Determining a Cleaning Fee?
I live in a small town. I have 1 child, five cats, two bathrooms and three bedrooms in approx 1600 sq feet. I pay $65-80 depending on how many hours it takes her. She charges a flat $12 per hour
When Should the Child of a Deaf Parent Begin Learning Sign Language?
I taught my daughter some sign language starting at 10 months. Granted, we didnt continue using it once she started talking, but children are quick to pick it up and associate it with the spoken word. Never too early to start.
Veggie Tacos
I cook quinoa or bulgar and then add the taco seasoning to it. We use it in place of meat and all these additions in the recipe would be great.
Use Vinegar Instead of Dryer Sheets
I use the vinegar to take the buildup of detergent and fabric softners off of clothes. I put a drop of lavender scented oil on a washcloth to throw in the dryer.
Sleeping Problems Caused By Menopause?
I take Calcium Magnesium Citrate with Vitamin D. The dose requires me to take 6 tablets/capsules. However, it does wonders for helping me sleep. Calcium helps soothe the nerve transactions and thus allowing you to rest. I also limit my caffeine to morning only...
Covering Up Skin Blemishes Under Arms?
I concur with the zinc remedy. It will help a lot. Use a moisturizer with retinol A or something that will help take off the layers of skin slowly. After a few months, your skin will look better, not perfect though. The darkening of underarms can mean a low...
Don't Procrastinate, Get That Cleaning Done!
I have a domestic goddess come once a month. She can help me with the big chores and deep cleaning with an understanding of the goal. The weekly chores are divided up and must be done by Friday. Decluttering a home makes this a much easier job. We read mags...
Take Your Own Creative Photos
Morning and evening light are much nicer and a slightly overcast day is perfect. Weve paid for lots of professional pictures and just watching a professional gives you lots of tips. Tilting heads, watching for bunched up clothing and when leaning on a hand...
Saving Money on Movie Rentals
We have a girls/guys night out. We have a potluck together and then send the guys to another house to watch their movies and the girls watch what they want at my house. We have a great time and no one has to watch a slasher or chick flick that doesnt want to...
A/H Fan Will Not Turn Off?
When my fan would not turn off, the HVAC man said the safety guage on the heater was on, causing the fan to stay on to cool the system to avoid a fire. He had to replace the piece for me.
Wedding Gift Ideas for Daughter?
Write her a letter about all the things you love about her and your wish for her happiness, put it in a beautiful card. The present of your presence should be plenty for any daughter!
Creating a Budget for Buying a House?
Do you have energy efficient light bulbs? Worth the investment, they can move with you later. Unplug energy sucking clocks, tvs, toasters. The convenience of these items is far outweighed by the cost for their electricity. If you are home 4 hours an evening...
Recipes Using Canned Green Beans?
2-3 tbs butter 2 cans green beans 1/2 heavy cream salt/pepper Drain the green beans well. Melt butter in skillet. Add green beans and heat/brown for 10-15 minutes over medium heat. Add cream, cover for 5-7 munutes. Uncover and add salt/pepper to taste.
Pinky (Domestic Shorthair)
He appears to be a Tuxedo cat. We have several variations on his pattern at our house. Great cats!
Easy Tip To Save Money Now
For our entertainment, we have chili parties serving regular and white chili. Rented dvds for party night or card parties and we have an awesome evening with friends for very little money.
Budgeting Groceries for a Family of Four?
Ive found having a first course of soup or salad takes the edge off of hunger and gives the body a little time to start feeling full before diving into the main course. Ive found a four serving meal then easily satifies four with a leftover for the next day...
Triple Sheeting a Bed?
I can see the idea, but why not just sew the two sheets together and make the duvet? I bartered and got a seamstress to make my duvet. Now we use just the fitted sheet with a comforter inside the duvet. We wash the fitted sheet and the duvet. It is so much...
Maintaining Curly Hair?
Try letting your hair dry naturally. I put a curl product in my hair and let it get almost dry and then use the blow dryer on low. My hair is wavy curly, not super curly. If you have a long car commute, you can dry your hair in the winter with the defroster...
Hot Potato Salad With Bacon
Would you consider this a hot German potato salad? Looking for this recipe and maybe this is it, considering the vinegar. Cant wait to try this one.
Be Aware Where Your Christmas Goodies Are Manufactured
Anyone using this site has made the effort to live thrifty. We need to encourage others that recycling, homecooking and driving your car for years is the way to financial success. Raising children to believe that stuff makes the person has to be overturned...
Mr. Smith (Tabby)
Oh, he is such a beauty! We have four cats in our house, 2 starter cats and 2 replacement cats. One of ours looks a lot like Smith and they are wonderful cats. Hope he enjoys his life of leisure and obviously you get a lot of joy from him.
"Fresh and Easy" Neighborhood Market for Grocery Discounts
What a tremendous value. We frequently buy milk on its expiration date and freeze it. We have several jugs at a time in the freezer and it helps keep the freezer full. We have our own meat, so the freezer goes from over full to having space for many great deals...
Using Homemade Dry Laundry Detergent?
I have great luck with the soap on adult barely dirty and child with food stains on the tshirt. I have used all sorts of soaps, but I like Dr Bronners scented castile soaps when I can find them on sale. We use olive oil soap to pretreat the food stains and...
Avoiding Charitable Bankruptcy
We donate our time to activities we are involved in or our childs activities. We have an allotted amount of money we donate to causes, but most of them we try to keep close to home. We also spend our time doing fun runs or such, to raise money and do something...
Make Your Own Cake for Christmas
We like the homemade version also. We make a cream cheese frosting as it will hold the nuts and sparkles we put on the sides of the cake. And a pretty cake plate really adds to the special feeling of Christmas!
Home Remedy for Bloating and Burping?
Even a 1/4 teaspoon in a glass is enough. And drink plenty of water as I have heard this can be hard on kidneys if you use it consistently. Eat slowly, breathe through your nose and dont gulp down water.
Have Kids Pick Their Presents from Santa
I have an only child. She browses all the ads and then selects what she wants from Santa, it is one item. Then I distribute the list for Grandparents, etc. We give her three gifts, one for the mind (a book), one for the body (new outfit) and one for the soul...
Leave Shower Water in Tub to Harvest Warmth
We do this to add humidity. I work the evening shift, so I call home to tell my daughter when it is time to bathe. She leaves the bathwater, which is scented with homemade bath salt mixture and essential oils. When I get home at midnight (4 hours plus later...
Money for a Class Reunion?
My high school class had an account with some money in it leftover from the fundraising. I think our class president kept track of the account. Anyway, we used it for projects done by/donated by our class and for class reunions. However, I know this money was...
Reusing Wrapping Paper
Our family calls it preloved with extra hugs. We use all sorts of crumpled paper with a pretty bow so the person knows we picked the gift with care and we hugged it before we sent it.
Making a Mattress More Comfortable?
I used the memory foam topper from Sams too. It is great. Or you can get them at Overstock.com. Depending on the size you need, some are the same price for any size. You can easily cut them to the size you need and possibly have enough left over for another...
Paint Suggestions for Tan, White and Gray Kitchen?
If you are intending to stay in your home for some time, pick your favorite color and go big! If you think you will be moving before long, pick a rich tone to match the colors in the countertop--dark gray or taupe. My kitchen has black floors, black mixed countertop...
Turn Shower Off When Lathering
Great ideas! We put a bucket in to save water while shower is getting to warm. That cold water start is too hard on some systems. Anyway, we use it for watering plants, toilet flush, water for the cats (they love the BIG water bowl).
Use Recycled Gatorade Bottles in Packed Lunches
We use a Kleen Kanteen every day. It doesnt leach things into her drink, it has a wide mouth so we can add ice that then melts down (weve determined the ice to water ratio that makes the drink palatable by lunchtime) and we dont have excess water bottles floating...
Large Ziploc Bags to Brine Turkey?
Ive used the large ziploc. The only issue is that it will want to roll out of the fridge. Otherwise, worked great!
Uses for Store Hangers?
I put the straps of my shopping bags around the hanger and then attach the hanger to the headrest of the backseat to keep bags from tipping over on the way home from shopping. Most days the back end is packed by the end of the day, but until then, I dont like...
Save Used Coffee And Tea For Compost
Anytime we are in a metropolitan area, we stop at Starbucks for the coffee grounds. We actually till them into the soil, not just sprinkle them on the ground. I use teabags for a second time for tea soak for feet before they hit the compost. Step 1 Place the...
Bagging Your Own Groceries?
I dont mind bagging my own, but I usually have to resort the bags when I get to the car if someone else helps. Otherwise, I can just put the things that need to go in the cooler straight from the shopping cart. When I go to shop, I put my bags on the bottom...
A Penny Saved... The Morning Latte
Be super thrifty and buy your own insulated coffee mug. Starbucks and other chains regularly have them on the clearance table for $5-7 dollars. The insulated disposable cups are hard on the environment and within a couple weeks, you have spent as much on them...
Washing Stinky Sports Clothes
I use the homemade detergent and then air dry the sports clothes in the dryer. The heat can damage the materials. I presoak socks in a bucket with detergent mixed in. Her socks could knock you off your feet.
Do you shop at large warehouse stores?
We only have three people in our immediate family, but we shop with extended family and share things. With three people taking daily lunches, we can go through the singles packaged items and bulk items for lunches quickly. We always compare price per oz/lb...
Dips For Kids Lunches
We send hummus made at home. She takes crispy tortilla (cut and crisped in the oven), carrots, celery and olives. Add a yogurt and apple and she is set. We also make vinegarette for her to dip vegetables at lunch. She has a pretty wide palate, and we try to...
Drying Clothes Inside
I use the coat closet as a drying closet. I had an exhaust fan put in the top of the closet and a vent added to the door at the bottom. I fill the closet with hanging laundry, not to tightly, close the door and turn on the fan. In the winter months, we just...
