The Frugal Free Gal

How to Make Your Own Household Cleaners

Interested in making your own household cleaners? Check out these great recipes from reader, Nicole!

Laundry Soap

Powder

1 bar of soap (Ivory is the cheapest. I have tried all brands and found no difference.)
1 c. Borax
1 c. Baking Soda

Household Cleaners

10 Driving Tips to Save Money and the Environment

Fuel costs have been rising steadily for a few years and probably won’t be going down any time soon.  At the same time, CO2 emissions have more than doubled in the last twenty years.  We have tried to avoid the issue for years, but we are finally hitting a road block where we need to accept that we have no choice but to change our driving habits. You may or may not agree with Al Gore’s take on global warming, but you can’t deny that pollution causes serious problems for our environment.

Economists usually tell us to drive less, but this isn’t practical advice for many of us.  We live busy lives, but we can at least change our driving habits to reduce our gas bill and protect the environment at the same time.  Here are ten ways you can conserve fuel:

1.  Check your cars air filter.  One in four cars on the road has a problem with its air filter.  If you are one of those cars, you should replace it.  Doing so can save up to 10% on fuel.

2.  Keep the front end your car aligned.  If the front end of your car isn’t properly aligned, your engine and tires will have to work a lot harder.  This causes your car to use up to 10% more on gas.

3.  Get an engine tune up.  Make sure that you get regular tune ups.  Doing so will keep your car running properly and help you save on your gas costs.

4.  Properly inflate your tires. Properly maintaining your tires will help keep your car in alignment and running smoothly.

5.  Check your gas cap.  It is a common mistake for people to forget to tighten the gas cap after filling their tank.  When you leave your cap off, your gas evaporates along with all the money you put into it.

6.  Drive a bit slower.  When you drive faster, your engine has to work harder.  You can save about 7% of your fuel every time you reduce your speed by 5 miles per hour.

7.  Maintain a consistent speed.  Try to drive as smoothly as possible.  Constantly accelerating and reducing your speed can cause you to waste a third of your gas.

8.  Don’t ride the brakes.  Not only is this bad for your brakes, but it can force you to spend 35% more on fuel.

9.  Don’t drive with heavy loads in your vehicle.  Clean out the trunk of your car and don’t drive with more than you need to.  You are putting more stress on your engine and can be using up a lot more fuel than you think.

10.  You don’t always need to warm up your car.  Some of us have been told that we need to warm our car every three minutes to keep it from stalling.  This is true in freezing temperatures, but otherwise you are only wasting more of your gas.

As much as we hate high gas prices, they probably aren’t going down anytime soon.  Practicing better driving skills will save you money on fuel and make your car last longer at the same time.  The environment is going to thank for your efforts as well.

Pet owners can spend hundreds of dollars a year in vet costs. Depending upon the age and health of your pet, some of you might pay much more than that. But even though that expert assistance is well worth it, it is possible to save a few bucks (or a lot of bucks!) when it comes to health care for your pooch or kitty.

1. Shop Around for Pet Insurance – Pet insurance can cost anywhere from $25 to $50 a month, but it can be a lifesaver for your pocketbook when it comes to expensive operations and procedures. Since pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions, the best time to insure your pet is when they’re younger.

2. Shop Amazon for Pet Supplies – Amazon has a variety of pet products to purchase for your pet at a great price. Recently, instead of taking my cat to the vet due to constipation and spending a lot of money on an enema, etc., I used this product to help relieve her of her pain and discomfort. The tube was under $8 when I purchased it and it worked shortly after she had her first dose. My vet approved this, so make sure you call your vet to ask about using any products first to make sure the product is right for your pet. You can also find products like flea treatments, specialty pet food, and more.

3. Trim Your Pet’s Nails Yourself – Costs can add up if you get your pet’s nails trimmed professionally. Use a quality pair of pet nail clippers and trim your pet’s nails yourself. I have a temperamental calico cat and I trim her nails on a regular basis. She can be kind of squirmy so I wrap her up in a towel first and promise her favorite treats when we are finished. I have friends who recommend Soft Claws. I did try these once but I do prefer to clip my cat’s nails.

4. Spend Time Playing With Your Pet – Keep your pets healthy and active by playing (or walking) with your pet on a regular basis. You can find affordable pet toys to keep your pet entertained.

5. Feed Your Pet Quality Food – I once switched over to a cheap cat food for my cat, Candie (pictured below) because I wanted to save money. Big mistake. It ended up causing a lot of issues including constipation and vomiting. I had to take her to the vet and she had to stay for a day while getting treated for this. I highly recommend finding a quality pet food and sticking to it. Ask your vet for recommendations on the best food to feed your pet. We went back to a quality cat food after our vet trip from switching over to cheap food.

6. Get a Written Estimate – Imagine being told your car repairs will cost $300 and then being charged $700. The same can happen with vet bills. A written estimate can help you avoid “surprise” costs and make sure both you and the vet are on the same page when it comes to your pet’s care.

7. Get Regular Check Ups – Can you save money by going to the vet more often? You bet! Regular check ups for your pet are like yearly tune-ups for your car – they’ll help diagnose smaller problems before they become expensive bigger problems.

>>> FREE Office Visit at Banfield Pet Hospitals <<< - Located in PetsMart. We currently use this service for our cat, Candie.

9. Take Care of Your Pet’s Teeth – Just like humans, your pet’s teeth also have to be taken care of. There’s a variety of dental care products to use to take care of your dog or cat’s teeth including chew sticks, tarter remover sticks, water additives, oral sprays, finger toothbrushes, and more.

10. Use a Collar with a Name Tag – If your pet gets lost and isn’t chipped, he or she can get into some serious trouble and may get hurt. Invest in a personalized pet tag. That way, if someone finds your pet, they can contact you right away before your pet runs off again. This could help avoid injury and costly emergency vet visits.

11. Take Advantage of Discounts – There are all sorts of vet care discounts available to pet owners. Those cost-cutters include senior and veteran discounts, but can also be used to save money if you’re a multi-pet owner or the owner of a stray or rescued animal. Not all vets offer discounts, but it definitely doesn’t hurt to ask!

12. Score Discounts with Pet Assure – If insurance is outside your price range, you might consider a more affordable option like Pet Assure. The plan offers a variety of pet plans based on your needs.

Here’s how to get started with Pet Assure:

1. Sign up for a plan.
2. Take your Pet Assure card to any network veterinarian.
3. Receive an instant 25% discount on all in-house medical services – at every appointment!

All in-house medical services and procedures, including:

How do you save on veterinary costs?

Related: 6 Tips for Saving Big on Pet Expenses

Related: 6 Ways to Save on Cat Expenses 

Related: 7 Ways to Save on Dog Expenses