Lets do tips to help save money!

[ScoobyRoo]

Here's a thought. Powdered milk. Use it for cooking/baking. It will stretch out the bottled milk that I would rather drink than the powdered stuff. As mentioned before buy in bulk. Another idea, all the drinking glasses of water left from the night before from my family.,, I use it to water my plants.

 

[eggzettera]

I would make sure that the powdered milk doesn't come from China.....

According to the latest report from the Associated Press, dairy products made in China and contaminated with a chemical called melamine have sickened at least 54,000 babies and killed four. In the wake of the outbreak, first reported two weeks ago, a dozen countries, mostly in Africa and Asia have banned import of Chinese dairy products, including powered milk, baby formula, ice cream and yogurt.

Taken from here.... http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second...hy-is-melamine-in-baby-formula-you-2008-09-24​

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Oh GREAT!

Thanks for the reminder eggzettera. I almost forgot about that. Surely they have all that off the shelves now?? I'm going shopping tomorrow to stock up. I'll be sure to check the lable. Can't we buy anything that is made here in the states AND safe?!?

 

[kodiakchicken]

Quote:
I used hay...I don't know if straw and hay are the same but hay here ranges in price from $3.00 to $4.00 a bale.

Betty,

Thanks for the tip. Straw and hay are different. I wonder if it makes a difference? I would think the hay would break down and compost quicker than straw, providing more nutrients.

Unfortunately, hay is even more expensive here ($24/bale).

We do have the benefit of seaweed free for the taking here. It makes great garden compost. Last year I planted potatoes using 4 inches of soil and the rest seaweed. They grow great and when they're done we have fabulous composted soil.

 

[BettyR]

Quote:
Taken from here.... http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second...hy-is-melamine-in-baby-formula-you-2008-09-24

Good Heavens!!!! I have never seen or heard of a country that is so "contaminated" in my life. Those people must glow in the dark!!!

 

[BettyR]

Quote:
I used hay...I don't know if straw and hay are the same but hay here ranges in price from $3.00 to $4.00 a bale.

Betty,

Thanks for the tip. Straw and hay are different. I wonder if it makes a difference? I would think the hay would break down and compost quicker than straw, providing more nutrients.

Unfortunately, hay is even more expensive here ($24/bale).

We do have the benefit of seaweed free for the taking here. It makes great garden compost. Last year I planted potatoes using 4 inches of soil and the rest seaweed. They grow great and when they're done we have fabulous composted soil.

Well if seaweed works and it's free I'd use it. You can't get better than free!!

 

[Sunny Side Up]

No one's yet mentioned http://www.Freecycle.org It's an online bulletin board for posting items you have to offer, and things you're looking for, and all transactions must be absolutely free. Check out the site & see if there's one near you. If not, start one! It's really great for things that may not be in thrift-store-saleable condition, but are still plenty useful. It keeps the landfills lower and helps others in your community.

Most of my furniture has been given to us, both on purpose from friends and by default from curbside discards. I've been able to find new homes for my older pieces through FreeCycle as I replace them with newer ones. Also, I've been able to find the appliances I've been wanting from other FreeCyclers who weren't using theirs.

It's also a great source for finding building materials for more coops!

 

[Laskaland]

Quote:
Hey Sarah!
Go to Walmart. Buy some pretty ribbon, buttons and trims. Buy something called FABRI-TAC (it's an amazing washable glue) and doll up all your baby girl's little clothes. SERIOUSLY. Buy some really inexpensive jeans from Goodwill and snaz them up with glitz! Ribbon is cheap! OR you could even sew on pieces of cutsey fabric in spots on the jeans and suddenly they look sooo designer

PLUS, no one will ever know!!!!
Hugs
Christina

 

[eggzettera]

My daughter had most of her wardrobe from 2nd hand stores.

I grew up when polyester was just coming into fashion - hated the stuff, so I am very aware of how clothes feel....I always felt that brand new clothes are stiff & uncomfortable and a baby's skin is very sensitive. I think you are better off with slightly worn used clothes.......

 

[ChickenToes]

I agree, thrift stores and Goodwill are your friends! I buy jeans at Goodwill because I cannot for the life of me understand why women's brand new jeans are at least $20 but my husband can buy brand new jeans for $10.

One other money-saving thing that we do is plug everything into surge protectors. We have one for our office that has the computer and printer and everything plugged into it. We have one in our living room that has the TV, stereo, and DVD player plugged into it. Whenever we turn off these electronics, we also flip the switch on the surge protector so they don't continue to use electricity even though they're turned off.