How are you frugal?

[SOchick]

Quote:
I have read is supposed to be ok for HE machines because it is low sudsing.

This is the recipie I use, and a couple of variations- I like the 'stronger' formula because of my kids and my job (I can get pretty dirty!)

1 Bar Fels Naptha soap
3/4 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
**DO NOT USE BAKING SODA!!!
3/4 cup Borax Powder

5 gallon bucket with lid

Grate soap add to six cups water, heat in pot till soap is melted. Add washing soda and borax, stir till disolved.

Pour 4 cups hot water into bucket, add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 more cups of water and stir.
Cover and let sit 24 hours, it will gel.

Use 1/2 cup to 1 cup per load.


You can also make it with 1/3 bar fels naptha and 1/2 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use the same amount of water. I usually wind up adding an extra 6 cups of water or so to mine, but I use the stronger formula. You can start with the basic and play around with the water amounts.

You can scoop it out of the bucket or if you want to be fancy like me, I use a hand mixer to make it a liquid and put it in a drink dispenser, but I have to shake it up every once in a while. If anyone has any questions, pm me.

I also use vinegar in the rinse cycle as a softner/deodorizer.

 

[1stepcloser]

Made homemade apple pie tonight...then boiled the peels/cores to make apple syrup for homemade pancakes tomorrow! YUM!

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

SOchick Thanks for posting the soap recipe. Going to get ingredients and try it.

Sandee

 

[Melissakins]

- We shop at thrift stores and second hand stores. We've found lots of treasures. One being an HE washer that needed a new pump - 100 bucks later and I have a fancy washing machine that uses less water/electricity.
- My crockpot is my friend - big one pot meals with all the essentials makes for great meals first time around and several meals for leftover lunches/dinners.
- chickens for eggs/entertainment
- Got rid of our landline and use our cell phones only.
- Basic cable, netflix for movies
- Hubby does all car repairs
- We've done all updates to our home ourselves instead of hiring out. - Tiling, hardwood floors, laminate floors, painting, carpentry, etc etc.
- clothesline for drying clothes on nice days, hangars and wireshelves for drying bulky stuff inside on yucky days
- always always make a grocery list after perusing the fridge/freezer/pantry
- Hubby or I make all our meals, we rarely eat out - again, we make enough for leftover lunches/meals
- I peruse the grocery sales papers for deals. I live in Alabama so we have a place called Piggly Wiggly, their meat sales are usually pretty good - yes I have chickens, but I don't eat 'em! LOL their fryer breast sales are really good.
- I buy seasonings in bulk for less at Sams
- Groom my own dogs - we have two Newfies and a hairy RetrieverX which would wind up being quite expensive at a groomers.
- Set Cruise control on car to save on gas.
- Cider Vinegar/water in a spray bottle to clean surfaces
- Leftover veggies from parrots to supplement Chickie food - this goes into a bucket nightly and fed to them daily
- Programmable thermostat, windows open during cooler months to let fresh air in before it gets TOO cold
- Visit Habitat's Re-Store for supplies such as stain, paint, etc etc.

 

[007Dawn]

We go by the city dump for mulch, just as good as store bought, but we load it on the truck.

We get brand new paint from the city dump and other things that are still NEW! THAt amazes me.

I use glass containers in the fridge, things seem to stay fresher that way. I use stock from chicken, stale bread turns into bread pudding, left over bones goes to the cats, left over noodles and rice to the dogs and the chickens,

We make list of everywhere we need to go and arrange to hit each one saving gas money.

We use the library instead of buying. We don't have TV but a computer with Netflix.

I make victory blankets out of old clothes, towels, blankets etc.....

 

[Julie08]

Quote:
Is it okay to refreeze stock?

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

We are not required to have garbage service in our area, so I use dumpster at work. Like others make a list of stops and map out so I'm not back tracking. Nice that I get off work early on Fridays so can get all my downtown running around done and don't have to leave the property for the whole weekend. If I needed something I weight if I can wait until week day and get after work.


Probably like most we winterize swimming pool, cover and shut down for the entire winter and don't open until late May.

Sandee

 

[SilverStar]

The only thing i have done to pich a few pennies these days is to cut out Starbucks

. Wich i may add was very hard

I do need to start thinkng of more ways to be frugal though !!!

 

[fordmommy]

Quote:
It's not required here either. We take our garbage to our county dump for $10 for 400lbs. Dh takes the garbage in about once every 6 weeks. Never have hit 400 lbs yet. We used to pay $56 every 3 months. And the price has gone up since then. And we sometimes split the cost with some friends of ours with gas and the dump. It's only about 15 miles away, so it doesn't cost too much in gas either.

 

[Dragonfly Ranch]

Quote:
It's not required here either. We take our garbage to our county dump for $10 for 400lbs. Dh takes the garbage in about once every 6 weeks. Never have hit 400 lbs yet. We used to pay $56 every 3 months. And the price has gone up since then. And we sometimes split the cost with some friends of ours with gas and the dump. It's only about 15 miles away, so it doesn't cost too much in gas either.

The dump is only about a mile from us and they charge $3.00 for a large black garbage bag, too much in my opinion. We have a trailer and that is by weight and usually around $10.00 when we use that.

Sandee