Best painless "stretching things" budget tips?

[robb01]

So many great tips in here, thanks everyone

 

[cajunpeach]

Something else I do is stir instant coffee crystals into my shampoo. When I shampoo, I leave the shampoo sitting on my hair for a while, and my grey hair is not so noticable. It doesn't cover the grey completely but it helps the grey to blend in with my brown hair. It's not permanent, but is something like a tint.

what ratio of crystals to shampoo do you use? TIA

 

[pampam]

what ratio of crystals to shampoo do you use? TIA

I don't measure, but I do make it strong. Really strong.

 

[Livin'4Disney]

As I have been reading this thread I came across one that I do yearly or twice a year. Call all the companies I get a bill from (land phone, cell phone, cable, internet, etc.) and see what promotions are out there and where I can cut my bills.
My DH just told me something was wrong with the phone yesterday, b/c it is only saying "incoming call" instead of what the number actually is! I told him, I stopped caller id, call waiting, etc. and am saving us $15 a month. Then I added that I cut our cell bill by $20 just be reducing our minutes that we NEVER used and our Cable bill by decreasing the speed of our internet service ($10) which I don't even see a difference in! That's $45 a month I saved for the coming year (or $540 this years!)
It's always good to read these threads! Thanks for all the good tips!

 

[LuvOrlando]

Oh my goodness. A few months ago someone recommended buying for the month at one time. I tried it and the first month it was really hard but I stuck with it. I started to really use my freezer and buy ahead in bulk when things came on sale. I also got back to using my pantry storage to again, pick up stuff when its on sale. At first, the financial outlay was heavy because I was still buying day to day as I picked up doubles. BUT, I can now report that haven't needed to buy anything since Thanksgiving (just little odds & ends). Then today I just discovered a bundle still in my checking account after the dust settled from the bills clearing AND I think I could still feed my entire family for a month with what I have in the freezer & pantry.

Mind you, I have been more thoughtful and have been taking lots of tips from this post. Buying ahead and on sale has been a huge help. I plan out our meals 2 weeks ahead so I use what I have and avoid back to back chicken nights etc. My family does not notice the budgeting since rotate out expensive & inexpensive meals such as chicken burgers one day and a roast beef the next. I also do not have much in leftovers any more because since I now buy in bulk I make separate packets (such as just 4 pork chops in one freezer ziplock and use the remainder for another freezer packet).

NOW MY TIP:
My biggest money saver & health enhancer though has got to be soups. I picked up the "Taste of Home" Soup edition in Walmart a few months ago and my entire family has gone ape over the recipes. Believe it or not my DD9 has been BEGGING for another batch of cauliflower soup for a week, I just made enough for 3 meals out of 1 large head today and will be freezing the rest to dress up otherwise dull meals like BLT's or leftovers (apparently kids will eat lost more veggies if they are pureed in a blender). I've been whipping up one kind or another soup for about 3 months and am thrilled with the low cost and diversity.

Thanks everyone

 

[cndij]

NOW MY TIP:
My biggest money saver & health enhancer though has got to be soups. I picked up the "Taste of Home" Soup edition in Walmart a few months ago and my entire family has gone ape over the recipes. Believe it or not my DD9 has been BEGGING for another batch of cauliflower soup for a week, :

Tell me more about this, is it a cookbook or a magazine? Do they still have them at WalMart? This sounds really good.

 

[dvc at last !]

Love this thread...

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Sorry I could only read up to pg. 14 and need to get to bed but just wanted to add this dryer tip....

While on a Disney cruise and paying to wash & dry clothes, I remembered reading somewhere how a dryer "struggles" to vent out humid air (water removed from the clothes) while still trying to retain heat too. I decided I'd help it out by stopping the dryer, and shaking out each item briefly, then putting them back in the dryer. Yes, the clock was still ticking while I did this and it probably wasted 1 min of the 30 mins I paid for but my things were completely dry at the end of the cycle while other ladies had to add more $ to add drying time.

I started doing this at home after that, esp. with towels and jeans and it really does shorten the time needed to dry.

I still use heated dry cycle in the dishwasher and often things are still a bit wet, esp when the Jet Dry has run out. Again, I help vent out all that moisture. If I remember, I open the dw about 5 mins after the dry cycle starts. A huge cloud of steam billows out. I close it back up and stuff dries much faster.

I don't know how you guys manage to dry your dishes with no heat. I'd love to make that switch but the stuff is just soaking wet. I'm working FT and don't have time to dry it all before starting dinner.

Another tip:
I took the advice of another Diser and instead of buying pads and tampons, bought a Diva Cup. I've been using it since April and love it. Now I only use about 1 pad per cycle. Save $$$ and it's greener for the Earth.

 

[bobbieh76]

i have started making my own laundry soap:

12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated) I use ivory

Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

works great! a friend who is a sears repairman said would be fine to use in my HE washer!

I also use the vinegar in my fabric softner dispenser and in my jet dry dispenser work WONDERFULLY in both!

I also make my own dishwasher detergent equal part borax and washing soda (washing soda kinda hard 2 find call arm n hammer and ask about local retailer)

figured it up saves me $200 per yr on laundry detergent which equals park hoppers 4 my family

also collect my grocery ads 4 the week and price match all ads at local walmart! save atleast $20 per wk on groceries and I create my meals around what is on sale!

oh I also make all household cleaners just surf the web and you will find 100's of recipes!

also trade clothes shoes and purses with friends instead of shopping for new!!!

at christmas I try to price match as many gifts as possible!

also use ebates and live.com for cash back on internet purchases!

oh and i wash out ziplock generic baggies and re-use!

unplug unused electrical and hang clothes to dry when possible! When drying towels in dryer put a dry towel in with the wet ones will cut drying time by at least 30% same with jeans and anything that wont get lint on! works great!!

vent dryer in house for winter (may need damp rid in laundry room for dampness though put dryer sheets over this vent to catch excess lint and make house smell great!)

buy things in bulk when find a great deal and freeze in freezer ie bread meat etc...

best investment this year deep freezer!!! has saved us a ton!

I have been working on paying off credit card debt and will be debt free in 5 months We are going to disney this year to celebrate that!!!! (which will be paid for NOT charged!!!! I think pretty good for a one income family

 

[LuvOrlando]

Tell me more about this, is it a cookbook or a magazine? Do they still have them at WalMart? This sounds really good.

They seem to have a magazine by the same title "Taste of Home", and a website that has all the recipes (Cauliflower Cheese Soup, the 1st Creamed Cabbage recipe, Creamy Tomato made with 2 cans of canned tomato soup and the French Onion have been our favorites). So far I have only been picking up the specialty issues, you know- the kinds they have at the checkout. I've gotten the one on Soups, the one on Appetizers (the Spinach phyllo made into a lasagna type pie was a huge hit today) and, this past week, I found the one on Slow Cookers. I got 2 at Walmart and one at Giant. I like the magazine format for ideas, but since all the same stuff is on the internet I guess I should just check it out there instead. S far the only recipe my DH really didn't like was the Senate Bean soup, but my kids liked it with garlic bread. If anyone discovers anything else great on this site please PM me, I love recommendations

 

[intheworks]

They seem to have a magazine by the same title "Taste of Home", and a website that has all the recipes (Cauliflower Cheese Soup, the 1st Creamed Cabbage recipe, Creamy Tomato made with 2 cans of canned tomato soup and the French Onion have been our favorites). So far I have only been picking up the specialty issues, you know- the kinds they have at the checkout. I've gotten the one on Soups, the one on Appetizers (the Spinach phyllo made into a lasagna type pie was a huge hit today) and, this past week, I found the one on Slow Cookers. I got 2 at Walmart and one at Giant. I like the magazine format for ideas, but since all the same stuff is on the internet I guess I should just check it out there instead. S far the only recipe my DH really didn't like was the Senate Bean soup, but my kids liked it with garlic bread. If anyone discovers anything else great on this site please PM me, I love recommendations

Care to post the tomato and french onion soup recipes?

 

[EllaGrasso]

Here is my homemade laundry detergent

1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soada
1/2 cup borax
1 bar soap
5 gallon bucket with lid
Essential oil (for scent, just a drop or two)


Whittle down the soap bar into some boiling water on the stove. When it's
dissolved, pour into bucket and add your other ingredients along with about 3 gallons of water. Add a drop or two of essential oil for scent. I use orange. Stir. Cover. Sit for 24 hours. You'll have a gel-like laundry detergent with enough ingredients left for another 5+ batches. Use one cup per load.

 

[semo233]

Here is my homemade laundry detergent

1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soada
1/2 cup borax
1 bar soap
5 gallon bucket with lid
Essential oil (for scent, just a drop or two)


Whittle down the soap bar into some boiling water on the stove. When it's
dissolved, pour into bucket and add your other ingredients along with about 3 gallons of water. Add a drop or two of essential oil for scent. I use orange. Stir. Cover. Sit for 24 hours. You'll have a gel-like laundry detergent with enough ingredients left for another 5+ batches. Use one cup per load.

I know some people have had a hard time with the powder version, but I have slightly hard well water and have not problem with this simpler version:

1 Bar Fels Naptha Soap from food processor
1 Cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda

Blend together and use 1-2 Tblsp per load. I have an JE washer and dryer and have had no problems at all! The Fels does not smell great, but you cannot smell it after the rinse cycle at all.

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

I started using my clothes line in March...10 months ago...and never stopped! I use the cloths line exclusively now..no more dryer. This saves big $$ on our utilities. It forces me to go outside, it is physical exercise (at least in my book, it is), and the clothes feel and smell great!

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

We stopped buying fast food and snacks while out shopping and running errands. I pack snacks and water bottles, for the kids, and fill up my coffee travel mug before we leave. I have even packed full lunches, if need be! (By stopping ENTIRELY..it let the kids know that I meant business...so thier objections and whining subsided after the first few weeks. They don't even ask to hit the drive-thru any more.) Saving money and soooo much healthier!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I started using my clothes line in March...10 months ago...and never stopped! I use the cloths line exclusively now..no more dryer. This saves big $$ on our utilities. It forces me to go outside, it is physical exercise (at least in my book, it is), and the clothes feel and smell great!

How do you do this in winter?

 

[luvsJack]

We stopped buying fast food and snacks while out shopping and running errands. I pack snacks and water bottles, for the kids, and fill up my coffee travel mug before we leave. I have even packed full lunches, if need be! (By stopping ENTIRELY..it let the kids know that I meant business...so thier objections and whining subsided after the first few weeks. They don't even ask to hit the drive-thru any more.) Saving money and soooo much healthier!

My mom and I were talking about this the other day. If we added up all the extra expenses of a shopping trip: drinks, coffee, snacks, etc., we could probably take several extra shopping trips !! .

She was telling me about her sister who just does not eat away from home (unless eating in someone else's home). Its not a choice each time; she just never thinks about getting fast food or eating out. She thinks its a huge waste of money and even if you do talk her into grabbing a burger, she will spend the entire time telling you how many burgers she could have cooked at home for the same money. If she does travel, she packs a meal and several snacks.

I am trying to get myself in the same mind set as my aunt and just making it not an option to grab fast food. Its funny, when my boys were young I did cook every meal at home. Take out was really a treat and only for the occasional Friday night that I had to work really late or something. For some reason as they got older and after dd came along, it just became more of a habit to grab burgers or chicken 2 or 3 nights a week.

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

How do you do this in winter?

Believe it or not the clothes still dry in the winter.....even with the snow on the ground. I have had the clothes get caught in a light snow shower this winter....and got a little freaked out....but I let them stay up, until the next day (they were dry by evening) and they seemed exceptionally clean. The cold snow seemed to make them..cleaner?!?..if that's even possible?!? My sisters, mother, and friends think that I have lost my marbles....no one can believe it has gone on this long, but I feel like it is better for my family budget and the environment, too!

I have to note that I didn't stop cold turkey, with the dryer, it was gradual. It does take more effort than throwing the clothes in the dryer. And I HAVE to keep up with the laundry....if I see that we are headed for a snow storm later in the week....you bet that I make sure all the laundry is done before hand!!!

 

[bear74]

I can't dry mine outside as I have pretty bad allergies to pollens. I do hang most of my families clothes inside to dry. Except for the socks and towels.

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

My mom and I were talking about this the other day. If we added up all the extra expenses of a shopping trip: drinks, coffee, snacks, etc., we could probably take several extra shopping trips !! .

She was telling me about her sister who just does not eat away from home (unless eating in someone else's home). Its not a choice each time; she just never thinks about getting fast food or eating out. She thinks its a huge waste of money and even if you do talk her into grabbing a burger, she will spend the entire time telling you how many burgers she could have cooked at home for the same money. If she does travel, she packs a meal and several snacks.

I am trying to get myself in the same mind set as my aunt and just making it not an option to grab fast food. Its funny, when my boys were young I did cook every meal at home. Take out was really a treat and only for the occasional Friday night that I had to work really late or something. For some reason as they got older and after dd came along, it just became more of a habit to grab burgers or chicken 2 or 3 nights a week.

You are absolutely right. With kids, it is soooo much easier to just grab the "whatever" that the kids want or something from the drive-thru...it really does take some adjusting. But, like all habits, after not doing it for a few weeks it "hurts" less and less. And, I don't mean to say that it was only for the kids' benefit that we used to get fast food, etc.. I would litterally crave certain foods whenever at certain places, because I was so used to getting the stuff myself. (Like I was addicted or something! )

The $3 here $10 there...really adds up. Especially with three kids. I even have my husband bringing snacks and lunch with him to work. He complained at first...but now likes it. (He lost wieght from not eating all the take out.)