Spring Bouquets: Get Them Cheap, Keep Them Longer

'Tis the season to bring those spring flowers inside to enjoy! If you don't have any of your own growing, you might be able to beg a few from someone who does, or finding some in a dumpster, but barring those things, go to the flower shop at your grocery store. Flowers and plants are much cheaper there than anywhere else.

Choose carefully so your bouquet will last as long as possible. Look at the flowers closely and get the freshest you can find and get the longest stems there are. Getting longer stems makes it possible make fresh cuts to allow the stems to take up more water and of course, the freshest blossoms will stay fresh longer.

When you get them home, immediately put them in water to wait until you have found your vase and whatever else you need. Use a solution of 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of vinegar and a quart of tepid water. Make sure the sugar is dissolved, then trim the flowers and arrange in your vase.

Start Indoor Seedlings Cheaper

My south windows (well, all windows in this house) have very narrow ledges, so it's difficult to use them for anything. Earlier this year, I decided to sprout some sunflowers and found that I could use very small square containers set on a styrofoam meat tray, balanced on the narrow ledge. The pots get sunlight all day long and the sprouts grew well.

Silly me. I finally decided to use that method to start some seedlings for the garden. i am experimenting now and if it works, I will save a little on the electricity it takes to run a second grow light.

Yesterday, I planted 8 radishes, a pinch of marigold seed and a few onion seeds that might be too old to sprout. I am saving the good seed for a little later.

After Christmas

I always get a rush of ambition after Christmas. Maybe it's the new "stuff" or taking down the tree and decorations (and realizing just how dusty they got!), or maybe it's the very slightly longer days that call to my soul, but I always want to clean out cabinets and closets and organize things and repair things and do things like paint and get new curtains.

Of course, I don't actually do it all, but I want to.

Today, I got the last of the dirty pots and pans washed, and peeled the scotch tape from the floor. I located a lost bowling pin and a stocking, among other things. Just things that needed to be done and all the while, my mind was on sorting through a box of used wrapping paper to see what could be salvaged and wondering if some of the ribbon could be ironed.

I need to check last year's tax forms to find the medical payments that I think the hospital is trying to bill me for again, the pile of mending on the sewing machine has my attention and I really want to upend the old red chair to see what's the problem with it.

My list grows and the New Year looms. I'm not sure what my New Year's resolution should be. Maybe to be more content?

Frugal Gifts for Kids

Still need a few gifts for the kids? From stocking stuffers to "big" gifts, saving money while making the little ones happy is a challenge. Here are a few ideas to help:

If you have elastic thread, thread some pretty buttons or beads if you have them, for a necklace and/or bracelet for a little girl.

Boxes, boxes, boxes... all kids love boxes. To make them gift-worthy, cover them with cloth or paint. Be sure you start with something sturdy. If you can come up with some sizes that nest, so much the better. Make designs on them if you're crafty and put some homemade cookies in one.

Got wood blocks from a building project? They don't have to be painted or have numbers or letters on them for the kids to have fun with them. Do sand down the rough or splintered areas.

Art sets don't have to be fancy or from a store. Paper? How about that packing paper? Iron it and cut to size. You probably have a new pencil or two around. Pick up some dollar store crayons and plastic scissors and add a few stickers. Done.

More here:

Quick and Frugal Gifts for Kids

Frugal Food Gifts

Large tins of gourmet popcorn and small tins of special (or not so special) cookies, fancy wrapped cheese logs and pretty containers of candies seem to be popular Christmas gifts. You can really spend a ton of money on them, though! Just go to a search engine and type in "food gifts" and you'll see what I mean.
Ouch. Talk about breaking the budget! How about if we do it ourselves and make food gifts just as special, or even more special, in our own kitchens for much less?
We can present our own food gifts just as nicely as any catalog, and homemade can taste much better, too.
A homemade food gift should be dressed up to present itself as something very unique. Look at the "higher quality" food gifts and mimic their presentation. Ribbons, elegant colors and decorated boxes make you feel as if you're the recipient of something really special.
To present your own food gifts, choose a theme - wrap a loaf of homemade bread in a piece of rough linen cloth and tie with a string, or cover a wax wrapped cheese log along with homemade crackers in a silk scarf and complete the effect with gold ribbon.
Wrap a cheese food box, or empty oatmeal container or anything similar, in wrapping paper inside and out and present your food gift in that.
Wrap individual candy pieces in foil or plastic wrap and put them in a unique container - teacup, dessert bowl, wine glass, flower vase, small serving dish, cloth bag or toy truck - use your imagination to suit the recipient.
Present fancy nuts the same way.
If you're giving cookies, line the container with tissue and fold a piece over every other cookie. Put a simple gift card inside the container, too.

Almost a Half Dozen Pages to Help With a Frugal Christmas

Places to help you save money through the holiday season

39 Frugal Tips for Saving Money at Christmas

10 Tips to Save on Christmas Gifts

Frugal Christmas: Decorating


Have a Merry Frugal Christmas

Frugal Holiday Entertaining

Happy Frugal Thanksgiving!

Got the turkey that was on sale and the fresh pumpkin you froze from Halloween? You're all set for a frugal Thanksgiving. Holidays seem to decree that we spend more money than ever, but it doesn't have to be that way. A frugal mindset can make even the most extensive meal cost mere pennies per dish.

Turkey is the most frugal meat when it's on sale right before Thanksgiving. If you can, grab an extra one or maybe two for later in the year. Turkey sandwiches taste good any time of year!

Don't let the other special sales get past you, either. Things like flour and sugar, olives and cranberry sauce can sometimes be found for a good price. Grab them, especially if you're going to need them for Christmas anyway.

Frugal shopping is more critical than ever in this economy, so don't let Thanksgiving sales slip past you without taking advantage of them.

Ways to Make Extra Money for the Holidays

With the holidays upon us yet again, and the economy still not so good, it may be time to look for ways to make some extra money. The Buck List is an awesome resource when it comes to doing that! I have used it myself to nudge my brain into finding ways to create extra income.

Another great list, not so much about where and how to make money as it is about how to make... well, look for yourself: Seth Godin

And I had to chime in: How to Make Money Without a Job

All of these posts aside, why not try your hand at baking Christmas cookies to sell, cleaning a house for a holiday party (either before or after!) or catering or just serving at a party?

There must be a jillion ways to make holiday cash. We just have to get our heads to working, then do it!

How to Make Apple Tea

If you eat apples in any form, you have probably thrown away some apple peel. Even if you eat the peeling, as you should, there is a little left over at the top and bottom of the core, and if you make apple pie from fresh apples, well... there are the peelings.

Keep them. Put them in a plastic bag in the freezer until you have enough, then make apple tea.

How much is "enough"? About a cup of apple peel will make a cup of tea.

Why should you go to the trouble of making tea from apple peeling? It's detoxifying and it tastes really good. You can drink it iced or hot, it's safe for kids, it's all around healthy for anyone, and it's free.

How do you make it? I thought you'd never ask.

Put the cup (or however much you want to make) of apple peel in a jar or glass pitcher and add one cup of water. Put the container in the oven and heat it to the lowest temperature, around 150 - 175. You can also just set it in the sun for awhile if it's not freezing outside - any way to warm it. Stir it once or twice while it's warming, then after it's warmed completely, set it on the counter and let it cool. Strain the peels out and add a few (very few) grains of salt to help bring out the flavor. Add sweetener at this point if you want it, then all you have to do is decide whether to add ice or heat it up to drink.

(Frugal note: Make apple peel tea when you're baking and take advantage of your stove's oven vent, usually a back burner. You might want to use a stainless steel container, just in case, if you put it on a burner.)

image source morguefile.com

Frugal Homemade Dormant Spray for Fruit Trees

If you have fruit trees, you know what a pain it can be to keep the fruit bug free. Dormant oil spray is expensive, but often has to be used. Here is a homemade Dormant spray that doesn't contain oil of any kind, but it's effective:

A gallon of water
2 TBS baking soda
5 TBS hydrogen peroxide
2 TBS liquid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's)

Mix it all together and spray your fruit trees or bushes after they've gone dormant this fall and again in the spring before they wake up.

Image is my own; the apple is from my first apple harvest, noted here:  The relativity of an apple harvest