*The Thrifty Home

Clorox Clean-Up Giveaway & Coupon for $1.00 off

2012-02-13T19:13:00.003-07:00

Here is an easy way to get $1.00 off Clorox Clean-Up:

Got a Recipe For Fun all your own? Share it now through March 27, 2012 at www.cloroxrecipesforfun.com for a chance to win $10,000 toward an Ultimate Mess Party. And just for sharing, you’ll get $1.00 off Clorox® Clean-Up® instantly.

That’s not all, with random prizes awarded daily, your next click could be a winner! Each day, we’re instantly awarding a $100 gift card from a variety of favorite retailers to a lucky user for just viewing recipes.

Every Recipe For Fun needs a Recipe For Clean. That’s why Clorox® Clean-Up® Cleaner with the combination of cleaner and the disinfecting power of Clorox Bleach lets you spray away messy play. So no matter how big a mess you make of it, Clorox® Clean-Up® Cleaner Cleaner with Bleach can be used throughout your house to quickly and effectively clean, disinfect, and deodorize.

2 Lucky readers will win a coupon for a FREE Clorox Clean-Up Spray.

All you have to do to win is leave a comment.

Extra entries for:

Tweeting

Posting on Facebook and

Blogging

Just leave a comment for each.

Winners will be chosen on February 20th.
I received a coupon for a free Clorox Clean-Up and can't wait to use it. My daughter's favorite recipe for fun is her easy bake oven which can get messy.

124th Penny Pinching Party

2012-02-07T20:41:00.001-07:00

123rd Penny Pinching Party

2012-01-31T23:20:00.000-07:00

122nd Penny Pinching Party • Refinished Entertainment Center

2012-01-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

I did this entertainment center back in July and am finally getting around to posting it. I have been doing so many projects in my new home that I don't have time to blog about them all and have gotten behind with posting them. I am having so much fun though!

Before:

After:

You can read the full Entertainment Center post here:

Refinished and Rebuilt Entertainment Center

2012-01-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

Here is a project from last year that I am finally posting:

When we bought our new house in February last year, one of the first things that had to go was this massive solid oak built-in entertainment center. It was original with the house so it was built for a tube TV from 1984, and would not fit our larger flat screen.

I have a binder that I keep magazine clips and ideas for my dream projects. Most of the projects I dream about don't happen because they are too expensive (like the jetted tub I would love in my bathroom). This Pottery Barn entertainment center had been sitting in my binder for a few months and would have cost $3,000-5,000 to buy. One day while looking at my binder, I had the crazy idea to transform our built-in to look like the Pottery Barn one.

I showed my super awesome husband my plans and we got to work on it right away. BTW: My awesome hubby is a computer geek, not a carpenter. He just cut things and nailed them together the way we wanted them. Thank goodness for wood putty and paint!

We found some 80's wallpaper and original carpet when we took it apart. I got to work picking out a lovely shade of greyish-blue for the walls and painted the room. I also spent a ton of time picking out the perfect floor which we installed after we were done painting the entertainment center and kitchen cabinets (floor post to come).

We took the middle section completely apart and used the wood to build a top shelf and bottom cabinet. We even cut the top off the doors to make them into smaller doors. My husband was able to glue all of the crown together at the top and we didn't spend a dime on wood. The only supplies we bought were new knobs and paint. We primed it, painted 2 coats of flat paint, distressed it with a sander, and then put on 2 coats of polyurethane.

After about 2 weeks of taking it apart, re-building it and painting, we were done. I love my new entertainment center!

I think it turned out pretty close to this Pottery Barn one. It is about a foot taller, so I found a vinyl saying and put it above the TV.

Before:

After:

121st Penny Pinching Party

2012-01-17T19:50:00.003-07:00

120th Penny Pinching Party

2012-01-10T22:14:00.003-07:00

119th Penny Pinching Party

2012-01-03T22:54:00.002-07:00

118th Penny Pinching Party

2011-12-27T17:17:00.002-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I bought most of my Christmas with Swag Bucks, PayPal money earned from ebay, and other deals. Everyone got everything they wanted and I am not worried to see the credit card bill. Have a Happy New Year!

117th Penny Pinching Party

2011-12-20T18:50:00.001-07:00

116th Penny Pinching Party

2011-12-14T09:36:00.001-07:00

115th Penny Pinching Party

2011-12-06T23:59:00.001-07:00

Roof Before and After • 114th Penny Pinching Party

2011-11-29T20:43:00.001-07:00

When we moved into our new house (older, but new to us) back in February, the insurance company took one look at the roof and threatened to drop our coverage if we did not get a new one. Back in May I did a roof color poll HERE to help decide on a color. The majority of you voted for charcoal and I decided that it gave the best contrast with our red brick house. The roofers started in the middle of June, but did not finish until the middle of July (They had said it would take 1-2 weeks). It rained almost every day while we were getting the new roof on and one night it was pouring while the roofers hammered away trying to get some protection on our roof. Luckily we had no leaks and we ended up with a pretty good looking roof. I waited until now to post the after photo, since the trees blocked the view of the roof.

Before with the shake roof.

After with the charcoal architectural shingles. We also painted the front door navy blue.

The insurance company was right about needing a new roof. Every day I would pick up fallen shingles from the flower beds.

When the roofers removed these shakes we found hundreds of wasp nests.

To save money we did all the clean-up and ended up filling 3 dumpsters.

The house was too big of a project for us to do, but my husband was able to do the shed himself and save a little money there.

Thanks to everyone who voted and helped me choose a color. I am so glad this project is done!

Quick Desk Remodel • 113th Penny Pinching Party

2011-11-22T18:20:00.001-07:00

Back in March 2010, I wrote a post about a desk I found for $10 and painted for my daughter's room:

Girl's Room Desk

In February 2011, we moved into a new house and my daughter wanted an all new theme and different colors. With $6 worth of sample paint in 2 different colors, I was able to transform her desk in about 20 minutes. I had a feeling she would want to change colors when I first painted the desk which is why I painted the desk white and the drawers pink.

Before

After

Currently

A few years ago I did the same thing with a dresser for my son's nursery:

Bug Nursery

The dresser had been white with yellow drawers, so when I decorated the nursery I only had to paint the drawers and not the entire dresser.

After photo of dresser with black drawers (the drawers were yellow, but I don't have a photo).

Thanksgiving Recipes • 112th Penny Pinching Party

2011-11-15T22:00:00.001-07:00

Here are my most requested recipes that I make every year for Thanksgiving:

Oreo Cookie Turkeys

I use these turkeys as place card holders by sticking in toothpicks with names.

Frosted Cranberry Salad from Taste of Home

This one always gets rave reviews and I always get asked for the recipe whenever I make it.

Sweet Potato Souffle by Spencers Steakhouse

This recipe makes a lot so I usually half it. My dad requests this one every year and it sure beats marshmallows on top.

Classifieds • 111th Penny Pinching Party

2011-11-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

I love the classifieds. I have found some great finds and love selling things I no longer need. I am not afraid of buying something, since I know I can turn around and sell it if it doesn't work for me. When we bought our home back in February I bought some bar stools to use temporarily, until I found the ones I really wanted on sale.

I bought all 4 of these for $20 through my local classifieds (I only needed 3, so I used the 4th as a plant stand).

About a month ago the bar stools I wanted went on sale.

I got these at ShopKo for around $70, which is the lowest price I have ever seen them (they are on sale for $124.99 right now). They work so much better in my kitchen because they fit under the bar and don't get in the way. The backs on the other bar stools made the kitchen walkway small and cramped, but they were great temporary stools.

I used my local online classifieds and listed my $20 bar stools for $50. I got a call a few minutes after listing them and sold them for the full $50 about an hour later. Last month I listed a dining table for more than I bought it and sold that too. If you do your research and know what things are selling for, the classifieds can be a great place. I only buy things I want and actually use before selling, but I do know some people buy and sell for a living. It is just my way of having what I need until I find that great sale and buy what I really want.

Oh, and before and after photos of my kitchen makeover are coming. You can see my new floor in the picture with the bar stools.

Winner of MyMemories Giveaway

2011-11-06T16:00:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Theresa from Dear Creatives for winning the MyMemories scrapbook giveaway!

If you didn't win and, you can still get $10 off with this code: STMMMS69247

How to Save Thousands of Dollars - 110th Penny Pinching Party

2011-11-01T21:20:00.000-06:00

When we moved into our first home just over 10 years ago, we remodeled everything. After we painted the kitchen cabinets and installed a new Pergo laminate floor, we bought new appliances. We bought a nice dishwasher with all of the bells and whistles. After using the new dishwasher for a few months, we noticed that our new laminate floor was warped. The new dishwasher had a defective part and had been leaking and getting under our floor. Luckily, the dishwasher manufacture paid to fix the dishwasher and for another new floor since the dishwasher was still under warranty. The repair man told us to go to a metal shop and have them make us a pan to stick under the dishwasher so that if there was ever a leak again, we would see it before it ruined our floor. We paid about $20 for a metal pan with 3 sides and an opening in the front. When we sold our house just a few months ago, the inspector reported that the dishwasher was leaking. It was a small leak, so it wasn't enough to come out the front and alert us. The pan however, did save the floor. Without it, the floor would have slowly been ruined over time.

We have been working hard at our new home, painting the cabinets and installing a laminate floor. On Labor Day we scored a stainless steel dishwasher for $200 at the RC Willey Labor Day Sale. After previously buying a dishwasher with all of the bells and whistles, we learned that all we ever used was the normal cycle and didn't need the extra stuff. Our new dishwasher is simple and uncomplicated and hopefully won't leak. Before we installed the dishwasher we called a metal shop to have a pan made. The price of metal must have gone up because they wanted $70! I decided to look around on the internet for a pan and after a lot of searching found one at http://www.floorsaverpan.com. I was so excited to find that someone actually made these! I can't believe that they are not sold in every hardware store in the world. I then did something I had never done before. I emailed the company and asked if they would send me one for free and I would blog about it in exchange. I would have bought one anyway, but it doesn't hurt to ask. It turns out the man who sells them is a plumber who saw a need and decided to do something about it. He doesn't advertise or promote his product at all which is probably why it was so hard to find. Here it is! The simple product that every home with a dishwasher should have. It will save you thousands of dollars.

I wish the previous owners of our home had used one of these. When we pulled out the old dishwasher we discovered why several of the tiles in front of the sink/dishwasher were broken.

Before we installed our new laminate floor, we had to replace some of the damaged and warped subfloor. You can see that post here. We thought the sink had leaked and caused the damage. It makes more sense that it was the dishwasher since a leak under the dishwasher can go undetected for months and even years, causing extensive damage. The previous owners must have had a leak that they never knew about. It warped the subfloor underneath the tile, causing the tiles to break on the uneven floor.

We bought some mold paint additive and mixed it in some leftover primer we had. The mold paint additive is supposed to block mold and it was cheaper than replacing the wood and drywall.

We used some scraps of laminate and finished it off with a lot of caulk.

Finally we got to put the floor saver pan in.

Now I get to enjoy my new dishwasher without worrying about my new expensive floor ever being ruined.

I am not being paid to write this review, but am writing it hoping that I can save at least one other person from the nightmare that an undetected leak can cause. Here are the Floor Saver Pan features:

Floor Saver Pan is a water barrier that fits neatly under your built-in dishwasher
Made from a tough recycled ABS plastic
Impact resistant (not effected by dishwasher legs or weight of machine)
Sits out of sight & takes up minimal space
Will not allow an undetected water leak to damage your floor
Channels water from a leak to the front of the dishwasher so immediate repair can be initiated
Inexpensive insurance for your expensive flooring
Protects cabinets, subfloors, basements and house structure from water damage

I challenge you to pull out your dishwasher and see if you have any unknown water damage. If you do, then fix it and put a Floor Saver Pan in. If you don't, put a Floor Saver Pan in before you do have an unexpected leak costing you thousands of dollars.

*I have even convinced the owner to do a giveaway and will be posting that soon.

I think spending a little money to prevent a huge expense is a great Penny Pinching idea. What have you been doing to save some $$$?

109th Penny Pinching Party - Scrapbook Giveaway

2011-10-25T21:18:00.001-06:00

Click HERE to enter the MyMemories giveaway for the free software suite worth $39.97.

Don't want to wait to see if your a winner? Click on the link below and use this code for $10 off:

STMMMS69247

MyMemories.com often has FREE designer packs. Click on the links below to get these designer packs for FREE for a limited time:

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_1

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_2

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_3

MyMemories Scrapbook Software Giveaway and Coupon Code

2011-10-20T16:28:00.000-06:00

My memories suite is the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software by Polaroid. It is $39.97, but one lucky winner will be getting it for FREE! Everyone else is still a winner because you can get $10 off with this code: STMMMS69247

I have been playing around with it and am amazed by the versatility. I have been using online programs to make my photo books and have been frustrated with their limitations. MyMemories has endless possibilities and you don't have to be connected to the internet or upload your photos.

Here are a couple of scrap-book pages I created in just a few minutes:

For this page I chose one of MyMemories many background papers and used one of the easy photo layouts. I added a white mat and shadow to the photos.

For this page I used all of my own original content. The background photo is one that I took while on vacation. I used another MyMemories photo layout and added the sepia effect. I love how easy it is to add effects, fix red eye, crop and adjust photos within the program. I also added a white mat and shadow to the photos.

There are tons of great embellishments (buttons, stickers, and ribbons) within the program. No matter your skill level, you will find this program easy to use. You can start off with a designer template and just drag and drop photos or you can create your own unique look.

They are always creating new kits that you can add-on to your program:

MyMemories is great for more than just scrap-booking. Watch this YouTube video to see what else you can do:

Rules to Enter Giveaway

1. Go to www.MyMemories.com and choose your favorite digital paper pack, then come back here and post a comment about it.

Extra Entries

1. Follow my blog and post a comment that you are a follower.

2. Visit the MyMemories blog and follow them, then come back here and leave a comment that you are following.

2. Visit MyMemories facebook page and "like" them, then come back here and leave a comment.

3. Follow MyMemories on Twitter and come back and leave a comment.
4. Tweet, blog, or facebook this post, then come back and leave a comment and link for each one (worth 1 extra entry for each one you do).

Last day to enter is Tuesday, November 1st. 1 lucky winner will be chosen at random on Wednesday, November 2nd. Make sure to include an email in your comments.

108th Penny Pinching Party

2011-10-18T20:29:00.000-06:00

107th Penny Pinching Party

2011-10-11T23:16:00.000-06:00

It seems as if we have skipped fall here in Utah and are going straight to winter. Hopefully we will still have a few warmer days before winter is here to stay, but the cold weather got me thinking about Christmas.

I use a lot of Swag Bucks to get free gifts, but this week I found another great way to get FREE or really cheap Christmas gifts. You can read about it HERE.

FREE Christmas Presents

2011-10-10T15:05:00.001-06:00

Want to know how to get some Christmas presents for free or really cheap? I just discovered a deal site where you can save 50-90% off local and online businesses.

Go to this site and register for free. You will get a $10 credit to start off with.

It is a limited time offer, so hurry and register.

After signing up click on the your name/email at the top right and then the "my referral link" (you will also be emailed your referral link after signing up).

Send your referral link to all your friends in your email contacts list asking them to sign up. Post your link on facebook, twitter, google+, forums, blogs, etc. For each friend who clicks your referral link and purchases a deal, you receive $10 towards your next purchase.

After you have some free money in your account (credit), check out the daily deals and use your free credit.

Here is what they have right now:

Remote Control Submarine ($50 Value) plus FREE Shipping!

$7 for $15 worth of phone cases (free shipping)

$15 for $30 worth of housewares

$25 for remote control helicopter from gadget gear ($50 value)

Shopping Your Home - Guest Blogger

2011-10-07T13:25:00.000-06:00

Hi, everyone, I’m Susi and I write as a guest blogger for Design Shuffle, the fantastic website for design lovers and design professionals to browse tens of thousands of interior design projects for inspiration as well as post their own projects. I'm happy to be asked to guest blog at The Thrifty Home this week about shopping your home for thrifty decor. I am a thrifter from way back and have furnished my home with mostly vintage and thrift store finds so I know good design doesn't have to break the budget. And what could be thriftier than shopping what you already have? Here are a few of my favorite ways to shop your home for new décor.
Shop your home and look for objects and furniture that has great lines but not a great finish or color. Grab some spray paint and voila! New furniture and accessories.
Terrariums are a hot design trend with glass terrariums costing big bucks. But you can easily make a terrarium with a Mason jar, cheese tray with glass cloche, and small plants and moss from the yard.
Shop your china cabinet for silver and silver plate that you can put to good use rather than let it just sit in the cabinet. Silver bowls are great for organizing an entry, and storing odds and ends.
Rethink how you use your furniture. Move a dresser from a bedroom to the dining room as a buffet, living room as a credenza under the TV, or an entry for shoe storage. Who knew how easy it would be to find decorating ideas for living rooms in the bedroom.
Shop your linen closet for colorful curtains. These were made from a vintage tablecloth. Tea towels would also work.

Look around your house for fabric that can be made into decorative throw pillows. Pretty much any sturdy fabric will work. If you don't sew, take the fabric to your dry cleaner or tailor for a low cost option.

Think inside the frame when looking for new decorating ideas inside your home. This charming art for the kitchen or dining room is made from things we all have around: frames, napkins, flatware and spray paint. So charming!

Shop your pantry, or in this case the candy drawer, for colorful seasonal décor and craft projects. Love the candy corn wreath for fall decorating. Images ( 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 ) Now that you have shopped your home, come get inspiration from Design Shuffle, where you can connect with interior designers around the world, including Boston interior designers and San Francisco interior designers!

106th Penny Pinching Party

2011-10-04T19:10:00.001-06:00