Frugal FineBlog

To help save both money and the environment, start reusing those sandwhich/freezer bags.  Unless they were used for raw meat, you can simply rinse and reuse.  According to MSN Money, you can save around $30/year.  A small amount - but savings do add up.

What are some ways you can reuse plastic baggies?

• Insert a frozen washcloth and use it as a cold pack
• Blow air into the bag and seal it for use a package cushioning, especially for holiday packages.
• Make-up Bag - helps keep powders from spreading all over your vanity
• Travel pack for use of small liquids, toothbrush etc.
• Organizer, children’s crayons, hair pins etc.
• Baby wipe holder
• Cut a small hole in the corner and fill with frosting to decorate cakes
• Make a fabric softener dispenser by poking small pin holes before filling it then throw it in with the laundry.
• Collect small soap scraps into a baggie.  After you collect enough, melt the soap in hot water to make a new bar of soap!!
• Fill the baggie with flour mixture to bread chicken and other meats
• Dispose of cooking oil.  Instead of draining it in the sink, fill the baggie and throw it in the trash.

Looking for quality makeup at a reasonable price?  Target added three new exclusive makeup lines:

Jemma Kidd, Napolean Perdis and Pixi.

“Luxe for Less” they say and I agree.  Best of all, you can try the cosmetics before you buy.  That way, you also save money on the typical trail-and-error expense that comes with purchasing drugstore makeup.

 I also love Sonia Kashuk Make-up brushes.   They are of the same quality as some other high-end make up brushes, but for far less. 

If you budget is really tight this month, you may also get away with purchasing small paint brushes from the hobby store and using them as eye shadow brushes.

During the fall, it may start to get a little colder but you are probably trying to hold off from turning the heater.  As colder weather is approaching, higher energy bills are on their way.  In addition to my post “Pull the plug on your energy bill,” here are a few ideas to save on your energy bill this winter with NO investment cost:

• Open all your blinds and drapes on the south or west (or southwest) side of your home.  That way the most amount of heat from the sun fills your home
• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees even when you are away during the day
• Set your water heater to 120 degrees
• Use cold water when you do laundry

So did your child finish coloring all the pages of her latest coloring book?  If your budget forces you to stretch some time before heading back to the crayola section of Target, print free coloring images online.

 Make sure to print on both sides to conserve printer paper or recycle previously used pages by using the blank side to print your kid’s favorite characters.

If you google “Coloring Pages” you will have a wide selection on themes and images.  Disney.go.com also has a great library of coloring pages featuring popular Disney cartoons.  You can use a folder or binder to start a portfolio of your children’s coloring pages.   Have fun!

A frugal princess isn’t only good at saving money, but is also good at managing her personal finances.  A great online tool is Mint.com

The secure site allows you to monitor activity for your credit/debit cards and investments…..all for FREE!  It help you create a budget for yourself and helps you keep track of your spending.

According to the website:

“Mint is fresh, intelligent online money management. Not only is Mint free, it saves you money. While existing personal finance software packages require hours to set up, a passion for accounting (is that possible?) and hours of weekly maintenance, Mint is virtually effortless.”

So get started online!  Happy Budgeting!

Now that fall is approaching, woody seasonings like basil and bay leaves are stating to come to mind again.

And if you need to stretch some time until your next trip to the grocery store, than the good ole’ crock-pot can save you both time and money!  Almost any kind of meat will taste good after being in a slow cooker for several hours, so you dont have to be a master chief to make a delicious recipe. 

Just look inside your half empty refrigerator to get some ideas of something you can throw in the crock-pot.  Do you have any frozen chicken, sausage or beef?  Any frozen bags of vegetables still lingering around?  That half onion you need to use before it goes bad?  Even left over soda like sprite or coke mixed with chicken can make some interesting meal ideas in a crock-pot.

The best thing is to throw all the ingredients the night before and store the pot in your refrigerator.  Before you head out for work in the morning, turn on the crockpot and there will be a warm, home cooked meal awaiting your arrival back home.  No time needed to get dinner put together or driving around for take-out.

You can get TONS of recipes ideas if you Google “Crockpot Recipes” so feel free to experiment.

If the budget is really tight this month, try this super-cheap-and-easy recipe for Cola Chicken (It taste just like BBQ Chicken but for less calories and less money):

Ingredients:
3 chicken breast (or any cuts of chicken you prefer)
1 cup ketchup
1 large onion, thinly sliced
1 cup cola, Coke, Pepsi, Diet Coke, etc.

Preparation:
Put the chicken in the crockpot. Add salt and pepper to taste. Throw in the onions on top and add cola and ketchup.  Cook LOW 6 to 8 hours. (Conveientaly while you are at work) Enjoy!

If you are in the market of purchasing a new car, then the month of September is a prime time.   New models are coming in and dealerships need to clear their inventory of last year’s models.

Buying certified used cars are certainly a financially smart move.  Here are a couple of money saving tips when shopping for a car:

• Consider getting a broker to search for your dream car.  Brokers will save you time on shopping around and hassling with car salesman.  Sometimes, they can even get a lower price than if you would have done it alone.  If you insist of purchasing a hybrid car (where the waiting list is for several months or even years) than they may be able to get one faster.
• NEVER accept the sticker price.  Always negotiate for a better deal.  Sales people expect that you will ask for a lower price.
• Purchase your car at the end of the month when sales reps are desperate to meet their sales goals.  Go shopping around and get all the information you need in the middle of the month.  Then when you are ready to buy, come back on the last week for the month.
• There are bigger margins for domestic cars, so you have a lot more negotiating power.  You can save a bundle purchasing a domestic car.  HOWEVER, imports or foreign makes like Honda or Toyota are known for quality and will carry a higher resale value over time.
• It may be best to shop around for the best rate on your car loan.  Your credit union may be the best place to start.  Also, a good rule of thumb is to put at least 20% down on any vehicle, either in cash or trade.  That way, you don’t end up owing more than what the car is worth.
• Avoid Leases.  Although it may be a good option for a few people, in most cases leases are a bad idea.  If you drive over the allotted mileage (which can be as low as 10,000 miles a year) you can get stuck with a huge bill. There is also no way you can get any money in return since you wont’ be able sell the vehicle after you are done with payments.
• Weight Fuel costs versus Vehicle costs.  Although hybrid cars seem a lot more appealing with the rising cost of gas, don’t trade in your SUV just yet.  Buying a brand new hybrid at $28,000 or more just to save $50/month on gas is not really a savings.  Buy a hybrid only if you are in need to buy a new car.  If the waiting list on a hybrid sounds too long for you, consider other fuel efficient vehicles.
• If you can’t buy in September, December is also a great month when dealers are anxious to get rid of cars in their inventory left over from fall.