Posts tagged: Curbly_Recession_Busters
Coupon Sherpa App now On-Line
By DIY Maven
If you're not sporting an iPhone, you might not be familiar with Coupon Sherpa. Basically, it's an app that allows users of the iPhone and iPod Touch access to coupons which they can redeem via their handhelds at point of sales. The makers of Coupon Sherpa had such a great response to their app that they decided to expand their website so now even those of us who are iPhone-less can get in on the great deals. » READ MORE
18 Ways a New (or Old) Homeowner Can Save Money
By DIY Maven
Wether you're new to home ownership or not, there are some things you can do to save bucks. The cost-saving suggestions come to us from The Simple Dollar, and they're so good, I'm going to quote them directly.
- Check the insulation in your attic - and install more if needed.
- Lower the temperature on your hot water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees Celsius).
- Toss a water heater blanket over that hot water heater as well » READ MORE
Frugal Easter Basket--Weave Your Own
By DIY Maven
Diane's recycled-from-boxes Easter baskets couldn't be a more perfect home for our Frugal Easter Eggs. Seriously, how ingenious is this? Packaging boxes woven into the cute, free and recyclable baskets?? Fabulous.
Frugal Easter Eggs--Skip the Kit
By DIY Maven
Skip the kit and make your own colorful Easter eggs with this super simple recipe from smallhomestead.com.
How to spend stimulus cash.
By DIY Maven
John Maynard Keynes calls it the 'thrift paradox', and it's quite the conundrum. Think of it like this: In hard times people save and stop spending, but to bolster the economy, we're actually should spend some cash that might come our way via the next stimulus package. How do we do this without falling back into the abyss that is consumerism? Green Upgrader has some ideas on how to actually spend cash, save the economy which in turn might sav » READ MORE
What will you be doing with any extra cash coming your way via the stimulus package?
Vote now!
Inexpensive Updates that Add Value
By DIY Maven
BHG jumps on the budget train with these low-cost updates that could actually increase the value of your home. One suggestion--demonstrated above--is to add multi-functional elements, like exposed shelving that serves as storage as well as display.
They also suggest that opting for mid-range cabinetry in the kitchen is the way to go, saving your budget for better-quality appliances, which will steal the show.
If new light fixtures are in th » READ MORE
15 Alternative Uses for Credit Cards
By DIY Maven
Has the economy prompted you to cancel a credit card or two even though you’re still getting those fake ones in the mail? Here’s 15 ways to make use of all of them that won’t cost you a thing. Actually, in some instances, they’ll even save you money.
- Open a spring latch lock. (Doesn’t work on a deadbolt, thankfully.)
- Ice scraper.
- Paint scraper.
- Aquarium glass scraper.
- Caulk edger, like one of these things.
- Shims for tight spac » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: 5 Gifts for a Buy-Nothing Christmas
By DIY Maven
Still haven't gotten around to your Christmas or Hanukkah shopping yet? Don't. Instead, you might want to consider opting for a recession-busting, buy-nothing holiday. However, just because you don't buy anything doesn't mean you wouldn’t be giving your loved-ones gifts. For example...
- For Mom: Make housework coupons. (Here's a free printable that could work.)
- For Dad: Paint a picture of something meaningful.
- For Your Girlfriend: Make ho » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: 12 Ways to go Eco-Festive this Christmas and Save Bucks!
By DIY Maven
You might want to think of these eco-friendly decorating tips, as gifts to Mother Earth. With them we can all be as green as Christmas trees this holiday season and, in the long run, save some cash while we're at it.
- Celebrate with a small, potted living Christmas tree that you can plant after the holidays and enjoy for years to come.
- Instead of buying new ones, reuse or remake your old Christmas decorations.
- Swap your old decorations wi » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: Free Alternative Christmas Trees
By DIY Maven
Christmas trees are the conifers of cut flowers: Beautiful but with short life spans. And, of course, they can be expensive. Just because you don’t have the bucks to spend on a tree this year doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the tradition of a Christmas tree. Let’s think about this for a minute. What says ‘Christmas tree’ to us? First and foremost, the scent. Next might be their green-ness and conical shape. Of course they support ornaments–which gi » READ MORE
Homemade Household Recipes to Keep Money in Your Pocket During a Recession.
By ChrisjobClamping down on spending during tough economic times often means letting go of some extras, particularly some pleasant, but technically unnecessary, personal care products. So Gomestic offers this solution: don't buy them at all. Make 'em.
With recipes from DIY facial astringent to playdough and houseplant fertilizer, you can continue to have the things that make your life a little more beautiful.
- Facial Astringent
- Facial Scrub
- Laundry S » READ MORE
DIY: Flaxseed and Lavender Eye Pillows
By ModHomeEcTeacher
Who doesn't bend and stretch their way through yoga class for the promise of final relaxation and the eye pillow? Its' sheer goodness should never be underestimated. This experience is so relaxing, everyone should have one of these next to their bed. It has never failed to soothe and calm my tension and fatigue. The fresh lavender scent and the weight of the pillow feel like a cool breeze in a dark room. Ahhhhh.....
These are so easy t » READ MORE
DIY: Real Simple Centerpiece Ideas
By ModHomeEcTeacher
Forget about ordering a floral arrangement for Thanksgiving. Look around your house, in the pantry, at your bowls to find simple and pretty vessels to fill with fruit, water, river rocks, flowers or even a branch from a leaf-barren tree. This arrangement allows everyone to see across the table while either enjoying the family, or self-righteously analyzing each other. We do a little of both.
What you need:
- large shallow bowl
- river r » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: 6 (Cheap) Bathroom Quick Fixes
By lilybeeIn this economic climate a remodel might be out of the question (even if fresh tiles a la ModHomeEc aren't) but here are 6 cheap things you can do to give your bathroom a little oomph.
Clean - We're talking REALLY clean, scrub-the-weird-space-behind-the-loo-clean, wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling clean. Because shiny is better. Diy Maven has great tips for cleaning on the cheap.
Fix - Don't let chips in your sink or bath stare at you in a taunting » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: How To Spruce Up Your Own Digs For The Holidays
By ModHomeEcTeacher 
It's the time of year you turn a critical eye to the interior to see what needs to be spruced up. Preparing for a packed house on Thanksgiving is a sure fire motivator to plow through a To Do list in record time.
This year you may want to rethink the outlay of money to get the house looking top notch. You can save loads of dough by doing most jobs yourself. If, for some unknown reason, you don't really know how to do some of thes » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: Cleaning Your House on the Cheap!
By DIY Maven
The wisenheimers among us might say the best way to save money on cleaning supplies is not to clean. That, however, is not an option. You can be broke and clean. (Just ask any depression-era housekeeper.) In an effort to embrace those wise and frugal practices, here’s 14 little ways to save big bucks on cleaning day.
- First, the obvious: Make your own cleaning supplies. The internet is replete with websites featuring homemade–and very likel » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: What your Grandparents knew.
By lilybeeLeafing through a copy of The Home Front - The Best of Good Housekeeping 1939-1945 is something of a revelation. The British magazine's wartime editions reminded me that our grandparents, especially those who lived in Europe during that time, knew a few things about privation, making do and surviving an unimaginably difficult time.
Advice like 'Don't forget your gas mask' and 'Save your coupons' inspire pride that our little island and the » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: Long Haul Cookware
By lilybeeI know it might seem slightly crazy to be advocating paying $300-$400 for a couple of pots at a time when money and the lack thereof is a big pressing issue. (Hey good job scaring the noodles out of me Mr Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the IMF, with your talk of global financial meltdown)
But I wanted to talk a little bit about longevity, my mum has a set of Le Creuset pots that were around the last time the economy went belly-up. She sti » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: Getting Buyers Through The Door
By lilybeeI'm absolutely not a real estate expert, but I am something that seems far rarer these days. I'm a first time buyer. If you've got a house to sell in an increasingly stagnant market here are a few cheap or free things that you can do to get me (or folks like me) through the door.
Curb appeal.
I know that you know this but it really can't be stated strongly enough. As buyers our first view of most houses is a grainy 2"x3" black and white » READ MORE
Curbly Recession Busters: Subway Tile Backsplash for Under $95.00
By ModHomeEcTeacher
My tiling project in the kitchen that cost less than $95.00 and one weekend opens up all sorts of new decorating possibilities. Constrained by the in-your-face handpainted tiles of a decade ago, there was limited flexibility in color choices. Keeping permanent fixtures neutral and changing up paint, art, and kitchen chair upholstery makes much more sense, both financially and visually. I even feel a little smug that I'm living with my less-th » READ MORE
