- The Urban Homemaker Blog

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BLOG CONTEST:
Regardless of the financial circumstances your family is in, I am asking readers to post their favorite crafty or frugal ideas. I’m talking about clever ways you recycle something otherwise considered useless or discardable.

For example, maybe you learned to make a baby quilt using old denim jeans or thrift store clothing cut into smaller pieces sewn together to complete the top. Or perhaps you have figured out a multitude of uses for recycling empty coffee cans. Maybe you mastered a new set of skills to produce sought-after gifts.

Please share your ideas on how to re-use, re-cyle, or reduce your consumption of something you thought you couldn’t live without.

Share your ideas, victories to inspire others by posting your thoughts at my blog. I have a Grand Prize for for the person who posts the best idea(s) now through April 1. The Grand Prize is a bottle of Norwex Mattress Cleaner ($27.99 value). Runner Ups will get a complimentary copy of my ebook Sensational Summer Salads.

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23 responses to “”

March 27, 2009

Nancy Baetz

Hi! These might sound a little silly, but here goes. 🙂 I use dryer lint and T.P. tubes for fire starters in our fireplace. I just save the tubes when all the paper is gone, and then stuff them full of lint. They work really great to put under the logs and we soon have a nice fire. (We really enjoyed that over the last 24 hours with blizzard conditions here!) They aren’t as pretty as pine cone starters, but I love to use up stuff we would otherwise just throw away.

My other frugal thing is that I use one of those plastic m-n-m containers to store cotton swabs (q-tips) in for my make up bag. I wear minimal make-up, and mascara sometimes gets smudged around my eyes. The tube is the perfect size for the swabs and sometimes I put a little olive oil inside the tube. It works great to clean up the mascara if it is the waterproof kind, otherwise water works fine.

Those are just two things that came to mind quickly…I’m sure we have some more quirky little things we do, but every little thing helps. My Dad always said “waste not want not” and it took me a long time to understand what he meant by that! Lean times do help us to be better stewards, if we haven’t already learned those lessons.

God Bless you Marilyn!

Nancy

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March 27, 2009

Juli Eigsti

Hi Marilyn!

I am so thankful for you and your heart for the things of the Lord. I, too, have been struggling this past year. I have been diagnosed with MS and it’s affecting me in a lot of different ways. Praise the Lord, we continue to home school our 5 children. We haven’t used our dryer for about 1 year. I have a clothesline outside with 5 lines and a few months ago, my husband put one up on our basement with 4 lines (which will hold 1 load). This has really helped our electric bill. My husband is working on a design of a rocket stove. I am planning on starting a garden this year, Lord willing.

Keep the faith and know God never allows us to through something without giving us what we need to go through it.

Juli Eigsti

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March 27, 2009

Diane N.

Marilyn,
Thanks for sharing your comments about what you learned from a time of financial shortage. I understand the need to help at home financially & the resentment that can arise from that. Poverty can make us bitter if we don’t learn to rejoice in the unshakable blessing God has given us in His Son, Jesus Christ! Everything goes better when He is foremost.

Crafty things: I’ve learned to sew curtains recently, and made very low cost black-out curtains for our (bright east-facing) bedrooms. The windows in each room are floor-to-ceiling and would not be possible to buy unless special-ordered. Black-out material was $1.49/yard on special! Wow. My mom gave me the sewing machine last year.

In frugal cooking, I’ve learned to buy whole chickens and fish, & ground beef or pork: no specialty cuts. These are the most economical ways to buy well-raised meats. I’ve learned to make the most of them by having a “chicken or fish night” and a “beef or pork night” weekly, with other proteins on other days of the week. I save the drippings to use in pan-frying or in the case of poultry drippings, as the fat in bread recipes. I’ve found chicken or turkey fat makes a nicer bread texture than when I used olive oil, & it comes “free” with the bird! The bones make a great soup stock. In hot weather when soup is unappealing, adding broth to rice cooking water is a nice way to use it.

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March 27, 2009

Terri Sue

One of the things I have learned to do is copycat some of our favorite dishes from restruants. In the last few years we eat out only as a reward or celebration. We started missing some of the foods so I began to try and duplicate them. It is a lot cheaper to feed our family at home and also we can add extra special things to the dishes.

Thank you for your newsletter.
Be blessed

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March 27, 2009

Lynne W.

Thank you for your newsletters. I’ll be praying for you during this difficult anniversary.

Three frugal ideas from one source–my husband’s old pants/jeans. When my husband wears holes in the knees of his pants (or the pants are too ‘worn’ or whatever), I cut them off and make him a pair of shorts. I then use the bottom part of each leg to make either the bodice of a jumper for my little girls (add a matching fabric for the skirt) or a skirt for my girls. If you turn the ‘legs’ upside down and open one side of each and then stitch them together, it’s a perfect skirt shape! My daughters think it’s funny that they’re wearing Daddy’s pants 🙂

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March 27, 2009

Nichole

For frugal shopping for meat: see my blog post http://frugalhomeliving.blogspot.com/2009/03/chicken-anyone.html

For decorating with what you have on hand: see my blog post
http://frugalhomeliving.blogspot.com/2009/03/birth-of-spring-tablescape.html

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March 28, 2009

Lynne in NC

Marilyn,
Since 1998 our family has made so many changes toward a more frugal lifestyle. I hope I can list them all!? Having been raised in an affluent home, I must add that I was the only one who has gone through this kicking and screaming at times, too.

In our urban 3/4 acre lot:
We started a huge garden; learned to can from its bounty and shared produce with others; use a wood stove to heat our home in the winter; gleaned wood from felled trees during Spring ice storms; kept a pantry full of BOGO items to see us through lean times; and I pulled out the sewing machine to make gifts for those on our lists. All of these changes have enhanced our way of living and I would not wish to return to a life of over indulgence and waste (this is My opinion).

Pulling out and dusting off the sewing machine has given me a wonderul hobby and an opportunity to gift others from my labor. I make handbags, tote bags, skirts, dresses, costumes and other gifts for family and friends. The items are requested by so many of our church friends that I am hardly able to stay on top of the list! It is a true blessing for me.

Why 1998 when we started these frugal changes? Because we were preparing for the year 2000. Some friends who went through that adventure with us are embarassed to admit they planned for it; however, our preparations then put us on the road to a more frugal lifestyle now. One in which we can bless others and also be prepared for an economic downturn. Our preparations have already helped us through two of them!

One more thing that I must add is that we (I) would not have been able to continue this way of living had the Urban Homemaker not been available.
I have learned so much through the continuing education seminars, through the books you sell and from the products we’ve purchased.

Thank you for turning your hobby into a much-needed business venture.
Peace,
Lynne in NC

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March 28, 2009

Sharon Koehn

Marliyn what a great idea and so needed these days. My idea is a lil’ personal but I think it can help us women save money. I have used old flannel nightgowns to make feminine napkins. They are very soft and absorbent. I use a pad from the store to be my pattern. And than make a holder to put it in to help it more more absorbent. and secure. Of course there are other fabrics one could find at garage sales that would also be cheap. Or our own clothes with holes that we would normally throw away, could be another options as long as it is soft and absorbent. Oh yea, I also use the cheap pack of white wash clothes at Costco or Walmart in place of paper towels as well as old t-shirts can be cut up to use as tissues and than rewashed and used again.
I hope these ideas bless someone out there to save a little. Marylin I pray for you during this time of readjustment for you and your family.
Blessings,
Sharon

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March 28, 2009

SimpleMommy

My best tip is using leftover chili. I compiled a list some time ago on my blog. Chili is cheap and easy to make. You can make a large pot & then freeze it or can it and use it so many ways. I’ve listed 16 ways.

Since, I’ve also learned to use it with macaroni and more tomatoes to make a goulash of sorts.

Anyway, here’s a link to my post……if that’s ok.

http://simplemommy.blogspot.com/2007/12/leftover-chili.html

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March 28, 2009

Nichole Wade

Hi Marilyn! Well, my most recent recycle project came into being because I wanted more flower beds in my front yard, but we don’t have any money for railroad ties etc. So, looking about our farm, I saw a pile of concrete blocks and some pavers 2x8x16 out back of the house that we were going to tear up because we don’t use the patio out there. So, we took 16 blocks….5 on each long side, 3 each on the other sides. We took dirt from our compost pile and filled in the entire thing, including the holes of the concrete blocks (which were facing up). Then we used the 2x8x16 pavers as caps (they fit perfectly on the top of a cinder block) around the top. It is beautiful and sturdy and it cost us nothing! Now I have a very nice flower bed that I can put vegetable and flower plants in. It will be pretty, feed the family and it cost nothing to us because we simply looked around and used what we had available. We have plans to build more and make more compost too. Oh, if you wanted to and didn’t have the pavers, you could use the holes as a place to tuck herbs and such. We chose to cover them and not leave them empty as here in AR we have a lot of black widows and we didn’t want to make fancy homes for them! Hope this helps someone! Blessings to you! Nichole

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March 28, 2009

Karen

Our daughter moved into an “older” apartment last fall, with some pretty drafty windows. I made window quilts for her that are attached the whole way around with velcro (this is MUCH

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March 28, 2009

Karen

Our daughter moved into an “older” apartment last fall, with some pretty drafty windows. I made window quilts for her that are attached the whole way around with velcro (this is MUCH cheaper purchased as yardage from sewing supply places that you can find on the Internet than if you purchase it in little packages at the store). We put hooks at the top of her south windows, and corresponding grommets at the bottoms of the quilts so that she could let the sunshine in during the day. The quilts were not exactly cheap to make, but are an investment for as long as she lives there, and definitely helped to keep her heat bills somewhat in check through this incredibly cold winter.

I’ve been a gardener “forever” and love canning. This year we are adding a lot to the garden so that we have produce to pass on to those who need it at our church and where I work.

Peace,
Karen

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March 28, 2009

Twyla

Toilet paper and Paper Towel tubes make excellent holders for electrical cords that are not in use. You can write what appliance the individual cords belong to or the length of an extension cord on the outside of the tube. Saves the cords from getting lost or tangled in a drawer, and they are very easy to store.

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March 28, 2009

Twyla

The little plastic containers that “Crystal Light”, or similar sugar free drink mixes, come in make excellent paint pots for little Picasso’s.

The larger container that all of the individual “pots” come in are the perfect size for storing a batch of homemade play dough. I’ve also used the plastic containers from my occasional use of store-bought icing for this purpose. Both of these seal well and will hold play dough or paint for months.

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March 28, 2009

Twyla

The plastic rings that hold frozen concentrated juice cans or soft drinks together are very useful – I’ve used them as a holder for drying hose, and holding plant stems up

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March 28, 2009

Twyla

Oops – didn’t finish 🙂

Also used the plastic rings as a holder for various rolls of wrapping papers (6 to 8 rolls). Just put a small open box under them at the bottom and you have an open gift wrap holder. Use two same size for more stability.

Also, if you use store-bought dryer sheets, they also make great cheap air fresheners for the car; especially for long trips with teens! Can be slipped into very small spaces.

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March 28, 2009

Twyla

Instead of buying trash bags, if your area hasn’t converted to the use of fabric bags yet, plastic grocery bags are perfect for small trash cans in your bathrooms; dry cleaning bags are the right size for larger cans – just tie the hanger end in a knot.

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March 28, 2009

Vicki

One of my funnest frugal tips is to make a solar oven. You can find directions at:
http://www.solarcooking.org
I made the solar funnel cooker. It is very easy to make and works well. I save money every time I use it, by not using power for my oven, and it also keeps my home cooler in the summer, saving air conditioning costs. And you can’t beat brownies made in a solar oven!
Vicki

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March 29, 2009

Karena

Marilyn,

Our family is going through lean times at present. Last year we grew a garden and I became a seed saver. This year I’m using those seeds I saved and have been trading them for new veggie seeds.

For mulch this year we used the leaves from our trees. I use kitchen scraps in our compost pile. The rocks in our yard are used to make raised beds (which look fabulous).

I began growing lots of herbs this year which I hope to sell at the local farmer’s market.

For our youngest I’ve gotten clothes using “freecycle”. This is were we’ve gotten furniture also. Everything on this site is free and incourages people not to throw good usable items away. (less in our land fills)

God has provided above and beyond what I could ever imagine. I’m bless to be daughter of the King of Kings.

Thanks,

Karena

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March 30, 2009

Lydia

Finding inexpensive modest skirts for my growing teenage daughter had been a challenge. We would go to thrift stores but couldn’t find much in her size. Then we began to look in a different way. We found that we could buy sizes much bigger and then cut them down or take in the waist with a few darts or add some elastic very easily and she would have a beautiful “new” skirt for a dollar or two. Sometimes it they were just a bit too small but had lots of sewed elastic I could “unsew” (cut the stitches) the elastic and it would fit nicely.
Blessings.
Lydia

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March 30, 2009

Terri Roshon

Hi:
I have a wool sweater that was washed in the washer. It is now too small. I thought about cutting the sleeves off, and using them for leg warmers this winter. Also, sewing the left over body of the sweater for a purse.

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April 7, 2009

Deb Dufek

With our large family (seven children, 5 with spouses) and fourteen grandchildren, needless to say Christmas and birthdays can be overwhelming financially, not to mention the energy it takes shopping for that many. One of my husband’s great joys is to shop “off season”, purchasing well ahead of Christmas or someone’s birthday. There’s always still a scramble the week before, but we save so much money by purchasing right after the holiday for the next year. In NY we have some stores that go down to 90% off the original asking price. The one problem we encounter now and again, though, is the difficulty we sometimes have wanting to “give” the gift right then and there!! 🙂

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April 18, 2009

Erica

Hi! What a great site you have!!

I took a lot of old clothes that were worn out w/holes, stains, dry-rotted elastic, etc. & made a bunch of cloth napkins for our family, as well as a bunch of baby wipes too. I have not bought paper napkins in well over a year, & we have only had to buy disposable wipes 1 time for our 4 MO (we only use them on the go for now until I get used to cloth diapering a babe on the run). One other project we did for our recycling unit in homeschool was to take tank tops (tank shirts), turn them inside out, sew the bottom together, & turn them right side out to reveal cloth bags… the kiddos LOVED that project!!

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