Category Archives: Frugal How-To

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

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west michigan consignment shopsphoto 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.
  • 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!

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

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

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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:

frugal cleaning tips

  • 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}

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diy wine kit sicilianos

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: Oatmeal {Easy Granola Recipe, too}

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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.

easy oatmeal granola recipe

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.)

walmart oatmeal shop

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. ;)

Tips For Starting a Garden in West Michigan

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west michigan gardening tipsI’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? :)