Frugal Ideas for Creating a Cozy
Cost Efficient Home

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These days everything is all about frugal ideas to save. As frugal moms we try to save money, time, energy, and the planet.

...But we want to take good care of our families first, and that starts in the home with some simple frugal living ideas.

Whether you've got a big ole' house with acres for a yard, or you live in a small apartment, these frugal ideas for household savings, and ideas for decorating your home will help you reduce your household bills and spruce up your living space for less.

Plus, you can use some of the savings for things you feel are worth a splurge.

Frugal Living Ideas

• Invest in a programmable thermostat. This a small investment that will save you tons of money over the long haul. A thermostat is fairly easy to replace, it comes with instructions, and it will allow you to automatically set the temperature higher or lower for different times during the day and night.

  Add a Touch of the Elements. Simple things like live plants, candles, tabletop waterfalls, and wind chimes near a window can completely change the look and feel of any room in your house without costing much. Create Your Own Family Portraits. One of the frugal ideas that cost pennies but looks like a million bucks. Brush up on the basics of digital photography. Then use your PC and a simple photo editor to create gallery style prints of your best family portrait ideas. Make Your Own Curtains. Window treatments can be pricey, but you can make your own expensive looking curtains out of ordinary bedsheets!

  One of my favorite frugal ideas because it's so easy, and looks so good. You can even do it with no sewing required. Check out our easy instructions for how to make curtains out of bedsheets.

• Give Your Kitchen a Face Lift. New potholders, dishtowels, floor mats, and place mats will give your kitchen a refreshing change. Purchase plastic seasonal dishware to take the most used room in the house from season to season in a fun, inexpensive way.
• Bathroom Changes are a Breeze. You can give your bathroom a seasonal change with frugal ideas from disccount, and even dollar stores. Matching rugs, soap dispensers, and shower curtains can change over your bathroom look in 10 minutes or less. For some fun bring your holiday decor into the bathroom. Stray Christmas wreaths and single candles, even unused ornaments can be displayed. Want to give your kids a Halloween thrill? Turn your bathroom into a mini haunted house.
• Shop Thrift Stores. I am not a big fan of the "shabby chic" look, however, it's very possible to find a gem of a bookshelf, plant rack, coffee table, or even a dresser that will look perfect in your home with a little sand and polish. You can also look for practical items at huge bargains. My son's race car bed costs me $50 at the Goodwill Store. It was in almost new condition. Purchased new it would have been around $200. After he outgrew it I sold it on Craigslist to another mom for $30.
• Make your own cleaning products. Baking soda, vinegar, and lemons can be used to make your own homemade cleaning products that cost much less than the chemical filled, store bought brands. Experiment with different ingredients until you concoct one good multipurpose cleaner that works for you, and use it all over your home.
• Make Your Own Laundry Soap. Save big bucks by making homemade laundry soap. One batch can wash about 50 loads.
• Use a clothesline. My mom rarely used our dryer. She had clotheslines outside and inside, and our clothes always smelled great. My sister-in-law calculated that using a clothesline saves her family about $50 a month on their electric bill! Definitely a big impact for frugal living.
• Clear your clutter. Use FFM's Best Declutter Tips to clear out the chaos. Decluttering saves you time and money because you won't have to hunt for things or replace misplaced things. A clutter free home is a more relaxed and comfortable home.
• Review your phone bill. Most phone companies are notorious for charging all kinds of fees for this and that. Go over your phone bills and cancel any services you haven't been using.
• Use a family calendar. Manage your time well by writing down events and appointments. Your time has a tangible value to your families bottom line. Focusing on the importance of time management will minimize household stress, and help you accomplish more during your day. You might even work in a little time to pursue some of your own interests. :) I use the pocket wall calendar. Love it!
• Change Your Bulbs. Light bulbs that is. Compact fluorescent bulbs do save you money, and I can attest to the fact that they last much longer than conventional light bulbs. Just make sure to check the wattage of your new bulbs. They tend to give off less light that conventional bulbs of the same wattage, so take that into consideration when you purchase.
• Cook with as Little Energy as Possible. Your microwave, toaster oven and Crockpot use less energy than your full sized oven and stove top. The general rule of thumb for saving energy in the kitchen is to use the smallest appliance possible to cook your frugal recipes.