/acreage. We are thinking about buying a manufactured home for our family and putting it on my parents property. I have absolutely no experience with this or know of anyone that has ever done so. Is there some info out there that any of you would like to share? I've been able to locate companies that sell manufactured home but I am looking for information on actually setting them up. What is involved, permits needed, plumbing, laying a foundation, etc. Any experience or websites you can share would be very helpful!

More Frugal Decor Ideas

Brandy — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:19:37 GMT

Donna, author of the Homestead Mindset Anywhere blog shared some great tips for frugal decorating!

Frugal Decor Ideas for the Home

Has anyone used sheets in different ways for cheap decorating?

Chair covers ideas

Tebaliah — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:29:30 GMT

My daughter plans to be married next June. We recently booked the reception hall. One item that she really wants is chair covers. Well, the chair cover rental is $5 a chair! YIKES! We expect 75-100 guests so that really adds up. The chairs have a rounded frame on the top of the back and are stackable. While I want her to have a lovely wedding, I just think that's too much for decor. Also, the photos of the reception hall show pictures with the covers and chairs without. Admittedly, the chair covers do really dress up the look. I did point out to her that the one thing the photos don't show is the reception hall with guests in the photos. I've been racking my brain for an alternative idea to chair covers that would be less costly and wouldn't be horribly time-consuming to make or too difficult but I haven't come up with anything. I doubt we could use tape to attach a decoration. To her credit, she has cut the expenses down and is cost conscious. Any crafty ideas out there on something to use other than $5 chair covers? Thanks.

When Do Sheets Go On Sale ?

Virginia Needlewoman — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:01:41 GMT

I need to buy myself a couple of sets of sheets for my bedroom. I have a double bed.

Where are some good places to get them ?

I used to go to the West Point Pepperel Stevens Outlet in Williamsburg, but it has closed.

Thanks.

Home Organisation

Brandy — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:59:10 GMT

The key to cheap organisation..Hanging pocket shoe holders!!

I never would have dreamed of so many uses for a shoe holder until I read the upcoming article, Organising on the Cheap. I will be getting some to use around my home.

I can't think of any more ways to use the pockets to hold things, can you?

Decorating with Photos

Brandy — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:33:54 GMT

Do you display photos around your house? Do you artistically work them into the room's decor?

Read Decorating with Old Photos

Studio Apartments

ohionative — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:37:00 GMT

Hi! I would like to havea discussion on moving into a studio apartment to be able to pay off more debts & save up funds.There are studio apartments for $329 a month , not far from here. I just know, I would love it. I happen to be a clutter bug & it always helps me to be in a smaller place. For some reason, I'm more able to keep it cleaner & more organized the smaller it is.I would like to know if anyone here has lived in a studio or moved there to make ends met in this econmy.

Window film for saving on utilities

Pat — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:50:43 GMT

We have a question from a reader. Can you help her?

How much can window films save you on your utility bill? A friend says they really cut down on her bills. Isn't it really expensive to buy?

Has anyone tried window films to keep out the heat or the cold? Would you? Are they worth the cost?

What Would You Do With This Space

Brandy — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 22:18:49 GMT

I have been organising again and have a space that I am considering what to do with. It's an odd space. I put a plastic drawer set in the bottom of my linen closet to hold my soap and candle supplies. Now I have a space about the same size next to it and I am not sure what to put there.

I considered stacking boxes with bath, cleaning and laundry supplies there but I already have adequate space for all that. The things I need more room for just don't fit in the bathroom where I have roomy cabinets, a laundry closet and linen closets.

So what would you do with this space?

My new bedroom

Pat — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:42:32 GMT

Not too long ago, I switched my office and bedroom around. There were several reasons (one was a barking dog at night!), but one of the most beneficial was that the new bedroom is larger. It shows off my antique (I always thought it was just old) bed and dresser and gave me room to put a rocking chair in there. It's not really finished yet, but I did make curtains and used a braided rug that I'd made years ago. I found a tall candlestick at Hobby Lobby on sale for $1.70, with tax!

Which brings me to the point: A preview of next week's offerings at Dollar Stretcher: Decorating Bedrooms on a Budget. Kathy Wilson has some great ideas, as always, but I'd like to know what you do besides that to decorate your bedroom while stretching your dollars.

My son's psychotic ex girlfriend

Cinnamonhuskies — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:10:51 GMT

Sounds like a funny horror movie, right?

It's been 6 weeks since the whole breakup went down and the resulting fallout. (chronicled in a Homeschooling Forum thread earlier) Today we found a TShirt stuffed in the mailbox with a note on it, saying this was my son's belated birthday gift, that she wore it today (so it smelled like her) and that she loved him...she loved him....she missed him...and that she loved him.... Yeah we get the picture PsychoBabe. She drove 45 minutes to do that!

My son has changed his phone, quit his job, changed his email and quit facebook all to get away from her. Now we have to worry about a stalker or something?

What do we do???!!!

Affordable Themed Bedroom

Brandy — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:10:37 GMT

I liked some of the suggestions from an article on the main site this week, Affordable Themed Bedrooms.

Has anyone ever tried some of these ideas?

Home Decoration

latesh_malik — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:34:26 GMT

I have carmel furniture and chocolate brown window covering and I want to know what colors you suggest that I should use to paint my walls? Please help, thanks

http://www.knobsplusmore.com

What questions would you ask/want to know before you married someone?

TiffanyJohnson — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 04:58:44 GMT

I am getting married and we are going to spend 15 minutes to half an hour everyday just talking about questions we have, and so we want lots and lots of questions. A few we have are...

Are you racist (both of us are not)

how many kids would you like (2-4)

Favorite colors

foods

pet peeves

things we are glad our parents taught us

things we have learned while we have dated each other

things we learned in past relations

any criminal crime, minor or major- (none)

what is something that may not come up til years down the road, that I may want to know beforehand, or just a question that will make us think and talk?

Fall Decorations

MarthaMFI — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 03:05:03 GMT

well hard to believe that fall is coming! What are you doing for decorations? I bought a huge pot of burgundy daisy mums from costco on sunday $12. I have a couple of decorations plus a front door wreath I updated with silk fall leaves a couple of years ago.

I thinking I need more. Can't wait to see what the dollar store brings out. Have to stop by Micheals too...haven't been for a long time!

At what temperture will you turn on your heater?

sunshinetreva — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:42:23 GMT

I was just reading the daily thread and nanagain2000 said she was trying not to turn on the heat just yet. This prompted me to check my thermostat to see what the temps are in the house right now. We're at 62* and the heat is not on! I'm really proud of the fact that we're holding out. Saturday the temps are going to drop down to 56* but just for the day. I have a small heater (electric) that I run in the mornings for about an hour to take the edge off the chill while DD & I eat breakfast. The nights are running in the mid-50s, but are about to drop down to the mid-40s for 3 or 4 nights. DH & DD are comfortable in the house right now; they both run warm. I run cold -- poor me! LOL

If this were VA the heat would be on by now. Of course, it also wouldn't be quite this chilly for another couple of months at least. But this in Indiana and I know it's going to be colder here in the winter than I'm used so I'm trying to get adjusted to it now and "tough it out" so to speak. I will be calling the heating guy very soon to come service the unit since it's not been used for 2 years. He already looked at it once when he serviced the a/c and said only one small thing needed fixing that he could see and it would be less than $10 plus the service fee of $50. I really want to go as long as I can before turning on the heat in the house.

What's your criteria for turning on the heat? Do you need the house to hit a certain low point before you turn it on? What temperature do you set the thermostat at?