How I Use My Dollar Store Finds
Many of us like going to a dollar store. Try these outside-the-box uses for the typical items found at a dollar store. Be creative and having fun!
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From The Dollar Stretcher Featured Content.
Valentine Link Love
I have many blogs that I read every day looking for great ideas that I can share with you, and even learn a few things myself. This last week there have been some great Valentine links that I thought I would share with you:
The Frugal Family Fun Blog has a cute idea to make scratch and sniff Valentine’s.
Little Birdie Secrets shares her tutorial to make Heart Strings.
If you have some of those cute heart buttons, you can make this adorable onesie called Wearing Your Heart on Your Chest.
Print these free Chuck E Cheese Valentine Cards (they are good for five free tokens per child)!
Skip To My Lou shares her tutorial on making a Ladybug Valentine.
Dollar Store Crafts has a cute Valentine lei that looks absolutely adorable!
What have you found around the Internet lately that is Valentine related? Is it something we would all enjoy? Email me the link! I would love to see it.
Continue reading Valentine Link Love …
From Econobusters.
Free Chore Charts & the Chore Store
Looking for some ideas for chore charts? Look no more!
The Daily Docket is my favorite free Mommy Chart, courtesy of Simple Mom. Well…my favorite is probably the Motivated Mom planner, but it’s not free. Cheap, but not free.
Chart Jungle has chore charts as well as some itemized room-by-room checklists.
Fun site to create a custom chart for your child.
Didn’t see anything you like? Use the ideas in these charts to create a customized chart of your own. I have my daughter make charts for her and her brothers to help her learn how to manipulate tables in Word.
Wondering what chores are appropriate for what ages? Here are some age appropriate chore suggestions. You’ll find more ideas here and here.
One thing I like to do with my kids is to give them a trip to the Chore Store when they’ve completed a predetermined number of good chore days. Chore Store dollars are awarded depending on how well they’ve done their chores for the week without being told. The Chore Store contains a variety of odds and ends that I’ve picked up from garage sales, the Dollar Store, clearance sales and such. I also throw in tickets for outings with Mom, a game night, etc. Different items have a different price attached. This is a fun motivator that also teaches budgeting and promotes delaying gratification as they work toward the larger prizes.
What about you? Do you have a favorite chore chart or checklist? How do you keep your kids (and yourself) motivated?
Continue reading Free Chore Charts & the Chore Store …
From Econobusters.
Cleaning up after Christmas
I made a few changes this year that will make the after-Christmas clean up easier. For one thing, I tried to use primarily ornaments and decor that can stick around into February and still look okay–things like these little snowmen tucked into the mug rack, and these angelic figures playing among plain white bottlebrush trees. They’re just more “winter” than “Christmas.”
As we were pulling out decor from storage this year, I just set aside stuff that I wasn’t crazy about, or that was inconvenient or awkward to deal with–like a lighted star we put up in a high window every year with suction cups, and every year it falls down at least once! All such items are going to Salvation Army. I have finally clued in that life’s too short to keep dealing with the same aggravations over and over! There are even a few things that I did put out (like the snowmen candleholders that I never did buy the pillar candles for) that are also going to a new happy home where they will be loved and appreciated more than they are here!
I tried a new gift wrap approach for several of our presents this year. I used plain white boxes of different shapes and sizes from the dollar store or retailers. For example, my dollar store sold packages of 3 white shirt-sized boxes for $1.00. Then I tied festive ribbon around the boxes, and attached simple tags. The boxes have been folded down flat again, and the ribbon rolled up to be used next year. They are going in a large flat box under the bed. The gift boxes can be used for birthdays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. and pretty soon we’ll have a “library” of ribbon for every type of event!
I had garland around the front door, and as much as I prefer the handy pre-lit garland, I couldn’t justify buying it when I still had decent looking fake garland, and lights that worked. This year I tied the lights and pinecone/ribbon trim to the garland, and will put it away all still tied together, so that next year it just needs to be pulled out of the box and hung, all together. I should have figured that out years ago!
As I put things away this year, I’m being VERY selective. If I don’t LOVE it, I’m not keeping it. I’ll admit to being sentimental–my favorites are things like the popsicle-stick reindeer head ornaments my kids made, and ornaments we have picked up as souvenirs on family trips (such great reminders of happy times when we pull these out each year–and they are such small easy-to-pack souvenirs to bring home from trips.) So those types of things (that may look cheezy to other people) will make it back in the box, but more generic Christmas-y stuff may not. I’d like to think I’m simplifying (rather than just getting lazy!)
What about you? Do you have any tips for cleaning up after Christmas?
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From Econobusters.
Last Minute Christmas Ideas
I have been collecting Christmas links for the last month and I have just a few left that I have not shared with you yet. I hope you enjoy these ladies who have worked hard putting these crafty posts together!
- Dollar Store Crafts is one of my very favorite websites. Everything they post about is very easy to make and inexpensive. Since this is the last week before Christmas, make a Christmas Candy Countdown. They also have a tutorial on making a cereal box advent calendar. This of course would have to be used next year–or you can use it to countdown something else, like a birthday or party day. Make a snowy Christmas Tree Skirt with the help of this tutorial from Dollar Store Crafts.
- The Hillbilly Housewife has a wonderful ABC’s of Giftgiving .pdf that you can download for free.
- If you need some last minute gift bows, you can use this tutorial to make them from old magazines!
- Have any old burlap laying around? Make these adorable word ornaments.
- Create these “Southern Snowballs” with just a little bit of nothing.
- Here is a post from The Shabby Nest on how to decorate a Christmas tree for less than $5.
- The Nesting Place has some great ideas on how to garnish your gifts.
- If you are running short on wrapping paper, make it festive, fun, and homemade.
- Here is a recipe for Christmas Citrus Punch. This looks delicious!
- Are you giving gift cards this year, but don’t want to spend the extra money for a gift card holder? Why not use a toilet paper roll and make these adorable homemade holders?
Merry CHRISTmas!
Continue reading Last Minute Christmas Ideas …
From Econobusters.
DetNews columnist shops at a dollar store
Brian J. O’Connor, columnist at the Detroit News, has a video clip of his Christmas shopping trip at a dollar store.
Brian has been writing the Save a Grand series in which he is cutting back on family budget category by category.
Continue reading DetNews columnist shops at a dollar store …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Frugal Gifting Ideas
I know I mentioned this awhile back, but I finally made mine up and thought I’d share a picture. They were much appreciated by those I delivered to. These large rolls of paper were $4.99 at Home Depot, but only $1.99 at Grocery Outlet. I made the tags with items I already had on hand, so was able to give a fun, simple gift for only $2. That’s hard to beat. The tag reads, “Hope you get all wrapped up in CHRISTmas!”
I have a strict “no gift” policy with another friend, however she is off work while recovering from a minor surgery and I thought she could use a good book. Even though it’s one I’ve already read, I used a bit of Dollar Store ribbon to make it seem special. Little touches often mean a lot.
Speaking of special touches, I recently received a yummy caramel torte as a gift from another friend. The treat came in this gorgeous little box. I’m going to trace it and see if I can make similar boxes of my own. I did find one site with fancy box templates, but not any like this. How about you? Do any of you make your own boxes? If so, where do you find the templates?
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From Econobusters.
Dollar Stores, Dollar Store, Dollar Store Shopping
What things can you safely buy in dollar stores? Some products are not money savers and can even be dangerous. Protect yourself with good information.
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From The Dollar Stretcher Featured Content.
Homemade Hot Cocoa
I don’t know about you, but when the weather turns cold like it has recently, we tend to drink a lot of hot chocolate. This can be a really huge expense if you have very many people in your family. Even buying the $1.00 box from your local grocery or dollar store can be a strain with large families.
I recently began making my own hot cocoa mix. It make a large storage bowl full and usually lasts us all winter long. Today, I thought I would share the recipe with you:
Hot Cocoa Mix
4 Cups Powder Milk
2 Cups White Sugar
3/4 cup Baking Cocoa
Pinch of Salt
Measure it all into a blender and blend it up for a 1 or 2 until it’s mixed really well and a fine powder. This is key because it helps it to blend into the water. Use as much mix as you like in your mug and then add hot water. It’s fun to stir it with a peppermint stick during the holidays.
You could also use this as a gift mix. Spend $1.00 at your local dollar store for a pack of 12 bakery bags. These bags are already Christmas decorated. Scoop in some of the hot cocoa mix, tie it up, and then add a gift tag with the directions on how to make this scrumptious cup of cocoa. OR, scour the garage sales and find coffee mugs that are being sold for .05 or .10 cents and use a small sandwich bag with cocoa and place in the mug along with a candy cane, then wrap with a bakery bag. Either way, this special homemade gift would be one worth giving to anyone!
What kind of homemade goodies do you give as Christmas gifts?
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From Econobusters.
Leftover Over Diaper Use
From: Rhonda
A gift idea: Disposable diapers never run “true to
size” for my son. Sure enough, he outgrew his size
2 diapers way before the weight limit printed on
the warehouse-sized box. Instead of tossing or
storing the open box, I made a diaper cake for a
baby shower. I bought plastic gift basket bags, a
serving plate, and doilies at the dollar store.
For decorations, I used small stuffed animals from
a play gym that my son never took to, and ribbon
to tie the design together. I actually had enough
supplies for two cakes!
Continue reading Leftover Over Diaper Use …