Father's Day on The Cheap

Hi Friends.
Yesterday I made up my Father's Day Plan.
Experience has taught me that the only way to save money on special occasions is to PLAN AHEAD. This prevents a flurry of second guessed guilt spending the day before said event. I have drawn up a meal plan with recipes, a schedule of events (including a wake up time for me, because if I don't get up early AIN'T any of it going to happen) and a gift list.
If you are trying to find ideas yourself, the internet is a very helpful place - but if you don't have the time to look, I will try to help you out a little.

Questino's To Ask Whilst Planning Fathers Day:
1) What does my man enjoy?
2) What are his favorite foods?
3) What is my budget?
4) How much effort can I put in?

For us, I have time but not much $$$ to invest.
My man enjoys the outdoors and quality time with those he loves.

SOoooo...
I am going to start the day with a very special family breakfast: I have written to the other side of the world and got his mum's much raved about pancake recipe. Once he's off to work, I will prep lunch and get the rest of us off to church. We'll have a family lunch, then nap - and then a family bike ride through some local nature trails. Then dinner with friends on a farm.
For his gift I am making these cute magnets (possibly as tacks) for his work office, and getting everyone from the family to draw him a picture or make him a note. These little love offerings will all be placed in a "King Of The Day" box. And I will make a card out of stuff I have laying around.

This plan is simple and will cost me a grand total of $2.50.
And THATS how you do it on the cheap!

The Queen of Thrift

I have seriously outdone myself this time. I have been trying to stockpile larger sizes for my daughter so that when the time comes we won't be in a panic about clothes for her.
I hit BFM (Bibles For Missions) this week and they were having a sale. I got 12 items of clothing for my daughter and 5 books.
Just ask.
How much did I spend.
Just ASK!!!!


$3.52

Oh, yeah.

Shoe Love

Alright, if I haven't confessed it yet to you, it must be known that I have a problem with shoes.

I can never get enough of them.

This month we are REALLY trying not to spend money on extras, so I have not spent any unnecessary money except for buying me and a friend coffee, permissible because the last two weeks combined I have spent $60 less on groceries than I normally would in one week (the pantry and fridge are starting to look bare). But last night I went second hand shopping with said friend, and did completely okay until we hit the shoes. 

Shimmery, mint green, peep toe flats. 

Cranberry leather & wood strappy clogs. 

Sweating, I called my husband. 

And for the first time in my married life, he told me to come home without the shoes. 

Luckily, after I had put both pairs back on the rack and was waiting at the till for my friend to purchase her items, I thought to look if I had any VV coupons. Which I did. 

Which was for the exact price of the green flats, if I put them on my friends bill.

Which she generously allowed. 

And WALLLA!

Free shoes!

Yay coupons!

PS - You get VV coupons by buying thier calendar in December each year. They have a monthly coupon that is usually pretty good: buy 4 items get the 5th free, spend $100 get $50 off, etc.

Tell Me I'm Not the Only One!

Okay, so this week I was visiting with another crafty Mama, and I was introduced to a whole SLEW of new money saving directions. And what could this new multifaceted savings opportunity be centered around?
UTILITIES!

So, in my late night internet scouring zeal, last night I did some research. First I landed here. There wasn't much that I hadn't covered but for numbers 4 and 5; insurances and being energy smart. However, there was a lovely little pair of links that took me here (lowering your electric bill) and here (saving on your water bill). I stayed up too late reading all of that, but I have filled my schedule for months on little projects around the house!
These kinds of projects cost a bit up front, but they save you dollars every month. We are having a particularly squeezy month, so this month I will only do projects I can do for free, but I am exited to be resourceful!
Today, for my first project, I put a Faucet Aerator on my kitchen tap. Apparently, this reduces the flow of water without reducing the pressure, thereby saving money on Hydro. Who knew? 
And I was pleased to read that I am already saving money by saving 'grey' water for my plants! 


Did you know that you can apply through BC Hydro for a energy saving kit? You have to come in under a certain salary bracket to qualify (which they conveniently do not disclose on the brochure), but I am excited to try that this week. 


And I feel I should say I am sorry for leaving you hanging this past month with no posting - I've been all in my head and treading water, if that makes sense...

Staying Home

Today I saved money by loving my home life.
Lately I have been avoiding my house. As a stay at home mom, thats a bit of a problem.
But this morning, I dove into domesticity with nary a second thought.
I made laundry soap and scrubbing powder.
I made the best ever Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.
I cleaned, did laundry and organised.
I played good music and put Cranberry Clementine in my diffuser (oh, heavenly).
I gathered props for the skit on Friday night.
I drank coffee from my favorite mug, and read "The Message" to my daughter.

Finding contentment in the Everyday is a very sure way to save money, but a bit tricky to do.
I find that if I put on music that encourages me, light a candle (or a diffuser) and have a few minutes of quiet time to order my inner world, everything lines up and my day falls into place.
What works for you?

Kids Swap - The Big Red Barn

In Chilliwack as you head west there is a big red barn. Further out there is a big yellow barn. Believe it or not, these are actual terms of direction. As in, "You know, the exit by the big yellow barn." Please, no female driver jokes.
Anyways - yesterday was my first ever kids swap at the big red barn. I've heard about it MANY times from other mom's as the IT place to pick up hot stuff on the cheap - but I am either hopelessly out of touch with current events (actually, that's a fair accusation) or the organizers are crap at advertising. I was filling up with gas early Saturday morning, when a hand written sign on poster board let me know that I was at that very moment missing the kids swap.
So I popped in later when I had a few minutes. I was warned that all the good stuff goes quick, so I can't say what I missed - but I was very pleased and tempted beyond what I expected. However, I didn't loose control and only walked out with a few things that I had been wanting to buy anyways.
So, would you like to know the score?
For the grand total of $11, I got an outdoor swing (the kind you install from a tree branch or under your deck), one of those little four wheel trucks that toddlers can ride - Pooh theme with all of the musical buttons, etc. still in good working order, and (my favorite) one of those little popcorn 'vacuums'.
There were loads of clothes and toys and strollers that ranged from almost new prices to dirt cheap.
I will definitely attend next chance I get, and I highly recommend to the local girls that they do too!

Norwex, If you like that sort of thing

Okay, so I am still a fan of homemade cleaners, but I have found a new product that is spinning my tuque (as my mom would say). Norwex is a Norwegian company that makes cleaning cloths, among other things, that you only use water with. The cloths kill germs but are 100% safe for you and your kids. Clean your house with water. Shazam! How's that for natural.
The down side is that it's fricken expensive. Seriously.
UNLESS...
You host a party. I went to my friends party, bought a few items and signed up to host. My party was last night, and I am BLOWN AWAY by all the free stuff I am getting. Everyone should hose one and invite all their friends. This is one product that is worth spending on, if you can; but if you can't, it is well worth your while to make up some snacks and have the girls over.
The product I am specifically salivating over are their face cloths.
$20 for three, and they'll last at least 2 years. Sounds pricey. Until I tell you that you will no longer have to buy face soap (mine costs $30 every three to four months) or exfoliator (which if you haven't been buying, you seriously need to read up on exfoliating) OR makeup remover. Yes, it takes off foundation. Yes, even waterproof mascara. Yes, yes, yes. You can use up those products and not buy them anymore. These cloths are going to pay for themselves in the first 3 months. I LOVE how clean my face feels after I use my pink face cloth - it actually feels CLEANER.
So if you are at all interested, I would highly recommend it...