Frugal Tip Friday

For today's Frugal Tip Friday I want to share with you a few cheap ways to prevent plumbing problems.

GET A HAIR TRAP or DRAIN PROTECTOR

When I lived in apartments my shower drains would get clogged quite frequently. One time I was home when the repair man came (most of the time I was at work and would just get a service report stating that they had fixed the clogged drain and that it was due to hair) and after he unclogged the drain he called me in to see ALL my long hair that he had pulled from the drain. I was so grossed out. The repair man told me about hair traps but since I was #1 barely 20 and didn't really "get it" and #2 it didn't cost me anything to have it fixed, I didn't get one. That all changed when my husband and I bought our first home - now it was his time and our dime to fix these problems. I headed out to Bed, Bath & Beyond to pick up my trap (with a 20% off coupon of course) which I found for $2.99. The traps are simple to use and come in many varieties from mesh to plastic or ones that cover the drain to ones that go inside the drain. I got a white plastic one that covers the drain. I do have to replace it every 6 months or so but since then I have found them for cheaper at Amazon.com, Dollar Stores, Target's Dollar Center, Wal-Mart, hardware stores and even my favorite CVS. I always have a few extras on stand-by. The first time that you use it you are going to be amazed at how much hair you loose in the shower. Also while I was pregnant I didn't loose that much hair but after my boys were born I swear by the looks of the trap I was on my way to going bald but after a few months I was back to normal. Once your done with your shower, gather your hair in a few squares of TP and throw in the trash. I don't use TP anymore instead I use a cotton round that I apply freshener with, it's going in the trash anyway so why waste the TP! Make sure and clean out your trap DAILY otherwise some of the hair that it trapped will work it's way through the holes and the hair will block the water flow and your shower will not drain properly. Another way to cut down on the amount of hair you loose in the shower is to brush your hair really good before you step in. Here are a few pics of different varieties that are available at various retailers.

PREVENT & TREAT CLOGS

Drains get clogged with hair, soap scum, cooking oil, grease and other fats that literally gunk up the works. The first step to fixing a clogged drain is prevention. To prevent a clogged drain be smart about food disposal. If it can go in the trash - put it there. Yes we all love the convenience of a garbage disposal but everything that you put in the water supply has to be cleaned out, the less in then the less chemicals that have to be used to clean our water out. Don't EVER put cooking oil or grease down the drain - EVER! Use a wide mouth jar with a lid to dispose your cooking fats in. I use pickle & applesauce jars and when they get full I screw the lid on tight and dispose of. Check your local waste office for info on where to dispose of. In some areas you can sell or donate your used cooking fats to be recycled into alternative fuel.

Another step is this simple, natural and cheap solution to preventing clogged drains and sometimes will even unclog drains. I love it because it is green and therefore doesn't take a toll on the environment. Most household's are stocked with Baking Soda (Bicarbonate) and Vinegar so you won't even have to make a trip to the market to get the supplies. Simply pour vinegar liberally over and into the clogged drain. Immediately sprinkle baking soda onto the vinegar, trying to get it in through the drain holes. Continue to sprinkle the baking soda on until you begin to see foam bubble up. It will continue to froth and froth; stand back and let the solution do its job. When the foaming settles, rinse through with a small amount of boiling water. If the clog is very tough, you may leave the solution on overnight, flushing a bit of boiling water through in the morning to complete the process. It is also advisable to use this solution in all your toilets, sinks and tubs at the same time because the more of this solution that goes down the drains the less likely the drains are to get clogged.

LEAKY TOILET

If your toilet continuously runs you are using 78,000 gallons of water a year - that's enough to fill an average swimming pool. It is very easy to diagnose and fix this problem. First if you suspect a leak, test out your theory by pouring a bit of food coloring into the toilet’s tank and waiting overnight. If the dye shows up in the bowl the next morning, you have got a leak and it’s time to replace the flush valve/flapper. That is a very easy, quick and cheap fix. Get the model info from your valve/flapper & head to your local home improvement store. While there look for the plumbing expert and give him/her your info and they can direct you to the valve/flapper that will work best plus they might be able to give you a few tips on installation. I just read the instructions on the package and in under 5 minutes I was done. Problem solved, money saved!

MISCELLANEOUS TIPS

Make sure you water your trees!! Times are tight but if you skimp on watering your trees the roots will come to the surface searching for water. When the roots start moving they can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your plumbing, foundation and landscaping.

If you have a dripping faucet or shower head but can't fix it that very minute put a clean dish or trashcan under it. Then empty the water in your yard, plants or pool - that way at least it's not wasted. You are paying for it so you might as well use it!

Check your washer hoses for cracks every month. If one were to burst while you were not home it can put several inches of water throughout your house in just a few hours.

This really isn't a plumbing issue but I just want to put it out there, don't run your dishwasher, washer or dryer and then go to bed or leave the house. If your washers start leaking or your dryer sets fire while you are asleep or gone so much damage or worse can happen before you wake up or come home. I know first hand because our timer broke on our washer in October. I did one load and all was fine, started another and went to my office to work on coupons (big surprise) when for whatever reason I turned to look behind me at the door and saw water raging under it. Since the timer was broke the water never shut off and continued to fill the washer and then our home. When it was all said and done almost $30,000 worth of damage had been done to our home. If I would have gone to bed like I sometimes do it would have been so much worse. Take my advice and don't do it, I almost lost my kids baby pictures and scrapbooks by trying to save time for the morning - it wasn't worth it.



There are a lot more than the ones that I have just listed but when typing this post I wanted to #1 not be overwhelming and #2 be something that the "tool challenged" single Mom could do. I hope that these tips have been helpful, if so let me know & PS I really do want to know. If you have any tips to share please leave a comment.

Frugal Tip Friday

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON PRINTING SUPPLIES

I am frugal sometimes a little too frugal but hey what did your Mama tell you a penny saved is a penny earned - that's my motto! Here are the ways that I save money on printing supplies:


BUYING SUPPLIES

#1 - Refill your ink cartridges
There are several options to do this, first is Walgreens - I have done this at Walgreens but it didn't turn out really well for me. The toner got all over the inside of my printer and I had to take it apart to clean it out - it was a MESS! I know a lot of us couponers do this at Walgreen's and have really good luck with it but one mess was enough for me. Then there is buying a refill kit at your local office supply store and doing it yourself. My hub did this at his office and it worked great. Last there are companies that you can mail your empty cartridges to, they will refill them and mail them back. I have had my cartridges sent to JETT Mar, a local company in Weatherford, Texas (817-441-2420) - they did the best job out of all 3 options. Keep in mind that when you refill a cartridge you are only supposed to do it once and then get new one but you can still recycle your old one at Office Depot and they will give you a $3 gift card!

#2 - Buying new ink cartridges
First I will point out the obvious - look for sales, rebates, generic cartridges and combo deals. Next use your ECB at CVS - I "make" so much money at CVS I always have enough to buy cartridges and still have plenty left over to roll on to new deals. Last tip - shop the internet. There are so many companies selling every brand possible for rock bottom prices.

#3 - Buying paper
After you have recycled your ink cartridge use your $3 gift card to buy some paper and get the cheapest one - it's just paper and you are only going to be printing coupons on it, who cares! Also from time to time Office Depot & Staples have MIR where you get paper for FREE or almost FREE.

Here is what I do, I have 2 cartridges at all times, one in the printer and the other as a backup. When the screen comes up that I am low I don't change it!!! That's important. Don't switch that booger out until it stops printing or you can't see the bar codes anymore. Most of the time when you get that screen you still have anywhere from 10-30% left. When I am forced to change it I put the backup in and take the empty one to be refilled or I recycle it and buy a new one. If I recycle it and I need paper I use my gift card to pick up some paper if I don't need paper I save it in hopes that a sale or rebate offer will arise.


REUSE PAPER

I reuse every single sheet of paper that I come across. I reuse the backs of letters from school, printed shopping lists, junk-mail letters, fliers & even my kids art work, you know the ones - not the special ones but the ones that are just doodling. I love everything they do but there is only so much space to store every scrap of paper they bring home. Also when I am mostly at Target I see people's registry papers and I put them in my bag to take them home and print on the back of them - like I said at the top I am sometimes too frugal. I do find this frugal but also green, I am reusing something that would have just had 1 life but I give it 2! When I print a coupon if the coupon is not in the middle of the page I flip it over and do the second print on the back side. Make sure you know your printer and how it feeds before you do this or you will wind up printing on top of your first coupon or on the back side of that coupon. If you do happen to do this and you double print on one side - still try to use it at the stores if it scans then you at least got one. If you print on the back side make a copy of one of the coupons and mark an X through that one on the other page so that when you redeem the coupons the store doesn't try to scan the same coupon twice and therefore not get reimbursed. Almost every single coupon that I use has something on the back and every once in awhile I will get a cashier that turns it over and just asks what I did but NEVER have they said they wouldn't take it nor could they for that matter.


REDUCE INK USAGE

I have found 2 ways to reduce my ink usage, first whenever possible I only print using the black cartridge. I also don't print in High Quality - I print in Fast Draft Quality. I changed my printer settings to do both of these options, to do the same follow the steps below,

Start – Control Panel – Printers & Faxes – Right Click on your Default Printer - Properties – Printing Preferences – Paper Quality – Fast Draft – Color – Print in Grayscale – Black Print Cartridge Only – Ok – Ok

By changing these settings it prints much faster than normal and the amount of ink used per page is much less than the normal setting. You will also notice a difference as the pages shoot out of your printer versus the leisurely way they came out before. Don't forget that ink cartridges are just that, ink - they will dry up. Make sure and print at least one color print job a week to avoid this.

The other way I reduce my ink usage is when I am printing a “bricks” coupon or one from manufacturer sites (not coupons.com, smartsource.com or redplum) they have ads included on the page with the coupon. If the coupon is on the top of the page I “CANCEL” the print and avoid printing the ad therefore saving ink. Sometimes the manufacturers have wised up to what people like me are doing and put the coupon on the bottom so you have to print the ad, you win some & you lose some.


I hope you have found these tips helpful, did you?? Do you have a tip on how to save money when it comes to your printer? Let me know & YES I really do want to know.

Frugal Tip Friday

If your house if filled with those little plastic grocery bags then have I got some tips for you today!

Storage

This is the easiest and neatest way that I have found to store my bags - I shake them out, wrap my hand around the bottom & run it up the scrunched bag once I get to the top most of the air is out so I wind the bag around my fingers & stuff in a empty tissue cube. I can fit about 30 bags in each cube. I have cubes in all our cars, the bathrooms, the kitchen, the baby's room, outside in a deck box & the utility room - you never know when they will come in handy!

Grocery Uses

I mostly use reusable bags but sometimes when I hit one store after the other I run out so I take my handy tissue cube in the stores and have them use those bags instead of giving me a new one. Also I don't like the bag boy to put raw meat in my reusables so I always use my old bags or a paper bag for that. Once (and only once) I forgot to verbally tell the cashier what was in the box and what to do with it and yes he charged me for my empty tissue box full of used plastic bags - that was fun to explain to customer service! Don't forget to check your local stores policy on bringing your own bags, Albertson's here in D/FW gives you a nickle for each bag that you bring in and use - even the plastic ones!

Home Uses

I like to use my bags as trash bags in our bathroom wastebaskets (if you don't want the handles covering the outside then tuck them in) they fit perfectly and get the job done.

I don't have a place in my kitchen for a wastebasket except under the sink & #1 that is just not going to be big enough & #2 under the sink is full of FREE Softsoap but my utility door is right next to the kitchen so I hang a bag around the lever and voila! instant, disposable trash bag! Another great kitchen tip is for when you are trimming fat just cut a gallon milk jug in half then roll a bag inside - instant disposable sink-side trash can that you can tie up and take right outside! I of course recycle the top of the milk jug but I wash and reuse the bottom until another jug is empty then out with the old in with the new. In my area we have trash carts so I can toss my tied up plastic bag full of trash straight in there, no extra garbage bag needed. Since we started doing this I only buy trash bags once a year at CVS during a BOGO sale. I am not sure if this is green or not but I don't see the difference in a grocery bag and a true trash bag so until I read otherwise I am gonna keep on!

Baby Uses

This time around I didn't get a diaper pail - what for they all stink?? Plus if you get the kind with special bags then there is one more expense for the budget. I have a large wastebasket that I fill with pee-pee diapers but once a poo has landed I grab a bag (from the cube on the changing hutch) and empty the pee-pee's plus the poo inside and straight out it goes. A quick shot of Lysol in the can and a good washing once a month - no smell & cheap too!

When I still carried a diaper bag I kept a few rolled up bags in the side bottle pockets for those extra messy times! So glad those days are behind me for now!

Recycle

Most grocery stores have a bin where you can put your old bags and they recycle them to save our landfills. Also check your local food banks & needy family church stores, the ones in my area take your old bags (no holes or stinky ones, please) and reuse them. I have also heard about a charity taking your used bags to stuff them into old mattresses to give to the poor in Mexico.

Other

Scrunched up bags make great packing filler & cushions your Christmas decorations too!

Lunch Bags

Wet Laundry Bags

To keep your dirty laundry separate from your clean clothes when traveling

To keep your shoes from touching your clothes when traveling

Dog poo pickin' up duty or litter box detail

Of course sending stuff home with guests - duhhh!



Did you find this Frugal Tip Friday helpful or do you have a great tip for plastic bags? Leave a comment & share.

Frugal Tip Friday

I want to share a frugal tip that I ACTUALLY use in my home with you guys each Friday & I am calling it "Frugal Tip Friday", hope you enjoy!


Today's topic is White Vinegar instead of Fabric Softener:

I love, love, love white vinegar!!! Why?? Easy - It's cheap, green and has tons of uses. My favorite use for vinegar is in the wash. I got started using vinegar when my oldest son was born (isn't that how we all get started with something new, we try it for our baby) and I was washing his clothes in Dreft (PS - don't waste your money use ALL Free & Clear) but then running Downy through them which is full of fragrance - isn't that why I was using Dreft??? Totally confused I went to the master Jedi (my Mom) for info. Mom is all in to being green and had just seen on one of her green shows to use vinegar in the wash. "Yuck, MOM! My clothes will stink!!" "Ok, Hollie. Then don't try it." I love my Mom! So I caved & bought a gallon at Wal-Mart for under 2 bucks - it's not like a huge investment to give it a try I thought. Poured it in the little softener cap on my washer and the rest is history! As time went on I learned more about using vinegar in the wash and found that since my family has sensitive skin I was already a step ahead of the game in that department since vinegar is non-allergenic. It is green since you are not polluting the water supply with the chemicals that are in typical softener. It helps keep your colors bright, prevents lint, aids in odor removal & fights stains - what more could you want?? I have read that once you dry your clothes the smell disappears and I find that untrue, I never smell vinegar when they are wet and I hang dry lots of stuff.

How to use:
Simply add approximately 3/4 cup to the final rinse cycle or if you have a liquid-fabric-softener dispenser feature on your washer, you can add it there. You can also use a refillable fabric-softener/laundry ball and add vinegar instead of retail fabric softener. I don't measure how much I put in my dispenser feature I just fill it to the line, let's not make this hard.

Where to buy:
I buy my vinegar at Sam's in a double 1-gallon pack for around $3 but I have also gotten it at Wal-Mart for $1.75 or so. I buy the cheapest I can find - no need to be a brand whore, it's vinegar.

What to buy:
I use white distilled vinegar reduced with water to 5% acidity.

Also lifting a full gallon of vinegar then trying to pour it into the dispenser can be difficult so I reused a VOSS water bottle. Works like a charm! One thing that is a major no-no when you use vinegar is to combine it with bleach, if you use bleach in a load wait for the bleach cycle to finish before you add the vinegar.


Ready to give it a try?? Already use vinegar in the wash??? Leave me a comment & let me know what you think, really I do care!