Thankful Thursday.

This week I'm thankful for my $2 slow cooker. After soaking vegetables in vinegar water for 15 minutes I put them and some meat in the slow cooker and turned it on low for 8 hours. In 8 hours my family and I will have a hot, tender meal to enjoy for dinner with little to no effort on my part.

This is amazing. Now once I start using this beautiful technology more often it will be uber amazing: low energy usage, less dishes, less mess, less stress, and lots of leftovers!


What are you thankful for this week?

Recent frugal efforts.

We attended a free event at the library where we got to make a mason jar garden. (they also had St. Patrick's Day cookies) My son wanted a "flag" for his jar, and I labeled mine "Live!" because I am not good at keeping plants alive. I'm hoping if I put it in my window at work it will feel inspired to live.

I decided that my life would be a little easier if I had more than two pairs of pants that I regularly wear. I was considering saving up money to buy more from Target because that's where I got my pants last time, and I know the size so I don't have to bother with clothes shopping. (I dislike clothes shopping a lot.) Then after the library event I decided to stop into the little thrift store, and I found a nice pair of jeans for $4. $25+ saved!

I listened to free podcasts. I watched free videos on YouTube that I found inspiring.

I borrowed a book from the library instead of buying it.

And to counteract the above, I found a book at the thrift store for $0.25 or $0.50 that I've been waiting to read for 11 months because the library's ebook hold list is long for this particular title.

I brought food, water, and coffee to work most days. (bought coffee from a shop a few times.)

I received a free full-sized fancy toothpaste from BzzAgent to try.

I rescued various sized gift bags from work. They were cleaning out some old stuff, and these clean new gift bags were set to be tossed. I asked if I could take some. Even though they're branded I'm going to use them for future gift giving occasions. I grabbed some extras for my mother in law and son. He's at the stage where he loves filling bags with random stuff.

I redeemed a $5 Amazon gift card from Bing.

My son attended a free indoor playground.

We made foaming hand soap.


What did you do to save money last week?

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for hot, delicious coffee that magically appears in my cup at any second I choose, and all I need to do is press a button to make that happen.

I am thankful for my broken couch that has held up over the years. It's still comfortable and functions.

I am thankful for my Kindle Paperwhite. It allows me to read books in a digital format that does not damage my eyes. It allows me to obtain free ebooks to read. I can carry hundreds (maybe more?!) of books without the need for a wheelbarrow to haul them. I can read in the dark. I can read in the car. I can read in the sunlight without glare.


What are you thankful for this week?


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Moment of Pause #18

It recently snowed here for a day. It was actually quite strange. In the morning it was pouring rain, and my mom texted me commenting on approaching snow. All I could think was "yeah right!" but sure enough in the afternoon the rain slowed then slowly turned to snow. It snowed about 6 inches, which hasn't happened here in a few years.

Of course I had to take my son outside to enjoy it. I love seeing tree branches covered in snow so I was pleased to take this picture of a snow dusted tree branch. Unfortunately shortly after this picture it started to rain again, which melted all the snow off the trees.

What have you seen lately that made you take a moment of pause?

Recent frugal efforts.

Due to snow days and sick days the cookies we bought for a school activity never made it to school. The best buy date passed so I stuck them in the freezer for us to enjoy later.

I redeemed a $5 Amazon gift card from Bing.

I started using everydollar.com again. We have variable income, and I haven't found the perfect way (for me) to budget stuff so at the least I'll use this to keep good track of how our money is being spent.

We made foaming hand soap.

My son borrowed books from the library and participated in the story time craft.

He also went to a free indoor playground.

I listened to Dave Ramsey's free radio show via his website.

I use handkerchiefs instead of disposable tissues.

I brought reusable water bottles and glass containers to work. I do bring ziplock bags sometimes, and I try to get multiple uses out of them, but that doesn't always happen. 

I donated my $14.xx Ebates PayPal credit to a local organization that provides food to children on the weekends so their families can eat.

What have you done to save money this week?

How to make foaming hand soap.

 For a long time we were buying Method foaming hand soap. Each refill bag was $5 if I could find it on sale, and that only lasted for 3 refills. If my husband wanted a scent that didn't come in the refill bag then that pump dispenser was $2.50-$3.

When I first became interested in saving money I stumbled upon how to make foaming hand soap. I tried it, and it didn't work. Then sometime last year I tried again, and it worked! And my husband actually approved! This is huge because he's very particular about certain things.

Here is how I make foaming hand soap.



















What you need:

a foaming soap dispenser
liquid Castile soap

I reuse a foaming dispenser. I use Lavender Glownaturals Essentials Liquid Castile Soap from Vitacost. It's cheaper than Dr. Bronners, and I feel it's very comparable. (if you use my referral link here you get $10 off your first order, and I get $10 too.)

My dispenser has a little bit of foaming soap left in it so let's pretend you're starting with an empty dispenser.

Fill it with about 10mm (1cm or a dime) of liquid Castile soap.

Then add water leaving enough room for the lid thingy to fit inside the bottle. My son likes to shake it up. Then it's ready to use!

Super simple.

I've heard people use leftover shampoo in a pinch.

Soap + water + foaming dispenser = foaming soap!

If I had to guess I'd say that one refill lasts about a week in my house. I have one in the main bathroom and one in the kitchen.

Moment of Pause #17

I've had a cold for a week now, and I wasn't feeling up to much today. After watching a YouTube video from this busy mom of several kids I decided I could bundle up and take the little one outside for some fresh air.

He enjoyed thoroughly it since he's been stuck inside with his own cold lately.

I'm not sure why I walked to this side of the yard, but I happened to notice what I think is a bird's nest on the ground. There were no eggs or signs of birds in it, but we both thought it was pretty awesome. I don't remember seeing a real birds nest before, at least not this close. He's going to check on it every time he goes outside to see if any eggs appear.

What made you take a moment of pause lately?