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| Glad Rags |
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| Etsy! Pantyliners or Pads |
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| Luna Pads and Diva Cup |
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Reusable Pads
Tired of buys pads and tampons every month? Try reusable products! It may be expensive to start out, but think of all the money you'll be saving in the long run! Plus you can just throw the pads in with your laundry! I wish I had started doing this earlier! If you don't like pads, try the Diva Cup or another version of it. I've found that shopping on Etsy is much cheaper than the first two sites. One thing to be thankful for during that time of the month is a bit more money in your wallet
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Homemade Body Products
When you are trying to save money, you need to ask yourself "how can I save money on something I NEED DAILY? My answer: Make it yourself!
Check out these easy and simple recipes for homemade body products thanks to Passionate Homemaking Blog
Friday, March 16, 2012
Homemade Household Cleaners
Do you find yourself dishing out a bunch of money every month on laundry detergent, all purpose spray, glass cleaner, etc? I used to be one of those crazy couponers and I was appalled at how much consumers pay for cleaning supplies without coupons! I felt like I was getting ripped off even as I walked away paying less (and sometimes nothing) for cleaners. A fellow coupon friend mentioned she was going to start making her own cleaners and I jumped on the bandwagon.
How much are you saving? I haven't done the math for all the recipes, but the fact that most of the recipes use the same 5-6 ingredients that don't cost more than $3/each leads me to believe I'm making a killing!
Here's a few steps on how to get started:
SHOPPING LIST
Fabric softener (1-2 scents if you want different fabric refresher and dryer sheets)
White vinegar (at least a gallon)
Dawn
Washing soda
Baking soda (Biggest box you can find!)
Borax
Ivory bar soap or Fels Naptha
OPTIONAL ITEMS
Funnel - definitely handy!
CONTAINERS
3 average size spray bottles (all purpose, windex, fabric refresher)
1 small spray bottle (furniture polish)
Old dishwasher detergent box powder (dishwasher detergent) or laundry box
Laundry box (laundry detergent)
2 cup container with lid for dryer sheets
OPTIONAL ITEMS (larger quantities for refills)
3 Gallon jugs (all purpose, swiffer sol., mop sol.) (ex: milk jugs)
3 1/2 gal jug (windex, fabric refresher, fabric sheets) (ex: 1/2 gal vinegar jugs)
Microfiber cloths or diaper cloths
RECIPES
(add a few drops of essential oil to any of these for variety or if you don't like the vinegar scent.)
All purpose spray
50/50 vinegar and water
A few drops of essential oil if you can't stand the smell
Homemade Glass Cleaner
1 c. rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 c. water
1 T. white vinegar
Furniture polish
1/2 t. Olive oil
1/4 c. Vinegar
Spray onto a cloth, then wipe.
Toilet cleaner (pour in the toilet and let soak overnight)
1/4 c. baking soda
1/4 c. Dawn
1/4 c. water
Dishwasher detergent
50/50 washing soda and borax
1 T. in each compartment
Rinse aid - white vinegar
Swiffer/Libman Mop Solution
1 c. Vinegar
1 gal water
Mop solution
1/8 c. Dawn
1/4 c. Vinegar
1 gal warm water
Steam Cleaner Solution
1 c. white vinegar
Hot water
2-3 drops essential oil if you can't stand the smell
Laundry detergent (DRY)
1 bar ivory soap (grated)
1 c. washing soda
1 c. Baking soda
1 c. Borax
Laundry Detergent (Liquid, NO GRATE!!)
3 T. Washing Soda
3 T. Borax
2 T. Dawn (any flavor!)
Put these ingredients in a gallon jug. Pour 4 cups BOILING water and mix until everything is dissolved. Let the solution cool, then fill the gallon to the top. Use 1/2 cup for a large load and adjust accordingly. It is cloth diaper safe, just use a lot less.
Dryer sheets and/or Fabric Refresher (4 parts softener, 10 parts water for larger quantities)
1/4 c fabric softener
2 1/2 c. Water
Cut up fabric strips (3x5, microfiber is best, but an old t-shirt will do!)
For dryer sheets, mix softener and water in a container with a lid (like an old margarine or cool whip container). Let cloths soak in solution. When needed, just wring it out and throw it in the dryer. Put back in container when done and reuse!
Fabric Softener #2
Just stick 1/2 cup vinegar in the rinse cycle slot in your machine or in a fabric softener ball!
FAQs
Doesn't vinegar make your house smell?
Yeah, for like 5 minutes! The scent of vinegar dissipates once it dries. If you really can't stand it, just put a few drops of essential oil into your recipes.
Are these recipes safe on your furniture?
These recipes are not only safer on your stuff, but on your body as well. I feel much better about using (mostly) natural ingredients (with the exception of Borax) on my "stuff" and around my family. As usual, always test on a little corner before you start!
Have any other questions? Just leave a comment!
How much are you saving? I haven't done the math for all the recipes, but the fact that most of the recipes use the same 5-6 ingredients that don't cost more than $3/each leads me to believe I'm making a killing!
Here's a few steps on how to get started:
- RIGHT NOW, start setting aside those empty spray bottles, laundry detergent boxes/bottles, etc.
- Do this so you don't have to buy new bottles. Just put all purpose spray in your old all purpose spray container and you won't be confused!
- Start collecting recipes for different cleaners (mine favorites are posted at the bottom).
- As you begin to use up your own supply, replace them with your own homemade cleaner!
- I like to use a few old milk jugs and make a large batch of a recipe so I can quickly refill a bottle
SHOPPING LIST
Fabric softener (1-2 scents if you want different fabric refresher and dryer sheets)
White vinegar (at least a gallon)
Dawn
Washing soda
Baking soda (Biggest box you can find!)
Borax
Ivory bar soap or Fels Naptha
OPTIONAL ITEMS
Funnel - definitely handy!
CONTAINERS
3 average size spray bottles (all purpose, windex, fabric refresher)
1 small spray bottle (furniture polish)
Old dishwasher detergent box powder (dishwasher detergent) or laundry box
Laundry box (laundry detergent)
2 cup container with lid for dryer sheets
OPTIONAL ITEMS (larger quantities for refills)
3 Gallon jugs (all purpose, swiffer sol., mop sol.) (ex: milk jugs)
3 1/2 gal jug (windex, fabric refresher, fabric sheets) (ex: 1/2 gal vinegar jugs)
Microfiber cloths or diaper cloths
RECIPES
(add a few drops of essential oil to any of these for variety or if you don't like the vinegar scent.)
All purpose spray
50/50 vinegar and water
A few drops of essential oil if you can't stand the smell
Homemade Glass Cleaner
1 c. rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 c. water
1 T. white vinegar
Furniture polish
1/2 t. Olive oil
1/4 c. Vinegar
Spray onto a cloth, then wipe.
Toilet cleaner (pour in the toilet and let soak overnight)
1/4 c. baking soda
1/4 c. Dawn
1/4 c. water
Dishwasher detergent
50/50 washing soda and borax
1 T. in each compartment
Rinse aid - white vinegar
Swiffer/Libman Mop Solution
1 c. Vinegar
1 gal water
Mop solution
1/8 c. Dawn
1/4 c. Vinegar
1 gal warm water
Steam Cleaner Solution
1 c. white vinegar
Hot water
2-3 drops essential oil if you can't stand the smell
Laundry detergent (DRY)
1 bar ivory soap (grated)
1 c. washing soda
1 c. Baking soda
1 c. Borax
Laundry Detergent (Liquid, NO GRATE!!)
3 T. Washing Soda
3 T. Borax
2 T. Dawn (any flavor!)
Put these ingredients in a gallon jug. Pour 4 cups BOILING water and mix until everything is dissolved. Let the solution cool, then fill the gallon to the top. Use 1/2 cup for a large load and adjust accordingly. It is cloth diaper safe, just use a lot less.
Dryer sheets and/or Fabric Refresher (4 parts softener, 10 parts water for larger quantities)
1/4 c fabric softener
2 1/2 c. Water
Cut up fabric strips (3x5, microfiber is best, but an old t-shirt will do!)
For dryer sheets, mix softener and water in a container with a lid (like an old margarine or cool whip container). Let cloths soak in solution. When needed, just wring it out and throw it in the dryer. Put back in container when done and reuse!
Fabric Softener #2
Just stick 1/2 cup vinegar in the rinse cycle slot in your machine or in a fabric softener ball!
FAQs
Doesn't vinegar make your house smell?
Yeah, for like 5 minutes! The scent of vinegar dissipates once it dries. If you really can't stand it, just put a few drops of essential oil into your recipes.
Are these recipes safe on your furniture?
These recipes are not only safer on your stuff, but on your body as well. I feel much better about using (mostly) natural ingredients (with the exception of Borax) on my "stuff" and around my family. As usual, always test on a little corner before you start!
Have any other questions? Just leave a comment!
Welcome!
Aloha!
I hope you've found yourself here for the same reason I have. You have asked yourself the same questions I do every day. How can I save more money?
Who am I? I am a saved and forgiven daughter of God, a proud wife of a U.S. Navy Sailor, and a mother of one (soon-to-be two) sweet little boys. We are currently stationed in Pearl Harbor, HI (aka Paradise). My husband and I have accumulated quite a mountain of debt due to carelessness, school loans, cars, etc. Since I am a stay at home mom, I am not bringing in any income, so I've taken it upon myself to save where I can! In my quest to save I have discovered we are unintentionally going green. Am I a crunchy granola, save the polar bears, vegan eating, barefoot type? I wouldn't say yes and I wouldn't say no. Although I do lean to the hippie mindset on occasion, I believe I'm just a regular person who eats processed food, drives a gas guzzling pickup, fat American who doesn't wear shoes. HA! I do daydream about living on a small, sustainable farm somewhere in Texas, but that's another story.
Each week I plan to post a new tip on how to save a little green by going green. If you have any tips or ideas to help me and other readers out there, leave a comment!
I hope you've found yourself here for the same reason I have. You have asked yourself the same questions I do every day. How can I save more money?
Who am I? I am a saved and forgiven daughter of God, a proud wife of a U.S. Navy Sailor, and a mother of one (soon-to-be two) sweet little boys. We are currently stationed in Pearl Harbor, HI (aka Paradise). My husband and I have accumulated quite a mountain of debt due to carelessness, school loans, cars, etc. Since I am a stay at home mom, I am not bringing in any income, so I've taken it upon myself to save where I can! In my quest to save I have discovered we are unintentionally going green. Am I a crunchy granola, save the polar bears, vegan eating, barefoot type? I wouldn't say yes and I wouldn't say no. Although I do lean to the hippie mindset on occasion, I believe I'm just a regular person who eats processed food, drives a gas guzzling pickup, fat American who doesn't wear shoes. HA! I do daydream about living on a small, sustainable farm somewhere in Texas, but that's another story.
Each week I plan to post a new tip on how to save a little green by going green. If you have any tips or ideas to help me and other readers out there, leave a comment!
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