I live in a house without air conditioning. Oh, we have one of those window air units! The problem however, is that it was probably built in like 1965 or something and eats electricity like Pac Man eats power pellets!

So what’s a girl to do when she’s melting away on at the computer? Here are my picks for the top cheapo cool down methods! These are in no particular order…

• Make a water baby! A friend of mine used to freeze water in a 2 liter bottle and wrap it in a towel or sheet. She called them “water babies” because they are snuggled close like you’re holding a baby.
• Freeze up some grapes! You can even stick toothpicks in them and pretend they’re “grapecicles”
• If you want to head outdoors, find a shaded park and go ice blocking! You need to find a park with a rather large hill and bring one of those big blocks of ice with you (which you can make yourself if you want by freezing water in a small plastic tub. You sit on the ice blok and slide down the hill. It’s a real bum chiller!
• Make salad for dinner. Why heat up the house when it’s unreasonably hot? Put together a huge salad with your favorite veggies, cheese, dressing and whatever else. Cold chicken that’s already been prepared or prepackaged can be thrown in if you desire. It’s healthy and keeps you cool!
• Use the kiddie pool. Those of you who have kidlets probably have a small “kiddie pool” that you put the kids in during the summer. Well, if they’re not using it (and even if they are!) fill it on up and at least dunk your feet in. Make yourself a “grown up drink” if you want and sit in a shady part of your yardo r patio.
• Get Misty With it! Get a water spray bottle and put some ice and cold water in. When you feel like you’re gonna melt spray yourself. Those with cats will find it amusing to see the cat scurry away thinking they’re gonna get in trouble for something!

Question – What are your cheapo cool down tips?

I’ve been reading a lotabout budgeting and savings. I want to be prepared for this holiday season so I’m thinking about it now. Last year I was so ill prepared that i had as many half made craft projects lying around as I do pairs of flip flops. Those of you who know me certainly know that I have a strange love affair with flip flops so that should tell ya something!

First off I will be putting $84 away per month. By the time it’s shopping time this should leave me with a pretty good chunk of change This will help me to get those odds and ends that I am going to add to my handmade gifts.

I am also starting early with my crafting. While it may look like the best craft sales are around holiday season it’s not the case. Craft chain stores KNOW that people procrastinate and they also KNOW that most crafters will purchase those forgotten items they desperately need no matter what the cost.

Closer to the holidays I am going to make my menus. This will be the first full holiday season I will spend with my family in 2 years. If all goes well (meaning my mother lets me do ANY cooking!) I will have the menu planned and can start shopping the sales as they hit.

I think I have a pretty good start. What do you think?

On a side note I am combining Thrifty Thursday and Savings Sunday. I’ll keep the posting to a Sunday since that’s when the majority of the ads come out.

My question to you is What are your pre holiday planning and savings tips?