Baking Soda is a Frugalite's Best Friend!

Baking soda is a WONDER to keep around the house for cleaning, deodorizing, health and beauty and so much more. :) Check out all the ways we know how to use this marvelous stuff at:
http://www.kitchencraftsnmore.net/bakingsoda.html

Homemade Pest Control Spray: Garlic Oil Spray for Aphids and More

A HUGE thank you to Collette for this all-natural and inexpensive alternative to pesticides and other harmful sprays. :) Plus, this recipe (I estimate) will cost you around $0.50 or so to make. A great savings!


Garlic Oil Spray

10-15 cloves of minced garlic
2 tsp. mineral oil
600 ml water
1 tsp. liquid dish soap

Soak garlic in mineral oil for 24 hours. Strain garlic out and add 600 ml water and 1 tsp. liquid dish soap. Mix thoroughly. Spray plants with this solution. Pests affected: Aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies

Frugal Crafts: Bread Dough Clay

Yes, you can use plain old white bread to create gorgeous crafts that last! The addition of white glue is what makes it a durable dough. Here's a basic recipe to get you started with this type of crafting. :) (And talk about FRUGAL -- just buy whatever brand of white bread is the cheapest and you can create loads of goodies for just pennies.)

Bread Dough Clay
3 pieces of fresh white bread (crusts removed)
1/4 cup glue

Crumble the bread and use hands to mix in the glue. Kids love this part! Add a bit of water if needed after about 1-2 minutes of mixing. Breads vary so you may have to adjust the recipe for the bread you are using. Food coloring or paint works great to color the dough. Kids can make shapes or even beads for a necklace. Dries in about 24 hours.

I also just posted a FOOLPROOF Kool-Aid Play Dough Recipe for Kids over at: http://kitchencraftsnmore.blogspot.com - be sure to check it out. :) It's one recipe you'll use over and over and over again...

Frugal Groceries and Shopping: Using a Price Book

A price book is a frugalite's best friend! It is where you constantly store information about prices on groceries - it's with this book that you'll know when and if something is TRULY on SALE.

Here's a great article that I really enjoyed, that gives you a lot of details on how to start using a price book when grocery shopping:

• Save Money Using a Price Book - Article by Bobbie Jean Knealing - Lots of good tips here to use a price book - either a regular notebook and pen or a computerized version. http://www.betterbudgeting.com/articles/money/pricebook.htm

Save on phone plans - Household Savings

Home phone and cell phone plans can be OUTRAGEOUSLY expensive. AS with everything else, comparison shopping is key to saving your hard earned money. With pad and paper in hand, call or email local phone companies. Be sure to have a list of all the features you want, and then compare the prices and pros and cons of each.

Only then are you ready to make a decision. You could easily save $20-$50 a month or more, which adds up a LOT over the length of a year.

Save old batteries - they still have some juice left

Old batteries used in diskman's or other high-drain appliances, still have some juice left in them, even when they'll no longer run your Diskman! Remote controls and clocks can run on those old batteries for months before you'll need to replace them. :)

Have a garage sale!

Last weekend I saw SO MANY garage sale and yard sale signs, that it got me thinking...Garage sales are not only a great way to make some extra money, but they help us hoarders get rid of a lot of clutter.

The best garage sales are ones where there's lots of good stuff for customers to choose from, so think about having a family garage sale where more than one family contributes items. Different colored labels can identify which family a certain item belongs to.

Homemade Bug Killer Spray - Household Recipes

Yes you CAN make your own bug spray at home! This uses natural ingredients that aren't UNpronouncable. Give it a try - this stuff not only works great, but it's a far cheaper alternative than pricey commercial sprays.
http://www.happyslob.com/bugkillspray.html

Sears Promotional Code - $15 off $100 or more

Just got this email and thought all Frugalites would like to know about it. (Particularly Canadian ones, obviously. ;) )

Great news. We’ve just given our sears.ca website an amazing makeover.You’ve GOT to see it. Here’s a great offer for you to help us celebrate!

Save $15 on a minimum purchase of $100* when you order from sears.ca. To take advantage of this offer, key in Bonus Offer Number 941612080 in the ‘Bonus/Promotional Number’ box at checkout. Offer expires June 16, 2006.

I've gotten some excellent deals on the Sears.ca website before - check out all of the bargains. At the end of season in particular there are some IMPRESSIVE deals to be had!