Target and Back to School

I have a great system for saving on back to school items like back packs and lunch boxes. I bet most of you frugal moms already know this, but I will tell you how I do it. Back to school always gets very expensive, and only two of my five are even in school. This is how I do it. Targets back to school items always go on clearance about 3 weeks after school starts, I don't purchase loads of pencils or glue at 30% off because I hate buying things and storing them unless they make a big difference on price. So I won't store glue sticks that saved me .06 cents. But if you wait until about 6-8 weeks after school starts, the back packs and lunch boxes go on 75% off. I have tried to use old lunch boxes but they start to reek and so I always end up getting them new ones. Which if I wait I can get for 2-3 dollars. I can also get the really nice back packs for 5-6 dollars. I save these for the next year and pull them out. The kids get new lunch boxes and back packs and I get so excited seeing the red price tag that reminds me how much less I paid than all the rest. I would love to hear how you save on back to school.

Target Clearance

I LOVE Target clearance. I love to see what I can find for 75% off on the back isles of Target. The problem I find is finding something cheap, and buying it because it is cheap not because I need it. This actually doesn't help you save money, but helps you spend it. I have really cut back on my Target spending by doing a couple of things. I put whatever I think I might like in the cart, walk it around for a bit. There is a feeling of ownership just having it in my cart. I almost feel as if I have bought it just by having it there. After walking around a bit and my adrenaline cooling from finding super sweet deals on things I don't even need, I look through it again. Putting things back that were impulse grabs. Then just before I check out I ask myself, do I REALLY need this, or will it just sit somewhere and not be used. I normally put 90% of the junk I almost wasted my money on back. It works for me, give it a try. Also would love to hear how you keep from spending your entire budget at Target.

Baby Shower Gifts

I was helping host a baby shower and was put in charge of theme and decorations. They wanted something to hang on a clothes line and something for the entry way. I also did the take home gift. The theme I came up with was what are little boys made of/what are little girls made of. The lady we were doing the shower for had just adopted twins. I found 5 pack of boys onsies on clearance at target for 2.51, I used embroidery thread I already had on hand and bought the craft paper on sale for .19 each. I had to pay for the girl onsies full price because of the small amount of time.

Painted this cute picture for the entry way, I fell in love with this picture and wanted to keep it for myself. I used a canvas that someone I knew was going to throw away, but had to buy new gesso and paintbrushes.

The shower colors were pink and green and I found this cute basket at my favorite thrift shop for a 1.99, with the tags still on.


With a little creativity and some good ideas it came together so nicely. Would love to hear some frugal ideas for baby showers, please share!

How it all began

I want to be good at something. The world is constantly calling for me to make something of myself. I have talents. I have five children. Yes you read that right, no mistakes. But as I look out my fingerprinted windows I have a yearning. To be seen. I want to be with my kids, I need the love and security they offer, yet I want to share myself. It may be more than I can handle. Trial? Sure, lets trial offer this baby. Lets see what becomes of my cheapskate ways. Can you handle what I do to save a buck? Will you want to try some yourself? Lets just see. Maybe in a world slowly losing its love of credit cards I can inspire someone to be frugally minded as well.