Funky Frugal Mommy

Your appliances are probably some of the most expensive things you have in your home. So, when one of them breaks down, not only does it disturb your daily routine but it can also cause quite a headache when it comes to your finances. Replacing it might break the bank, but there is also the option of repairing it. Deciding between the two, however, is harder than it seems at first and the decision involves quite a few factors you should take into account. Here are some of the telltale signs that will help you decide whether to call a repairman or the scrap metal collector. Get acquainted with common problems Above all, you should get acquainted with some of the common problems with appliances so that you can estimate whether you’re in for a costly ordeal. Some of the issues, such as installing a new door seal on your dishwasher or replacing the thermal fuse in your dryer, you can solve easily by yourself. Even a more serious oven repair  can be solved cost-effectively if you t

  by   12-Year-Old Nutrition Expert, Kai  Nunziato -Cruz Hey Guys!  Kai here from Generation Kai!   I’m a 12-ye ar old Kid obsessed with food…healthy food that is.  Like many kids living in the south, my school year has already started. (Kids up north are about to start soon though!) I know w hen I get home from school ,  I am starving.  Here are  some things to keep in mind when the 3pm snack attack hits after school.    •  Instead of snack bars… consider  veggies dipped in hummus .   (This gives you the vitamins and the protein that keeps you full until dinner!) Veggies  are  a great go-to snack if they are prepped ahead of time.    My favorite  dippable veggies are celery,  cucumbers,  sweet peppers, and grape tomatoes.   •  Instead of fruit snacks or fruit cups …  (which are loaded with added sugar ,)  consider snacking on fresh fruit.  Like veggies, f resh fruit is easy as long as it’s at your fingertips and pre-cleaned.  We usually go shopping once a week and buy everything we ne

Bean bags are fantastic for children (and adults!) of all ages. They look stylish around the home and are extremely comfortable to relax on. Here, we take a look at everything you need to know about the benefits of beanbags, so you can  go ahead and choose the perfect one for your child . Why are bean bags good for children?  Bean bags are a great choice for children because they can easily be transported from one room to another. Kids will love having their own special seat to use in any room of the house! Bean bag chairs can also  help children sit comfortably  at school  or  when they are watching television or reading. They are also great for helping the transition to school. Sitting at a desk for several hours a day can be difficult for young children, but bean bag chairs can help children have a more relaxed seating position, whilst still providing support. So, if children are sitting comfortably, they are more likely to succeed at the task they are carry ing out.    Another grea

Every household wishes they had a little more disposable income. In fact, scratch that, a lot more. There are literally countless ways in which this could be achieved but if we had a choice, we would like to play it safe. And when we think of safe, we think of working overtime, picked up weekend work, doing odd jobs for friends and family etc. This leads to us being overworked and underpaid as none of those kinds of jobs we will do, will be enough. But, have you noticed how that kind of work is almost always physical? It's being somewhere or doing something that nets us the extra cash. What if you could earn a little more, by doing less than you normally do? Using your mental skills to do work that is time-consuming but often very beneficial in many industries and to many companies could be what you’re looking for. Research is something that not only costs companies a lot and drains their resources as well as funds, but it takes patience and they’re willing to pay you for it.

Kids aren’t born with healthy eating habits – they learn from their parents. With repetition and practice, healthy eating habits can become a way of life for the entire family.      August is Kids Eat Right Month™, when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its Foundation focus on the importance of healthful eating and active lifestyles for children and their families.    “Parents raise healthy eaters, bite by bite, meal by meal, as children transition from infants to teens and then to young adults,” said registered dietitian nutritionist and Academy Spokesperson Isabel Maples.   “Raising a competent eater takes years. Start by keeping mealtimes pleasant. Sit down regularly as a family to share meals, because positive attitudes about food grow from that. When there’s joy in eating, good nutrition can follow,” Maples said.    “As children grow, involve them more and more in the responsibility and decision making of meals and snacks. That might mean in

There is nothing more satisfying as a parent then watching the amazement and astonishment appear on a child's face when they are watching a magic show. The whole idea of seeing things vanish, appear, change shape or color right before their eyes is something every child should experience in life. Magic brings a sense of wonder and imagination that makes life interesting and fun. There are many different types of magicians and most of them are experts in their study creating mystifying tricks and mind boggling puzzles that even we as grown ups cant quite wrap our heads around. One of the greatest ways to enjoy a magic show is at a party or event that you can invite all your friends and family to, this is the best way to create lasting memories with the ones you love. If you need a magic show that is certain to keep you kids entertained, and badly fool both children and adults, Julian is the entertainer for you. He has been performing magic at kid's parties for roughly f

Despite the association made between sickness and wintertime, many are surprised when they fall ill during the beautiful, warm summer season. While our immune systems do tend to take down viruses with more ease in the summertime, they don’t always win the fight. Thankfully, combatting summer sickness requires a simple, straightforward approach. To protect yourself from getting sick this summer, Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O.  is sharing his simple advice to find a natural fix.   Dr. Calapai is a New York-based Osteopathic Physician, board-certified in family and anti-aging medicine. He suggests the following tips to identify the cause of your ailment and find a natural remedy:   1.       How clean is your air conditioner?   Air conditioning is a life-saver in the summer heat, but when’s the last time you cleaned your air conditioner? When left uncleaned for long periods of time, air conditioning systems can accumulate a wide array of bacteria that can make you sick. With these little ge

From Meghan Markle, a divorced American actress marrying a British Royal to gay marriage gaining more of a global acceptance, it is clear that marriage is moving away from the traditional values of yesteryear.    A forward-thinking attitude is rooted in the belief that marriage should be focused on love and partnership, rather than forced traditions that may not work for everyone in today’s world, such as women being ‘given away’.    Daffodil Hotel & Spa have uncovered the wedding traditions that are being updated for the modern day, showcasing how modern couples are choosing to switch up the old wedded ways:  https://daffodilhotel.co.uk/blog/modern-wedding-traditions/   Outdated Wedding Traditions The tradition of the father  “giving away the bride”  harks back to the time where young girls were considered the property of their fathers, before being handed off to their husbands. Today, 1 in 3 don’t feel the need to be “given away” and are choosing to walk down the aisle with an a

  You brush three times a day. You floss each night. But then, admit it, you down a soda or you snack on a candy bar, undoing all that hard work and exposing your teeth to long-lasting harm. Because when it comes to oral health, the No. 1 thing you can do to keep your teeth and gums strong is to watch what you eat.   “It’s more important than brushing; it’s more important than fluoride,” says Dr. Steven Freeman, a dentist and author of the book  Why Your Teeth Might Be Killing You ( www.elitesmilesdentistry.com ). “It’s even more important than visiting the dentist.”   The reason: Almost all the problems that occur in the mouth are the result of bacteria, Freeman says. Bacteria causes cavities as well as gum disease, and the main food source for bacteria also happens to be prevalent  in just about everything we consume, from bread, to sauces to energy drinks.   That would be sugar.   “It’s difficult to avoid sugar, but you need to stay away from it as much as possible,” Freeman says.  

What is a sitz bath? This is a form of treatment performed by having a sit-in shallow and warm water. This therapy is able to calm all forms of irritations, pain and many problems of the mid-section.        In case you're unable to fully bathe, this is a great treatment for you to apply because it ensures that the anal area and genital areas are clean.       Benefits of a Sitz Bath    Having this type of bath maintains the hygienic conditions needed for your private areas. A sitz bath is vital as it brings muscle relaxation and increases the flow of blood the area of focus in your mid-section.   There are still other numerous reasons why a sitz bath is advantageous such as:       Relief of menstrual cramps    Relieve pain along the prostate area, especially just after prostatitis    In case of surgery, it helps to relax the anal area    Relieve pain related to an anal fissure    For those with hemorrhoids, a sitz bath helps ease itching and pain    

This season,  PUR attitude™  announced the release of its  PURenergizer™ Complete Anti-Aging Kit . The kit features the  Nano Solutions Skin Infuser  a handheld device that harnesses ultrasonic nanotechnology to transform targeted serums into a potent “nano-vapor” that can penetrate more deeply into the skin. This process creates fresh liposomes on the skin at the time of application, which enables improved delivery of key ingredients. The process works synergistically with the skin’s natural lipid barrier; the experience is therefore personalized for every user’s unique skin type. “The PUR attitude brand is always on the cutting edge of advanced technology using safe ingredients,” said  Jerry Rayman , President of  PUR attitude . “Because we are an independent high-science beauty brand, we are nimble enough to disrupt the marketplace with innovation, while safely delivering results in a nontoxic way. The new PURenergizer™ product with the handheld Nano Solutions Skin