Thrifty Tips Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Thrifty Wife Happy Life

How to: Distress Your Own Denim

October 16, 2017 by Katie Haller

Today, I want to share my latest obsession with distressing my own jeans. I love the look of distressed denim, but I’ve had bad luck finding distressed jeans that I really love. They are either too distressed or not enough. I feel like the ones that I really like are way out of my price range. I feel like you shouldn’t have to spend $70 + for a cute pair of distressed jeans. That’s why this fall I started looking over some of the jeans in my closet that I never wear anymore and I decided that I would make them new again by adding some holes to them and distressing them a bit. (sounds weird to make something new by destroying them, but hey it’s the style.)

I started searching on Pinterest for how to distress your own jeans and I was confused by some of the articles I found. Some talked about using a cheese grader or sandpaper. Luckily, I was able to find a good video on YouTube that broke it down for me.

So here are the steps I took to distress my jeans.

Step 1: Pick out a pair of jeans that you want to distress. I would go for an older pair or a cheaper pair of jeans that you wouldn’t mind if you messed up. The jeans I picked for this post are a pair of Express jeans that I’ve had in my closet for probably 10 years. They needed a makeover! I recommend that you do some research first on what style of distressed jeans you want. I personally don’t like too many holes, so I kept it simple with 2 holes on the knee and a small hole on the upper leg on one side.

Step 2: I used a white eye shadow to mark where I wanted to make the cut. (I read to use eye shadow instead of a marker or pencil because it washes out easily.)

Step 3: Once you have your spots marked, start cutting.

Step 4: After you’ve made your cuts, use your fingers to fray the material a little until you see the white fibers.

Step 5: Once you’ve frayed the ends, you will be able to see the blue fiber ends. Use a pair of tweezers to pull the blue fibers out. This is the time-consuming part. I recommend you do this part in your bathroom or somewhere you can easily clean it up because it gets a little messy.

Step 6: Once you’re done with one hole, move on to the next and do the same technique until you’re done. I was very pleased with how my second pair of jeans turned out. Now a pair of jeans that I was ready to put in my Goodwill bag a month ago are my new favorite pair of jeans.

I hope that was helpful. Let me know if you have any questions. I’d be happy to help!

How to Hem Your Jeans Without Sewing

September 13, 2017 by Katie Haller

A couple months ago, I found this cute pair of Hollister jeans at the Goodwill. They were in great condition and had the perfect amount of stretch to them. They were so comfortable that I knew they would be perfect to wear for work. The only problem with them was that they were way too long.

I’m only 5’1, so I’ve always struggled with jeans being too long. I normally just cuff my jeans at the bottom, but these jeans were too long for that. I never pay to hem my clothes and I definitely can’t hem pants myself, so I decided that I would just cut them. It’s an extremely simple way that you can shorten the length of your jeans and since the distressed look is very in style right now, it won’t look weird to have it frayed at the bottom.

Before

After

I was very pleased with how my jeans turned out. It’s such an easy solution to a short girl’s problem. Below is one way that I styled my jeans recently.

Shopping Finds- Thrift Shopping for Baby

November 4, 2016 by Katie Haller

If you follow my blog, you know how much I love to a thrift shop, so I’m sure it’s no surprise that I love to thrift shop for my baby too. Baby clothes can be so expensive at times. I hate to spend a lot of money on baby clothes because they grow out of them so quickly, plus they get their clothes so messy, that’s why a thrift store is a perfect place to buy clothes for my little guy.

I am grateful that our family members and friends have kept Jack clothed for so long. I have so many cute outfits for him that we got as gifts, but he’s quickly growing out of many of his clothes, plus the weather is slowly getting cooler, so it’s time to start shopping for the winter. One nice thing about having a boy is that they are so low maintenance, even as babies. All they need are some onesies, some pants and a jacket of some sort.

Last Friday, I went to my favorite thrift store, Savers. They tend to have a very small boy selection, so when I find cute things, I buy a lot. It was Nevada Day on the day I was there, so all the clothes were 30% off, plus I bought 2 yellow tag items that were 50% off. I ended up buying him 3 pairs of pants, a button down shirt and a fleece jacket all for under $10. That’s not bad considering I already know that my little guy will only wear them for 3 months, then it will be back to summer clothes again. That’s okay, because I will just have another excuse to do some more thrift store shopping.

How to Save Money During Pregnancy

February 10, 2016 by Katie Haller

We all know that having a baby isn’t cheap. That’s why my husband and I waited as long as we did to add a third person to our family. We wanted to make sure that we could provide our child with everything that we wanted to. It takes a lot of planning and preparing financially before you can take on the responsibilities of parenthood. Once that little baby arrives your budget is definitely going to go up with all the added expense. In the nine months before your little one arrives, you should be spending your time finding ways to save yourself money, instead of spending it. I’ve decided to share a few things that I have been able to save on money during my pregnancy.

Here they are…

Pregnancy Test- I might as well start at the beginning of trying to have a baby. If you have ever tried to conceive a baby, you know how important those 2 little lines are on a pregnancy test. If you’re anything like me, you won’t believe the first one, so you will want to take another one just to be sure. Spending $20 on a pregnancy test is the last thing you want to do. This is why I love Dollar Tree pregnancy tests. They’re only $1 per test, so you can stock up as much as you like and you still won’t spend as much as you would on an off-brand test from the drug store. One time I spent $10 on one Walgreen’s brand pregnancy test. After that, I told myself I would never make that mistake again. Just remember, when you’re pregnant, you’re pregnant. You don’t need the most expensive test to tell you that.

Insurance Plan- Pregnancy is filled with doctor’s appointments. All of a sudden you go from a healthy person who goes to the doctors once a year for an annual physical, to going every month, to every week towards the end. One of the first things you should do after finding out you’re pregnant is to look into your insurance health plan. Find out what is covered during pregnancy and what is not. In my first trimester, it was open enrollment for insurance at my job. My husband and I were able to compare our insurance plans and I was able to switch to a better insurance plan through my company that offered a lower deductible. Since we knew I’d have more expensive medical bills this year, it was worth it to pay a little extra each month to help in the long run with all the expenses.

Breast Pumps- Whatever you do, do not buy or register for a breast pump. With the new Affordable Care Act, most insurance companies will cover 100% of a breast pump. I didn’t realize this at first. I had heard that you could get a breast pump covered, but I didn’t realize how easy it was. I thought that the insurance company would make you jump through hoops. That was not the case at all. I simply called the insurance company and asked if it was covered. They then told me it was and what company I could go through. My insurance used a company called Yummy Mummy. I went to the website, picked the breast pump that I wanted, filled out the information, the company contacted my doctor for the prescription and then they mailed it to me. I now have a $200 breast pump for free.

Prenatal Vitamins- Prenatal vitamins are important for your baby’s development during pregnancy. I found out pretty quickly that these vitamins are not always cheep. The first doctor I went to in Las Vegas told me that I needed to take the best and most expensive brand of prenatal vitamin. She made it sound like I’d miscarry if I didn’t take them. I went to fill the prescription and the pharmacy called me just to confirm with me that I wanted to spend the $200 on the month supply of vitamins that my insurance didn’t cover. Of course, I ended up canceling that. I ended up switching to a different doctor, who told me that whatever the over the counter brand I was taking should have everything that I need. I just decided to stick with the Target brand that I was taking before I got pregnant. When I was living in Michigan, my doctor was able to write me a prescription for some prenatal vitamins that were completely free. I suggest talking with your doctor and checking to see if they can help you out at all with the price of vitamins. Don’t always listen to them if they are trying to push an expensive brand on you that you can’t afford.

Baby Freebies- There is nothing better than free, that’s why recently, I’ve been researching and signing up for any site I can that will mail me free samples. I’ve signed up for a few baby product websites like Everyday Family, Pampers, Similac Strong Moms and Enfamil Formula. So far I’ve received 2 formula samples in the mail, which were pretty decent size samples. Even though I plan to breastfeed, I’m not against using a formula to supplement feedings when needed. I’m still a little worried about breastfeeding and pumping when I go back to work, so that’s why I’m happy to have some formula on hand if needed. I have also received tons of coupons from sites like Shutterfly and Tinyprints. When I made my registry for my baby shower, both Target and Babies R Us gave me a bag of samples and coupons (here). Motherhood Maternity gave me coupons for free nursing covers, car seat covers, and baby slings. These are great if you’re willing to pay the shipping price, but as of right now I’m looking for completely free with no shipping fees. You would be surprised by how many companies are willing to ship you free samples to test out. I’m still looking for more freebies so if you know of any other good places for freebies please leave suggestions below.

Maternity Clothes- I feel like I’ve been talking about maternity clothes for most of my pregnancy on this blog. I’ve tried to stay away from buying actual maternity clothes altogether. Maternity clothes are more expensive than normal clothes and for the amount of time you actually get to wear them, it just doesn’t seem worth it. I was able to get away with wearing all my normal clothes for all 9 months. Luckily, I only gained weight in my belly. Everyone is different though and every pregnancy is different. So my best advice if you’re going to invest in maternity clothes is to hold off until you actually need them. When it comes time to invest in a few key maternity pieces, look into some inexpensive ways of buying them. Check to see if any thrift stores have some cute things, Target has a great maternity selection and you can find some good clearance deals, also Old Navy has some cute stuff. In my experience, I found it easier to buy maternity clothes online. There is a better selection and it’s easy to price compare. If you do outgrow all your clothes and need to buy a lot of maternity clothes, I wouldn’t go crazy with buying too much. Try to stick with simple everyday pieces like tank tops, t-shirts, a pair of jeans, leggings and maybe a dress. Then you can just accessorize them with sweaters and long open cardigans that you may already have in your closet.

Create a Baby Registry- It is so tempting to want to buy things for your baby when you’re pregnant, but don’t. Create a registry first with all your baby needs and wants. Whether you have a baby shower or not, people are going to want to buy your new baby things, so having a registry will help them know what you want for your little one. I went ahead and put everything on my registry including the big items because you never know what people will be willing to buy you. Once you get closer to your due date you can go back to the stores that you registered at and purchase the things that you still need. Plus most stores give you a discount on all your registry purchases. Once you have everything, be prepared to reuse it all with the second or third baby. This is why I stuck to pretty natural colors. There’s no need to purchase everything new for the next child. Also, be practical with your registry. Only register for the items that you know you will use. Don’t waste your money on the gimmicky baby gear. No wipe warmers and diaper genies for me.

Those are just a few ways that I have saved money to prepare for my baby’s arrival. I’m a first-time mom, so I’m still learning the tricks. I’m excited to find some other ways to save money after the baby is born. Please, if you have any suggestions on where or how to save money, leave a comment below. I’d love to get some more ideas!

5 Simple Tips for Living a Healthier and Thriftier Lifestyle

September 15, 2015 by Katie Haller

I have to confess that I’m not always the healthiest person ever. I don’t work out nearly as much as I should, and I don’t watch how many calories I consume, but I do always try to be conscious of making healthy choices as much as possible. Sometimes it really is the little things that you do that can make a big impact.

I wanted to share a few very simple ways you can improve your lifestyle, and also save yourself some money while doing so.

1.) Park in the back of the parking lot

When you park at the back of the parking lot, not only is your car protected a little more from getting dings from carts or other cars, but you’re adding a few extra steps into your day without even realizing it. It’s something very simple, but you’d be surprised by how many people don’t do this. Stop driving around the parking lot looking for the closest spot and just start parking in the back.

2.) Split a meal when you go out to eat

The United States is guilty of eating large portions, especially when eating in restaurants. As much as I don’t always like to share my food, my husband and I will often split a sandwich when we go out to eat. We save money and calories at the same time.

3.) Cut out the pop

I used to drink diet pop all the time, but a few years ago I realized that we were going through pop at home so fast, that I decided to just stop buying it altogether. I still like a diet Coke or Pepsi here and there, but I save it as a treat, instead of buying it every week at the grocery store. I mostly drink water and I have to say that I feel much healthier now, than I ever did when I was drinking a lot of pop.

4.) Take the stairs

Why not take the stairs? Whenever my husband and I stay at a hotel, we always ask for a room on a higher floor, so we can get our quick exercise. You never have to wait for the elevator and it’s an easy way to get your heart rate up.

5.) Order from the dollar menu

I have to confess that I eat at fast-food restaurants. I’m guilty of this, but when I do I always order off the dollar menu. Not only is it the cheapest way to eat, but you eat smaller portions. Even though your eating unhealthy, you won’t feel like you pigged out too much on junk. One of my favorite dollar meals is the mini chicken quesadilla at Taco Bell on the dollar cravings menu. I substitute the shredded chicken for grilled chicken and the meal is only 180 calories.

So those are my short cuts. You’d be amazed how making small changes to your daily life can really help you live a healthier lifestyle while also saving you some money here and there. What small things do you do to stay healthy?

10 Summer Essentials for Under $10

June 5, 2015 by Katie Haller

Summer is here! It’s what we’ve all been waiting for. Long sunny days, the smell of suntan lotion, relaxing by the water…. these are just a few of my favorite things about summer. In honor of it being the first official month of summer, I thought that I’d share some of my must-haves for summer. The best thing about these items is that you can find them all for $10 or less!

1.) Sun Hat
I’m not really a hat person, but ever since I moved to Nevada, I’ve realized how important it is to keep my head covered. Your head is always exposed to the sun, so if your planning to spend a decent amount of time outside, be sure to bring a sun hat. I ended up finding a cute straw fedora, similar to the one above, in the dollar section at Target for $3. It’s cute and perfect for the pool.

2.) Moisturizer with SPF
The sun can damage your skin so easily and cause wrinkles, sunspots or skin cancer. Since your face is always exposed to the sun, you have to always be sure that you always have at least an SPF 15 on your face. I use the Target up & up brand of daily moisturizer sunscreen lotion. It’s compared to Cetaphil. (I’m never afraid of the knock off store brand, especially when it’s cheaper than the name brand.)

3.) ChapStick
Just like your head and face, your lips need to be protected in the summer sun too. My favorite brand of chapstick is Burts Bees. I’ve been using this brand for years and I can’t find a better chapstick in that price range. Something I’ve learned from living in a sunny place is that you don’t want to wear lip gloss in the sun. According to an article on doctoroz.com, wearing lip gloss is the equivalent of sunbathing after putting on baby oil. Using baby oil only concentrates the rays of the sun, making it much more likely to get burned skin. It’s best to stick with a chapstick with SPF in it.

4.) SunGlasses
I feel like this one is kind of obvious, but I cannot survive without my sunglasses. I literally start to sneeze the second I walk into the brightness of the sun if I don’t have my sunglasses. I refuse to buy expensive sunglasses. I have a $5 max on these for three major reasons…. I break them, lose them and scratch them up in my purse. I have found great sunglasses at TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, Five Below and most recently I was loving The Dollar Tree’s selection.

5.) Flip Flops
My mom used to call these thongs when I was a kid, that was until the “Thong Song” came out, now we just refer to them as flip flops. I’m sure most of you have more than one pair of these. Every summer I wait for the Old Navy flip flop sale and stock up, because what would summer be without flip flops at the pool or beach?

6.) Bright pink nail polish

I always have polish on my nails. In the summer I love bright pink colors. As you may or may not know, I’m a big fan of Sinful Colors nail polish. They have a great selection of colors and only coast around $2. My favorite color right now is called Bikini.

7.) Beach Bag

You have to have a beach bag in the summer. Something to tote around when you’re at the beach, pool, lake, park… where ever your summer takes you. A beach bag doesn’t have to be fancy. Target’s dollar section has some cute ones and so does the Dollar Tree. You can also use a reusable shopping bag. Stores like TJ Maxx sell some really cute reusable shopping bags that are much cheaper than buying an actual beach bag.

8.) Reusable drink cup

I love my reusable cups! I use mine for water, ice tea, ice coffee, smoothies, even beer. What is summer without an ice cold beverage. You can find some cute cups in the dollar section at Target right now.

9.) Make up remover wipes

I use make up remover wipes all year round, but they are a must in the summer. They will quickly remove your eye makeup if your planning on swimming. I also will use them for a quick touch up by wiping them under my eyes if my make up starts to run in the heat. To get more use out of them, I cut them in half. That way I don’t run out as fast. Some of my favorite brands are Target up & up or Kroger brand. They have the best prices!

10.) Oil free sunscreen lotion
You have to use sunscreen in the summer, but sunscreen is expensive. You go through it so fast, that it seems silly to spend a lot of money on it. I always buy the store brand of sunscreen in at least a SPF of 30. I still get a nice tan with 30. It has to be an oil free sunscreen though. I have pretty oily skin, so I can’t handle the greasy feel on my skin.

Those are my 10 summer essentials for under $10. What are your must have items for the summer months?

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