Maybe it’s the Winter Blahs but I am finding myself dreaming about luxury, warmth and comfort in my bathroom. While I don’t have most of these dreamy amenities listed below, I sure would love to have them!

If you could add even just one lavish thing to your bathroom, what would it be?

1. Disposable Toilet Brush. I am probably going to environmental hell for this one but consider this: I spent at least a few decades using stinky bacteria filled traditional toilet brushes so I’ve done my time. Now I have two more than curious rug rats and far less time and energy so I’m going with these dreamy disposable toilet swishers. I know it creates waste but it also creates sanity…and a fresh bowl!

2. Crystal Chandelier– OK this is an indulgence and probably something you don’t really NEED in your bathroom. But wouldn’t it be nice? I can’t think of a better place for a chandelier, especially one that you could gaze at from your bubble bath filled tub as you soak your day away…

 

3. Natural Light is a real plus for a bathroom. There are too many pluses to mention but the three top reasons are: A. Natural light usually means an operable window which is key for foggy mirrors and air exchange. B. Makeup application is always better with some natural light. This saves the embarrassing ‘too much foundation’ routine. C. Natural light is a mood lifter and bathrooms should be all about that. If you don’t have any natural light in your bathroom, consider installing a skylight or a sky tube!

4. Great Scented Candle. If you buy the right one, you won’t even have to light it on a regular basis to keep your bathroom swelling sweet. I chose a beautiful Vanilla scent for mine. Citrus scents tend to cut smells and tree scents are also stink-busting favorites. Whatever scent you chose, just make sure you indulge in a high quality candle made with true essential oils. These will last longer.

5. Extra Storage for TP, Towels and Toiletries. In my mind you can NEVER have enough storage, especially in the bathroom! It would be best if your unit also had room for a hidden laundry bin… or better yet, laundry bins built in like this one from Bed Bath and Beyond. There is nothing that gets in the way of a zen bathroom experience more than visible clutter, crusty old razors and dirty towels…

6. Big Fluffy Towels of course! According to Good Housekeeping these particular towels from Macy’s are the best. I can’t speak for these towels but I can speak from experience and in my mind there is nothing better than stepping out of the shower or bath into a large luxurious bath sheet that literally drinks up the moisture. Combine the fluffy towels with #7 and you are one step closer to bathroom bliss!

7. Heated Towel Warmer I love this one from Brookstone because unlike the traditional hanging towel warmer, this one is big enough for two towels just in case you were up to no good in the shower or bath. Plus you can opt for warming your robe instead of a towel, if that’s your thing.

8. Wall Mounted Magazine Basket or Rack This one is a must if you like to sit and read. Speaking from experience, opt for a wall mounted rack or basket or at the very least keep it off the floor. We lost some of our favorite reading material and a very nice basket to one toilet back up …Yes, EEEwwwww.

9. Super Absorbent Bath Mat. This goes along with the big fluffy towel theme. Nothing worse than sop, sop, sopping your way across a bathroom floor. I like mats that really soak up the first step. This one from Brylane Home claims super absorbency.

10. Heated Floors or otherwise called Radiant Heating. If you can spring for it, DO! This is not only the best thing on your toes in the cold months but it helps to dry up the moisture that is typically left behind on a bathroom floor, extending the life of your tile.

Now that’s my Top 10 list! What’s yours?

Photo Credit:  apartmenttherapy.com via Shiwani

 

I don’t know about you, but I love my junk drawer.

I actually have a couple of them. I have one in my bedroom that tends to collect pictures from the kids, hair ties and loose photographs; one in the bathroom that is full of random nail polishes, hair clips, and guards for Jays beard trimmer; and the main “junk drawer” in the kitchen that has a little bit of everything in it.

While the beauty in a spot like this is that this can be the home for anything you don’t have a real place for. However, there are a few essentials that should be found in you main, or in this case kitchen, junk drawer.

Must Have Junk Drawer Items:

1. 2 Pairs of Scissors: This is a MUST have! Why two pairs instead of just one? Well, if your house is anything like mine, there is always one lost pair. Jay has a tendency to walk of with the scissors — he brings them to the car, to work, onto the porch, or puts them “away” in unknown places. Having a second pair saves me a lot of stress and time looking for the first pair!
2. Take out Menus: I always stash a copy of my favorite take out menus in my junk drawer. That way, I always know where they are, and it keeps them off of the counter and out of my bedroom.
3. Small Notepad: I like to have a small notepad in my junk drawer. Paper is pretty hard to come by in my house – my kids are always snatching it to color and create with – so I like to keep a few small notepads in the kitchen to jot quick notes, shopping lists, and more.
   
4. Pen (and pencil and sharpie) Stash: Pens are so easily lost in my house. The kids love them and tend to stash them away for future use. I always make sure I have a few pens, one pencil and a sharpie in the junk drawer.
   
5. Travel Sewing Kit: This is probably the most used item in my junk drawer, so I always make sure to replace it when the string runs out. Travel sewing kits are pretty cheap to purchase and really get a lot of use. While there are different size kits available, I prefer a very basic one that just has a variety of string colors, a needle, a couple straight pins, a couple safety pins, and a few other sewing odds and ends. I tend to use the safety pins and needle and thread most, but I have also used the straight pins anytime I get a sliver.
6. Lighter: It drives me crazy when I want to light a candle and I cannot find some matches or a lighter. I try to always keep one in the drawer – either a small one or one of the larger “grill” lighters.
   
7. Tools: Every junk drawer needs a set of screwdrivers and a small hammer in it. I have both a phillips head and a slotted screwdriver, but I would love to get an all-in-one screwdriver with adjustable heads. I also keep a small hammer in there. I can’t tell you how many times these tools have come to the rescue!
   
8. Flashlight: My kids love to take the flashlight and play with them. I have a small one that they don’t know about tucked in the back of the junk drawer for emergencies.
   
9. Tape: A roll of scotch tape is a MUST in my kitchen. For some reason, there is always something that needs to be taped: pictures to be hung up, envelopes that didn’t seal right, or a special drawing that got ripped and needs to be fixed.
   
10. Birthday Candles: I always have a package of birthday candles in the drawer. I can’t tell you how many times we have had to run out last minute because we didn’t have candles for someones cake. It got old, very fast. Now I keep a full pack in there just in case we forget.

Bonus Item: There is one other item that I like to keep in my junk drawer - a rubber dish washing glove. I know, it is kind of random, and a little bit weird, but I find that they are super helpful in the kitchen. I mainly use them for opening glass jars – it can be so hard to get a good grip on those lids and using a rubber glove really does make it tons easier!

What do you think some must haves items are for your junk drawer? Do you have these items in your junk drawer?

It can be incredibly stressful when an appliance breaks. How do you cook your family’s dinner? Where do you wash their clothes? And how do you keep the food cold without a refrigerator? Even worse is the stress that comes along with replacing your broken merchandise. Appliances can be very expensive and few people have the money set aside for such things nowadays. If you’re in need of new appliances, but don’t want to spend a ton of money, there are a few things to keep in mind while shopping.

Shop Around

It is very important to look around before you shop, if you don’t, you could be missing out on some killer deals. When you’re out browsing, try to look everywhere, not just the major stores. Expand your horizons by searching thrift stores or even garage sales or estate sales. You never know what you might find. The merchandise may or may not be in perfect condition, but let’s face it, a small ding or scratch won’t affect an appliance’s ability to do its job.

Compare Prices Online

Make your life a little easier by surfing the web before you tackle the stores. Looking online may save you both time and money. With a few keystrokes and a couple clicks of the mouse, you can search a lot of stores in a lot less time. Many stores even offer free or discounted shipping rates if you order online. If you’re not too picky, consider buying a used appliance. You can usually find gently used merchandise by browsing sites like Craigslist or even checking the newspaper. You should also look for coupons. You can often find Sears coupons and other store coupons online. These promotions can provide significant savings at certain stores.

Watch for Sales

After you have looked around and found an item that you want to purchase, ask a sales associate when that particular model might be going on sale. You never know, waiting a week or even a few days could save you some money. Don’t be afraid of the big sales either, shopping on black Friday may be a little intimidating, but it could be worth it in the long run. And don’t forget about rebates–they may take a few weeks, but you still end up saving money. Finally, don’t be afraid to negotiate. If you explain to the salesperson that you have kids and only a small amount of money to spend, you may be able to get them to knock a few dollars off the purchase price. This won’t work at every big chain store, but will work at many small hardware stores, appliance stores, and other stores with a flexible sales policy.

Buy the Floor Model

The floor model of any appliance comes with everything you need but a box. And who really needs their appliance to come in a box? No box might mean your kids miss out on playing in a giant refrigerator box, but it could also mean saving hundreds of dollars. And with the money saved, you could buy a moderately priced and more entertaining toy.

Dent and Scratch

Generally, stores can’t resell an opened appliance as new. This means big savings for some people out there. I don’t know about you but I would be willing to overlook a small scratch or dent to get an appliance 40-70% off. If your family is anything like mine, a scratch or dent is going to occur sometime soon anyways.

Bundle

Do you need more than one appliance? The next time you are at the store talk with a sales associate and find out if the store offers any kind of bundle deal. Some stores will offer discounts for buying more than one appliance at a time, which could potentially save you some big bucks.

Trade In

Before you toss your old appliance out the window you should call around and see if any stores near you accept trade-ins. Trading in your old appliance could get you credit at a store for a new one. This would be nice because you don’t have to post something in the paper or Craigslist and wait around hoping someone will buy your outdated appliance.

Karen S loves to share shopping deals and coupons through FrugalDad.com.

In our current economy, it’s important to cut costs wherever you can in order to give your kids the best advantage they can get.

It can take a little bit of savvy shopping, but once you get in the habit, you will find the best deals naturally and easily, and have more money to spend on things that are important.

These six easy tips cover everything from the big things like how to save on car insurance to the little necessities like diapers.

1. Car Insurance – Compare Options

Americans spend way too much money on car insurance. It’s just a fact of life. It’s easy for companies to send their car insurance prices through the roof, because everyone needs it in order to legally drive.

This puts you in a situation where you are essentially being forced to shell out money every month for something you may or may not ever need. The good news is that it’s not difficult to find cheap car insurance.

Just a few minutes on the internet can help you to find the least expensive car insurance for you so that you can move on to something else. Just remember never to settle for the first quote you get.

There’s a reason why there are so many auto insurance companies, so don’t assume that they will all be the same.

2. Meals – Plan Ahead

It is amazing how much money you can save by writing up a menu for what you plan to feed your family at the very beginning of the week. You can even spend Sunday getting the essentials together.

This will eliminate the temptation to pick up an expensive pre-cooked meal from the grocery store or to take your family to a restaurant, allowing you to eat more meals at home and save money in the process.

3. Store Visits – Buy in Bulk

It can be daunting to buy in bulk, but it’s all about picking the right things to stock up on.

Only buy a large quantity of something that you are guaranteed to use forever. Things like toilet paper, shampoo, and dish soap are excellent choices, because they don’t expire and you aren’t going to get sick of them.

4. Home Maintenance – Do It Yourself

Whenever you can, make a point of completing repair and improvement projects on your own.

While it can seem a lot easier just to call a handyman, do-it-yourself projects are not only a great way to save money, they are a great way to learn something new a derive a sense of accomplishment from a job well done.

Make sure you take your limits into consideration or ask a friend or spouse for back-up, but don’t be afraid just to dive in.

There are endless books, websites, and internet videos available that show you exactly how to complete just about any home improvement project you may be considering.

5. Do Your Research – Find Coupons

Clipping coupons has become something of a punchline in recent years, but you will be amazed how much people can save.

The biggest rule of coupon cutting is only to use to coupons for items you were already planning on buying. If you stick to that, you can only save money.

If you want to get really serious about it, considering joining a website specifically for helping people find and use coupons to their best advantage.

6. Be Preventative – Think Ahead

It is tempting when you are low on funds to ignore problems until they get out of hand. You don’t go to the doctor even though you’re running a fever, or you don’t take the car to the mechanic despite the noise it’s making.

Sometimes you simply do not have the money to take care of those things, but if you can possibly make it work, do it. You will end up spending so much less money than if you let the problem worsen.

By following these simple tips, you can dramatically reduce the money spent in your household on a daily basis. Give it a try, and see how easy it is to save money and still take care of your family.

Linda P. is a stay at home mom who works hard to help other moms keep their budgets in check. When not writing online, she can be found volunteering at the animal shelter near her home.