Okay...I know everyone wants to save a little money...but sometimes that is easier said than done. It's kinda like going on a diet and saying your gonna lose a few pounds, everyone knows how that usually goes! (Well, I guess I should speak for myself!) This short list of money saving ideas really are very easy to incorporate into your daily life.
1. the BIG money saver - Hang your laundry out on the line. Now, I know this sounds very UN-FUN...but if you look at as a way to get outside and get a breath of fresh air, plus a tiny bit of exercise it is easier to take. You may find that like me you really enjoy drying your laundry the old fashioned way!
2. Make your own laundry detergent. I tried several different homemade laundry detergent recipes I had found online. Tried them and settled on this one particular recipe:
LIQUID LAUNDRY SOAP
1 bar IVORY soap - grated
1 cup BORAX
1 cup washing soda
3 cups water
5 gallon bucket
On the stovetop add the grated soap, to the 3 cups of water, heat till dissolved. Fill the bucket with 3 gallons of water, pour the melted soap mixture into the bucket. Stir in the Borax and the washing soda. Let sit for 24 hours. use 1 cup per load.
I pour my homemade soap into a recycled "spigot" style laundry detergent bottle. What I also do is add some essential oils to each load of laundry. a few drops or so added to the soap is all that is needed. You can also choose to add your essential oils to the whole batch of homemade soap, but I like to use different oils to suit my mood!
3. Air dry your dishes after they have been washed in the automatic dishwasher. Most dishwashers have a button to select air dry. I find that they dry better if I open up the dishwasher door and I pull out the racks.
4. Use cloth napkins - you can buy these fairly inexpensively or even make them if you are handy with the sewing machine. The initial cost of buying/making napkins will pay for themselves within a very short time!
5. If you happen to have a 2 story home, only heat the bottom story. The heat will rise to the upstairs. It won't get near as warm but you can bundle up under loads of quilts/blankets. It is a PROVEN fact that a person get much better sleep in a COLDER bedroom!
6. Consider using only your mobile phones. We keep our regular phone service on the most basic cheapest plan (no long distance) Plus we have the internet charges on their per month. We then just use our cell phones for calling. Most people seem to have mobile to mobile these days, so that works out to be free, plus our plan gives you free nights and weekends for calling anywhere in the nation.
7. Cook more "from scratch" This takes a bit more time and planning, (to make sure you have all your ingredients)but, the food tastes better, and it is not full of preservatives etc.
8. Check out WALGREENS EasySaver shopping! It is basically like getting paid to shop! Seriously!! I have gotten many items for free after rebate. The very BEST thing about this rebate stuff with WALGREENS is that you can do it all online!! NO more filling out forms and saving upc codes etc. There is a super easy form on their website to type in your cash register receipt, check the items you bought, and click, you are on your way to free money!! Plus if you choose to have your rebate money put onto a WALGREENS gift card, they add an extra 10% to it! After you get your initial first gift card, then you just have them add any future rebates to your existing card. Just keep using this card for your purchases and alot of the time there may not be any money ever out of pocket!! AWESOME! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE LOVE THIS PROGRAM!!
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