kruemi / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Have you been on Swap.com lately? The site has expanded beyond books and media items! We’ve been saying it for a while now, swapping is the new shopping, and with its latest expansion, Swap.com is making it much easier to trade all sorts of items.

Disclosure: Our friends, The Swapaholics, are the swap experts and event planners for Swap.com’s events around the country. You may remember them from our 2010 Frugal Festival — they co-sponsored the event!

The expanded site launched late last year and I recently realized what I’ve been missing out on. Signing up for Swap.com is fast and free!

Members can still create a list of items they “have” and “want.” But now, they can engage in a private conversation with other members to barter. You can then accept or reject their offer! There’s no more waiting for the site to alert you to trade opportunities. Love this! These features are also available in Swap.com’s iPhone app.

Their app also makes it easier to upload photos of the items you want to swap. Just use your iPhone to snap a photo and add it to your “have” list.

The new Market also enables you to swap locally so you can view items in your area to avoid shipping costs! I’m in love with a vintage pink Olympia typewriter that I found, but it’s in Oklahma. All members are responsible for paying their own shipping costs. Yikes! Wonder how much it would cost to ship to LA?

Swap.com does not verify the authenticity or warranty the accuracy of listings so you’re swapping at your own risk. The good news is that you can check members’ ratings and follow those you want! You can also head to the site to find a swap near you on Swap.com.

Have you used Swap.com before? I’d love to hear what you’ve swapped and received in exchange!

Willem van Bergen / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

No need to take toilet paper from hotels to save money in the bathroom. The June 2012 issue of ShopSmart, published by Consumer Report’s, tested 25 toilet papers to find the best. Below I share the papers that made the honor roll.

Note that ShopSmart warns to watch out for short sheeting as it’s happening more often. To get the best deal at the store, make sure to compare unit-pricing labels.

Drum roll, please! The best TP is…

Best Toilet Paper

White Cloud 3-Ply Ultra Soft and Thick – Costs 25 cents per 100 sheets.

Quilted Northern Ultra Plush – Costs 38 cents per 100 sheets.

Bargain Buys

White Cloud Soft and Thick 2-Ply – Costs 19 cents per 100 sheets.

Kirkland Signature – Cost 12 cents per 100 sheets. Love this paper! It’s super soft and — um, keeps everything clean.

Greener Buys

Seventh Generation – Costs 22 cents per 100 sheets.

Trader Joe’s Super Soft – Costs 19 cents per 100 sheets. I like that this paper is made from responsibly managed forests. I alternate between Costco’s brand and this TP.

The worst toilet paper was CVS’s Earth Essential. It’s super inexpensive, but it’s scratchy (don’t want that near my lady bits). It also doesn’t clean and dry well.

Let me know below how you save money on toilet paper. You don’t pull a Sheryl Crow, do you? Plus, I’d like your input on another issue regarding TP. There’s an ongoing debate in my home about the right way to hang toilet paper. I’m dying to know, which way do you hang your TP — waterfall method or underhand method (shown in photo above)?

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Lőrinc / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

My secret to having an arsenal full of specialized cooking utensils without going broke is the hardware store. In many cases, the only difference between a hardware store tool and the kitchen version is price. Read on to see what cheap kitchen tools you can find at your local hardware.

Cooking Twine
Skip the small packages of kitchen twine sold at supermarkets and buy a cheap roll of twine at the hardware store. Just make sure to look for cotton twine only as nylon and other synthetic twines will melt. Twine comes in handy for trussing up poultry, tying together bouquet garnis, and holding roasts together.

Brushes
Basting brushes are the same quality as paintbrushes at hardware stores, but there so much cheaper. They’re usually less than $1 so it may be worth stocking up on different sizes to tackle different tasks. You can use brushes for basting and glazing everything from roasts to fruit tarts.

Blowtorch
A chef’s blowtorch starts at around $30, but hardware store torches are much cheaper and hold more fuel. These are a must if you want to caramelize the top of a creme brulee. Yum! The torch also comes in handy when making bananas foster.

Pizza Stones and Bricks
The secret to a crispy pizza is a pizza stone. Awhile back, I share how you can make your own pizza stone with unglazed ceramic or quarry tile from the hardware store. You can also buy a cheap brick to use as a weight (just cover it with foil) when making paninis or chicken under a brick.

Graters and Zesters
Head to the woodworking aisle to find cheap graters to zest lemons and other citrus fruits. Did you know Microplane first release it’s graters and zesters as woodworking tools? You’ll find quality rasps for a fraction of the cost as those found in fancy cooking supply stores. Make sure to buy one made out of stainless steel so it doesn’t rust.

Cedar Planks and Hickory Chips
With summer just around the corner, head to the hardware store to get ready for barbecues. Add flavor to your food with wood planks or chips. Cedar pairs well with salmon on the grill and hickory chips will impart a woodsy taste to you meat.

Pliers
These are a must if you have small kids that like to eat fish. You can use pliers to pick small bones out of fresh fish. Needle-nose pliers from the hardware store are inexpensive and precise. They usually cost less than $2, while fish tweezers at cooking supply stores cost $15 or more.

Scrapers and Knives
Drywall scraper and paint knives can double as tools for bakers. These hardware finds are cheap compared to pastry knives and cake decoration tools and work just as well. They can run you anywhere from $1 -$2 compared to $7 – $15.

Funnels

Funnels come in handy when you want to transfer oil to a spritz bottle. Hardware stores usually sell them in a set of two or three for less than $5. One funnel at a cooking supply store can set you back $15!

Have you tried any of these less expensive alternative kitchen utensils? What other hardware store finds double as cooking tools?

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Should I go back and snatch this beauty?

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

I hit a couple thrift stores this weekend in search of an entryway bench. Instead, I found a wooden chest (image at right) that could double as a bench with storage. After seeing the price tag, I walked away. It was $50! I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the chest. Did I make a mistake leaving it behind?

All it needs is a good sanding, some staining to deepen the color, and lacquer. Except for the backside, the chest is made out of quality wood. The back has a wooden board for reinforcement. I became reluctant after noticing it since I want to use the chest as a bench where we can take off our shoes as we walk in the door.

I’m not sure it can handle daily use though I did sit on it and everything seemed fine — no creaking. But for the $50, plus the time and money I’m going to spend sprucing it up, I probably could find something similar elsewhere. It would also be brand spankin’ new.

Once home, I searched IKEA online and found a few options for less than $50. Of course, the wood quality is not the same. Then a Crate and Barrel search revealed a trunk made out of solid wood for $600. My jaw dropped and a pang of conscience ensued.

Was I right or wrong to walk away from what now seems like a steal? Incidentally, having an idea of prices before heading to shop at thrift stores pays off. I just didn’t plan.

As time passes, I run the risk of not finding the chest. So what do you think? Should I hurry back for this thrift store find or keep searching?

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some really good tips for craigslist…
http://sfgate.houzz.com/ideabooks/2242619/list/Secrets-to-Shopping-Craigslist
I didn’t know I could use the same tools (quote marks, minus marks) that I’d use on a regular search!
Hope you and the baby are doing well,
regards,
Lynda

Wished I’d written this post myself! What other stores or websites do you want the inside secrets to? Send us a hot tip or deal you scored by emailing us.

istolethetv/flickr

I remember my grandmother telling me how when she was a little girl she used every part of the chicken. She raised them and ate their eggs. When it was time for that chicken to pass onto the big chicken coop in the sky, the feathers went into pillows.

She cooked and ate the meat. Chicken fat (schmaltz) was rendered and kept for frying. The liver was made into pate. The bones helped make healthy chicken broth.

I thought that was the end of the chicken, but apparently I was wrong.

If you dry the bones and smash them to bits you get bone meal, an incredible soil nutrient that plants love.

Because most people are too busy to even think about deboning a chicken, we pay EXTRA for skinless and boneless chicken. Egad! We’ve thrown out the baby with the bath water.

Let’s consider the cost in lost nutrition of buying boneless chicken. Here’s the math.

Skinless, boneless chicken breasts can cost as much as $5.99/ lb. You cook those babies up, eat them and you are done. End of value. You got protein. And depending on whether that chicken was raised in a commercial farm or free range, you might also have gotten a bunch of antibiotics and hormones.

Let’s say that organic, free range chicken is going for $2.79/lb. You can get an entire cutup chicken for around $9. Make a fresh pot of chicken soup. Serve it as the main course for dinner for a family of four with a bit left over for lunch.

Reserve white breast meat to whip up chicken salad (shredded chicken, hard boiled egg, mayo and salt/pepper) for dinner the next night. Make a salads with greens, tomato, olives, cheese with chicken salad in the middle. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Serve with crusty bread.

But wait, there’s more. When you are deboning the chicken (after you have boiled it in the soup and are now taking out the bones and shredding it for the soup), take the boiled bones (remove any skin but keep the gristle) and put them in a small pot. Cover the bones with filtered water. Now slowly simmer for hours. All day would be good. Just make sure that you don’t run out of water. Keep the bones covered. Filter the broth and put in the fridge. The collagen from the bones should cause the broth to gel. Bone broth is nutritional gold since it is full of minerals which support the immune and digestive systems. Add it to rice or soups or sauces. Whatever will do well with a bit of liquid and a slight chicken flavor.

You’re not done yet. Now, take those bones and dry them by cooking them in a low temp oven (120 degrees) or microwave them. Now put the dried bones into a paper bag and pound at them with a hammer until they are crushed into bits. This is called “bone meal fertilizer.” A vital nutrient which provides plants with phosphorus and calcium which Miracle Grow sells a 3-pound bag for $14.99.

Are you now starting to see the money going down the drain when you buy boneless, skinless chicken instead of a real chicken with bones and skin and nutrients? By the way, the chicken manufacturers are definitely NOT tossing out all that good stuff when they sell you the overpriced skinless and boneless stuff. They are using it in a hundred different ways including selling the chicken feet as a delicacy in Asia. They must be laughing all the way to the bank.

I don’t really think that you or I are going to start raising, wringing the neck of and de-feathering our own chickens, but let’s at least get the most nutritional value out of the chicken as we can get. Or, maybe you ARE going to raise your own chickens. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

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Kim.Wood / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

In the past, I’ve written about sustainable methods of weeding. Though the techniques I’ve shared are affordable, they can be a pain. A story in Organic Gardening recently caught my eye because it suggests eating weeds as a way to control them. Chomping on free food sounds good to me!

Note: You should only eat weeds you recognize as some plants may be poisonous. I’m lucky enough to be apart of a community garden where a Master Gardener is available to help me identify edible weeds. Nevertheless, you may be surprised to learn you’ve already tried some of these weeds before!

1. Watercress – You’ve probably already had a bite of this weed without knowing. It’s popular in restaurant salads. This stuff is $3 – $4 at the store, and free in your backyard!
2. Bamboo – You don’t have to be a panda to enjoy bamboo shoots. They’re full of fiber and taste like corn. It’s best to harvest the shoots when they are young and under one foot tall.
3. Dandelion – This is the most well known weed (see the photo above). Dandelions have a bittersweet flavor so it’s best to harvest them in early spring and late fall when they are sweetest.
4. Purslane – It’s extremely difficult to kill this plant because it’s everywhere. It has rounded, succulent leaves and a reddish stem. It’s full of antioxidant, vitamins, and it also contains omega-3 fatty acids.
5. Japanese Knotweed – If you live in the Northeast or Midwest, you’ve seen these weeds. They look similar to Bamboo. The best time to harvest these weeds is before the green and red shoots turn woody.
6. Lamb’s Quarters – This weed is also known as wild spinach. It may be because it looks a little like Popeye’s green leaf of choice. Aside from being loaded with protein and calcium, it has more vitamins than spinach.
7. Kudzu – You’ll find this weed in the south. It appears in August and September and aside from eating it, you can use it to treat allergies, colds, and fevers.
8. Red Clover – This flower-like weed is controversial as many use it to combat colon and prostate cancer, but you can enjoy it with rice.

I’ve had bamboo, watercress, and dandelion. Would you give any of these a try to save money on food and keep your garden or backyard tidy? Organic Gardening shares recipe suggestions for the weeds above if you’re interested.

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serenejournal/flickr

In my post on snagging free and deeply discounted food, I listed a meal swap (or meal sharing) as a way to save money on food. Here’s how to set one up.

The idea behind a meal swap is that each person makes a big batch of what they are cooking and then divides it into smaller servings, packing the food so it is freezer ready. Everyone in the meal swap meets once a week or once a month (whatever is decided upon) and swaps what they have made.

This is different than a food swap in that everyone

takes one of whatever each other makes. In most swaps, you don’t have to swap unless you want to. This is more like communal cooking and sharing.

The savings in this system is not only the cost of the ingredients, but also the amount of time involved in cooking.

There are stumbling blocks to making this work, so I want to address those here. I have never done a meal swap, but it is a great way to save money and time.

1. Get a group of people committed to doing this. If you have seven families in the group and two of them aren’t dedicated, then you end up with only five dishes. It won’t be enough to keep it going.
2. Check for allergies. If one person is allergic to soy and another to peanuts and another to dairy and another to gluten it will be hard to make this work. There will be so many restrictions! On the other hand, if you gather together a group with similar allergies, it would be VERY helpful.
3. Decide on standards for ingredients. Do you only want organic veggies or will regular veggies do? Free range eggs only, or will commercial eggs be okay?
4. Agree about the portions and cost. Will it be fair for one person to bring in a huge container of soup and another person to bring a jar of jam? How do you maintain balance? I suggest everyone make an entree. (Check out our recipes page for ideas). You might add a side dish if everything goes well.
5. Decide upon a convenient time and place to meet and swap. Ideally, members either live nearby or have a common meeting place like work or church. This will make it easier to keep your swap going.
6. Reuse storage containers so Tupperware is not an additional cost.
7. Consider a liability waiver for each participant to sign indicating that everyone promises to uphold to the highest level of cleanliness and take responsibility for swapping. In other words, no one can sue if they get sick from eating what you make. So… make sure that everyone is knowledgeable about how to handle the cooking and storing of food. You might even consider, as a group, taking classes on food preservation.

Have you swapped meals? I’d like to hear how it went for you.

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I burned out on the coffee table – the furniture selection was terrible at the five sales we hit – but I did find this great little table (image right).

I knew it would fit perfectly in our entryway. But it had an awful coat of cheap lacquer, was dirty, and made of cheap wood. I was giving it the once over when the seller walked over.

“Five,” he said.

“Huh?”

“Five dollars. I’ll give it to you for five dollars.”

I was willing to pay $10 so this was a bargain!

Because we zipped through all the garage sale listings in thirty minutes (timing is crucial and it helps if one person can jump out and size up the sale – it may not be worth parking) I had time later that morning to begin refinishing my little desk.

First I sanded it down (at left). The mold, spider webs, and dirt came right off. A few gouges in the top pice of wood were too deep to sand of, though I was able to sand down the worst one in the front right corner (see light spot)

Next I slapped on a coat of primer. If I want to change colors later, primer will make it easier.

The baby woke up so I delayed putting on two coats of color until Sunday. I used leftover paint from our kitchen renovation, so I didn’t spend a dime on paint!

The desk is gray and the drawer is sea green, below. I wanted to buy a new handle, but it is an odd size (3 and 3/8 inches) so after a number of internet searches I gave up. If you have a standard size handle, I like the pricey designs at Anthropologie.

I let it dry a few hours then installed it in our entryway, replacing an ugly roller drawer desk that was cheap-looking and half chewed by the dog. The benefit of having less storage area in the entryway is that less crap accumulates!

What’s the last deal you found at a garage sale?

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bucklava/flickr

I need to replace all the windows and sliding glass doors in my house. They are so old and drafty that with the increased price of electricity, I am literally throwing money out the window. I have a handy hubby and a sturdy son – I’ll do the research and the buying – they will do the hard physical stuff. Do you think I am biting off more than I can handle?

The house has two sliding glass doors and thirteen windows. That’s a lot to replace.

I am planning on getting

three quotes from companies that are specialists. Most of them also sell the windows that they install. I know that if I use a company to replace the windows that I will most likely pay a 100% markup on the windows and labor. The quote will include a commission for the salesman, travel costs, worker benefits (if any), fees, and taxes. That makes for A BIG markup.

I know that now is a good time to get bids because most companies are slow and will lower their prices and give lots of incentives. There are also tax breaks for homeowners who upgrade their homes for energy efficiency. Los Angeles currently has a home efficiency rebate program that offers rebates on new windows, air conditioners, refrigerators and pool pumps.

I am still in the process of getting quotes for this job, but my first quote was way more than I want to pay – $7,500!!! This was already down from the original $9,000 quote. Yikes. If I just redo one of the sliding doors (which is the upgrade I want the most), it will cost me $1,500. That’s more than I want to pay to put in a door.

OK, so what is my alternative? We could do it ourselves. My hubby is VERY handy and my 20 year-old son is strong. I mean, how hard can it be? (Famous last words.)

Here’s where I am starting. I watched a free preview of a DVD that seems to have excellent instructions on how to install vinyl windows and doors. The two videos – one on windows and one on doors – cost almost $40. I looked at the library, Amazon and a DVD swap site, but they wasn’t there. I figure it is worth $40 to save possibly $5,000. (The cost of labor in the quote I received. Still have to cover materials.) Plus, the entire family will watch these videos together and learn valuable information. This is the kind of life lesson that home schoolers love.

I am considering hiring someone experienced to work with my husband and son for at least the first day. The question is, do I hire an expert or do it myself? What do you think?

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kevin dooley / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Reader AliceB is puzzling over a Target purchase where she expected to get a bonus gift card, but didn’t. She left the comment below on one of our drugstore freebies and deals post. She wrote:

Last week I thought there was a $5 gift card from Target when you bought a Scrubbing Bubbles One Step Toilet Bowl Cleaner Starter Kit — when I purchased it, I was told that it was not eligible for the $5 gift card.

TobiasMik / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Reader Asia wants to sell her furniture online. She’s looking for a website to safely get rid of items in her home. Asia writes:

Hi,

Previously I noticed on your website that there is a website if you want to exchange household items for use by others in your area. I was wondering if you know a website (other than Craigslist) where I can safely sell my furniture.

Thank you,
Asia

Asia, I suggest you try eBay. It’s similar to Craiglist, but people will bid on the items you post. If you’re on Facebook and Twitter, make sure to post your listing in case your friends and followers are interested. A quick search online revealed several sites to sell furniture, but I’ve never used used the sites so I’m hesitant to suggest them. If you decide to go with any of these websites, make sure you can post your listing for free.

If you’re not set on selling your furniture online, consider donating the furniture to your local Goodwill and then writing it off your taxes next year. You can also search online for local furniture stores that buy used furniture. This will help you get rid of items sooner instead of waiting around to answer inquiries. Share your suggestions for Asia below.

Got a question or tip? Shoot me an email.

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Amber325 / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

I have lost several nice shirts due to stains — it happens when you’re the family cook. Aside from wearing an apron now, I’ve also learned to combat spots without the use of expensive store bought stain removers. Below I share my tips to help you save money on laundry and clothes!

Before tackling any stains make sure to read the cleaning instructions of garments. Also, test the solutions in an inconspicuous place like the seem to check for colorfastness.

Grease – Work dish washing liquid on the stain. Then use white vinegar to rinse it out. This works best with clear dish washing detergents that cut through grease. I’ve found the ones with color sometimes stain clothes. Launder as usual.

Egg or blood – Gently lift up any egg that’s left behind making sure not to work it in. As for blood, run the stain under cold water to get rid of excess blood. Then use diluted dish washing detergent on the stain, and let it sit. After a few minutes, work the detergent and rinse in tepid water. If the stain remains, treat the area with an enzyme detergent. (Make sure not to use this on wool as it will damage the garment!)

Grass – Use a solution made up of one part white vinegar to two parts water. Then use a toothbrush to work the liquid into the area. Wash as usual preferably with an enzyme detergent.

Ink – Hairspray works well on this! You can also put glycerin on the spot. Then treat with your regular detergent and very little water. Gently rub to form suds and rinse.

Mud – I’ve had to remove mud from my sister’s Tom shoes several times. Instead of diving right in to clean them, I allow the mud to dry. Once completely dried, I brush off the mud. Then I work in detergent to clean the area. You can just toss items in the washing machine.

Coffee – I’m notorious for coffee stains. A friend even gifted me a stain removing pen that I carry with me. To remove coffee stains just flush the area with lemon juice or white vinegar. Launder as usual, but use an enzyme detergent if you had your java with milk.

Lipstick – Use a spoon to remove excess lipstick. Make sure not to rub in the lipstick as it will make it harder to remove. Then kiss the stain goodbye with hairspray. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Use a damp cloth to remove. Launder as usual.

Have wine, wax, or chocolate stains? Bobbi shows you how to get rid of them in her secrets of holiday stain removal post. What are your techniques for removing stains?

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Before and after - cleaned with baking soda

I have recently fallen in love with my orange box of baking soda. It’s like discovering you can’t live without the boy next door neighbor who you have known since kindergarten. I mean, come on, that little orange box has been in my life forever.

Every six months you are supposed to change the box in the back of your refrigerator. Now that I know all the amazing things that baking soda is capable of, I can’t believe I threw away one ounce.

Since discovering the power of the white powder, I have done the following TEN amazing things with baking soda:

1. Cleaned my toaster oven door. A thick paste of baking soda and water. I covered the inside of the glass and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then I scrubbed it with a mesh bag that had held lemons. Like magic, the baked on crud came off. Couldn’t believe how easy it was. NOTHING I have ever used in the past worked at all. Amazing.
2. Brushed my teeth. Baking soda and peroxide.
3. Cleaned the coffee stains from my mugs. Sprinkle a bit of baking soda in a wet mug. Use fingers to wipe away the stain.
4. Took the scratches off my white plates. Gentle finger scrubbing removed scratches.
5. Polished the silver faucets on my bathroom sink. A little paste rubbed on the base of the faucets took off the minerals that had gathered there and left a super shine.
6. Cleaned my drains. Baking soda and white vinegar. Let sit in the drain for up to 20 minutes and then flush with water.
7. Removed the gray streaks from my porcelain sink. Sprinkle baking soda on damp sponge. Scrub sink. Scratches disappear.
8. Kept my refrigerator smelling fresh. Put an open box of baking soda in the fridge to absorb odors.
9. Cleaned my silver. See my post on how to clean silver with tin foil, baking soda and salt.
10. And, of course, made chocolate chip cookies.

I can’t believe all I have done with my 50 cent box of baking soda. Instead of being relegated to some far off corner of a cabinet, it now sits proudly right next to the sink where I can grab it for every cleaning chore. I know that I have only just begun to discover the wonders of this super cheap natural cleaning power house.

Perhaps you have some baking soda sitting around and are wondering if it is still any good. The way to test to see if your baking soda is still effective is to pour a few tablespoons of white distilled vinegar into a bowl. Now add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. It should fizz a lot. If it just sits there with no reaction, then it is no longer good for baking or making volcanoes.

Have you fallen in love with baking soda?

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ex.libris / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Earlier this week I wrote about saving money on flowers and I wanted to share another fun idea for cutting down costs. Bringing the outside inside is easy when you make a succulents terrarium. You don’t have to have a green thumb to make one! See the instructions below.

These terrariums make great homemade gifts and add a little extra to your home decor. Did I mention they are super cheap to make and maintain? This weekend I’m making a terrarium with the succulents I’m using to decorate for my sister’s birthday bash. (Expect a post about how I saved money on her party.)

Materials

• Any type of clear plastic or glass container. Old bottles, fish bowls, or jars with a wide opening work well.
• Cactus soil
• Pea gravel or aquarium rocks
• Sphagnum moss, Succulent plants, small Cacti and any other small plants that don’t need a lot of light
• Rocks, wood, or shells

Directions