Books on a Shoestring

by frazzledmama on August 30, 2011

For a while now I have been a member of a website called PaperBack Swap

paperback

It has been such a blessing to our family! We have saved $89.87 in book expenses.

Here is a blurb from their website,

We help avid readers Swap, Trade & Exchange Books for Free.

  • It’s easy: List books you’d like to swap with other club members.
  • Once a book is requested, mail it to the club member.
  • In return, you may choose from 5,144,919 available books!

- Books you request are mailed to you for free.
- No late fees. No hidden charges.

Currently, when you list 10 books to swap, you get 2 free credits, which means you can order 2 books right away!  They have all sorts of books, fiction, non-fiction, cookbooks, children’s books, and textbooks. 

Check them out!

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Homemade Pita Chips

by frazzledmama on August 9, 2011

Originally posted in 2009

Since I had some extra time on my hands yesterday, I finally got around to trying to make Pita Chips at home.  You can usually find different varieties of pita chips in your grocer’s deli, but they can be a bit pricey, considering the amount you get, roughly 18 oz. for about $3.00. So, when I was shopping last week, I saw whole wheat pita bread on sale for $1.00 for 12 oz. So, I thought, what the heck I’ll give it a try.   Here’s what I did…

Cut the Pita bread into triangles and arrange on a baking sheet.

.Step 1

**Note**  I think next time, I will also separate the pita pockets, before I cut them so the chips will be more crisp.

Then, drizzle a small amount of olive oil on each piece and brush to make sure they are covered.
Step 2

Last, generously sprinkle with garlic salt. You could also add other flavors, like Parmesan cheese.
steps 3

Pop them in the oven to bake at 450 degrees for 8 minutes, flipping them over once in the middle of baking.

These turned out great!  The kiddos love them and they are a healthy alternative to potato chips.  It’s also a quick and simple recipe, and frugal!

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Saving on Color Safe Bleach

July 14, 2011

When we purchased a new front-load washer a few years ago, one thing that I sort of knew going into it was that I would have to deal with a musty/mildewy smell.  Especially since my washer is located in a room that is not air conditioned. So, once a week or so, I run some [...]

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Homemade Colored Sugar Sprinkles

June 14, 2011

In my failed attempts to make some cute Easter cupcakes for the kiddos I needed some blue colored sugar.  Of course, I didn’t have any, and I surely didn’t want to go to the store for a measly bottle of colored sugar.  Then, I remembered my handy-dandy friend the internet, and I Googled “make your [...]

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10 uses for Vinegar

June 7, 2011

1. Disinfectant for hard surfaces.  Think bathrooms, kitchens, floors. 2. Fabric softener.  Add to your laundry instead of fabric softener. 3. Gum removal.  Soak gum in vinegar and then scrub with toothbrush. 4. De-greaser. Works great on stove tops! 5. Wash for fresh veggies. 1 tablespoon to 1.5 quarts water. 6. Deodorize garbage cans. 7. [...]

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Stocking Up and Saving Money

June 3, 2011

Please enjoy this post from 2009. Isn’t God’s timing cool?  Last night our devotion with the kiddos was about the parable of the 10 Virgins in Matthew 25.  For those who don’t know, basically the parable is about 5 wise girls and 5 foolish girls.  The wise girls had brought extra oil for their lamps [...]

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Doughnuts For My Stubborn Nefew

May 24, 2011

This post originally debuted on my blog back in 2008. Remember this guy???? Yesterday, he asked me for my doughnut recipe.  Isn’t he cute?  What’s funny is that he heard that I had given out a recipe the other day for Greek Chicken.  Since that is something that I never do, he was hoping that [...]

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Swiffers, it’s a love hate relationship!

May 18, 2011

I think that it is safe to say that at this point, most people have tried a Swiffer of one kind or another.  I really like using my Swiffer, it’s convenient, it’s lightweight, and best of all the kids can use it with ease.  So what is the hate part of this relationship?  The cost!  [...]

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Laundry Tips

May 13, 2011

Ok a few thoughts and frugal tips on laundry. Let’s talk about detergent for a minute, shall we? (Like you have a choice).  I only buy Tide.  There are a lot of reasons for this.  My mom always bought Tide, for one thing. I know, not the most valid reason, but I digress.  We are [...]

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Are You A Bargain Hunter?

April 8, 2011

Remember how I said I was born with a frugal gene?  My grandmother and I used to hit garage sales every opportunity we got.  Today, my kiddos and I are always on the look out for a garage sale sign.  There are so many great bargains you can find at garage sales and thrift stores.  [...]

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