Travel Toothbrushes

I don't know about you...
But I don't like to spend the money on "travel toothbrushes"

For one.. they're often more expensive than regular toothbrushes (especially if you're a coupon shopper).

Secondly.. I don't like to use a toothbrush for a few days and then store it for months and months, that just can't be healthy!

What I've started doing is taking the toothbrushes we happen to be using at the moment, put them in a baggy, or you can use a holder, and take them with us. I set new toothbrushes out before we leave and when we get home I throw away the ones we used on vacation and we get nice new ones when we get home.

Sometimes when we come home from vacation it's hard to think we have to go back to the daily grind, but the new toothbrush is a silly little thing that brightens the trip home... that and nice clean sheets waiting for a good nights sleep in my own bed!

Do you have any silly travel tips to share? Would you like to write a guest post about it? Let me know... I'd be happy to hear your ideas!

Mop better than Swiffer!

I know many of you love your Swiffers, but I can't handle the price of the pads (even with sales & coupons) and the thought of throwing more and more stuff in the trash can when there is an alternative.

I have been using a Microfiber mop for years, probably 8-9 at least.  We have hardwood floors and laminate and I absolutely love my mop.  It came with 2 pads that attach to the mop with velcro strips.  When they get dirty, I get the bulk of the residue from the floor off of them and throw them in the washer.... good as new.  The only problem I've had with mine is that it's velcro strips are in need of replacement, but I can do that myself.  

Mine came with a microfiber cloth that is great for dusting when it's dry, or dampin it and it also helps remove stickers and labels from things, oil spots, crayon marks, and etc from surfaces.

Saves me money on refills for the Swiffer, and saves the landfills from the dirty pads I'd be throwing away every time I mopped.  And... I get to choose when I whether to put a chemical on my floor, or if I just want to use water or vinegar and water which are safer too.

I have the StarfiberPro, but haven't been able to find it with a metal handle which mine has and I think would be best suited for long term usage.   I found something similar at Amazon which I will link below if you're interested in looking for one.  The one in my link has good reviews if you're in the market for one, or feel free to take a look around for one.  

Just had to say how much I love mine, even after all this time.

For more Works-for-Me Wedsnesday ideas check out this blog.

Rebates... trying something new

I don't know how all of you that are coupon & rebate gurus do your rebates, but I often find myself having trouble spending my allocated grocery money on rebates items even when they will be free. I have always tried to use my grocery money on them and when I get the money back I put it back into my grocery money whenever I cash it out.


I think my problem in not purchasing the freebie items is having that cash that I wouldn't have spent tied up for 6-12 weeks. It just doesn't work for me.

My answer? As I cash the incoming rebates checks they will have a separate envelope in my coupon box for me to use only to purchase rebate items. This way I will have a revolving fund to use on rebates and won't feel the guilt in tying up the money in the grocery fund for this.


I just went last week to cash the several checks I had waiting for a trip to the bank and I have close to $15 in that fund to get me started. I realize that sometimes I may have to still pull from my grocery $ to help supplement the rebate purchases, but won't feel the pressure to make the grocery budget work, and won't miss the extra $2-$5 here and there returning from rebates.

Now I know that this won't work for me on stores like Walgreens and Menard's, but those rotate already... huh...novel idea :)

Why didn't I think of that before?