How To Save $1362 This Year

Besides obvious things like not eating out as much, cleaning your own house and mowing your own yard, here are some simple things you can do to save money this year without changing your lifestyle:

1. Sign up for your bank's debit card that earns points to redeem online for gift cards for pretty much anything you can think of - gas, Target, Starbucks, etc. My bank charges a $25 annual fee for this card, but we quickly make that money back by using the debit card for nearly every purchase we make. In addition to the things where you pay with a credit/debit card like groceries, gas, doctor visits, etc., I set up automatic payments for cable, car insurance, cell phone, utility bill, gym membership and pest control. Estimated savings this year: $400
2. I went to add a line for Husband to the cell phone account and the rep asked me where I work. Thinking that he was just making conversation, I told him. Apparently, I get an 11% discount for that. Estimated savings this year: $112
3. I calculated how  much we've been spending on groceries and, I feel pretty confident that I can easily cut the budget by 10% simply by paying attention and making a meal plan. In fact, I want to try to save 20% (I'll have to let you know how that goes) by adding in coupons, some stockpiling, etc. as outline in articles like these: http://moneysavingmom.com/31-days-to-a-better-budget-series. Estimated savings this year if cut by 10%: $850

How do you save money without compromising your lifestyle?

Living Room Window Project

We have some super high windows in our living room. In the winter, they’re lovely. But, for the rest of the year, everyday at about 4:45PM, the sun comes straight in and blinds everyone inside. I have literally had to wash dishes wearing my sunglasses. And, birds can’t see the reflection, so we get numerous bird suicides…like, at least once a week.

After researching remote-controlled blinds (because they’re way too high to reach) and various sunshades, I knew we had to come up with something a bit more affordable yet not unattractive. I remembered seeing something on a home improvement show awhile back about an ugly skylight. The owners made a wooden frame, covered it in sheer fabric, and wedged it into the space that housed the skylight and it looked a LOT better. So, I sent Husband to the hardware store for some pine 1X2's and he constructed these beauties:

Meanwhile, I went to the local fabric store and bought some cheap muslin. That, along with a staple gun, an iron and some fabric scissors is all you need to make this project your very own:

First, I spread some towels on the dining room table and smoothed out the fabric with an iron:

Then, I started stretching and stapling like crazy:

The trick is to put in all of the staples at an angle so the fabric doesn't pull out, put one in every inch or so so it won't pucker and once you staple on one side, pull the crap out of the fabric on the opposite side to staple.

Trim off excess fabric and voila:

Price breakdown

Wood: $15

Fabric: $14

Total Cost: $29