Cashmonkies Frugal Blog

Hey guys, with Halloween around the corner, this article will really help you all out. Yes you can be frugal even during Halloween time. Let’s face it, Costumes are pretty expensive. From $25 and up, for 1-2 days wearing time, usually only a few hours each day, it’s defiantly not worth it. So go frugal for Halloween this year. Here are some simple ideas to help get those brains flowing in the right direction, I’m sure once you read these your creative side will take over and the possibilities will be endless!

Princess- Head over to the second hand store and buy your little one a frilly party dress. Will cost you at the most $4. I’m sure she already has dress shoes at the house and tights. Head over to your local dollar store and purchase her a tiara. Cost you $1. Fix her hair and add some of your own makeup, and you have a very cute princess for $5

Farmer or Scarecrow- If your child has jean overalls and a flannel shirt, then your set to go. If not head over to the thrift store and grab a flannel shirt for $1 and some overalls for $3 at the most. Throw some plain tennis shoes on them. Have them carry a stuffed pig in their pocket. Go to your local dollar store and purchase a straw hat for $1 and for $5 you have the perfect little farmer. Follow the above steps for scarecrow. If you have extra straw around the house, use that, if not then while you are at your dollar store, grab two of their string style mops $2 and bright red lipstick $1. Come home and cut the mops in half. Tie the strings to the inside of each sleeve, and then hang some out of the pockets. Paint a red triangle onto their nose and for $8 you have a scare crow.

So there were some simple ideas, and now if you do some thinking and looking around your house, I bet you can create a great Halloween costume for a very frugal price.

Hey guys, I just remembered I did not post my Thursday shopping trip stats. I will get them up tomorrow for you. I am also going to make certain days where I will update this blog, so it’s not forgotten about. I know you guys love being frugal, so I am going to have certain days where you can expect updates. I will let you know, when I look into my schedule some more, and work this in a few days a week. For now, some quick frugal Halloween tips. More great frugal Halloween articles to come just thought I would give you some heads up now 

Treats- If you’re staying home this year and passing out treats for the little ones, purchase something more then treats. Imagine how much candy one child gets? It’s going to be a lot of candy. My kids always have way too much. Candy is not good for them, we all know that. But its part of being a kid right? So here is a thought. Instead of giving them a few pieces of expensive candy, head over to the dollar store. You can purchase MANY small toys for them. If you go near the party favors, you can find things in large quanties. Rings, bracelets, cars etc. Purchase a few bags of candy and some toys. Give each kid a piece of candy and a toy. Another fugal way, skip the candy and just give them a toy.

Costumes- Go online and look for homemade costumes. You can make a great costume for a very low price and most of the time; you have the basic supplies at home already. I will be posting some great costume ideas this week also. This will help you while being frugal!

Ill write more tomorrow guys! Have a great night

The time is coming, back to school shopping has started, and soon school will to. (Yipeeeeeeee).  Back to school shopping can become very expensive if you let it. You can be frugal while shopping for back to school items though, and you should be.

Supplies- Back to school supplies are always going on sale. Watch all your sales ads. I recently got my walgreens ad , it had 4 coupons in it. 10pk of pencils for 9cents each. Limit was 4. So I bought 4. Another coupon was two pocket folders for 9 cents. The limit was 5, so I bought 5. They were all 9 cent coupons. I had to run to Walgreen’s anyway for a prescription. So it worked out great. If you watch all the sales ads for a week or two, you will see more stores do this as well. Hit the stores while you are out doing other things so you don’t waste gas.

Clothes- If you have more then one child, like me, then this gets pricey and fast. Write down what the kids will need for school. Remember they don’t need an entire new wardrobe to start school in. There is always Christmas, tell family members to skip on one toy and buy an outfit. We do that here. They have too many toys anyway, and since we are a combined family, the kids go to lots of places and get presents. So make a list of what they have to have and stick with it. Watch for sales again. You don’t have to buy everything at once. Buy one or two things a paycheck. I love the stores that have the buy one get one free sales. Works out perfect with two school aged kids. They always have lots of sales around school time, so I often pick my toddler up some things for winter as well. Can’t beat sales.

Another thing I love to do with clothes, my grandma taught me this. Shop the clearance rack the year before. If you notice the end of summer, all them cute clothes go on the clearance. You can get a $20 shirt for $2 if you look. I always buy one size bigger then they are in now, and it always ends up fitting them. I do this with summer and winter.