Guest Post Submissions

We Paid Cash: A Minivan

by Crystal on May 18, 2013

We paid cash!

Testimony from Rachel of Intentionally Simple

A few years ago, my husband and I started a car savings account. Our cars were both approaching 10 years old and we wanted to have some money set aside for repairs as well as have enough money saved to pay cash for our next vehicle.

We saved for a few years, and during that time, paid for routine maintenance, repairs and new tires for one of the vehicles out of our car savings fund.

A few months after the birth of our second son, we started talking about purchasing a mini van. We had around $5,000 in savings for a new vehicle and we had the luxury of time to look for a good deal since we didn’t truly need a van at this point.

We decided to put most of our tax return into car savings. The plan was to use the money in car savings (around $8,000) plus the sale of the truck (we were hoping to get around $3,500 for the truck) to pay cash for a new vehicle. We set our budget at $12,000 or less and started researching vans.

We had been researching a few months when my father-in-law told us that a neighbor had a van for sale. The van was a 2004 Nissan Quest with 88,000 miles. It was in wonderful condition and had features like heated leather seats, power sliding doors and lift gate, and a DVD player. The best part about this van, it was well under our budget!

We paid cash for the van without even selling my husband’s truck!

A few weeks later, we sold the truck for $4,500 ($1,000 more than we were hoping, apparently trucks hold their value!) We then put all of the money from the sale of the truck back into the car savings fund so we’re nearly half way to paying cash for our next vehicle.

And, those power sliding doors really are amazing!

Rachel is a wife and mama of two boys. You’ll find her at Intentionally Simple where she blogs about choosing a life of simplicity. Her family lives minimally in a small home and lives debt free.

Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.

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How to Decorate a Small Bedroom on a Budget

by Crystal on May 13, 2013

Guest post from Kathy of The Budget Decorator

Decorating a small bedroom can be a challenge, especially when your budget is tight. Follow these five great ideas for visually expanding your bedroom space, without shrinking your pocketbook!

Matchy-Matchy

No one does matchy-match anymore. However, there is one place in a small bedroom where you might want to consider it.

Match the color and tone of the bedding to the wall to make your bedroom space seem larger. The bed and the wall are the largest areas of real estate in the room… match them in color and the eye will glide over them.

The fewer times the eye has to stop, the larger a room seems. Use a light and cool color selection, get even more space stretching bonus!

Roll Away

No, not a roll away bed. But adding rolling drawers for under bed storage allows you to have handy access to things you use on a regular basis, but keeps it all put away. Keeping things out of site and the clutter level down in your bedroom will make the whole room seem larger, not to mention neater!

Easy ways to create rolling storage on a dime? If your floor is carpeted, attach caster wheels from your hardware store to old dresser drawers, plastic bins, or even sturdy cardboard boxes. Be sure to measure the height of your container with the attached wheels so that it will fit underneath the bed.

Hardwood under your bed? Instead of risk scratching your floor with caster wheels, how about adding self stick felt to the bottom of your storage container? It will allow it to slide easily out from under the bed, and be gentle on the floor as well. Craft stores sell adhesive backed felt for a few cents.

Lighten Up

Is the furniture in your bedroom dark or in need of an update? Paint your dresser, nightstand and headboard a light, neutral color, and see the whole room open up!

Let the Sun Shine In

Make sure your windows allow the most possible light enter the room. A bright room seems airy and light, and is a must for a small bedroom. Hang curtains and blinds so that when open, they clear the window and don’t block any natural light.

Less is More

Make sure when decorating a small bedroom, you always remember “less is more”. Remove anything in the room that isn’t necessary. This might even include sliding the dresser into the closet, using floating shelves in place of nightstands, or making sure every shoe, every piece of clothing, every earring has its place!

Decorating a small bedroom on a budget doesn’t have to be an exercise in magical powers. You can’t make more square footage appear, but you can make the most of what you’ve got!

Want more small home decorating ideas? Visit Kathy at Decorating Your Small Space or The Budget Decorator.

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Does Your Stuff Stress or Bless?

by Crystal on May 11, 2013

Guest post by Carrie

This month on MoneySavingMom.com, we are encouraged to eliminate seven items daily. There were a large number of comments from readers who posted that “they are in.” It seems as though there is a completely different mindset lately… simplify and declutter.

I like to think of it as stress or bless.

While it doesn’t seem like much, seven items a day is a great way to get started. I read before that to quit or start a habit, it takes about three weeks. By the end of the month, we should have the habit of getting rid of things that we don’t need and can carry this forward throughout the year.

Here are a few ways I’m simplifying and moving things out of my house.

Magazine Subscriptions:

I’ve not renewed any of my magazines, and I had at least 10 subscriptions every month. Most were completely free due to MyCokeRewards or through free offers on blogs. I would always pass them along when I was finished or recycle, but it seemed like it was getting to be too much of a hassle. This was causing more stress than blessing me, so I have eliminated it.

Kid’s Clothing:

I also have an area in my closet for clothing that can be donated as soon as my youngest outgrows it. This eliminates the need to have piles every where and reminds me to keep the clothing under control. In fact, I’ve gone through my boys’ closets several times and weeded out clothes. How many pairs of pajamas do kids really need?

My Clothing:

I remember during my own pregnancies that I had a limited wardrobe. It didn’t require too much thinking to get dressed in the morning… black pants, khakis, skirts, or jeans. Less than a dozen tops and I was good to go.

I’ve been doing the same with my regular clothes. It is so nice to open the closet and see empty space. Can you bless yourself by simplifying your wardrobe, or by choosing items that can mix and match so you can eliminate clothing?

Miscellaneous:

I have purchased a large plastic hamper to keep under my kitchen island. It holds all the recycling and encourages us to get rid of papers, plastic, cans, etc.

I also am planning on taking items into work and putting out a free sign. I’ve done this before and my things always get picked up by somebody else. I like to bless people with the free things. Whether it is books, toys, jewelry or even extra garden produce, it is a great way to pass items along.

As I’m going through room by room, I continually ask myself… does this stress or bless me? This is a very simple way to declutter and I have no problem finding seven things to remove. I love having clean spaces and empty drawers.

I remember somebody mentioning that it could be difficult to have room in our heart for God, our family, and our other interests if we are not relaxed in our homes.

I hope readers have a great experience with the challenge this month.

Carrie is a divorced mom of five great boys in northwestern Pennsylvania.

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How to Save with Bulk Spices

by Crystal on May 06, 2013

Guest post from Kelly of KellyWiggains.com

I love trying new recipes and new flavors in my kitchen, but too often I have found myself in the spice aisle of the grocery store, debating if a $4 bottle of smoked paprika is worth the flavor for one dish.

Usually, I decide it’s not worth the price, and I use the standard paprika I already have at home. If you have a limited grocery budget like I do, I’m sure you can relate.

However, I recently discovered the bulk herbs and spices section in my local grocery store.

This section, located with the specialty and organic foods, has opened up a new world of variety in my kitchen. I simply choose an herb or spice, dispense the amount I need into a small plastic bag, weigh the package on the scale, and print out the price tag. Then, I typically do a little dance in the name of saving money!

Let’s look at the last trip I made to the store.

I purchased .220 lbs of garlic granules at $5.99 a pound. I paid $1.32. You might be thinking, “That’s more expensive than the $1 bottle of garlic powder.” However, I purchased 3.5 ounces of dehydrated garlic. The average bargain bottle from the dollar store only holds .8 ounces. Essentially, I purchased 4 dollar-store bottles worth of garlic for $1.32. 

Here are some advantages to buying spices in bulk:

1. Bulk Spices are Cheaper than the Bargain Spices

As I mentioned above, the herbs and spices in the bulk section are priced by the pound. At first glance, $5.99 for a pound of basil seems pricey until you actually weigh dried basil. It takes a lot of dried basil to make a pound. Half a bag cost me a whopping 11 cents.

2. Bulk Spices are More Economical

On my first trip to the bulk section, I purchased basil, rosemary, black pepper, garlic granules, cayenne pepper, and cumin. I spent right around $2 total for all of those spices. I could buy a wider variety of spices for less money because I only bought what I needed.

3. Bulk Spices are Fresh

I wish the internet people would just go ahead and invent smell-o-screen. Sadly, you’re just going to have to take my word for it. You can smell the difference in freshness.

I talked to an employee who said the store receives fresh spices at least once a week, replenishing their stock at a higher turnover rate than the spices in the baking aisle, where spices sit on the shelves for months with preservatives mixed in to keep them “fresh.”

4. Bulk Spices Provide Better Quality and Variety

Because bulk spices contain no additives, I can actually see the difference in quality. The colors and textures are richer than the bottled versions. I can also get a wider variety.

The dollar spice section offers only generic spices: black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, etc. From the bulk section, I can get a wide range of spices: curry powder, cumin, white pepper, smoked paprika, chipotle powder, etc. Yet, I still spend less than $1 for what I actually need.

5. Bulk Spices Allow You to Make Healthy Mixes

I love making up my own spice mixes for quick and easy dinners, like this taco seasoning mix from $5 Dollar Dinners and Ranch Dip mix from The Marathon Mom.

Buying spices in bulk allows me to have convenience items on hand that are healthy for my family as well as economical for my budget.

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As you start to stock up on bulk spices, here are a few things to consider.

Storage:

Once you start buying bulk spices, your spice cabinet will no longer contain tiny little bottles. Instead, you will have tiny little plastic bags to sort. You might consider keeping your empty spice bottles to refill with the bulk spice, purchasing some small plastic containers, or repurposing baby food jars to keep your spices contained.

Convenience:

Unless you only need one or two spices, I would suggest stocking up on spices without children in tow. I took all three of my kids with me the first time I bought spices from the bulk area, and they got restless. I also noticed a basket full of popular spices, already bagged, tagged, and ready to go, so you might check to see if your store does the same.

Check out the bulk foods section of your grocery store today and look for the spices!

Kelly Wiggains, a high school English teacher turned homeschooling mom, likes to surround herself with good literature, beautiful things, and big ideas, and she wants her home to reflect those things, too. She blogs at KellyWiggains.com, where she talks about everything From Literature to Living.

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Homemade Pet Shampoo

by Crystal on May 04, 2013

Guest post from Jacey of The Balanced Wife

I’m new to the world of pet ownership, and the expenses can add up quickly! So that’s why I was happy to discover one way for budget-conscious dog lovers to cut costs: make your own dog shampoo.

I have a golden retriever, and his fur, though beautiful, collects a significant amount of dirt. Dog shampoo costs $7-12 in stores, and the cheaper ones have more chemicals and potentially skin irritating ingredients.

You can make your own more natural shampoo in ten minutes with supplies you probably already have on hand.

Homemade Pet Shampoo

  • 1 cup liquid dish soap
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup glycerin
  • 4 cups water

Why apple cider vinegar?

My husband raised his eyebrows when I dumped in the vinegar, wondering if our dog would smell worse after the bath. In fact, once his fur is dry, apple cider vinegar deodorizes and shines his coat. It also repels fleas.

All lathered up.

Soap is an essential ingredient for obvious reasons. It helps loosen dirt and oil when you scrub. The more natural the soap, the better.

I use Seventh Generation Natural Dish Liquid Soap. On Amazon, it’s about the same price as Dawn, and other more chemically-laden products, especially if you have Amazon Prime or take advantage of the Free Super Saver shipping option. I already had this soap, and you can certainly use whatever you have on hand to avoid an extra expense.

Some online sources say you can skip the glycerin. The purpose of glycerin is to moisturize your dog’s skin naturally. I bought some because I knew this recipe would yield much more than a bottle of dog shampoo, so I still spent less even when splurging for the glycerin. (It was about $5 for 4 ounces at Whole Foods.)

The extra mile

For extra luxury and a sweet smell, try adding a couple drops of rosemary, lavender or other essential oil. Or, you can boil a few fresh rosemary stems. Let the water cool, and pour it over your pup for a fresh scent after bathing.

I’ve given our dog, Jack, three baths so far and we have quite a bit more shampoo left. One quick batch will help you keep your dog clean for months!

Jacey Verdicchio loves good books and deep conversations. You can find her on her blog, The Balanced Wife, where she pursues exceptional living and often falls short. She lives with her husband, Michael, and dog, Jack, in Charleston, SC.

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Do It Yourself: Personalized Alphabet Book

by Crystal on May 02, 2013

AndreaDekker.com shows you how to make a Personalized Alphabet Book for a child or grandchild.

Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.

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A Mother’s Day List

by Crystal on May 01, 2013


Guest post from Victoria of Snail Pace Transformations

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and as it gets closer and closer, the ads on TV are pushing purchases of jewelery, fine chocolates and store bought cards. And Pinterest is full of cute ideas of decorated flower pots and homemade cards.

Don’t get me wrong, I love chocolate (and I have yet to receive a homemade gift from my children that I did not love) but I think that sometimes we forget it’s the simple things that make the most memorable gifts.

I don’t remember the exact Mother’s day. I don’t remember even why I picked that Mother’s day to give this gift, but I have been forever touched by it’s impact.

That year I grabbed a dollar store card, and in it, I place a simple list written on plain paper. Little did I realize how much my mother would cherish that list. Perhaps if I did, I would have chosen nicer paper. Perhaps I would have used my best handwriting, but then again, I doubt that would have changed the cord it struck in my mother’s heart.

On the list, written with the ink of a inexpensive dollar store pen, were 10 things my mom held dear.

What were those 10 things? What was that list? Why did it touch my mother’s heart so?

The title read “10 Reasons Why I am Glad You Are My Mother”.

Each point I thought about, some were simple “I love your habit of backwards dinners” some were more deep “thanks for providing the best you could for me with what you had”.

My mom and me

Never was a thank you said, never was the list even mentioned until one year when my mom knew her time on earth was coming to an end. She said, “honey, the best Mother’s day gift you ever gave me was that list. In fact, I still have it an read it often”.

Words (not things) have lasting power.

This year, why don’t you include your own list of reasons why you love your mother with your gift or card ?

Victoria writes at Snail Pace Transformations with the mission of helping moms find the time and money they need to pursue their passions while still maintaing harmony in their homes. This Mother’s day you will find her eating ice-cream before dinner in memory of her mother.

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3 Tips to Build a Gift Stockpile

by Crystal on April 29, 2013

Guest post from Liz of Catholic Deals

My family gives lots of gifts.

My husband and I both come from big families, and we have also been blessed to be able to share in the life event celebrations of many friends — from bridal showers and weddings to baby showers and baptisms. Now that my children are school-age, they also are frequently invited to birthday parties, and we need teacher gifts as well.

We really enjoy blessing our friends and family with presents, but the cost of many gifts can quickly become a financial hardship. That’s where a gift stockpile comes in. Instead of purchasing gifts only when I have a specific event to attend, I buy a variety of gifts whenever I find them at good prices and store them until I need them.

Over the past few years I have refined my gift stockpiling system so that gifts take up only a small portion of our budget, yet we are still able to give appropriate and thoughtful gifts. Plus, I rarely have to run out and purchase a present before a party; I just choose and wrap something on hand!

If you want to build a gift stockpile of your own, here are three tips that I have learned over the years:

1. Purchase only items that are appropriate for your gift-giving needs.

Think about the events that you are likely to attend or people with whom you usually exchange gifts. That crystal vase may be 75% off and would be a perfect wedding gift, but if you haven’t attended a wedding in five years it will probably sit in the closet.

For several years I kept a plastic bin of baby clothes and gifts, since I attended so many baby showers and baptisms. However, now that my friends’ children and my own are older, I have mostly stopped purchasing baby items. With my oldest in school and attending frequent birthday parties, I instead started concentrating on looking for deals on toys.

2. Know your target prices and sale opportunities.

The point of building a gift stockpile is not only to have gifts on hand, but to be able to purchase them for much less than you would if you had to run out the day before a party. Therefore, you should know the best price range that you are able to find with some regularity and only purchase gifts when they hit that target price.

For birthday party gifts, I currently try to spend no more than $5 per gift. I know that if I watch the toy clearance at my local Walmart and Target I rarely have to spend more. I also know to watch clearance sales closely after major holidays, and I have learned the mark-down systems used by various local stores.

I almost completely fill my kids’ Christmas stockings and Easter baskets with items purchased after the holiday the previous year.

3. Limit your stockpile.

Even if you pay your target price for a gift, it doesn’t really save you money if you don’t use it for years, either because you have too many items or you can’t find what you have.

I have found that the easiest way for me to limit my gift stockpile is by space. I have one plastic bin for children’s gifts and one for adult gifts, plus a smaller under-the-bed bin for small stocking stuffer and Easter basket items for my own family. If these bins are filled, I avoid buying more items until I have space. I also clean out the bins every so often.

My personal limit for storing future gifts is about two years. If I buy something on clearance after a holiday, I assume I will use it the next year. If I don’t end up using it, I don’t mind hanging on to it for one more year. However, beyond that I strongly reassess whether I will ever use it, and I sell or donate items that I decide to purge.

My gift stockpile has been a blessing to our family and I hope to our friends and relatives as well. I hope that these tips help you bless your family with your own gift stockpiling system.

Liz McGuirk is a wife and mom living in Northern Virginia. She blogs at Catholic Deals, where she shares savings on Christian and Catholic books, media, religious articles, and much more.

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The Lessons are in the Waiting

by Crystal on April 27, 2013

Testimony from Tessa of TessaHardiman.com

For so long, things happened quickly for me. A quick acceptance into college. A “quick” courtship — I met my husband right out of high school, which was much sooner than most of my peers. I grew used to having things happen to me fast.

Then, I graduated college and began a job search. My long established trend of quick came to a close. After two complete years out of school, I have yet to find a permanent position in my field. The waiting period has been a tough teacher.

Here are a two things I have learned along the way:

1. You never know what you will discover.

Sometimes our passions are rediscovered in the waiting. I kept a diary on and off throughout my adolescence, but I became a more committed writer when I had to wait. I worked on and completed a full-length novel.

I wrote and had articles featured on huge blogs, including a few here on MoneySavingMom. I was able to work on my first ebook in between temporary employment periods. The waiting time enabled me to develop my creative side.

2. You can be better prepared for any future waiting periods.

I hope I never have to experience the sort of waiting that I’ve had to the past two years. After a few temporary assignments, my hopes would soar that perhaps my waiting was about to end. I would only end up disappointed and back in the same spot. The ups and downs from being employed and then back to unemployed nearly sent me into depression.

Am I thankful for that experience? Not at this moment! I do, however, hope that in the future I will be better prepared to deal with any difficult experiences with waiting.

Waiting is never fun. I like things to happen fast, but this has forced me to slow down. I understand the lessons that I’m learning, but I wish there was an easier way to learn them!

Tessa Hardiman is the author of Surviving and Thriving: 21 Tips for First Year Teachers, available now on Amazon. You can connect with her on her website, tessahardiman.com.

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How to Build a Child’s Wardrobe on a Budget

by Crystal on April 20, 2013

Guest post from Faith of Home Ec @ Home

It’s no secret that children outgrow their clothes quickly and need new clothes each season. This can get expensive. However, if you plan ahead you can save lots of money and build a quality wardrobe for your child at a fraction of the cost.

Buying New

Shop the Clearance Racks:

Shop at the end of a season for clearance items that your child can wear the following year. (Fall and spring are great buying seasons when retailers are clearing out merchandise.)

Buy the next size up and store them for later. I drive out to the local outlet mall a couple of times a year and stock up on end of season clothes, shoes, coats, hats, mittens, etc. for the kids.

Use Coupons:

Utilize extra discounts and coupons at your favorite stores. I buy quality name brand clothes for my boys, but I never pay full price. I buy good quality because the clothes have to last for multiple children.

Sign up for the email or mailing list at your favorite stores so that you can get extra discounts and coupons. I receive email and print mail coupons and discounts at these stores and am able to get additional discounts off already clearanced items.

Shop Online:

Online retailers also offer special discounts in addition to clearance prices. I only buy when I receive an email with an extra discount that I can apply to sale items and get free shipping. I shop past season reduced merchandise online too and stock up for the next year.

By using coupons and discounts, I am able to save an additional 20-50% off already reduced prices.

Buying Used

Another great option for outfitting children on a budget is buying used clothing. I buy a mix of new and used clothes for the boys.

I am very picky since the clothes are pre-owned. I am careful to check the clothing closely and make sure there are no stains, tears, fading, etc. I always check zippers and buttons to make sure they are functional too.

Kids Consignment:

Consignment shops offer the convenience and availability of a large selection, but can be a little pricier. My local store offers clothing at around $3.00 to $8.00 per item.

I pay less for new clothes than most of the clothes in consignment shops. If you have items you no longer need and consign them, you can use your store credit to shop.

Thrift Stores:

Thrift stores are more hit or miss in my opinion, but the prices are generally very good. If you like the challenge of searching to find those hidden gems, you can get some good deals on gently used clothing at thrift stores.

Stores in my area, price children’s clothing at $1.95 to $2.50 per item. I have found lots of great clothes for the boys at thrift stores.

Garage Sales:

I love garage sales and especially large sales hosted by churches or schools. The larger the sale, the more likely you are to find a large selection of great kids clothes.

I have found the best deals at yard sales on kids’ clothes. Usually items are $0.50 to a $1.00 and if you are purchasing several items, feel free to offer a smaller amount. More than likely, the seller will take your offer. If not, and you really want the items, you are still getting a good deal.

Thred Up:

ThredUp is an online used clothing site. Prices are higher than thrift stores or yard sales, but the clothes are in great condition and you have the convenience of shopping online.

They also offer special promotions and discounts from time to time. And you can order a bag from their site and send in your gently used clothes for shopping credit. I just sent in my first bag. It was super easy and shipped free from my UPS store.

Free Clothes

Hand-me-downs:

If you have family or friends with older children, you may be able to borrow or keep hand-me-downs.

Free Swap:

We have a friend who organizes a free swap every year. She invites everyone in the group to drop off any unwanted kids items the week before the swap. She cleans out her garage and sets it up like a garage sale.

Then we have a potluck kids swap and everyone gets to shop for free while the kids play. We have been blessed with toys, clothes, a stroller, and a Stokke chair from the Free swap and passed on a few things we didn’t need anymore.

Do you have any other tips to build a wardrobe on a budget? 

Faith Still is a former Home Economics teacher who stays home with her three beautiful boys and blogs at Home Ec @ Home.

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