frugalandthriving.com.au » creativity

turning single-use items into multi-purpose savers

Melissa — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:00:18 +0000

I picked up an excellent book at the library the other day called Making Your Home Sustainable: A guide to retrofitting. This is an Australian book, written by Derek Wrigley (a retired architect based in Canberra) and has been recently revised and republished.

There’s a whole wealth of information in this book about retrofitting your house to make it more environmentally friendly, reducing your bills in the process. Everything from the more expensive options like installing solar, to free options for renters, like insulating your roof with polystyrene boxes from Woolworths! I’ll write more about some of his more innovative ideas when I’ve finished the book.

One idea that I found really interesting was his way of making use of the heat generated from the back of the fridge. His diagrams show the modifications that are possible to the space around the fridge to make the most of this heat.

By adding some shelves or a rack above the fridge and some simple, makeshift walls to direct the flow of hot air, he created a drying rack for fruit or to warm dishes or an extra place to dry clothes.

He also describes a system where you can vent this hot air out of the house during summer and then close the vent in winter to keep the warmth in, or, if your fridge backs onto another room, vent the air into an adjacent room. It’s not a lot of heat, but every little bit helps.

What I really like about this idea is the innovative way it takes the potential downside of a household item (the heat generated from the rear of the fridge) and turns it into something useful, saving money in the process.

I’ve written in the past about how we dry washing on the hot bonnet of the car when it’s parked in the garage, and how we put our clothes airers in the kitchen when I’m doing any baking, to take advantage of the heat given off by the oven.

I’ve also read about how others use the heat in the car when it’s parked in the sun to dry fruit or how people convert the bottom stair in an inside stairwell into a drawer for storage.

This out-of-the-box thinking is a great way to use the things (and the space) we already have rather than buy another item to do another task. It’s all about seeing things with different eyes and being solution-oriented rather than problem-focused. Young children do this naturally everyday.

I’m now on a mission to investigate how I can use other things in the house in ways they may not have been meant for.

What are your ideas for using everyday objects in ways they may not have been intended?

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keeping young kids amused round up

Melissa — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:00:04 +0000

I’m always on the hunt for ideas for keeping the little fella amused. Many ideas that I come across are a wee bit old for him, but I bookmark them anyway for later. With so many bookmarked, I thought I would just have to share some!

I’m big a fan of simple toys and activities that enhance creativity rather than toys that do all the playing for kids (although toys that go beep and play music are good for an over-tired toddler at the end of the day, as an alternative to TV).

I also like toys that are frugal (and handmade toys are a bonus for mum’s creative outlet – if we have the time, that is). Some of the ideas below are quick and easy while others will take a little bit more time and effort on mum and dad’s part. Many of the sites have lots of other great ideas besides the post I’ve linked to, so have a meander through them.

Playdough is a winner in our house. Rather than cooking your playdough, an easy alternative is to use boiling water straight from the kettle and mix with a wooden spoon before kneading once is cools down enough to handle. I find a little goes a long way. I halve my recipe and then keep half in the cupboard for back up – it lasts for ages and less means less ‘in play’ means less ground into the carpet .

Finger paints @ Homemade mammas	Felt fishing game @ Just Another Day in Paradise	Felt car play mat / house @ Cook Clean Craft
Hanging tent @ Kojo Designs	Big picture scavenger hunt @ Pass the Cereal	Homemade highways @ Activities for Toddlers
Toy bags @ Zaaberry	Dolls house from drawers @ Nice Girl Notes	Super capes @ Serving Pink Lemonade
Magnetic quilting blocks @ Chalk in my pocket	Rainy day jar @ Home Grown Mom	Homemade chalkboard paint @ The Idea Room
Puppet Theatre / Shop @ Skip to my Lou	Toy grill @ Ohdeedoh	Toddler exploration bottle @ Cratzine
Post box @ Lilla a	Box ideas @ Declutter Organize Repurpose	Playdough recipe roundup @ Quirky Momma
Egg Carton Ideas @ Fur Lined Toilet Seats	Button ideas @ Activity Mom	Moon sand @ Play Based Learning
Quiet book ideas @ The How To Gal	Sensory board @ Play at Home Mom	Homemade workbench @ Ohdeedoh
Bath soap crayons @ Kiboomu	DIY Kitchen @ Cotton Candy Castle Photostream	Sensory Balloons @ Play at Home Mom
Shower curtain play mat @ Filth Wizardry	Name Soup @ House of Baby Piranha	Musical instrument roundup @ The Crafty Cow
Sensory tub ideas @ Counting Coconuts	Goop @ Making Memories with your kids	Bath paint @ Meet the Dubiens
Rainbow sensory box @ Share and Remember	Homemade doodle paint @ Delaware County Moms	Galaxy Playdough @ Fairy Dust Teaching

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tip tuesday–frugal toasted sandwich press

Melissa — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:00:31 +0000

I read this tip in an old magazine a few months ago.

Back in the day when I was single, ‘cashed up’ and debt free, I used to subscribe to a few cooking magazines. Several years of monthly mag subscriptions add up (to over 100), so I’ve been slowly going through them one by one, tearing a few of the recipes out and either recycling or donating the rest of the mag (depending on how many recipes I kept).

Ah, the cupboard space I’ve gained!

It’s been fun. Reading through those recipes again, being inspired to cook new ones. And I’ve shrunk shelves full of recipes to two folders worth.

Anyway, here’s the tip I read: recreate a sandwich press by toasting your sandwich in a fry pan and place a plate on top, weighed down with a tin of tomatoes or what not.

Similar result without another electrical appliance cluttering the benches (although I admit that the toaster we were give gets almost daily use).

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creative recycling: repurposing junk

Melissa — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:00:16 +0000

They say that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. And at the rate we fill landfill each year, that means there’s a whole heap of treasure just waiting to be discovered by treasure hunters with a keen eye and an innovative mind.

When we repurpose ‘stuff’ we keep it out of landfill and avoid having to buy new stuff or ready-made, single-purpose solutions to our everyday problems. Not only are we reducing our environmental impact, we save a whole heap of money as well.

While regular recycling is a great thing to do and we should be recycling as much as possible, it’s not the perfect solution. Of course, not buying waste in the first place is a good start, but not always very practical. Repurposing things keeps them out of the waste cycle for longer.

The photo above is of my parents old washing machine. And I bet you were thinking it’s a letter box! Well, it is a letterbox, made by my father from the body of an old, broken washing machine.

I guess I know where I got my frugal habits from.

As well as the repurposing that we can do ourselves, one of the great things about the repurposing movement is that commercial companies are getting into it. As consumers, we can be making the decision not only to reduce waste in the first place, but to buy recycled where possible. Here are just a couple of good commercial recycling ideas:

	This pencil case was once a car tyre. You can find the website for this and other products here.
	Looking for a way to reuse old CD cases? This and other funky gifts from old computer stuff can be found here.
	And this company creates functional and attractive home decor stuff from tin cans.

How to Creatively Recycle at home

Start by changing the way you look at things. Time to see the treasure in the trash. Instead of seeing stuff as rubbish, look at it from a “how can I repurpose this?” perspective.
Think twice before throwing things away. I’m not suggesting that you should hoard heaps of stuff and clutter up your home, but a couple of tin cans and egg cartons here and there always seem to come in handy.
Before throwing something out, think about how it might possibly be repurposed. A broken plate could become a mosaic work of art, old clothes could be cut up and resewn or in the least used as rags, junk mail could be used for paper mache projects.
Recycled “rubbish” is great for kid’s craft. There are thousands of websites on the net with craft ideas from recycled materials, but my favourite is probably Frugal Family Fun Blog.
The alternative to thinking “what can I do with this?” is to think “I have a problem, now what do I have on hand that can solve my problem?” This is how we came up with our clothes peg basket solution.

Another example of this last approach: Have you ever noticed how much stuff comes in thick vinyl packaging? Like sheet sets. I hate throwing out this kind of packaging, especially if it’s got a zipper or snap fasteners – you never know when it might come in handy. I cut up some packaging (that might otherwise have been thrown away) and used that to cover a handmade baby change mat – very useful when bub is young and you’re travelling because it’s easy to wipe down if any accidents occur.

Do you have a creative recycling story that you’re proud of? Why not share it in the comments – it could be the inspiration that someone else is looking for.

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Will Duct Tape Fix All The Problems In The World?

Melissa — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:00:34 +0000

Photo by threadless.com

I’ve been going MacGyver style a lot lately. I’m on a role. There is no problem in our house too big for duct tape.

The great thing about being frugal is that every day is a challenge to solve problems, fill needs and fix things around the house with no cash down.

It’s easy to spend money. It’s easy to shop for a ready-made-solution. Our houses are full of ready-made-solutions to everyday problems.

But if we want to keep our hard earned cash in our pockets, we need to get out our creative brains into gear.

When people talk about being creative we think of basket weaving or interpretive dance. We think strange clothes and bohemian living.

But being creative is not just about painting the Mona Lisa or composing a Symphony no.9, it’s about using your noggin to generate useful solutions to everyday problems.

Don’t think that you’re not creative. I’m here to tell you that you are. You exercise your creativity every single day.

Every time you whip up dinner from what’s rolling around in the fridge, you’re being creative.

Every time you handle a difficult customer, or negotiate with a difficult colleague, or solve a pressing problem at work, you’re being creative.

Every time you help your kids with a school project or play with them, or entertain them on a rainy day for free, you’re being creative.

Every time you tell a story, recount an incident, make a funny joke, you’re being creative.

Every time you solve a problem, you’re being creative.

Techniques For Everyday Problem Solving

1. Define your problem

This seems like a duh! thing to say. But don’t skimp over this step. Understanding the problem that you’re trying to solve is essential. Really think about it and look at your problem from multiple angles.

For almost a year I had an ergonomics problem. My new deluxe office chair (that I had to have! ) was too big to fit under my desk. I was getting back strain hunching over to reach the laptop. All that time I was thinking “how do I get a new desk that my super-duper chair fits under?”

But then I realised the problem was not that I needed a new desk. The real problem was that I needed the laptop to be closer to me.

Problem redefined – not to get the chair closer to the desk, but to get the laptop closer to me. After months of dead ends working on the wrong problem, a couple of minutes resulted in a free and functional solution.

Defining your problem and exploring it from different angles, throws light on possible solutions that you may have never otherwise thought of.

2. Brainstorm Solutions

Think of as many solutions as possible. No idea is too outrageous. In fact, the least obvious ideas (and often idea number 20 or 100) are usually the best solutions. Use lateral thinking techniques think outside the box.

3. Do some research

Google your problem. How do others fix it?

Wander around the house, garden, town looking for potential resources that you might use.

Ask someone else.

Look at completely unrelated things and think of ways that they may help solve your problem. In the least it will help you develop your lateral thinking.

Creativity is not a lone process. You don’t have to create something from nothing.

4. Model, Doodle, Moodle

Building models or prototypes is one of the best ways to make your idea tangible so that you can suss it out and develop it in a constructive way. Dig into your kids craft box. Got a cupboard full of empty meat trays, recycled paper, plastic containers, glue, paper, plasticine? Then…

…doodle, play, trust, role play, design, have fun, construct, discover, be open to possibilities, be uninhibited, explore.

Then take a break.

The crazy thing about the creative process is that the solution often pops into our heads at the weirdest moments, epiphany style.

There are all sorts of theories about alpha brainwaves and the subconscious state but at the end of the day, if you can’t find a solution, sleep on it. Or play golf, or take a shower, or work on something else.

Just don’t think at all about your problem. The answer will come to you.

5. Evaluate, Improve, Refashion

The story goes that Edison had thousands of failed attempts before inventing the light bulb. His comment on this? “I have not failed. I’ve just discovered 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

If it doesn’t work then make adjustments or try something else. It doesn’t have to be beautiful (but that doesn’t mean you can’t be aesthetic) it just needs to be functional. If it solves your problem, you have a winner.

Move over MacGyver. Problem Solved. Now where’s the duct tape?

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