• How to Change the Straps on Your Sandals

    Every year we buy flip flops at Dollarama. And every year we wear them a time or two, get awful blisters from the straps, and shove them back in the closet.

    This summer, instead of buying yet another pair, hoping somehow they will not give me blisters, I decided to try to fix a pair from last year. Thankfully, it worked!

    This is a simple, very inexpensive, and quick way to make those dollar store flip flops soft and comfy.

    You will need:

    • Flip Flops
    • Leggings (I like the Wonderbra jean-look leggings)
    • Scissors

    Instructions:

    1. Cut off the plastic straps of your flip flops.

    2. Cut one leg off of your leggings.

    3. Cut the ankle hem off, too.

    4. Cut the pant leg into thin strips.

    5. Choose 6 strips, place them on top of one another, and shove them through the top flip flop hole.

    6. Tie a tight double knot (ensure it won’t pull back through the hole) and trim off your ends.

    7. Divide the strips into 3 groups of 2 and begin braiding.

    8. After about an inch or so, stop. Take 3 single strips and braid just those 3 down to the left hole.

    9. The fabric is nice and stretchy, so you don’t need to leave much extra room. Push those 3 straps through the hole and knot tightly (this may take 3 knots - ensure it won’t pull through to the other side). Trim the excess. Repeat on the other side of the flip flop.

    10. Repeat on the other flip flop.

    I love the look and feel of this fabric. It curls naturally, so it hides any edges that are not straight. It is also very soft to the touch, and it has the perfect amount of stretch. It also comes in many different colours and textures to match any flip flop you may have!

    This can also be done to the back of the dollar store “crocs” to avoid blisters.

    Reusing dollar store flip flops - now that’s a frugal idea your wallet, and poor little toes, will appreciate!

    Do you buy sandals from the dollar store?

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  • Centerpiece Idea for Only $3!

    If you visit Pinterest often, you have likely seen these decorative green grassy globes at some point.

    I think they are quite pretty and really ideal for on a fireplace mantel, island, or as a table centerpiece. You can purchase them for around $20 from Homesense – or you can make one yourself for only $3.

    To make this decoration, you will need one square of decorative green foliage (from the dollar store), safety pins, and a pot. I bought my little green pot from Dollarama for $1.

    This craft really could not be easier. Simply turn your foliage square upside down and pin the 2 opposing corners together with a safety pin like this:

    Then pin the other 2 corners together the same way.

    Now, simply gather in a little of one side and a little of the other, pinning to those main two safety pins. Keep pinning until you achieved a globe-like shape.

    Place this globe onto your pot, bowl, or jar with the safety pinned side down - and that’s it, you’re done!

    These little decorations look beautiful inside the home or outside. They would even make a lovely centerpiece for wedding tables.

    With just a bit of time, and some creativity, you can save yourself $17 by making these grassy globes yourself!

    What’s the latest home decor item you bought (or made) from the dollar store?

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  • Spring Cleaning with Dollar Store Supplies

    Are you planning to tackle some spring cleaning soon? If so, this post is for you. I recently tool a trip to my local dollar store (Dollarama) and checked out what items they had available to use for spring cleaning, and let me tell you - they had a ton of great stuff at great prices.

    They had many different rubber gloves for sale in all sizes (I saw small to large). These were priced at $1-$1.25 per package.

    I found this Clorox ReadyErase brush for only $3. It is supposed to clean corners and grout (I will have to test this one day!). It comes with 1 brush with erasing pad.

    Cleaning would be a bit difficult without some sponges and microfiber cloths! I found a bunch of different kinds of each, priced anywhere from $1-$2 each.

    Dollarama carries a variety of name brand products now - cleaning supplies included. I saw Comet, Vim, Tilex, Murphy, Clorox, Goo Gone and Lysol. They were priced from $1.25-$3 a piece.

    A few other things I found:

    • Broom Heads & Handles ($1-$3 each)
    • Dust Pans ($1-$2 each)
    • Mop Heads & Handles ($1-$3 each)
    • Dusters and Dusting Cloths ($1-$3 each)
    • Large Buckets ($2-$3 each)
    • Cleaning Caddy ($1.25-$2 each)
    • Toilet Brush ($1 each)
    • Scrub Brushes ($1-$2 each)
    • Paper Towels ($1-$3, depending on brand)

    As you can see, spring cleaning is easy (and cheap) when you can buy all of your necessary items at the dollar store. Don’t bother spending a bunch of money for items that you can get so inexpensively!

    Of course, keep in mind that if you use coupons, you may be able to get some of the cleaning products for a fraction of even dollar store prices.

    Other than that, the dollar store should be your best friend when it comes to cleaning supplies. They have almost everything that you could ever need.

    What cleaning supplies do you buy from dollar stores?

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  • Dollarama Stick Tile Review

    We bought a “fixer-upper” 3 years ago. I love the house, as it has a huge backyard, backs onto a park, and has a lot of potential. Well, as it turns out, it was a bit more of a fixer-upper than anticipated. We first needed new windows and a new roof before we could even think about tackling the cosmetic changes we wanted.

    So, we have had to be creative. A lot of the flooring in the house was in disrepair. And a lot was downright gross! So, given that we would be renovating, I did not want to replace the flooring with anything too expensive as it would just be removed in a year or two (or three, or ten… ahem).

    The solution? Dollarama stick tiles!

    I first put the flooring down in the kitchen, as I knew that the kitchen renovation was going to be done first. I was very impressed. It held up beautifully and was very simple to install. No fancy tools, simply a pair of scissors (that will get very sticky and likely ruined), a ruler, and a pencil.

    I then tackled our very, very yucky bathroom floor. I wasn’t sure how slippery the tiles would be, or how well the glue would hold up with the humidity and moisture, but guess what? Not one single problem - and it has been a full year!

    My latest project was the basement laundry room. This room, truthfully, I was just going to leave be. It has cement flooring and will remain unfinished. But it was just so icky, so I knew I had to do something.

    This tile was only 3/$1 at Dollarama. I used 26 tiles in our laundry toom, so my cost was only $9 to do the entire floor!

    I wondered how these stick tiles would hold up around the drain and thought I’d give them a try. Now, I know the floor is supposed to be level, so my plan was to lay down the tiles the best I could and then super glue any parts that wouldn’t stay down.

    I don’t think you will see this plan in very many home repair books, but for my purpose - it worked! This picture is from when the flooring is done, but before the super glue:

    The Dollarama stick tile is so easy to use. I started with the drain and easily cut out a hole in the middle of a tile simply by tracing the drain with a pencil onto the tile and cutting with scissors. The tiles stuck very well to the bare cement.

    I would highly recommend considering these tiles for many rooms. Home repair and renovation can be very costly, but with a little work, and smart purchases, you can save a bundle.

    Have you ever used these Dollarama tiles? What did you think of them?

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  • Office Organization - Organizing Desk Drawers

    I’ve been in desperate need of office organization for my brand new office for months now, but I’ve been putting it off. It just seems like such a huge task to furnish and organize an entire office from scratch!

    But - I am ready to get it done now because I am tired of never being able to find anything in my work space.

    The first thing I tackled was my under-desk cabinet (which is not going to be going under the desk until I get my cords organized under there). I bought this from IKEA and it stores so many of my small items that I use on a regular basis.

    In drawer #1 I have a $1 cutlery tray that I use to organize my pens, pencils, staples & stapler, highlighters and dry-erase & permanent markers.

    Drawer #2 contains 3 dollar store baskets (the small ones were 2/$1 and the larger one was $1) that hold sticky notes, tape dispensers and my much-loved label maker.

    The cardboard box is actually from a 12 pack of bottled water. I use it for scrap paper.

    In drawer #3, there are a bunch more dollar store bins (the clear ones were $1 each, the coloured and white ones were 3/$1 I believe). They house my calculators, pencil crayons, markers, crayons, business cards, business magnets, thumbtacks and paper clips.

    The little white dish is also from the dollar store - I’m pretty sure it was 3/$1 as well.

    Finally, in drawer #4 I keep my mailing supplies and extras. There are lots of envelopes, my cheque book and the 3 green bins (3/$1 at Dollarama) hold mini sticky notes, stamps, erasers and small odds & ends.

    Drawer #5 is empty because I’m not too sure what I want to put in there yet. I’m thinking I may put my extra computer cords in here, but I’m still thinking about it!

    So, that’s it! This is how I organize my small office supplies in my desk drawers. Having all of this stuff off of my desk top is so fantastic. I just wish I had done it sooner!

    How do you organize your desk drawers? Do you use dollar store bins? Please share in the comments!

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  • Dollarama Bacon Storage Container Review

    I purchased this bacon storage container from Dollarama for $1 a few months ago because I was tired of using zip-top bags and having to throw them in the trash when the bacon was finished.

    I really loved the idea of using a container for bacon so that I don’t have to throw out any more bags.

    After using it for a few months now, I can easily say that this bacon container is a great buy. It keeps my bacon fresh (the lid closes easily and snaps shut) and is easy to wash clean.

    Want to share your review of a dollar store product? Share here!

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  • The $8 Vegetable Garden

    Have you every dreamed of living on a farm? That simple way of life where you walk a little slower, grow your own food, maybe have a few animals? I certainly have - but right now it is far from a reality. We live in the city, but we do have a backyard, and we have been spending the last few dreary months of winter planning out a vegetable garden.

    You may be surprised to find that everything you need for your garden (from pots to soil to seeds) can be bought from your local dollar store. In this article, I am going to walk you through a simple way to create a vegetable garden of your very own. Vegetables to last you all summer long, for less than $10!

    Step 1: Make your plan

    Look at your backyard, balcony, or whatever outdoor area you have. Decide how much of that space you would like to devote to your garden. Any size space will do - it doesn’t have to be large. For the purpose of this article, we will assume you have a space 3 feet by 2 feet (simply change the number of seeds accordingly for smaller or bigger spaces).

    Step 2: Head to the dollar store for supplies

    For your $8 garden you will need:
    1 rectangular black tray with cover

    Cardboard cups (pack of 26)

    1 raking tool

    And these other items:

    • Spray bottle
    • 3 packs of soil
    • 1 pack of carrot seeds
    • 1 pack of snap pea seeds
    • 1 pack of tomato seeds (or whichever veggies you like!)

    Step 3: Start your garden

    You can start your seeds indoors as early as 6-8 weeks before the frost free date for your area.

    For me (May 9th), I started our seeds on March 15th.

    What to do next…

    • Fill your cups and pots with moistened soil
    • Stick your finger in the middle of the soil down just a centimeter or two and place a seed, then cover with soil.

      Tomatoes: plant 12 seeds in 6 cups (2 in each)
      Peas: plant up to 2 seeds in each cup (use 20 cups)
      Carrots: carrot seeds are planted directly outside

    • Once your tomato and peas sprout, thin each cup to have only one sprout. Pluck the weakest one - only the strong will survive!
    • Cover your tray with the clear lid. The idea is that the water will evaporate, condense on the lid, and water your seedlings again, however, we haven’t had too much luck with this, and need to mist ours regularly.

    Step 4: Water and sun

    Place your tray in a sunny spot and water regularly. Water by using the misting setting on your spray bottle. The top of the soil should feel damp at all times for peas. Tomatoes don’t need to be watered as frequently, but be sure to check that they are moist at least twice per week.

    Step 5: Remove the lid

    Once your very first seedlings begin to sprout, remove the clear lid. Don’t skip this step! At this point, your little baby veggies need oxygen.

    Step 6: Get plants used to the outdoors

    Starting about one week before you are going to actually plant your seedlings, start putting your tray outdoors. Find a spot that is shaded and protected from the wind. Get your plants used to the outdoor sun slowly.

    Place the trays in the sun for an hour or two each day, gradually increasing the time, and bringing the tray inside each evening. Just a few hours per day is great, growing longer each day.

    Step 7: Make your garden

    Dig an area (3 feet by 2 feet) in a sunny spot in your yard (or find a planters box, Rubbermaid container - anything, really - just make sure you put holes in the bottom of a container for drainage).

    Rake the top of your soil to ensure it is soft and free of any lumps.

    Plant your seedlings as follows:

    Tomatoes: Place in the Northern most part of your garden (as they get the tallest and you don’t want them to block the sun from your other veggies). Choose your 4 strongest seedlings and plant them along the Northern 3 foot side (about 10 inches apart or so).
    Peas: Peas will go in the row in front of your tomatoes. Plant the seedlings only about 2-3 inches apart (peas like company!).
    Carrots: Carrots need to be planted about 2-3 inches apart as well. Plant your carrots at the very front of your garden. The seeds should only be planted a centimeter or so deep.

    photo

    That’s it! Remember to water regularly, weed if you can, and be patient! Soon enough you will be able to enjoy homegrown vegetables from your very own garden!

    Price breakdown (from Dollarama):

    • 26 pots ($1)
    • Tray with lid x 2 ($1 each)
    • Spray bottle ($1)
    • 1-2 bags soil ($1 each or less)
    • 3 packets seeds (3 for $1)
    • Small rake ($2)

    I think this is a fun way to get your family ready for the spring and summer. My little farmers are sure enjoying it! Good luck!

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  • Painting Craft - Decorative Pedestal Bowl

    I love spring. I love pretty things. I love crafts. And of course, I love being frugal. All of these loves collided in this fun painting craft project - a decorative pedestal bowl.

    This shabby-chic looking decorative spring bowl could easily be altered to be a winter bowl, summer bowl, or just an everyday, all-season bowl!

    Ingredients

    • A glass bowl, vase, or platter
    • A wine glass, martini glass, or candle stick holder(ensure it has one wide opening)
    • Super glue
    • Acrylic paint
    • Brush

    Instructions

    • Pour paint on the inside of your glass or candle stick holder. Make a circle in the middle (where the side meets the bottom). This line can be as thin or thick as you’d like. Turn your cup upside down on a paper towel and set aside. The paint will drip down the sides of the glass.

    • Paint a design on the top bowl (on the inside, unless you are using the bowl for food). I did green swirly dots with purple flower petals. By painting on the inside of the bowl it gives a very glossy look to the finished product. If you would like to use your bowl for food, paint on the outside of the bowl.

    • Dab super glue along the ridge of the upside down glass and carefully position the bowl on top and push down. Put something heavy in the bowl (like a cup filled with water) until the glue has set.

    It’s that easy! You don’t even need to paint pictures or designs on the bowl, you can just let the paint drip on the bottom cup or candles stick holder. Or you can skip the paint drip part and just paint designs on the bowl.

    Whatever suits you best! Pouring paint in the top bowl and tuning upside down would also look very cool!

    This painting craft is lots of fun. Consider giving it a try - you won’t be disappointed!

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  • Dollarama MicroFibre Mop Review

    Lovely spring has finally arrived. And with 2 big dogs and 3 kids, that means, among many other things, we’re about to encounter some very muddy floors.

    I purchased this microfiber mop from Dollarama for $3 (the packaging spells MicroFibre). I like using microfiber cloths, as I find they really grip the dirt and pet hair, so I thought I would give this dollar store mop a try.

    I have been using the mop for 1 month now, at least every other day. Here are my findings:

    It works well on:

    • Laminate flooring
    • Vinyl flooring

    The good stuff

    1) This mop is durable. The ringer is made of a sturdy plastic clip. At first I did not think it would hold up, but so far, so good.

    2) It has a very convenient “twist to wring” function. Using two hands, the mop easily wrings out water, leaving your hands clean and dry.

    3) The mop removes the muddy paw prints and footprints quickly and easily. It also picks up sticky apple juice spills, spilled baby food, and other daily messes.

    The bad stuff

    1) If you have pets, this mop may not be for you. It does not pick up pet hair very well. I was hoping it would, as my microfiber cloths are excellent at picking up hair, but no luck. This mop clumps the hair and leaves it in wet hair piles on the floor (yuck).

    The little amount of pet hair it does pick up gets stuck in the mop and will not rinse out. For that reason, it is necessary to sweep my floors before mopping (or buy another mop).

    2) The twisting function of the mop is very loud. This may not be a big deal for most, but if you happen to do your mopping wearing a sleeping baby in a sling, it is worth mentioning.

    3) The mop gets caught on sharp edges (under the edge of the stove for example) and creates pulls on the micro-fibre mop strands.

    4) Finally, the mop looks grungy pretty quickly. After my one month of using the mop it looks worn and dirty. That being said, it still cleans the floors well (other than pet hair!).

    So, in short:

    • The mop is durable, convenient, and removes dirt and mud easily.
    • It does not pick up pet hair, is loud, gets caught on things, and looks grungy quickly.

    The Verdict

    I would highly recommend this mop to individuals who mop infrequently, or to families who need a mop for small areas or to clean regular daily spills and messes.

    If you are searching for a mop to use on a large floor regularly, this mop will show its wear quickly. As well, if you have pets, it will be necessary to sweep well before using this microfiber mop.

    All in all, this mop is a good value for your money, as long as you are pet-free.

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  • Dollarama Deals - Knife Block, GPS Anti-Theft Device & Programmable Vent

    I found this Chicago Cutlery knife block for only $3 at Dollarama in Vaughan, Ontario last week!

    This GPS anti-theft device was only $3, as well.

    I also saw this programmable energy saving vent for just $2!

    Want to share a deal you found at a local dollar store? Please visit this page: Submit My Deal

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