Favorite DIY/homemade money saver...

[ceecee]

I use vinegar instead of fabric softener. I still use Tide because the homemade stuff faded out the cloths so fast they looked old after a few washes.
I do my own waxing, pedicures and manicures. Got the ingredients for homemade dog biscuits but with the price of peanut butter they won't be a lot less than $10.98 for 15 lbs of Milk Bones at Sam's, but probably healthier.

 

[apnep]

I made my own homemade butter spread.

1 stick of butter (I usually buy unsalted sweet cream)
1/2c. olive oil.

Blend together in blender and put in a container.

No additives or preservatives so much cheaper than buying a container of margerine.

 

[pixiewings71]

Are you adding water or something else to the recipe? 1 T versus 1/2 cup is a big difference in the amount being used. Thanks!

I was wondering the same thing...lol The 1T is just fine, it gets out blood, grass stains, ink.....

I use vinegar instead of fabric softener. I still use Tide because the homemade stuff faded out the cloths so fast they looked old after a few washes.
I do my own waxing, pedicures and manicures. Got the ingredients for homemade dog biscuits but with the price of peanut butter they won't be a lot less than $10.98 for 15 lbs of Milk Bones at Sam's, but probably healthier.

My homemade stuff doesn't fade my clothes at all. I do my own mani/pedis too, I actually enjoy it, although sometimes I miss the spa chair.

I made my own homemade butter spread.

1 stick of butter (I usually buy unsalted sweet cream)
1/2c. olive oil.

Blend together in blender and put in a container.

No additives or preservatives so much cheaper than buying a container of margerine.

mmmm that sounds good, unfortunately I have a BFF who is dairy allergic so I have to keep margarine around for her.

 

[The Princess]

This is a great thread!!! Thanks to all!!!

 

[SarahKate]

We use vinegar as softener too! Works great and no weird smell. We do still use dryer sheets when necessary. But even if we didn't, the clothes come out smelling fresh and are soft.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

There are some really good ideas on here! Thanks ya'll!

 

[Jenny3]

Thanks much for the laundry recipe! Going to pick up the supplies my next shopping trip. Are they something I can grab at the food store or Target?

 

[mjantz]

I use the Universal Muffin Recipe from Tightwad Gazette a lot. It's very flexible so if I have a banana that's getting too ripe or a few strawberries that need to be used up I can whip up a batch of muffins easily. I like throwing in a package or two of instant oatmeal for easy flavor. It's also easy to add things like ground flaxseed which make them healthier. I try to freeze batches but the kids snarf them up many times before I can get them in there.

 

[hsmamato2]

I made my own homemade butter spread.

1 stick of butter (I usually buy unsalted sweet cream)
1/2c. olive oil.

Blend together in blender and put in a container.

No additives or preservatives so much cheaper than buying a container of margerine.

haha we call that 'better butter'

 

[pocomom]

Thanks much for the laundry recipe! Going to pick up the supplies my next shopping trip. Are they something I can grab at the food store or Target?

probably, Borax and Washing soda are at Walmart here. Borax I can find pretty much anywhere, the washing soda can be tricky. I've seen Fels Naptha in our not -so- super supermarket if you are using that recipe. I prefer the Dawn version becuase I don't have to grate the soap and Fels is made with tallow which I just find kind of yucky -

 

[pocomom]

Oh we do doggie toys here too. They love stuffed animals but I can't stand the stuffing all over the place. So we make critters using old thick socks, or whatever scraps we have, and hand sew around old water bottles. The kids put felt on for the eyes, nose etc. Takes just a couple minutes to make a good enough toy. The pups love it! Nice crinkly sound and they actually stand up to them playing for quite awhile. Another "toy" we make for them- We put a treat in a cardboard paper towel or tp tube. fold over the edges wrap in plain newspaper paper and let them go to town. We also hide treats and toys in cardboard boxes for them to find. The cardboard toys are outdoor only! But great exercise for their minds, as we make them trickier and tricker to figure out each time . DH was worried they might start tearing up packages that came to the house, but they know the difference between the ones they are allowed and others.

 

[nancycg56]

Here is the dog biscuit recipe I use ~ I make them for my dog park friends for holiday gifts and no dog turns them down:

Dog Biscuits

 

[hsmamato2]

found on pinterest and tried it,it's awesome!
3/4 c olive oil,1/4 c wh. vinegar,mix in spray bottle and use for furniture cleaning and polish!

 

[pocomom]

found on pinterest and tried it,it's awesome!
3/4 c olive oil,1/4 c wh. vinegar,mix in spray bottle and use for furniture cleaning and polish!

Love cleaning with things you could spritz on a salad!

 

[pigget74]

I make our fabric softner, we make wet dog food to add to purchased dry food, I make freezer jam and slow cooker apple butter which we also freeze
I regularly make and freeze chicken stock to use in soup or dog food

How do you make the freezer jam and apple butter? Sorry if you already posted.

 

[havaneselover]

Thought of another one. I wash cashmere and wool sweaters in my front loader (I use the Laundress' wool and cashmere shampoo). So much cheaper than drycleaning and better for the clothes.

 

[pocomom]

I clean with a vinegar and water spray. I make homemade bagels and waffles about once a week and freeze whatever isn't eaten (the cost of the ingredients for a bagel or waffle is about $0.10 each). My newest project is moisturizing spray for my daughter's curly hair. Her hair is very dry and frizzy. I bought aloe vera juice and glycerin and am hoping it is works as well as what we're currently using at a fraction of the cost.

Would love the instructions on how to make homemade drain cleaner.

Made bagels this week - twice! Made half a batch from the allrecipes recipe to try it out- sub'd whole wheat flour for half the regular flour. Kids loved it so much we made a whole batch a couple of days later!

 

[pocomom]

I made my own homemade butter spread.

1 stick of butter (I usually buy unsalted sweet cream)
1/2c. olive oil.

Blend together in blender and put in a container.

No additives or preservatives so much cheaper than buying a container of margerine.

Tried this this week- especially great because butter was on sale. It does work out cheaper than most tubs BUT I love it because it tastes so good! We added a pinch of salt and I was low on olive oil so I used smart balance oil which I had on hand.

 

[DVC4FUN]

I made my own homemade butter spread.

1 stick of butter (I usually buy unsalted sweet cream)
1/2c. olive oil.

Blend together in blender and put in a container.

No additives or preservatives so much cheaper than buying a container of margerine.

Ooo I will have to try this!

 

[hsmamato2]

for replenishing my tired, dried out (need to be refinished but it ain't happening right now) wood floors.... spray bottle,1 cup olive oil,1 cup vinegar (or however much you need,1:1 ratio)
spray on floor, use damp mop to work in thoroughly,I really spent time rubbing it into the floor,and then continuing till the mop was almost dry, the dry wood soaked it up,and darkened it back to a richer color( it was almost white it's so dry and beat up with scuffing) and looks SO much better! I can't believe the difference!
caveat... I wouldn't do this on or near the staircase, just in case things remain too slick..... this was just wood floors,and worked it in REALLY well. I also would do this only once in a while,if I was in a hurry I'd just do a quick damp mop w/ vinegar spray (see my earlier post)

ALso, for my cleaning vinegar...I keep a glass jar in the cabinet topped up with wh. vinegar,and toss orange peels in there,it smells wonderful!