the Imperfectly Happy home

Frugality

Winter Decluttering What to Get Rid of Today

by Leave a Comment

One of the best ways you can ease stress is to take time to do some winter decluttering. I know, traditionally, that people do a “spring cleaning”. But for me the wintertime is perfect for decluttering, organizing and getting rid of items we don’t need or use anymore.

First I want to share some general organization tips on winter decluttering; really these can be used anytime to help you do a home clean out. So brew a strong coffee and don’t let the cold weather tell you that you can’t clean!

Winter Decluttering Tips

Take it one room at a time!
The number one way to make yourself crazy is to look at the whole house as a project. When it comes to decluttering it is best to take one room at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.

Set a goal!
What is your goal for that particular space? Why do you need to get rid of junk in there? What do you plan to do with the room once your decluttering job is complete? Write down your plan and goals – this will help you stick to your task when you feel like quitting.

Write a list of jobs!
I love love love lists. These are great ways to see progress as you check of the jobs or tasks that have been completed.

Plan breaks!
Take a 10 – 15 minute break in regular intervals during your decluttering time. Set a timer to keep you focused during cleaning and set it again so you don’t go over your break time.

Know where your declutter discards are going!
The worse thing you can do it bag and box up a bunch of stuff and have no where to take it. Make sure you know what to do with your donation and garbage items. You may want to invest in a good shredder when you are cleaning out your office or desk.

Don’t do it alone if you don’t have to!
Get your family involved – especially if it is their room! If you’re single, it is still ok to ask a friend or family member to come and help you. Organized people often enjoy getting disorganized friends on the right path. You can offer a free dinner or something enticing, if that helps.

Create Zones
You’ll need a keep zone, donate zone, garbage zone and possibly a maybe zone. When you’re winter decluttering you want to get organized with what is staying and going. So the zones will help you with that fast! And let’s be honest, if it ends up in the maybe zone you probably need to chuck it.

Consider having a yard or garage sale!
Winter decluttering could make you a little Christmas cash too! Consider having a sale at your house or if they weather won’t permit sell the items online. I love Facebook marketplace for online selling (they don’t take a cut!). Be sure to check out How to Have the Best Garage Sale Ever!

Winter Decluttering – What to Toss & What to Keep

In Your Kitchen:

  • Get rid of extra pans, baking dishes, or anything you have multiples of that you are really not using.
  • Old spices. Yes, spices expire and lose their flavor over time. Look at the dates on your spices and toss the old ones you aren’t using anymore.
  • Pantry items – look at your canned and boxed foods. Donate what you know you are not going to eat in the next 3 weeks. Get rid of anything expired now too. For example, if you have a can of pumpkin left from Thanksgiving, ask yourself if you’re going to really use it before next fall…
  • Excessive coffee mugs. Ok, this one might just be for me but I swear we seem to add more mugs into our collection and I have made a promise for every new mug that comes in, 2 have to go.
  • Don’t forget to check your freezer and refrigerator for outdated or freezer burnt items.

In Your Living & Family Rooms:

  • Look at old games and puzzles. Toss the ones you know are missing pieces. Donate the ones you haven’t played or used in more than 3 months. Also a great time to donate the ones that are not the right age range for your kiddos (does your teen really still play Chutes & Ladders?).
  • Dusty decor, candles, or seasonal stuff. This is a good time to evaluate what you love and what is just a dust collector. Put away or get rid of seasonal items you won’t be needing during the winter.
  • Recycle old magazines that are piling up.
  • You can make a space look cleaner by having less out out counters, tables, etc. Also decorative pillows are nice but too many just looks messy.

In Your Bedroom:

  • Go through your off-season clothes. If you didn’t really wear it or it hasn’t fit in months / years, it is time to get rid of it.
  • Do you have multiples of items you don’t really need? Keep only the items you really love and wear regularly.
  • Shoes – get rid of shoes that are worn out, no traction, beyond repair. Donate the ones you don’t wear but have plenty of life left in them.
  • Do you need to purge some hangers? Donate them after your garage sale!
  • Go through your dresser drawer and toss single socks, underwear with elastic gone, full of holes or just nasty (you know what I mean!).
  • Are you holding on to linens you don’t use? Homeless shelters could really use those!
  • Coats, mittens, scarves, boots and other winter coats and apparel your kids have outgrown or you don’t really love – these items could be very useful to families in need this winter.

In Your Office:

  • Get rid of bills and paperwork that you really don’t need for the future or taxes.
  • Create a filing system so you don’t have pile and piles of papers.
  • Tax season will be here before you know it. Start assembling your most needed items for taxes.
  • Get rid of paper statements – call your banks, credit cards, etc and ask to be on electronic statements only. This will cut don’t your paper clutter considerably.

10 Things to Toss Right Now During Winter Decluttering!

Now you may need to toss, donate, sell or recycle these items. I’m not suggesting everything should go in the garbage.

  1. Seasonal paper goods that are out of season.
  2. Cleaning products that you don’t use.
  3. Extra bottles, boxes, containers and stuff to hold stuff.
  4. Excessive plastic and paper grocery bags.
  5. Old make-up and personal products (ewww the bacteria).
  6. Expired cold medicine and vitamins.
  7. Old catalogs…assuming you still haven’t canceled those.
  8. Sports equipment you ever use (stationary bikes, skis, etc).
  9. Outdated paint – make sure to dispose of old paint properly.
  10. Multiples of tools – check your garage, storage units, etc.

I hope these tips and tricks for winter decluttering help you get a start on home organization and a stress-free holiday season!

How to Start Selling Your Crafts on Etsy

by Leave a Comment

Are you a crafter?  Whether you craft your art because you love it, or you do it to gift these crafts to friends and family, you have probably wondered whether or not you could start selling your crafts on a larger scale and making some real money.  Guess what? You can! You can sell on Etsy and believe it or not, learning how to start selling your crafts on Etsy is simple!

Start Selling Your Crafts on Etsy

What is Etsy?

Etsy is an online marketplace for independent creators, crafters, and artists to sell their handmade products. Etsy sellers can sell their handmade artwork, crafts, jewelry, clothing, collectibles, decor pieces, and vintage items.  It is a unique shopping space in an overcrowded online shopping world. This is because unlike the large shopping sites on the web, Etsy’s purpose is to help independent creators and micro-businesses flourish in selling their items.

Why sell on Etsy?

As if those reasons weren’t compelling enough, Etsy is an easy place to begin for those that are thinking about selling their crafts.  Better yet, unlike renting a space at a vendor fair, opening a brick and mortar store, or even starting your own online store, it doesn’t cost a thing to create a store on Etsy!  This doesn’t mean that it will always be the best option for selling your crafts though, so you need to be sure you are aware of the pros and cons before jumping in.

What sells on Etsy?

Many people enjoy selling and buying homemade crafts. Here are a few ideas to get you started

Pros and Cons to Selling on Etsy

To help you make this decision, I have decided to create a short Etsy pros and cons list for you to help you in trying to figure out how to start selling your crafts on Etsy:

PROS

  • Easy to start
  • Free to begin
  • Easy for those that don’t know how to build a website
  • Easy to get a feel for the sales success of your product

CONS

  • You want the customer interaction aspect of selling your product
  • You create large items that are cost prohibitive to ship
  • You want to create a brand (you CAN create a brand even with Etsy, but the strong branding isn’t the same when selling through Etsy)

If you are feeling good about this pros and cons list, then you are probably ready to find out how to start selling your crafts on Etsy. 

Steps to Selling on Etsy

First Step – Choose Your Product

Start Small and Build Slowly!

Now you may already know what you are good at creating; but first and foremost, you need to decide what you are going to sell.  Even if you are great at many things, I highly recommend starting with just one or two items so that you don’t become overwhelmed.

Second Step – Choose Your Shop Name

Memorable, but simple, is key!

Try to come up with a catchy name that will be easy for people to remember the next time they visit Etsy to shop for handmade items. Your shop name is different than your account name, and you can have several different shops under each account (reminder for later when you are ready to expand your creations list).

Third Step – Set up Your Shop

Now you’re ready to get your Etsy shop set up!

Setting up shop

Head to Etsy and click on “Sell on Etsy” and then “Shop Preferences” and from there you will enter your personal information, your shop name and info.  You will then be ready to input your items for sale!

Fourth Step – Listing Your Items

Now it is time to sell on Etsy!!!

Listing your Item on Etsy

  • It is free to create a shop, but it does cost $0.20 to list an item on Etsy, so be prepared for this expense. Additionally, there are more fees once an item sells, this is a percentage fee based on the sales amount.
  • Post great, high quality photos, using natural light (no flash photography). Etsy recommends uploading GIF, JPG, OR PNG files that are at least 570 pixels wide.
  • Create catchy, memorable product names and descriptions that will be easy for shoppers to read.
  • Put the item in the correct categories and use the correct tags.  This will help shoppers find your products.
  • Fill in all required fields and be as descriptive as possible.
  • Prepare your shipping preferences.  The postal office offers free postage scales for use by customers, but you may consider getting your own postage scale to help calculate postage costs.

Once you have gone through the sale process, posting the next item will be much easier!

Etsy has a great app available for sellers so that you can sell from anywhere.  There is also a thorough help section where you can find answers to many questions that you may have when creating your Etsy shop.   

More Tips to Selling on Etsy

Clothing Swap Party

by 1 Comment

What is a clothing swap party, and how do you plan one? Did you ever swap clothes with your friends when you were a teenager? Wasn’t it fun? Having something different to wear without even having to ask your parents! Well, your parents don’t buy your clothes anymore and now you’re the one footing the bill. That means that getting new clothes is even more painful than just asking mom and dad. Not to worry though, instead of heading out shopping and spending money, you can have a clothing swap party! All the fun of new clothes, plus you get to have a great time with your friends and you don’t even have to get your wallet out! A clothing swap party is an absolutely awesome way to switch up your wardrobe. 

What is a Clothing Swap Party?

A clothing swap party is just what it sounds like. A group of friends gather to swap out clothes worth one another,  visit and have a great time. With a clothing swap party, you can include whatever you want. Be it outerwear, clothing, shoes and accessories or, if you wish, you can specify what people bring if you want to stick to just clothes or just shoes, etc.  

Everyone will bring their clothing and place them on a table or shelf space dedicated for this party (hopefully you have dedicated spaces for each type of clothing).  One person at a time will go in and pick out the clothing that they take (taking the same number of pieces as they brought with them). By the end of the night everyone will have some new to them clothing that they can mix up their wardrobe with. 

The Benefits of a Clothing Swap – Swap Not Shop

You may be wondering why you should have or participate in a clothing swap. Clothing (this can include dress, business and casual wear, shoes, purses, jewelry and more) swaps can help you change up your wardrobe, get rid of clothing items that are no longer your size or style; but they are also great for saving your budget! No money is exchanged during the clothing swap parties.

How to Plan a Clothing Swap Party

If you are intrigued by the idea of a clothing swap party and you think you would like to host one, here are a few of my favorite tips on how to plan one.

First Pick a Date for Your Party

Let’s start by deciding what date you will be having your party.  Most people get the itch to buy new clothing at the start of a new season, so this is a great time frame to have a clothing swap party!  It’s a great way to keep the shopping bug away! Be sure not to plan it on a holiday or other busy date so you can have as many people arrive as possible. Be sure to consider the availability of your friends; would weekends, evenings or mornings work best?

Prepare an Invite with Party Rules Included

You can make a cute Clothing Swap Party invite and mail them out. But to keep costs down you can send an email, text, or use Facebook events to get the word out about your party!  Be sure to include your party rules in the invitation. Make sure to answer the following questions:

  • What kind of party it is.  If it doesn’t say Clothing Swap Party, you may have a guest show up without any clothes to swap!  
  • What kind of stuff you are swapping.  Are you cool with guests bringing clothes, shoes and accessories?  Let them know that!
  • Can they bring a friend?  The more the merrier, right?!  If you would like to boost your invite list, let your friends know that they can bring one of their friends to the party too!  
  • How many items to bring.  Make sure your guests know how many items they can bring.  I suggest allowing an unlimited amount of clothing to be brought, so that you have more stuff to choose from.  To make it fair though, be sure that each person can only take as many items as they brought with them.

Make Your Guest List Big!

The more people you invite, the more clothing you will have to choose from!  Additionally, it’s best to invite as many people as you can that are various sizes so that everyone is able to find clothing that fits them. Lastly, people are busy and will cancel so having a large list gives you a better opportunity for a good turn-out.

Plan to Play Some Games to Make the Clothing Swap More Fun

Have you ever played a game simply to see who gets to play the game first?  Do this as an icebreaker at your clothing swap party. Even if it is something as simple as drawing straws, picking out pins, putting everyone’s name in a hat, etc.  This is a fun and fair way to determine who will get to choose their clothing swap first.  

Make Your Clothing Swap a Potluck

A party needs food! If you want to keep your costs down, and save some time as well, you can ask guest to bring food to share. Have your guests bring a dish, or a side or a drink; I find having a theme or a sign up list will keep you from having a lot of the same items.

Other Swapping Parties to Consider

  • Decor Swap Party – bring pictures, collectibles, knick knacks and more! Check out Apartment Therapy’s post on throwing a Decor Swap Party.
  • Homeschool Curriculum Swap – if you are a homeschooler you know how expensive curriculum can be. Why not host a book and curriculum swap? See Family Fun Finds for more information.
  • Kids and Teens Clothing Swap
  • Video Game Swap
  • Games, puzzles and books swap
  • Coffee / Tea mugs swap (ok I just came up with that and NOW I MUST DO THIS)

The ideas for swap parties are really only limited to your imagination.

Have you ever attended a clothing swap party?  How did you like it?


30 Cheap Meals to Make at Home

by Leave a Comment

Cheap meals don’t have to taste, well cheap. You can make delicious, budget-friendly, home cooked meals that you’ll love to eat. I’ve collected 30 of my favorite cheap meal ideas for you; that you can feel good about serving your family.

How can I save money on food?

I think this is a topic many people are wondering about. We want to eat healthy, but inexpensive meals. Check out my article on 15 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Bill to get started. You may also want to consider shopping sale cycles. Never forgetting you can GROW your own food too!

Does eating at home save money?

Absolutely! Preparing your own food and eating at home will save you money every time. This is especially true if you want HEALTHY food! Sure you can eat off a dollar menu but it will cost you in the long run (at the doctor’s office). I am a big believer in cooking from scratch!

Cooking can be a breeze when you find affordable, easy and mouth-watering recipes. These 30 delicious meals can be made without breaking the bank! But cheap meals don’t need to tastes cheap; these recipes are full of rich flavors and spices! I think you’ll find these ideas will have your family wanting seconds for sure!

30 Cheap Meals

One-Pot Creamy Beef Stroganoff– by Pillsbury With only seven ingredients and ready to serve within 30 minutes, this easy to make stroganoff is perfect for families!

Simple Turkey Chili – by All Recipes A classic dinner to start things off! Easy to make and a hit with kids!

Slow-Cooker Mac and Cheese – by Taste of Home Nothing is better than southern comfort food! Try this classic recipe in your slow-cooker as a side or as the main entree!

Spinach and Egg Sandwiches – by Food Network Magazine Filled with vitamins and protein, you are sure to enjoy this simple breakfast-for-dinner meal!

Southern Ham & Beans with Cornbread – by ImperfectlyHappy An old family recipe that will fill your bellies and leave you feeling satisfied. Full of flavor!

Biscuits and Gravy – by Love Grows Wild Another classic southern treat! Chow down on biscuits and gravy any time of the day!

The Best Ever Slow-Cooker Pot Roast– by Tasty This pot roast practically cooks itself! Put your six ingredients into your slow-cooker, walk away for just a few hours and you’ll have a dinner you can sink your teeth into! Serve over egg noodles or rice.

Black Bean Soup – by Something New for Dinner Perfect for fall, this soup recipe is easy, healthy and inexpensive!

Chicken Pot Pie – by Spicy Southern Cooking This pot-pie recipe makes a filling meal for friends and family and provides leftovers for days!

Homemade Pizza – by Bon Appetit Better than anything you’ll order for delivery! Your homemade pizza doesn’t have to look pretty, but it will sure taste amazing!

Cilantro-Lime Chicken– by DelishYou won’t be able to get enough of these grilled chicken thighs topped with the iconic combination of cilantro and lime.

Ground Beef Recipes – By ImperfectlyHappy How to make a ton of inexpensive ground beef recipes you’ll truly enjoy.

Giant Slow-Cooker Meatballs – by Budget Bytes These giant slow-cooker meatballs are a great way to switch up from your classic spaghetti recipe. Try it, you won’t be disappointed!

Inside-Out Lasagna – by Eating Well Take your basic lasagna ingredients, skip the layering and baking to make a quick and easy recipe your family will love!

Slow-Cooker Pork Carnitas – by My Recipes Simple and affordable way to feed a crowd! With a stack of warm corn tortillas and some simple toppings, everyone can indulge in this flavorful, rich pork recipe!

Burrito Bowl – by Forks Over Knives Enjoy warm or cold, this burrito bowl is a satisfying and delicious no-cook meal!

Taco Sloppy Joes – by Belle of the Kitchen A twist on two classic recipes! Load them up with toppings and you got yourself a crowd pleaser for parties or just for you and your family.

Coconut-Lime-Marinated Vegetable Noodles & Shrimp – by Woman’s Day These island-inspired flavors will make you feel like you are on an exotic getaway!

Chili Cheese Dog Casserole – by Tablespoon Your kids will love this casserole based off classic chili cheese dogs. Easy weeknight dinner that you will grownups will love too!

The Best Black Bean Burger – by Tastes Better from Scratch Meatless burgers cut down the grocery cost! These delicious burgers are made simply with black beans, bell pepper, onion, egg, bread crumbs and spices!

Salami and Ham Stromboli – by Life with 4 Boys This recipe is filled with comforting spices and flavor. You no longer need to go to a restaurant to treat yourself to this combination of melted cheese and delicious Italian meats.

Pesto Zucchini Pasta – by Healing and Eating This amazing pesto sauce is perfect on top of zucchini noodles. Simple, but healthy and easy to make!

Easy Chicken Fried Rice – by Iowa Girl Eats Easy to make at home, healthier and way more filling than take out!

Root Beer Pulled-Pork Sandwiches – by Lauren’s Latest Simply the best! The mix of root beer and bbq sauce is one that you will forever love after trying these delicious pulled-pork sandwiches!

Fully Loaded Hasselback Potatoes – by Closet Cooking Bake your potatoes until their nice and crispy, then top with all of the classic baked potato toppings including melted cheese, bacon, chives, sour cream and butter.

Easy Parmesan-Crusted Fish Dinner – by My Food and Family This recipe will soon become a favorite in your household! Healthy, savory and simple fish pairs well with green beans and stuffing.

Chicken Taquitos – by Confessions of a Fit Foodie Healthy, quick and easy meal for the whole family. Use your crock pot or instant pot for the chicken and create taquitos using either your oven or air fryer. Delish!

One Dish Chicken and Rice Bake – by Campsbells This recipe only takes 5 minutes to put together! With three basic ingredients, this recipe is easy to customize and ready to be enjoyed in just one hour.

Pan-Fried Cottage Cheese Patties – by Springs Bargains It may sound odd, but these cottage cheese patties are crispy on the outside and filled with a velevety inside. You and your family are sure to love this $5 meal.

French Lentil Soup – by Simple Bites Perfect way to warm the kids up during fall or winter! This affordable soup is full of flavor and is a favorite for all ages.

I hope these cheap meal ideas show you that eating on a budget can still be delicious! These recipes are easy to make, delicious and most importantly, inexpensive! Next time you meal plan, make sure to include some of these recipes for an affordable trip to the grocery store! Enjoy!

More Cheap Meals – Check Out These Articles!

What to Stock Up on in July

by 1 Comment

What to stock up on in July. This is my huge list of everything you’ll want to buy in the month of July. Shopping in July for your pantry, seasonal items, what’s on clearance and so much more. Let’s go shopping!

What to Stock Up on Each Month:

This stock up series or shopping by sale cycles started in November 2018. Make sure you go back and save each of the months so you can be prepared all year long.

What to buy in the month of July - stockpiling and savings.

I will be creating shopping lists for every month of the year until I have them completed. You will always know what to stock up on by each month. I strive to have the most comprehensive list for you!

Make sure to read the tips first, especially if this is your first stockpile / sale cycle shopping month!

What to Stock Up on in July

This What to Stock Up On series is so much more than a guide to groceries. I have included bigger ticket items like appliances, grills and other seasonal sale items as well. Some great deals can only be found once or twice a year.

Shopping Sale Cycles – What You Need to Know!

When it comes to stocking up in July, or really any month, it is understanding a store’s sale cycle. What is a sale cycle? I’m so glad you asked! A sale cycle is how stores generally rotate discounted items by areas of interest in a particular month. Generally the sales are retails-wide, meaning all stores will have similar items on sale. I have taken the time to do the research for you, so you’re prepared each month to shop.

What Does it Mean to Stock Up?

For me, stocking up means to “over-buy” items, that I will use all year long, while they are at the deepest discount. I’d say a supply of 3 months or more would be optimal (if your budget allows). Then you are shopping your pantry / garage / attic when you need said item/s instead of paying top dollar at the store.

How Do I Know if it is a Stock Up Price?

Well this will differ from item to item of course; especially when talking grocery vs big ticket. As a general rule I’m looking to save 50% or more for buying multiples for my stockpile.

How Can I Stockpile Without Going Broke?

No matter how great the deals are you NEVER want to put anything on a credit card; that defeats the purpose of saving money. Look for ways you can cut or reduce spending in other areas (like going out for coffee), so you can make a budget for stockpiling. Even with as little as $10 – $20 a week you can start saving up for these amazing sales.

Does Stocking Up Require Coupons?

Absolutely not! I’ll be honest, I am not a huge fan of coupons anymore (see 5 Reasons I Quit Using Coupons ). I find most of the time I’ll buy products that I don’t really use or need because I have a coupon. However if you happen to have a coupon that deepens the discount on the list, use it!
.

The Stock Up in July List

Seasonal Produce on Sale in July

BBQ Items to Stock Up on in July

Watch for even deeper discounts AFTER the 4th of July (in the US that is).

  • Hamburgers
  • Hot Dogs
  • Buns
  • Steaks
  • Ribs
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Mayonnaise
  • Relishes
  • Pickles
  • Paper goods like plates, cups and napkins.
  • Charcoal

Other Grocery Items to Stock Up on in July

  • Ice Cream
  • Popsicles
  • Powdered Milk

Stock Up in July on Camping & Beach Items

  • Sunscreen
  • Bug spray
  • Camping Gear
  • Pool Items like towels, flip flops, noodles, etc will start to be discounted to make room for fall items.

School Supplies to Buy in July

Stores are gearing up for everyone going back to school so you’ll see school supply sections starting with deep discounts. I have a whole article on this topic! See: Back To School Sales.

  • Binders / Folders
  • Notebooks
  • Rulers
  • Pens, Pencils, Erasers
  • Glues
  • Staplers and Staples
  • Crayons, Markers and Colored Pencils
  • Loose leaf paper
  • Construction paper
  • Backpacks
  • Lunch Boxes

Consider buying extra to donate to local church that give supplies to kids in need. Also school supplies can make great stocking stuffers, gifts and are wonderful to include in boxes for Operation Christmas Child!

July Sales – Patriotic Items

  • Fireworks (after the 4th of July)
  • American Flag themed items

Amazon Prime Days in July

Every year Amazon has a 2-day sales event, called Amazon Prime Days. In 2019 these are set for July 15th and 16th. This is like a summer version of Black Friday! Check out the Prime Day Guide for more information!

I share deals BOTH DAYS on my Facebook Page.

So there you have it; everything to stock up on in July. I hope you are able to find these great deals in your area. And don’t forget to set a reminder for the Amazon Prime Days (great tip to start shopping for Christmas!).

What will you be shopping for in the month of July?