Financial Friday (#3)

A 2006 study published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture conducted by Rutgers University found that almost three fourths of the people surveyed ate out at least once a week, and 10% ate out almost every day. The U.S. Department of Agriculture calculates that eating out accounts for half of total food expenditures, an increase of more than 16% since 1972.(Just one generation ago)

Did you know??

-Keep your laundry room door shut while the dryer is in use. A dryer uses air to dry the clothes. By keeping the door open you force your dryer to work harder. (not to mention your air conditioner)

I do this in the summer because I don't want the dryer heating up my home. But I had never thought about the cool air causing the dryer to work harder, that's a double whammy.

-Also don't forget to clean out your lint trap. Do this after every load and you could use up to 50% less energy. (I do this all the time because I'm worried about the extra lint floating around and becoming a fire hazard.)

-Don't overload your dryer! An overloaded dryer cannot work efficiently. Limit the size of your dryer's load. Not only will it take less time to dry, but you clothes will come out less wrinkled.

My favorite MOP!

It took me a few years to find a mop that I liked. One that did a good job so I wouldn't have to get on my hands and knees so often. I like my Swiffer mop, but not the way you would think. At first I liked the wet pads, but after a few moppings the floor seemed a little tacky. I like my Mr. Clean. I like the way it makes the house smell when all the floors are cleaned with it.

Before I mop the floor I make sure I have some mixed up. I have a special bottle (make sure its labeled!) I mix a little Mr. Clean and some water in the spray bottle.

A clean rag is needed for this way of mopping. I chose a pack of white washcloths because they can be bleached. (and I've learned to buy colored washcloths for in the bathrooms so their is NO confusion)

I tuck the dry clean rag (washcloth) into the tabs of my Swiffer.

So that the bottom is completely covered, just like when you use their pads.

Then I spray the Mr. Clean on the floor and wipe it up with the mop.

You can see the dirt that it picks up, and the reason I bleach my rags.

This is easy enough that my kids mop the floor. My son is very visual so this works well for him. He tries to see how dark he can get the rag from mopping.

Money wise this works for me also. A couple bucks for the Mr. Clean and a few bucks for the washcloths. We have been using the same Mr. Clean and washcloths for over a year and my floor gets mopped at least twice a week. (It gets cleaned more now that the kids can help)

Financial Friday (#2)

The average American family of four throws out 1.3 pounds of food everyday, or 474.5 pounds every year. Household food waste translates to $43 billion annually. The first step toward saving money on food is to CUT THE WASTE.

I am challenging you all to become more familiar with what is in you fridge, freezer , and pantry. I don't know about you but I can't afford to toss my money in the garbage.

Financial Friday

Credit card debt is a hard thing to get under control but it's very easy for it to spiral out of control. Here is how it works: If you have a balance of $5,000 at 18 % APR, it will take you twenty-six years to pay the balance in full if you make only the minimum payment. By the time you pay off the balance, you will have spent more than $12,000 for that original $5,000 debt. You will have lost more than $7,000. Oh man the things that I could do with an extra $7,000!

But wait it doesn't stop there.

What if you have a late-payment, it happens to all of us. That means added fees and penalties. A possible raise in interest rate-maybe on several cards, not just the one that you were late on. Credit card companies share late-payment information.

It might have been a good deal while you were out shopping, but it's not anymore after interest and possibly a late-fee. When you pay with plastic think what will this really cost me??....

Squeeze Bottles

This is one thing that I really love to have around for my kids. My youngest loves to put on her own salad dressing. (I think that's why she likes salad) But if she pours it from a regular bottle then she ends up with more dressing then salad. The squeeze bottles are great! They are small and easy to handle. The best part is they cut down on the mess and waste.

So I have Ketchup, Mustard, and Mayo for sandwiches and burgers. I have Ranch and BBQ, mostly for dipping fries or nuggets. Then I have a few salad dressings, but the possibilities are endless.

I purchased the big bottles for around a dollar each, during picnic season. The smaller ones I got from a local craft store in their candy decorating section they were two for three dollars.