My next couple of post will be about “Simple” cleaning solutions that we can have on hand at home for a few pennies. I read these in a book and started using them and have saved time and money. Hope you will try them.

Grease build up on the stove top or counter top can be a bear to remove – unless you’re using the right cleaner. So what is the right cleaner? Vinegar! Just soak a sponge or rag in vinegar, and use it to wipe down the greasy surface. It’ll cut through the grease and grime in one easy step.

Why This Works

The acetic acid in vinegar eats through the grease, saving you scrubbing time and frustrations.

Benefits of Cleaning with Vinegar
• inexpensive
• no harsh chemicals or fumes
• safe for most surfaces
• safe for use around pets and kids

Warnings
1) Do not use on marble
2) Test on a small area before using on finished wood surfaces or tile
3) As with any cleaner, you should avoid all contact with the eyes and prolonged contact with the skin

Before buying a new or used vehicle, check out the EPA green buying guide:

Click Here to find out more from the EPA.

Highly fuel efficient cars, hybrids, and vehicles that use cleaner alternative fuels help reduce greenhouse gases emissions. Reduce pollution from your current vehicle by getting regular tune-ups and making sure your tires are properly inflated to achieve your vehicle’s optimal gas mileage.

This may be one of those things you think, gosh I already know that. Yes, but knowing and doing are entirely two different things. I know it but don’t always remember to do it.

Save energy by carpooling, taking public transportation, riding a bike, or walking. Another way to reduce your carbon emissions is to combine errands when you do drive.

Can you see where I keep going with these little tidbits; great on the “carbon footprint” and even more wonderful on the finances. Every little bit makes a difference.

Newly living in an area that is very agricultural, I have become more aware of my neighbors who are all farmers. In helping the economy (theirs and mine) and also the environment, I support them by purchasing my produce locally and I might add, it saves money (gas, price of produce, just to name a few reasons)

• Buy Seasonal Produce

Organic food tastes better and it’s kinder to the earth. Thirty percent of the fossil fuel used on farms goes into the making of fertilizers.

Get greener by buying items grown or produced within 100 miles and you’ll reduce the amount of diesel fuel needed to ship food. You can get fresher food and help small-scale agriculture by shopping at neighborhood farmers’ markets.

You can always freeze your produce with little or no effort at all. What is better tasting than fresh vegetables?

There is overwhelming evidence that our activities are contributing to climate change. The negative effects of this problem will increasingly affect all of our lives, with more extreme weather, flooding of coastal zones due to ocean levels rising, and species extinction. Deserts will expand as droughts become more severe, threatening human lives and contributing to greater political instability in already vulnerable regions.

Each of us contributes to climate change with our daily activities. The good news is that each of us can begin to help solve the problem by reducing our carbon footprint.

Be sure to continue reading as we will be sharing eco-friendly and easy tips to help you in your home and office.

Read this and thought this was a cleaver idea for Teachers, Moms, Crafter’s and lets not forget the children. I think its easy enough for all.

1. Cut a foam meat tray down to the size that you want your stamp to be.
2. Then, use a pencil or pen to draw your stamp design onto the foam. Be sure to press hard enough to create a noticeable indentation.
3. Ink your stamp, and test it out on a scrap of paper.
4. Make any necessary adjustments to your design.
5. Use your stamp again and again to embellish greeting cards, scrapbook pages and more.

Tips:
1. Use a ruler, if straight lines are important to your design.
2. Press objects into the foam for even more design options.
3. Write all text in reverse for proper printing.

Ideas: Christmas wreaths, ornaments, snowmen, snowflakes. Anything Christmasy. Buy some inexpensive craft paper on the roll. Start stamping or get the kids to join in on this project. Cut sheets to whatever length you feel is a good size. Use it to wrap presents. Just a thought…..I am sure you can come up with many other ideas.

If you are not opposed to a little work and fun then read below.

Volunteer to usher – Many professional theater, opera and dance companies use volunteer ushers to help stretch tight budgets. For passing out programs and helping the paying customers find their seats, you will receive free admission to the performance, an inside look at what happens before the curtain goes up, and the opportunity to provide hands-on support to a dynamic arts organization in your community.

I and many of my friends and family members have tried this with great success. It helps you achieve experiencing many cultural events in your area and is a way of helping your community continue to be able to afford to offer these great programs. Helping one and other is “infectious and rewarding”. So try it and see for yourself.

I have don

Just thought with winter approaching we could offer several tips for keeping your energy costs under control.

• Keep your heating system in good shape. Change the filter once a month.

• Install a “smart” thermostat. A programmable thermostat can run between $25 and $150 on average, but by scheduling the system to cool around your company’s open hours, you could save 10% to 30% on your annual heating and cooling costs.

• Shade the east and west sides of your small business. Plant trees, install awnings or keep the blinds and curtains closed during the hottest or coldest parts of the day.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with florescent light bulbs. (This truly is a “biggy” for cost as well as our carbon footprint)*

• Turn off your computer, printer, scanner and copy machine when they aren’t in use, especially overnight. When you go to lunch or to a meeting, put your computer in “sleep” mode to conserve energy throughout the day. Consider a power strip for your electronics and turn the strip off each night. (When doing this you might want to also check your ink and toner cartridges to see if they will need to be replaced soon).

* See future articles on “Our Carbon Footprint”

• Save gas and time, order your ink and toner online. Great price, click here.

Well, this month at Digital Woman we have been told the subject is Frugal Tips. I wrestled with what should I be writing about Frugal or Cheap and is there a difference. So I immediately went to visit my oldest, most treasured friend, Webster. As in, Webster Dictionary. Here is his definition:

Avoiding waste; “an economical meal”; “an economical shopper”; “a frugal farmer”; “a frugal lunch”; “a sparing father and a spending son”; “sparing in their use of heat and light”; “stinting in bestowing gifts”; “thrifty because they remember the great Depression”; Costing little; inexpensive: a frugal lunch. Economical in use or expenditure; prudently saving or sparing; not wasteful: a frugal manager.

The best quote I could think of was; “Let’s all tighten up our belts a little”. Why I chose that quote is because my monthly blog will consist of anything from breathing, eating, sleeping, weddings; you name it I will cover it……I am sniffing out all of the tidbits or interest and great savings. So enjoy.

I have recently read that Cheap is the new chic.” That’s what a character from the “Ugly Betty” sitcom said recently during a party-planning scene. That’s right. Frugal is fashionable, no longer a dirty word.

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