3 quick household saving tips that can save time, money and stress!

1. Dropped an egg on the floor? Spilled some cooking oil? Instead of using paper towels to wipe up a messy spills like those, try pouring salt on the spill. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. The salt should absorb the liquid and clumps should form, which make it easy to scoop up the mess with a spatula (save the paper towels!)

2.  Use lip balm to help keep outdoor light bulbs from getting stuck in the sockets; coat the threads in the base of the light bulb with lip balm before installing it in the socket.

3. Add 2 - 3 Tbs. of white vinegar into your bottle of liquid dish soap. The vinegar doubles the effectiveness of the dish soap so you will use less when cleaning the greasiest pots and pans!

I found this information to be interesting, and to make sense:

Researchers say that the real trick to successfully saving money is to focus on why we want to save money rather than on how to save. Apparently it is normal to get so caught up in different ways to save money --by cutting coupons, cooking more at home, etc.- that we forget the reasons why we are trying to save in the first place.

So what we need to be doing is asking ourselves why we want/need to save money. Is it because we want to buy a house? Or go on a vacation? Or even so we can buy that new lunchbox for our favorite little "Back-to-Schooler?"

Thinking about what's motivating our goals rather than just the steps to get us there will inspire us to try new ways of cutting back, researchers explain.

Here are a few tips to help you save money by keeping foods fresher longer:

• Keep fruits and veggies fresh longer by keeping a dry clean sponge in the crisper. The sponge will absorb surrounding moisture, which can cause mold to form, and will keep produce fresh twice as long.

• Instead of throwing away stale bread and spending money on a new loaf, try this tip-Fill a pan with an inch of water and simmer on the stove. Place a cookie rack on top of the pan for an instant steamer, and place the bread on top. In about 5 minutes, the once-stale bread will be soft and moist again, and warm too!

•  Sugar that has become hard can be saved, as well as saving you some money, with a piece of bread. Just stick a small piece of bread inside the bag or container, and seal tightly. In about six hours, that hardened sugar should be soft once again! 

Want More Saving Tips? Check out 8 money saving beauty tips!