|
Have a hint you'd like to share? Click here to email me.
|
Robin's Helpful Household Hints: Most of you may know how cheap I am. I'm all for trying to keep the spending down, yet live to the fullest. On this page, I offer you some cheap ideas for around your house and ideas to keep the monthly budget to a minimum.
Favorite Smells Want to make your house smell better, yet don't want to invest all your money in candles? Check your cabinets. What are you in the mood for? Fresh baked cookies, chocolate, peppermint, cinnamon, coffee. The list could go on and on. Get creative. Get an old saucepan and mix your ingredients. Add some water and let it simmer on low. Before you know it, your house smells delicious. You can also buy your favorite potpourri and simmer it on low. Don't let it get too hot, though. Oh yeah, and don't let the water get low. I've listed some of my favorite recipes below. I don't measure anything, so just a little of this and a little of that. Unsweetened Cocoa, A little bit of sugar (The sugar gives it a sweet smell.), Vanilla Extract, Either leftover coffee from the pot or coffee grounds, or sometimes I add some mint extract Put cinnamon sticks in the water and let them simmer. This will last several days, so turn it off at night, and turn it on the next morning for a delightful smell all day. When you notice the smell fading, just pour it out and start all over. You could also experiment with the scented oils near the potpourri. The options are endless. Just check your cabinets or pantry. Use what you have and make it your own smell. Be creative.
Light Bulbs Pay the extra money upfront and buy fluorescent light bulbs. You save money on your monthly electric, plus they last way longer than regular cheap light bulbs. Groceries and other Household Items We all know this is a major expense every month. I go to a local food warehouse to get non-perishable food items. You can also find furniture, electronics, toys, books, school supplies, toiletries, laundry detergents, diapers, training pants and other such items. It's a great way to get some name brand stuff for a cheaper price. Honestly, who cares if a can food or the outside of the box is dented. It's way cheaper and doesn't affect the food any. Also, our local food warehouse guarantees everything. So, if a food is bad, they'll replace it. I'll take that risk, considering most items are at least half the price from a larger store. Save that Juice If you have children, you go through a lot of juice. Make the jug of juice last longer. Add water to the cup. I usually do about 3/4 juice and 1/4 water. They don't know the difference and it makes the juice last longer. Plus, they don't get as many calories and sugar. Even the 100% juice has natural sugar, which can cause a problem if they drink too much. Hide the Clutter Do you have stuff on the porch you'd like to disguise? Build a plywood box and paint it. Now, you have storage for your watering can, hose pipe, or whatever you'd like to store, but not see everyday. Custom build the box to fit your needs. Les built me a custom box to conceal my strollers. We all know how big and bulky they are. So, now I have perfect storage and seating for my front porch. And, it looks better than a bunch of clutter.
|