Comments on: http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/ Homemaking Helps for Busy Moms Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:30:50 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Erica http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1758 Erica Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:01:43 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1758 Hi! What a great site you have!! I took a lot of old clothes that were worn out w/holes, stains, dry-rotted elastic, etc. & made a bunch of cloth napkins for our family, as well as a bunch of baby wipes too. I have not bought paper napkins in well over a year, & we have only had to buy disposable wipes 1 time for our 4 MO (we only use them on the go for now until I get used to cloth diapering a babe on the run). One other project we did for our recycling unit in homeschool was to take tank tops (tank shirts), turn them inside out, sew the bottom together, & turn them right side out to reveal cloth bags... the kiddos LOVED that project!! Hi! What a great site you have!!

I took a lot of old clothes that were worn out w/holes, stains, dry-rotted elastic, etc. & made a bunch of cloth napkins for our family, as well as a bunch of baby wipes too. I have not bought paper napkins in well over a year, & we have only had to buy disposable wipes 1 time for our 4 MO (we only use them on the go for now until I get used to cloth diapering a babe on the run). One other project we did for our recycling unit in homeschool was to take tank tops (tank shirts), turn them inside out, sew the bottom together, & turn them right side out to reveal cloth bags… the kiddos LOVED that project!!

]]> By: Deb Dufek http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1744 Deb Dufek Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:11:26 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1744 With our large family (seven children, 5 with spouses) and fourteen grandchildren, needless to say Christmas and birthdays can be overwhelming financially, not to mention the energy it takes shopping for that many. One of my husband's great joys is to shop "off season", purchasing well ahead of Christmas or someone's birthday. There's always still a scramble the week before, but we save so much money by purchasing right after the holiday for the next year. In NY we have some stores that go down to 90% off the original asking price. The one problem we encounter now and again, though, is the difficulty we sometimes have wanting to "give" the gift right then and there!! :) With our large family (seven children, 5 with spouses) and fourteen grandchildren, needless to say Christmas and birthdays can be overwhelming financially, not to mention the energy it takes shopping for that many. One of my husband’s great joys is to shop “off season”, purchasing well ahead of Christmas or someone’s birthday. There’s always still a scramble the week before, but we save so much money by purchasing right after the holiday for the next year. In NY we have some stores that go down to 90% off the original asking price. The one problem we encounter now and again, though, is the difficulty we sometimes have wanting to “give” the gift right then and there!! :)

]]> By: Terri Roshon http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1738 Terri Roshon Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:48:02 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1738 Hi: I have a wool sweater that was washed in the washer. It is now too small. I thought about cutting the sleeves off, and using them for leg warmers this winter. Also, sewing the left over body of the sweater for a purse. Hi:
I have a wool sweater that was washed in the washer. It is now too small. I thought about cutting the sleeves off, and using them for leg warmers this winter. Also, sewing the left over body of the sweater for a purse.

]]> By: Lydia http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1737 Lydia Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:39:07 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1737 Finding inexpensive modest skirts for my growing teenage daughter had been a challenge. We would go to thrift stores but couldn't find much in her size. Then we began to look in a different way. We found that we could buy sizes much bigger and then cut them down or take in the waist with a few darts or add some elastic very easily and she would have a beautiful "new" skirt for a dollar or two. Sometimes it they were just a bit too small but had lots of sewed elastic I could "unsew" (cut the stitches) the elastic and it would fit nicely. Blessings. Lydia Finding inexpensive modest skirts for my growing teenage daughter had been a challenge. We would go to thrift stores but couldn’t find much in her size. Then we began to look in a different way. We found that we could buy sizes much bigger and then cut them down or take in the waist with a few darts or add some elastic very easily and she would have a beautiful “new” skirt for a dollar or two. Sometimes it they were just a bit too small but had lots of sewed elastic I could “unsew” (cut the stitches) the elastic and it would fit nicely.
Blessings.
Lydia

]]> By: Karena http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1736 Karena Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:18:54 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1736 Marilyn, Our family is going through lean times at present. Last year we grew a garden and I became a seed saver. This year I'm using those seeds I saved and have been trading them for new veggie seeds. For mulch this year we used the leaves from our trees. I use kitchen scraps in our compost pile. The rocks in our yard are used to make raised beds (which look fabulous). I began growing lots of herbs this year which I hope to sell at the local farmer's market. For our youngest I've gotten clothes using "freecycle". This is were we've gotten furniture also. Everything on this site is free and incourages people not to throw good usable items away. (less in our land fills) God has provided above and beyond what I could ever imagine. I'm bless to be daughter of the King of Kings. Thanks, Karena Marilyn,

Our family is going through lean times at present. Last year we grew a garden and I became a seed saver. This year I’m using those seeds I saved and have been trading them for new veggie seeds.

For mulch this year we used the leaves from our trees. I use kitchen scraps in our compost pile. The rocks in our yard are used to make raised beds (which look fabulous).

I began growing lots of herbs this year which I hope to sell at the local farmer’s market.

For our youngest I’ve gotten clothes using “freecycle”. This is were we’ve gotten furniture also. Everything on this site is free and incourages people not to throw good usable items away. (less in our land fills)

God has provided above and beyond what I could ever imagine. I’m bless to be daughter of the King of Kings.

Thanks,

Karena

]]> By: Vicki http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1735 Vicki Sun, 29 Mar 2009 05:17:03 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1735 One of my funnest frugal tips is to make a solar oven. You can find directions at: www.solarcooking.org I made the solar funnel cooker. It is very easy to make and works well. I save money every time I use it, by not using power for my oven, and it also keeps my home cooler in the summer, saving air conditioning costs. And you can't beat brownies made in a solar oven! Vicki One of my funnest frugal tips is to make a solar oven. You can find directions at:
http://www.solarcooking.org
I made the solar funnel cooker. It is very easy to make and works well. I save money every time I use it, by not using power for my oven, and it also keeps my home cooler in the summer, saving air conditioning costs. And you can’t beat brownies made in a solar oven!
Vicki

]]> By: Twyla http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1734 Twyla Sun, 29 Mar 2009 02:00:37 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1734 Instead of buying trash bags, if your area hasn't converted to the use of fabric bags yet, plastic grocery bags are perfect for small trash cans in your bathrooms; dry cleaning bags are the right size for larger cans - just tie the hanger end in a knot. Instead of buying trash bags, if your area hasn’t converted to the use of fabric bags yet, plastic grocery bags are perfect for small trash cans in your bathrooms; dry cleaning bags are the right size for larger cans – just tie the hanger end in a knot.

]]> By: Twyla http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1733 Twyla Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:55:55 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1733 Oops - didn't finish :) Also used the plastic rings as a holder for various rolls of wrapping papers (6 to 8 rolls). Just put a small open box under them at the bottom and you have an open gift wrap holder. Use two same size for more stability. Also, if you use store-bought dryer sheets, they also make great cheap air fresheners for the car; especially for long trips with teens! Can be slipped into very small spaces. Oops – didn’t finish :)

Also used the plastic rings as a holder for various rolls of wrapping papers (6 to 8 rolls). Just put a small open box under them at the bottom and you have an open gift wrap holder. Use two same size for more stability.

Also, if you use store-bought dryer sheets, they also make great cheap air fresheners for the car; especially for long trips with teens! Can be slipped into very small spaces.

]]> By: Twyla http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1732 Twyla Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:47:49 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1732 The plastic rings that hold frozen concentrated juice cans or soft drinks together are very useful - I've used them as a holder for drying hose, and holding plant stems up The plastic rings that hold frozen concentrated juice cans or soft drinks together are very useful – I’ve used them as a holder for drying hose, and holding plant stems up

]]> By: Twyla http://www.marilynmoll.com/2009/03/112/comment-page-1/#comment-1731 Twyla Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:44:35 +0000 http://www.marilynmoll.com/?p=112#comment-1731 The little plastic containers that "Crystal Light", or similar sugar free drink mixes, come in make excellent paint pots for little Picasso's. The larger container that all of the individual "pots" come in are the perfect size for storing a batch of homemade play dough. I've also used the plastic containers from my occasional use of store-bought icing for this purpose. Both of these seal well and will hold play dough or paint for months. The little plastic containers that “Crystal Light”, or similar sugar free drink mixes, come in make excellent paint pots for little Picasso’s.

The larger container that all of the individual “pots” come in are the perfect size for storing a batch of homemade play dough. I’ve also used the plastic containers from my occasional use of store-bought icing for this purpose. Both of these seal well and will hold play dough or paint for months.

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