davidsilver / Flickr

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

This past weekend I went looking for an inexpensive pizza stone, but luck was not on my side. The cheapest stone was $40. Ouch! Luckily, a thrifty friend told me I could make my own pizza stone for much less. Here’s how.

After doing some research, I learned the stone sold in fancy stores is similar to ones found at home improvement stores, but for about $5. Woot, woot! I’m all over this do it yourself project.

First, measure your oven and buy a stone at least one inch smaller. The bigger the stone, the bigger pizza you can make. But the heavier the stone is.

Home improvement stores have two kinds of stone: glazed and unglazed quarry tile. You want to go for the unglazed stone as the glazed has lead. Make sure it’s no less than an inch in thickness. Avoid lead by purchasing stone made from all natural clay and shale. If you’re unsure of what you’re getting, ask to speak to a store manager. If he or she can’t tell you, get in touch with the manufacturer before buying.

Before using the stone, wash it thoroughly, rinse completely as stone is porous and will absorb soap. Let dry. To use, preheat your oven to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and slide your pizza onto the stone when hot. Bake until done. Be careful when taking out your pizza. The oven and stone will be extremely hot. To clean the stone, allow it to cool before using water or it will crack. Some people do not use any soap to clean their stone.

Homemade pizza stones will hold heat for a long time, so you can turn off the oven and continue baking after taking out your pie! This will help reduce your energy bill.

Do you have a pizza stone? How much did you pay for it?

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The items are cute and easy to make. Best of all, you can make them one of a kind to gift or keep for yourself! Oh, and did I mention the added bonus? It helps cut your credit card spending! Just cut, cancel, and get crafty with your plastic. What do you do with your old credit cards?

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Owenfinn16/flickr

By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.

A watery glass of luke-warm coffee is a bummer. A good cup of coffee is a treat. A glass of perfectly made iced coffee is a spiritual experience!

Years ago a barista taught me the secret of correctly made iced coffee. The secret is so simple and easy that it is a constant wonder to me that so few coffee shops make so-so iced coffee. Learn my secret and save yourself a few bucks while sipping a delightful beverage.

Here is the secret:

• Make coffee.
• Put it in a pitcher.
• Put the pitcher in the refrigerator.
• Now, when you add ice cubes they won’t immediately melt and leave your coffee watered down.
• Or drink your chilled coffee without ice.

Variation on the theme:

• Make coffee.
• Pour coffee into ice cube trays and freeze.
• Store cubes in a bag in the freezer.
• Make your coffee hot and fresh.
• Add coffee cubes.
• This gives you fresh iced coffee.

Tip: You can also pour milk into ice trays.

Serve up iced coffee with one of my delicious salads. Yum! A great afternoon delight. That’s how I make perfect iced coffee. How about you?

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TFDuesing/flickr

If you want something you don’t have the money for, figure out how to make it. (I’ve already talked about getting things by swapping or repurposing).

Personally, I have found that learning to make something is the best way to go. I get what I need, and I know how to repair it. Here are my five favorite sites to go to when I want to learn new things:

1. General instructions - Instructables - You can learn anything from how to carve a pumpkin to how to build your own computer to how to construct a rocket ship. Instructables has more pictures and instructions than videos.

2. Video tutorials - YouTube – Now that YouTube has grown beyond silly home videos, you can find all sorts of wonderful how-to videos. Check on the length of the video before choosing which one you want to watch. It’s pretty boring to watch a 10-minute video on how to tie a knot and it’s pretty useless to watch a 30-second video on how to do your taxes.
3. 
   5 minute Life Videopedia – Five minute videos about all sorts of stuff at http://www.5min.com/Category/
4. The ultimate handyman site - DIYnetwork – I also like HandymanUSA. These are both wonderful sites to go to when you want to know how to fix your broken doorknob or unclog your sink.
5. Hundreds of the best 18-minute talks on Technology, Education & Design - TED talks – Think of the very best speaker you ever heard. Now imagine the talk being no more than 18 minutes long. These are TED talks. My favorite ones are by Sir Ken Richardson on the subject of education.

There are so many things we pay for someone do for us that we could do ourselves. By hiring others to weed our gardens, cook our food, and fix every broken thing, we lose the joy of creating our own lives. The internet gives us access to information that allows us to learn new things with a few clicks. Use it!

What are your favorite sites to learn new things?

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Jasonwoodhead23/flickr

By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.

Per Southern California Gas Company, home heating is 65% of a residential gas bill during the winter months. (That’s what it said in my bill insert this month.) Wow! If that is true in Southern California, what is it in actual cold parts of the country?

With so much of your utility budget going toward keeping your home warm, anything that you can do to retain heat in your home or keep the heat from leaving is a money saver. Here are 5 tips that will help you to lower your heating bill:

1. Open your drapes when the sun is shining into the window. This allows the sun to heat your home. Close your drapes (the heavier the better) when the sun is not shining in the window. This will help to hold the heat in the space and keep it from literally going out the window. Follow the tips in the winterize your home video to keep those windows from being drafty.
2. Clean or replace the filters in your heating system. Ensure you do not have furniture or storage in front of your heating vents, especially if you have floor vents. Remember heat rises and it can’t rise if it is covered by your sofa.
3. Get an annual inspection for your furnace.  Yes, heating systems need to be maintained just like your air conditioner. An annual servicing of your furnace can not only save you money but it can also prevent a fire by cleaning out lint build-up and ensuring that your system is operating properly and efficiently. Per the Chicago Tribune, if your system is only 60% efficient, then that means that you are loosing 40 cents on every dollar!
4. If your health will allow, wear more clothes and lower the temperature a few degrees. Place lap rugs around your house so that you can place one over your legs or over your shoulders to keep you warm. If you are in Southern California… it’s time to take off the flip-flops and put on socks and shoes.
5. Wear a hat.  Remember how Scrooge had on a sleeping cap when he went to bed in every version of Charles Dicken’s Christmas classic? Scrooge was saving money by not heating his house. So, he wore a hat to keep him warm. You don’t have to be Scrooge to wear a comfy sleeping night cap. They really do keep you warm.

Hummm. All this writing about the cold is making me want a nice mug of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. Another great way to keep warm.

BaconThenEggs / Flickr

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

Want to save even more money on Christmas? Here are eight homemade stocking stuffer ideas you can make if you are on a tight budget. The best part is that you don’t have to be super crafty to make them.

Monogrammed handkerchief – With the cold and flu going around how about you make and give a gift that is sure to be used. You can buy handkerchiefs and then follow the easy instructions to monogram the person’s name or initials. If you are good with a sewing machine, you can buy the fabric and sew the handkerchiefs yourself.

Crochet hat and scarf – I’m amazed at how expensive crochet hats and scarfs are in stores. If you can crochet, put your skills to work! You can find all sorts of free crochet patterns online. All you have to do is buy the yarn. Make sure to find out what color the person likes before you start.

Candles – I love candles, especially the ones that make the room smell nice or have a beautiful design. I was in elementary school when I made a candle using a small milk carton so it’s not that hard to make. Candle making instructions can easy be found online. All you need is a free weekend and some materials you can find at craft stores. To make the candles pretty try adding a dried leaf or flower. You can also add a couple drops of essential oil.

Soap – Don’t you just love the colorful soap at fancy shops? You can easily make your own by following easy soap making instructions. The process is not that difficult and you can easily find soap making kits at craft stores if it’s you’re first time. You can wrap the soap in wax paper and tie it with a small ribbon.

DIY chocolate truffles – You just can’t go wrong with a chocolate truffle recipe. There are so many possibilities with truffles or any other kind of homemade candy. You can add them to baggies and include the recipe for an extra sweet surprise.

Bath salts – Another inexpensive Christmas gift are homemade scrubs. You’ll most likely have all the ingredients on hand so give it a try. This is a perfect gift for beauty junkies.

T-shirt ring – In the past I shared easy instructions to make a T-shirt necklace and ruffled T-shirt. Now you can add a T-shirt ring to the mix. All of these would make a cute present for a fashionable girlfriend. You can buy T-shirts at the dollar store. All you need is a little bit of time.

Have more ideas? Don’t forget to share them with us!

Romantic Crafts/flickr

I love homemade holiday gifts the best. Anyone can go to the store and buy something, but it takes time and thought to give someone a gift that you made.

Here are 7 unusual frugal and homemade holiday gifts. For more gift ideas, check out the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide.

1. Firewood. With all the recent storms, it is possible that you are now in possession of lots more wood than you need. Bundle it up and give it as gifts to those you know with fireplaces. Include a couple of mugs, hot chocolate mix and marshmallows.
2. Truffles. I received a small box of two gold paper-wrapped homemade truffles once. They were given and received like the best gift ever. Delicious. Here is a truffle recipe.
3. Lessons. If you are an expert at something, offer a set of lessons to someone as a gift. Perhaps you are a good cook, photographer, artist, or handy man.
4. Personalized stationary. Create a hand drawn or digital graphic that represents the recipient. Find wonderful paper at a yard sale. Transfer the graphic onto the paper. You can even make handmade envelopes for a real personalized touch.
5. Fabric covered boxes. My sister-in-law gave me one of these the first time I met her and I still have it.
6. Make a secret family recipe book. Get each family member to write up the recipe of the dish they make that is loved the most. It can be as simple as getting recipe cards and taping them into a note book or you can get carried away in photoshop with pictures. Make a copy for each family member. Believe me, years from now this will be a cherished book.
7. Chunky yarn bracelets. This is a super easy craft that can be done with any kind of yarn, but looks best with the new Martha Stewart Mambo Yarn. You can make this craft out of any old cheap bangle covered by any kind of fabric.

Do you have favorite handmade gifts?

Check out these related posts:

How to make homemade gift tags

Homemade gift envelopes

Recipe for homemade sugar scrub gifts

Homemade gift ideas (picture frame earring holder, memory jar, candles)

Gifts that keep on giving

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This looks like a really fun DIY project! Just think how fun it would be to go to a holiday party in these bad boys, and how much money you’d save compared to buying designer brands. I wonder how long the glitter really stays on, though…

MegaMind mask on cool dude

With Halloween only moments away, here are six last minute frugal activities, costumes, and decorating ideas.

• The MegaMind website. This site is full of activities that will keep you and your kids busy through Halloween week and beyond. Click above to enter the site, then click or skip intro (or watch it because it’s cute), and click on games, and activities. This will land you on a page where you can select an action figure to download. There are other activities as well – a board game, comic books, bookmarks, brainteasers, card games, and coloring sheets. There is enough cool stuff here to make an entire MegaMind party. A truly great site for a MegaMind fan who is young or old, as you can see from the picture to the right.

• Unique and frugal costumes. At the same time that Halloween has become commercial and huge costume stores have sprung up, creative homemade outfits are also on the rise. The internet lets us share these gems. Certainly the ideas sent to Bargain Babe for her costume are a treasure trove of ideas.
• Make a mask out of denim. Here is one idea that is different. Most of us have at least one pair of jeans hanging around that could be made into a mask in a few easy steps.
• Homemade tombstones. Flattened cardboard can be painted grey and cut into the shape of tomb stones. Use sharpie or black paint for inscriptions. Use wooden stakes or sticks to secure into the ground. These tombstones won’t last till next year unless you  make them out of wood.
• The closer we get to Halloween, the cheaper pumpkins get. If you aren’t up for the mess of carving your pumpkin, spray paint the pumpkin a solid color and paint on designs or use stickers.
• Make black and orange paper chains and hang them inside your house or use to decorate the front door. I think that paper chains are a wonderful craft. They are easy and cheap to make. Cut 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of construction paper into 1 x 11 inch strips. You can decorate the strips before you circle them together. Even the youngest child can manage to get the circles to interlock with a piece of tape, staple or glue stick.

Hope you have a fun Halloween.

Today is your last chance to win!

Today is your last chance to win “Fix it, Make it, Grow it, Bake it: the DIY Guide to the Good Life,” by Billee Sharp. Not that I want to give it away. Win my review copy below.

Sharp tackles extreme thriftiness, shares a detox bath recipe, promotes bartering over buying, and that’s only half the book! I got sucked into her tips for unsticking wood drawers, making sourdough starter, and constructing your own Christmas tree decorations. You can read the 263-page book front to back, or flip to a specific topic, using it more as a reference.

Sharp’s directions are simple and easy to follow. What astounds me is the breadth of her expertise. She has suggestions and ideas for every aspect of home and life. Make no mistake, Sharp is a hard core do-it-yourselfer.

But you don’t need to convert to enjoy this book. You can learn and create new habits as much as you are open to.

To win my review copy, comment with a DIY project that you have been putting off, and why. So far, 51 people have entered the contest, so your chances are good! Or buy a copy from Amazon for $12.44 (orig. $15.95). Comment by tonight, Thursday Sept. 29, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST to be eligible to win. A winner will be announced Friday!

Comment to win this book!

This is one book that, quite frankly, I don’t want to give away. But hogging “Fix it, Make it, Grow it, Bake it: the DIY Guide to the Good Life,” by Billee Sharp would be cruel. (See how to win it below).

In 263 pages spread across seven chapters, Sharp tackles extreme thriftiness, shares a detox bath recipe, promotes bartering over buying, and that’s only half the book! I got sucked into her tipS for unsticking wood drawers, making sourdough starter, and constructing your own Christmas tree decorations.

Sharp’s directions are

simple and easy to follow. What astounds me is the breadth of her expertise. She has suggestions and ideas for every aspect of home and life. Make no mistake, Sharp is a hard core do-it-yourselfer.

But you don’t need to convert to enjoy this book. Sharp explains her philosophy in the book’s intro:

I’m not suggesting that everybody needs to ditch the SUV and begin a macrame plant-holder business, but I do think that simple doing what makes you happy will reap the best rewards…My greatest hope is that this book empowers you to think creatively and to create the life that you really want…Herein you will find all my “trade secrets”; tips and tools for how you can live better than ever on less. In working toward creating the good life for my family and friends, I have found much joy, greater peace of mind, and true enjoyment from the simple pleasures in life. I am reminded of the old Native American saying, “Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture your heart.”

Amen!

To win my review copy, comment with a DIY project that you have been putting off, and why. Or buy a copy from Amazon for $12.44 (orig. $15.95). Comment by Thursday Sept. 29, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST to be eligible to win. A winner will be announced Friday!

Fruit leathers reader Stephanie made!

Reader Stephanie makes her own fruit leather, beef jerky, and more using a food dehydrator. She initially left a comment on Bobbi’s post about 10 alternative cooking methods and I was so curious I asked for more. My only experience with a dehydrator is the one my grandmother gave us (that promptly went into storage under my Mom’s house). Stephanie’s enthusiasm and her two easy recipes has me re-thinking these small kitchen appliances:

Using the dehydrator to make fruit leathers is so ridiculously easy (and healthy!) it should be illegal.

Store bought leathers, especially the organic types, can be very expensive and because we have 4 kids, whenever I buy them, they are gone within the few moments of the box opening. Sooooo…we started making our own. Brace yourself, here is the recipe.

Strawberry/Banana Fruit Leathers:

Frozen or fresh strawberries (I’d say about 4 cups or so) If using frozen, put the desired amount in a bowl to defrost and be sure to pour off the extra liquid, this is key.
2 bananas
Little bit of honey (maybe 1/4 cup?) not really even necessary, I just use it to help the consistency, not even sure if it does anything for the consistency…
Psyllium (Try 2-3 tablespoons) again, optional but I like that it adds fiber and I do think this helps with the consistency of the finished product.

And that’s it! Puree the fruit, add the honey and psyllium, puree some more until it’s all mixed well. Spread on teflex sheets (about 1/8″ thick, minimum…you will be shocked at how much it shrinks!). Make sure it is spread evenly or you will have bare spots or super thin spots that can get kind of crunchy as opposed to leathery. Then put your trays in the dehydrator and “cook” at 115 degrees. Keeping the temp below 115 degrees keeps the integrity of the enzymes intact so don’t ever dehydrate anything above this temp if you like this concept.

Keep checking on your leathers but I’d say it should be about 3 hours before they start to get firm. Once they are close to being done (all but the very center should be ready) carefully peel the sheet of leather and flip it over onto a mesh sheet and continue drying for another hour or so. If, while you are peeling it off the teflex sheet, some of it sticks, just keep going as long as it is a minimal amount. If it is a lot sticky, leave it to continue dehydrating for a bit longer, it isn’t ready yet.

Be careful to keep checking on them as they will get crunchy around the edges if they dehydrate too long…

Then, when they are done, cut them up into whatever shape you like or make long strips and roll them up. Individually wrap them (time consuming, yuck!) in plastic wrap or place as is in a tightly sealed container.

You can use pretty much any type of fruit combination you want. When fruit is on sale at our market, I buy a ton and we make lots of different types of leathers. They don’t last long, though!

We also make “pumpkin pie” chips…Puree sweet potatoes with a little water (add as needed for consistency), and then add 1/2 C Maple Syrup, 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 3 tsp cinnamon, 3 T Stevia, 2-3 T Psyllium. Pour onto teflex sheets and pretty much do the same as for fruit leathers. Break them up into pieces and store in sealed containers. These are yummy for fall and fun to snack on…tastes just like pumpkin pie! Plus, it makes your house smell nice…

Anyway, because I am more or less a raw foodie, I have lots of recipes that I can share. Hope you like making these, they really are just so simple and healthy.

Stephanie

I’m going to start looking for a dehydrator in my community via garage sales, Craigslist, and Freecycle. Thanks for your inspiration, Stephanie!

Got a hot tip or interesting way to save money? Shoot me an email!

Arts and crafts are my favorite hobby and when purchasing supplies, I try to save money whenever possible by searching for the best bargains I can find. Shopping for discounts can be fun, especially when you learn where to search for these bargains. I am planning to get crafty this fall and create decorations for my house. There are many great ideas to consider when it comes to fall decor, but leaves and pumpkins and some Halloween themed decorations are perfect. You can find the necessary craft supplies for these projects at any craft supply store but online shops seem to have the best prices. Although it can be fun to visit your local craft shop, it is not always the best option for saving money.

I found a retailer called Factory Direct Craft, which had the craft supplies I needed to create these decorations and once I am finished, my kids are going to enjoy helping me decorate the house. My plan is to create decorative pumpkins, leaves and some Halloween themed decorations. I cannot wait to start since they will look great and I will be happy knowing I saved money by purchasing the supplies online.

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Flowers that trail down from the basket give the effect that they’re just growing in the air as they swamp the basket and hide it. These include fuchsia, pelargoniums (ivy-leaved), trailing lobelia, campanula ‘bellflower’ and verbena. Tall flowers that grow upright can add height to a garden by drawing the eye upwards and include geraniums, pelargoniums (dwarf zone), petunias, begonia and upright varieties of verbena. ‘Ball effect’ flowers grow in a bushy style and include impatiens ‘busy lizzies’, bushy varieties of lobelia and clematis.

Not all hanging baskets need simply be a mass-produced pot you affix to your wall, however. With a bit of imagination and a lick of paint you can transform objects you find in second hand stores into stunning centerpieces for your garden. How about removing the seat from old chairs and letting blooms drape down it?

First browse local flea markets for chairs with wicker seats or those whose seat is easily removed. Paint the chair and remove the seat or cut a hole in it.

Next take some chicken wire and make a wire frame in the shape of a bowl to fit the seat. Attach this to the chair – use a nail gun to tack the wire to the wood, or get out your trusty Bosch drill to screw the wire against the wood.

Next line the frame with coconut fiber and fill this with a potting mix. Now you are ready to plant a very unique hanging basket. You can use this simple DIY hanging basket effect on any items you wish – so get creative and enjoy your garden.

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Expect a post soon about ways to save money on kitchen renovation! I’ve accumulated a lot of tips.

See you Monday.

~Julia

aka Bargain Babe