I was determined to make a change, and Amy Bayliss offered the perfect opportunity in her weekly HOMEmaker challenge. She told me to make three new outfits out of the things I already had.

IMPOSSIBLE! Was my first thought. I had worked hard to thin out my closet so I knew there was nothing hidden in the darkness. It was some hand-me-downs that inspired the new outfits. These were clothes I had discarded because of a misfit here or there, but the challenge gave me the inspiration and motivation to remake the clothes into something that would work with my wardrobe.

Outfit #1 – The brown shirt and brown printed skirt. The skirt started out as a halter dress that was handed down to me. I LOVED the print, but there was no way my . . . um, curves were fitting into the halter portion. I cut off the halter, added a little hem and now I have a cute skirt to go with my brown shirt. All I need to make this the perfect outfit is some hot, high heeled boots.

Outfit #2 – The blue pants and printed shirt. The shirt was the major change in this outfit. It also started out as a dress. This time it was the lower half that I did not like. I just cut it off, hemmed the bottom and added a pair of dress pants. I’ll finish this outfit off with some black and silver pumps.

Outfit #3 – The pink skirt and brown shirt. The material of this skirt is amazing, but it started out as a tank dress. I liked the fit and the feel, but the skirt was too long on the dress and I prefer separates. The scissors again came in handy. I cut the tank portion of the dress off and hemmed the skirt to be right a knee level. I paired the skirt with a brown, thrift store find that I have had in my closet. I think the brown boots I will be getting for outfit #1 may also rock outfit #3.

Three new outfits for my new place in life and they were all completely free. Even the hemming only took about an hour per outfit, probably less. Why not take the challenge for yourself? Three new outfits – and not a dollar spent!

Start Saving Now

1. Make a menu. Knowing what will be fixed for each meal and what needs to be done to prep that meal will make buying groceries easier and much less expensive. Easy, quick meals will also keep you from giving in to the need to get fast food or eat out.

2. Wash the rags. Today I was putting one of the last rolls of paper towels up when it dawned on me that we go through one roll every two days. Choosing to use towels that can be washed to do most of the work will save us quite a few dollars in the end.

3. Turn down the heat. The colder it gets the lower the thermostat needs to go as well. Heat pumps in particular will use up much more energy when they are set to a temperature that is over 40 degrees above the outside temperature. Use the fire place during these times if at all possible.

The little things can make a big difference. Cutting down or cutting back can give you the extra money you need to begin building up your savings. What are the little tricks and tips that you use to save?

1. Give the gift of time – Create coupons for hikes, trips to the museum, fishing or other activities that bring people together without breaking the bank.

2. DIY – make Christmas gifts for those in your family. Food is always a winner!


3. Make and take – no more mailing gifts and cards. Hand deliver all that you can and maybe even sing a carol while you are there.

4. Give what you got – re-gift items that you no longer need or love or something that you have extra of, like firewood!

5. A picture is worth a thousand words – put together photo albums or scrapbooks from all of those digital pictures you have stored on your camera and in your computer.

6. Go green – use items that you find in nature to do your decorating. Pinecones, nuts, and greenery can usually be found around your home free of charge. When searching on property other than your own be sure you get permission form the owners.

7. Avoid the stuff – you know all that stuff that the family NEVER uses but you feel obligated to buy anyway (like stocking stuffer type toys and gadgets).

Cutting back for the holidays does not mean cutting out the fun. Find new and creative traditions that will mean more to your family than just shiny new toys that get discarded the next day.

My husband left his teaching position in October of 2007. The income I gain from writing (mostly online) has been enough to keep our heads above water, but only just enough so that we can breath. Things would be better if I had squeezed the finances tighter in the beginning but would’ve, should’ve or could’ve will not put money in the account.

Saving Money when There IS no Money

1. Eat from the pantry, freezer and other places where we tend to store food. I have managed to feed the family quite well using creative recipes that include items I already have. That tip only goes for so long and then you will have to start restocking, but we have made it two months without a major grocery trip.

2. Find free entertainment. Friday has become library day. After the older boys finish school and the youngest (and dad) get up from a nap then it is off to the library for movies and new books. We also try to make time to go to the recreation center to play in the gym or at the playground. Let the kids choose the activity and there is no telling where you might end up.

3. Use what you have even if it may not be what you wanted. My mother-in-law got Red Rooster plates for her wedding china. They have been in storage since my husband and I inherited them. I am NOT a rooster kind of gal. But the truth is that my kitchen is a rooster kind of kitchen and we do need new dishes and there is no reason to leave the thing that I need sitting in the shed even if the thing I need may not be exactly what I want.

4. Be honest – with yourself and with your family. Financial troubles may be able to be hidden for a time but eventually the truth will catch up and it is usually worse by that time. Talk to your family. They may have some ideas that can help you get out of trouble before you hole is too deep. Talk to the kids. Let them know that things will be tight for a bit but that you will work it out together. Honesty really is the best policy when the money is tight.

Saving money when there is no money does not always mean that you are building up a giant nest egg to use down the road. It may just mean that you are building up enough support to keep a little breathing room. It may mean that you are using every thing that you can find just to stay afloat.

No matter where you are in your financial walk, there is always something extra that you can do. Sit down and think hard about where you can cut, what you can do differently or maybe where you need to add to help keep your finances above water.

Our mini-van was t-boned a few weeks back by a car that was only going about 5 mph. The damage that was caused made me re-think our family driving choices. I am looking for a tank (or something resembling one) to replace our wrecked mini-van. I’ve been visiting used car lots up and down the county trying to find that gem that will be perfect for our family (and even better for our budget).

I have discovered a few things about used cars that might surprise you and several that might not.

Used Car Surprises

1. Most people are VERY proud of their used cars. There was one dealership that actually told me I would come out better buying brand new (with all the sales and credits they had going on at the time) than I would be buying the same car as a used 2007 or 2008. That seems a bit outrageous for an industry notorious for values dropping as soon as you drive off the lot.

2. Trading in will hit you HARD and it’s not even from dealership to dealership. The minivan that we have was not totaled (although it was significantly damaged). We were planning on trading it in but are still hoping to sell it. One dealership has offered $300 in trade in value and another has offered $1000. I intend to ask for around 10% more than the Kelly Blue Book value.

3. The internet has opened up a whole new world of research ability. I can see what the dealers see – the magic Kelly Blue Book value. I can also use the VIN number (in the front driver’s side corner) to see the history of the vehicle. Now there are no more secrets.

4. Cash is still king. The minute I say “we will be paying cash” the sales people change their tune. One dropped the price of the vehicle about $2000 over the phone – before we even visited the lot. Cash shows a serious buyer and serious buyers are money in the pocket for the sales people.

5. Not all sales personnel earn a percentage of the profit as commission. Some are even on salary. It can help your negotiations to know how the person you are working with gets paid. You may also want to forego working with a sales person and ask for a manager. The higher up you go the easier it is to negotiate.

Knowing something about the used car industry is a good step towards getting the right used car at the right price. Having the tools to negotiate will also come in handy.

Tools for Negotiating a Used Car Deal

1. Be willing to walk away. Excitement about the product will tell the salesperson that you may be afraid to lose the product. When you walk away then it shows that you can live without it and the negotiations can get easier for you.

2. Be prepared. Do your research before going to the car lot. You should do some preliminary calling to see what products are available at different locations. Use the internet to research general information about the products and then go in with your notes in hand. Knowledge is power when it comes to negotiations.

3. Be flexible. There may be times when the price you want and the price that they offer is close. Look at the starting point of the dealer’s price and see how willing they have been at coming down from that.

4. Be aware. Make more than one inquiry about a vehicle – by phone, by email AND in person. See what offers you get from the different places and proceed accordingly.

Finding a used car may not be difficult but BUYING a used car can be tough. Be sure that you have plenty of time to find a used car and then negotiate the deal that works best for you.

Parents are looking for ways to entertain kids during the summer months without breaking the bank. Day camps offer the scheduled atmosphere and also provide a number of unexpected benefits for the parents and the kids. With a few simple guidelines you can use day camps to save you money.

Tips for Saving Money with Day Camps

1. Use tax credits and deductions. The IRS provides for parents that need to work with child deductions. Many times the fees that you pay for day camps could be eligible for these deductions.

2. Become a volunteer. Parents with a little extra time or some particular skills can often volunteer for positions in day camps and get discounted or free attendance for children (some may even be able to wrangle a pay check out of the deal as well).

3. Partner with other parents. Share responsibilities for taking the kids and picking up the kids. You will save money on gas and you will have extra time to complete the tasks that you need to do during the day.

4. Find free camps. Almost every church in your area will offer a vacation bible school. Kids learn songs, do crafts and play games. It’s a great (and inexpensive way) to schedule fun for your kids during the summer.

5. Look for other free programs. Some movie theaters offer discounted movies (or free movies), libraries offer reading programs and some other public and private entities may have specials that your kids can enjoy.

There is no reason for summer time blues these days. There is always something that the kids can do and many of them can save you money in the long run.

Steps to Planning and Saving for a Party

1. Start cooking ahead of time. Having appetizers or parts of the meal prepared and frozen will take a great deal of stress off of your planning. You will also be able to save more money by making your own food.

2. Think outside the box – or maybe in a box. The last gathering we had we asked a local restaurant to make boxed lunches for the event. The food was made and placed in little to-go boxes and delivered right to the event for just $6 per person. It was easy to do (because we didn’t really have to do anything) and even easier to clean up.

3. Buy food that is on sale to use for your event. With a little online research you can make great dishes out of any ingredient. All that you need to do is type in the ingredient name along with “recipe” into your search engine and then start sorting through the options.

4. Use crock pots to cook your dishes. You know the food will stay warm as long as you like, cooking in crock pots takes no time at all and you can cook just about anything (including dessert) in a crock pot.

5. Limit the guest list. You may want to invite everyone you have ever known so that no one gets offended, but that is no way to save money. Cutting back on the guest list will help cut down on expenses AND it will give you and your guests time to visit. Too many guests can be overwhelming to everyone.

6. Skip the alcohol. Offer a mix of tea, water, sodas, lemonade or other punches but avoid anything alcoholic. You will save a lot of money but you will also avoid any liability if a party-goer runs into problems after they drive away from your home.

Be creative when planning your next party and you can save time, stress and money along the way.

We are all looking for ways to cut back or cut out spending. The economy is tight and consumers are becoming debt conscious. But there are a few items that you should consider spending money on today in order to save in the long run.

Tips for Spending Money to Save Money

1. Flood insurance – most home owner’s insurance will cover leaks that come from above (like rain through the roof) but none cover flooding. You need to invest in flood insurance if you live any where near a flood zone. We purchase flood insurance each year for just $120 per year! Talk to your existing insurance agency about how to add flood insurance to your policies.

2. Car maintenance – getting a check up (or doing one on your own) is important to the life of your vehicle. Running a car with dirty fluids or no fluids will cause catastrophic damage that will cost a fortune. Get the oil changed, get the transmission fluid changed. Get the filters and belts checked and changed. Your car will run better than ever and you may be able to catch problems before they become too big to handle.

3. Home repairs – fixing things around the home when the problem is first revealed is the best way to keep the problem from getting beyond help. We had one tile come up in the bathroom floor – if I had repaired it then we would not be facing the prospect of having to replace the bathroom floor because of all the other tiles that have now come up around it. Home repair is no place for procrastination.

4. Warranties – this is one of the times when you will need to way the cost. IF there is a good chance you will need the services provided by the warranty then take advantage of it. We paid for four years of full coverage (even if the dog knocks it on the floor) for the new computer that we purchased. We have three boys that run through the room and it would cost as much as the warranty for just one visit from the computer repairman. Read the fine print and be sure that the warranty covers exactly what you need. If it’s not in writing then don’t take the salesman’s word that it will be covered. Get it in writing.

5. Health insurance – the Health Savings Account gives you the convenience of having money for all health care costs but still provides the protection for major health expenses through High Deductible Health Insurance. You can also find reasonably priced full coverage insurance if you are willing to do some research. The average emergency room visit will cost around $1200 (and that’s just getting seen by the doctor without tests). Most doctor’s visits will cost around $150. Getting insurance will save you plenty through out the year AND it will give you peace of mind.

Spending money may not seem like the best way to save money, but it can be. There are certain places where you need to make the investment in order to save in substantial costs in the future.

It is important to save money in this economy. Experts have been saying that everyone should have three to six months of expenses saved up but recently I heard that the number should be EIGHT months.

Our household lives off a freelance income. That means that the paychecks come when the paychecks come and there really is not guarantees when (or if) they will arrive. We have been living off last month’s income for a couple of years now and it has made us more aware of our spending habits. Last week I decided to push our finances to the limits and begin to save aggressively. We are aiming to save $3000 in just 10 weeks.

Tips for Saving More Money

1. Eating out is one of the quickest ways to eat up discretionary spending. Over the next ten weeks we will eat all of our meals in home or we will pack sandwiches and a picnic if we must eat at the ball field or other outing.

2. Turn off extra lights and equipment around the house and turn the air up to 74 degrees. I can save any of the overage from the budget for the electricity.

3. Sell something I don’t need, use or love. It may be something big like a piece of jewelry or something small like a toy or collectible that could go in auction.

4. Work one extra job each week – as a freelance writer I can take on as many jobs as time allows. One extra job each week could be dedicated to savings.

Saving $3000 in ten weeks is not an impossible task. It only takes finding ways to save just $300 each week or around $60 each day. Putting back that extra money will get me well on the way to a comfortable emergency fund and it will help me become even more aware of how we spend money as a family.

Vacations can be expensive any time of the year but the peak travel season of the summer can be extraordinarily costly – especially to families. The good news is that there deals out there today that can help you and your family enjoys a great vacation for around $700 (that includes attractions, events, lodging and food).

I stumbled across one package recently that really got my attention. My family enjoys history and a trip back in time seems like the perfect getaway for the whole team. The best thing is that we can walk away from the experience without mom and dad feeling like we need to take a second mortgage to pay for the experience.

Colonial Williamsburg Resort Summer package offers a family vacation of five days and four nights in the historic community. Included in the package are: a free movie for the family, an extended continental breakfast, passes to the historic attractions, discounts to other events and for shopping, free parking and $200 voucher that can be used for the spa, golf or resort restaurants. Most families could easily walk away from this vacations which costs just over $600 for under $700 included the cost to drive to the resort.

The key to finding the great deals is to look around. Find hotels that offer free meals and free accommodations to children or discount packages to area attractions. There are some amazing deals for flying right now but even when the tickets are just around $100 the costs add up for a family. Look for vacations that you can drive to and experience more of the sites along the way.