Baby cribs = high demand, short supply
If you’ve ever attended a meeting or program at First Presbyterian Church in Monroe, Mich., you’ve seen the signs and stacks of bedding and furniture to promote the “Now I Lay Me Down” ministry. The program provides cribs, beds and bedding to needy families. But the requests for the littlest ones are outstripping demand. Today’s [...]
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From Monroe on a Budget.
Emery Cat – Cat Scratching Toy
Emery Cat – Cat Scratching Toy
If you have cats, you know how they love to scratch on things… and usually it’s your furniture or the walls! With Emery Cat, your pet cat can scratch and scratch, and actually groom groom the claws as she scratches on it. They have a great offer going right now… [...]
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From Frugal Simplicity.
Emery Cat – Cat Scratching Toy
Emery Cat – Cat Scratching Toy
If you have cats, you know how they love to scratch on things… and usually it’s your furniture or the walls! With Emery Cat, your pet cat can scratch and scratch, and actually groom groom the claws as she scratches on it. They have a great offer going right now… [...]
Continue reading Emery Cat – Cat Scratching Toy …
From Frugal Simplicity.
Emery Cat – Cat Scratching Toy
Emery Cat – Cat Scratching Toy
If you have cats, you know how they love to scratch on things… and usually it’s your furniture or the walls! With Emery Cat, your pet cat can scratch and scratch, and actually groom groom the claws as she scratches on it. They have a great offer going right now… [...]
Continue reading Emery Cat – Cat Scratching Toy …
From Frugal Simplicity.
Spring Cleaning One Room At A Time – Dining Room – Tidy Tuesday
Last week we got going with our spring cleaning job. We’re tackling this by cleaning one room at a time.
We started by cleaning the bedrooms. Click on here to review how we tackled cleaning the bedrooms, then come back and see how we’re going to spruce up the dining room.
The reason we’re spring cleaning this year one-room-at-a-time is because living in a house during spring cleaning time is a little easier when only one room is disrupted.
We have decided to split the house into five sections (bedrooms, dining room, living room, bathrooms, kitchen) and cover one room each week on Tidy Tuesday.
Let’s look at a simple room-at-a-time plan for the dining room.
Just like the bedroom, you begin by dusting from top to bottom. If you begin with the window and door frames, the doors themselves, and any trim along the ceiling, you’ll get the dust knocked down where you can vacuum it up.
Windows in your dining room would also be washed at this point, once the trim around the window is dusted and wiped down. Also, if you have any window treatments, it’s time to take them down and air them out, or wash them as necessary.
If your dining room lighting fixture is large or complicated, or requires special attention, tackle that next. Then continue your dusting (I prefer a microfiber cloth) of the buffet, side tables, main tables, and any decorations and centerpieces you may have.
If you have a buffet filled with dishes, you may want to remove those at this time and put them in the kitchen to be washed.
You are now ready to vacuum and mop. If you are able, move any furniture such as the buffet away from the wall so you can vacuum next to the floor boards and wipe the floor boards as well. If you can’t move the buffet, use your extension tools to vacuum under the buffet and get as close to the wall as possible.
Continue vacuuming and mopping the floor as necessary.
Re-hang your draperies or other window treatments at this time.
It’s a good time now to give your table and buffet any special treatment it needs, such as oiling or waxing. Take care to include the chairs in this treatment.
Now, bring in your washed dishes and put them back where they belong and replace any other knick-knacks you may have removed while you were cleaning.
If you find you have more time and lots of energy, now is a good time to clean out the buffet drawers or shelves and wash any linens stored. Washing or polishing any special service pieces would complete your task.
The dining room is often the easiest room to spring clean. It can also be the most rewarding as you wash and polish some of your favorite dinnerware, keepsakes, and decorations. Take your time and enjoy.
See you next week when we spring clean the living room.
p.s. Click on and get even more Spring Cleaning Tips for Mom to get your whole house clean – one room at a time.
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From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Pollen Pollen Everywhere – Tidy Tuesday
In our neck-of-the-woods this time of year is what I refer to as “pollen season.” It’s not fully spring yet – we may still get a cold day or two. But, it’s warm enough to open the windows occasionally, which is always a tough call – pollen and open windows don’t mix.
This Tidy Tuesday post will be short and sweet. There’s not much we can do to stop the pollen. Unfortunately. However, when it starts to accumulate on everything, there are ways to combat it.
First, as I mentioned, leave the windows closed, especially during the day. Pollen actually isn’t in the air as much later at night. So, if you need that little boost that an open window brings in the beginning of spring, go ahead and open a window, but do it later at night.
You’ve probably noticed that sweeping doesn’t work on pollen. The stuff just gets airborne, only to settle once again on everything. Use a good dust mop on your floors. Spray your dust mop with a tiny amount of furniture spray to attract the tiny pollen particles. Follow up with a damp mop and clear water to get the rest of the pollen up.
Forget the feather duster! If you have little knick-knacks and pictures sitting around, take them down and use a cleaning cloth that’s made to attract dust particles. You can also use a very slightly dampened cloth to scoop up the pollen on your things around the house.
Your windows and screens might be covered with pollen right now. At this point, it may be wise to remove the screens and leave the windows closed. If you are going in and out of a patio door by opening and shutting the screen, the pollen is getting shaken off and landing in your house. Remove the screens and set them aside for washing when the pollen dies down. Plan a window cleaning day after you see the last of the pollen in the air.
Vacuum your furniture, drapes, and carpets often. You’ll be amazed at just how much pollen accumulates in upholstery and carpeting. Every time you sit down or walk across the carpet, those tiny particles get airborne once again and land all over. And, if you’re sensitive or allergic to pollen, you know how that makes you feel! Vacuum it up often and don’t forget to change or empty your vacuum cleaner bag or filter.
And, speaking of filters, change your furnace filter more often. You may still be heating your house at night, or you may be running the air conditioner during the heat of the day. Either way, that pollen is getting sucked into the filter on your furnace. Swap it out for a new one several times during the pollen season and you’ll have less mess to contend with – and you’ll breathe easier, too!
If you have tables and chairs outside you’ll want to keep those washed off, as well. Even if you’re not using your table and chairs now, when piles of pollen accumulate on these surfaces, it just takes a little breeze to get them flying right into your house. Take a wet rag or paper towel and remove as much pollen as possible. If the pollen gets rinsed down the drain or thrown in the trash, that’s less pollen that ends up on your floors and furniture.
Most of this is simple, common sense cleaning. But, when it comes to pollen, many of us just panic when we see that awful stuff blowing around and settling everywhere. We know it will end up all over, inside and outside, making everything look terrible, and making us feel yucky.
The best tip I can give is try to keep your house closed up tight for the duration. Wash down your outside steps, chairs, benches, tables, railings, and anything else where pollen will cling and catch a ride inside.
Luckily, for the most part, “pollen season” is a short season. Just plan your spring cleaning after the worst of it is over and you’ll be just fine. For me, I see a yellow haze settling on everything outside, so I’d better get busy!
p.s. Once the pollen season is over, you’ll be anxious to get everything sparkling clean again. Check out even more Spring Cleaning Tips For Mom and enjoy a pollen-free home, inside and out!
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From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.
Our Yard Sale
Ok, What I am about to say is going shock the frugal living life out of everyone but here goes…..
I AM NEVER HAVING ANOTHER YARD SALE!!!!!! Ok, there, I said it so in the future when I get this bright idea to have a yard sale again Mike and Mom have it in writing and the entire world can know too! 
I know we were talking about how to have the best yard sale and how to find yard sale bargins but I’m not doing it again unless Mike is dead or disabled and we are just desperate for money.
Why?
Well, we made $450. Sounds great but Mike had to take off 3 days of work to help us set up and run it. (remember we are self-employed and don’t get paid vacation) Then mom and I worked so hard and were so sick we could barely stand up. By the end of the night we were so tired it was all we could do to just flop in bed.
Then, of all the money we made most of it was on big furniture that I could have just sold on craigslist. We made $25 on the “small” stuff that took the most time to price and set up. I could have taken it all to the Goodwill and “made” more money by getting a tax credit.
Then we had HORRID winds the 2nd day and everything was blowing everywhere and a huge mess. (remember we live on a dirt road. Visions of the dust bowl were dancing in my head. )
So it was a huge mess. I would say that unless you just have nothing better to do or you really need the money really consider if it’s worth the time and energy to have a yard sale. You might be better off just taking it to Goodwill and selling it on Craigslist. Tawra
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From Living On A Dime Blog » Living On A Dime Blog.
Find contentment with what you have
photo by Muffet
Frugal people sometimes feel discontentment. There are times you might compare yourself to others and feel a twinge of envy. Some people are fortunate and can think about themselves in a confident way and let things go that are draining them. For other people, it takes making something happen or a change before the feeling subsides. What do you do to pull out of discontentment? Here are a few suggestions.
PICK-ME-UP: Stop peeking around the next corner. Live in the moment. Often, a small change, such as rearranging your furniture, bringing in fresh cut flowers or de-cluttering, can make you feel a lot better.
ACCEPT YOUR WEAKNESSES: Sometimes you are your own worst enemy. Not everyone can or should try to overcome a weakness. You can make friends with it. One reader, Mea from Illinois, shares: “I’ve accepted that things have changed in our lives (making less money but still employed), and I’ve tried to adapt to them. I’ve found it liberating to accept what is instead of fighting against it. This gave me the opportunity to look for solutions instead of feeling like a victim. I also remind myself constantly that some other people don’t have close to what I have, so I consider myself lucky. I can look back at my life and honestly say that whatever I considered hard or ‘bad’ in the past actually brought me to a place of greater happiness and self-understanding.”
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF: Eat balanced, get plenty of rest, exercise and get outside with the sunshine and breathe in some fresh air. Nature is therapeutic. Taking time for yourself to drink in simple joys will allow you to recognize abundance.
UNPLUG: Take a break and shut off your television and computer. All the noise can make you feel worse. National Turnoff Week is April 19 to 25. Try it. Take time for yourself or connect with friends or family in person.
PRACTICE GRATITUDE: Start a gratitude journal by writing down things you are thankful for. You can look through it anytime you need a reminder of all the good that’s in your life. Michelle in Tennessee starts each morning thinking of five things to be thankful for before she even gets out of bed. “You’re allowing thankfulness into your heart and mind before anything else can set in for the day,” she says. “They can be very minute things, such as the early morning sun, the warmth of my bed, having healthy kids, etc. But I do this each and every morning, and it has given me a totally different outlook to my days.”
TAKE ACTION: Use your discontentment as a catalyst for change. Let it motivate you to take action. Keep learning and working on ways to make improvements. But your actions don’t have to be a goal of achieving your desires. It can be letting go of them, too. You have the power to change your negative thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts. Another reader, Donna from Louisiana, shares: “I find that desires breed desires. When I have some random desire and indulge it, another almost immediately pops up in its place, and if I indulge that, too, gradually I move into a psychological space where there is no end to them. On the other hand, when I resist that random desire, it’s easier to do it the next time, and gradually the space is one of contentment, with far fewer of those desires raising their heads to begin with.”
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From Frugal Village.
Spring Mom 2 Mom sale season is starting
If you are looking for a way to buy or sell used children’s clothing, furniture and accessories, a great way for southeast Michigan families to do that is with the Mom 2 Mom Sales.
The Mom 2 Mom sales are multi-family garage sales that typically held in a school or church hall. The vendors rent their [...]
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From Monroe on a Budget.
Do Your Wood Floors Look Weary After A Long Winter – Tidy Tuesday
If you have wood floors anywhere in your house you probably aren’t liking the way they look right now. I know even with rugs scattered throughout the house, we can’t seem to keep the dust, dirt, and grime of the winter off of our floors. Yes, we take our boots and shoes off at the door, but for some reason the outside just finds its way inside.
Wood floors take special care, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s my easy, fast, and inexpensive way that I bring my wood floors back to a presentable appearance.
Vacuum – Rather than use a broom or dust mop, a vacuum cleaner takes up more of the dust and dirt that we don’t see. If you have a floor attachment or floor setting on your vacuum, use that. If not, take the hose, attach any brush attachment, and go over the entire surface. You are removing those tiny particles that are trapped in the cracks and crevices of the wood so you won’t just be smearing dirt around when you wash your floor.
Damp Mop – The key here is damp, not wet. Most people use too much water when they mop their wood floors because it seems like it will get cleaner. However, the finish on your wood floor is protecting what’s underneath – the wood – and if you use too much water you will begin to erode the finish and your floor will get dirtier faster. Use a nice mop, just dampened with your cleaning solution.
Gentle Cleaning Solution – The cleaning solution you use makes a difference, too. My favorite solution that I’ve been using for many years is simply a big bucket of hot water, about a cup of white vinegar, and a splash of my favorite furniture polish. The water and vinegar solution is something I use on all my floors, and the splash of furniture polish just returns the shine to the wood floor.
Dry Mop – This step is important, but is often neglected. Take a dry mop, or if you don’t have one, just cover a broom with a thick, thirsty towel, like terrycloth, and run it all over the floor, drying and polishing. You can even recruit your family by having them put on some thick socks or make “towel socks” and go skating over the freshly mopped floor. This will not only dry the floor but will work in the furniture polish and buff it to a high shine. And it’s just so much fun!
That’s it! Now all you have to do is move the furniture back and lay down your area rugs again. This method can be repeated fairly often, but usually all your wood floor needs is a good vacuuming and maybe a dust mop now and again. But, at least you know that you can quickly and easily give your wood floors a little treat when they start looking sad and winter-weary.
p.s. Find out what else you can do to get your whole house in order with even more Spring Cleaning Tips For Mom.
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From Hillbilly Housewife Blog.