I’ve become a big fan of the freezer since I’ve started my “extreme stockpiling”.  I’m always curious though as to what freezes well and what doesn’t.  Thanks to Kelly @ Faithful Provisions I can share with you this great list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to freezing.

Foods That Don’t Freeze Well:

• cream cheese
• sour cream
• cottage cheese
• heavy cream (not to whip)
• pies with cream or custard fillings
• mayonnaise
• lettuce
• cabbage
• celery
• endive

Foods That Do Freeze Well:

• Kale (blanch it first)
• Pesto
• Yogurt (best if eaten frozen)
• Fresh Herbs (chopped in ice cube trays with water)
• Butter
• Beaten Eggs (for quiches, scrambled eggs)
• Shredded Cheese
• Dough i.e. Pillsbury Biscuits, Pizza dough (just fully defrost before you work with it)
• Grapes (eat them frozen)

Foods You Should Freeze:

• Nuts (can turn rancid due to the nut oils)
• Parmesan (grated kind, I can keep it longer)

Tracie has worked hard to eliminate over $35,000 in debt in only 27 short months.  In her “spare” time, she takes care of 3 small children and blogs for KC Parent Magazine.  She shares her deals, tips and ways to save money at KC Penny Pinchin’ Mama.

Remember how I told you about going to the storage unit auction here? I received several questions about this subject and have decided to make it a post.  I have rolled the 2 subjects into one as this type of “shopping” can be considered both.

What is a storage unit auction?

When renters of s storage unit facility default on payments over x amount of time, the owners have the right to sell the properties contained inside the unit to recoup some of the loses.  Each facility has different guide lines as to how long they wait.

How does it work?

Each auction is basically operated in the same manner.

1. You fill out a simple sign up sheet and receive a number. This number will be used to identify you as the buyer of the auctions you bid on and won.
2. Auctioneer will stand in front of each unit and give the bidders an opportunity to peek inside.  Some will let you walk in if applicable but you are not to touch anything.
3. Once all bidders have had a chance to look the bidding starts. Bids can start at as little as $5. Usually depends on the type of goods inside.
4. The winners will have x amount of time to clear the goods out once the auction is over.
5. Auctions won are usually required to be paid in cash.

Things you need to bring with you:

• Flash light: helps see the hidden goods in dark corners.  Also handy for inside units. These typically don’t have light inside the unit, only in the hall ways.
• Locks: You will need to lock any unit you purchase once bidding for it has ended.
• Cash: All auctions that I’ve been too require cash only for payments.

Bid and Hold: This is term that is used when the unit’s renters have agreed to pay by a certain day which falls after the auction day.  The winner for these types ONLY get the unit IF the renter DOES NOT pay on said day.  I’m not for sure but I don’t think they are obligated to pay for the unit the day of the auction.  I’ve never won a Bid and Hold.

Under Texas State Law: All items consisting of tax information, death/birth/marriage certificates, wedding photos and all personal documentaions are to be turned into the office of the storage facility.  Other than that everything else in the unit is yours.

What to do with what you’ve won?

Keep it, sell it, donate or trash it.  It’s all your choice now.  You could end up with a ton of money makers or a bunch of junk. That’s the funny thing about “shopping” this way.

I have friend you has had a bit of both.  He has bought units with a mess of furniture and doubled his money.  He’s bought units he thought held a hidden gem and was left with nothing but junk.  You have to be careful when bidding for sure.

How to bid:

This is how I was told to bid and so far so good.  Pick one item that you know the value of. It can be something you want personally or something you know you can sell for $X.  Then don’t bid over that.  Doing this will, hopefully, prevent you from loosing money.

Where do you find these auctions?:

Most storage unit auctions are listed in the legal notices section of the paper.  You can also look on Craigslist and other such listing sites.  Want old fashioned? Just call the facilities in your area and ask.

What if you didn’t win an auction but you REALLY wanted a certain item in it?

Simply make the buyer and offer for said item.  Most of the time they will work something out with you.

Looking for ways to keep up your champagne luxuries on a diet coke budget?

Here is a company that offer deals for just that. BuyWithMe is a company that offers rock bottom deals for a limited time.  They offer up to 90% savings on restaurants, entertainment, spa pleasures, services, restaurants and more.

Just select your nearest metro area and you will receive emails when offers are available for you.  I received on the other for 80% off a hot rock massage! OMG don’t you know if I had someone to watch the kids that day I would’ve been so there!

Check it out for yourself here .  Let me know what amazing money saving offers they have for your city!

How to Make a Pinata

by Natasha Scott from Saving A Bundle.

“Have you ever wondered how to make a piñata? Let me assure you, making a piñata is really quite simple, and with a little time you can create a masterpiece! Piñatas are always a hit, and a fun activity for all ages at any party or gathering.  Follow the steps below to make your own piñata.

Before You Begin

What you will need:

• Balloon
• String
• Scissors
• Newspaper
• Flour
• Water
• Bowl to make your paste
• Hanger
• Strong Tape
• Somewhere to hang the piñata
• Decorating items of your choice (paint, crepe paper, cardboard, etc.)
• Candy, toys to fill the piñata

1. Determine how big and what kind of piñata you want to make. This will help you determine the size of balloon, how many balloons to use, how many layers you’ll need, how much candy/toys you will need to purchase, and how long it will take to make the piñata.

When I made the pumpkin piñata (see below) it was for a very large gathering of neighbors. It weighed over 40 lbs with all the candy inside! I was able to purchase a gigantic balloon, which was $0.39, from the floral department at my local grocery store.  Unless you are making a gigantic piñata a large balloon from any balloon package will work. Depending on the shape you might need two balloons to make your piñata-for example, the Hawaiian Girl.

Keep in mind each layer will take 24 hours or more to dry. If you need a very strong and sturdy piñata it could take nearly two weeks to make.

2. Collect newspapers and cut them into 2 inch by 10 inch strips. It’s a good idea to lay newspapers under the piñata-it can become messy. You can also use a plastic table cover from the dollar store, or your own vinyl picnic table cover that can wipe easily.

3. Find somewhere you can hang your piñata when you break it and make it. I use a tripod when I’m making it The tripod has a hook on the bottom and is very sturdy. You can make it on the floor but it’s very messy. If you don’t have a place to hang it use a vinyl table cloth so it didn’t stick to the newspapers. To break the piñata we use our play house, just move the swings aside. You can also use two ladders, or a clothesline.

4. Purchase candy and toys for the piñata. I like to purchase party favors as well as candy. This keeps the kiddos from eating too much candy. Using party favors also helps keep the piñata from being too heavy, if that’s a concern for you. Keep in mind if you use chocolate don’t let it get to hot or you’ll have a huge mess on your hands!

Now you’re ready to get your fingers dirty!

Make the Pinata

1. Blow up the balloon, tie a string to the top, and hang it up. Keep in mind, the shape the balloon is when you begin is the shape it will turn out to be. If you want a round pinata more than a tear shaped piñata don’t blow the balloon up so much.

2. Mix the paste. For medium sized balloons I usually use 1 1/2 cups flour. I then add water and stir, until the consistency is a medium to thick paste.

3. Take a clipped newspaper, dip it in the paste, wipe off the excess paste, then lay it on the balloon. You will want to lay them the same direction all the way around the balloon. After it dries, it takes about 24 hours, lay a second layer of newspaper clippings, this time lay them in the opposite direction. This will strengthen the piñata. If the piñata is for small children up to 6 years old, you only need to lay four layers. The more layers you add the harder it’s going to be!

4. After you have laid a minimum of two layers of newspapers, make a hook using a hanger. **If you are making a large piñata I would lay at least 3 layers before applying the hanger. It’s going to need to be extra strong to hold all the candy!**

Cut the balloon.  Cut the wire hanger in the middle of the bottom of the triangle. Using pliers bend the hanger hook down and around to make a loop as shown in the picture. This is so you can tie a string to it and it’s not going to slide off. Decide where you want the top of the piñata to be and wrap the cut hanger around the sides. You may need to clip the hanger sides shorter if you are making a small piñata. Tape the sides down with a strong tape. I have used packing tape before and it worked just find. My husband decided he wanted to use duct tape this time around.

If you are making a piñata with two balloons together this is the time to attach them together. Follow steps 1 and 2 first, then take some strong tape to attach them just enough so they will stay together as you add more layers.

5. Lay at least one more layer of newspaper. Once again, it all depends on how large you are making the piñata. If you have a double balloon piñata you will need to apply at least three more layers to hold the balloons together.

6. After the piñata is dry cut a flap near the top to fill the piñata. Cut the flap in a U shape, leaving the top uncut. When you’re finished tape it up and you’re ready to decorate!

Decorate the Piñata

Decide how you want to decorate your piñata. A few of the piñatas I’ve made are a smiley face, bowling pin, pumpkin, rainbow, Hawaiian girl, and a power ranger. You can make anything you want to, use your imagination and go for it.

Paint. The smiley face was probably the easiest. I painted two coats of yellow acrylic paint then painted the black eyes and mouth after that was dry. Very simple and cute. The bowling pin was mostly white paint with a little crepe paper around the neck. Paint is my favorite tool because it’s fast and easy!

Crepe paper. When I made the pumpkin piñata I used crepe paper sheets that I cut and then fringed. I then used Elmers glue to paste it all on. The green stem is made of cardboard and covered with green crepe paper. The eyes are also made of crepe paper. Black trash bags work really well for black too when making piñatas too.

Another way to use the crepe paper is to cut 2 by 2 inch squares, and use a pencil to wrap the squares around, dip in Elmers glue and paste on the piñata. This is what I did for the rainbow piñata. This takes a lot of time!

Cardboard. If you wanted to make a piñata with corners you can cut up a cardboard box and tape it right on. If you’ll notice on the Hawaiian Girl I used paper towel rolls for her arms.Be creative and you’ll be surprised what you can come up with.

Now you can enjoy watching your creation be demolished!”

Natasha is a busy stay-at-home mom of three boys. She enjoys educating and encouraging others to live frugally on her blog, Saving A Bundle.

I’ve become a big fan of the freezer since I’ve started my “extreme stockpiling”.  I’m always curious though as to what freezes well and what doesn’t.  Thanks to Kelly @ Faithful Provisions I can share with you this great list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to freezing.

Foods That Don’t Freeze Well:

• cream cheese
• sour cream
• cottage cheese
• heavy cream (not to whip)
• pies with cream or custard fillings
• mayonnaise
• lettuce
• cabbage
• celery
• endive

Foods That Do Freeze Well:

• Kale (blanch it first)
• Pesto
• Yogurt (best if eaten frozen)
• Fresh Herbs (chopped in ice cube trays with water)
• Butter
• Beaten Eggs (for quiches, scrambled eggs)
• Shredded Cheese
• Dough i.e. Pillsbury Biscuits, Pizza dough (just fully defrost before you work with it)
• Grapes (eat them frozen)

Foods You Should Freeze:

• Nuts (can turn rancid due to the nut oils)
• Parmesan (grated kind, I can keep it longer)

Looking for ways to keep up your champagne luxuries on a diet coke budget?

Here is a company that offer deals for just that. BuyWithMe is a company that offers rock bottom deals for a limited time.  They offer up to 90% savings on restaurants, entertainment, spa pleasures, services, restaurants and more.

Just select your nearest metro area and you will receive emails when offers are available for you.  I received on the other for 80% off a hot rock massage! OMG don’t you know if I had someone to watch the kids that day I would’ve been so there!

Check it out for yourself here .  Let me know what amazing money saving offers they have for your city!

Thrifty Tuesday’s are for sharing your Thrifty finds that didn’t require coupons.  It can be yards sale finds, freecycle finds, thrift store steals and the like.

This week I went to a local thrift store looking for some odds and ends. They were having s sale on children’s clothing. All pieces were a buck!

My daughter needs some new night gowns and while looking in that section I stumbled upon an adorable rain coat.  I checked for the size and noticed it was a Kidorable brand raincoat, SCORE!!! These retail for $36, saving me $35!!! The style was on  from a few seasons ago but who cares it’s still a buck and still adorable!

Share your finds by linking up or leaving a comment below!

I’ve become a big fan of the freezer since I’ve started my “extreme stockpiling”.  I’m always curious though as to what freezes well and what doesn’t.  Thanks to Kelly @ Faithful Provisions I can share with you this great list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to freezing.

Foods That Don’t Freeze Well:

• cream cheese
• sour cream
• cottage cheese
• heavy cream (not to whip)
• pies with cream or custard fillings
• mayonnaise
• lettuce
• cabbage
• celery
• endive

Foods That Do Freeze Well:

• Kale (blanch it first)
• Pesto
• Yogurt (best if eaten frozen)
• Fresh Herbs (chopped in ice cube trays with water)
• Butter
• Beaten Eggs (for quiches, scrambled eggs)
• Shredded Cheese
• Dough i.e. Pillsbury Biscuits, Pizza dough (just fully defrost before you work with it)
• Grapes (eat them frozen)

Foods You Should Freeze:

• Nuts (can turn rancid due to the nut oils)
• Parmesan (grated kind, I can keep it longer)

I know that we all just wrapped up the holidays and the last thing we want is to think about any gift giving in 2010, but you really should. By planning ahead and following these tips, you can really save on those gifts for everyone you want to buy for.

1. Stock pile holiday/birthday items. Just about every store you walk into has items marked down – most as much as 75% off. . You can find most holiday merchandise, winter clothing, housewares and even toys marked down at much as 75% off.

Think ahead of all of the teachers, friends, birthdays, weddings and events you will have this coming year and pick some things up. Nothing says you have to wait until November to start your holiday shopping.

2. Work on Your Family’s Winter 2010 Wardrobe. If you can, determine what size your child may be wearing next winter. I have picked up full winter coat sets (coat, mittens, pants) for less than $10.00 by doing this!

I will say that for me though, clothing items must be marked down at least 75% off for me to consider it a great deal. So, if it is only 60%, I normally walk away and will come back a week later. In doing this, I have to follow the mantra of “if it is meant to be, it will still be waiting for me in a week.” Sometimes I am lucky, but other times, I’m not. And that’s OK by me.

3. Don’t Fall Into the “It’s On Sale” Trap. Just because something is marked down doesn’t mean you have to buy it. If you find a candy dish that is marked down to $1.50 doesn’t mean you need it because it is marked down. If you can’t use it for a gift idea or for yourself, then purchasing it is actually wasting $1.50.

4. Start Saving. What my husband and I do is take last year’s spending and add 10% to it. Then, we add in our set budget amount for birthdays and anniversaries and then divide that total amount by 12. This tells us how much we need to save every month to fund all of these events. This way, it doesn’t creep up on us. It also is great to have the money available if I happen to find that “must have” item on sale earlier in the year.

Not only do we set our budget, we stop spending our change. Since our family operates on mostly cash we always have change. I never give that away when I pay. If my total is $10.04, I hand over $11.00 and then put $0.96 into savings. You would be amazed at how much you can save — for us it was well over $200.00 this past year!

5. Work on Your Wish List. I don’t know about you, but I can’t even count the number of times I get asked “What do you want for your birthday/Christmas?” every single year. And of course, my response is always, “I don’t know, I have to think about it.”

I actually created a gift list in a Word document. Every time I see something my children need or my husband casually mentions “I’d love an ABC sometime”, I jot it down. I do the same for myself when I am doing things around the house. For us, this has been so helpful because we can get those gifts that we may have mentioned 6 months earlier and it is that much more of a surprise for the receiver! Plus, for my husband, it earns him bonus points, and what hubby doesn’t want a few more of those?

Hopefully, these 5 tips can help you make your 2010 gift giving a little less tough on the wallet, less stressful for you and just all around a much more enjoyable experience!

Tracie has worked hard to eliminate over $35,000 in debt in only 27 short months.  In her “spare” time, she takes care of 3 small children and blogs for KC Parent Magazine.  She shares her deals, tips and ways to save money at KC Penny Pinchin’ Mama.

Recently I was in the need of some new sneakers.  I don’t wear them much but wanted a pair for everyday use when I do.  The pair I had had been great and lasted several years but have now retired to “yard shoes” status.

I always joke that I’m too cheap for myself. My husband said “Just go buy the ones you want b/c you know they will last forever seeing how you never wear them.”

We headed to Academy in search of my sneakers and determined I was not going to talk myself out of buying them.  Well guess what? I did.  I just couldn’t see paying almost $100 for a pair of sneakers that I’d wear sometimes. I thought “Oh the kids could use sneakers too so let me go look for those.” Then I feel in love.

You see I have a small size 7.5 foot. I was looking at the kids shoes and thought “These don’t look much smaller than woman’s shoes AND they are 1/2 the price!’ I found a 6.5, slipped it on and it fit!!! I could get a pair of Asics for $29 instead of $89!  They were almost identical to the ones I was looking at in womens!  Hello $60 savings!

It gets better though. Apparently I’m rubbing off on my husband b/c he came around the corner with a pair of kids New Balance from the clearance section (which I didn’t even know they had) for $15! Amazed at his find I had to check out the clearance for myself.

I found and purchase a pair of Puma for $25!  The women’s were $96!  I saved over $70 by “thinking smaller”!

So many people say that they just are too busy to be organized or just don’t have the time to get organized. Did you know that you can actually be throwing money out the window if you aren’t? Just by taking a few simple steps, you will not only make your life easier, you’ll make your wallet happy too!

1. Avoid the Duplicate Purchase. Have you ever gone shopping and then realized, when you got home, that you already had 3 cans of peas in the pantry….they were just hidden behind the large jar of pasta sauce. Frustrating, isn’t it? By taking the time to organize your pantry, freezer and refrigerator you can easily take a quick inventory of what you need to purchase at the store. By keeping like items all grouped together (i.e. canned items or snack foods), makes it very easy to quickly determine which items you need to buy.

2. Prevents Food Waste. There are times when you might buy an extra carton of sour cream, which ends up hiding in the back of your refrigerator and you don’t find it until it is filled with a lovely black growth. So, you have to toss it in the trash. That is money wasted. If you keep your refrigerator or freezer organize and not OVERLY full, you won’t miss items again.

3. Avoid the Line Between Hoarder and Stockpiler. If you already have 10 cans of green beans on hand and they are on sale again, do you really need to purchase 10 more? If you can easily glance at your pantry and see what you have stockpiled, you can save spending and can just wait until the next great sale comes around.

4. Don’t Miss Out on Savings. If you keep your coupons organized and easy to access, you won’t find that great one for $2.50/1 Dishwasher Tabs — 4 days after it has expired. So now, you will end up paying full price or saving only $0.50 instead. While it is still savings, you could have saved more if you had been able to more easily locate the coupons you had on hand. You can actually utilize my coupon database to help you keep track of the coupons that have been in the inserts here in Kansas City.

Just taking some extra time to get a handle on being organized can save you money AND precious time.

Tracie has worked hard to eliminate over $35,000 in debt in only 27 short months.  In her “spare” time, she takes care of 3 small children and blogs for KC Parent Magazine.  She shares her deals, tips and ways to save money at KC Penny Pinchin’ Mama.

Remember how I told you about going to the storage unit auction here? I received several questions about this subject and have decided to make it a post.  I have rolled the 2 subjects into one as this type of “shopping” can be considered both.

What is a storage unit auction?

When renters of s storage unit facility default on payments over x amount of time, the owners have the right to sell the properties contained inside the unit to recoup some of the loses.  Each facility has different guide lines as to how long they wait.

How does it work?

Each auction is basically operated in the same manner.

1. You fill out a simple sign up sheet and receive a number. This number will be used to identify you as the buyer of the auctions you bid on and won.
2. Auctioneer will stand in front of each unit and give the bidders an opportunity to peek inside.  Some will let you walk in if applicable but you are not to touch anything.
3. Once all bidders have had a chance to look the bidding starts. Bids can start at as little as $5. Usually depends on the type of goods inside.
4. The winners will have x amount of time to clear the goods out once the auction is over.
5. Auctions won are usually required to be paid in cash.

Things you need to bring with you:

• Flash light: helps see the hidden goods in dark corners.  Also handy for inside units. These typically don’t have light inside the unit, only in the hall ways.
• Locks: You will need to lock any unit you purchase once bidding for it has ended.
• Cash: All auctions that I’ve been too require cash only for payments.

Bid and Hold: This is term that is used when the unit’s renters have agreed to pay by a certain day which falls after the auction day.  The winner for these types ONLY get the unit IF the renter DOES NOT pay on said day.  I’m not for sure but I don’t think they are obligated to pay for the unit the day of the auction.  I’ve never won a Bid and Hold.

Under Texas State Law: All items consisting of tax information, death/birth/marriage certificates, wedding photos and all personal documentaions are to be turned into the office of the storage facility.  Other than that everything else in the unit is yours.

What to do with what you’ve won?

Keep it, sell it, donate or trash it.  It’s all your choice now.  You could end up with a ton of money makers or a bunch of junk. That’s the funny thing about “shopping” this way.

I have friend you has had a bit of both.  He has bought units with a mess of furniture and doubled his money.  He’s bought units he thought held a hidden gem and was left with nothing but junk.  You have to be careful when bidding for sure.

How to bid:

This is how I was told to bid and so far so good.  Pick one item that you know the value of. It can be something you want personally or something you know you can sell for $X.  Then don’t bid over that.  Doing this will, hopefully, prevent you from loosing money.

Where do you find these auctions?:

Most storage unit auctions are listed in the legal notices section of the paper.  You can also look on Craigslist and other such listing sites.  Want old fashioned? Just call the facilities in your area and ask.

What if you didn’t win an auction but you REALLY wanted a certain item in it?

Simply make the buyer and offer for said item.  Most of the time they will work something out with you.

Guest Post by Natasha Scott from Saving A Bundle.

Have you ever wondered how to make a piñata? Let me assure you, making a piñata is really quite simple, and with a little time you can create a masterpiece! Piñatas are always a hit, and a fun activity for all ages at any party or gathering.  Follow the steps below to make your own piñata.

Before You Begin

What you will need:

• Balloon
• String
• Scissors
• Newspaper
• Flour
• Water
• Bowl to make your paste
• Hanger
• Strong Tape
• Somewhere to hang the piñata
• Decorating items of your choice (paint, crepe paper, cardboard, etc.)
• Candy, toys to fill the piñata

1. Determine how big and what kind of piñata you want to make. This will help you determine the size of balloon, how many balloons to use, how many layers you’ll need, how much candy/toys you will need to purchase, and how long it will take to make the piñata.

When I made the pumpkin piñata (see below) it was for a very large gathering of neighbors. It weighed over 40 lbs with all the candy inside! I was able to purchase a gigantic balloon, which was $0.39, from the floral department at my local grocery store.  Unless you are making a gigantic piñata a large balloon from any balloon package will work. Depending on the shape you might need two balloons to make your piñata-for example, the Hawaiian Girl.

Keep in mind each layer will take 24 hours or more to dry. If you need a very strong and sturdy piñata it could take nearly two weeks to make.

2. Collect newspapers and cut them into 2 inch by 10 inch strips. It’s a good idea to lay newspapers under the piñata-it can become messy. You can also use a plastic table cover from the dollar store, or your own vinyl picnic table cover that can wipe easily.

3. Find somewhere you can hang your piñata when you break it and make it. I use a tripod when I’m making it The tripod has a hook on the bottom and is very sturdy. You can make it on the floor but it’s very messy. If you don’t have a place to hang it use a vinyl table cloth so it didn’t stick to the newspapers. To break the piñata we use our play house, just move the swings aside. You can also use two ladders, or a clothesline.

4. Purchase candy and toys for the piñata. I like to purchase party favors as well as candy. This keeps the kiddos from eating too much candy. Using party favors also helps keep the piñata from being too heavy, if that’s a concern for you. Keep in mind if you use chocolate don’t let it get to hot or you’ll have a huge mess on your hands!

Now you’re ready to get your fingers dirty!

Make the Pinata

1. Blow up the balloon, tie a string to the top, and hang it up. Keep in mind, the shape the balloon is when you begin is the shape it will turn out to be. If you want a round pinata more than a tear shaped piñata don’t blow the balloon up so much.

2. Mix the paste. For medium sized balloons I usually use 1 1/2 cups flour. I then add water and stir, until the consistency is a medium to thick paste.

3. Take a clipped newspaper, dip it in the paste, wipe off the excess paste, then lay it on the balloon. You will want to lay them the same direction all the way around the balloon. After it dries, it takes about 24 hours, lay a second layer of newspaper clippings, this time lay them in the opposite direction. This will strengthen the piñata. If the piñata is for small children up to 6 years old, you only need to lay four layers. The more layers you add the harder it’s going to be!

4. After you have laid a minimum of two layers of newspapers, make a hook using a hanger. **If you are making a large piñata I would lay at least 3 layers before applying the hanger. It’s going to need to be extra strong to hold all the candy!**

Cut the balloon.  Cut the wire hanger in the middle of the bottom of the triangle. Using pliers bend the hanger hook down and around to make a loop as shown in the picture. This is so you can tie a string to it and it’s not going to slide off. Decide where you want the top of the piñata to be and wrap the cut hanger around the sides. You may need to clip the hanger sides shorter if you are making a small piñata. Tape the sides down with a strong tape. I have used packing tape before and it worked just find. My husband decided he wanted to use duct tape this time around.

If you are making a piñata with two balloons together this is the time to attach them together. Follow steps 1 and 2 first, then take some strong tape to attach them just enough so they will stay together as you add more layers.

5. Lay at least one more layer of newspaper. Once again, it all depends on how large you are making the piñata. If you have a double balloon piñata you will need to apply at least three more layers to hold the balloons together.

6. After the piñata is dry cut a flap near the top to fill the piñata. Cut the flap in a U shape, leaving the top uncut. When you’re finished tape it up and you’re ready to decorate!

Decide how you want to decorate your piñata. A few of the piñatas I’ve made are a smiley face, bowling pin, pumpkin, rainbow, Hawaiian girl, and a power ranger. You can make anything you want to, use your imagination and go for it.

Paint. The smiley face was probably the easiest. I painted two coats of yellow acrylic paint then painted the black eyes and mouth after that was dry. Very simple and cute. The bowling pin was mostly white paint with a little crepe paper around the neck. Paint is my favorite tool because it’s fast and easy!

Crepe paper. When I made the pumpkin piñata I used crepe paper sheets that I cut and then fringed. I then used Elmers glue to paste it all on. The green stem is made of cardboard and covered with green crepe paper. The eyes are also made of crepe paper. Black trash bags work really well for black too when making piñatas too.

Another way to use the crepe paper is to cut 2 by 2 inch squares, and use a pencil to wrap the squares around, dip in Elmers glue and paste on the piñata. This is what I did for the rainbow piñata. This takes a lot of time!

Cardboard. If you wanted to make a piñata with corners you can cut up a cardboard box and tape it right on. If you’ll notice on the Hawaiian Girl I used paper towel rolls for her arms.Be creative and you’ll be surprised what you can come up with.

Now you can enjoy watching your creation be demolished!

Natasha is a busy stay-at-home mom of three boys. She enjoys educating and encouraging others to live frugally on her blog, Saving A Bundle.

*Stay tuned next week for “How to Shop a Storage Unit Auction”.*

Ever heard of FREECYCLE?Well it’s this awesome group through Yahoo.  Basically you post items you no longer want and then someone from the group comes and gets them.  You can also post items you are in search of and if someone has one they give it to you!  Sweet huh?  It’s all part of an effort to recycle unwanted items.  Sign up for the Freecycle Group in your area.

Check out the goodies I received the other day.  The reindeer is like brand new with tags still attached. It was a promo item at Lifeway Christian Stores a few years back and amazingly enough was the one I missed getting!  Then we have a neat little mosaic votive candle holder with a snowman on 2 side. A Silver deer pillar candle holder, plain jane stocking, fun snowman place mate and decorative shirt size wrapping box.  All for FREE!!!

Don’t get me wrong about this. You can get some real crap-o-la too.  I won’t even go there about some of the stuff that I pick up.  But then again it’s all free and if you say you want it you better go pick it