Simple Soap Saving Hack

Does your family waste SO much liquid soap at the bathroom or kitchen sink? I know mine sure does. Here is a quick, easy, and CHEAP tip to save soap (and money) big time! | This post contains affiliate links |

The cover photo for this post shows the bottle of soap “before” - but I’m going to show you a quick and easy way to modify the pump so that it uses less soap with every pump! To do this you only need 3 simple items you probably have on-hand already.

Materials

• Liquid Soap - you can use any liquid soap pump (even refillable ones) but personally we love Mrs. Meyer's handsoap (usually we use Oat Blossom but we're still using up one of the holiday scents here)
• Small Zip Ties (we used black here because the pump is black, but you could use white or another color zip tie if it matches better)
• Scissors

How To

Seriously this couldn’t be much easier!

Simply put the zip tie around the soap pump where it goes down, tighten (but not too tight), and then trim off the extra. Ta-da, it’s done!

This “ring” made by the zip tie will prevent the pump from going down all the way. This way you get like a “half-pump” of soap rather than a whole pump (personally I feel like a whole pump tends to dispense far too much soap).

Now it dispenses far less soap = less waste!

Once the zip tie has been trimmed it’s barely noticeable. This little hack has saved SO much soap in our family - I really notice us going through the hand soap much slower. I hope this little trick will save you soap and money too!

PS - if you buy the same brand soap over and over you can reuse the pump top from bottle to bottle so you can keep reusing the same zip tie modified top if you don’t want to keep using up zip ties.

Disclaimer: Use at own risk.

A List of Educator (Teacher and Staff) Discounts - Happy New School Year!

I’ve been working in the school system for a few years now - while I did have a teaching degree at one time (I let it lapse), I’ve been working in a support staff role. Being a school staff member doesn’t pay much so getting discounts at different retailers is a small but appreciated perk of the job. I’ve complied a list of some of the stores and restaurants that give Educator/Teacher/School Staff Discounts. Also if you homeschool some places will honor that and give you a homeschool educator discount too so it’s always worth asking! | This post contains affiliate links |

Disclaimer: Different stores have different offers and rules - and they’re subject to change. Make sure to double check on discounts and read the fine print and before you use them. Some of these discounts are in person and others you can do online with verification. If I’m shopping in-store I always ask if they offer an educator discount - you’d be surprised how many random places do!

A Quick List of Some Educator Discounts:

• Many local museums - Always ask when going to a local museum if they offer an Educator Discount - many do for admission or at least for the gift shop

• Some local restaurants/coffee shops - You may find a local restaurant or coffee shop may offer an educator discount on a particular item (like coffee) or your whole meal - it’s always worth asking!

• L.L. Bean - 10% off (online or retail stores - does not work at L.L. Bean Outlets)

• Target - varying offers throughout the year with special coupons/discounts

• JoAnn Fabrics - 15% off

• Michael’s - 15% off

• J.Crew - 15% off

• Under Armour - 20% off

• Crocs - 15% off (full-priced items only)

• Loft - 15% off (full-priced items only)

• New Balance - 25% off

• Sunglass Hut - 15% off

• Canva - may be free if you sign up for an educator account with your school email (not all schools are eligible)

What other places give you a teacher/educator discount? Let me know!

Disclaimer: Different stores have different offers and rules - and they’re subject to change. Make sure to double check on the discounts and read the fine print and before you use them.

Secondhand September

Did you know it’s Secondhand September?

We’re personally huge fans of consigning and shopping secondhand - in fact everything I’m wearing today is secondhand and name brand (blouse and jeans are Ann Taylor and the leather mocs are M.Gemi, which is a fancy Italian luxury brand I could never afford new). Right now I’m putting together a bag of winter consignments to bring to M&C Clothing and Gifts in Amherst, NH, one of our favorite consignment shops.

We love consigning because the money we earn from reselling our items can be spent at the consignment shops we use for new-to-us clothing and other items - it’s like trading up what we don’t want anymore for what we do. Reduce-Reuse-Recycle.

If you’ve been thinking of giving consignment shopping/selling a try, check out my past blog post where I share some tips on the process:

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The Biggest Money-Saving, Eco-Friendly Change We've Made During Quarantine

Being home 24/7 and trying to limit grocery trips and ordering really makes you evaluate how quickly you’re going through supplies in your home. With two little kids, paper products were something we were blowing through and made me wonder how we could change this for the better. | This post is not sponsored but does contain affiliate links |

Now when I say "paper products" in this post I'm talking about paper towels and paper napkins. To greatly reduce our usage of these things we made the switch to reusable "unpaper" towels and aren't looking back.
(And before you ask... yes, reusable toilet paper/wipes do exist too - but that's not for us, though if the toilet paper shortage continues who knows...).

“Unpaper” towels are cloths that you can use like paper towels but wash and reuse for a long time. You could really use just about any kind of cloth - wash cloths, tea towels, cloth napkins, pieces of flannel, etc. Hopefully you have something around the house already that you can use, but if you don’t and decide to purchase some we’ve found them to be worth the investment. For the price of a large package of throw-away paper towels, you can purchase of set of reusable ones that will last you a very, very long time and will eventually pay for themselves.

We thought about just using our current dishtowels but we use them regularly already for dishes and big spills (which happen a lot with two small kids). We were primarily looking for something smaller that would function like a paper towel and also wouldn’t fill our washing machine quickly (something else to consider), which is why we settled on these modestly-sized, organic bamboo cloths.

Some people will roll them on a paper towel holder and use them in place of ALL paper towels, completely eliminating paper towels in their home. For our household we decided to fold them and place them in a basket on our counter, next to our roll of paper towels. That way we’d be constantly reminded to grab a cloth instead of a paper towel whenever we had to wipe a dirty face or sticky fingers, but we’d still have paper towels at the ready if we really needed them. I even hung a little note over the paper towel holder to remind us to use less of them.

Since starting this system we’ve cut down on our paper towel usage big time. This has saved us money on our grocery bill and we feel like we’ve made a positive long-term change that’s more eco-friendly.

Cleaning Unpaper Towels: I hung a small mesh laundry bag on the doorknob of our laundry closet, which is conveniently right off the kitchen, to toss the used unpaper towels in to be washed. Whenever I start a load of laundry, I just throw the mesh bag in with the rest of the washing. You could also easily hang a mesh bag or small basket on the inside of a cupboard door with a Command Hook too if that is a more convenient spot.

Hopefully I’ve inspired you to find a reusable, money-saving solution to something in your home like we have found unpaper towels to be for us.

This post is not sponsored but contains my personal opinion as well as affiliate links.

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Related posts:

• Cloth Face Mask Organization and Storage

• How We Turned a Coat Closet into a Functional, Organized Pantry (Perfect for storing extra groceries during the pandemic)

• General Emergency Preparedness Tips and Ideas

• Remote Learning + Homeschooling: Tips and Supplies

• Preparing to Homeschool

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Hey, hey it's Prime Day! 2019

It's Amazon Prime Day! A great time to finally get that item on your Wishlist, start your Christmas shopping, or simply stock up on household items. There are lots of great sales today and tomorrow - and I'm sharing some of my favorites on Birch Landing Home's Facebook page! | This post contains affiliate links |

Shop some of my favorite deals HERE, on Birch Landing Home's Facebook page or browse all the deals HERE, directly on Amazon. The sales on Amazon-branded items (Kindles, Firesticks, etc) are especially amazing!

Pennies from Pepaw + $200 Target Gift Card Giveaway!

When I was growing up my Grandpa always threw his extra pennies in a big jar on the kitchen counter for me.  And every time we visited I always checked to see how high the pennies had creeped up.  Waiting for the jar to fill seemed to take forever (and for us it did take years for the jar to fill each time), but it taught patience and was something special to look forward to.  This simple tradition is one I'd love to bring back for our own kids.  
**Make sure to scroll to the end to enter the $200 Target Gift Card Giveaway!**  

Once the jar was finally filled to the brim it was mine to take home!  Guessing how much money was inside was always the most exciting part.  Since there were only pennies it came to around $14-15 each time but that seemed like huge money as a 7-year old.  Growing up my Dad always instilled on us that gifted money (received for birthdays, Christmas, and even the penny jar) needed to go to our college savings account so that's where it went.  I didn't mind though, as a kid it was exciting just bringing it to the bank and hearing the coins run through the counting machine.  Though I didn't realize it at the time, looking back that was such a sweet and important lesson -- that Grandpa thought of me every time he put a penny in the jar and that even small savings can add up over time.  

Now that we have little one (and another on the way), I want to continue this tradition still.  So with just some simple Ball Jars, I punched slits in the top for change and labeled each grandkid's name on tags - these jars are going to my parents' so they can continue my Grandpa's simple legacy for all their grandkids.  

I have such fond memories of this tradition and want my daughter and future baby to have a simple custom like this to look forward to when visiting their Grandparents.  

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Giveaway

I've teamed up with a couple other great bloggers to give you a chance to win a $200 Target Gift Card!  Just think how many Ball Jars - or anything else you'd like - that you could buy ;)  

Summer $200 Target Giveaway

Enter for your chance to win our fabulous Summer $200 Target Giveaway! Giveaway Brought to you By: Juggling Act Mama, Doodlecraft, Bree Cooley, Birch Landing Home, Walking on Sunshine, and The Redhead Baker.  

Summer $200 Target Giveaway

Giveaway is for $200.00 USD. Open to US residents 18+  only. One (1) winner will be chosen. Prize must be claimed within 48 hours of announcement or a new winner will be drawn. Prize delivered via email.  All entries will be verified. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Target, Rafflecopter, or any other entity unless otherwise specified. Blogger not responsible for delivery of prize.  a Rafflecopter giveaway

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New Year, New Resolutions to Save Money

New Year means time for new Resolutions.  Usually they boil down to a lot of the same things, and a big one for us is always saving more where we can.  Every year everything gets more expensive - groceries, gas, clothes, healthcare, etc but our paychecks always seem to stay the same.  
I decided to compile some of my best blog posts on saving money and I hope it will help you jumpstart your savings too!  

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Saving on Groceries

Our 9 Favorite Money Saving Apps

Saving Money on Groceries - Rural Edition

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Budgeting

Creating and Maintaining a Monthly Budget

Making it Work on One Income

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Saving on Health Insurance & Medical Bills

How to Save on Health Insurance & Medical Bills

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Clean House, Make Money

5 Tips to Make the Most Money from Consigning Clothes and Household Items

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Save on Special Events

Easy Ways we Saved THOUSANDS on our Dream Wedding

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How to Save on your Health Insurance and Medical Bills

As a self-employed family, we have to buy our health insurance ourselves out-of-pocket.  Premiums and deductibles have been skyrocketing over the last few years and we've been working hard to make the most of our health plan and save where we can but it's still hard.  I thought I'd share some of things we've learned buying insurance and paying medical bills ourselves over the years.  Most of these tips relate to families buying insurance out-of-pocket, but a lot of tips would also benefit those that get insurance through their employer.  
| These tips relate to what we've learned in our own experience - please consult your insurance broker, accountant, etc for the best information regarding your own situation |

Shop Around for Insurance

If you're buying insurance yourself (not through your employer) these days, you're pretty much limited to only getting insurance through the Healthcare Marketplace as most insurance carriers have gotten rid of their individual plans and rolled them into the Marketplace Exchange.  
While shopping for a plan on the Marketplace, you can compare premiums, deductibles, and coverage but make sure you are VERY thorough.  At first glance it may seem you have a lot of options, but many times plans are not widely accepted at doctors and hospitals.  Once you find a plan you think will work for you, check with both the Marketplace as well as the insurance company directly to make sure the plan is accepted at all your family's doctors, specialists, and area hospitals.  The last thing you want to happen is to head to the ER for a broken ankle and find out afterwards that your insurance won't even touch that bill.  Depending on your family size and income, you may also qualify for a discount on the cost of your premiums through the Marketplace.  

Consider the High Deductible

If your family has no chronic medical issues, is healthy (knock-on-wood), and you're not planning on having a baby or surgery in the coming year it may be advantageous to go for the sky-high deductible.  Yes, this could be risky as you never know when something may come up, but if nothing major comes up you can save a lot on your monthly premiums.  

Pay Your Monthly Premium on Your Credit Card (if possible)

If you can't purchase your insurance pre-tax through an employer, see about using your credit card to pay for your monthly premiums.  Not all insurance carriers will let you pay your premium on your credit card, but if they will let you - do it!  Most credit cards have cash back rewards or bonuses for using your card, so you might as well take advantage of it.  My credit card offers 1% cash back, so I earn about $55 back on my premiums each year - it's not much but it's better than nothing, and I know there are cards out there that have much better rewards than mine.  
*Obviously only pay your premiums on your credit card if you're good about paying that amount off in full every month - you do not want to go into credit card debit over your health insurance premium.  

Health Savings Account (HSA)

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is a savings account that's designated for medical expenses only.  Ideally you deposit into the account pre-tax and this money can grow and be saved for future medical bills.  This is especially useful if you have a high deductible because then you'll have pre-tax money set aside to help pay for anything that may come up.  Many HSAs have monthly fees though, so it's important to do your homework and talk with your accountant to see if an HSA is right in your situation.  

Take Advantage of Preventive Care

All preventive care (annual exam, most basic blood work and vaccines, many basic screenings) are covered in full under Health Care Reform.  Don't be fooled - these aren't really free (you're already paying for them with your high monthly premiums and deductibles), but it's true that you don't have to pay anything more out of pocket for them.  Since they're included in your health plan, make sure to keep up-to-date on all your preventive care and stay healthy - this will hopefully keep expensive health issues from possibly surprising you later on.  

Know the Membership Perks of Your Health Plan

A lot of health plans have perks that might not come up when you look at your plan details - make sure to search these out and take advantage of them.  These perks can be things like discounts at athletic stores or on prescription eye glasses, gym membership or race fee reimbursements, healthy eating incentives, and more.  Take note of what's available to you and use them when you can.  

Shop Around for Non-Emergent Care

In the event you need a diagnostic test or minor procedure done, shop around for the best price for your insurance.  Prices for things like blood work and x-rays can vary wildly among doctor offices, hospitals, etc so it's important to do your homework.  

Shop Around for Prescriptions

What you'll pay out-of-pocket on your prescription medications can also vary greatly from pharmacy to pharmacy.  If you have a prescription, make sure to call around to your area pharmacies and ask them to run a price check of your medication against your insurance (you'll need to give them your insurance info, and they'll probably have to call you back with the answer).  Also, check with your insurance to see if they have a Mail-Away program - typically you send in a written prescription and they will fill your RX for three months at a time at a discount.  

Always Check EOBs and Medical Bills Before You Pay

After you see your doctor, you will get an EOB (Explanation of Benefits) in the mail or available to you online.  Double check these to make sure your visit and anything that was done was billed appropriately.  For example - if you had a problem visit and then a follow-up visit a week later, the follow-up visit should be billed as a lower-level (cheaper) visit as long as nothing new was addressed at the appointment.  If you feel as though something was billed incorrectly, call your doctor's office and ask them to review the claim and resubmit if necessary.  

Also, sometimes things that should be covered by insurance aren't, often due to human or computer error when the claim is processed - and you may get a bill from your doctor/hospital for it.  If you ever have a question on why something wasn't covered or wasn't covered as much as you thought it should have been, it's definitely worth your time to call and question it.  

Ask for a Prompt Payment Discount on Medical Bills

Once you get a bill from your doctor or hospital, call and ask if they have a prompt payment or cash discount if the bill is paid in full.  Most places will offer you a discount (it varies, but we've seen discounts range from 5-35%) if you pay your bill in full within 30 days.  If you can afford to pay the bill now and take advantage of the discount it's definitely worth it!  

Payment Plan or Payment Forgiveness for Larger Bills

If you get a bill that you're not able to pay in full or if they do not offer a prompt payment discount, ask to be put on the minimum payment plan.  As long as the doctor/hospital does not charge interest, you might as well take your time paying the bill and not put undue stress on yourself.  
And as a last resort - if you have an extenuating circumstance and cannot pay your bill or make a payment plan work, many places will work with you to forgive some or all of your bill.  Speak with their billing department for more information on this - but be prepared to provide all your personal financial information (assets, personal savings, records, etc) to prove financial/personal hardship.  

Great Record Keeping

Finally, keep great records throughout the year - record all premiums you paid out-of-pocket, all copays, medical and dental bills, prescriptions, and all mileage to appointments.  At the end of the year your accountant can help you wade through all the information and determine what you will be able to claim as a tax deduction - but the more information you have to give him, the more you will potentially be able to write off so keeping great records is key.  

I hope these tips will help you and your family save money on your health insurance and medical bills.  If you have any other tips to share, I would love to hear them!  

Please note:  These tips relate to what we've learned in our own experience, please consult your insurance broker, accountant, etc for the best information regarding your own situation.  Use the information in this post at your own discretion and risk.