When money is short you make do with what you have

**homesteadmamma** · 10-22-2002, 07:51 PM

We need to get ink cartridges for our printer and with the 2 of them (color and black & white), the cost would be $75.00.

We needed business cards for our craft sales because we hand them out when people ask for them.

I had gotten some business cards for $12.00 and decided to make them myself, rather than dish out the $75.00 right now for the ink cartridges.

I had a rubber stamp with a cute little winter scene (house, bird, snow and holly) and I also had the stamp ink. So I've stamped each card with this picture and then written our business name and telephone number. Very personal and all done by hand. Even dh was impressed.

Making do with what I had around the house. What types of things do you do, rather than running out and spending $$. Tell us about it.

**heaven** · 10-22-2002, 08:26 PM

what a great idea. I can't think of anything right now. But i really do make due. really i swear.

**captclearance** · 10-22-2002, 09:23 PM

I think I have always had a flair for making do.... I almost always look for alternatives to higher priced items and try to use what I already have on hand..... Being Frugal (or downright CHEAP !!!!) affords us the luxury of being generous, that is one aspect of frugal living that I love !

**SewCrafty** · 10-22-2002, 09:32 PM

CJ I think that is great!

For another alternative to business cards, you can get them for free at http://www.vistaprint.com. I think I paid $5.95 for S&H for 250 cards.

**rhiana** · 10-23-2002, 12:44 PM

The homemade cards a really cute idea. You should post one for us to see how they turned out, (if you have a scanner). I get my business cards from vista print also. They're really nice and they look very professional. I guess I'm not very crafty. I never would have thought of the homemade cards. Very cute idea!

**heaven** · 10-23-2002, 12:48 PM

Lori, does that suprise us as crafty as you are. NOPE DOESN;t!!! i for one love all your frugal tips.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 10-23-2002, 08:19 PM

I was really broke when I set up my current coupon box. I couldn't afford the dividers. Soooo, I made them out of a cereal box! Cost? Zilch. I saved about $3.00.

**heaven** · 10-23-2002, 08:52 PM

good going lori, don'tcha just love it when it cost nothing.

to you too.

**QuilterMom** · 06-22-2005, 10:22 AM

**cheapgeek** · 06-22-2005, 10:42 AM

What types of things do you do, rather than running out and spending $$. Tell us about it.

Seems I'm always doing this in the kitchen. If I don't have stock, I make due with water and spices. If I don't have brown sugar, I make due with white. If I don't have fresh tomatoes, I make due with canned.

**britbunny** · 06-22-2005, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by cheapgeek
Seems I'm always doing this in the kitchen.

Sounds like me too - Dh always calls me "back to the wall Swiff". I don't think I'm 100% happy unless I have to substitute something in a meal.

We try to find things to avoid shopping all the time. I made a blind for one of our kitchen windows from a tablecloth that was too big for our kitchen table, I put in some eyelets and used cord that I had in my craft stuff to tie it up. The leftover fabric made some place mats.

We needed something to stop the bunny from getting upstairs so instead of buying a baby gate we got a fireguard from MIL that's the perfect size, we just step over it but Posh won't go near it.

We wanted some artwork for our front room wall, we got some old picture frames and made collages of postage stamps that we'd inherited. Each picture has a different theme - sport, plants, animals etc. We've even made a couple up of Christmas stamps to add to the decor when that time rolls around.

Does figuring out an approximate recipe for sunrise muffins so I don't have to run out to starbucks count?

**Mamaw** · 06-22-2005, 12:43 PM

I'm not very crafty or original so reading all your tips is great! I wrap gifts in newspaper and also in maps. I cut up old Christmas cards to make new gift tags.

**KimSecret** · 06-22-2005, 01:47 PM

Most of you probably already do this, but I use my plastic grocery bags as trash bags for my bathroom buckets. I use to buy the trash bags, but decided to save & recycle at the same time.