List: Frugal People Do Not Do These Things

 Things Frugal People Do Not Do

We definitely do not do #2, 8, 12, 17, 19, 26, 31, and 33

36 Things Frugal People Don’t Do

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Let not your heart be troubled: 

ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14

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Extreme Frugality: Meal Planning & Eating for Cheap!

 This was the table next to ours at a restaurant. I thought, what a waste of good food! 

 I wanted to discreetly put certain items in a doggy bag and take them home. Not for the dogs, but for me (after intense heating/recooking to get rid of germs, of course 😆)

Here are far better and healthier ways to eat for less $$

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4 )

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FYI: Easy Sidewalk De-Icer for Winter

pc: K Slone, FB

pc: amazon.com

There are a many other uses for blue Dawn dish soap.  I even used it to get rid of dog fleas in my pups 👍😊

11 Amazing Uses for blue Dawn Dishsoap

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, 

quit you like men, be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

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Budget Buy: Make Your Bathroom Look Bigger for $3

The $3 Drugstore Buy That Makes My Bathroom Look Way Bigger  Can you guess what it is? 

- Anna Kocharian, Domino Magazine

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AUGUSTA PHOTOGRAPHY

Here’s my qualm with really small bathrooms: We console ourselves with the idea that filling the space with splashes of color—typically by way of a “fun” shower curtain—will be a good enough compromise for the lack of square footage. What they don’t tell you is that the moment you hang that vibrantly patterned curtain, you suddenly lose half the room. We never realize the impact something as seemingly insignificant as a solid sheet can have on the visual depth of a small area.

When I moved into my tiny studio, with an equally tiny, square-shaped bathroom, I knew that I had to get creative. Taking a shower, more or less, felt like I was confined to a box with limited light, thanks to the lack of windows and the two lone bulbs meant to illuminate the space...

Find out what Anna Kocharian (Domino Magazine) purchased to solve her dilema H E R E

pc: Nordstrom

Make Your Bathroom Look Way Bigger

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LIST: Smart Ways to Keep Cool in Hot Weather

We were in a heat-wave in our area a few days ago. Our newly-installed Rheem AC; plus additional mushroom-vents, functioning attic fan, and brand new lighter-colored roof shingles ---   voilà, we were very comfortable! Thank you, Lord!

A recent article by Domino Magazine lists 20 ways readers keep cool:

1. Use the 1-2 Punch of a Fan + Spray Bottle

When I was younger my bedroom was in the unfinished upstairs of our cape cod style house. No heat in winter, no A/C in summer, but I loved the privacy! On the hottest nights I would employ window fans, and a spray bottle, set to the finest mist. When I got hot, I'd spray myself with some cool water and let the air from the fan chill me. - BrandeMT

 2. Get a Solar Attic Fan

We like our house really cool (67-69 degrees). We recently had two solar attic fans installed. The past few days, we've noticed it is cooler in the house and the AC has been off the past 2-3 days. That should save on our light bill and makes the installation costs seem not so bad. - williamsweyr

3.  Make Small, Smart Choices All Day

I grew up in Fresno, CA in an old farmhouse without A/C—now totally unimaginable. I completely agree with the daytime clamp-down... that is the best way to keep the temp from spiking beyond what you can control with fans. Room darkening drapes or thermal shades really make a huge difference. Also, I am a big fan (ha!) of reversing the fans to move hot air out when inside temp is above outside temp. I also would suggest sleeping low... hot air rises, so getting as close to the floor as possible/comfortable makes a good bit of difference. Ideally—a hammock is the ultimate summer sleep vehicle, plenty of airflow—but not always an option inside! - Barbieq

The key isn't what you do at night, it is how you regulate the temperature all the time. Always shut up your apartment during the day and turn on ceiling fans (if you have them) to circulate air. Then at night, switch to window fans. If you mess it up you will have to wait 'til a 60 degree night to get things back to normal. - Rahskolnikov

4. Make "Ice Babies" out of Bottles of Water

Freeze a 2-litre bottle with water. Put in a pillowcase and hold to your chest like a teddy. Cooling down the central core will cool down all extremities as a result. My roomie calls them "ice babies." - Novalis

I have a couple of old plastic water bottles in the freezer ¾ filled with water. When it's really warm I fill the remainder of the bottle with tap water and take them to bed with me, creating a "hot water bottle" in reverse. I tuck one behind my back and roll the other one in a towel for the front side and I'm pretty good to go. - Hawaiinei

Read the full Domino Magazine article H E R E

my favourite ways to cool-off:

iced drink + personal mini-fan

soak in a tub

singin' in the rain

Stay Cool

I Love Rain




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Summer Heat: Free Way to Cool Off

We barely got home from our walk with our pet, Mr Bubbles, when it began to rain. Yay, thank God for relief from the oppressive heat and humidity of the past week. As I got out of my wet clothes, the house became suddenly quiet. Where are my children? Why, outside, of course, enjoying the cooling rain. And ...horrors....actually holding hands in their fun and excitement ;-)

With or without umbrellas, I've never minded being in the rain, playing in the rain, or rain in general. The more intense the storm, the better. Times like these brings back happy memories of my childhood in the Tropics. No worries about looking like a fool, cleanliness, or infection (I thank the Lord for Tetanus shots, though); just acting like a child because you ARE a child, and enjoying the thrill of the moment. Cheap fun, courtesy of God and nature.

4.07.06.18

Listen up, Mark Zuckerberg by Suze Orman

Here's a quote from  Mashable the Social Media Guide:

... In her latest “Can I Afford It” segment, Orman strongly advises Mark Z. — an obvious reference to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg — against buying Twitter. She exclaims, “You want to spend $1.5 billion on Twitter, do I have that right? … Why do you need to buy it … you know Twitter, you can get it for free.”

8 Effective Ways to Raise Frugal Kids

Article by Carmen Bolanos in Man vs Debt :

Minimalist and frugal lifestyles are all the rage right now. It’s such a refreshing turn-around from the 80’s up-and-coming yuppy mindset and sorely needed not only by our struggling planet, but also by our souls, which I believe have always yearned for something deeper than the latest BMW.

Personally, I have always been a minimalist type. I’m not a shopper and have been known to hold on to shoes until they’re worn through and my feet are touching the street. Not for any real philosophical reason – it’s just who I am. 

What a shock when my husband and I started our family and the arrival of our dear first baby was accompanied by a hurricane of accompanying stuff! Not only the necessities of diapers and t-shirts, but mountains of accessories, gadgets, toys … you name it. Little did we know that having a child in the U.S. would mean a constant barrage of media marketing directly to our children as soon as they were able to sit up.

So, how do we ensure that our values of a minimalist lifestyle and frugality are passed on through our children when mass media and the economic machine would love to have it otherwise? How can we support minimalism and frugality as values to be passed on through generations and not let them die out as the latest trend?

Having been in the process of raising our three daughters for 17 years now, here is a list of strategies that have worked for our family:

1.Turn off the media – If I could give only one piece of advice it would be this one. Your best intentions and teachings will be constantly thwarted if your children are bombarded by every marketing ploy known to modern man. Your kids won’t crave the latest gadget, because they might not even realize it exists. You may be amazed at Christmas when your kid asks for, “I don’t know, maybe a book?” Yes – really. It actually happened to us!

2.Limit electronics – While electronics don’t necessarily advertise to kids, they do have an impact on their attention spans. In addition, overuse may adversely affect their relationships with other human beings and their ability to enjoy other forms of activity, especially quality physical activity. If you want a child who will value a simple lifestyle, they will need to be able to find joy in simple activities, such as playing outside, playing board games, and engaging in imaginative games with their friends.

3.Talk with your loved ones about your values –When you are trying to raise a child in a minimalist lifestyle it can be frustrating to receive the latest electronic or cheap plastic gadget from loved ones each Christmas and birthday. Sit down and discuss your values with your family and friends and let them know that while you appreciate their gestures of generosity, simpler gifts may help maintain consistency. You may want to gently provided specific examples. “You know, Sally really enjoys playing with puzzles and outdoor games – so if you find something like that, she’d love it. Video games really don’t get used that much.”

4.Socialize with like-minded families – Our children are just as vulnerable to peer pressure as we were. It’s hard being the only kid who doesn’t have the latest Xbox if everyone you know does. If you make the choice to live a minimalist lifestyle, surround yourself with like-minded families. You will find that your child has more fun playing with other kids who understand their type of play and can engage in it fully. Also, they won’t feel like oddballs. You’re asking them to be a part of a counter-culture. Show them that they’re not alone by supplying them with community!

5.Have fun – Frugality isn’t about deprivation. Show your kids why you value this lifestyle by making it as fun as possible. Fill your time with activities that they’ll enjoy. Camping, going to parks, playing hide and seek, creating a puppet show, baking together, traveling … the list of what you can do is only limited by your imagination.

6.Show what you can do – Research shows time and again that modeling is the most powerful teacher. Your children will model their behavior after yours. Show your kids how you live out your values by letting them watch you and take part in your activities. They will follow in your footsteps.

7. Instill a sense of service – A great mind-shift can happen when we stop thinking about what we don’t have and begin thinking about how we can help others. Consider spending time each week or month in some sort of service work with your kids. They will learn a lot about our society, will gain appreciation for what they have and will feel great about what they’ve done.

8. Enjoy a sense of purpose – As human beings, we derive happiness from purposeful activity. This has been one of the root concepts behind Montessori education. We want to be useful and to feel a sense of accomplishment. Let your children experience this by engaging in projects, building, creating, or working through problems.
My suggestions here may seem difficult. I’ll be honest in that they will require more hands-on, active parenting. They’ll also require a willingness to buck a system that will push very hard for compliance. However, the rewards will be great. What you will get in return will be engaged, enthusiastic and creative children, who will amaze you with what they can accomplish – children who are ready to carry on our values to the next generations.

Baker’s Note: After spending the time on the road that we did with Milligan, I can really appreciate the permanent lifestyle that Carmen is leading with her daughters. While Milli is only approaching two, we are hoping to instill similar values in her as she ages!


Any of you parents have other tips on how to raise frugal kids?