Photo by mrfink

Growing up, I remember my grandmother swore by cleaning with vinegar for…just about everything.  As with so much other advice she gave me, she was right! For those of you who think cleaning with vinegar is old-fashioned and outdated…think again.  Vinegar is frugal to buy, fabulous to use, and eco-friendly too – what more could you ask for?!  The good news is you can clean and “green” your house – all on a lean budget! Here are our top ten tips for getting your home very clean with vinegar (we’re talking white vinegar, not the apple cider variety!)

1. For sparkling glass and mirrors, just mix a solution of water and vinegar and clean with a crumpled up newspaper – you’ll never waste money on store bought sprays again!

2. You know how coffee pots always say to clean every month or so to keep coffee tasting great?  Seriously, look inside the reservoir and you too will be dashing to clean it out. I ran a solution of vinegar and water through it twice, and then one rinse cycle of plain water  (check your appliance for specific instructions) and I have to say my coffee tastes better than ever.

3. Clean make-up brushes – instead of throwing money away on pricey solutions at the store, just soak brushes in a solution of one part vinegar to three parts water and swish – make sure you rinse well.

4. Air freshener – in my opinion you cannot beat vinegar as an air freshener. No one likes the smell of a lingering cooking odor semi-covered up with a heavy floral scent so if you got inspired to cook a fishy dish at home but don’t feel like living with the smell for the next three days, try this simple, effective idea for air freshener. Simply boil a combo of vinegar and water on the stove, the air will be deodorized in no time, and without smelling like a seafood truck and a fresh cut flower truck had a nasty run in!

5. Ever get weirded out by wondering what sort of chemicals they put in your dishwasher rinse agent?  If Jet Dry is freaking you out, just try vinegar instead!  A ½ cup of vinegar in the dishwasher will leave your glasses spotless and sparkling – without the need for adding any neon blue solution to your machine.

6. Add some vinegar to your laundry to deodorize and also help remove soap residue from within the machine! Really helps keep your workout clothes smelling fresh and clean.

Photo by woodleywonderworks

Now that I’m a parent, I think about things like how to teach my kids about money. Most people agree that children should do chores around the house and help out in age-appropriate ways. And most people also agree that it is valuable for children to receive an allowance to start learning about the value of money. But, it turns out, there is quite a bit of debate over whether or not an allowance should be tied to doing chore. First things first – I had to rid my mind of the image the word “chores” conjured up in my head – for some reason I equate it with churning butter, but I know in today’s world it is more likely to correspond to TIVO management. Though I understand the concept of wanting to teach kids that they have to earn money, I’m not into the idea of paying them do everyday things that are expected of members of any household. It didn’t feel right to me to tie an allowance to basics like making the bed.

I concluded I was comfortable with giving a weekly allowance, but then having room for the child to earn extra money by doing special “paid” chores – basically, things I normally hire someone to do, like wash my car. Some of these “big jobs” which are tedious to me are SO much fun for our kids! Our boys washed our car the other day (with a little help) and you’d be surprised what a great job a 4 year old and 20 month old can do! More than that, they had a great time and were so proud of the job they did. By tacking on a financial incentive to this great lesson in self-esteem, not only will I get a clean car, but my boys will start to build their concept of work and earning money.

Keep the Green in Your Pocket
Kids birthday parties don’t have to be expensive to be a hit!! Have an “eco-friendly” kids party – it will leave you with more green in your pocket!  By creatively reusing items you already have and focusing on earth friendly activities, you can save money, teach valuable lessons and – most importantly – HAVE FUN!

No Need To Print Invitations
Just use Evite to save paper … and money!

Create A Recycled Craft Center
Create your own recycled craft center, and let the kids’ imaginations run wild.  Gather up cardboard paper towel rolls, old milk cartons and paper shopping bags – with some crayons and glue and stickers (you probably have these laying around the house) you’ll be amazed at how quickly your recycling bin can be turned into light sabers, toy houses and silly costumes.  And the children can take their creations home, so it can also be their party favor!

You Can Plant a Party Favor
Why not invest in some inexpensive plants (less than 50 cents a piece) and cardboard cups.  The kids can decorate the “planters” and then re-plant the plants – a lesson in green living that is also so much fun!  And the kids can take home their plant as their party favor, and continue to watch it grow.

Turn Your Backyard into an Obstacle Course
The answer to a great party activity might be right in your backyard – literally.  As I looked around my own boring backyard, I saw how it (or the park) could be transformed into a full on adventure course!  For example: Run to the tree, do 5 jumping jacks, hop through a hula hoop maze, try to make a basket – while standing backwards – draw a chalk picture on the patio, and run around the picnic table before crossing the finish line.  Bonus: the kids will be exhausted by the end of the party!

It seems like just as soon as the scorching temperatures melt away it's time to gear up for winter.  You've probably figured out that your house isn't perfect.  Even newer homes are cursed with cracks and openings throughout that let your heating air seep outside.  While some states, like Georgia, are even collecting money for low income weatherization projects, you probably won't qualify for most of the grants floating around right now.  But even with a moderate investment, you'll be coming out far ahead in energy savings. 

Get your house in weatherproof shape with these conditioning tips to keep the hot air where it belongs:

1. Inside Insulation
It's nice to have a roof over your head, but it won't do much against bone-chilling winters without a protective layer of insulation between it and your house.  You need at least six inches in the attic to make a difference.  Insulation is like a giant down coat for your home--the thicker and better quality varieties keep the inside toastier.  Don't attempt to do it yourself without some guidance from a seasoned homeowner or contractor. 

Also make sure you look between the walls--some homes actually have no insulation between the exterior surface and sheet rock making it a virtually peg board for air to circulate in and out at will.

2. Strip Sense
When the first cold front hits, put your hand around all the windows and doors in your house.  You may be surprised to feel how much colder it is and even feel a couple of drafty patches.  The best way to combat the cold creeping in front door and window cracks is with a trusty roll of weather stripping.  It looks like glorified foam tape.  You'll need to ask someone knowledgeable about what type of stripping is best for each surface, as you will probably need more than one roll. 

3. Caulking Cracks
Depending on where the opening is you may want to use either an expandable foam sealant or caulk to crack down on the cracks.  Caulk works best around windowsills and electrical plates while expanding foam does well in larger cracks not directly exposed to water and sunlight.

It’s easy to fall in love with an adorable pup but remember – even the littlest dogs can add up to big expenditures! Celebrity dog trainer Inger Martens gave us a few Fab & Fru tips to help control all those doggone expenses!

1. Swanky Dogs Hang Out At Shelters!
Many of us have our hearts set on pure bred puppies, but did you know that you can often find these diva dogs at your local animal shelter?!  Most breeds even have their own rescue leagues.  So, you can actually adopt a pure breed for much less than going to a breeder or a pet store! Vets in the know may also be able to direct you to a pound that rescues neglected purebreds from puppy mills.   

2. Tons of Toys?
Inger cautions that many of us tend to spoil our dogs with lots of expensive toys, but you really just need to start with two (and the ones in the discount bin are just fine)!  Leave one toy out for the pup to play with all day and only bring out the other toy when you get home.  By making one of the toys special, you will start to train your dog to know when it’s playtime or quiet time.  A tennis ball and a couple bully sticks to chew are all your canine cutie needs to stay entertained!

As a sun-worshipping teenager I took great pride in my summer bronzed body.  But long gone are the days when I would slather myself with baby oil and roast on the beach (or our black top driveway) for hours like a rotisserie chicken.  Heck, we know way too much now about the damaging effects of the sun.  And because beauty is only skin deep, it’s up to all of us to make sure we do all we can to protect the health & youthful look of our skin!

You don’t have to buy the most expensive European brand of sunscreen to ensure that you’re getting the best protection, but you do need to know what to look for before spending even a dime on your next bottle of SPF!
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, a single overexposure to sunlight can result in painful sunburned skin. A bad burn when you're young can have serious consequences such as skin cancer later in life. Long-term overexposure can cause skin cancer, wrinkles, freckles, age spots, dilated blood vessels, and changes in the texture of the skin that makes skin look older.

The invisible rays, known as ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB), cause most of these problems, including suntan, sunburn, and sun damage. There is no "safe" ultraviolet (UV) light, and there is no such thing as a safe tan. UVB radiation effects the outer most layer of the skin and can't penetrate through glass, but UVA rays effect the skin at a much deeper level, penetrates through glass, and can cause damage all year round.

FYI- SPF ONLY measures the amount of UVB absorption.  There is currently no means to measure UVA absorption. In order to protect your skin from both UVB and UVA rays, you must use a Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen.  Although you will pay a few dollars more, you are wasting your money and risking wrinkles by not using broad spectrum protection!

Recently I was unloading my groceries when my friend Claudia Castaneda started eyeing the price tag of the ‘fresh’ salsa I had bought. “$6.00 – for this? Do you know how much salsa I could make for $6.00?!”  I had already tasted many of Claudia’s recipes from her native El Salvador and knew she was a fantastic cook.  But was her homemade salsa really worth it?

Claudia headed to the store with $6.00.  After she got back, we were chatting in my kitchen as she was chopping, and ten minutes later I looked down to see a big bowl of freshly made salsa in front of me!  It smelled so good I ripped open a bag of chips and dug in.  It was unbelievably delicious! 

So much more flavorful than the version I had bought.  Plus, it had a refreshing, crunchy texture, not at all mushy like the stuff I was used to!  And what a bargain – she made at least two times as much as I had bought – for the same price!  She was right – her $6.00 worth of salsa sure had mine beat.

I’ve been reading up lately on how to save money while grocery shopping.  The one tip I keep coming across is to look to the top and bottom shelves to find the deals! 

Pricier goods are placed at eye level in the grocery, and big companies pay a huge premium to make sure that you see their items first.  I recently tested out the theory for myself, and I have to say-- it was a Fabulous & Frugal victory!

I will often dash into the store and pick up a prepared marinade to throw over chicken – easy for dinner and even the boys will eat it.  The marinades I usually grab are – you guessed it – the ones at eye level. 

I had never bothered to look on the top shelf (or the bottom one for that matter).  Yesterday, I gazed upward and my eyes fell upon a can of Contadina Sweet and Sour Sauce. 

It was packaged in a non-descript red can - much less outwardly enticing than the bevy of bottled marinades at eye level.  But it was also less expensive than many of them too – just $2.29 a can!

I just discovered a way to put an extra $2250 a year into my sons’ college savings accounts. No, I didn’t win the lottery. I started thinking outside the box. Or, in this case, inside the box. That’s right – I started dying my own hair.

Before you let images of brown, indelible goo splattered everywhere scare you away, let me tell you – it was way easier than I expected. To be honest, going to the salon had always been a chore for me. I have to color my hair often to cover my gray, and, really -- who has time to sit in the salon for several hours in the middle of the day every few weeks?   

Beyond the time commitment, coloring my hair had also become a major financial commitment!  I added up what I was spending on salon visits a year – 15 visits a year times $150 was ….$2250 a year – on hair color?!  I figured it wasn’t worth spending thousands of dollars a year on something I didn’t even enjoy.