Saturday, August 20, 2011

Homemade Playdoh!

Thanks to Thrifty Reader Leah for this great idea! I can't wait to make this for my little one.

Ingredients: 
4 cups flour
2 cups salt
4 cups water
8 tsp cream of tartar
6 TBSP oil
food coloring
 

Directions:
Mix together in a large saucepan. Cook until it holds together and pulls away from pan. Cool and knead. You may add peppermint or almond extract for scent if you wish. 


ENJOY!


Also, while browsing the net, I came across another recipe from CupCake KidCafe. It uses Koolaid!

With either recipe, I strongly recommend you let your bigger kids help you make this. It will be a fun science experiment for them, and then they can play with it later! But remember, safety first.

Be sure to post pics if you try this!



Monday, August 8, 2011

FB Garage Sales!

Have you seen these? My mom told me about them this weekend. Basically, look up "Your County Area Garage Sales" on Facebook.  Not every county has a page, but maybe that means you start one up and spread the word. People list their garage sales or post up specific items for sale. It's a great tool to sell your stuff or to buy a thrifty gift.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

DIY Diaper Pail Powder/Carpet Powder

I got this "recipe" from Thrifty Reader, Kelisa. I can't wait to try it!

What you need:

  • 8 oz. box of baking soda
  • 25-50 drops of Essential Oil (EO) of your choice (depending how strong the smell is, like tea tree oil has a very strong scent so I'd use the 25 drops range while sweet orange has a softer scent, so I'd use closer to 50). After making this once, you can't even tell I used any of the EO, so it will really last a LONG time!
  • Empty (and clean) Parmesan Cheese Shaker

Directions:
  1. Dump the baking soda into a bowl.
  2. Add 25-50 drops of EO.
  3. Mash with a fork.
  4. Let sit for about 30 minutes.
  5. Sift.
  6. Let sit for another 30 minutes.
  7. Sift again.
  8. Put into a shaker container
  9. Sprinkle into diaper pail as needed!
  10. For carpets, sprinkle on carpet, let set for 10-30 minutes, and vacuum off.
Disclaimer: If you are concerned about the filter on your vacuum, try dissolving it with water in a spray bottle container, spray on, wait, and vacuum. - Thanks to Thrifty Reader Marlo for that tip!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Homemade Wine

Thrifty Reader Christine told me one of her biggest areas of unnecessary spending is wine. I'm not a wine fan, myself, but it's one of those things I wish I liked (similar to coffee, which I don't like either). So many options make it intriguing!

This link is all about homemade wine (this is obvious once you click on it).

In this link, I found a whole host of recipes on making your own wine. They even break it down by what you can make the wine with. Herb wine? Really?

I'm not sure this will save you all that much given the ingredients, equipment, and time you'll need, but at least you'll have a great experience!

This is definitely not all the information out there, but hopefully it will help you move in the right direction!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

6 Money Savers in Your House

Me.
Thanks to Thrifty Reader Christine for sharing this article. There are some great tips in here!

And also thank you to Thrifty Reader Heather for sharing that Monday is REDHEAD APPRECIATION DAY and that Marble Slab Creamery is going to be giving away free ice cream to redheads. Be sure to appreciate me on Monday. :-D

Saturday, July 2, 2011

DIY: Flokati Rug for Under $25

Thanks to Thrifty Reader Amanda for sharing this great tutorial.

A fair warning, the rug might only cost you pennies, but it will take a LOT of time. This is great though if you are looking for a project. SUPER easy and inexpensive. The results are fabulous!

Monday, June 20, 2011

I Like Big Butts and I Cannot Lie - Ode to Cloth Diapering

I don't currently cloth diaper, but I know some that LOVE it. If you are even a tiny bit interested, visit this Cloth Diapering 101 tutorial by Little Bean Tree. She does a great way of explaining everything with several breakdown links.

There are several reasons to cloth diaper. It is environmentally friendly, safe for your baby, and... you guessed it, thrifty! You buy products that grow with your baby so you use them over and over again. Want to see real savings? Use them with a second baby. You can even buy stashes on Craigslist and Ebay. It can be addicting to get that new cute cover or scoop up that sale off the internet, so watch yourself. It still probably beats buying diapers by the box every month.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Minimalism

A friend posted this link on Facebook. It really hit home to me.

When we were facing low balance alerts in our checking account - our only account - we had to really reevaluate our lives. We started selling everything we could.

When we went through the thought process of what we could sell, we had to evaluate what we could live without. Sure, we got that ping pong table for free when my husband pulled it out of the garbage, but did we NEED it. No. We ended up selling it for $50. The same story goes for our air hockey table. Sure, those things provided great fun for our kids, but we needed to be able to pay our bills and put food on the table.

As it turned out, getting rid of a bunch of our junk allowed our basement to become a very open space. Since our daughters were sharing a room at the time, the extra space lent itself to an extra bedroom. It's not a finished basement or anything, but it has a sliding glass door and a closet, so it could technically be used as a bedroom. One thing led to another and it became a bedroom for my husband and myself. We love it down there. It wouldn't have been possible to do without getting rid of some of our stuff that cluttered it.

As a design major, I also find that minimalism is the most aesthetically pleasing to me. We live in an uncluttered home (just ignore my desk). It makes it easy on the eyes, easy on the checkbook (since we're not trying to constantly fill it with stuff), and it makes it easier to clean.

After reading this, I urge you to evaluate your life and see what you could live without. Where can you minimize?

Monday, June 6, 2011

Coupon Alert!

Michaels Stores has a coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase. Follow this link and print your coupon before you go to the store or just show the coupon on your phone at checkout!

"You're moving?"

In today's market, it's tough to sell your house. There are that many have had success though, so congrats to them!

If you hear that your friend has sold their house, congratulate them. It can be a very trying time for a family. Trying to coordinate selling your house and finding a new place to live can be very intense. Make sure you offer to help them move. And when you do, be sure to casually ask if there is anything they are getting rid of. No one wants to take all of their junk with them. It's a hassle. Nothing like a move to make your reevaluate your possessions and figure out what to purge.

Some friends of ours just sold their house (CONGRATS!). My friend mentioned that the buyers didn't want their hot tub.

"Really? What are you doing with it?

"I don't know. We'll have to get rid of it."

"Ummm... Can I have it?"

"Yes!"

Suhweeeeet! Guess who has a hot tub now? ME! And it was free. In the process of moving it, we do need to build a new frame, but we are handy enough to be able to handle that. I even have my eyes out for some free or cheep treated lumber on Craigslist. People take down their decks all the time and want people to come and take the treated wood. I've seen the posts. Now I just need to wait for the right moment. If I get the lumber for free, that means we have an awesome hot tub for the cost of some screws and some manual labor.

In fact, our friends were so grateful that we were taking it for them that they cooked us lunch and helped find some big dudes to help move it.

The point of this post isn't just to brag about my new (to me) hot tub. It's to show my Thrifty Readers that sometimes being bold with your questions can sometimes get you something awesome and help everyone out in the process.

Anyone have any similar experiences? Did you help a friend move? Did you recently move and give away all your stuff? I want to hear about it. :-)

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Own a Home without a Mortgage

I came across this video and couldn't help but share it. Maybe you're not into exactly what they do, but you could certainly learn tips of ingenuity, minimalism, and contentment. While *I* wouldn't do this, my husband likely would it if we could figure out where to put three kids. He's hard core like that.

 
Shotgun Shack
This family of 3 lives in a 320 sq ft house and even homeschool their son. They run a business next door. It is all simplifying and focusing on "what you have and not what you don't have." They even have a guest bed. I think this is a great idea if you can make it work. Discuss what you think in the comments.

Thanks to my friend Coot for sharing the link with me!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Thrifty or Cheap?

I need to write a real post, but I figured I'd give you insight to my life.

I was looking for a hair clip the other day and couldn't find it. I'm cheap enough that I only have one, so I know when it goes missing. I found it today. My clever (and equally cheap) husband used it to fix our torn shower curtain. Lol.


It really is a lifestyle. ;-)

Monday, May 23, 2011

Roadkill

Sorry I've been gone for almost a week! I had some medical issues that left me too dizzy to function. I'm all better now, though, so on to the thriftiness.

Don't worry. I'm not talking about dead animals.

In our house, roadkill is what you call stuff you find on the side of the road. You can find anything from winter gloves and hats to shelving units to clocks to appliances.

A few years ago, we were driving along and someone was getting rid of a big ol' clock. We picked it up. A few days later, we needed a favor (still unemployed at this time). We found a friend that was willing to do the favor for, you guessed it, the grandmother clock.

If you hear of a company or store going out of business, don't be afraid to ask them what they are going to do with all of their stuff. There was a nearby store that had some furniture for their waiting area. When we heard they were going out of business, we asked them what they were going to do with the couch and chair. "Just get rid of them." Oh really? Because they were in fabulous condition and that sounded absurd. We got to pick those up (which we then bartered for a guy to do work on my husband's truck).

Even if I tried, I'm pretty sure I couldn't list all of the stuff that we have gotten or found for free over the years. It's all about keeping your eyes peeled! You never know what you might find.

If you have done this before list your roadkill in the comments.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Tutorial Tuesday - DIY Cake Pops!

If you are planning a bridal shower, birthday party, or baby shower, this could really help you. If you aren't and you just like chocolate, you'll appreciate this just as much.

A friend of mine is getting married soon. For her bridal shower, they expected around 100 guests. I asked the hostess if I could help in anyway and she mentioned they didn't have any favors yet. Even if we discovered a favor for a dollar a piece, $100 was still more than what we wanted to spend. Here is a great favor for about $0.30 a piece.

Today, we are going to learn to make
Cake Pops! 


These are really easy to make, but they take time. Your guests will love them and they'll be absolutely worth it.



What You Need: (Amounts depend on how many you want to make)

  • Cake Mix (and the ingredients listed on the box)*
  • Frosting
  • Lollipop Sticks
  • Treat bags with ties
  • Almond Bark/Baker's Chocolate
  • Sprinkles (optional)
  • Custom Stickers (optional)
  • Cookie Sheets
  • Parchment Paper
  • Plate/bowl
  • Styrofoam 
  • Food Coloring (optional)
*Each box of cake mix makes about 40-50 cake pops

Directions:

  • Bake your cake like normal. Let cool.

  • Line Cookie Sheets with Parchment Paper.
  • Empty baked cake into a large bowl.
  • Add 8oz frosting per cake in the bowl.

  • Mix together with your hands (should be a thick consistency) - this will be messy, so have paper towels close by. Enlist your kids and have a blast!

  • Form 1in balls with cake mixture and place on Parchment Paper. Do this until all of your mix is gone.

  • Put cookie sheets into freezer for 1 hour. (I left mine in overnight just due to life's demands)

  • Melt chocolate according to directions. 
  • Dip about a 1/2in of each lollipop stick into the chocolate and put halfway through the cake ball. (The ball will have a flat spot from sitting on the cookie sheet, so this is a good spot to insert the stick.)
  • Let the chocolate set.

  • Dip the ball into the melted chocolate. Tap off the excess chocolate. You will have greater success with this step if the ball and chocolate are cool and set from when you inserted the stick. (If chocolate is too thick, you can add shortening to thin it out. Do not use butter.)
  • If you'd like sprinkles, pour over ball while the chocolate is still wet. Pour the sprinkles over a bowl or plate to collect anything that drops. You'll be able to reuse these sprinkles in the bowl. This gets messy.

  • Stand the Cake Pop upright into the Styrofoam. This will allow them to dry without having a flat spot.

  • While the Cake Pops dry, add your custom stickers to the Treat Bags.

  • Once set, wrap with the Treat Bag.
    These make great favors and taste delicious. You can use all sorts of combinations for flavors of cake, frosting, and Almond Bark. My favorite is chocolate cake, white frosting, and vanilla almond bark.

    I happened to run out of sprinkles and had extra almond bark. I decided to decorate several of them in blue and brown. Just remember that the decoration on the outside helps hide imperfections in the coating. Plus, they just look great!

    Saturday, May 14, 2011

    And the Winner of the 100 FB Fans Giveaway is.............

    Rachel Z! 

    Congrats Rachel! It was you liking Bumble Sweet Designs that got you that extra comment!

    Contact me to let me know what version you would like of Fix, Freeze, Feast. Your choices are hardback, paperback, or digital.

    Thanks everyone for entering! The next giveaway will be at 500 FB fans, so continue spreading the word!


    Friday, May 13, 2011

    An Extension!

    Because Blogger was down for part of last night and today, I have decided to offer an extension on the Giveaway. You now have until tomorrow at 10 am Saturday (cdt) to get your entries in. Make sure you take advantage of both entries!

    Winner will be announced tomorrow morning. Remember to check HERE (not fb) for the winner.

    Thursday, May 12, 2011

    Saving on a Hospital Bill

    I have been having major issues with my lower back. I missed yesterday's post because I was busy getting x-rays and having way too much fun filling prescriptions. (kidding) With that experience, I thought of a great tip for saving on medical expenses.

    It doesn't ever hurt to ask for financial aide at a hospital. Even if you can pay your bills and have insurance, you can see if there is a way to lower the out-of-pocket expenses. I had to do that when I had an ER visit in February. I brought up my financial aide approval yesterday with the lady at registration. What was going to cost me $450 oop right there ended up costing me $0.

    The hospital won't grant you assistance if they don't think you need it, so don't try to take advantage of the system. There is no reason, however, for you not to try if you really do need the help. Many people are not aware that this is even available and end up not seeking treatment because they can't afford it. Don't let that happen to you.

    Tuesday, May 10, 2011

    Thrifty Reader Request: Moving Tips

    A big thank you to Thrifty Reader Katie for requesting this topic. She will be moving soon and she wants to know how she can save a few pennies in the process.

    Moving is a huge deal. You are completely uprooting yourself and continuing your life in a new location. Just like plants, if it isn't done correctly, it can be a traumatic experience. Let's save you from that, shall we?

    Whether you are moving 3 miles or 3,000 miles, there are ways to save money. I've only moved 3 times in my entire life, and 2 of them were in the last 4 years. I don't, by any means, think I have all the answers. My husband, however, has moved more times than he can count in his lifetime, so I'm drawing on his expertise. We brainstormed and thought up several ways for you to cut the budget.

    Before You Move:
    Preparation is the key to making this cheap and as easy as possible. Plan routes and what all needs to be moved and what can be donated/given away/sold. Taking care of this now will obviously give you less to take with you. Let's pretend you have a dining room table that just won't fit in your new place. Give it away, sell it, or donate it BEFORE you move. Simple as that. My in-laws moved one time and they knew they couldn't afford a big move. They sold or gave away nearly everything they owned in order to make it happen.

    If you have a chance to get into the new place before you move, make sure you have everything ready for when you get there. You don't want to have to paint the bedroom around a bunch of boxes or furniture. It's a lot easier to clean up your messes if that stuff isn't in the way yet.


    Moving Boxes:
    There are two places where you can get FREE moving boxes. Do NOT pay for them.

    The mall (or any big store for that matter) has flattened boxes by their dumpsters. It's a whole separate pile so you don't have to worry about food and whoknowswhat covering this stuff. Since it is in the trash, it is free for the taking.

    These boxes are generally broken down properly as a way to save space. If you go to the mall for them, and you encounter one store that just doesn't have anything, you just go to the next store. This is part of the beauty of this location. You have your pick of the litter.

    To ensure nice ones, don't try going in or just after a good rain. Most people know a few weeks ahead of time that they are moving, so plan your box excursion on a sunny day.

    The second place is Craigslist. If you have a smart phone, I strongly recommend downloading the CL app (whether you are moving or not). You can set up a notification to alert you whenever someone posts "Free moving boxes" in your area. I see this all the time. It's not everyday, but if you plan ahead, you have better chances of catching a post or two.

    Just remember that boxes, even when they are flat, are not tiny. Make sure that when you go to pick them up that you have enough space in your vehicle.

    Packing:
    Make sure you grab and pack smaller and lightweight boxes. This will help you when you go to move it. You might think that you are getting more bang for your buck if you use bigger boxes. You are wrong. If they are too big/heavy/awkward, they will be too hard to carry and you'll be at risk of dropping it. If you are petite like me, test it out when you are packing. If you can't lift it and it can be easily divided, go ahead and split it up.

    BE SURE TO LABEL. Moving places will generally try to sell you stickers that list items inside the box, where it is supposed to go, if it's fragile, and possibly even how heavy it is. You know what? You don't need fancy stickers to do that. You just need a permanent marker. Label label label! It will save you SO MUCH TIME if you do this ahead of time. Try to make sure that all of the kitchen stuff stays together, all of the clothes stay together, etc. Label everything you put in there. You can totally get away with putting candles, games, and dog toys in the same box as long as you list it on the outside of the box. That way, when you get to the new place, you can look at the box and know exactly what is in it. I recommend labeling all 4 sides and the top as much as possible. At the very least, label what room it goes into at the new place. And label according to the new place. We added an extra bedroom and bathroom when we moved. If I just labeled it "Bedroom," no one knew which one or where to put it. Be specific. Also on this note, try to keep the rooms together. Organization is a huge help in this time of chaos.

    Enlist Friends:
    You know what is cheaper than a moving company? Volunteers. With moving companies, you typically are paying by the mile and by the minute. You may think you are saving yourself a headache, but when you realize that if a worker stops to blow his nose, and you have to pay him for a minute extra, you might change your mind. Think you can't find enough volunteers to just do it out of the goodness of their own hearts, buy them lunch. Pizza for a bunch of people is still cheaper than a moving company.

    A free and effective way to enlist your friends is through a Facebook event. This will help everyone understand that you are in need. Feel free to upload a picture of yourself with puppy dog eyes if you think it will help. Be sure that you point out all the incentives like free food or you'll love them forever. Maybe even offer to give away your stuff to those that help. If you go this route though, make sure you contact each of them individually. It will help them know that you need their help and know that it isn't just a mass invite.


    The Actual Move:
    Instead of renting a big truck, see if you can accomplish it with pickups and trailers. (These are the people you think of when you want to enlist friends) Doing a few trips with smaller loads may take a little longer, but it's far cheaper than getting a big moving truck.

    If you do find yourself needing a big truck, say the distance is much too far to allow for quick trips back and forth, call around for the best price. Some companies aren't open Sundays, so you'd get an extra day's worth out of it for free. Also, make sure you pack it correctly. My husband loves to play Tetris in the back of a truck when packing it. If you pack it correctly, you will utilize the space as much as possible, you will be at less risk of breaking something, and you'll keep the gas mileage higher by packing the bulk of the weight in the right spot. This tip is useful for a big truck or the smaller pick up loads.

    If you need overnight accommodations, figure out if you need a motel or if you can simply "rough it" in your new place. If it is a long distance move and you need a motel along the way, price around and see if you can get a discount through anything (ex: drivers club, AARP, military, etc.). When you book a motel, try to make sure that a breakfast is included in your stay. It will save you time and money in the morning.

    When unpacking the truck, bring each box to its specific location. You and your movers should be able to tell exactly where it is based on your labeling. If your helper doesn't know where "So and so's bedroom" is, take a quick minute to show them or give them easy directions. When the Move is done, all of your boxes should be in the right room where they need to be.

    After the Move:
    Take care of any of the bills you need to take care of right away. If you used a moving company or a box truck, pay them as soon as you are done. It will help make sure the time paid for is as short as possible and it will help prevent against late fees.

    Unpack as quickly as possible. If you labeled everything correctly, you should be able to go to each room and know exactly what is in each box. You can easily glance and have an idea for where a happy home is for that item. Anything you don't unpack should be something that can go in storage. Don't be one of those people that still have your stuff in your moving boxes two years after you move. Our house was box free after a day. When you are done with the boxes, give them away on Craigslist.

    After it is all said and done, throw a housewarming party! Invite all of those friends that helped you move to further repay them.


    Monday, May 9, 2011

    Get a 2nd entry for the Giveaway!

    Get TWO entries for the giveaway! 

    I goofed up when posting the rules. Becca over at Bumble Sweet Designs graciously let me copy and edit her rules. I forgot to change one of lines to my blog and left hers up. For this giveaway only, I'm allowing 2 entries per person. One to "Like" my fanpage and another to "Like" her fanpage. Since some of you were already doing that, I will make it fair for everyone to do the same. Just make sure you have two separate comments with your name. When I pick the winner, I'll use a number generated by a random picker and it will be that comment. I will then cross reference to make sure that you like BOTH my fanpage and hers.

    You can thank me later for goofing up and giving you more chances. :-)

     

    Deal Finder: Michaels 40% off Storage

    This just in:


    If you are looking for storage for your crafting or any other hobbies, Michaels Stores has an unadvertised sale going on for you. All Jetmax Storage products are 40% off for the rest of the week. Go grab a deal!

    Updated with this 20% off Entire Purchase link!

    If you have any deals that you find and want to share, email them to me and I will feature it on here and give you credit. Thanks Thrifty Readers!

    I now have a contact me button for you to email me whenever you wish.

    And don't forget that the Giveaway is still going on! I've made a link you can click on located at the top of the sidebar so you can find it easily. Good luck!

    Sunday, May 8, 2011

    100 FB Fans Giveaway HERE!

    Now that the blog has over 100 fans on Facebook, I'll be giving away a copy of my new favorite cookbook - Fix, Freeze, Feast - your choice of hardback, paperback, or digital version!

    Just visit the fanpage and click "Like." Then come back to THIS POST and comment with your name that your Facebook profile says.


    Contest closes at 10:00PM CDT this Friday night (May 13, 2011).


    Be sure to read the rules.

    Happy Mother's Day!

    Edited to Add a Special Note: 

    Get TWO entries for the giveaway! 

    I goofed up when posting the rules. Becca over at Bumble Sweet Designs graciously let me copy and edit her rules. I forgot to change one of lines to my blog and left hers up. For this giveaway only, I'm allowing 2 entries per person. One to "Like" my fanpage and another to "Like" her fanpage. Since some of you were already doing that, I will make it fair for everyone to do the same. Just make sure you have two separate comments with your name. When I pick the winner, I'll use a number generated by a random picker and it will be that post. I will then cross reference to make sure that you like BOTH my fanpage and hers.

    You can thank me later for goofing up and giving you more chances. :-)

     

    Rules for Giveaways

    A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty Giveaway Rules
    [THIS IS NOT WHERE YOU ENTER FOR A GIVEAWAY]
    (See post list on the right panel for current giveaways)
    1. You must be a fan on Facebook at the time of the contest and after the contest closes.
    2. Contest is open to U.S. & Canadian fans aged 18 and over only.
    3. VERY IMPORTANT – Any A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty giveaway is administered on an external site: http://www.ALaymansGuidetoBeingThrifty.blogspot.com to remain in compliance with Facebook’s Promotion Guidelines (available here: http://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php)
    4. Fans that join during the giveaway period are eligible for the giveaway and must adhere to the rules of the giveaway and of A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty.
    5. You are allowed one entry by “Liking” the A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty Facebook page – exercise your “like” by commenting that you’re a fan of A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty on the Giveaway Post. [Make sure you use the name you use on Facebook when you comment otherwise I can’t cross check to make sure entries are legitimate.]
      1.  You do not need to provide an email address! But please be aware that winners will only be notified via the Blogspot Giveaway Post. See §9.
    6. Contests will generally be open for five (5) days [Monday through Friday], but each giveaway will state the open and closing period.
    7. Shipping for the giveaway item will always be free – it’s not a giveaway if you have to pay!
    8. A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty will close a contest on the fifth day of the giveaway and the winner will be selected by a random number generator.
      1. The “number” is calculated by adding the number of eligible comments on the Giveaway post.
      2. The random number generator uses some lovely mathematical algorithm that is beyond my understanding to create a truly random number.
      3. The number that is generated is then assigned to the corresponding eligible comment made on the Giveaway post.
    1. I will announce the winner on the Giveaway Post on Blogspot ONLY. Unfortunately, the Facebook Terms prohibit notification of the winner through any means utilizing Facebook. The winner must then contact A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty within 72 hours from the posting of the winner's comment. Please include your complete mailing address. 
    2. If the winner does not notify A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty within 72 hours a second winner will be selected using the methods in §8. If the second winner fails to follow the 72 hour notification rule, the contest will end and no additional winner will be selected.
    3. A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty reserves the right to terminate a giveaway at any time prior to the end of the promotional period for any reason. 
    4. Giveaways sponsored by A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty are in no way "sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. You are providing your information to A Layman's Guide to Being Thrifty and not Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for sweepstakes/giveaway entries." If you are a winner, your address will only be used for shipping your prize. 
    Date of Last Revision: 8 May 2011
    © 2011 Bumble Sweet Designs

    Happy Mother's Day!

    To all of my Thrifty Readers out there who have the blessing of little people, I hope your Mother's Day is wonderful and full of love and laughter.

    Share in the comments ways your family celebrated you.

    Friday, May 6, 2011

    100 FB Fans Giveaway!

    Once the blog reaches 100 fans on Facebook, I'll be giving away a copy of my new favorite cookbook - Fix, Freeze, Feast - your choice of hardback, paperback, or digital version.

    I've now added a handy-dandy button to the side bar and in this post for you to click on and it brings you straight to the fanpage. Wasn't that so nice of me? I only need 11 more fans, so get a move on it! Just visit the fanpage and click "Like."

    Giveaway details will go up on Monday if we reach 100 before then. Enjoy!

    Thrifty Reader Request: Saving with Your Dog

    If you have a pet, you get to experience the joys of a friendly companion. They can become like members of the family. And like all members of the family, they cost money. Whether you have one or you are considering buy a dog, here are some ways you can save the cash but still enjoy man's best friend. I hope these help!

    • If you are really strapped for cash and can't even pay your bills, now is not the time to buy a dog. This article discusses why pets are expensive and says that Americans spend $30 BILLION annually on their pets.
    Me and my pup, Delilah
    • Buy a small dog. - We are just THAT frugal. Lol. We have a chihuahua. I got her from a home that rescued one dog and bought a shelter dog. My pup cost me $75 before shots. When you compare that to the hundreds of dollars that other people spend just to buy a dog, I'd say we got a pretty good deal. Smaller dogs also eat less, use fewer toys, make less mess, and take up less space.
    • If you already have a bigger dog, consider buying food in bulk. For my chihuahua, we buy 25lb bags when they go on sale. This one bag lasts over a year. Your bigger dog will go through it faster, but you plan on feeding them, so go ahead and buy it. You can keep the big bag in the garage and fill up a small container to store in your cabinet for everyday use.
    • Do not buy food at your vet or go all fancy with the food. Check the ingredients the next time you're in the pet aisle. Many brands use the same ingredients and some are just cheaper than others.
    • Also, to save your money and your dog's life, don't overfeed it. You go through food quicker and obesity in dogs can create problems for their joints and energy.
    • Consider doing away with buying name brand treats and start making your own from scratch. This website has some awesome recipes, and the ingredients are likely already in your cabinets.
    Another cute pic of Delilah
    • Buy toys at garage sales. Gently used toys work great and cost a fraction of the price.
    • Your vet will charge a ton for services that could easily be done elsewhere. You can get your vaccinations at pet stores or animal welfare agencies at a lower cost. 
    • Make sure you get the shots done on time. Preventative maintenance is a great way to save money in the long run.
    • If you think there may be something wrong with your pup, search the internet for home remedies first. If you are still concerned, call your vet. Be sure to price around as well.
    • Groom your dog at home. For thicker coats, make sure you brush regularly. This will save you a headache for when you go to wash the pup. For small dogs or somewhat large dogs, your bathtub will serve a great place to do this. If you are worried about hair clogging the drain, invest $3 in a drain net. When it is warmer, you can wash/groom your dog outside. If you'd like a good tutorial, this video was helpful.

    Thursday, May 5, 2011

    Drink More Water!

    I was at lunch with some friends the other day at a chain restaurant. My friend's drink cost him $2.29. TWO. TWENTY. NINE. I'm sorry, but that is just ridiculous. I know he had free refills, but it helped me realize some math. Bear with me for a moment.

    Let's give some restaurants the benefit of the doubt. Let's say the average soft drink only costs $1.50 and you get free refills. Think of how many times you go out to eat per year. I would render a guess at the average family eats out once a week. $1.50 X 52 weeks = $78! For ONE person.

    Seventy-eight dollars is a lot of money, and that's at the low end for price per beverage and a low estimate for the number of drinks you order per year. Add in when you get fast food, the number of people in your family ordering, the amount you spend on groceries a year for soft drinks to enjoy with dinner, or the coffee you buy for your mornings.

    You know how much money I spend a year on beverages? Zero. Nada. Nothing.

    As I teen, I was drinking WAY too much pop/soda/coke/whatever-you-wanna-call-it than anyone should have ever been allowed to drink. It was easy for me to drink 8 cans of something without thinking it strange. Now, as a mother who doesn't let her kids drink pop, I am floored by this memory.

    About 9 years ago, I decided to quit cold turkey. I did this during my first real job. You see, at this job, I had lunch breaks. It didn't take long to realize that my added beverage at lunch was taking up too much of my $7/hr wage. Pop was expensive, lemonade was cheaper, but a cup of water was free. I was sold. "Can I please have a cup/glass of water?" has become quite the natural question when I do go out to eat.

    Whether I go out to eat, drink at home, or take something with me to the park or whatever, I don't buy anything aside from food. I haven't come across a single place that has denied me a cup of water. The very worst case scenario was when I was dying of thirst and ran through a drive-thru. Because I wasn't ordering food, I was informed that I'd have to pay $0.16 for a small cup of water. Big whoop.

    Want to be really frugal? Ask for no ice. Most restaurants have their drinks ready to serve cold. Since ice cubes take up more space than water, you'll get more water in your cup AND it will still be cold.

    And please understand that I am not advocating drinking bottled water. If that is your solution, you've missed the point. Bottled water costs money and produces a ton of waste.

    I have a water filter on my fridge at home that pumps out ice cold clean fresh water to me whenever I want it. If you don't have a fridge that does that, you can get a water filter for under $30. You can also purchase a thermos to carry water with you if you see fit. You can find those for under $13.

    Correct me if I'm wrong, but putting a $30 investment into a water filter and $13 into a nice reusable water bottle is still LESS than that original amount we added up earlier.

    These products would last for years, work out to be infinitely cheaper, reduce an unlimited amount of waste, and it's all completely healthy for you.

    Click here to read some reasons why water is not only thrifty, but how it has a ton of great health benefits.

    For the skeptics, I know you're considering how high my water bill must be because of how much I drink water at home... Well, for one, it isn't even a noticeable increase in our water bill, but furthermore, we conserve water like crazy at home. But that post is for another day.

    If your wondering where I get my caffeine fix, I don't have one. I don't drink pop, tea, or coffee (coffee and tea costs money too, you know). I've learned that a human CAN survive without pumping caffeine into their system.

    Wednesday, May 4, 2011

    Eliminate Dryer Sheets and Minimize Fabric Softener

    Want your clothes soft and static free AND cut back on costs? This tip is great.

    Ingredients:
    • A bottle of your favorite fabric softener
    • A 2 gallon bucket
    • A few sponges
    • Water

    Directions:
    1. Pour the fabric softener into the bucket. 
    2. Fill the empty fabric softener container with water. Pour into bucket.
    3. Repeat Step 2.
    4. Stir
    5. Throw in sponges
    6. Cover with lid or towel.

    To Use:
    1. Wash clothes without fabric softener.
    2. Put clothes into dryer.
    3. Wring out a sponge (or 2 - depending on load size). Toss in with the load.
    4. Dry as usual.
    5. Return sponges to bucket.

    Your clothes will still be soft and static free. You are using a mere fraction of the amount of softener you'd normally be using AND you are eliminating your cost on dryer sheets.


    Additional tip:

    Find small container to store the sponges and a smaller amount of the liquid. This way, you can store it handy and you don't have the bucket in your way. Keep the remaining in the bucket, but out of the way.

    Feel Green:
    If you use this tip, you'll be eliminating the waste of your added fabric softener containers, the dryer sheets, and the dryer sheet box AND you will be using fewer chemicals in your clothes.

    Another use:
    Does your dog ever act strange when a thunderstorm is approaching? Some believe that they act this way because the canine feels an increase of static electricity in their fur. Wipe a little bit of this liquid on their fur and it will help remove the static, making them calm and fresh smelling all at the same time!

    Let me know if you try it!

    Tuesday, May 3, 2011

    Guest Blogger: Thrifty (and Effective) Skin Care Tips

    It's time for our very first guest blogger. Thrifty Reader Lynn wants to share her secrets on thrifty (and effective) skin care.

    Take it away, Lynn:

    I have really oily skin. It wasn't always like that, but I think with age it's gotten worse and worse. Face abuse or what have you. I always had mild to bad acne as a teen and I prayed and hoped that it would dissipate when I graduated to adulthood.

    I have tried nearly every face wash from your local drug store. I even used Proactive, which worked for a couple months then it was back to what it was; oily and pimply. An esthetician had told me many of her clients that use Proactive have very dried out skin. I quit using it after that!
    Mary Kay has an "Oily TimeWise" skin care line which I really do like. I think my skin was far too gone by then. 
    The worst part? Everytime you go out to try something new, you end up sinking $25+. This, in end, will cost less than $20 if you buy generic.

    What most people don't realize is that the oil our skin produces is healthy! When we use cleansers, we're stripping our skin of good oil which it is trying so hard to produce. This causes a vicious cycle. We try to keep our skin as non-oily as possible, while our skin is producing more oil to protect our skin. Thus oily skin.

    So after a lot of research, I had a modge podge of different face regiments. Some of them were really expensive, I'm not spending $50 on a 5oz bottle of face wash that will HOPEFULLY work. Uncool. I found a couple that I was willing to try for a low investment. This is the first one I tried, and it's worked incredibly well for me. I noticed a difference within a few days. For some people it will take longer, it just depends how long it will take for your PH to balance out.

    $0-$10: I use Mary Kay's TimeWise 3-In-1 Cleanser (combination to oily). I've read that Cetephil works wonderfully too. Try whatever you already have first!
    $4-$9: Benzoyl peroxide acne cream (I use the strongest stuff I can find, which is usually 9%)
    $5: The secret weapon - Vitamin E pills (Yes, like the kind you take in the morning. Walmart has them on sale occasionally - 2 bottles for $5! FTW!)

    When you wake up in the morning, splash your face with cold water. It'll help waken up your skin and and take down the inflammation. Works better than cucumbers. Wash your face, you can use warm water. My biggest mistake was SPOT treating my acne, and not treating it like a war zone. I use a little bigger than a pea size and slather it on to my jaw line (my problem area). Do this wherever your areas are. Take a thumb tack and poke a hole in the Vitamin E pill and squeeze about half on to my finger. You can replug the pill with the thumb tack. Using a thumb tack helps you locate it as well if it drops on the floor. I dab it on both cheeks and one line across my forehead then I make sure to spread it everywhere. Don't forget your neck! Try to lay off the SPF and makeup for a while as it tends to inflame acne. Reintroduce it slowly after you feel your skin is ready. If you can't lay off all makeup, skip foundation at least.

    It'll feel a little weird for the first couple days, but if your face is oily like mine you won't notice unless you touch your face (and if you're like me, you try to avoid touching at all costs anyways). And be forewarned, it does not smell like roses and peaches. Hopefully no ones getting that close to your face throughout the day though, and the one that is won't care. Hehe!

    I've only been doing this for a few weeks. Not only has it cleared up immensely (and while PMS-ing? Miracle!), but it's glowing. I haven't used foundation in 2 weeks! I'm getting a lot of compliments too.

    Once I feel like my PH has stabilized, I'm going to switch to using Vit. E only at night. When I switch to using the Vitamin E once a day at night I'll be using a moisturizer.

    No one's skin is the same, so play around with it. Use the Vit E. once a day, every other day. Maybe it's the cleanser you're using. Maybe you have sensitive skin? Try that instead.

    Here's an article with a list of the benefits of Vitamin E and skin!
    "There are a variety of other benefits of vitamin e for skin care:
    it helps maintain the skin’s oil balance during the cleansing process."
    Another little trick? If your burn yourself apply Vitamin E to your burn. It'll help it heal quicker and you won't blister. =)=)

    That's all, folks!
     These are great tips! Vitamin E promotes healing, so it is no wonder that you can use it for acne, scrapes, and burns. I hope you find these tips helpful to you!

    Monday, May 2, 2011

    10 Thrifty-Friendly Mother's Day Gifts for Under $15

    Alrighty, Thrifty Readers, you have less than a week to come up with something for your mama for Mother's Day.

    You want to get her something, but don't have much money? The biggest piece of frugal advice I can give you is to be creative, and put your effort into it.

    Dads of small children, I am mostly talking to you. Don't drop the ball. Read this and do something for your wife on behalf of your children. These gifts can obviously be given to your own mom, but let's not forget the moms whose kids are too young to do this stuff on their own. If you just plan on saying, "Happy Mother's Day" to her, I will smack you.

    On with the fun!


      1. [free] Let her sleep in. Especially to the dads small children, even if this is the only thing you do for her all day, she will be glad she married you. She might not even find herself with a headache tonight, if you know what I mean.
      2. [free] Spend time with her! Just treat her like the queen she is. Don't make her lift a finger.
      3. [<$1] Make a card with a special message from the heart. Show her how much you appreciate everything she does. Even if it looks like you designed it with your eyes closed, it will mean so much.
      4. [<$15] Make her a meal. I don't care if you have to open every cabinet in your kitchen to find something and dinner ends up being at 3 hours late, the effort you put in will be noticed.
      5. [$13.75] I found this great zipper wallet by Bumble Sweet Designs that sells for $10.50. Even with shipping, you're still under $15. It's so cute, and who wouldn't love something new and handmade. This won't arrive in time, but you can make an IOU in that great card you made.
      6. [$8] Etsy really is a great place to find amazing stuff. I found these earrings for $6 by Alililly. Shipping is only $2, so you really can't go wrong.
      7. [$9.99] Walgreens has great photo gifts. You can make your mom a calendar of the most awesome people in her world: her kids! This calendar only costs $9.99 and you can start it at any month you want.
      8. [$14.88] Does your mom already have photos printed from your special event but neglected to put them in frames? You can get her this great 5-piece frame set from Walmart.
      9. [$8.79] And what woman doesn't love to be pampered? Target has these great bath sets that smell great!
      10. [$11.25] Kohl's has a great sale going on right now. You can get this great FAMILY frame for less than half of what it regularly is.
       I hope these ideas help you find something for that special lady in your life. Make sure you treat her well. She brought you into this world; she can take you out of it.

      To the moms reading this, feel free to leave it open for your children (or husband) to read. :-)

      Saturday, April 30, 2011

      A Royal Wedding: Saving on Your Dress

      (continued from the previous post)


      Your Dress:

      First, have a game plan. Finding and buying your dress is an emotional and exciting event. Decide before you go if you need a blusher, a tiara, and other stuff that a sales person working on commission will surely try to sell you. Do you need the earrings at some specialty store or can you get them somewhere else with a coupon? Having a plan will help you stay on budget and not get carried away with the magic of the moment.


      Find sales! I bought mine from David's Bridal. I did not pay full price. My goal was to spend less than $500. I walked into specialty shops, shared my goal with the sales ladies, and I got shocked reactions in return. Do listen to them. You can do it.


      I tried on several dresses just to fine tune what style I wanted. The first dress I tried on was not ivory like I wanted, and it was a size too big, but it was PERFECT. I look at the price tag: $700. ::pouts:: I tried on a few other dresses, but kept thinking about that first dress. A few minutes later, the lady helping screams from across the store, "I FOUND IT!" She ran up with that perfect dress, in my size, AND ivory. Okay, I have to at least try it on. It was perfect. The women told me that DB was having a sale. All dresses were 25% off. Okay, I can try that. I double-check the tag; it reads $199. What?! With 25% off, my dress was $150. Yes.

      Don't settle, trust your gut, but stay within budget. I would also encourage you to check out department stores for white dresses. Weddings today allow the bride to do whatever she wants. There are so many great dresses out there that can pass as a really elegant wedding dress. You can often find dresses in your color scheme if you want to save your bridesmaids money.

      Also, don't buy new shoes for the occasion if you have an existing pair that could work. They are unnecessary. I wore a cute pair of flats that I already had. They weren't even ivory. They were silver with black lace. People thought they were a great unique touch. Little did they know that I was just trying to save a buck. Ha. Basically, don't believe the lie that tells you that you need something new for your big day. No, you don't.

      Friday, April 29, 2011

      A Royal Wedding: Saving on Your Reception

      In honor of today's Royal Wedding, I figured I would post some tips for the thrifty brides that might read this.

      Every bride wants a fabulous wedding. After all, this will be the biggest event you likely ever host. So how can you do it without fitting a bill of $55 million? You become resourceful.

      I'm going to divide my wedding tips up because or else you'll get bored sitting here reading. Today's topic?

      The Reception:

      Some tips I can share are that weddings in the off season (November-March) are cheaper generally speaking. Many reception halls, for example, have off season pricing. Another way to shave off a few dollars is to have your big day any time other than Saturday night. Fridays, Saturday afternoons, and Sundays will save you money. When I got married, we had our reception on a Saturday afternoon in November. We were out by 4 and managed to save about $5 a plate. This is a great way to have a meal, without breaking the bank.

      Us signing the Marriage License!
      I'd also suggest staying away from reception halls, and instead using restaurants or country clubs. Picking an atypical location will not only save you money, it will also help your shindig stand out as unique. Our reception was at a country club on a golf course. We had a fire in the fireplace. This country club also had windows allllll around, so it made it that much more special. (Side note, the manager of the club let us use a few golf carts to go take pictures in the golf course. SO MUCH FUN!)

      For your centerpieces, get creative. Also understand the timing of your wedding. We got married a week and a half after Halloween. You know what we were doing after Halloween? We went out and bought as many bags of bite size candy we could... and it was all 75% off! We bought $5 vases from Hobby Lobby, filled them with bite size candy, and they were far better than anything else we came across. Picture people pouring these vases into their purses. It was priceless.

      I also made everything I could think of. Maybe you're not equipped with a graphic design degree like I am, but I'm willing to bet that you can easily make stuff or find a friend that can offer their services.

      Additional advice: This place was going to charge $300 for the dance floor. Do you need a dance floor? Not really. It's not like your guests will be worrying about the floor cracking apart Indiana Jones style. If you want dancing, the floor is just fine.

      We also didn't have a DJ. That saved us about $1000 or more. We enlisted my brother to man the iPod. I had previously asked the manager if we could use the speaker system and he was more than willing to show us how to use it. We saved money AND I got to use our personal favorites.

      Stay tuned tomorrow for saving on your dress.

      Thursday, April 28, 2011

      Freezer Recipe: Making Beef and Bean Burritos in Bulk

      I got this recipe from an AMAZING book called Fix, Freeze, Feast. A friend had told me about the book a few months ago, we did this recipe for her family, and now I just did it again for my own family. It takes a bit of work, but it is sooooo worth it.

      The idea behind freezer meal in bulk is to save you money, time, and sanity. Many of the recipes that I will post are from this book. The authors gear the recipes to buy from warehouse stores like Costco or Sam's where you can often buy things cheaper by the pound when you buy it in bulk. The great thing here is that you are using all of your fresh ingredients before they spoil. You get homecooked meals from scratch, and you have a large assortment on hand for dinner when you need it.

      I am HORRIBLE at planning ahead. My husband comes home from work and asks me whats for dinner. My answer? "Ummmmmmmmmm......."

      Recipes like this one allow me to have it already made and ready. All I have to do is throw it in the oven. Bam. Dinner is ready.

      I'll talk more about freezer meals later with other recipes, but lets get started with these burritos.

      As one of the authors of Fix, Freeze, Feast describes these burritos, "We keep these on hand for quick lunches - homemade 'fast food.'" 100% truth right there.

      This recipe makes about 40 burritos, so make sure you have room in your freezer for about 6 gallon size bags.

      Ingredients:

      1 Tray (6 lbs) Lean Ground Beef (cooked)
      1 Cup taco seasoning
      3 Cups of water
      8 15-ounce cans of Refried Beans - any flavor
      40 10-inch Flour Tortillas (I happened to buy mine in packs of 6, so I bought 7 of them, making 42 shells)
      Mix-ins (Salsa, cilantro, cheese, onion, etc.) optional
      Aluminum Foil - Sams sells Aluminum foil sheets. I bought those to save my sanity. It cut down my time for sure.
      Gallon size Freezer Bags

      Directions:

      Brown your ground beef. Doing this much ground beef will take about 20 minutes.
      Drain.
      Add in taco seasoning and water. Bring to simmer. Let cook until most of the water has evaporated.
      Let beef cool.

      The next step I suggest is lay out your aluminum foil and your tortillas. I found that doing it this way allowed for my to do about 14 at a time, and I could be sure I added in everything I wanted to. My set up looked like this:
      Notice my little helper.
      This setup allowed for me to keep track of doing different fillings. I have a strange weakness for cilantro, so I made sure that some had that in there. My husband, however, does not share this love of cilantro with me, so I made sure that I had several groups without it. My kids like their burritos without onions. You see where I'm going with this. Just make sure you group them together and label your bags!

      I strongly suggest you do not do this with a 1 year old running around. I turned around to grab something and I found her like this:
      She stole a tortilla right off the table!
      Once you have your set of burritos like you like them, wrap the burrito (Side note: Did you know that on the tortilla package, you can often find instructions on how to wrap it properly?) and then wrap it in tin foil. My tip for this step would be to lay out your foil and then lay your tortillas right on top. Before you wrap it, you should have something like this:
      A burrito for my non-salsa/cilantro/onion-loving children of mine.

      Once you have them wrapped, start putting them in freezer bags and put them in the freezer. I repeat, make sure you label your bags! My permanent marker *somehow* disappeared off of my desk. I chose to use some leftover Avery labels instead. Make sure you have the date on there as well.
      Yummy goodness!
      These burritos are good for about 3 months after you make them. If you're like me, I can eat Mexican food all day long. I know these won't go to waste around this house.

      Now I bet you'd like to know how to cook them. Let me tell you. It's soooo easy!

      To Cook:

      You can thaw them out if you want or just bake straight from the freezer. If thawed, bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes. If they are frozen, bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

      You can also cook them in the microwave if you're in a rush. Unwrap it (duh!), hit "Thaw" and then "Reheat."

      Now, when my husband asks me what we're having for dinner, I can tell have an answer and food on the table quickly.

      These are also fabulous for when you have guests come over. Ten people from church decide to come over? No problem! Just bust out your cookie sheet and a few bags of your burritos, and you are good to go.

      My total burrito count: 41 (it would have been 42 if it hadn't been for some thievery)

      Let me know if you try this recipe! I know I love it!

      A Quick Tip - Unplug It!

      A quick tip for you to start practicing at home is unplugging anything that isn't in use.

      We do not keep the toaster or any other counter appliance plugged in unless it is currently in use. When we leave for a trip, we unplug nearly everything. It's amazing how much electricity "idle" electronics can use.

      Things that need to charge can be left plugged in, but keep in mind that many batteries (like the battery for your fancy DSLR) can actually lose their lifespan if you leave them plugged in. So with this tip, you're not only saving a little bit on your electricity bill, you're conserving energy, AND saving the life of your stuff.

      Wednesday, April 27, 2011

      Homemade Laundry Soap (Liquid)

      This is an easy way for you to start saving money. It is a great "experiment" to do with your kids, it saves money, and after you make it, your home smells unbelievably clean for days.

      There are likely a hundred recipes on the internet for laundry soap. This is the one that we've found works the best, and we've been using it for almost three years.

      All in all, you end up saving about 85% on laundry soap for however long you decide to do it. It takes about 15 minutes, will last about 64 loads (or 128 loads if you have a High Efficiency washer), and the ingredients will last for about a year or more. It does a great job for normal laundry. If you have a load of extra soiled laundry, you might want to add a scoop of OxyClean or use your leftover regular stuff.


      All of the ingredients are found in the laundry aisle. Look high and low for them. They are there. If you happen to use a small store that might not have everything like Walmart, you can try asking a manager to order it for you. It's worth it. Trust me.


      Ingredients/Supplies:

      1 bar of Fels Naptha - a really strong bar soap for laundry (you will use one 3rd of this per batch) **You can buy a different type of soap, but you might need to use the whole bar in that case**

      1 box of Washing Soda - We bought Arm & Hammer

      1 box of Borax - We bought 20 Mule

      A two gallon bucket (with or without a lid. We covered ours with a towel)

      A whole bunch of tap water




      Directions:

      Use a cheese grater to shred 1/3 of the Bar of soap (you may need to use the whole bar if you bought something other than Fels Naptha)

      Bring 6 cups of water to a high temp (doesn't matter if it's boiling or not) with the soap in it. (You can add the soap before or after it boils)

      Keep stirring until all of the soap melts

      Add 1/2 cup Borax and a 1/2 cup of Washing Soda and stir until it dissolves

      Put 4 cups of warm-hot water into the bucket (we let the 4 cups boil in another pot while we were messing with the rest of the soap mixture)

      Stir in soap mixture

      Add 1 gallon and 6 cups of warm-hot water to the bucket and stir

      Let it sit for 24 hours to gel

      The end product will be a mixture of solid gel and water (similar to the texture of egg noodle soup)

      This batch will last about 64 loads. If you want to add fragrance, you do that when you're boiling all of it.

      Use a 1/2 cup of laundry soap per load. If you have an HE washer, use 1/4 cup per load.

      We bought/found a pot, spoon, cup, and cheese grater that we will only use for this. I think that as long as you wash it with dish soap it will be fine, but we did that just in case. We also poured half our mixture into an old All container for easier use. Since it didn't all fit, we just left the rest in the bucket and covered it with a towel.

      I'd say try it. Even if you decide that you don't like using the laundry soap or whatever, the ingredients individually are great for cleaning laundry, the kitchen, and the bathroom. They are also all natural, so you can feel like your being green at the same time!

      I also know of a dry homemade laundry soap recipe, but you're just going to have to wait for that one!

      Getting Started

      You should ask yourself why you want to save money. Keeping this motivation in mind will help you with your goals of saving pennies. When you want to give up or take a break, figure out if your goal should be a higher priority over convenience. Because let me tell you friends, the tips I'm going to be sharing are not what you do out of convenience. Many are hard work, some are just practical habit changes, regardless, if you find yourself spending too much now, you're going to need an adjustment.

      My husband and I survived for 2.5 years off of unemployment and jobs that barely paid minimum wage. We were able to keep a roof over our heads, stay up to date with all of our bills, and still managed to live a life of great quality.

      I will tell you now that I am no expert. Some of my tips are practical tips that we've just adjusted how we live. Others are ways that I'm still experimenting with. Over the next few months, I'm going to share ways to save and tutorials for money by making your own stuff (of the crafty and non-crafty variety), pinching pennies in the kitchen, ways to save energy (and go green!), and ways to keep focus. I'll also be inviting you, my readers, to email me questions you'd like to see, or if you have tips you'd like to share. I'll also be scouring the internet for additional ways to help you out.

      Stayed tuned for I will be sharing my first tutorial soon!