Lost a job? Serious About Saving Money?
Top Ideas for Saving You Bundles - Maybe Extreme, but sometimes extreme measures are needed.
1. Sell your Car. If you have a two car family, sell one. Save loads on car payment, insurance, repairs and upkeep. Walk, ride a bike, carpool or take public transportation where you need to go . Create a schedule and share the one vehicle. For occasional errands, you can join a car-share program or borrow from a friend or family member. Sell boats, campers or anything of that nature.
2. Get a Renter. Rent the guest room in your home. Free up a room by getting rid of the office/craft room or double up the kids. Renovate the garage or perhaps a large shed. Check out craigslist for free or very cheap building supplies, etc for the renovation. With a little money, work and some time you will have a room ready for rent.
3. Cut up Credit Cards. Keep one credit card for emergencies and define what is a true emergency. Think of all the savings with no interest and it will help put the brakes on unnecessary spending. No cash left, no more spending. Learn to budget and use the envelope method to pay bills. Cash your check, and allocate funds to each envelope for your bills, groceries and other necessities. Define what is truly necessary.
4. Downsize Home. Yes, sell your current home and buy one that is smaller. Less mortgages, less taxes, less insurance, and even less on utilities.
5. Frugal Shopping. Learn to shop with coupons, buy clothes and other truly necessary things at thrift stores, garage sales, craigslist, salvage and surplus stores.
6. Phone Service. Get rid of your cell phone and go back to land line. There are so many options available. If you truly feel you must have a cell phone, the use a prepaid and get rid of land line. You don't need both.
7. Internet. Get rid of your internet and opt to use the one at your local library. Again if you do feel this is a must then combine it with your phone service using skype or better yet, magic jack for your land line and forget the cell phone.
8. Cable. Get rid of your cable and use an antenna with converter if necessary. Google how to boost your antenna to get more channels in your area. If you have opted to keep internet, then use Hulu.com or Comtv.com for some of your favorite shows. Even Redbox or NetFlix is cheaper than cable for a movie treat.
9. Make Own Products. Google for recipes to make your own cleaning and beauty products. You can truly save bundles on those expensive everyday products. There are several recipes in this blog on the saving money page.
10. Cooking at Home. Stop eating out. It truly should be a special occasion and learn to cook more from scratch. Google dollar stretching meals that with left overs can be repurposed for another meal.
11. Grow a Garden. Whether its in a flower bed, containers or a small patch of your backyard; learn to grow some and eventually most of your own vegetables.
12. Raise Livestock. If you are lucky enough to live outside the city and have a small parcel of land, you can raise chickens or possibly other small animals.
13. Garage Sale. Get rid of everything you can. Especially those items you don't use. If you haven't used it within a years time...you don't need it.
14. Craigslist. Sell items you don't really need anymore. Sometimes certain items will bring a better price on Craigslist or Auction stuff off on ebay.
15. Utility Bills Lower your thermostat in the winter to 68 and raise it in the summer to 78. Wear extra clothing or less as the temperature permits to keep either cool or warm. If its possible to heat or cool just the room you are in, then do so. Use 110 window units, space heaters, or water fans as much as possible. Keep coils and filters clean. Learn ways to conserve water. Insulate and seal up cracks; there are frugal options available.
16. Increase You Auto Insurance Deductibles In just two months you can save an average of $100 by increasing the deductibles on comprehensive and collision coverage from $500 to $1,000, or even $2,500. This will reduce your monthly premium by roughly 15 percent. You'll want to drive more carefully during this period, of course..
These are just a few general ideas to get started. In the next few months, I will add specific ideas.
www.livingonadime.com A fantastic newsletter that has lots of great suggestions and some coupons too.
Please Note the Amazon Deals at the bottom of the page.
Looking for great deals on clothes? Check out these sites:
Click Here to Visit Ideeli.
Click Here to Visit Beyond The Rack
Click Here to Visit Haute Look
| 10 Ways to Utilize the Internet to Save Money | ||||||||
Submitted by: Kira @ Tip Hero 05/12/2010 10:12 AM | ||||||||
The internet is a great tool to use in your search for ways to save money, but you know that already because here you are at Tip Hero! Here are some ideas on how to save money by using the internet from Canadian Finance.
Websites that will directly save money. Craigslist (and its’ cousin, Freecycle) http://www.craigslist.org and http://www.freecycle.org Stuff can sometimes go very fast on there. Look for stuff that’s outrageously undervalued or free. Ebay http://www.ebay.com Great place to find bargains. PaperBackSwap http://wwwS.paperbackswap.com This has been my primary source of books for years. It’s simply online book swapping – mail out a book you’ve already read to someone who wants it and get a credit, then spend that credit to get a book from someone else. Get books in the mail for about $2 (the cost of sending out one of my old ones). Skype http://www.skype.com Skype allows you to use the internet as your telephone service, allowing you to call any number in the U.S., Canada, and a few other countries as well as have your own phone number for about $3 a month. FeedSifter http://feedsifter.com Allows you to set up automated searches of coupon sites for the things you actually want. RetailMeNot http://www.retailmenot.com Of course, sometimes – in a short-term pinch when you have an urgent need for something – such coupon sites can actually come in handy. You’re going there with a purpose and you just find what you need. DealCatcher http://www.dealcatcher.com/ Another time when a coupon site can be useful is when you go there for a specific purpose. Healthy Grocery List http://www.healthygrocerylist.com Hand in hand with a grocery store flyer, use this site to come up with a set of healthy recipes and a grocery list for those items.. Take the flyer, find some recipes using a few of the fresh ingredients on sale, then generate a grocery list. Gas Buddy http://gasbuddy.com/ Find the cheapest price on gas near you. YouTube http://www.youtube.com/ Use YouTube all the time for do-it-yourself projects. Watching videos can save you from hiring a repairman or botching something badly. BillShrink http://www.billshrink.com Shop for the best deals on purchases. Yard Sale Treasure Map http://www.yardsaletreasuremap.com Love going to garage sales. You can find some really great deals; this site makes it easy to find ones near you. Groupon - Groupon started in November 2008 as part of The Point, a platform for collective action. We started Groupon to make it easier for people to enjoy the great things in their community. We do it by offering daily deals at unbeatable prices through the power of group buying. Get $10 in Groupon Bucks for every friend you refer when they make their first purchase. Below are FAQ copied and pasted from their site. Click Link to Join: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1419265 What is Groupon?Each day, Groupon features an unbeatable deal on the best stuff to do, see, eat, and buy in your city. By promising businesses a minimum number of customers, we get discounts you won't find anywhere else. We call it "collective buying power!"Do I have to sign up a group of people I know to get the deal?Nope - our millions of members make up a big enough group. You'll probably want to invite people anyway, though — Groupons are fun to use with friends, grandparents, and men who wear monocles.I like today's deal - how do I get it?Just click "BUY" before the offer ends at midnight. If the minimum number of people sign up, we'll charge your card and send you a link to print your Groupon. If not enough people join, no one gets it (and you won't be charged), so invite your friends to make sure you get the deal!What happens if the Groupon doesn't reach its required minimum number of purchasers?If not enough people sign up, then the deal is canceled, and you won't be charged. Better luck next time! So if you really want the Groupon, be sure to either beg or threaten your friends.Do I need to use my Groupon the same day I buy it?No. Many Groupons have an expiration date, but you never have to use them on the date of purchase.I bought a Groupon - how do I use it?Once you're charged, you'll receive an email with a link to sign in and print your Groupon. The Groupon has redemption instructions and a map right on it!Can I buy a Groupon as a gift for someone else?Yes. We communicate with all the businesses that we work with that Groupons can be gifted, and unless the Fine Print specifically states otherwise, gift away! To have us send them the gift, select the gift option at checkout.Wait, my name is on the Groupon. Are you sure I can use this as a gift?Yes!If I don't use the full value of the Groupon in one visit, can I use the remainder later?No. Unless otherwise stated you do not receive store credit or cash back for whatever you don't use. Bring a friend - share a little!Can I combine my Groupon with other offers or specials?No... not unless the Groupon specifically states otherwise.Am I billed as soon as I join a Groupon?No - you are only charged if the Groupon reaches the required minimum.Is Groupon safe?Extremely. Your credit card number is transmitted by SSL directly to a secure electronic vault. At no time is your credit card information stored on our servers.Can I return a Groupon?Read this, and then if you want, give us a call: (877) 788-7858.What happens if my Groupon expires?All is not lost! Once a Groupon reaches its expiration date, it loses its promotional value, but you can still redeem it at the price you paid for the length of time stated by gift certificate laws in your state.Do you ever remove comments from the discussion board?Generally, no. We only remove comments when someone is making personal attacks or engaging in other conventional forms of trolling.What if the business for my Groupon closes down?If anything happens that makes it impossible for you to redeem your Groupon, we'll make sure you get your money back.How can I get my business on Groupon?Check out GrouponWorks for more information.I just sent a referral to my friend - now what?If your friend makes their first Groupon purchase within 72 hours from the time they click on the referral link you send them, we'll send you an email to tell you that we've put $10 worth of credits in your account.What if the person I refer subscribes to the site - any love for that?Of course! If someone you refers subscribes within 72 hours, you'll receive a $10 credit whenever they make their first purchase.Can I refer as many people as I want?Yes!I received referral codes from three people - do they all get rewarded?No, only the last code you click on before making your first purchase will generate a reward for the person who sent it to you. Which friend do you like best?Why do you only feature one deal a day? I want more Groupons!When you're looking for stuff to do, choice can be overwhelming. We focus on one great thing each day and offer it at an unbeatable price to make things simple for you. Hang out with Groupon for a week, and you'll find something that's impossible to refuse.One of your write-ups stated that "hummingbirds come from cocoons"... I'm not sure that's correct.Thank you for your suggestion, but it is correct.Where did you get the name "Groupon?"Groupon is a city in Switzerland where Goodyear tires are sold at heavily discounted rates.When will Groupon be in my city?Hopefully soon - we're growing fast. If you'd like to help us launch Groupon in your city, feel free to email us.Who are you guys?Groupon evolved out of The Point, a platform for organizing not only group discounts, but all forms of collective action. You can learn more about Groupon, and learn more about The Point.Click Link to Join: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu1419265 . Get Rid of Cable - Free or Cheap sites for Televison Entertainment Connect a computer (wireless laptop, or build a home theater PC for you living room at a cost of about $250), Wii or playstation to your current television and save money using: Hulu http://www.hulu.com Disconnect your cable entirely, saving us about $40-$150 a month. Many movies and some of the series can be found on Hulu for free. Netflix http://www.netflix.com For about $9 a month you can either stream movies to your television or receive DVDs through the mail. In fact, you are likely going to shrink your DVD collection because some of the disks are redundant with what’s available on Netflix. CASTTV.COM is a great website to watch almost any tv show for free, sometimes the streaming is an issue but if you are patient it is worth the wait. ABC, NBC, CBS Also if you are interested in watching a recent episode of a show go straight to the shows networks website ie. ABC, NBC, CBS, they are getting better and better about putting the newest episodes on their website, cable networks are quickly following. Redbox/Blockbuster Check out Redbox or the blockbuster box; both offer DVDs for $1 rentals. And last but not least: Antennas There is another great way to watch lots of free television that doesn’t even require internet access http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx (Build a Gray hoverman antenna and put a 20db amp on it and get several channels for less than the cost of a conventional antenna.Every thing you need to know about this is posted online. Save Money Making Your own Cleaning, Personal Care & Hygiene Products Homemade Foot Powder Recipes Recipe #1 1/4 cup boric acid powder 1/3 cup unscented talcum powder 1 TBS powdered alum Recipe #2 1/2 cup cornstarch 1/2 cup baking soda Peppermint Essential Oil (approx. 12-14 drops) Recipe #3 1/2 cup orris root powder* 16 drops tea tree oil 16 drops lavender essential oil Mix well, sift any lumps Store in a shakeable container (a clean dry old baby powder container or an old seasonings container). Sprinkle in shoes overnight for odor control, dump out excess powder before wearing. *Can substitute with baking soda Copied from Tip Hero Soaps and Body Washes Before you start making your homemade soap, be sure to be prepared! You can head here for some great preparation and safety tips from Soap Making Secret.
Ways To Save Energy When Air Conditioning Is A Must We've mentioned ways to keep cool without turning on your air conditioner, but when the summer temperatures start busting the 100 degree mark daily, or the humidity makes it feel like you're swimming through a world full of soup, sometimes it's a must. Stay cool with some of these energy saving tips!Although many can tough out the high temperatures and wear it like a badge of honor, some might not have the stamina, or have needs that require air conditioning. You might have elderly or small children that would benefit from it or rooms full of computer equipment that need a slight chill to work at their best... and that's ok. To help keep your bills and your energy consumption as low as possible, check out the 10 tips below: 1. Warmer At Night Is OK: During the night time hours you don't require the same level of conscious cool. Try turning your AC down (so it is running less) during your sleep hours or an hour or two before bed. 2. Use Window or Portable Units: If you aren't into cooling your whole home, try using a portable unit to cool just the area you'll be working in. They use up to 50% less energy than a larger central air unit would to cool off the same space. 3. Close Off Vents: The basement is traditionally the coolest room in the home, so try closing all the vents in the lower portion of your home. The cool air will slink down there naturally and by closing those vents, you're forcing all the air up top first, cooling as it comes down. 4. Service Your Unit: Some basic maintenance might be all your air conditioner needs, but most will greatly benefit from a good hosing out, especially if you're plagued with pesky trees like Cottonwoods that drop seeds which stick to the filters and make the unit work 15% harder! 5. Check Your Ducts: Making sure the areas where your ducts run through parts of your home without air conditioning (like the attic) are properly insulated will keep the air coming in as cool as it can be. Paying for half cool air isn't anyone's idea of money well spent! 6. Rearrange Your Furniture: Furniture that obstructs air conditioning vents means you could be cooling the back of a chair or the bottom side of your sofa and although it might appreciate the thought, we're pretty sure you'd rather have that chill instead. Although they make plastic pieces for your vents to help force air in the right direction, the easiest way is to just rearrange things for awhile! 7. Try 78 Degrees: 78 degrees is a good point for an air conditioner to run at its optimal performance level. Think of it as a car on cruise control headed across the flat Midwest prairie. It's not chugging along going up hill, and is just is plugging away, steady as she goes. Taking your temperature even 5 degrees lower can make your air conditioner use up to 40% more energy! 8. Lighting: Turning lights off can help reduce your heat, but paying attention to how much light you let in from open windows can also play a significant role. Although it might neurotic to open and close your windows everyday with the changing of the sun, it makes a huge difference in how much heat your bought air is competing against. 9. Is Anyone Home?: If you can, while you're away turn your AC up to 85 and make sure the windows and drapes are closed. Although it will be hot for a few minutes when you come home, the blinds will help keep out the sun out (allowing existing cool to stay that way for as long as possible) and the heat won't be so substantial that your unit will have to work overtime to cool things back off. 10. Don't Forget The Fan: We rely on air conditioners to keep things cool, but having the help of a few supplemental fans doesn't hurt. Using them to circulate the cool air means you don't need quite as much pumped into the room. They use less energy than your air conditioner unit, so having them around as backup is a great idea. Do you have another tip to add to the pile? Let us know below! (Image: Sarah Rae Trover) September 3, 2010 How To Make Your Own Organic Beauty Products Photo by Biji Kurian Despite my best frugalista efforts, I haven't been able to purge the urge to splurge on beauty products. Naming no names, but there's one organic line of make-up, hair and skin products that has me thoroughly hypnotized. Not to say the stuff doesn't work, but it's very expensive, which offends my frugal nature. So I've turned over a new leaf and begun making my own all-natural beauty products. Since I always keep track of my expenses, it was easy to compare how much extra I paid for the salon products as opposed to homemade. Turned out those pretty green bottles and attendant advertising were cutting a bigger hole in my pocket than I realized. True to my nature, I now stuff my DIY makings into the green glass bottles -- around which I'd designed my entire bathroom -- and pocket the extra cash. Of course, you still need the basic organic ingredients, but you can stay on the frugal path and grab hard-to-find oils with aromatherapy free shipping coupons. Here are my top 12 recipes to help get you started on making your own all-natural beauty supplies. 1. Baking Soda and Vinegar Shampoo I found this basic mixture in my mother's recipe box, then updated it with a quick Google search. Your hair will feel a bit dry for the first two weeks, then greatly improve and shine like mad. 1. Mix 1/2-cup baking soda and 3 cups warm water. 2. Use a small amount to wash hair as you would with shampoo. 3. Rinse with 1/2-cup apple cider vinegar. 4. Hair will fizz and pop a bit but won't create suds. 5. Rinse thoroughly and dry as normal. 2. Lemon Delight As teenagers in the late 1960s, we used to rub lemon juice into our heads and sit in the sun. The lemon made our hair softer and shinier while also smelling great. More important to us, the sun made blondes blonder and brought out a touch of red in brunettes. Commercial hair manufacturers saw dollar signs in this trend and so was born an industry, starting with the "Sun In" hair product. Here's how you can replicate our home-made conditioner, with a few modern refinements. 1. Combine: • 1/4-cup plain yogurt • 1 egg yolk • 2 pinches of lemon rinds • 1 teaspoon lemon juice 2. Before washing your hair, massage the mixture gently but thoroughly from the roots out. Let sit for one minute. 3. Shampoo and rinse thoroughly. 4. If you want a lightening affect, sit in the sun for a few minutes before shampooing. 3. Soapwort Cleansing Cream Just as the name implies, the crushed leaves or roots of the soapwort plant have been used to make body soaps, shampoo and delicate fabric cleansers since the days of DaVinci. The thing is, it doesn't actually make bars of soap. You might call it the original Old Spice Body Wash. You can order dried soapwort leaves and flowers through your local coop or grow your own plant. To make the cleansing cream: 1. Bring 1 cup distilled water to a boil and lower heat. 2. Simmer 1/2-cup fresh or 1/4-cup dry soapwort leaves and flowers on medium-low for 10 minutes. 3. Strain and cool. 4. For dry skin, whip in 1 egg yolk. 5. For oily skin, whip in 1 egg white. 6. Slowly blend in 1/2-cup of mashed avocado, strawberry or peach. 4. Foot Exfoliant We tend to assume callused feet can endure more. While this may be true if you walk on coals daily, smooth feet are happier feet. Give yourself a full pedicure (toe polish isn't necessary) before your next vacation, hike or museum visit. You'll find your feet will last much longer, particularly if you rub them down afterward with an all-natural lotion containing eucalyptus oil. This recipe may sound like you're making cookies but, as long as you don't stick your feet in the oven, your hands will come out looking and feeling like they did when you were a tweenager. Make sure you have an old towel on hand as this mixture gets pretty goopy. (This exfoliant is also good for hands.) 1. Peel an avocado and mash one-fourth into a bowl. 2. Add: • 1 egg white • 2 tablespoons oatmeal (instant or slow-cook, it doesn't matter) • 1 teaspoon lemon juice 3. Mix thoroughly and apply. (You may want to do your hands and feet at separate times.) 4. Let sit for 20 minutes. 5. Rinse thoroughly in warm water and pat dry with a clean towel. 6. Hold your hands to the light and elegantly stroke them as they glisten. 5. Foot Bath I'm all about bare feet in the summer, so a soothing foot bath is perfect to finish off my feet after exfoliating. Although my hairdresser treats me to a free soak during a hair coloring (just covering up the teeniest bit of grey), it's a long time between appointments. This recipe is simple and the soak stays exquisite if you occasionally add fresh warm water throughout. 1. In a rectangular dishwashing tub, combine: • 1 cup lemon juice (bottled or fresh) • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1/4-cup milk • Water to cover the top of your feet 2. I like to add three to four drops of eucalyptus or lavender oil to energize my feet, but it's not necessary. 3. Soak for 15 minutes while reading a totally superfluous magazine. 4. Repeat once a week until your feet stop tearing holes in the bedsheets. 6. Eucalyptus Lotion Why do I keep mentioning eucalyptus, despite how difficult it is to type? Because this essential oil is stimulating, cooling and penetrating. It contains strong antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antiviral compounds. In a word, it's maaaaarvelous for what ails you and smells divine. Follow these directions for a lotion that will stimulate your feet. Since I live in an arid climate, I also find adding a few drops to my bath oil in winter keeps my skin super soft. 1. Sterilize a glass bottle, preferably a dark bottle to keep out light. 2. Using a small funnel, pour in: • 1 tablespoon almond oil • 1 teaspoon avocado oil • 1 teaspoon wheat-germ oil • 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil 3. Tightly fasten the lid. 4. Shake vigorously until oils are thoroughly combined. 5. Store in a cool, dark place. 6. Shake well before using. 7. Add a few drops of this mix to vitamin E lotion for a less oily feel. 7. Egg Face Masks This one is so simple it'll leave you with egg on your face, literally. (Sorry. I couldn't resist.) Next time you're whipping up a recipe calling for egg yolks, rub the remaining whites on your face and wash off when it hardens or you've finished cooking -- whichever comes first. 8. Avocado Face Mask Avocado face masks were hugely popular when avocado-colored kitchen appliances were all the rage. (That's the 1970s, for you kids.) But everything old is new again at some point, and guacamole on the face still works as a cheap and effective face mask. Just mash up enough of the green stuff to make you look like Shrek, leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and rinse off with warm water. It's that easy. 9. Apple Cider Face Toner After you've washed off the face mask it's time to close up the pours. Apple-cider vinegar will make your skin glow by restoring it's natural acidic balance. The honey purifies you skin while the glycerin soothes and moisturizes. Because of the acid in the vinegar, you'll want to wear sunscreen daily for a week after applying this toner. 1. Add chamomile tea to 1/2-cup filtered, boiling water. 2. Stir in 1 tablespoon honey and 1/2 teaspoon vitamin C powder. 3. Add 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin and stir well. Let cool. 4. Soak cotton ball in mixture. 5. Wipe your entire face with the toner every night. 6. Store remaining mixture in a cool, dark place. 10. Apricot Ambrosia Cream Creams are tricky as you need an emulsifier -- the easiest to work with is beeswax -- which you must melt into an oil at low temperature. For that reason I've chosen a simple recipe to get you started. I bought a cheap, second-hand pot and use it exclusively for heating up beauty products. 1. Over a low heat, combine 1 ounce each grape seed and apricot kernel oils. 2. Melt in 2 tablespoons beeswax. 3. Remove from heat and cool for several minutes. 4. Stir in: • one drop rosemary extract • 3 ounces aloe vera • 3 ounces honey chamomile tea 5. Blend with a beater on medium for one minute. 6. Cool further and beat for another two minutes. 7. Repeat until mixture reaches a perfect consistency. 8. Cover and let sit for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes with a wood spoon or rubber spatula to remove all air. 9. When lotion reaches room temperature, pour it into a sterilized, glass container. This recipe yields six ounces or one bottle. You might want to double or triple it, since you're going to all this trouble. 11. Baby Powder While I have no little ones at home, I love the smell and texture of baby powder. Plus, there are a lot more uses for the stuff than drying out a baby's bottom. It a summer soother for everything from armpits to feet. Sprinkle it in tennis shoes, suitcases and other stinky stuff to reduce odors and dry up wet spots. Then, of course, there are always those wet babies' bottoms. Use a large bowl and wooden spoon to make your own organic baby powder. Or you can use the traditional mortar and pestle. 1. Mix together 1 tablespoon each of dried chamomile and lavender. 2. Grind into a fine powder. 3. Mix in 1 cup arrowroot powder. 4. Grind again. 5. Pour into a sterilized shaker container. (You can use an old baby-powder container.) If your baby has chronic diaper rash, apply a mixture of 2 tablespoons arrowroot and 1 tablespoon zinc oxide powder. 12. 30 SPF Sunscreen I live in Colorado, where sunscreen isn't an afterthought, it's a religion. The only problem is that the average ingredient in a commercial sunscreen has 16 syllables. It may block the sun but I just know it's changing my DNA to NDA (aka gibberish.) Here's a small sample: Avobenzone, Parsol 1789, Dioxybenzone, Ecamsule, Menthyl Anthranilate, Meradimate, Oxybenzone (benzophenone, benzophenone-3), Sulisobenzone. Okay. Maybe not 16 syllables. But it's still gibberish. This recipe won't change the ladder structure of your DNA, won't make your eyes bleed and smells delicious. Remember, however, that sunscreen can only protect you to a certain point. Apply it repeatedly, cover up and keep in mind sun is good in moderation. (Spoken like a nearly native Coloradan.) This recipe makes about 10 ounces. 1. Boil 3 ounces distilled water. 2. Remove from heat and add a pinch each of potassium sorbate and cinnamon. 3. Add an all-natural, raspberry green tea bag and let steep. 4. In a separate pan bring 3 ounces coconut oil and 1/8 teaspoon red raspberry seed oil to a light simmer. 5. Add 3 tablespoons shredded beeswax until melted. 6. Remove from heat. 7. Squeeze out tea bag and stir 1/2-cup aloe vera juice or gel into the tea. 8. Slowly add 2 tablespoons zinc oxide as the tea mixture cools and continue stirring. 9. Pour tea, aloe and zinc mixture into a glass bowl and blend with mixer on low setting. 10. Slowly add oil and wax mixture and blend for 1 or 2 minutes. 11. Add 3 to 4 drops geranium essential oil. 12. Continue blending. 13. Add 5 to 10 drops vanilla essential oil. 14. Blend for the last time. 15. Place in small, sterilized containers and store in refrigerator. |
According to 
To form new, frugal habits, develop an awareness about all the small
actions you do every day.
Explore new ways to do things...seek the minimum level. Scale down
step by step until the process does not work satisfactorily for your
standards. Then bump it up one level.
When you wash dishes, do you always fill the sink to the top? If
you're doing a small number of dishes - a sink half full of water may
suffice.
Do you always put a two-second squirt of dishwashing liquid in the
water? See if a one-second squirt will work.
When you wash laundry, do you always put the recommended amount of
detergent in each load? Often a half scoop will work as well.
Do you use an inch of toothpaste because a brush has inch-long rows
of bristles and every toothpaste advertisement you've ever seen
protrays a neat, full, bristle-length swath? Experiment to see if a
1/2 inch of toothpaste works as well.
When you shampoo, do you experiment to find the least amount that
will work?
If you blow-dry your hair, are there days when air drying would be
suitable?
Do you need the full makeup regimen every day?
In baking you can try using less sugar, eggs and oil. Find the point
where you notice a significant taste difference, and then increase
the sugar, eggs, or oil slightly.
When you eat and drink, do you always fill plates and cups full?
Maybe a partial cup of coffee or a smaller portion would satisfy you
as much.
Do you always buy brand-name foods because your one experiement with
store brands was unsatisfactory?
Could your heat thermostat be set lower?
How high is your hot water heater set?
Could any of your lights be a lower wattage, especially in hallways?
How many gifts do you give for birthdays? Would fewer be as
satisfying?
When you establish your budget, do you always spend the allowed
amount, or do you try to spend less on the areas of your budget that
are flexible?
When you seek the minimum level you may be breaking old habits. Give
yourself time to get used to the new lower level. It may take a few
months to adjust so that the change feels comfortble. And at that
point try the experiment again.