One Hundred Dollars a Month - Page 888 of 2143 - I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.

How I Reduced Our Gas Bill by Over 40%

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 26, 2015 · 14 Comments

My much anticipated gas bill just arrived and let me tell you Bob, I am over the moon. By making just 3 small changes I was able to reduce our bill over 40%!! Holy Cow Man. I had no idea I was going to be able to reduce our bill that much by making just 3 simple changes.

Turning off the pilot light to our gas fireplace.

Did you know if you have a gas fireplace, turning the pilot light off when it’s not in use can save an average of $7 – $10 a month? Yes Sirree Bob it sure can!

Turning down the heat on our water heater.

And turning down the water heater? Instead of constantly having 140 degree water at our fingertips, I turned it down to 120 degrees. True, it feels awesome to stand under the hot water on a cold day, but again, heating water is expensive. {Plus we also saved money on our water bill last month as well!}

Turing down our thermostat.

You really only need to heat the house to comfort when you are home. And since Lucy and I are the only one home most days, I decided to put on my coat and lower the thermostat to 62 during the day and then up it again to 65 about an hour before the HH comes home.

I still can’t believe I was able to save us over 40% off our gas bill. It’s nuts. Why didn’t I think to do it sooner?

What are YOUR favorite ways to reduce your heating bill during the winter months?

~Mavis

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Cutting out a Lunch Break can Lower Creativity and Productivity

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 26, 2015 · 6 Comments

Remember awhile back when I wrote about work productivity going up when people take regular breaks? Well, lunch counts as a break, and according to this NPR article, fewer and fewer people are taking lunch breaks these days–opting instead to stay at their desk and eat while they work.

According to the article, only about one in five people are regularly taking a lunch break. Sitting in the same spot, without moving can significantly lower productivity and creativity. Getting up regularly and getting outside…like outside, outside, not just outside of your office can reset your mind. Strolling around outside for a bit helps to get your creative juices flowing. According to one researcher, “‘mindless work’–which can include tasks like walking – can actually enhance creativity.” Isn’t that so true? I swear, sometimes I will mull over a problem for days with no resolution, and the minute I stop thinking about it and move on, the answer hits me. Maybe that’s why I love gardening so much? I get outside, my mind goes blank, and bam, I solve the world’s problems…now if I could just get someone to listen to my solutions.

Either way, I think we could totally combine getting away from our desks at lunchtime with a stroll and a bite to eat {that we don’t scarf down without chewing}. How about you, do you take a lunch break? Do you come back refreshed?

~Mavis

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Free Kindle Books, $5 Magazine Sale, Planter’s Peanuts, Tiny Prints Deal, Yarn, Yarn and More Yarn

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 26, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Word of the Day: Paroxysm Definition: Fit, a convulsion Used in a sentence: As he began to speak he was afflicted with a paroxysm of coughing.

Happy Thursday! I am EXCITED this morning to have drywall guy finish up this morning {he’s texturing the walls} and out of my house! 😉 Why? Because that means NO MORE WORKERS until Monday. Wahoooo! Gaaa. I am so ready to get to the fun stuff. Tile, toilets, a BATHTUB to soak in. But before we can add all that good stuff I’ve got a lot of painting ahead of me this weekend.

How about YOU? Any plans this weekend? Want to come over and help me paint? I’ll make you some cookies. 🙂

Have a great Thursday everyone,

♥ Mavis

Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day – Up to 60% off LED Light Bulbs

Amazon Bonus Deal of the Day – $5 Magazine Subscriptions Lot’s of great titles!

Amazon has the Euro Cuisine Yogurt Maker on sale for $20.77. This is the LOWEST PRICE I have ever seen it advertised on Amazon!!! Ships free with Amazon Prime.

Available Kindle Books I think are cool…

Locally Grown: Portraits of Artisanal Farms from America’s Heartland Free
Food Storage for Self-Sufficiency and Survival $9.99
The Comfort of Lies: A Novel $1.99
Trusting God with Your Dream: A 31-Day Transformation Free
Straw bale gardening for beginners Free
Weekend Homesteader: May $0.99
San Francisco Travel Guide Free
Hawaii :Hawaii Tourist Travel Guide Free

The prices on Kindle Books can change quickly, so grab them while you can. Don’t have a Kindle? Download the kindle app on your other devices. It’s easy! 🙂

Get 72 Packs of Planters Peanuts {3 boxes of 24} for just $11.54 shipped when you use the subscribe and save option at checkout. Perfect for lunches and snacks on the go.
Get 6 Colgate Extra Clean Toothbrushes, Full Head for just $5.08 shipped with subscribe and save.
Get 12 Bags of Haribo Gummi Candy, Original Gold-Bears, 5-Ounce Bags for just $8.07 {$0.67 each} shipped with subscribe and save.
Get 50 Caza Trail Coffee, Kona Blend, Single Serve Cups for just $17.84 {$0.36 each} shipped with subscribe and save.

*Keep in mind you can cancel your Subscribe and Save membership at anytime. To cancel or change your items, simply click on “My Account” and then click on “Subscriptions.” You can easy peasy modify or cancel any of your Subscribe and Save items at anytime, no obligation at all.*

Strawberries are super easy to grow, and then they grow like mad! Find out How to Grow Strawberries From Start to Finish. Find more step by step instructions on my Growing Guides Pinterest Board.

Right now on Zulily you can get voucher for $40 to spend for $20 or $60 to spend for $30 at Tiny Prints.

Amazon currently has Viva Labs Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil 32 ounces for just $14.66 shipped when you use the Subscribe & Save option at checkout. This brand has crazy good reviews!

Walmart.com has the PS4 500GB Console Bundle with The Last of Us Remastered + a bonus FREE Dualshock 4 Controller and your choice of a digital download of Watch Dogs or Need for Speed Rivals Complete Edition on sale for $399 shipped.

Home Depot Deal of the Day – Honeywell 7-Day Universal Touchscreen Programmable Thermostat

For a limited time, ALL Craftsy yarn and related kits are on sale at the lowest prices of the season, and we both know you need some fresh new finds for warm weather! Explore these amazing deals while they last.

Discount Mags is offering a 1 year subscription to Bon Appetit Magazine for only $4.99 a year when you use code MAVIS at checkout. This deal will expire tonight 3/27/15 at midnight EST.

If just hearing the name of these Chewy Reese’s Stuffed Monster Cookies doesn’t make your mouth water, I’m going to assume the only logical explanation is that you have a peanut allergy! Get the recipe HERE or Pin it for Later. Find more recipes on my Cookies Pinterest Board.

Amazon has the The Wizard of Oz: 75th Anniversary Edition on Blu-Ray for just $7.99 and it ships FREE with Amazon Prime.

6pm has Asics Running Shoes starting at just $34.99 shipped for the whole family.

REI Outlet Deal of the Day – Lilypond Sundown Sports Bag on sale for $59.73 {was$120.00}

Lane Bryant is having a Flash Sale with 40% Off Almost Everything. Offer Valid 4/26 Online All Day, In Stores at 5pm – Close.

Amazon also has the Household Essentials Double Hamper Laundry Sorter with Magnetic Lid Closure on sale for $22.99 {was $43.99} and it ships FREE with Amazon Prime. The reviews rock!

Check out these New Printable Coupons:

Find More Printable Coupons

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Keep Calm and Carry On… It’s Just a Pink Plastic Flamingo

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By Mavis Butterfield on March 25, 2015 · 16 Comments

I stopped by the post office and nearly peed my pants when I opened 3 letters with the same newspaper clipping. “Maybe next time you’ll think twice before planting a bush not approved by the neighborhood association.” Hilarious!!! Thank you so much for thinking of me Sarah, Nicole and someone who’d rather remain anonymous from Kentucky. 🙂 You made my day.

And for those of you who sent Lucy the puggle some more flamingos…. she thanks you too!

A solar light garden bird. FANCY!!!! It really does automatically light up at night.

Gwen from Madison, Wisconsin said the town takes their plastic pink flamingos very seriously. Did you know the lawn flamingo the official bird of Madison? Yes sir it is! Apparently 35 years ago, a group of University of Wisconsin-Madison students played a prank that’s remembered fondly — by some, at least — in Madison to this day.

The students — members of a group called the Pail and Shovel party, which ran UW’s student government at the time — planted more than 1,000 pink plastic flamingos on the grassy expanse near the dean’s office. {read the full article HERE} Let’s just say some of those birds are still around.

Which kinda gave me the idea that when I finally do bust out of this joint…. I’m going to hide all the pink flamingos around the neighborhood. Bahahaha! How fun would that be? Thanks Gwen!

Rescuing flamingos from boxes is a tough gig.

I’m not sure who sent in the 12 pink flamingo whirligigs…. but THANK YOU. I can’t wait to get a video of these babies in action during the next windstorm.

And the almost neon set of flamingos…. you’ll need to break out the shades if you walk by. They are so bright it is practically blinding. Whoa Nelly.

I know I shouldn’t be flaunting the flamingos in the front yard… But this sneaky bird lights up at night. And I don’t recall anything in the convents about landscape lighting…. 🙂 🙂 🙂 Anywho, Pinky blends in with the flowers anyway… right?

Keep Calm and Garden with the Flamingos,

~Mavis

If you have any pink flamingos you are willing to part with, please send them my way. There is nothing in the CC&R’s against pink flamingos in the yard. Yet.

Pink Flamingo Sanctuary {Gnomes and dream-catchers are welcome too!}
C/O Mavis Butterfield
P.O. Box 2083
Gig Harbor, WA 98335

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