First time making my own laundry soap.

In the recent years I have noticed more discussion than usual about making your own laundry soap.  In the spirit of saving money I decided to give a whirl!  Guess what..its pretty darn simple!  I can not talk credit for this recipe though, I would have no idea to where to start.  I got it from one of my favorite bloggers.  Go here....http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-make-your-own-laundry-detergent-and-save-big-money/ to find out the exact instructions.

Here is what I recommend you have.
A large spoon, I actually used a big paint stirrer that a large lumber store gave me
1 5 gallon bucket, or three 1 gallon buckets to make it easier for handling
1 bar of soap, any kind you like
Borax
Washing Soda

The basic idea is to melt a shredded piece of soap, any kind you like and melt it in 3 cups of nearly boiling water.  I used a cheese shredder, but a knife would work just fine as well. 

Then you put 3 gallons of hot water in a 5 gallon bucket, add the soapy water once the soap has melted, 1 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup of borax.  SO EASY!  Plus, its actually kind of fun, and you can make a new scent every time if you wish.

Again, check out the simple dollar blog for the exact recipe and instructions I used.

Happy Cleaning!

One week down!

I have been on this journey I am calling the financial fast for one complete week now.  Yay for me!  So far I have contributed 650.00 towards my loan I want to pay off, and only 50.00 to savings.  Savings, well....yea, I am doing something kind of reverse.  Since I already have a generous savings I am concentrating more on paying off debt.  Makes since to me.

I stuck to my grocery budget, and spent no unnecessary money this week!  I call that a success!  :)

My in-laws are coming in next weekend for 4 or 5 days, so sticking to 50 dollars may be absolutly impossible.  Lets see what I can do here....Any tips?

I need alot of help, so follow me so I can get your help anytime!  :)

Happy Savings!!

My homebread recipe - without a bread machine

I have read many recipes online and in books and I have compiled what I think is the best recipe.  Although, I do not eat it anymore because there is milk and butter in it my husband still happily eats it.  As well as my boxer who ate half the loaf last night when I turned my back.  Ugh - that little rascal.

This is what you will need. 
1/4 cup of milk
.5 tablespoons of sugar
1.5 tablespoons of butter or a little less you do not like butter
2 tablespoons flax meal (optional) 
1 tablespoon of sesame seeds (optional for topping)
A Pinch of salt
1 package of Dry active yeast or about a tablespoon of it from can jar.
3 cups of flour.  Plus more for the counter.

1)  Mix the yeast and water together according to the package directions.

2) Add the butter (melted), sugar and milk.  Stir until you reach an equal consistency. 

3) Add the rest of the ingrediants.  Add the flour slowing, about 1 cup at a time and make sure there are no bubbles. 

4)  Knead for 20 min.  Put a towel over it and let rise for 45 min.

5) After rising for 45 min, knead again for 30 min.  Let it rise once more for another 45 min.

6) Set the oven at 400 and cook for 30-40 min, checking it near the end to make sure it doesnt over cook.

7) Immediately put it on a cooling rack, and slice when ready to eat!  It slices better when cool.   

You can really have a lot of fun with this.  It really isn't a recipe but rather guidelines cause you can add whatever you want!  Have fun.

Week 1 off Grocery shopping - Financial Fast

Okay I had a WILDLY successful day grocery shopping!!  Here is was I bought, and then below is what I plan on making with it - aka this weeks menu!

Store 1
2 Kraft Mayo's 32oz each.  --1.98 each -- I had a coupon for 1.00 off two, and then the store was running a special for an additional .35 off each one.  So for two Mayo's I paid 1.13 each.
1 bottle of sweet relish - 1.22
1 bag of dried cranberries - 1.48
1 bag of 12 whole wheat taco wraps - 1.00
Kraft BBQ sauce .78

Store 1 total - 7.28

Store 2
Newmans own salsa - 2.00
Organic Chicken Breast - 6.19 (3 breasts)
Bag refund .05

Store 2 total - 8.14

Store 3
2 boxes of granola bars - 2/5
2 boxes of Suddenly Salad - 1.98
Vegan Granola bars - 2.98
San Pelligrino - 1.50
Celery - 1.18
2 ears of corn - .76
2 - .50 coupons

Store 3 total 12.40

Store 4
2 Raspberries fruit bars - 1.10
1 2 pound bag of organic apples 2.49

Store 4 total - 3.59

Complete weekly shopping total - 31.31

Side note - My state does not charge sales tax on food items, so I am able to know exactly how much I will spend before leaving the house! 

Since I have so much left in my budget I am going to be going out again and getting food to donate.  After all, if I have the money to do so I should do it!  I will not be going over 50.00 per week, but I will spend up 50.00 in order to donate items.  Speaking of which - one of those Mayo's will be donated, Since my husband is the only one that will be eating it it will go bad before we can use it.

Menu - Week of June 19th-June 25th

Sunday Breakfast - Cereal, yogurt, bananas, oatmeal, granola, raspberries ( all left over from last week )
            Lunch - Odds/Ends - was out shopping so the hubby was left to fend for himself.
            Dinner - Tacos.  Chicken, salsa, lettuce, red and yellow peppers, onions ( all but the chicken is                                 leftover from last week) and the whole wheat wraps I purchased today.
Monday Breakfast - Cereal, yogurt, granola, oatmeal, smoothies, raspberries, bananas, apples.
              Lunch - Leftovers
             Dinner - Finish off the leftovers and if needed Tuna noodle casserole

Tuesday Breakfast - Same ole - Same ole
             Lunch - Left over Tuna noodle casserole
             Dinner - Chicken Salad (lettuce, red and yellow peppers, onions, edamame, cheese)

Wednesday Breakfast - Same as always
                  Lunch - Left over Chicken Salad
                  Dinner - Salad again, but I am going to try to find a different kind. 

Thursday Breakfast - Same as always
               Lunch - PB&J and apple ( I will make the bread)
               Dinner - Grilled BBQ Chicken, and a wonderful corn on the cob concoction, suddenly salad.

Friday Breakfast - Same as always
          Lunch - Left over chicken, corm and pasta
          Dinner - baked chicken with seasoning, sauteed peppers and onions, brown rice and Quinoa.

On weekends we eat scraps.  Whatever needs to be eaten we eat - so nothing goes to waste.  With only two of us we can do this, we are not too picky!  :)

Hope this helps you!  I look forward to hearing feedback, and of course tips on how I can shop better!

Happy Shopping and Savings!

Fifi   

Day four of the Financial Fast

Alas, it is Friday!  Thank goodness!  My husband was lucky enough to have a half day off of work today so we went for a walk with the boys - our two dogs.  A 1 year old brindle boxer, and a 2.5 year old German Shepherd/Dane mix.  It is very warm here today, about 85 so we decided to take the dogs to their favorite place on earth....the pond a block away from our house.  Unleash the boys and let 'em run!  They love bouncing around and playing in the water.  It is a nice way to get a little exercise in for the adults while not over extending ourselves in the heat.

My husband and I both had lunch supplied by work today so that was a wonderful surprise and no money needed! :)

I did have to go to the store today and buy a new collar for my boxer, his - after 2 years of use on my other dog finally broke.  In my opinion going without a collar and tag identification is just not an option.  If I lose my babies, I want someone to be able to find their home.  So, I bought the cheapest cute one.  I spent $5.88.  Because I have not set up a fun money section in the budget I will be taking this out of our grocery fund.

Lucky for us, when it gets warmer out we do not feel like eating a whole bunch, so I think I will be able to swing it this week.

Stay tuned!!  Tomorrow I will be posting my weekly grocery list, complete with coupons used and stores shopped.  I will also include the recipes I will be making in case you have any interest.  Keep in mind I will only spend $50.00, and I am only feeding 2 people - although those 2 people eat completely different.  I think I have found some good deals this week so this should be a great week! 

I will also be posting an update on what we have contributed to the Car loan.  Only 5 months and 2 weeks to have half of it paid off!  We can do it!

Stay cool and happy savings!

Tips for summer living on a dime

Since the weather is nice, and school is out now is as good a time as ever to give some ideas for frugal summer events and activities.  Here are some things that I like to do. 

Host a neighborhood crop swap - when fruits and vegetables are ready to be eaten, host a swap party!  If you have tons of cucumbers and you neighbor has tons of tomatoes it can be a win/win for all!  Do this for herbs, vege's and more!

Wanting to have a cheap get together?  Host a clothing exchange.  If your friends are all different sizes than consider exchanging shoes, jewelry, household items, books etc.  The list is endless.  Everyone can bring over a finger food to share and leave with new items, the unwanted items can be donated!

Attend a little league game.  In my small and quaint town there are always summer baseball games going on, you can take a picnic basket or indulge in a hotdog and soda.  The games cost nothing to attend, and if you have small children, they will enjoy watching and dreaming of a day when it is their turn to play.   Not to mention, with any luck they will be tired and go to bed with no trouble.  :)

Explore your local library.  Libraries are a wonderful source of information, adventure, and knowledge.  The often have summer reading programs with prizes and other incentives to encourage young and old alike.

Call you local mueseums and art galleries to see if they offer a free day during the summer.  Often times they do!  Same goes for the zoo - although I hate zoo's but that is a different topic.  :)

Attend community plays, or outdoor choir concerts. 

Volunteer!  Pick a project for the summer that pulls at your heart strings and give it a go!

There are many more ideas out there I am sure!  Please share, always looking for new things to do!

Happy Summer!

Fifi

Dear Lonesome Follower...I almost slipped.

UGH!  If you are like me and millions of other Americans you likely take part in cultural phenomenon known as "retail therapy".  Well, lonesome follower, I almost gave in to it - Almost! 


As I was driving by the mall on my way home from a rather crappy day at work, and secretly trying to justify the reason I needed a new pair of pants I started wondering, when did I become comfortable with stifling my emotions with unnecessary purchases?  That pair of pants or new lipgloss is not going to take away my disapointment, or make my problems go away.  In fact it will add to my problems when I have no money to buy something I really need.  Then I also realized that I was craving pasta - my go to stress reducer, after all I had been stressed so I deserved to eat unhealthy and fatty food, right?  Which oddly enough would only add to my problems and my waistline. :)

I in fact did not purchase the new pants and I kept driving home.  And guess what?  I feel a litter stronger that I did not give into the cultures crazy habit, and unwarranted spending.  In addition to that I can now say that I have made it 24 hours without spending a dime, who knew it would be so hard.

In other cultures even here in the US stress, dissapointment and other emotions are actually dealt with in healthy manners by talking about it, and delving into the true cause instead of trying to spend money to cover it up.  That is my lesson, once again to myself that buying things will not make me feel better, will not cover up my emotions, and will not insure that I never feel this way again.  This is life and I am learning a little bit at a time.  Its a struggle some days...:)