Best painless "stretching things" budget tips?

[semo233]

I posted my recipe in an earlier post and have and HE machine. I have not had any problems at all!! Several people mentioned having problems with the detergent disolving in the water, but I have not had any problems. This might have to do with how hard your water is.

 

[winnapooh]

I posted my recipe in an earlier post and have and HE machine. I have not had any problems at all!! Several people mentioned having problems with the detergent disolving in the water, but I have not had any problems. This might have to do with how hard your water is.

Great, thanks for the response!

 

[Sarah'sMomfrom PA]

With the bad economy, I have been trying to budget what we spend and where we spend it..circling the wagons so to speak. I recently needed pantyhose and it was cold out and I just didn't feel like going out to buy more--I had a bag full of "holey" pantyhose--a run or hole in the heel or the ankle or the knee. I picked through them and found two pairs of the same color pantyhose with holes in different places and voila...I wore one pair over the other and not only did no one notice them but they were really warm in the cold of NE Pennsylvania! It felt like I had a pair of tights on! Not only am I saving money since these will last quite a while but I figure that I am also saving space in the landfill. Simple exercise but I was proud of my Budgeting!

 

[RNtheRN]

One word............Walmart

 

[estherhead]

Does your homemade laundry detergent seperate & need shaking everytime you use it? I used:

6 cups water & 1 bar Ivory Soap
Then add in a bucket:
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
little bit of essential oil
1 gallon water

It works really well. I've washed maybe 7 loads in it & they are all clean. But I have to shake it up before I use it & it is kind of chunky. Did I do something wrong?

 

[cndij]

I recently needed pantyhose and it was cold out and I just didn't feel like going out to buy more--I had a bag full of "holey" pantyhose--a run or hole in the heel or the ankle or the knee. I picked through them and found two pairs of the same color pantyhose with holes in different places and voila...I wore one pair over the other !

This is so funny, I hadn't thought about doing this in years, but I used to do this with pantyhose or tights but instead of wearing them completely over each other, I would cut off the bad leg on each one and just have 1 leg in each pair and then put them both on. I am so glad you reminded me of that.
Sometimes when we thing we are being really frugal, someone else' experiences show us how much further we can still go.

 

[cajunpeach]

Does your homemade laundry detergent seperate & need shaking everytime you use it? I used:

6 cups water & 1 bar Ivory Soap
Then add in a bucket:
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
little bit of essential oil
1 gallon water

It works really well. I've washed maybe 7 loads in it & they are all clean. But I have to shake it up before I use it & it is kind of chunky. Did I do something wrong?

Mine seperates too, I have a large whisk I keep on top of my bucket and stir each time. I thought maybe I did something wrong too, I'd love to hear others experiances....

 

[SGMCO]

Mine seperates too, I have a large whisk I keep on top of my bucket and stir each time. I thought maybe I did something wrong too, I'd love to hear others experiances....

I think the liquid recipe is suppose to separate
that's why I make the Powdered version.
I start filling my Washing machine with water
before adding the clothes, then I put the powder
detergant so that it will desolve, then the clothes.

 

[Mermaid02]

Anything new??

 

[MrsKreamer]

I have been doing this for awhile and I think someone else mentioned this as well, but...

I cut my chicken breasts (and other simular cuts of meat) thinner. So one chicken breast becomes 2 or 3 depending on the thickness. Not only does it help the budget, but it is so much easier to cook. Besides and single serving of meat is only supposed to be 4oz and those breasts and chops can be much larger.

 

[TifffanyD]

This is another thing that I read and thought "DUH!" why haven't I been doing this! LOL.
Thanks so much.

Just wanted to wave cause I am in Brandon, too!

 

[Chickysmom]

I work for a school district and we are considered a government agency (I just found that out!) so I contacted our cell phone plan (ATT) and can get a 15% discount! That is a huge saving on our plan! So......it doesn't hurt to ask about things that aren't so obvious sometimes!

 

[punkin]

I am making chicken and rice in a crock pot today and decided to put in 3 chicken breasts instead of the 4 called for in the recipe. I bet my family doesn't even notice (and less meat is better).

 

[Mermaid02]

I sifted the Fels Naptha out of my detergent and replaced it with Kirk's. MUCH easier on the nose. Although you couldn't smell the other on the clothes- I gagged whenever I had to put it in the washer!

 

[CobraBubbles]

I must be the only person who sort of likes the smell of Fels Naptha ... it's a pain in the bahookey to grate though...so I'm trying Ivory next time.

 

[Kycha]

I must be the only person who sort of likes the smell of Fels Naptha ... it's a pain in the bahookey to grate though...so I'm trying Ivory next time.

I had read on another forum to use your food processor to grind the soap. I don't have a food processor. So, I haven't tried it. But sure sounds a lot easier than grating my fingers off.

 

[MEM]

I sifted the Fels Naptha out of my detergent and replaced it with Kirk's. MUCH easier on the nose. Although you couldn't smell the other on the clothes- I gagged whenever I had to put it in the washer!

That's very interesting. We couldn't find the Fels Naptha ANYwhere so we used the Kirk's castile soap. It works just fine and now I don't have to worry about the Fels triggering my fragrance allergies.

 

[MEM]

I had read on another forum to use your food processor to grind the soap. I don't have a food processor. So, I haven't tried it. But sure sounds a lot easier than grating my fingers off.

I use my old metal box grater - the very fine side that I never bother with for food - it takes no time at all. I use the Kirk's castile soap and it grates very easily.

 

[MEM]

I am making chicken and rice in a crock pot today and decided to put in 3 chicken breasts instead of the 4 called for in the recipe. I bet my family doesn't even notice (and less meat is better).

I have been doing this too, except I use 3 chicken breast HALVES - I have a family of four including 2 teenagers and its plenty.

 

[MEM]

I did the vinegar and baking soda thing...and I've acquired the ingredients for my own laundry detergent, but have yet to make it (got a couple of bottles for $2 each this month and still working on them).

I just wanted to share that since I started making and using homemade (powdered) laundry detergent, I no longer need the vinegar and baking soda.