Adventures In Frugal Land

Simply Frugal. Simply Natural.

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Making Life More Complicated By Simplifying

Sometimes, try to simplify actually makes your life even more complicated. Example: at the beginning of the year, I decided to drastically limit my spending except on what was truly necessary. So, I unsubscribed from a lot of blogs and went through my Feedly subscriptions and deleted a bunch. My reasoning was that if I didn’t see the deals, I wouldn’t be tempted. While this was a good idea, it had some unforeseen consequences.

I like to share other people’s posts on my blogging Facebook page and Twitter page so it’s not just a “me,me,me” feed. Obviously, in order to share, I have to read. In order to read, I have to have a way to curate the posts. My deleting and unsubscribing caused me to spend a lot of time manually going to the sites one at a time. I quickly re-subscribed and vowed to never do THAT again.

 

How am I handling the “deal temptation”? I have all my coupon and deal related blogs in a separate category than my frugal living blogs. I quickly skim over the deal posts and see if there are any that are for items I truly need (yes, I have a list). I pass up the ones I don’t need. If it’s not on my list, it’s not getting bought.

 

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How To Start Freezer Cooking

I love freezer cooking! If you don’t know what it is, it is when you prepare meals to stock your freezer with for later use. Some people spend a whole day making meals for the whole month. Other people make extra lasagnas and casseroles when they can. There is no right or wrong way to do it. Are you interested in cutting down on the amount of time you spend preparing meals? Read on to learn how to start freezer cooking.

Start Small

Yes, there are people who make 100 meals at a time. I don’t recommend try it at first. I actually don’t recommend doing that at all. Start small. Instead of making several different meals at once, make a few similar meals.

Find Recipes

Seems like a simple step but this is the most time consuming for me. There are so many great ideas out there!

Make List

A list is essential with freezer cooking. Make sure you have all the ingredients you need before you get started.

Make A Day

Schedule a day to prep your freezer meals. Mark it in your calendar and plan to prep the day before.

Double The Recipe

You don’t have to make a whole day for freezer cooking. You can easily double the recipe for dinner a few times to stock your freezer. If you are going to make a lasagna one night, why not double it? Or spaghetti, freeze extra sauce for another meal.

Multiple Sessions

Break up your cooking sessions into a couple different days. I break mine up based on the type of meal. I do chicken on one day, ground beef on another,  and pork and roasts on another.

 

Have you ever prepared meals for the freezer? What were some of your favorite recipes?

 

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That Time When My Own Money Saving Advice Failed

Many people are surprised to find out that I am not a fan of the cash only method of spending. I rarely carry cash and when I do, I spend it. I am much more likely to hand over a $20 bill than swipe a card.

That being said, this method became a slight annoyance when I was scheduled for surgery almost 3 hours away. The quickest route was taking a toll road. Guess what you need to pay tolls? Cash. Yes, there are systems like EZ Pass but you have to sign up for them ahead of time. You would’ve thought that I would’ve simply gone to the bank and pulled out the cash a day or two before. Nope, this never even occurred to me until the night before, after everything was closed.

Our only option was to stop by an ATM. Granted, this is not that big of a deal. But…I HATE paying ATM fees.

Obviously, I am aware that paying a small ATM fee is not the end of the world and this is basically a random rant but I did want to point out that everyone has these days. Everyone has something they stress about that the rest of the world doesn’t see as important.

Now, I’ve changed my thoughts about never carrying cash. I think I’ll keep $20 on me, just in case. Because that $2 ATM fee is really bothering me that much.

 

 

 

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When Healthy Is Unhealthy

We live in a wonderful age of information. Everywhere you go, there is information. You can even learn anything, at any time, with your cell phone. This is great but can lead to information overload. Which can be particularly harmful when talking about healthy living.

When you begin to research different aspects of healthy living, you will come across a lot of information. Some of that information is scary. You might learn that your favorite soap is full of toxins. Or, that the plastic wrap you’ve used for years has been recalled due to it causing cancer. This happens more frequently that you could imagine. It seems that people today are scared. Of everything. I’ve experienced “toxin anxiety” on several occasions. It seems that EVERYTHING is bad for you. I’ve had to stop researching and focus on “good enough”.

Melanie Dale, of Unexpected.org and author of “It’s Not Fair“, wrote a post about her New Year’s goals that really resonated with me. In it, she shared how she was going to focus on being mediocre this year. Seriously, read her post. And her books. She’s that awesome. My point (other than to get you to go read Melanie’s posts) is that you don’t have to be the best. You don’t have to make the absolute best decisions. Especially when it comes to healthy, natural living. If you change one thing, it’s still better. You can choose to do “good enough”.

 

I have a whole series right now called “From Toxic to Healthy” where I’m sharing what is working for me, right now, in my home. You might not be able to implement some of what I do. That’s all right. You do what you can. Other people can cut out so many other toxins and “bad things” from their homes that I just can’t right now. And that’s fine too.

When starting your healthy living journey, remember this: If striving to be healthy puts you into a position where you are making less healthy choices, stop, and focus on “good enough”. What do I mean by this?

Example:

You can’t stand the taste of tap water, even with a filter, so you drink your water primarily from bottled water. Then, you learn that some brands of bottled water have BPAs in their plastic. So, you stop drinking as much water. What’s healthier? To continue to drink the bottled water or not drink any water at all?

Bad Choice:

Not drinking any water.

Good Enough Choice:

Look for bottled water labeled BPA free and buy that or, buy a reusable BPA free bottle.

Best Choice:

Find a pure, natural spring where you can gather your water in glass bottles that you’ve blown yourself.

Focusing on all the bad stuff out there can drive anyone insane. It is very important to make healthy changes slowly. When I first started on my healthy living journey (health nut bandwagon as others call it), I freaked out and wanted to change everything at one time. That wasn’t possible financially for me. And now, I’m glad that it wasn’t. I’ve learned that it’s better to do it slowly. Remember, healthy living isn’t just about freeing your homes of toxins. It’s also about making sure your mental state is good too. If you are stressing yourself out over being healthy, it’s counterintuitive.

I’ve recently posted about finding a non-toxic laundry detergent. I’ve received some feedback that some of my suggestions contain this chemical or that toxin. And, I’m all right with that. I need to be all right with making some “good enough” decisions for the sake of my sanity.

And remember, take everything you read with a grain of salt. There is a lot of information out there about everything. Some of it great information with real credibility. Other information if of the “fear mongering” type. Some information is simply incorrect. And others are just people’s opinions. You need to make the best decisions for your family and yourself. If those decisions look different than someone else’s, that’s normal. I honestly feel that healthy living has become a new way to “keep up with the Jones'”. Don’t fall into that way of thinking.

Now, go read Melanie’s post and tell me what you think!

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How Fit2B Is Helping Me All Day Long

I’ve been using Fit2B for a few months now and feel like I can give an accurate review. I initially signed up with them to help my diastasis but have benefited so much more. I use Fit2B all through the day now. No, I’m not stuck in front of the TV working out all day long. Many of these workouts do not take much time at all to complete.

About Fit2B

Before I explain how Fit2B is helping me all day long, I wanted to tell you about the company. Fit2B is a gentle approach to fitness. This is such an amazing thing for me. I struggle with quite a few medical conditions and am not always (hardly ever) up to a strenuous workout plan.

There are different paths to take to personalize your experience. I was excited to see the “Tummy Safe Path to Great Abs”. I’ve bought different workout DVDs that promised me a flat stomach and was only frustrated with the results. I thought I was nuts because it seemed that my “mommy pouch” only got bigger and bigger. Turns out, it wasn’t in my head. Many of the workout moves I was trying to force myself into doing was making my diastasis recti worse. A diastasis is also known as abdominal separation. You can learn how to check yourself for one here. With Fit2B, I am happy to say that their “Tummy Safe” workouts won’t make your diastasis worse. They are designed to help strengthen your core and close your diastasis safely.

Cost

It costs just $15 a month. That is a lot cheaper than taking one yoga class or joining a gym. And let’s be honest here, I am not a gym person. At all.  I am cheap frugal to the bone and feel that this is an excellent value. I would pay more for this if I had too. It is helping me that much.

Kid Friendly

My daughter loves their kid programs. She also does quite a few of my workouts alongside me.

My Core

My core is getting stronger since beginning this program. I can feel a decrease in my diastasis!

 

How Fit2B is Helping Me All Day Long

Morning

I go through the PMS Routine every morning. It helps my pain greatly. If you suffer from chronic pelvic pain or monthly menstrual cramps, I can’t recommend this enough.

Afternoon

I’ve mentioned before that I have endometriosis and adenomyosis. Keeping my pelvic floor in good shape is essential for managing my pain. I use Fit2B’s Pelvic Floor routine at least three times a week. It takes less than a half an hour to complete.

I also try to get in a quick 10 -15-minute workout that focuses on other areas. There is an excellent selection of different workouts to choose from that can be done in 10-15 minutes.

Night

When I’m ready to go to sleep, I usually do some light stretching or one of their relaxation workouts. But, I really enjoy their Bedtime Mediation. It helps relax me enough to be able to sleep.

 

For the first time in my life, I’m truly excited to workout. I’m not in extreme pain afterward. Even on my hard days, I can do one of their routines. Have you used Fit2B before? What is your favorite workout with them?

 

 

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10 Ways to Save on Gifts

I love giving gifts to other people. It’s my love language. I do try to stick to a budget though. If you aren’t careful, buying gifts can be very expensive. How many Christmas, Birthdays, Easter, Teacher Appreciate, Weddings, and Anniversaries gifts do you purchase every year? Use these 10 ways and save on buying all of those gifts.

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is the number one way to save on gifts. Make a list of all the people you expect to purchase gifts for throughout the year. By having a plan, you can shop throughout the year instead of at the last minute.

Gift Closet

Do you have a gift closet? You should. No, it doesn’t have to be an actual closet. It just has to be somewhere you stash gifts for future use. When things go on clearance, stock up for future gift giving. Many stores have great sales on toys after Christmas, buy a few extra board games or Lego sets and you are all set for birthday parties that pop up through the year!

Don’t Buy “Extras”

You don’t have to buy fancy ribbons and bows to decorate your gifts. Skip the extras, especially on something that is just going to get thrown away.

Give Practical Gifts

When buying gifts for Easter baskets and Christmas stockings, think about practical gifts. I like to give things like flip flops, bathing suits, beach towels and other warm weather stuff for Easter. For Christmas, socks, underwear, gloves and hats are always needed.

Set A Budget

It’s tempting to overspend on gifts but setting a budget is crucial for your finances.

Use Reward Programs

If you are going to purchase a gift, why not get a few extra dollars back to put back into your gift budget? I use eBates and Swagbucks the most.

Give Non-Traditional Presents

Think outside the box when it comes to presents. That new mom in your life might enjoy a home cooked meal more than another (overpriced) baby outfit. Your brother’s family might enjoy season passes to the Zoo rather than toys. Magazine subscriptions are another cheap gift that I always loved getting.

Use Wish and Aliexpress

There are a few things I will only buy from these two sites now. Barbie Doll clothes and accessories, American Girl Doll outfits and hair accessories are a few. I recently bought 12 Barbie outfits for $1!

Since orders from Wish and Aliexpress come from China, it takes a few weeks to ship. I suggest giving an order a good two months to get to your house.

Secret Santa

Suggest a Secret Santa exchange for your extended family instead of buying for each individual person.

Buy Used

I am not saying that you should buy a pair of worn-out shoes to give to your nephew for his Birthday. But, if you find a really nice, name-brand hoodie in perfect condition, wrap it up! I am always on the hunt for good quality, lightly used items that I can put into my gift closet.

Also, check out thrift stores. I’ve found many items with tags still attached for a fraction of retail value. It’s really just silly not to check there first.

I love giving gifts, especially when I know I didn’t spend more than I can afford. How do you make sure that you don’t spend too much on gifts? Do you keep a set budget for the year or do you take a more relaxed approach?

 

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Why We’ve Changed Our Eating Habits

I am not one to get behind many “food trends”. I don’t believe that it’s necessary to eliminate any major food groups unless there is an allergy or sensitivity to them. I’ve been a big believer in everything moderation when it comes to food. Ok, that’s a lie when it comes to chocolate. With that, it’s more is better! And cheese. Oh my, I adore cheese. Obviously, I’m a little hungry while writing this but my point is that I love pretty much all food groups. But….my family has gone (for the most part) crazy healthy; eating primarily fruits, veggies and meat. Did we go Paleo? Nope, my daughter was diagnosed with a yeast allergy.

 

If I’m being honest, she was diagnosed months before we made any major diet changes. We were always pretty healthy eaters. At least when it came to dinner. We occasionally had our junk food nights because, well, I’m a grown up now and I can do that if I want.

 

Let me back up a little bit to the events leading up to her diagnose. For months, I noticed she was suffering from allergies. I assumed that they were seasonal related and first gave her Benadryl and hoped for the best. It didn’t get better. She was also very crabby most of the time. Which, if you knew her, you’d realize how abnormal that was. She is typically a very happy little girl. We also noticed that she was waking up several times through the night, coughing badly I took her to her doctor, who gave the first clue that we might be dealing with something more than just seasonal allergies. My daughter was put on allergy medicine and referred for allergy testing. She was also being suspected of having asthma, but we weren’t sure at that point.

Looking back, I’m not sure how I didn’t put two and two together earlier. She suffered from really frequent (4+ a month!) ear infections before she had surgery to place tubes in her ears. After talking with the doctors, I learned how common it is for allergies, ear problems, eczema (which she’s had she was an infant) and asthma to coexist.

 

It just so happened that her Ear’s, Nose and Throat Specialist also does allergy testing, so I set up an appointment with the office. I wasn’t surprised by some of the allergies that popped up like mold and fungus. I knew she couldn’t handle being around mold (one of the main reasons we moved!). I was, however, shocked by the yeast allergy. We were given the advice to make what changes we could, give the medicine time to kick in and to start thinking about eliminating yeast from her diet.

 

We didn’t go straight for the elimination diet. Instead, we tried to cut back on the amount of junk she was consuming. I also began tracking her symptoms vs. what she ate. My attention towards her diet shifted a bit once she suffered her first true asthma attack. We also found noticed mold in and around where we were living. My focus at that point was getting her away from any mold. That was the priority. We found a new house and began the moving process.

 

I did notice a huge difference in her once we moved. Many of her symptoms decreased. But, several were still there. It became apparent that just cutting back yeast wasn’t going to help. So, we’re now in the middle of a total elimination diet. After a month, she’s able to try certain things (some cheeses for example) and wait a week to see if there’s any interaction. And repeat. Yes, it’s going to take several months before we have a good handle on what she can and cannot eat.

 

Before I did a lot of research, I figured yeast was only in breads and baked goods. It’s not. It’s in practically everything. Things that I wouldn’t expect it to be, has yeast in it. Like cheese. She also has to avoid sugar during this process. It’s a bit of a challenge figuring out what to feed her. I have to meal plan every single meal, snack and drink she consumes. Brandon and I are mostly following the same diet as she is. Not because we have to but because it’s easier to eat the same thing(s). I do have to admit to hiding a bag of Hershey Kisses in my nightstand because sometimes, I NEED chocolate. It’s dark chocolate though. So, it’s practically a carrot, right?

 

A few weeks into this, I must say that it is helping her a lot. Her digestive issues are pretty much gone, she’s sleeping great all night long, she’s happy, her “allergic shiners” diminished a ton, and her eczema is decreased a lot as well (which also has to do with switching laundry soap!). I’m hoping that not having her exposed to yeast helps her asthma too. So far, it’s been under control.

 

You will notice me sharing some things about our journey with this particular food allergy. I will occasionally share my menu plans because I want to help any people I can dealing with this. Most of the meal plans will be yeast-free, sugar-free, gluten-free (because it just comes naturally with this), and largely dairy-free (she is still able to have yogurt and such).

 

 

 

Have you ever had to deal with a yeast allergy before? Share your favorite recipes and tips! I need all the help I can get.

 

 

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Quelly Cloth: And Etsy Shop Review

I ordered 2 moderate pads and 1 liner.

Cost:

I paid (before shipping) $13.80.

The cost of the pads ranges from $8.50 for a light pad to $11.50 for a heavy pad. This is pretty reasonable, price wise.

Don’t forget, if you go through Ebates on your Etsy purchases, you receive 1% cash back and $10 if you are a new customer!

Materials:

Cotton

Hemp

Bamboo

Fleece

Snaps

Variety of Styles & Sizes:

Quelly Cloth has a variety of shapes. There isn’t too much variety of sizes.

Variety of Prints:

Minimal variety of prints.

Comfort:

The pads are comfortable.

What I Didn’t Like:

Alright, I do not like giving negative reviews but I committed to reviewing all of the cloth pads I’ve purchased.

I’m not impressed with how the shipping is handled. I purposely ordered from Quelly Cloth because it states in the description that all the products are already made and ready to be shipped out.

I placed my order on Sunday, January 8th.  After no order updates for a week, I did message the owner on Saturday, January 14th and was informed that she was behind on orders and it would be shipped out by that Monday. It was Wednesday, January 18th before the status was changed to “shipped”. A tracking number was not provided. I did not receive my order until January 23. When I checked the tracking number on the label of the envelope, I saw that it wasn’t delivered to the post office until January 21. Honestly, that really ticked me off. I don’t like being lied to and find it very unprofessional to do so.

When it comes to the quality of the items, I have mixed feelings. The stitching is very well done. The owner of the shop is very talented with sewing. I did have an issue with the “moderate” pad. When I did my absorbency test, the back of the pad was wet within 10 minutes. To me, this is more of a light day pad than a moderate and will be used only as such. I found no issues with the liner and am happy with that.

Customer Service:

Very poor and disorganized.

Absorbency:

10 Inch Moderate Pad

After the 10 minute testing period, there was complete leaking from the back of the bad. The bottom layer of fabric was damp in several spots.

Overall Thoughts:

Overall, I won’t order from this shop again due to the lack of communication regarding shipping. I understand that custom orders take time but an item that’s “already packaged and ready to go” should be ready to ship within a few days. The owner was very nice when I talked to her. I got the impression that she was simply busy and couldn’t keep up by herself. I understand that but feel that the products shouldn’t be advertised in a way that makes the customer believe they will receive their orders in a timely fashion. I also do not think it is right for a shop to lie about an order being shipped when it had not been. I cannot recommend this shop due to the quality of the items with the exception of the liner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cloth Junkies: An Etsy Shop Review

I ordered 2 regular cloth pads, 1 panty liner, 1 sample cloth tampon set and 2 small infralabial pads.

Cost:

I paid (before shipping) $17.42, which I felt was pretty reasonable. I did buy some pad that were on clearance (seconds) and there was a coupon code at the time that saved me a little bit of money. You can join the Cloth Junkies Facebook group to be notified if there are any available coupon codes to use.

The cost of the pads ranges from $4 for a straight 6-inch pantyliner to $12 for a flared 12-inch heavy pad. Both of the pads I tested below are regular/moderate absorbency. The average cost of those is around $6.

Don’t forget, if you go through Ebates on your Etsy purchases, you receive 1% cash back and $10 if you are a new customer.!

Materials:

Fleece

Flannel

Cotton

Windpro

Snaps

Variety of Styles & Sizes:

Cloth Junkies has a selection of different styles and sizes. There should be something to fit just about anyone in their shop.

Variety of Prints:

I am extremely impressed with the variety of different prints offered. At the time of writing, there are 133 custom pad prints listed on Etsy. You are sure to find something you like.

Comfort:

I found all of the pads I ordered from them to be very comfy.

What I Didn’t Like:

The only thing I didn’t like was that the minky topped pad wasn’t for me. Everything else was great!

Customer Service:

The owner of the company is very nice. Customer service was great. When I placed my order, I realized I wanted to add more to it and sent her a message, she responded quickly and solved the problem for me, even though the problem was my mistake.

Shipping was quick. She was nice enough to include a small piece of candy in my order (always a plus for that time of the month!) and a stain stick!

Absorbency:

6 Inch Minky Topped Pad (Regular)

 

After the 10 minute testing period, there was no leaking from the back. However, the water seemed to just sit on the top of the material. After 30 minutes, the water did absorb down into the core. I think the minky fabric would work great for slow bleeders but not for “gushers”. I would be more inclined to use this pad for a backup with a menstrual cup or tampon than by itself on a “gushing day” or use it by itself on a light day.

8 Inch French Terry Topped Pad (Regular)

When I checked this pad after the 10 minute testing period, it felt almost totally dry. There was no leaking at all or any heaviness. You could certainly use this pad by itself. I plan on ordering more of these pads for my stash. I added another 1/4 oz of liquid to this pad and after 10 minutes, there was still no leaking. There was some slight dampness to the top layer of fabric.

Overall Thoughts:

I am highly impressed with this company. The pads were all excellent quality. Cloth Junkies sell more than just pads. They have wet bags, unpaper towels and more. I plan on purchasing more pads from them in the future as well as some of their other offerings.

 

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The Wittle Whale: An Etsy Shop Review

 

I ordered 3 of the 6-inch moderate pads. *Also pictured is an 8-inch that I purchased after this post was written.

Cost:

I paid (before shipping) $10.65. I did use a coupon code that I found on the  Instagram account. Be sure to follow The Wittle Whale for your code! The cost of the pads ranges from $3.95 for a 6 inch light pad to $9.95 for a 12-inch moderate pad.

 

Don’t forget, if you go through Ebates on your Etsy purchases, you receive 1% cash back plus, new customers get $10 cash back!

Materials:

Cotton

Fleece

Zorb

KAM Snaps

Variety of Styles & Sizes:

There are several different size options from 6 inches to 11 inches. There’s not a huge variety of styles. I like the one she uses but if you have a certain shape you like, you might want to check if you can get a custom order done.

Variety of Prints:

There is a few different prints listed but not a huge variety.

Comfort:

These pads are VERY comfy. I really don’t notice them when I wear them. The fabric is all very soft and doesn’t seem to shift, even with a lot of activity.

What I Didn’t Like:

I wish there were some more options listed in the shop.

Customer Service:

Customer service was excellent. The owner included a handwritten note on my order form and she also included in some freebies with my order! Everyone always loves freebies! I had a question on one the freebies and she responded very quickly. Shipping was very fast. I got my order days before I expected it.

Absorbency:

Moderate 6 Inch Pad

I honestly didn’t expect this little pad to be able to hold much liquid. Thankfully, I was wrong. After 10 minutes, this pad had not leaked through at all. The top layer of the pad was still wet to the touch which is not an issue for me as I prefer to change it multiple times in one day. Even after soaking up the water, the pad was not too heavy or “diaperish” feeling. I added another 1/4 oz of water to this pad and waited 10 more minutes. I was happy to find that this pad still was not leaking or feeling too heavy. The dampness on the top was still there as I expected.

Overall Thoughts:

If you aren’t picky about a giant variety of prints, you should like this shop. The pads are all nicely made. I like that the owner embroiders a letter on the side of the pad by the snap to tell you the absorbency (m for moderate). That is very helpful when you are pulling one out. The only issue I had was one of the snaps came loose during the wash cycle. This isn’t an issue with the pad itself, rather, it’s an issue with the snaps. I’ve had the same thing happen with other ones (different companies). I might be pulling too hard when I snap/unsnap so make sure you do it gently. The Wittle Whale has other items available than just pads. If you are in the market for baby wipes, burp cloths or bibs, check them out! I plan on purchasing more from this shop. In fact, I have a shopping cart of items ready to go as I type this.