How we got here

We just arrived in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to enjoy a three week vacation. We left as close to the end of school as possible and drove through the night to get here. I've been reluctant in many cases to tell people about our time away. Saying it seems a bit excessive. Three weeks? A family of nine? In a beach house?

Three years ago we were blessed with a similar opportunity through the Lily Teacher Fellowship. We never even conceived of such an idea on our own. As a long shot, Sean applied for this grant which would enable our family to live in Florida for a month, enjoy the local library and rec center, attend family Space Camp, explore Kennedy Space Center in detail and take in all the nature to our heart's content.

I think it is fair to say that experience redefined what vacation would mean to our family. Being able to stay in one location for an extended period of time allowed us all to step away from the pressures, busyness and dailiness of life to connect and grow closer together. At home our lives are very busy and if any of you know Sean and myself personally you know that the work never seems to stop. While we certainly did not lay on the beach everyday, but we did play together, explore and make memories. It was incredible.

Two things have happened since our last trip here, Sean has begun working for Texas Instruments traveling around the country providing instruction for other teachers. This means that much of the summer he is coming or going. No more lazy days of summer for this teacher. Secondly, we became serious about budgeting/saving with the intent that we could repeat our last trip on our own dollar. In fact, it was in the Cape Canaveral Library that I read Total Money Makeover for the first time and we laid out a plan to get out of debt. Please note that we aren't in a perfect place financially. It's a journey with many detours. But we were convinced with some ingenuity we could provide this vacation without incurring debt.

Knowing that this is the last summer for our family to be without a high school student (practices, jobs, camps, obligations,earning money for college...) and realizing that the youngest ones had no recollection of our last vacation together, we decided last August to start working and saving for a three week get away. Everyone was excited at the thought of returning to the same place. I thought that it would be a little easier to set aside the money, but found out otherwise in December when my hours at work began to be cut. Sean's extra work has become a necessity so we had to get a little creative.

Here's how we did it. I hope it will encourage you to dream big for your family and consider how you might work together to meet a goal.

1. We cut back on weekend trips and field trips this school year. No overnights in hotels- we just drive through the night.

2. We sold baked goods whenever we had a chance- garage sales, events at Sean's school, other people's garage sales.... (Actually, I think that my own kids probably raised half of the money themselves when I told them they had to pay $.50 like everyone else.) We used coupons and sales to buy premade cookie dough when possible to cut down on the cost.

3. We had a fall and spring garage sale. We earned several hundred dollars through these sales just from stuff we had around the house and really didn't use. We also sold our no longer used books/CDs/DVDs to Half Priced Books. A little bit here and there adds up over time.

4. We kept a jar and saved every bit of change we could. Last week we rolled almost $300 in coins.

5. We held "Babysitting Saturdays" at our home. This was a family effort in which we opened our home to kids from 4-7:30 on selected Saturdays, had a structured play time, craft and a light dinner. My younger children thought this was the best thing ever to have so many playmates over at once. I'm hoping the older girls continue this business on their own. It was a hit!

6. Sean had two regular tutoring jobs throughout the school year. We held back the checks and cashed them all right before the trip just to make sure the money didn't slip through the cracks.

7. We bought our gas on a gas card that gave a 5% rebate. I'm not a fan of credit, but I am a fan of rewards. As you can imagine, gas for a 15 passenger van is a huge expense.

8. We bought and cooked most of our meals in Indiana, froze them and hauled them in coolers. Prices are much higher here and it's a relief to know dinner is already made (from meat that I bought on sale.)

9. We cleaned houses. The older girls and myself put ourselves out for hire to do any job or project inside or outside. Usually the people had a list and we worked our way through it. We charged $30/ hour and stopped when we were told.

10. God provided- a generous thank you gift from a student's family, a bucket of change from a family member, gift cards, an unexpected refund check.

Was it worth it? I think the picture says it all.

It's so much fun to see the boys explore Kennedy Space Center. John really thinks that he is going to go up in a rocket.

Girls' Room Makeover: Part 2

When it comes to kids' beds I've learned a few lessons over the years.

1) Beds are not only for sleeping but for storing trash, library books, legos, socks and anything else that may find it's way there by intent or by accident. In the worse case scenario even food might be discovered. Therefore, if a child is to truly clean under her bed it must be located away from the wall and be lightweight enough to move (preferably on her own).

2) A child will only be able to make their bed if it is achievable. Many pillows and sheets will deter any child from success. Therefore, a medium weight comforter is sufficient.

3) Children are naturally attracted to bouncy beds. Don't give them a box springs and suddenly the bed ceases to be a trampoline. Besides, I'd much rather spend the money on a better quality mattress than on and cheaper set.

4) Headboards bring out the artist in a child. It's not only a perfect surface for creating art work, but also for displaying other things like gum and stickers.

On my quest for beds I found myself drawn to this simple design. IKEA has several similar bedframes. This one ranges from $115-$179.



With the help of a handy husband, we made our own using this pattern. We bought the materials for the first bed at Lowe's for just under $50. Then we went to Menard's where the lumber was on sale and spent $40 for the remaining two beds. It took Sean about 2 hours per bed. Well worth the effort!

Salvage Grocery Stores

When we were first married and both full time students, we would not have eaten were it not for the salvage grocery. We were able to fill two grocery sacks for less than ten dollars each week. If you aren't familiar, this is the store where damaged boxes and cans are sold as well as items that are recently past the sell by date.

We were back in Tennessee for Spring Break I was thrilled to visit some discount groceries and find gluten free products on the shelves. For instance, Betty Crocker gluten free cake mix which normally sells for $4.49 was marked down to $.89. As you can guess, I bought them out of all of their cake and brownie mixes.

In our quest to eat a more whole and healthy diet, I assumed discount groceries would be out of the picture since they carry mostly boxed and processed items. Until... my friend, Jennie, pointed me to Angelo's Railroad and Truck Recovery. They have just begun carrying organic and gluten free items. Here's a sample of my first trip there as well as the regular retail price:


Que Pasa Organic Tortilla chips- 1.25 bag $1 vs. $5.71

Rice Dream 32 oz- $.50 vs. $3.99

Bakery on the Main Gluten Free granola bars $1.00 vs. $5.89

365 Organic Coconut Oil 14 oz. $2.89 vs. $6.99

Ghiradelli Organic 100% Cacao chips $1.99 vs. $6.00

Vans Wheat Free Frozen Waffles $1.00 vs. $5.95

Apple Gate Uncured Chicken Hotdogs $1.00 vs. $5.39

Trader Joe's All Natural Turkey Breast 7 oz $1.00 vs. $3.99

365 Organic Black Beans $.69 vs $1.69

Mother's Organic Rice Cakes $.33 vs. $2.95

Lundburg Organic Rice $1.08 vs. $3.99

Raw Agave Nectar $2.89 vs. $4.99

Free Range Organic Eggs $1.50 vs. $3.99

and my favorite purchase....

25 pounds of Breadshop Organic Granola for $12.50. This normally sells for $3.59/lb. I have been making our own granola and have had to become the granola Nazi in order to make it last longer. It's expensive to make and they can't seem to get enough.

I'm so thankful that have found this local treasure. By my estimates, we paid one fourth (if not less) of the price we would have spent retail. Some of these things I would not have purchased, but would have made from scratch. Most of these items, however, are on my regular shopping list. The kids were literally jumping for joy (especially the gluten free ones) at the thought of having convenience foods like "normal" kids. I was just as excited for them and for our grocery budget!

Some Deals

Just thought I'd pass along these deals. February always seems to be a good month for this.

Through Friday Great Clips is giving $5.99 haircuts. I imagine that the wait might be annoying, but I believe you can call ahead and schedule a time. Just be careful and know that sometimes when it comes to haircuts, you get what you pay for.





In Avon and Plainfield Chic-fil-a is providing free breakfast every Tuesday this month!! A free entree for every person who comes inside or one per car.



Know of any good deals? Do share!

Frugal living these days

Many people have been asking me recently if I'm still bargain shopping and freezer cooking. I have to admit that I did get a bit burnt out after months and months of buckling down. Now that the debt is gone, the pressure isn't quite the same. That doesn't meant that I like spending our hard earned money on retail priced items when it could be put to better use.

So, I'm back at these days, but am looking for more balance. I simply can't keep up with the individual deals that I read on blogs here and there or run into the store at a moment's notice. And I refuse to clip every coupon that crosses my path. There's just no way.

I've found a some new-to-me websites that are quite helpful to this end. I like these because they are simple, give me the bottom line (how much am I actually saving) and then allow me to print off a list of only the deals that I actually want. I can even get a total for what I will spend.

Coupon Mom and Inexpensively are now on my list of favorite sites.

What's working for me is printing my lists from these two sites and sifting through my coupons twice a week while I'm waiting in the car during speech therapy. I keep my coupons in their original inserts with the date boldly written on the front. These are then placed in chronological order so they are easy to navigate. I keep these on a clipboard in the van. Then sometime during the week I'll steal away by myself and run into each store just for the items I have planned. That usually entails a stop by CVS, Walgreens, Kroger and Meijer. If an item is 80% off or less and I can stock up, it's worth the trip to me. I total, I'd say I'm spending about 30-40 minutes planning and an hours driving/shopping. I'm saving around 60-70% in the end or about $50 a week.

I'm also doing my best to stock up on seasonal produce when it hits its lowest price of the season. Of course, buying that much produce requires some diligence in preserving it for the future, but it beats paying a premium price later. Pumpkins and apples seem to be the theme. This week it was 3lb bags of apples for $.99. Needless to say, I'm up to my eyeballs in applesauce right now!!

When restaurant.com ran their 9/9/09 special, we decided to purchase a few certificates at 90% and give them a try. I was a bit skeptical at first. But amazingly, it worked wonderfully. We were able to enjoy a delicious Cajun meal which totaled for $35 for about $18 (tip included) as well as treat my in-laws to a big barbecue meal for their birthdays. I'm looking forward to using this site particularly when we are traveling and tend to eat out a lot. Most of these restaurants are local fare instead of chains. Bonus.

Finally, I'm planning on taking the last week of the month off from shopping altogether. This will require some planning ahead, but more than that it will force us to be content with what we have, which is always a good thing.

Within a few weeks all this grocery shopping/stocking won't be relevant as we are going a different direction in our diet for a while. After Thanksgiving, we (yes, all nine of us) are going on a little adventure of our own in the world of cuisine. But, I'll save that for another day.

"Let no debt remain outstanding....."

As you may (or may not) remember much of this blog last year was dedicated to our striving and work toward frugal living. We had a No Spend Challenge Month. We collected all our change for a month. We set the goal of $400 month for a grocery budget in 2008. (Follow the sidebar on Frugal Living for details.)

Well, by God's goodness, I am thrilled to report that after 2 1/2 years our family is now DEBT FREE! (expect for our mortgage). We received the title to our van last week in the mail which resulted in much jumping and dancing around by all. The total amount of debt paid off was about $28,000. The majority of this sum was the 15 passenger van we bought in 2007. The remainder was owed for various emergencies that had arisen over time and we had charged to a credit card. Keep in mind that during these past two years there were two surgeries, four car repairs, four appliances replaced, home repairs, a room makeover, xrays, doctors visits, many memorable road trips.... You get the idea. Life doesn't stop just to let us meet our goals. There have been some obstacles along the way, but here we are. Finally. Here we are!

Honesty, we didn't sell all our things, receive an inheritance or follow a secret plan. God has provided extra work for us and we've been working hard. The doors that have opened have been amazing, particularly for Sean. He's now getting compensated for what he loves to do- teach math/physics and encourage others in their instruction of it. This has taken the form of both speaking and writing.

It is though a large weight has been lifted. Romans 13:8 says, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law." This verse holds new meaning. Sure, it's a relief to get rid of those monthly payments. But more than that, it's freedom look outside ourselves and the financial pressures. It's the freedom to continue to trust God for whatever the future may hold. It's the freedom to be able to bless others. It's the freedom to serve One Master- the One who meets our every need and every way.

I hesitated to put numbers here on the blog. Debt, no matter how large or small, is a slave master. But I wanted give praise to God for His Provision and work in our lives. I also want to be an encouragement to you where ever you are on your journeys. Persevere, my friends, you can do this- one day at a time.

Our children have been with us on this journey 100%. They've known the goals and seen the budget. I've even made them listen to the Dave Ramsey Show on many an occasion. In fact, whenever they see a 1-800 number on the caller ID they swear that it's Dave Ramsey calling:) I pray that as they read this someday, they will remember these years as ones not of want, but of plenty. It hasn't always been fun, but it's made us who we are today.

And so the work continues and the major savings has now begun. I believe 2010 might be renamed "The Year of the Orthodontist."

Coolest Baby Shower Idea Ever

Using this book, $1 mat remnants, stamp pads, my kids' watercolor set and a sharpie the guests at this baby shower created a priceless work of art for the nursery.

These four mats will hang vertically and be mounted on a ribbon. The top mat will read, "Who loves ....?" Underneath are all the animals signed with love. We plan to add other family members before it's all said and done.








Find other great ideas at Works for me Wednesday!

Free Breakfast

The Indianapolis area has been chosen as a test market for some of Chic fil a's breakfast items. Beginning the week of April 20th, Chic fil a stores will be serving one free breakfast item to each customer as follows:

· Monday, April 20: Sausage Biscuit
· Tuesday, April 21: New Yogurt Parfait
· Wednesday, April 22: Chick-fil-A Chick-n-MinisTM (3-count)
· Thursday, April 23: New Yogurt Parfait
· Friday, April 24: Chick-fil-A® Chicken Biscuit
· Saturday, April 25: New Yogurt Parfait

**Note: I confirmed with the Avon store that these are the correct dates for the promotion. The recent newspaper article incorrectly reported the dates.**

Maybe we'll see you there?

No Spend Challenge Reflections

Looking back over the month, March flew by in no time. Comparing February to March spending, just by committing to not "browse" and be tempted to buy miscellaneously, we saved about $150. Hmmm... $150 times 12 months....for things we don't even really need... adds up to quite a bit of money.... to be intentional in giving, or saving or investing.

I did have to say "no" to the children quite a few times, but that's nothing new. No, we aren't going to WalMart (because I'll end up looking through the whole store). No, we won't just stop by Goodwill "just because". No, aren't going to Target to look for presents for Joseph's birthday right now, but we will go in April:)

It's good to say "no" on purpose in a world that constantly says "yes". It really is okay. And eventually, the pull isn't so strong. It actually begins to feel like a gain instead of a loss.

So, what did we do instead? We used what we had all along and had a great time. As I mentioned before, we didn't end the month with an extra $150 towards the van. But the money was there to cover some extra expenses and opportunities that will far outweigh anything we could have picked up on a whim.

Thanks for following our journey. Your comments on the blog and in person have been very encouraging.

Hannah broke out the Chess and tried her hand at beating her dad, but to no avail.

Joseph's Space Ship

Lydia in her art corner.

Even Joseph and Rebekah have their own version of chess.

The Greatest Show on Earth came to our backyard.

No Spend Challenge- Days 15-23

Well, I don't have much to say other than this challenge has been hard, but good. I've managed to stay away from the bargain browsing which normally results in unneeded spending. Knowing that Goodwill had everything 50% off Saturday and not allowing my car to drive there was no small feat, but I was victorious. I have to admit that I haven't spent $o. I've eaten out a few times with family and friends. But these weren't "I'm desperate and don't want to cook" outings. They were planned and much more enjoyable knowing that it wasn't sabotaging the budget.

We've already been realizing the positives of no miscellaneous spending for the month. The car has less that 500 miles on it for March which equates to less gas and less wear and tear on the vehicle we are trying to pay off. Also, an opportunity for six of the kids to take a gym/swim class for eight weeks arose. There was no borrowing from savings to pay that fee. I've gotten some organization done at home and rid of some things that were just clutter waiting to be moved and picked up again. We are anticipating some home repairs over spring break. Hopefully, it will be nothing major, but it's comforting to know that we can cover the expenses and stay on track with our van goal.

But more than what we have done, there is a heightened awareness of God's provision. Sean has had three extra contract jobs this month that were unexpected. It's good to save and it's good to work. We are thankful for both.

No Spend Challenge- Days 10-14

We're halfway through our no spend challenge for the month. There is something wonderful that happens when you know that you could have something, but you are willing to wait for ir or at least willing to admit that you really don't need it. Suddenly, what you already have becomes sufficient. Then slowly your eyes are opened to God's provision and there is renewed joy in knowing that your daily bread is perfect for your daily needs. Even the opportunity for extra work is a gift.

Sean and I have learned this lesson again and again throughout our marriage. We are excited for our children to learn it, too. Earlier this week the girls were wanting to go shopping for some Spring clothes, particularly for some church attire and hair accessories. A few days later Sean walked in with a bag full of things from a student's family. What was inside? The exact items that the girls had desired. No, I don't believe God is Santa Clause hearing our wishes and granting them because we are somehow good. But he is a loving Father who delights to be glorified in our lives, even if it's through a few hoodies and a headband.

How have you known God's provision for your family this week? Please share.

No Spend Challenge- Days 5-9

Well, so far so good. I did cave in a bit Saturday night after picking up Sean from the airport. I so didn't want to come home and fix dinner/clean up the kitchen. I had just finished cooking for the month and was done with that.

On the way home we attempted to go to Steak and Shake with coupons, but the wait looked too long. So we happened upon 96th Street Steakburgers. The sign stated that combos were 1/2 off. We'd never been there before but found it comparable to Steak and Shake. Somehow we saved more than 50%. All nine of us ate well for $20.90. The total saved was $28.00. I really can't think of anywhere else we could have eaten for less.

Our usual Friday night routine this winter has been pizza after the Friday night basketball game. Since basketball is now over, we made our pizza at home complete with cinnamon breadsticks. The kids gobbled them down before I could get a picture. We watched Hoosiers on the laptop with the big speakers. It was a lot of fun.

The girls are itching to go shopping for some Spring clothes, especially ones that they can wear to church. I have some things to return to Khol's as well as a Target gift card that I could use if they break me down. I'm trying to convince them that they can wait, but they are persistent.

So we're almost 1/3 of the way through this challenge. It's going to be interesting to look back and compare bank statements at the end of the month to see how each small amount not spent adds up.

Homeschool Links

I've never relied heavily on the computer as a core component of teaching homeschool, but I have found some great resources lately that have been encouraging to us all. It's great to have a tangible reward to give when the kids complete their work but still need to spend sometime in the learning mode. And it's also inspirational for me to have new ideas and resources at my fingertips to keep things interesting around here. This year has gone so fast. We have will start our last nine weeks on Monday!

Multiplication Games (there will be a day when we don't have to practice these, right?)

Learning to Read Games

Freebie of the Day (a new free download every day from a range of topics- this site is great for providing extra activities for the various national holidays that I've missed in the past)

Reading Assessments (I'm using this to encourage my students to know that they are good readers. They should be proud. I am.)

Music Note Flashcard (The cartoon teacher is a little odd, but the cards work:)

Learn to Type Games

Netflix - We watch instant online movies. This continues to be my favorite when needing to generate a little more interest about a subject. Just last week we were all mezmerized by The Blue Planet after studying about the ocean. I never would have been organized enough to send away for the movie, but with Netlix it's just a click away.

Do you use the internet as a resource in your homeschool? If so, what are some of your favorite sites?

No Spend Challenge- Days 1-4

Thus far the no spend challenge has been relatively painless. I had $20 in my pocket left from our getaway last week and used it for Mom's Night Out and a breakfast meeting at Panera. I enjoyed it to the fullest. Now I am without that cash and three and a half weeks to go.

Sean is gone for the next few days and I can see how this challenge may have gotten a bit more challenging. It tend to slack a bit when he's gone and take the kids out to give myself a break. I'll have to come up with something creative to keep myself busy at home and resist the temptation to run away. Maybe it will be baking, or filing papers, or freezer cooking, or finally organizing our bookshelves like I started to do six weeks ago....

But, for tonight I'm going to sip iced tea, make my friend some birthday caramel corn, enjoy watching "Wives and Daughters" online and sign everyone up for some free birthday treats. That should keep me busy.

No Spend Challenge

I've been inspired by Amy at the MotherLoad and her journey last month to spend no money outside of the budgeted expenses. At the end of the month she had saved enough money to refinance their mortgage.

We have a goal of paying off our van in May, but I'm quickly realizing this is not going to happening unless we batten down the hatches. Of course there are the usual out-of-the-blue expenses, but more often than not money easily slips through our fingers by picking up extras at the store, a quick run through the drive thru, browsing clearance racks and the occasional stop at Goodwill to "just look". I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

This really is going to be an exercise in planning ahead and resisting temptation. If it means getting rid of our van payment once and for all to give up things we don't really need, it's really not much of a sacrifice. I'm sure my McDonald's diet coke will taste a lot better in a paid for van.

So, I'll be posting quite a bit this month about our successes and failures. I already know that I have a few commitments that will require some cash, but I also have a few gift cards with some remaining value that I think will cover it. Hopefully, in some small way you will be inspired, too.

A new way of thinking for 2009

Some have asked me whatever happened to the Frugal $400 and the deal finding, coupon clipping me. Well, the $400 part hasn't changed, but my strategy has. I was challenged in my thinking a while ago about the time and energy that being frugal can cost. My goal is to stay within the $400 limit for our household/grocery needs for the month. My goal is not to see how much I can buy for $400 and end up with a lot of "stuff" that is of no use to us and makes me stressed out trying to organize and maintain it.

So my goal is the same, but my strategy is different. Of course, buy on sale, do good research, use coupons when they are easily accessible. But now I'm free from having to snag the latest deal that's been published or going to four different stores. I'd like to start making our cleaning products from scratch this year as well as being more proficient at using with grains.

This new mindset has sent me on a mission through the house getting rid of the many things we have cluttering up our lives. It's quite a chore that I can't wait to finish. Hopefully, by the end of February it will be done.

I'm also going to be freezer cooking each month this year. This does take up the majority of my budget, but planning this far in advance has so far allowed us to stay with budget thus far. Want to see what we're having this month?

Southfork Chili
White Chili
Make Ahead Burritos
Ranch Chicken Strips
Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Lettuce Wraps
Chicken Stir Fry
Green Beans, Sausage and Potatoes
Sausage Calzones
Quiche
Turkey Tetrazzini
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Meatball Stroganoff and Noodles
Sausage Lentil Soup

Amazing museums for free

A few times a year we travel with Sean to his various conferences. Sometimes we are in a big city and other times in out of the way places. Regardless, a night in a hotel with a pool and free breakfast is a big occasion. I'm always looking for ways to make our little trips affordable and educational as we make ourselves busy during the day, so we often hit the nearest Science museum.

Several years ago I realized that many of these museums are connected through the Association or Science and Technology Centers. Their Passport Program allows a family membership at one museum to be equivalent to a family membership (or at least a deep discount) at all the others! That's about 500 science museums.

We purchased our membership this year in Ft. Wayne's Science Center for $55 and will use it to enter museums with memberships much higher in cost. With this program we've been able to visit the Toronto Science Center, Science Central (Ft. Wayne, IN), Nashville's Adventure Science Center and U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. Without this reciprocal membership we never would have been able to pay for nine admissions each time. This summer we plan to stop by several of the museums that Michigan has to offer while Sean is busy with his conference.

There's nothing like a day in a museum with seven kids. Trust me.

This Works for Me and I hope it will work for you, too. Find other great ideas at WFMW.

Frugal Bedroom Makeover Part 3- It's all in the details

Collecting frugal finds to tie the room all together has been my favorite part!

The curtains were a Walmart Clearance at $4 for each panel. The sheer was $2.50 from Goodwill and the curtain rod was $20 from a going out of business sale.





We covered the girls' chair with some clearance fleece for $7.50. The wall shelves were $2 each from Goodwill and a great place to keep their CDs that they don't want the little ones to reach.




The throw pillows came from the going out of business sale ($15) and some fabric to recover pillows that we already had ($4). Hannah crafted the small blue pillow from a Goodwill skirt. She makes her mama proud:).


I had been looking around for some sort of small fountain or relaxing water element. Didn't find one, but we brought out the neglected fish tank and set it up. The kid's love it!


Perhaps our favorite detail is this painting found under the bed while moving it. My sister, Vanessa, used to live in this room and is a talented artist. Isn't it the best?!



This unwanted cabinet door came from Goodwill for $2 and we repainted it into this plaque. Likewise the mirror was a thrift store find repainted. The light blue twin coverlet is complements of Martha Stewart and Kmart clearance rack for $10.00.



I think we've achieved what the girls intended from the beginning. A room that is relaxing, mature and easier to keep clean. We'll see about that last part:).

See the entire makeover here and here.


And just for the record the entire makeover cost just at $200. This is much more than I had anticipated. The paint really added up. I never found a neutral "seconds" paint in all my searches. Maybe next time. But really spreading it over several months made the cost seem minimal.

Sheets for Duvets $18
Wall Paint $ 40
Other Paint $28
Knobs $14
Curtains $10
Curtain Rod $20
Lamps $30
Material $26
Pillows $15
Misc. Sewing Supplies $5
Wall decorations $6
Fish set up $10

Frugal Bedroom Makeover Part 2- Duvet Covers

While Sean helped the girls change their room from spring green to creme, I set my sights on changing our well loved comforters into beautiful new bedspreads. (Note: Though my mom and sister sew wonderfully, I never took the time to learn. I just recently learned how to thread a machine.)

I did some research online and kind of combined some of the methods I read. We used Hannah's small sewing machine which did the job.

First, we selected two sheets for each comforter. The blue sheets were purchased for $2 each off the Walmart Clearance shelf. The larger brown sheet cost $10 at Marshall's. Next, we measured the sheets and cut them down as needed so that they were 1 inch larger than the comforters to allow for 1/2 inch seam allowance. We pinned the sheets together with the right sides facing in and sewed the bottom and sides together.

Bye, bye old red comforter with a hole:)

With the sheets now sewn we added ties to the corners and sides of both the cover and the comforters. Tying the two together keeps the comforter from shifting around. Then we turned it all right side out and there you have it!! I love it that they won't need a flat sheet for their beds and that these will be easy to wash.

Miriam quickly became an expert at sewing tabs.

This is how the family eats when there's a project going on.

I'm still contemplating how to close up the top. I tried to hot glue Velcro tabs, but that didn't work. Button holes would be nice, but I don't know how to do that. I'm thinking that I'll sew on snaps. Hopefully this will get done before 2010.



I'm thinking that with making my own duvet covers we may never have to buy bedding again. This so works for me. There are other great ideas over at Rocks in my Dryer so check it out!

See part one of the makeover here.

Frugal Bedroom Makeover Part 1

Well, it's finally done. After about three months of planning, frugal shopping, and some previously untapped creativity the girls' bedroom is now officially made over. The goal was to spend around $50 to transform their bright, girlish bedroom into one that reflected their changing tastes. We were committed to using the existing furniture and enhancing what we already own.

We started with the colors. The girls chose creme, brown, light blue and light aqua. And from there the plans were formed.

The first thing that had to change was the furniture. Both of these dressers are older than myself and have been passed down and painted several times before.

With about three coats of dark brown paint,Pumpernickel, and new knobs the dressers were transformed.



It took two quarts of paint at $18 and 14 silver knobs for $14. As you can probably guess, we went way over budget redoing this room, but I think that the changes were well worth it.

While the dressers were drying the painting of the walls and sewing the duvet covers began....