Best painless "stretching things" budget tips?

[happycampers]

CobraBubbles, Yes, I believe Aldi is a great money saver. The real trick is knowing your prices. (This is true with any stores.) I have a spreadsheet document as well as a mental list for keeping track of which stores have the lowest regular prices in my area. Great reference when you get the "sales" flyer. Unit cost is important. I almost bought a bundle of soap at the store because it was on sale, and I had a coupon. But after deducting that and calculating the price per bar, it wasn't the best I could do. You just have to ask yourself, "is it a deal or no deal?"

Speaking of soap...one trick for bar soap is to store the bars unwrapped. The bar becomes dryer over time when exposed to the air. Soaps disintegrate when they sit in water, so getting rid of as much moisture as possible can only help curb that. It doesn't cost anything to try this idea. (I've seen it work for me.) The other trick with bar soap is to take your thin, leftover slice and stick it to the new bar, preferably while it's still wet and sudsy. They fuse together after a few washes. Your new bar has a little "extra" and there's no wasted soap.

 

[Chickysmom]

Tonight I cut the top off a tube of face cream that I couldn't squeeze any more out of and could not believe how much was still in there! Than you PP for such a great tip!

I also watered down hand soap pump in bathroom that was half full and dish soap bottle in kitchen as well.....that stuff is just going to last forever this way!

When making my chili tomorrow, I triple the batch in my slow cooker and for one of the cans of red beans I'll use a can of pork 'n beans. Family never notices and I pick these up cheap during the summer sales! It just makes things a little cheaper and go a little further....also using chicken that was on sale that I ground at home instead of hamburger, which was more than the chicken!

 

[CobraBubbles]

CobraBubbles, Yes, I believe Aldi is a great money saver. The real trick is knowing your prices. (This is true with any stores.) I have a spreadsheet document as well as a mental list for keeping track of which stores have the lowest regular prices in my area. Great reference when you get the "sales" flyer. Unit cost is important. I almost bought a bundle of soap at the store because it was on sale, and I had a coupon. But after deducting that and calculating the price per bar, it wasn't the best I could do. You just have to ask yourself, "is it a deal or no deal?"

Speaking of soap...one trick for bar soap is to store the bars unwrapped. The bar becomes dryer over time when exposed to the air. Soaps disintegrate when they sit in water, so getting rid of as much moisture as possible can only help curb that. It doesn't cost anything to try this idea. (I've seen it work for me.) The other trick with bar soap is to take your thin, leftover slice and stick it to the new bar, preferably while it's still wet and sudsy. They fuse together after a few washes. Your new bar has a little "extra" and there's no wasted soap.

I will try the soap idea. I usually use the lil leftover slivers in a dish beside the sink for handwashing...I really do think washing with bar soap goes a ton farther than liquid soap...however..I miss my liquid soap so I will probably try the watering it down a bit trick, though not as much as some have said.

That's good to know about Aldi's. I'll have to go next time I'm going out that way and stock up. I know what you mean about prices. I'm pretty good at remembering things and remembering what is an average price, high, low etc. but only on things I usually buy. This week my store had double coupons up to $1 so I brought along all my coupons. The thing was is this was a store I don't shop at a lot because they are high priced. I saw some airfreshener and I had $1 off ($2 off) and still ended up paying about $1 for the 2 air fresheners with coupon. I went to Walmart later that day and realised I'd have paid a bit less with NO doubling. I'm learning though.

 

[pampam]

I will try the soap idea. I usually use the lil leftover slivers in a dish beside the sink for handwashing...I really do think washing with bar soap goes a ton farther than liquid soap...however..I miss my liquid soap so I will probably try the watering it down a bit trick, though not as much as some have said.

That's good to know about Aldi's. I'll have to go next time I'm going out that way and stock up. I know what you mean about prices. I'm pretty good at remembering things and remembering what is an average price, high, low etc. but only on things I usually buy. This week my store had double coupons up to $1 so I brought along all my coupons. The thing was is this was a store I don't shop at a lot because they are high priced. I saw some airfreshener and I had $1 off ($2 off) and still ended up paying about $1 for the 2 air fresheners with coupon. I went to Walmart later that day and realised I'd have paid a bit less with NO doubling. I'm learning though.

I haven't tried this myself, but I understand if you take your left over slivers of soap, and melt them down with water you can very easily make your own liquid soap. I believe if it's too thick, just add hot water to thin it.

 

[MELSMICE]

Speaking of soap...one trick for bar soap is to store the bars unwrapped. The bar becomes dryer over time when exposed to the air. Soaps disintegrate when they sit in water, so getting rid of as much moisture as possible can only help curb that. It doesn't cost anything to try this idea. (I've seen it work for me.) The other trick with bar soap is to take your thin, leftover slice and stick it to the new bar, preferably while it's still wet and sudsy. They fuse together after a few washes. Your new bar has a little "extra" and there's no wasted soap.

I've always stuck the thin slice to the new bar of soap and after reading on this thread about "airing" the soap out, I started doing that. (was it you that originally posted it).

Although I never documented the amount of time it took to use a bar of soap before I do think it lasts a bit longer using the "air out" idea. Thanks for that tip!

We have cut back on eating out. I'm not sure if it's intentional or if it's just because our entire familly is busy & going in different directions many nights of the week. Instead of eating out or getting fast food though, we have started purchasing the self-rising crust frozen pizzas. They are between $4-$5 at our grocery stores. I'll also make a decent chicken finger, boneless chicken wing or pizza logs & we have our "take out" meal.

We make it a fun dinner in front of the TV downstairs in our rec room as a family. In fact, we did this last night. My kids all had activities until after 7 p.m. We came home, I made the "take out meal" & we watched American Idol while eating. Much less expsenive than ordering from a pizza parlour.

 

[happycampers]

I've always stuck the thin slice to the new bar of soap and after reading on this thread about "airing" the soap out, I started doing that. (was it you that originally posted it).

Although I never documented the amount of time it took to use a bar of soap before I do think it lasts a bit longer using the "air out" idea. Thanks for that tip!

No, I don't believe it wasn't me that originally posted that. Sorry if that was a repeat. This thread has been going for so long that it's easy to forget what's been posted.

I've never documented the amount of time it took to use a bar of soap before either. I was skeptical about this tip when I heard about it years ago. The bar soap in our camper dries out quite a lot between camping trips, and it has lasted a LONG time. (I guess soap doesn't go bad.) When I noticed that, I stopped doubting. If you feel soap when it first comes out of the package, you can sense the moisture in it.

I think this is one of the reasons those Johnson's Bath Buddies soaps for kids last so long. It comes in its own little cover which contains all of the "goo" that wet soap can create. That "soap goo" stays in the cover and as the soap dries again, the "soap goo" dries with the bar instead of being washed down the drain or drying on the soap rack to be washed off later when cleaning the tub/shower. Did that make sense? If you can get a $1 off coupon for "Any Johnson's or Buddies product", a Buddies bar soap can be free (regularly $.94-$1). (There was one of these in the January 4 coupon insert.) My kids really like that soap. At regular price, that would be a splurge, but free is great.

 

[bobbieh76]

LOL. I've taken so many notes, I need to consolidate them all to one page.

Does anyone know what section on Walmart "washing soap" is located in? I cannot find it in the detergent or dish soap area.

Does anyone have a "recipe" for hand dishwashing soap? I generally handwash (with frugal amounts of water ), and reuse the water for houseplants.

I have looked at 5 wal-marts and have not founf washing soda at any of them... I finally called the number on a box of arm and hammer and they told me a local grocery store had it.... it will be in the laundry isle!!! the closest store around me that has it is 1 hr away so i only pick it up when i have other business to do in that town!!! oh and be sure to keep any washing soda and other ingriedents away from children and pets!!!!!!

 

[Mermaid02]

I just ordered a family "meat pack" from our local grocery store. It's 59.99 and contains the following:
4# 80% lean gr beef
4# beef chuck roast
2.5# beef chuck stew
2.5# chef's prime roast
2.4# ham steak
7# Roaster Chicken
4# split chicken breast
2# smoked bacon

I also have a coupon for $10 off any purchase over $50 so it will cost me 49.99. I'll bring all of that home and freeze it.

I like the idea of cutting out paper towels (my family is very addicted to them)

Also- making detergent is VERY intriguing to me. I'll have to search for that concoction in this thread!!

 

[SGMCO]

When my Homemade Laundry detergent is running low I
will also take a New Bar of the Zote laundry soap and
let it air dry. The soap is then much easier to grate to
mix the recipe. We love this laundry detergent.
It has really saved us money since it only cost me
$24.00 per year to make. I also have not had to buy
dishwashing detergent since July thanks to making my own.
Works great.

I also stockpile on the can goods whenever my local grocery
store has sales (2 for $1.00) on there genaric brand.
The offer beans, tomatoes, veggies ect. I then look up
different recipes to go with the supplies that I have already.
My local Grocery store also sells there genaric Pizza which are
like the rise and bake (3 for $10.00) they are just as good
as the name brands-I buy the plain cheese and add my own
toppings-we haven't ordered pizza for several months.
My DS and DH really like the pizza and it quick to make.
I stockpile on these also and put them in my basement freezer.

 

[Mermaid02]

We also bought a pellet stove in May and only use our furnace for hot water. It's really nice to not have to pay the oil company $200+ a month!

 

[cajunpeach]

Please send us the recipe for your homemade wrinkle release.

I don't have the "recipe" with me but I think it's;

1 cup distilled water
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
1/2 cup Downy fabric softner

I'll check when I get home and let you know if this isn't correct (I'm 99% sure this is right)

 

[minnie1928]

Speaking of soap, I've mounted a suction cup soap dish at about face height on the wall opposite of the shower head. This keeps the soap from sitting in water all the time and then dripping soap down the wall. Not only does the soap last much longer, but I don't have to clean as hard...and that is priceless!

 

[cajunpeach]

Speaking of soap, I've mounted a suction cup soap dish at about face height on the wall opposite of the shower head. This keeps the soap from sitting in water all the time and then dripping soap down the wall. Not only does the soap last much longer, but I don't have to clean as hard...and that is priceless!

Good idea It is a gooey mess sitting in a soap dish.


I went this yesterday to Kroger (local grocery store) and purchased the Arm & Hammer washing soda and Borax to make my own dishwasher detergent. I haven't done the math yet but I'm not sure there will be a lot of savings. I paid $2.79 for the A & H (about the size of a box of detergent) and $ 3.79 for the Borax ( about the size of 1.5 boxes of detergent). I think buying store brand or using coupons make come up the same cost or even less... what is everyone elses' thoughts?

 

[LuvOrlando]

Speaking of Aldi, with Valentines Day almost here I wanted to share that their roses, priced between $3-4 for a 1/2 dozen, are easily the best deal around. Of course, I'm not the only person to have noticed so they can be hard to find. Since they last so long I bought them early and enjoyed them the whole week. I just can't see spending more for the same flowers, after all the vases the florists give me are no-where near as nice as my own.

Last year I picked out 12 red for me from DH & the kids, 6 yellow for MIL and 6 pink for DD9, bought MIL & DD $1 store vases & ribbons and it was a hit.

 

[bookgirl]

Good idea It is a gooey mess sitting in a soap dish.


I went this yesterday to Kroger (local grocery store) and purchased the Arm & Hammer washing soda and Borax to make my own dishwasher detergent. I haven't done the math yet but I'm not sure there will be a lot of savings. I paid $2.79 for the A & H (about the size of a box of detergent) and $ 3.79 for the Borax ( about the size of 1.5 boxes of detergent). I think buying store brand or using coupons make come up the same cost or even less... what is everyone elses' thoughts?

I believe this makes up enough to last many months even if you find generic that is 7 dollars or less you still have to pay that every month or every other week depending on your use....it's an upfront cost of 7 dollars for ingredients, but averaged out over 6 to 12 batches with each batch haveing multiple loads, it makes each batch cheap.

 

[SGMCO]

Good idea It is a gooey mess sitting in a soap dish.


I went this yesterday to Kroger (local grocery store) and purchased the Arm & Hammer washing soda and Borax to make my own dishwasher detergent. I haven't done the math yet but I'm not sure there will be a lot of savings. I paid $2.79 for the A & H (about the size of a box of detergent) and $ 3.79 for the Borax ( about the size of 1.5 boxes of detergent). I think buying store brand or using coupons make come up the same cost or even less... what is everyone elses' thoughts?

It is only costing me $24.00 for the whole year to make both
Laundry detergent and dishwashing detergent. That is less than what I
pay for the cheapest dishwashing detergent for the whole year.
I think that is a savings. I calulated that I used to spend $132.00 on
Laundry detergent and around $36.00 per year on Dishwashing detergent
with a total of $168.00 per year for both. I also don't use all Washing soda
in Dishwasher detergent but 1/2 Baking and 1/2 Washing soda in recipe.

 

[JustcallmeHappy]

I just started using and making homemade laundry soap I really can't tell much of a difference It is totally worth the savings

 

[Angel16]

Does anyone have an idea for cleaning granite counter tops. The cleaner they sell is expensive, it does a great job and leaves the counters shinning, but expensive. I have been using my window cleaner, however I was told that is bad for granite.

What do you all do?

 

[bonybroad]

double post

 

[bonybroad]

I just wanted to add to the stromboli recipe on page, thirty three of this thread.
You can also use bread dough. Our WalMart had a sale on bread dough, 2 pkgs of 5 loaves for $3.
Thaw the dough, DONT LET IT RISE!
Cut each loaf into 5 pieces. Roll out, add toppings, roll up like a jellyroll.
Brush with egg wash. Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes.
These can be frozen individually for lunches! My DH loves them. They are my "emergency" lunch when we don't have enough leftovers for him.