~Frugal B. Defined~

I was a blog lurker (a good one too) before I began blogging, as I am sure many of other bloggers were. I could tell you what blog to go to for what without much thought. Just as some plan to watch a television show, I planned blog hopping. Which blog to got to daily, which blogs posted daily, bi-weekly or another schedule and who I would go to if I just needed some instructions.

During this time my husband was urging me to find my own blogging voice. He would say, "that great deal we found the other day, would be a good post". He would encourage me to take pictures of the things we were doing so that I could be inspired to share. While I wanted to take the plunge I was nervous of not having a voice, or my voice being lost. I had fears that no one would follow me, that I would be regurgitating what was already said.

Then I started to think about how many of my friends and family call us to find out how we did this or that, where they should look for that thing or the other, and the biggest question we got was "how much did YOU pay for that"? So I started feeling that this information was not just for others to view (people I don't know), but for me and the people I hold near and dear. If no one else followed, read, or watched, does it even matter.

I got down to business and decided that I needed to share our Frugal Finds, Frugal Saving, and Frugal Living.

~Frugal B. DEFINED~

~ A blog where you can get Frugal information no matter your budget

~ A blog that shows you can have what you always wanted, just CHEAPER

~ A blog that increases your knowledge

~ A blog that pushes you beyond your self imposed limits

~ A blog where you gain understanding of how much your time is worth

Linking to

~Temporary Fix - Now Permanent Solution~

When we bought our home 6 years ago I really wanted a kitchen that had all the bells and whistles. But as we began to prioritize our needs vs our wants that desire steadily moved down the list. At the time we purchased our home it was just the 3 of us, my husband, myself and Kamden. Now we both wanted a large family, hence the 2700 sq ft home with just us, but all we could conceive at the time was the need for space (neither of us came from large families we did not know any better). So the home with more space won out over the homes with more bells and whistles.

We began to tackle the kitchen 2 years ago. We started with the floor. We took out the linoleum and replaced it with tile. That was a J-O-B. It was such a job that we finished it and did not touch the kitchen again for 2 years. During that time we were pricing cabinets. Yes, we chose the builder grade, come with your house for "free"cabinets. With the idea that we were going to change them through an independent dealer, because we did not like the choices our builder had. Well we were in for a nice little surprise to find that cabinets were PRICEY!! So on to plan B, we were going to find some cabinets avoidably and put them in up by ourselves.

I dreamed of moving the cabinets we have now to the garage and the laundry room and getting deluxe black cabinets with pull out drawers and one touch closing. So we scoured Craigslist, looked for closeouts, all while planning our new layout. We found some great deals but again we were shocked with the price of granite counter tops (new cabinets meant we had to get new countertops), shoot the price of any counter tops. Now we are all for getting good stuff but it takes some time to save, plan, and search out the best deal for things. So I kept praying for a nice set of cabinets and a good deal on counter tops to come along at the same time.

Well, I got tired of waiting and I proposed painting the cabinets to the Hubby. Most times I have to talk him into things, this time was no different. I scoured blog land to find good examples of painted cabinets (he needed proof that it would work). I sent hime here, here, and here.Hubby got right on board with the plan to paint the cabinets. With the understanding that this was a temporary fix, to make me happy, until we could afford "the real thing". The only part he was not OK with was me painting them. He said that with 4 kids that the length of time it would take to do this right was going to impede on our family a bit much. While I strongly disagreed, I began pricing professional painters.

I started getting prices and first thought I was just reaching out to the wrong people but $3,000 was the cheapest I could find. Well Mr. Frugal B. was not down with that. So I gave up on finding somebody and started working on wearing down Hubby, to get this done I was going to need to roll up my sleeves and get to painting. I have painted our entire home and I think I do a pretty good job, but he was still leery. So I moved on to the next project, which was finding a finish carpenter to put in some box molding. I found a Carpenter on Craigslist that had a wonderful website with referrals and all, so I had him come out. So as he was measuring the wall for the box molding (yeah I am doing that myself), I asked him if he knew anyone that painted cabinets. Well, he said he could do it, asked me what I was looking for. I told him BLACK, and waited for shock. He said he had just completed a similar color with distressing for someone close and that he could give me their information so I could talk to them (he was super professional). So I waited for the price, which came the same evening (crazy right). He priced it at $600!!!!

So I was faced with another dilemma, how was I going to explain to my husband that I found a carpenter on Craigslist (of all places) that has given me a quote to paint our cabinets (spraying them) for less than a 1/3rd of other quotes, and have him take me seriously? Well, I talked him into it and this is what we got!

Sprayed Black Cabinets with a 4inch crown and a 1x4 turned lateral on the bottom. We love it!

~I am now in LOVE with the Temporary Fix ~

Homemade Laundry Detergent - Frugal Savings

With a family of 6, two still in diapers we are always looking to save a bit of $$$. But even more important is the health and welfare of my little one's. Each and every one of our children have had eczema. We have medicated cream to combat the dryness which their tinder fingers scratch to the point of bleeding at times. I have found that changing their diets helps a bit. But nothing has helped more than changing our laundry detergent.

After reviewing a few blogs and recipes I decided on this one. We are still using the same batch, it has been about a month. We would have gone through 2 of the store brand by this time. RECIPE - Cost - $8.43 The ingredients for this will make at least 5 batches. Yes, that is 8$ for over 3 months of washing. That's shaving about $15 - $25 off my grocery bill per month, depending on my coupon and sales.

Here is a pictorial of our process. We geared up for hard work and this was just about as easy as boiling water.

From Detergent

From Detergent

What ? - Time !

I had every intention in the world to post 3 days a week. I thought that it would be simple to do a craft take a few pics, spill my guts about how to, how it went, and share the cost. Well, reality set in. Life kept moving at warp speed and I have found myself doing a lot of the same while preusing blogland wishing I was doing all of the wonderful crafts I was eyeing.

Well I am happy to say I will craft this weekend. So I am going to share what I "plan" on doing this weekend in hopes it will hold me accountable!!! Yay!

Hair Bows - Becoming Classy and Sophisticated & Here

Crib Sheet - Tutorial from MADE

From Frugal B

Tooth Fairy Pillow - Sew Mama Sew

(My Davis Lost His Tooth So I told him the tooth fairy will bring more if we make a pillow)

Pillow with Ties - Make it Love it

See you Monday& I hope I get it all done!!!

I want a, DSLR?

From Frugal B

I consider myself to be "Techy". I know about TVs, computers, car stereos, home theater systems cell phones..... But, there was one item I never researched, cared about, or even thought about....The Camera.

It all started with blogging. My wife, Mrs. Frugal B advised me she wanted to start blogging and take nice photos to place on her blog (we all know it's all about the pictures). I had no idea about the ins and outs of cameras, the aperture, shutter speed, and flash. I thought, just get a camera and "point and shoot", the camera does everything else. Well after looking over her shoulder a bit while she viewed blog after blog, my interest PEEKED.

So I started my own research. First thing on the agenda was which brand to buy.

There are a ton of models of DSLR camera's. Kodak, Sony, Olympus, Pentax and so forth, but the big "Apple" and "Microsoft" of the group would be Canon and Nikon. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the other brands. It's just this -I'm a guy and it matters to me.

So for months we (really me) have researched and stalked a number of models from both Nikon and Canon. I talked to everyone I saw with a camera and went to every store in our area that sold them. What I found is between these two brands it comes down to a personal choice on which brand to go with. It was all about comfort.

From Frugal B

Above are two comparable models, Nikon D3100 and Canon T2i. Notice how button placement is different. Seems small but it was a huge difference maker. Also check weight, imagine holding X lbs around your neck and in your hand for hours and X lbs. Might not be a difference maker but just a thought.So at this point there were many comparables. So I moved to picture quality. Again, not much difference (remember I am a novice) until mirrors, lenses and sensors were explained to me.

This portion was explained to me I am regurgitating

Canon has been one of the leaders in the DSLR camera business because of a small but important part of the camera, called the sensor, to be exact the cmos sensor. Canon had the patent on the sensor until recently, now Nikon uses the same sensor. The mirrors and lenses are great on both the models I was looking at so I was still undecided. UNTIL...I starting pricing.

Everything up to this point is about personal choice. Again I am not a photographer and this is very very new to me so this portion was the driving force. How do I get everything I want, Mrs. Frugal B wants at the best price. To me it is all about getting the best product (Canon or Nikon) for the least amount possible. Now to a pro DSLR's have become much more affordable, but the price was still scary. So we initially purchased the Nikon P100 (top of the line point and shoot), however we were still not happy (so we returned it) and went back to the drawing board. I resumed my stalking, it almost always pays off, and boy did it!

While eating lunch at Costco ($1.50 hot dog & chips) I saw the Nikon D3100. Now this camera was not carried by Costco normally, I literally bumped into a display that had a bunch on it. Price $699 (not for the faint of heart). We had been saving for this purchase and had the $$$ but we try to avoid paying sticker price (bet you thought that term was reserved for cars), not to mention the 24 hour rule (no purchases over $100 without sleeping on it). Then it hit me, hhgregg has a 110% beat the competition policy. So I took the camera box and the Costco ad over to hhgregg along with a 30% off coupon (yes I said coupon). With 40% off the camera price the Nikon D3100 won hands-down.

Not as scientific as you thought.

We purchased the;

Nikon D3100 with a 18-55mm Zoom VR Lens &

55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR DX Zoom Lens.

DSLR Camera Bag

4gb Memory Card

JACK POT

This picture was taken in our back yard by an Ameture Photographer

that I found on Craigslist.

Sometimes when you wonder around on other blogs you find the exact thing that you were looking for, but did not know it. As you have read in this previous post that I have been on the hunt for a affordable and easy to use SLR camera. I have been searching and researching for months now, but have yet to take the plunge for a plethora of reasons. One big reason was I was just OVERWHELMED with all there was to know and learn about the cameras, let alone taking good or great pictures.


I had already decided that when I did shell out all of the $$$ I would be utilizing ThePioneerWomans photography assignments to aide in the learning process. But then I found Me Ra Koh Potography website and Blog, can you say, JACK POT. She is all about empowering Mom's (yes that's me) to pick up a camera. I also found iheartfaces, and what do they have, yep, free tutorials and tips.

Now I just need a camera and some time.

Frugal Friday Tip #2 - Relationships

Frugal rule number #1 - There is no such thing as a stranger

When you are passionate about something, you gush over it, you dream about it and you can't help sharing it. I live to save $, big and small and I love to tell the world (sorry to all that are tired of hearing it, I'm addicted). Not to say "hey look at my great deal", but "hey, this is how you can save a $ or $$". We, Mr. and Mrs. Frugal B, are always looking to leverage our contacts, cost savings, and information to help a fellow frugaler/frugalista.

That being said, we are not shy, we are both super friendly. I am that person that will stop you in Jo-Ann Fabrics and ask you "do you know how to do X". But I am also that person that you can stop in Jo-Ann's and ask "how do you make cloth diapers". Not only will I tell you what I know but I am willing to give resources. A hoarder of knowledge (or things for that matter) I am not. By doing this I am enlarging my circle of friends, contacts, all around support system of like minded people.

This also plays out in other ways, just being plain ole, old fashion friendly and nice. Please, thank you, tipping for services, and volunteering our time. Not because we want something but because we want to give something, kindness. So many times we have been BLESSED because of our ability to give and receive KINDNESS.

Share your dreams, plans and goals with your circle. Who knows how they can aid you in your endeavours. There are so many times that friends have saved us TIME (remember the nonrenewable resource). Had we not shared our projects or path who knows what we would have ended up with.

I could list the multitude of Blessing we have received just because of our sheer kindness, and the kindness of others. It all begins with simple relationships!

I challenge you to leverage your social networking. Whether that is work, church, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Blog) you will be surprised how many people want to share their kindness with you.

This or That or THAT or that

I have been coveting, all but salivating, over the pictures on some of my favorite blogs (Finding My Feet, Centsational Girl, Pioneer Woman). Now I have priced these babies for quite some time and just always felt that they were a luxury, especially since I don't really know much about camera's or taking a picture other than "point and shoot" (no pun intended). Well with my new blogging and my husbands nudge I have been seriously considering this large purchase.

As a history major research is definitely my forte, but I am light on the digital side. This means that as I researched I was having to look up the terms that others in the digital/electronical (yes that is a word) world used as everyday "you should know this terms". So this has been a very long process to get to our final decision.

Now as you can tell I am moved 90% by price. Hubby however is 100% moved by function (gadget guy). So we have been stalking Canon's and Nikon's and are finding that they are very similar to an untrained person. There are so many to choose from, many of them have the same functions and others do things I never dreamed of. So I am focusing on these items;

Cost (Got to get the biggest bang for my buck)

Handling (Ease of Use)

Stabilization (The lady at the camera store said it was important)

Shutter Speed (My babies are athletic)

I am sure that I should be looking for much more, but I got to start somewhere.

I will keep you posted with my findings.

Knowledge = Know-how

Not many of you know but I am very easily excitable, good and bad. However nothing gets me more fired up than when someone else gets going on a project and I have a tiny bit of knowledge to help them along their way. Note, knowledge has nothing to do with know how.

A fellow blogger/co worker has found a diamond in the rough, a perfect project to (American Idol) make her own. She will be recovering an upcycled chair (see it here) and I thought that this would be a perfect time for HER to try double welting (lol).

Double welting is the side by side cord covered with fabric and attached to an upholstered piece to cover staples. Now this is no easy task, see here, here, and here. I look forward to seeing her finished project and I say thank you for getting me into gear with my own DIY ventures (can you say hello organized closet)!


If you have time swing by and visit Miss Mustard Seed, she was once an upholstery DIY'er but LOOK at her now! And over at Much to do about Nothing, she has a great tutorial on this topic.

!Thanks Stacey for the post inspiration!

Monday Methods

Photo Courtesy of Foodnetwork.com

Monday, the beginning of the week, it is so very hard for me to stay on task. I feel like Mr. Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

"So much time so little to do. Wait a minute. Strike that. Reverse it"!

My Monday's are quite often mayhem, getting the kids back on track for school, meal planning, budgeting, and of course it is the beginning of my "Great Blog Hop" (visiting my favorites and slipping in a few newbies). After my Internet break, I try to reduce my computer time on the weekend, I have a hard time focusing on one topic and find myself all over cyberland.

So this week I am going to try something new. I will be sharing a few of my favorite cooking/baking blogs as I prepare for next weeks menu (meal planning). Take some time to peruse the links below and I challenge you to try something new this week.