Frugal Accomplishments

I popped into Walmart this weekend because I needed sugar and was traveling in that part of town. I had a couple last-minute things on my Christmas list too, so I had to trek over to the toy section. I was absolutely flabbergasted with the number of people trolling the aisles. They were basically ripping toys away from one another in the quest of getting their shopping done. I mean, I get it. We all want to be done shopping, but being rude to a stranger about a plastic doll isn't going to magically make it all better. But that's not really the point.

In this time of excess, I'm trying to keep a level head. We're still dealing with a good deal of debt and always striving to be more frugal than not. So, here's some of the things I've done lately to stay in the green, so to speak.

// Thrifted Decorations, etc.

One of the best places you can find holiday decor is at the thrift shop. Sometimes you'll luck out and find stuff that's brand new. I got a tree topper for a dollar and a package or ornaments for a couple bucks. I also found some cute beaded Santa boxes to use as wrapping/gifts. Ninety nine cents each. A steal, right?

I didn't need too much, but I found nativity scenes, outdoor decorations, garlands, faux trees, and more. It's definitely worth a look if you want to add a bit more cheer on a dime.

// Thrifting Running Apparel

Speaking of thrifting, I've been looking for a decent running coat to add to my collection. I have a bunch of old ones that don't fit well anymore. I was able to find a nice, basic fleece Columbia number for $4.99 that also happened to be 70 percent off. No holes, rips, stains, or other defects. The only catch is it's a weird shade of green. I run mostly in the evening, so that doesn't matter!

I decided to take a look around and found a new Nike running top (short sleeve -- so for treadmill time) for just $3.99. I also snagged a nice pair of yoga pants for a few bucks. Now my athletic clothing is refreshed! I wish my motivation would do the same . . . 

// Lice Spray

Last year there was this little girl in Ada's class who ended up having lice the entire year. I decided to mix up a batch of homemade lice spray . . . and, guess what?! Ada didn't get lice once. I've made it part of our morning routine now, and I have to say it's working. Ada has my type of hair -- very fine and stands straight up with static. I had lice often as a kid despite being well groomed and taken care of. 

Anyway, I'd say a spray bottle of this stuff lasts several months. I just spritz it through her hair each morning before she goes to school. Bonus is that I swear is makes combing her hair easier.

Combine:

• 10-15 drops lavender essential oil
• 10-15 drops rosemary essential oil
• 10-15 drops tea tree oil
• 5 drops peppermint oil
• Fill the rest with water

Combine everything in a small spray bottle. Mine is 4 ounces -- an old lavender room spray bottle. FYI: I use all Aura Cacia essential oils that I buy either on Amazon or at Wegmans. I've used them since I was in college!

// DIY Table Runner

I wanted to mention this frugal thing I did at Thanksgiving. We don't have tons of fancy linens and such to use when we celebrate holidays. I wanted to dress up the table a bit, but also make it fun for the kids. So, I rolled a bit of paper lengthwise across the table and gave Ada a bunch of markers and crayons. She drew pictures, wrote little sayings, and it kept her occupied while we cooked. I plan to do the same thing for Christmas. 

You can use any paper (see my photo, above), but we happened to have a roll of Melissa + Doug easel paper on hand. It was perfect!

// TTC Tricks

Oh, gosh. If you've ever been deep in TTC (which I'm not yet this time around -- just saying from experience) and spent literally #allthemoney buying pregnancy tests, ovulation strips, supplements, and other stuff -- save yourself. Since I take progesterone, I have to pinpoint my ovulation day, which means either taking my basal body temperature or using ovulation strips. I choose to do both, as my temperatures are quire erratic (thanks to waking up often at night -- my own doing, Eloise sleeps great).

Anyway, I finally bought one of those sets with 50 LH strips and 20 pregnancy tests for just $20. I used to spend that much just buying a couple pregnancy tests. It seems like a silly thing, but I know many of you are trying to conceive, and month after month . . . it gets expensive. Do yourself a favor. The LH strips work really well for me -- I get clear positives (line darker than control) and the pregnancy tests are apparently as sensitive as First Response. I personally got a positive on one last time around when my HCG was like 12 coming down from my D&C.

I love sharing frugal accomplishments. What are some of your most recent wins?

Till next time!