Making A Home And Family

There are a few things that I have learned to do online that actually *make* money.  A penny saved is a penny earned, right?

 The first is CKY Books.  They actually buy books from you, you send them to them for free, and they paypal you for them.  I sent in 2 books last week, and I made $4.84.  I left it in my paypal account and I actually just bought a used cloth Motherease diaper with it.

The second thing I use is MyPoints.  They send me advertising emails, and if I click on them and view them I earn 5 points.  Sometimes I take surveys and make up to 50 points, and if I buy anything online I can buy through the MyPoints page and earn points per dollar.  I usually buy from Lakeside for Christmas and I get 500 points for spending $25.  Once you earn enough points, you can order a gift certificate.  I have gotten 2 certificates for $25 so far since I have been doing this – one for Steve & Barry’s and Motherhood Maternity.  If you want to sign up, leave me your email and we can both get 250 points!  That’s a good amount to start with and get you well on your way to a reward.

For more frugal ideas, visit Biblical Womanhood.

As money has gotten tighter around here since our remodeling extravaganza and our vacation, I have been looking into FREE and fun activities.  Although we live in a small community, to my amazement there is quite a lot to do around here!

Our local community college was holding community forums yesterday and we got to listen to 2 great lectures and have a free lunch afterwards.  A huge free lunch may I add – grilled hot dogs and hamburgers with all the fixings, chips, pop.  We were entertained for 3 hours and had full bellies until past our normal dinner time.

There are more events like that listed every week for the next 2 months.  They include lectures on envrionmental issues, religion, and there are musical and art shows coming up as well.  I am sure we will be attending more things like that in the near future.

Our local YMCA is also having a 2 week open house to the public, so I went there today for a FREE hour yoga class.  I plan on using it a few more times before they go back to closed membership because I really like the community aspect, and I really do enjoy their classes.  It’s even more fun when it’s FREE.

There are also outdoor concerts in the park for FREE in my town until the end of the month.  They range from jazz to classical and from country to rock.  If it’s not too cold, we may just go watch a couple before the season is soon over for that kind of thing.

By looking in the newspaper, I found a local historical day that is taking place about 5 miles from us.  They have a parade, 5K run/walk, and entertainment.  Most of which is FREE.  Packing a picnic and leaving for wallet at home would probably help to keep it that way.

How do you have fun in a way that’s free?

For more frugal ideas, visit Biblical Womanhood.

As my DH and I were going through the fridge one day, we realized something about leftovers.  There were a lot in the fridge and a lot that I had gone bad.  It’s not that we don’t like the food that we had made and packed up to put away, usually we just forget it’s in there.

In order to use up our leftovers, if there a small amount (just enough for a snack) I pack it up and leave it out.  DH stays up late into the night working on the computer and our business and usually snacks.  Usually on something that’s not the most healthy – but now when I leave some leftovers out he’ll have those for his late night snack instead.

I’ve also been keeping better tabs on what is leftover in the fridge.  The other day we used up some leftover spaghetti sauce for lunch over rotini pasta.  We served it with cheese on top and some garlic toast.

When we put a little bit more thought into leftovers, they started disappearing!

For more Frugal Friday ideas visit here.

1. Movies at home. One thing we really love around here is movies, so we get Netflix. We pay $14/month to get movies delivered to our door. Usually we choose them together, and then when we have a spare night and want to stay in (or are short on cash) – we pop in a movie that we have. We really enjoy always having this option for a cheap and easy date night. If you like popcorn with your movies, you should read these frugal and tasty popcorn recipes.
2. Play board games! It’s so nice to put on some quiet music to sit around the table and play. Our favorites are Chrononauts, Poker, and Settlers of Catan.
3. Go to a park. We like taking our dogs to the park or by the marina and we just walk around and talk. It’s nice to go for a stroll together and hold hands once in awhile.
4. Make dinner together. Turn on some music, pull out your recipes, and help each other cook. While you eat – put out some candles.
5. Go stargazing or watch the sunset or the sunrise together. DH picked me up one morning before school (yes – high school) and took me to see the sunrise. It was amazing!
6. Go for a day hike and pack a picnic. We’ve even done this in the middle of winter.
7. Visit your local museum, visitor center or other local interests. Bring your camera and take pictures along the way.

If you have more cheap and frugal date ideas, be sure to share. Especially the ones you really enjoy! =)

For more frugal ideas, go here!

My DH bought some powered milk (or moo pow as we call it around here) to take along on a backpacking trip.  He hadn’t used any of it, so we had it already bagged up for 2 quarts.  I thought, “Since it’s just sitting in my pantry, and it’s all measured to fit my jug anyway I might as well make it.”

I made it and put it in the pitcher in the fridge, and we drank about 3 pitchers of it before my DH wanted some *real* milk.  I guess oreos and moo pow just wouldn’t cut it.   I have to admit though that I couldn’t taste the difference between how I made it and the skim milk that I buy in the store.  I am not the type of girl to sit and drink a plain glass of milk either, but I did it with the powdered milk and toast one morning and it was good!

My box of powered milk was 4 pounds and would make about 5 gallons of milk.  I paid $7 for it!  There is no way I could find 5 gallons of milk in the store for $7.  Heck, I had previously paid $5.99 for an organic gallon.  So if you need to cut corners for awhile, this is a frugal way to get more milk for less money.

For more frugal Friday ideas, visit Biblical Womanhood.