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February 11, 2015

February No Spend Month Challenge: Day 11 Recap

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Hello again, savvy savers! So for the Day 11 challenge, I challenged everyone to clean off your homes most prized real estate, your counter-tops.  So, today as my counter-tops were already cleaned off, but I thought I would share some of the ways I keep them cleared off!  

kitchen counter clean off

 A few ways I keep my counter-tops clear:

  • I keep my toaster oven, microwave, tool crock trio, and produce baskets on a small bakers rack.
  • All paper products, wraps, and lunch items are stored in in-cabinet wicker baskets. 
  • Snacks are stored vertically in hanging baskets.
  • I keep a rack above my sink for washing accouterments and my favorite e-Pantry candles! 
  • I keep my small appliances in a bottom cabinet; grill and baking appliances on one shelf, and all others on the bottom shelf. 
  • I place my cutting boards in an upcycled magazine holder, on the side of my pantry.
  • All spices, food, and pantry items stay in the pantry!
  • Extra tools belong on my pullman cart beside my fridge!

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I also created a coffee and tea station on top of my antique buffet table in my dining room. The station holds all of my mugs, cups, and baskets holding my k-cup products in cabinet, to maximize space. I find that having all of my Keurig, tea station, electric kettle in one area not only cuts down on kitchen clutter, but forces my family to better utilize out dining room space; being able to sit and drink tea coffee, and cocoa in a designated area promoted quality family time for us all!

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And before anyone asks, are my cabinets cleared out? You betcha! I just love how much more efficient my home has become in the few weeks my counter tops have been cleared off. Every projects, from pantry cooking, prepping blanching projects, to folding laundry now has an area! And at the end of the day, when I wipe my counter tops off I feel a true sense of relief, not seeing clutter in every direction I turn! I highly recommend clearing of your counters, as it truly is a game changing experience! 

As well today, I was also able to accomplish:

  1. As part of my #Choose30 Daily Challenge, I woke up at 7:25, walked my fur babies, showered, & dressed to my shoes. (Thanks, Flylady!)
  2. Worked on my daily Motivated Moms Planner.
  3. I finished a day’s worth of clerking assignments ahead of schedule!
  4. I cooked from my pantry for each meal.
  5. Read my daily devotional.
  6. I waked two miles.

Today I saved:

  • I eat at home this evening for dinner, saving our family $6.95. 
  • I recycled, upcycled, and composted one bins of deluge, and saved $0.25, the cost of 1 trash bag. 
  • My family drank water today, and saved $0.69, the cost of a 2-liter of soda.
  • I also did not watch cable tv, and saved $3.68 by doing so.
  • I lost a half day’s worth of electricity costs, and saved $3.00! 

So, overall today my family saved: $14.57

This months savings goal remaining: $374.60

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the Day 12 challenge! 

Here’s to saving,

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Challenge Links:

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Wednesday Ways to Save: Craigslist Freebies!

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Hello again, savvy savers! For this weeks Wednesday Ways To Save, I wanted to remind you all to daily check your local Craigslist group, from their Free Pages! I have found numerous items on these freebie listing, including a couch, DVD’s, yard toys, pets, and more!

To see if there are any deals in your area:

  • Go to Craigslist.org
  • Under the homepage, create an account.
  • Then go back to your home page, and select your Country.
  • Then select your State.
  • Then select the city or areas closet to where you live.
  • Under the middle “For Sale” column, you will see a hyperlink for Free, and then select this link.
  • Browse away! 

A few tips once you have found a great Free Item:

  1. When you have found an item you are interested, click the reply button and type a message.
  2. Always be sure to keep your initial messages short and direct; ask only if the item is available, and then say thank you.
  3. Once the giver has responded stating that the item is available, be sure to set up a time to meet for item pick-up.
  4. Always select pick-up locations that are in public, during daytime hours, and try to take someone with you, safety first!
  5. The most important part of this process, be sure to arrive ahead of time, and do not stand a giver up. It’s poor Craigslist etiquette!

I would also advise checking nearby groups, too! I have been able to find items such as a free piano, not in my city, but within an hours drive, and even with the cost of a U-Haul for three hours, it far outweighed the initial cost of the item; this one haul alone I saved $2,400.00 over the appraisal price of the item! Also, be sure to favorite/add the free site link to your favorite web browser tool bar, so you can check daily to snag any awesome deals in your area! 

Here’s to saving,

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February No-Spend Month Challenge: Day 11 (Clean Off Your Counter-tops)

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Hello again, savvy savers! So for the Day 11 challenge, I want to discuss kitchen counter tops. 

For me, the kitchen is the heartbeat of our home, but too often our kitchen counters are cluttered, disorganized, and undervalued! This lack of prime household real estate, in my opinion, could be much better utilizes the day-to-day activities of a home. So, today I challenge you to incompletely clean off your counter-tops. This should be no longer than a 1-hour project! 

A points I would like to add as a caveat to this challenge:

  • You may be thinking, is that really more convenient? Yes, is it. While leaving tools, crocks, and small appliances on the counters seems easier, this allows for your tools and appliances to be subjected to spatters of food, grime, bacteria, staph, and other contaminants. We place dishes in cabinets to prevent this same scenario, why not for your small appliances? 
  • Will it take more than two seconds to pull out a toaster? How long does it take to plug-in? 
  • Also consider the idea that an appliance regularly used for 1-3 minutes daily, remains plugged-in constantly, and so small appliances are a power phantom source! 
  • Also worth noting, the appliance most likely to cause house fires, according to the National Home Owners Association, toasters! 
  • You may also be thinking, will my cabinets be able to hold these items? Yes, I believe so. Divide cabinets by need, cook and food prep, dishes, and the like, and if items will not fit, and they have not been used within six months, consider donating or selling these items! 
  • Larger appliances, such as stand mixers, can also usually be stored in larger, vertical below counter cabinets, as well. 
  • Mid-size appliances such as  bread machine, blender, immersion blender, and rice cooker can easily fit into most cabinets. 

So how should you go about this? Follow these steps:

  1. Declutter your cabinets: Clear out your cupboards of anything that you don’t use on a regular basis. Make room in your dining room, basement, or stockpile area for seasonal items, such as punch bowls and holiday dishes. Purge, recycle, sell, or donate items that have not been used in a year. 
  2. Zone your cabinets: I have a zone for coffee, baking, and pets; keep like items together. Creating zones in your kitchen helps to keep your cabinets organized, helps you to know where to store things, and helps you work more efficiently in the day-to-day running of your home. 
  3. Create Nook Spaces For All Other Items: Anything random, left over, and not able to be placed into cabinets, think of creative, upcycled ways to display and store these items. 
  4. Keep Counters Cleared: Nightly, as part of your bedtime home routine, simply take the items misplaced on your counters, and go put them away. 

The process of minimizing your kitchen, clearing off your counters, and creating new home work stations is not an overnight process. It takes work. You will probably be able to clear off your counters in an hour, give or take the existing items you have on hand, but the real time will come into maintaining this standard– unless you work at keeping order in your kitchen, you will never have order in your kitchen. 

This project will pay out great dividends in the long run, I promise! Know I’m pulling for you today!

Be sure to check back in tonight for my daily recap!

Here’s to saving,

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Challenge Links:

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