Entertaining on a budget has become an art in this tough economy. One of the best ideas for a party I've heard of lately is the Swap Party. Everyone has stuff in their closets that they never use, that doesn't work for them, for whatever reason. It's still good stuff to someone else, guaranteed! Pick a theme, such as books and board games, craft supplies, clothing and accessories, kitchen gadgets and cookbooks, or home accessories. Invite as many friends as you want, and tell them to bring their castoffs in whatever category you've chosen. If exchanging clothing, it's ok to invite people who wear various sizes. If none of the clothing fits, they will probably find some accessories. When everyone arrives, let the fun begin!
Provide an area such as a large table or clothes rack where the items can be displayed. As people get there, have them arrange their items in the space provided. For clothing swaps, provide a separate area for coats and purses so none of these go home with a new owner by mistake!
While the guests look over the items, it's time to snack and enjoy a glass of wine (or two!). Once everyone has arrived and had a chance to relax, mingle and scope out the merchandise, it's time to trade!
You'll probably want to come up with and explain some basic rules before you start. Provide a try-on room with a full-length mirror if it's clothes you are swapping. Give your guests boxes or bags and have them put their names on them, so they can hold onto their finds. It doesn't have to be a one-for-one exchange. The goal is to get rid of everything. Make sure you donate whatever's left at the end of the evening to your local thrift store.
Your guests will have a blast trying on outlandish outfits, coming up with ways to use craft supplies, discussing the plots of books, or dreaming about how they could use that tablecloth or those candlesticks to freshen up their dining room. The thrill of shopping without the agony of the credit card bill that arrives shortly after. What could be better!
I bet you are mentally scanning the contents of your closets, cupboards and bookshelves right now. Time to send out the invitations!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
You'll Have it Made When You Learn to Trade
Barter is a great way to stretch your budget. Trading what you have for what you need, whether it's food, goods or services, can save you a lot of money. Whatever you have a surplus of, chances are someone else needs it. Do you get some sort of free perk from work that you don't need so much of? Do you have a larger crop of fruit or vegetables than you need? Do you have a skill such as cutting hair or doing taxes? Chances are someone else needs that very thing, and has something you could use.
To some extent, I've always traded very informally with friends and neighbors. I'll loan you my vacuum cleaner if I can borrow your bread machine. My tree is full of lemons, and you have a bunch of bell peppers ripe, so let's swap. That type of thing. Lately, I've been trying to expand this concept to trading with strangers, via online forums such as Craigslist and Freecycle.
Freecycle is a very loose form of trading, since you offer things you don't want to others for free, and then you can respond when others offer something, or you can request what you need. You don't necessarily give and receive things all at one time, so it's not really an immediate trade. If you keep participating regularly, though, you will eventually do both. Join your local Freecycle group at freecyle.org today!
Craigslist has a barter category, where I have posted ads, and responded to the ads of others. I haven't had a huge response so far, but I have arranged a couple of trades with some really nice people. My goal is to eventually have a network of contacts with whom I trade regularly. One tip I can offer in regard to Craigslist: you have to delete and re-post your ad every couple of days, because they get so many postings that your ad quickly works its way to the bottom of the list, where it's not seen by anyone. Go to Craigslist.org today and check it out. Most cities in the US and lots of other countries are represented there now.
Another place I plan to look for trading partners in the near future is on community bulletin boards. These bulletin boards can often be found in coffee shops such as Starbucks, many apartment and condo communities, community colleges, some grocery stores and libraries. I plan on typing up a simple tear-off ad using a template like this one:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010427661033.aspx?CategoryID=CT101432781033
and posting it on local bulletin boards. I will list what I want to trade, what I might like to receive in return, and some simple contact information on the tear-off tabs, such as my name and email address. I'll let you know what kind of response I get!
Obviously, with any of these methods of making trading contacts, you'll want to be careful not to give out too much personal information. Just your name or initials, and an email address, preferably a junk email address that you give out when you don't want to give out your personal email address. When you arrange to meet with someone, agree to meet in a public place, in the daytime, at least for the first contact. Never give out your home address. I personally have never had any problems with anyone I have dealt with from Craiglist or Freecyle, but it pays to be cautious.
As you start to build a network of barter contacts from various sources, you will not only save money and help yourself and others, but you will help to foster a sense of community. In tough economic times like these, it's more important than ever.
Oh, and keep in mind that if you start trading services, the IRS views barter income as income for tax purposes, so go to their website and familiarize yourself with the rules before tax time rolls around.
As always, I would love to hear about your barter experiences, both good and bad, so please leave a comment!
To some extent, I've always traded very informally with friends and neighbors. I'll loan you my vacuum cleaner if I can borrow your bread machine. My tree is full of lemons, and you have a bunch of bell peppers ripe, so let's swap. That type of thing. Lately, I've been trying to expand this concept to trading with strangers, via online forums such as Craigslist and Freecycle.
Freecycle is a very loose form of trading, since you offer things you don't want to others for free, and then you can respond when others offer something, or you can request what you need. You don't necessarily give and receive things all at one time, so it's not really an immediate trade. If you keep participating regularly, though, you will eventually do both. Join your local Freecycle group at freecyle.org today!
Craigslist has a barter category, where I have posted ads, and responded to the ads of others. I haven't had a huge response so far, but I have arranged a couple of trades with some really nice people. My goal is to eventually have a network of contacts with whom I trade regularly. One tip I can offer in regard to Craigslist: you have to delete and re-post your ad every couple of days, because they get so many postings that your ad quickly works its way to the bottom of the list, where it's not seen by anyone. Go to Craigslist.org today and check it out. Most cities in the US and lots of other countries are represented there now.
Another place I plan to look for trading partners in the near future is on community bulletin boards. These bulletin boards can often be found in coffee shops such as Starbucks, many apartment and condo communities, community colleges, some grocery stores and libraries. I plan on typing up a simple tear-off ad using a template like this one:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC010427661033.aspx?CategoryID=CT101432781033
and posting it on local bulletin boards. I will list what I want to trade, what I might like to receive in return, and some simple contact information on the tear-off tabs, such as my name and email address. I'll let you know what kind of response I get!
Obviously, with any of these methods of making trading contacts, you'll want to be careful not to give out too much personal information. Just your name or initials, and an email address, preferably a junk email address that you give out when you don't want to give out your personal email address. When you arrange to meet with someone, agree to meet in a public place, in the daytime, at least for the first contact. Never give out your home address. I personally have never had any problems with anyone I have dealt with from Craiglist or Freecyle, but it pays to be cautious.
As you start to build a network of barter contacts from various sources, you will not only save money and help yourself and others, but you will help to foster a sense of community. In tough economic times like these, it's more important than ever.
Oh, and keep in mind that if you start trading services, the IRS views barter income as income for tax purposes, so go to their website and familiarize yourself with the rules before tax time rolls around.
As always, I would love to hear about your barter experiences, both good and bad, so please leave a comment!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Physically Fit and Fiscally Sound
It's time again for those New Year's Resolutions. One at the top of a lot of lists is getting in shape. This can cost a lot, but it doesn't have to. You can shell out a lot of money for fancy gym memberships, home exercise equipment and spiffy spandex workout clothes, or you can go the frugal route.
One of the best forms of exercise out there is walking. All you need is comfortable clothing and a decent pair of shoes with good arch support. If you want to work your arms out at the same time, get some wrist weights. These are filled with sand and fasten around your wrists with velcro. You can get these at Walmart, Target, Kmart, etc., and they are inexpensive, but I see them often at yard sales or thrift stores even cheaper. I am lucky enough to have some walking trails behind my house, but if you don't have trails at your disposal, walk around your neighborhood, walk in the park, walk up to the grocery store when you only need a few items, walk around the track at your nearest school, walk in the mall - walk anywhere, just walk! Thirty minutes a day is all you need. Walking is good for those people who find exercise boring, because you can look around at your surroundings and forget that you're working out!
If you are more of an indoor exerciser, you can find lots of exercise videos at your local library. Check out different types and change things up to keep from getting bored. The popular exercise magazines also have websites where you can download exercise routines or watch videos. This type of exercise is good in bad weather. All you need is some comfortable clothing, a tv with VCR or computer and some floor space that is clear of furniture. If you have hard floors, an exercise mat can prevent soreness. Again, these can be found cheaply at discount stores.
Don't forget to take advantage of equipment you already have. Do you own a bicycle that's rusting in the garage, or an exercise bike that's really more of a clothes rack at the moment? Dust them off and press them into service. You can even watch tv while you're on the exercise bike, and before you know it, you'll have burned off your dinner calories! Do you still use those skis or skates in the shed? If not, get back in the habit. Do your kids have a Wii or Dance, Dance Revolution? Hook it up and make use of it.
If the idea of any type of formal exercise is still too much for you, just try increasing your activity level. Take the stairs at work instead of the elevator. Sweep and mop floors vigorously. Hang laundry out to dry on the line. Take the rugs outside and beat them. Scrub all the windows until they shine. Walk the dog longer. Just move!
One of the best forms of exercise out there is walking. All you need is comfortable clothing and a decent pair of shoes with good arch support. If you want to work your arms out at the same time, get some wrist weights. These are filled with sand and fasten around your wrists with velcro. You can get these at Walmart, Target, Kmart, etc., and they are inexpensive, but I see them often at yard sales or thrift stores even cheaper. I am lucky enough to have some walking trails behind my house, but if you don't have trails at your disposal, walk around your neighborhood, walk in the park, walk up to the grocery store when you only need a few items, walk around the track at your nearest school, walk in the mall - walk anywhere, just walk! Thirty minutes a day is all you need. Walking is good for those people who find exercise boring, because you can look around at your surroundings and forget that you're working out!
If you are more of an indoor exerciser, you can find lots of exercise videos at your local library. Check out different types and change things up to keep from getting bored. The popular exercise magazines also have websites where you can download exercise routines or watch videos. This type of exercise is good in bad weather. All you need is some comfortable clothing, a tv with VCR or computer and some floor space that is clear of furniture. If you have hard floors, an exercise mat can prevent soreness. Again, these can be found cheaply at discount stores.
Don't forget to take advantage of equipment you already have. Do you own a bicycle that's rusting in the garage, or an exercise bike that's really more of a clothes rack at the moment? Dust them off and press them into service. You can even watch tv while you're on the exercise bike, and before you know it, you'll have burned off your dinner calories! Do you still use those skis or skates in the shed? If not, get back in the habit. Do your kids have a Wii or Dance, Dance Revolution? Hook it up and make use of it.
If the idea of any type of formal exercise is still too much for you, just try increasing your activity level. Take the stairs at work instead of the elevator. Sweep and mop floors vigorously. Hang laundry out to dry on the line. Take the rugs outside and beat them. Scrub all the windows until they shine. Walk the dog longer. Just move!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Have Yourself a Thrifty Little Christmas
This year more people are opting for a "green" Christmas. In many ways this can also be a more frugal Christmas. My family and friends have a couple of appropriate holiday traditions I thought you might like to adopt for your own.
First, we have a lot of reusable packaging that we like to wrap our Christmas gifts in. We have tins, cloth bags, boxes that we've decorated with old Christmas cards, corrugated cardboard packaging with trees punched out of it that came with some nuts in it, and my absolute favorite, a takeout container that I saved from an Italian restaurant that has the Leaning Tower of Pisa on it. I wrote "Buon Natale" (Merry Christmas in Italian) on the top with glitter glue, and colored in the tower. I package the gift with natural colored excelsior topped with a little red excelsior so it looks like pasta with sauce. CD's I wrap by stapling an old Christmas card shut, slipping the CD inside, and taping it shut. I write the "to" and "from" directly on the front. This not only saves money since we don't need to buy much wrapping paper, but also makes wrapping presents quick and easy. It also keeps a lot of gift wrap out of the landfill. We add an additional fun element to this by dating the bottom of the package with the initials of the giver and recipient, and the date. It's fun to look and see how many years we've been using the packaging, and the history of where it's been. We also make our own gift tags out of old cards, photos and colored plastic packaging. Simply cut with scissors or paper trimmer, punch a hole with a hole punch, and use a Sharpie to address the tag.
Another great use for old Christmas cards is to make ornaments for your tree, or for gifts. Google "Christmas card ornaments" and you will find many different patterns. I save cards that I receive, and also those that my office receives.
My friend's family has a tradition of collecting samples and rebate items all year such as coffee, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, etc., and packaging the items in a reusable grocery store tote (Target bags are a very festive red, and Trader Joe's has a lot of cute patterned ones). This way the bag can be reused over and over after the contents are gone. All of the items are useful, and will be used up instead of cluttering the recipient's house with unwanted doodads.
One of our favorite frugal Christmas activities is to pile the family in the car with to-go mugs of hot cocoa or cider, and head out to our local version of Candy Cane Lane. I'm sure you all live fairly close to one of those neighborhoods where everyone decorates to the max. Enjoy your neighbors' displays! They are going to a lot of trouble and (electric bill!) expense to entertain you this holiday season.
First, we have a lot of reusable packaging that we like to wrap our Christmas gifts in. We have tins, cloth bags, boxes that we've decorated with old Christmas cards, corrugated cardboard packaging with trees punched out of it that came with some nuts in it, and my absolute favorite, a takeout container that I saved from an Italian restaurant that has the Leaning Tower of Pisa on it. I wrote "Buon Natale" (Merry Christmas in Italian) on the top with glitter glue, and colored in the tower. I package the gift with natural colored excelsior topped with a little red excelsior so it looks like pasta with sauce. CD's I wrap by stapling an old Christmas card shut, slipping the CD inside, and taping it shut. I write the "to" and "from" directly on the front. This not only saves money since we don't need to buy much wrapping paper, but also makes wrapping presents quick and easy. It also keeps a lot of gift wrap out of the landfill. We add an additional fun element to this by dating the bottom of the package with the initials of the giver and recipient, and the date. It's fun to look and see how many years we've been using the packaging, and the history of where it's been. We also make our own gift tags out of old cards, photos and colored plastic packaging. Simply cut with scissors or paper trimmer, punch a hole with a hole punch, and use a Sharpie to address the tag.
Another great use for old Christmas cards is to make ornaments for your tree, or for gifts. Google "Christmas card ornaments" and you will find many different patterns. I save cards that I receive, and also those that my office receives.
My friend's family has a tradition of collecting samples and rebate items all year such as coffee, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes, etc., and packaging the items in a reusable grocery store tote (Target bags are a very festive red, and Trader Joe's has a lot of cute patterned ones). This way the bag can be reused over and over after the contents are gone. All of the items are useful, and will be used up instead of cluttering the recipient's house with unwanted doodads.
One of our favorite frugal Christmas activities is to pile the family in the car with to-go mugs of hot cocoa or cider, and head out to our local version of Candy Cane Lane. I'm sure you all live fairly close to one of those neighborhoods where everyone decorates to the max. Enjoy your neighbors' displays! They are going to a lot of trouble and (electric bill!) expense to entertain you this holiday season.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
An Attitude of Gratitude For This Frugalest of Feasts
If you think about it, Thanksgiving is a naturally frugal holiday. The focus is all on food and family, not expensive gifts or decorations.
The food served is cheap: turkey (39 cents to 59 cents a lb. right now), mashed potatoes (about $5 for a huge bag) and stuffing (great stuff considering it's made out of old, stale breadcrumbs). Typically, relatives each bring something, so you don't even have to spring for the whole feast. Want some wine with your meal? Two Buck Chuck makes a couple of great varietals that go well with turkey. A local grocery was advertising pumpkin pies for $2.99. I can't even make them for that price!
Decorations can come from nature. Pick up some beautiful fall leaves, acorns and pine cones, and use them to dress up the house.
Build some family traditions by having family members all sign an inexpensive tablecloth with permanent marker, then use it year after year, and add to it, making note of any special family events or milestones each year. Start a Thankful Jar. Have each family member write something they are thankful for this year on a slip of paper, stick them in a jar, and then read them aloud.
After dinner, turn the football game on, or dig out those dusty board games. Nothing gets people talking like a game of Pictionary or Trivial Pursuit. Converse with your extended family members and really catch up.
Relax, enjoy yourself, and take some time to be thankful for this most frugal of holidays!
The food served is cheap: turkey (39 cents to 59 cents a lb. right now), mashed potatoes (about $5 for a huge bag) and stuffing (great stuff considering it's made out of old, stale breadcrumbs). Typically, relatives each bring something, so you don't even have to spring for the whole feast. Want some wine with your meal? Two Buck Chuck makes a couple of great varietals that go well with turkey. A local grocery was advertising pumpkin pies for $2.99. I can't even make them for that price!
Decorations can come from nature. Pick up some beautiful fall leaves, acorns and pine cones, and use them to dress up the house.
Build some family traditions by having family members all sign an inexpensive tablecloth with permanent marker, then use it year after year, and add to it, making note of any special family events or milestones each year. Start a Thankful Jar. Have each family member write something they are thankful for this year on a slip of paper, stick them in a jar, and then read them aloud.
After dinner, turn the football game on, or dig out those dusty board games. Nothing gets people talking like a game of Pictionary or Trivial Pursuit. Converse with your extended family members and really catch up.
Relax, enjoy yourself, and take some time to be thankful for this most frugal of holidays!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
One Man's Bane Is Another Man's Boon
Some of you might not be aware of a great resource called Freecycle. Active in all 50 states, as well as D.C. and Guam, Freecycle is a great way to clean out your closets and garage, and find things you need, for free! No money is exchanged. You simply go to Freecycle.org, find your local group, and join. After you are a member, you can post things you have to give away, or request things you would like to receive. You receive emails, either each time someone posts, or once a day in digest form, listing all the offered or wanted items. Then you make arrangements, usually via email, with the other person to pick up or drop off your item. Be sure to read and follow the rules and guidelines. They have been created to make sure everything runs smoothly.
I have used freecyle several times, both as a giver and a receiver. Without exception, the people I have dealt with have been very generous, helpful and positive. I have not had any negative experiences, but if you have any concerns, you could always arrange to make your exchange in a public place.
Chances are the very thing you need is sitting unused in someone's garage. This service allows you to connect with that person. Maybe you have something that is still in great condition, but you just don't need it anymore, and don't know anyone who does. It's a great feeling to find a good home for your treasures and help someone out at the same time. Not only does Freecycle keep unwanted items out of the landfill, it fosters a sense of community, and reminds us that we are all connected. It's also a great reason to de-clutter! Join your local group and start freecyling today.
I have used freecyle several times, both as a giver and a receiver. Without exception, the people I have dealt with have been very generous, helpful and positive. I have not had any negative experiences, but if you have any concerns, you could always arrange to make your exchange in a public place.
Chances are the very thing you need is sitting unused in someone's garage. This service allows you to connect with that person. Maybe you have something that is still in great condition, but you just don't need it anymore, and don't know anyone who does. It's a great feeling to find a good home for your treasures and help someone out at the same time. Not only does Freecycle keep unwanted items out of the landfill, it fosters a sense of community, and reminds us that we are all connected. It's also a great reason to de-clutter! Join your local group and start freecyling today.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A Lean, Green Halloween
Right about now, you might be thinking about how you can have some spooky fun this Halloween with empty pockets. A terroriffic Halloween can still be had with a minimum outlay of cash.
The first thing you need is a costume. Growing up, we never splurged on store-bought costumes. You'd be surprised how many costumes we came up with using some basic sweats or a big cardboard box as a base. Add yellow crepe-paper stripes and some antennas to sweats, and you're a bee. Add a red sweatshirt with some construction paper black spots taped on, and you're a ladybug. Pin some odd socks and underwear to yourself, and you're a load of laundry. Boxes can be painted to make a great robot, or washing machine, or television. You see where I'm going with this. All it takes is some creativity. For those of you who are not feeling creative, you can find lots of ideas on the internet or in this month's women's magazines available at your local library. You can also exchange costumes with friends. Your friend was a witch last year and you were a devil? Going to different parties? Trade costumes this year and no one will be the wiser. This works great with kids, who never want to be the same thing year after year. You'll save a lot of money (costumes can run $20-$60 or more) and save old costumes from the landfill. No friends to trade with? Look at your local thrift store. They have lots of discarded All Hallow's garb, and your purchase will support a good cause. Use discarded makeup (maybe the colors were too bright for everyday wear) or make your own (google "make your own halloween makeup") to complete your disguise. The bonus with the homemade makeup is that it is made from nontoxic ingredients such as cornstarch, gelatin and food coloring. The store-bought alternatives are full of lead and toxic chemicals. A pillowcase makes a good bag for trick-or-treating.
If you are planning a party, you can find lots of dishes and decorations at dollar stores and thrift stores. You may have some basic black or orange dishes or tablecloths at home that may work. Do you grow your own vegetables or fruits? Apples, beets, turnips and squash can all make great jack 'o lanterns if you don't grow pumpkins. Bobbing for apples also makes a good old-fashioned party game in a big tub or pan. You can make a neat spider-web decoration by winding string around some strategically placed thumbtacks or nails. Light some candles or nightlights for atmosphere. You can make luminaries by cutting ghost shapes or jack 'o lantern faces out of paper bags, and placing some sand or beans inside to weight them down. I prefer the battery-operated candles for safety. If you use real candles, be careful! A bowl of red colored punch (Hawaiian punch or fruit juice with or without rum or vodka) with a few plastic floating eyeballs thrown in looks great and is inexpensive. You can find free scary music and sounds on the internet, which you can leave running on your computer during the party. Google "homemade halloween treats" and you will find all sorts of cool recipes. No need to buy the expensive storebought stuff. You won't have a lot of excess packaging to recycle, either. You may have to break down and buy storebought candy if you will be visited by trick-or-treaters you don't know. Everyone has so many safety concerns these days, they may only accept pre-packaged treats from strangers. But naturally, you will buy it on sale, and look for a coupon! Check the dollar stores too.
Happy half-priced haunting!
The first thing you need is a costume. Growing up, we never splurged on store-bought costumes. You'd be surprised how many costumes we came up with using some basic sweats or a big cardboard box as a base. Add yellow crepe-paper stripes and some antennas to sweats, and you're a bee. Add a red sweatshirt with some construction paper black spots taped on, and you're a ladybug. Pin some odd socks and underwear to yourself, and you're a load of laundry. Boxes can be painted to make a great robot, or washing machine, or television. You see where I'm going with this. All it takes is some creativity. For those of you who are not feeling creative, you can find lots of ideas on the internet or in this month's women's magazines available at your local library. You can also exchange costumes with friends. Your friend was a witch last year and you were a devil? Going to different parties? Trade costumes this year and no one will be the wiser. This works great with kids, who never want to be the same thing year after year. You'll save a lot of money (costumes can run $20-$60 or more) and save old costumes from the landfill. No friends to trade with? Look at your local thrift store. They have lots of discarded All Hallow's garb, and your purchase will support a good cause. Use discarded makeup (maybe the colors were too bright for everyday wear) or make your own (google "make your own halloween makeup") to complete your disguise. The bonus with the homemade makeup is that it is made from nontoxic ingredients such as cornstarch, gelatin and food coloring. The store-bought alternatives are full of lead and toxic chemicals. A pillowcase makes a good bag for trick-or-treating.
If you are planning a party, you can find lots of dishes and decorations at dollar stores and thrift stores. You may have some basic black or orange dishes or tablecloths at home that may work. Do you grow your own vegetables or fruits? Apples, beets, turnips and squash can all make great jack 'o lanterns if you don't grow pumpkins. Bobbing for apples also makes a good old-fashioned party game in a big tub or pan. You can make a neat spider-web decoration by winding string around some strategically placed thumbtacks or nails. Light some candles or nightlights for atmosphere. You can make luminaries by cutting ghost shapes or jack 'o lantern faces out of paper bags, and placing some sand or beans inside to weight them down. I prefer the battery-operated candles for safety. If you use real candles, be careful! A bowl of red colored punch (Hawaiian punch or fruit juice with or without rum or vodka) with a few plastic floating eyeballs thrown in looks great and is inexpensive. You can find free scary music and sounds on the internet, which you can leave running on your computer during the party. Google "homemade halloween treats" and you will find all sorts of cool recipes. No need to buy the expensive storebought stuff. You won't have a lot of excess packaging to recycle, either. You may have to break down and buy storebought candy if you will be visited by trick-or-treaters you don't know. Everyone has so many safety concerns these days, they may only accept pre-packaged treats from strangers. But naturally, you will buy it on sale, and look for a coupon! Check the dollar stores too.
Happy half-priced haunting!
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