Savvy Chic Savings » Frugal Living Tips

Traverse City Bound? Chateau Chantal has FREE Jazz at Sunset

Jolon — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:30:22 +0000

We talk a lot about #GRDates around the West Michigan area, but with the National Cherry Festival coming up in Traverse City, I can’t help but dream of the Traverse City wine trails, too!

Chateau Chantal’s Free Jazz at Sunset season kicks off this Thursday, June 16, and is held every Thursday from 7:00-9:30pm through September 1, 2011.

Jazz at Sunset is a great way to watch the sunset over West Grand Traverse Bay from the spectacular hilltop vista at Chateau Chantal Winery while listening to the Jeff Haas Trio and other musical guests for the summer season.

They also have Tapas Tours and Wine Dinners for the summer beginning today! Book online at Chateau Chantal. Summer hours: Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm and Sundays 11am-5pm.

The Best West Michigan Resale & Consignment Stores {Fashion & Home}

Jolon — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:30:45 +0000

photo credit

I’m cleaning out my closet and found a few things that are worth consigning (some with the tags still on them!), so I asked a trusted source for some of her favorite West Michigan consignment shops. Here are some of the best on our list.

Rosa’s Closet (Wealthy St, East Grand Rapids) – Rosa is a doll! I’ve said a million good things about her shop and showed you the CUTE outfits she put together for me in January when I went to Nashville for a conference. Stop in and see her. Even better, hold a Sip & Shop!

Rock Paper Scissors Consignment Boutique (East Hills, Grand Rapids) – I purchased a really cute top here and really loved the modern, trendy feeling of the store. Plus, I remember reading on facebook that Rachel Ruiz from WOOD TV has dropped off a few of her things there!

Georgie’s Consignment Clothing (Ada) – I haven’t been in there since high school, but when we were setting up the Grand Rapids Triathlon I was peeking in the window at 3:30am and saw some cute things on display. ;)

Encore Consignment (Plainfield, Grand Rapids) – The Spring Clearance Sale is June 24 & 25, 2011 for up to 75% off! My mom recently stopped in and had lots of good things to say about their home decor resale items.

Good As New Consignment (Northland Dr, Grand Rapids) – A friend of mine has consigned here and had great luck.

Gild the Lily Consignment (Rockford) – This store has both fashion and home items. The website states first time consignors receive 20% off their first purchase of originally-priced merchandise!

ClothesLine Consignments (Byron Center) – Photos of CUTE accessories on their facebook page!

Do you have a favorite West Michigan consignment shop to add?

Frugal How-to: Anti-Allergy Cleaning & Maintenance Tips

Jolon — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 18:21:12 +0000

I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls Collective on behalf of Claritin®. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program.

I’m moving from my little apartment on the edge of the country (which I will miss!) to a house in the city (and I’m excited!) at the end of this month. It was nice to rely on the the apartment complex to do maintenance, but now I’ll have to keep things easy & frugal! I suffer from seasonal allergys AND there’s a dog in the house, so here are some tips for frugal ways to keep allergies at bay during cleaning and maintenance:

We’re repainting a bathroom. When painting a humid environment, add mold inhibitor to the paint.
Peak pollen production is early in the morning. Wait until later in the day to open windows and go outside for yard work.
Wash wet towels as soon as you’re done using them in hot water with white vinegar (and homemade detergent) to keep mold at bay.
Use all that newspaper from purchasing extra coupon inserts when washing windows. It’s lint-free!
Wash sheets and blankets in hot water to keep dust mites out of bedding.
Once a season, use a solution of 1 cup olive olive and 1/4 cup white vinegar as a natural funiture polish.
Keep old t-shirts and wash clothes to re-purpose into rags that can be washed over and over to save money on paper towels and sponges.
Don’t switch out storm windows to screens until *after* the pollen calms down. You won’t have to waste time cleaning screens and washing window sills multiple times in the spring.
Shampoo carpets regularly. We just rented a Bissell Big Green machine at Lowes — so affordable (under $50!) and really effective.
Do you have any tips to share? How do you manage allergies in your household?

Printable coupons for Claratin can frequently be found here or on the Claratin facebook page.

For more tips on relieving allergies visit www.Facebook.com/Claritin. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

DIY Wine Kit {Checking Off the Kitchen Challenges List}

Jolon — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:50:37 +0000

I’m so excited about the nice surprise I got for my birthday! Thanks to The Bubba and a wine making kit from Siciliano’s Market on Lake Michigan Drive in Standale, I’ll soon be on my way to crossing another task of the 2011 Kitchen Mini-Challenges list. (I really need to get going on the rest since we’re now half way through the year!)

I’ll keep you posted on the process with photos and videos in case you’re interested in trying it, too.

Have you made your own wine before? Do you have any insider tips for me?

Frugal Cooking Focus: Kale {Fulton St Farmer’s Market}

Jolon — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 16:52:20 +0000

This morning I met up with Jen from The Big Binder blog at Fulton St. Farmer’s Market. There really are lots of frugal foods there. Some are from Michigan, some aren’t. They had cantelope for $1.00, lots of local asparagus for around $2.00/lb, and so much more. Jen talked me into buying some kale (only $3.50/lb), but beyond using it in a salad I was at a loss. Luckily, we have some West Michigan ladies to the rescue!

Frugal Cooking with Kale:

The Big Binder suggests making Kale Chips. Brush with olive oil, sprinkle with sea salt, and put in the oven on 200 F until crunchy. Great for kiddos and super easy!

The Local Cook has a How to Cook Kale post with her top 10 ideas to get you started. I love that Wendy frequently shares recipes using ingredients that are a bit unfamiliar to me. Great resource for using up some of your CSA items!

Vegan Bon Vivant has a great recipe for Kale & Lentil Soup. Adrienne assures me that kale keeps well in the refrigerator for a long time if it’s kept dry.

Check my list of popular West Michigan Farmers Markets for times and locations.

What’s your strategy for shopping farmers markets? Do you just buy whatever looks good or do you stock up on the cheapest items to can/freeze/preserve?

Frugal Cooking Focus: Oatmeal {Easy Granola Recipe, too}

Jolon — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:10:41 +0000

Cold cereal is expensive — even with coupons. I only purchase it when I can get the “healthy” versions for $1.00 or less. Even then, I consider Raisin Bran a treat.

I’ve been purchasing bulk oatmeal because I prefer a hot oatmeal breakfast, and have been making my own quick & easy granola recipe when I really want a “cold cereal” option. It’s frugal and nutritious.

Some of you may have limited access to the less expensive bulk foods, so I was curious how prices would translate shopping at a local discount store. I headed to Walmart to check out the oatmeal and hot cereal options. (See my shopping trip photos here.)

Purchasing oatmeal from the grocery store (with or without coupons) is still very affordable.

Country Life Natural Foods (bulk foods)

$0.50/lb for 50# bags of regular rolled oats
$1.10/lb for 25# bags of organic rolled oats

Walmart

$0.28 per serving – Great Value 6pk single serve oatmeal packets
$0.27 per serving – Great Value 42oz canister old-fashioned oats

Are you a hot cereal or cold cereal person? I have to have my oatmeal sprinkled with walnuts, drizzled with Michigan maple syrup, and finished with a bit of soy milk. What’s your favorite topping?

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, but all opinions and delish granola recipes are my own. ;)

BuyWithMe: Staycation & Vacation Deals {We Used it in Boston}

Jolon — Wed, 25 May 2011 18:30:56 +0000

I’ve mentioned BuyWithMe before as a another great resource for vacation because it’s not available for West Michigan. I’ve been keeping an eye on it for an upcoming blog conference in Chicago, and I’d definitely recommend signing up for the emails if you’re planning to travel and want to save money!

We used BuyWithMe to purchase a “Duck Tour” in Boston before we even left home and saved about 50%. I think tours are a great way to get oriented and see the highlights in a new city.

What do you think? Are you good with being a tourist? ;)

Thanks for clicking through my links. Please see my disclosure policy.

West Michigan Staycation Ideas for 2011 {Guest Post}

Jolon — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:56:32 +0000

Whether you’re planning a staycation for you and your sweetie or just a date, there are plenty of things to keep you busy on the cheap in West Michigan this summer. I believe there are truly FUN, frugal and free things to do!

Today I joined Big Binder in Kitchen Stewardship’s post for fun staycation ideas in West Michigan that won’t break the bank with the high gas prices. Click on over and check it out. Lots of great inspiration for entertaining your family on the cheap for Memorial Day Weekend or just a summer #GRDate with your sweetie.

Frugal Cooking Focus: Dried Beans {Plus, A Bean eCookbook Deal!}

Jolon — Fri, 20 May 2011 18:00:25 +0000

A good chunk of my $25/wk Food Budget Challenge has been dedicated to buying in bulk: oatmeal, rice, and beans. I love beans and had previously always used canned beans, but dried beans are less expensive. Now I’m up to my ears in 25# of dried black beans and I love them!

My two biggest tips are:

1. Don’t salt the water while you’re cooking dried beans. It toughens the skin. Season beans while preparing your recipe.

2. Beans love to be cooked with fat. I add olive oil to the boiling water and the beans cook so much faster and come out so perfectly soft.

When Katie at Kitchen Stewardship published “The Everything Beans Book” (click here to view more details), I knew it would be a great resource. It’s 95 pages of everything you need to know about beans including 30 recipes. (I even printed it out and put it in a 3-ring binder for easy reference. I know, I know it’s supposed to be an “e”book.)

I’ve always wanted to make black bean burgers so I’m starting with Mexican Black Bean Burgers when I get back from the blogging conference on Sunday. With summer coming up, it will be a great vegetarian alternative to burgers on the grill!

At only $9.95, I feel it’s a great deal for a quality cookbook. Plus, it supports local #realfood blogger and writer who cares about our West Michigan community. Thanks for clicking through my links. Please see my disclosure policy.

Save Money on Hotels for Travel OR Staycations!

Jolon — Thu, 19 May 2011 17:44:19 +0000

My favorite way to save money on hotels for travel or staycations is to check the daily deal sites (like Groupon, Seize the Deal, and LivingSocial) for my destination cities well before it’s time to travel. It requires a bit of planning ahead, but it has worked out well so far.

photo credit: Atlantic House

Here’s where we stayed in York Beach, Maine. The Atlantic House normally costs $225 per night, but using Groupon we stayed for only $99 (plus $9 taxes). We also received a $40 credit to their restaurant which saved us well over 50% on dinner that night.

Living Social Escapes features vacation deals all over the country and beyond. It’s worth subscribing to their email newsletter.

How do you plan your vacation – by choosing your location and just finding the best deal OR by going where you can save the most money because time away from home is time away!?

Zipments: Save Money & Make Money, West Michigan #grmi

Jolon — Thu, 19 May 2011 01:30:49 +0000

Right before I left for vacation, I heard about this awesome new company in West Michigan called Zipments. My fellow blogger jodimichelle was earning money by driving a van full of tulips around for Tulip Time delivery. Such an easy little opportunity to make some extra cash.

There are two main ways to use Zipments:

1. Save time and money. Let someone else get your package where it needs to go. List your errands or courier service needs on Zipments.com. Posting takes about a minute.

2. Make money. You can also make money in your spare time by taking things across town for other people or businesses. Get paid within 24 hours of completion.

It’s easy to register. Just go to Zipments.com. You can also keep up with them on facebook | twitter | Zipments blog. Tell them Savvy Chic Savings sent you! :)

Disclosure: I was compensated for sharing this cool company and opportunity with you, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Daily Deal Sites for Travel & Vacation {Our New England Experience}

Jolon — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:23:16 +0000

Sorry for being so quiet for the last week, but I’ve been on vacation in New England. We’re savoring the last few moments of travel, and I just wanted to remind you that using daily group deal sites for travel is a great way to save money on hotels, restaurants, and entertainment. For the last few months I was monitoring our destination cities for deals we might like. As a result, we had some great meals at a huge discount. Below are a couple meals we enjoyed while in Boston.

Rolls and sashimi at Ma Soba. Groupon cost $15 for $30. OOP at the restaurant $6.89 + $8.50 tip.

Crab cakes, clam chowder, and Maine lobster rolls, beverages, dessert and coffee at North 26 in the Millenium Bostonian Hotel. Groupon cost $25 for $50. OOP (out of pocket) at the restaurant, $0 + $15 tip.

I’ll show you our killer hotel deal later this week. What kinds of deals are you purchasing for travel? Have you been happy with your deal once you reach your destination?

See today’s Groupon, Seize the Deal, and LivingSocial for YOUR city here.

Thanks for clicking through my links. Please see my disclosure policy.

Amtrak: Kids Ride FREE 5/1 to 6/9 {Purchase by 5/6}

Jolon — Fri, 06 May 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Ahh!!! Sorry this post is so late. I saved it in the “drafts” folder 3 days ago and it got lost there. You do need to purchase this deal today, but it is valid for travel through June 9, 2011. Details in the link below…

In celebration of 40 years, Amtrak is offering Kids Ride FREE from May 1, 2011 to June 9, 2011! You must purchase by this Friday, May 6 for travel during the specified dates.

Thanks, Briana!

Tips For Starting a Garden in West Michigan

Jolon — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:45:00 +0000

I’m trying really hard to check items off the 2011 Kitchen Mini-Challenges list. One of those things is to turn my brown thumb green. I asked someone who does container gardening in her driveway for some tips to get started. Here’s what she shared in her own words. Thanks, M!

Definitely just purchase plants, starting seeds is very tricky to pull off because you need all sorts of contraptions to do it well — grow lights, warming mats, etc.

I don’t like to get plants from a “store,” even if they’re cheaper, because they’re more likely to have bugs, diseases, and transplant shock even if they look good when you buy them.

If I buy perennials I wait to get them until after Memorial Day because they are hugely discounted. A hydrangea that was $20 pre-Memorial Day will be $5 after, and last year there was a really good perennial selection right after.

Annuals and vegetables are another story, I have found you need to get them by at least the weekend before Memorial Day, or they will be VERY picked over. Weekends get completely crazy, so try to go on a weeknight/day if possible.

Containers are easy because if you plant early they are easy to cover if you get a late frost. I don’t like to plant ground plants until at the earliest the weekend before Memorial Day because its such a hassle to cover them.

Lots of herbs are actually perennials meaning you can overwinter them and not have to buy new every year. Strawberries are like this. I just wheeled out last year’s strawberry container from my garage and there are new shoots coming up already. Some herbs are too, but I’m less sure which ones. My parsley and thyme from last year are sprouting, too.

If you do container tomatoes, make sure you get fresh soil every year because tomatoes get blight super easy and you are almost assured to get it if you try to reuse the soil. Everything else you can reuse soil if you keep fertilizing it really well.

These were so helpful for me! Did you learn something new? Any other tips for the rookie gardeners that you’d care to add? :)

Frugal How-to: Baking Soda Beauty Routine

Jolon — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Works for Me Wednesday:

Need to switch up your beauty routine on the cheap? Check out these frugal tips using baking soda. I bought a sugar dispenser at the dollar store, filled it with baking soda, and keep it on a shelf just outside the shower. Easy!

Add baking soda to your shampoo to remove buildup, improve manageability, and add shine. I do this every other week. Afterwards, my hair feels so soft, looks shiny, and has a little extra bounce!

Exfoliate your face and body with baking soda. I use an actual facial exfoliator once a week. In between, using baking soda as a gentle facial scrub makes my skin feel softer AND I don’t have to buy that pricier product quite so often!

Help hair with clean brushes & combs. Remove natural oil and hair product buildup by soaking brushes and combs in a sink with warm water and 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Rinse well.

Do you have baking soda beauty tips to share?