Thrifty Tip #12 - Baby Clothes

I'm a big fan of thrift stores.  While I don't get everything there, I have scored some amazing deals on clothes, furniture and decor.  It only seemed natural to look for baby things there too.  I know that babies have a high turn over with clothing.  It's pretty much wear once, maybe twice, then done.  So, Goodwill is a great place to look for lightly used, sometimes new, clothes.  Our Goodwill sells infant clothes for $0.99 a piece.  Pretty good.  When we were in the store going through the clothes, one of the ladies that worked there told me that they have a baby sale once a week where it's 3 for a dollar!  Its not really advertised so you have to call and see if they are doing it that day.  It won't be on senior discount.  So, all new parents, hit your local Goodwill to score a new wardrobe for the minis!

Cheers!

Thrifty Tip #11 - Dryer Sheets

There are lots of ideas out there for DIY dryer sheets or things that can take the place of dryer sheets.  One thing I saw on pinterest was to soak a washcloth in fabric softener and put that in the dryer.  Another pin said to use a ball of aluminum foil.  We get our dryer sheets from the dollar store and they work fine.  I make my own fabric softener but I've heard that you shouldn't use fabric softener on towels because it makes them lose their absorbancy.  And I've also heard that dryer sheets and fabric softener cause built up on the lint trap that can lead to fires.

Then my mom told me a trick she had been using and liked.  Tennis balls.  She throws 2 tennis balls into the dryer with her clothes and that's it.  She loves it.  So, while I was at Tar-jay this weekend, I grabbed a container of tennis balls for $2.  Then I went home and did the laundry.  I put all three balls in the dryer with a load of clothes.  I'm not sure, but I think it helped them dry faster.  And the towels were definitley fluffy.  I think I will keep this trick.  the balls make a lot of noise bouncing around in the dryer, so if your dryer is close to where you sleep or watch TV, know that you'll hear them.  I can use the tennis balls for a while, so I guess that's money in our pocket too.  But I don't think I'm ready to give up my DIY fabric softener just yet...

Cheers!

 

 

That's my down comforter in there.  Should be nice and fluffy when it comes out!

Thrifty Tip #10 - Garlic Bread

I love Texas Toast.  I love to pile my pasta on top of it and eat it.  But I don't like how much it costs.  Here is a trick my mom taught me years ago, and my BFF Kimmy just reminded me of.

Quick and Easy Garlic Bread

Get a slice of bread, any bread.  I've used hamburger buns, hot dog buns, and end pieces of bread.  Get some tub butter and put it in a bowl.  Add some garlic powder and pizza seasoning (I use Penzey's Pizza Seasoning) or Italian seasonings.  Spread it on the bread and bake at 450 until golden brown.  We put ours right on our pizza stone.  That's it.  Easy peasy!

Cheers!