Custom Made Window Treatments

Custom made window treatments can be very costly. So when you purchase them you want to know up front what you are going to get and how much it is going to cost you.

Fabric Work Room takes the mystery out of purchasing custom window treatments. You can choose your preferred style, choose from a large range of top quality fabrics, and they will give you all the measuring tools you need to price your treatments online. Eliminating the risk of any surprise expenses.

This post was sponsored by Fabric Work Room

6 Tips On How To Save Money On Clothing

By Jason B. Cox

If you're a clothes horse or supporting a growing family that seems to go through clothing faster than groceries, then you know how expensive the constant purchase of clothing can become. In this article, we'll cover how you can save money when you're buying clothing, how you can make your clothes last longer and how to get by with less clothes all together.

1. Organize a clothing swap with friends. Whether it is five stylish young women exchanging clothes they no longer wear or five moms trading kid's snowsuits, a clothing swap is a great way to pick up "new" items at no cost and unload your unwanted clothes. Such an event done with a handful of friends can provide a lot of options while enjoying a few hours of fun together.

2. Find a good tailor. A good tailor is worth his or her weight in gold. Someone skilled in alterations and repairs can help you take in the gorgeous dress that was on sale, but just didn't fit right. They can also turn out worn cuffs, let out old pants or fix stretched or ripping seams. Remember, an alteration to a favorite item may only cost $5-$10, whereas new items will cost you ten times that amount.

3. Hit the outlets. Outlet shopping is a great way to save money, but remember that a lot of these clothing items landed at the outlets for a reason. They may simply be overstock, or they might be mislabeled. When outlet shopping, always try on a few different sizes and inspect all the items thoroughly. But if you don't mind a minor stitch out of place or a less popular item, you can find great deals.

4. Buy classic items off-season. While it's important to have an item or two each season that reflects the trends, don't buy key wardrobe pieces in season. For example, if you're buying a winter coat, wait until the end of winter to pick up a classic coat for a fraction of the price. Ditto for swimsuits and shoes - just don't pick up anything that's so trendy that it is not likely to last another year.

5. Sign up on mailing lists. Whether it's your favorite web site, department store or local designer boutique, you should always sign up for the mailing list. You'll be the first to know about upcoming sales, designer specials and events that are for "preferred" customers only. Also, don't be afraid to simply ask about upcoming sales, most clerks will be happy to tell you. Just be sure that if it is a web site offering mailings, it also has a clear privacy statement and easy means of "opting out" of future deliveries.

6. Go consignment hunting. Consignment shops are a great place to pick up high-end, designer items that are gently used, or even sell your own clothes. Consignment clothing sales are also catching on in the children's clothing market. So, if you have a growing brood, they can be a great resource for updating those outgrown wardrobes.

For information on practical money saving tips, please visit http://www.moneysavetips.com, a popular site providing great insights all about creative savings ideas, such as student debt help, prepaid credit cards for teenagers, invest tools and many more thoughts for your consideration!

Source:http://www.isnare.com/

Frugal Gifts For Mothers Day

Stuck for a gift for Mum this Mothers Day? Here are a few frugal ideas:

1. Pick a bouquet of flowers from your own garden.



2. Buy a single flower at the florist. The florist may even add a little baby's breath and a bow.



3. Spend time with your Mum - just you and her.



4. Make your Mum's favourite dessert and give it to her along with a gift certificate for a homemade dessert once a month.



5. Fill a pretty basket with things your Mum likes, like cookie mixes, dried herbs, a mug filled with a couple of specialty tea bags. Line the basket with a napkin, a tea towel or a piece of material, add a raffia bow.



6. Family photos always make a great gift, but they don't have to be the expensive portraits made at a professional studio. Some studios like Pixie Foto offer very inexpensive portrait packages, just don't be lured into buying extra sheets or it could cost a small fortune.



7. Homemade cookies in a pretty basket or simply wrapped in cellophane make a lovely gift.



8. Give your Mum a Free Car Wash. You could even vacuum her car and wash the windows.



9. Potted Flowers are a great idea instead of buying a bunch of cut flowers from a flower shop, potted flowers can be found for less than the price of a bouquet.



10. Take Mum out to lunch or dinner - This normally wouldn't qualify as a frugal gift idea, but on Mother's Day it can as long as you go somwhere that offers a free meal for Mum on Mother's Day.



11. Buy a pretty coffee mug and fill it with coffee, exotic teas, or lollies, wrap it in cellophane and tie it up with a pretty ribbon.



12. Make your Mum dinner and don't forget to do the dishes.



13. A pretty journal and a nice pen tied together with a pretty bow.

~ You can find more of my Frugal Tips here! ~

If you want some more great frugal tips go and check out the other Frugal Friday participants.

10 Ways To Save Money On Your Laundry

By Ray Tolley

Electricity and water bills can add up fast, especially when you're doing laundry for what feels like an army. Keep reading for 10 great laundry tips that will help you cut your monthly energy bills.

1. Run full loads of laundry. It's much more cost-effective to wash a full load rather than two smaller loads. If you wind up having to run a small load because you don't have enough whites or you need the clothes quickly, always try to set the water level accordingly.

2. Wash clothes in cold water. The majority of the cost associated with running a washing machine comes from the energy it takes to heat the water. You can cut that energy expense in half by switching to warm water, and you can cut it to zero by washing your clothes in cold. There are laundry detergents specially formulated to work in cold water. You will likely pay a little more for them, but the longer term savings benefit makes it easily worth the higher initial detergent expense.

3. Use your dryer's auto-dry function. Most modern, energy-efficient dryers have moisture sensors that detect when your clothes are dry and automatically turn off the appliance. Instead of over-drying your clothing or running your dryer for no reason, this handy feature can reduce your utility bill significantly.

4. Hang your clothes to dry. In sunny weather, letting your clothes air-dry costs you nothing on your monthly energy bill - just a little additional physical energy to hang and then later bring the clothes in. Plus afterward, your clothes come back smelling backyard breeze fresh.

5. Dry lightweight and heavyweight items separately. Light items like socks and underwear will dry faster if you separate them from heavier items like towels and jeans. You'll still save money even though you're running the dryer twice.

6. Remove clothes from the dryer right away. The sooner you remove your clothes from the dryer, the less ironing you'll have to do - which will save you energy! Shake your clothes out when they're still warm and hang them up right away. This simple step will save you time and money.

7. Clean the lint trap after every load. A clean lint filter allows the dryer's hot air to circulate freely and will dry your clothes faster, saving you dryer time and money. It also minimizes the risk of your dryer over-heating and potentially causing it damage.

8. Dry loads back-to-back. If you're washing several loads, wait to dry them one after the other. Your dryer won't have to heat up again and you can take advantage of that heat already stored in the appliance.

9. Inspect your dryer exhaust vent regularly. A clogged exhaust vent is like a lint-jammed lint trap - it'll reduce your dryer's efficiency and increase drying time. Check the vent is clear by going outside and verify that the air coming out of the vent is warm and moist.

10. Install the water heater close to the washing machine. If you can, try making the distance between your water heater and your washing machine as short as possible. The less distance hot water has to travel, the less heat that is lost through the pipes.

For information on practical home energy savings ideas, please visit www.energysavingsoptions.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning energy cost cutting measures, such as garage door insulation, the helpful portable furnace, a Trane furnace, and many more!

Source:http://www.isnare.com/

How To Save Money On Your Groceries

By Jason B. Cox

For a growing family or a starving singleton, the growing cost of groceries can make a huge dent in your monthly budget. But, they don't have to. You can eat well without breaking the bank, and we're going to show you how. Keep reading for 7 tips you can use to save money at the grocery store every week.

1. Never shop hungry. How many times have you headed into a grocery store and come out with a number of food products you ordinarily seldom purchase? Numerous studies have shown that consumers who shop hungry purchase up to 40 percent more on food than customers with full stomachs. Before you head out to the grocery store, eat a snack to help curb your appetite. If you don't have time to get in a snack or you're stopping into the store on your way home from work, then grab a fruit bar or power bar from the health aisle and munch it down as you shop. You can pay for it once you get up to the cashier; just save the wrapper.

2. Always buy on sale. Try to always buy staple items on sale and don't be afraid to test store brands. If you come across a favorite item that's on sale for a good price and isn't perishable, definitely stock up on it for future use. Additionally, people who are willing to take a little time to clip coupons and make purchases accordingly can save several hundreds of dollars in grocery costs over the course of a year.

3. Buy bulk. Buying items in bulk quantity will save you money, as long as you can use them before their expiration dates. For example, purchasing a 48-roll package of toilet paper is typically going to cost you almost a dollar less per paper foot than buying a tiny 4-roll package. If you have a little extra storage room in a closet or garage for larger quantity items, you will preserve a lot of your hard-earned income.

4. Sign up for a rewards card. Most grocers offer a rewards, a points program, or discounts that are only available to card holders. To reap the benefits of these programs, you'll have to sign up for the card. Admittedly you sacrifice some of your privacy and may end up receiving additional junk mail or email, but if you don't mind that relatively minor inconvenience, you will save a lot of money.

5. Compare prices the right way. Instead of comparing prices based on what's written on the tag, look at the price per gallon or the price per gram (that is, whatever its price per unit). You'll get a much more accurate reflection of where the true savings are. Most stores print this information on the price tag - but if your store doesn't, then remember to bring along a calculator to do your own quick apples-to-apples comparisons.

6. Buy local. Whenever possible, try to buy locally produced products and produce. If you have access to a local farmer's market, you'll find that you can save almost double by buying your produce direct from the farmer.

7. Buy produce in season. Instead of trying to enjoy $8 strawberries in November, opt instead for a tasty apple. Buying produce in season will save you a ton of money. So, look for recipe ideas in the store or online to make the most out of this season's fruits and veggies.

For information on practical money saving tips, please visit http://www.moneysavetips.com, a popular site providing great insights all about creative savings ideas, such as student debt help, prepaid credit cards for teenagers, invest tools and many more thoughts for your consideration!

Source:http://www.isnare.com/

Frugal Friday - Freezing Bananas

Once a fresh banana is too ripe to eat don’t throw it out, you can freeze it and use it at a later date.

You can either:

Peel and place it whole in a freezer bag or

Leave the peel on and freeze in a freezer bag or

Mash it and place in a sealed container to freeze.

When you need bananas for baking, just thaw and use.

If you want some more great frugal tips go and check out the other Frugal Friday participants.

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Frugal Friday - Frugal Bubble Mixture

Frugal Bubble Mixture

You will need:

1/4 cup liquid dishwashing detergent
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp. sugar

Put the dishwashing detergent in the water. Carefully stir in sugar trying to avoid suds.

If you want some more great frugal tips go and check out the other Frugal Friday participants.

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