This is my recipe for laundry detergent. It makes 2 1/2 gallons of detergent, initial cost is maybe $15-20, depending on the prices in your area, however when you break it down the cost is only about $1 per bucket of detergent, and last us - including the detergent I made for my mom, so 6 people - around 9 months. It is also AWESOME if anyone has skin allergies, I can't comfortably use any other detergent, even "free and clear" ones because they all break me out to some degree, I've never had an issue with the stuff I make.
Other things I do that cut down on costs is I buy the whole 5 lb processed ham, at WM and take it to the deli and have them slice it for me, then when I get home I separate it into 1lb freeze bags, freeze all but one bag of it at a time - $7(maybe) for 5lbs of sandwich ham, instead of $3 per 1/2lb.
Coupons - when my printer has ink.
I buy the ink refill bottles for the printer...it works wonderfully until you screw it up and put the colored ink in the black and black in the colored...
I make my own cleaners using vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and rubbing alcohol...there's quite a few different ones listed on here : http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/153/1/Earth-friendly-oven-cleaning.html Maybe about $5 a month as opposed to my "normal" $30-ish.
Of course generic items.
I also try to go to the local butcher and buy most of my meats there, they're fresher and are generally cheaper. In the spring I build up a garden and freeze or can a great portion of it - Spaghetti Sauce & Salsa especially. I also bake a lot of my own bread.
I do have a bit of an advantage out here where I live because I have an awesome neighbor who brings me a flat (2 1/2 dozen) of eggs every week or so that his chickens have laid. He also has some hogs & a cow he's going to be taking to slaughter this spring and will just split the processing cost with him to fill our freezer - roughly $400 (maybe) for half an "organic, free range" cow and one or two full hogs, all cuts of both.
I limit my driving to just what's necessary and do all my running in the same day, planning the trip out so I don't have to back track most of the time. We (as a family, I'm quite sure Brian eats out more often than he admits) don't go out to eat more than *maybe* once a month.
I bake something daily, and cook dinner nightly. I also have a stock pile(that needs to be refreshed) of freezer safe plastic containers that I'll fill with lunch size meals, from any leftovers we have, and put them in the freezer for later. Brian then takes them to work with him - when he thinks about it - for lunch there or we'll have them here for lunch - just something we can pop in the microwave, much like any other TV dinner, but without all the "preservatives and sodium". I don't buy many snacky junk type foods - soda, only if we're having a gathering here at the house; snack cakes - not at all, I make them instead - well cookies, cakes, the like; chips are a rare purchase, maybe one or two bags a month, maybe, instead I do buy crackers for those salt cravings, but most don't go through crackers like they do chips; etc etc.
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Monday, January 18, 2010
Friday, December 11, 2009
Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe
This is the recipe that I use, there are other variations and it's fairly easy to variate it according to your personal needs.
You will need :
**1 good sized clean bucket, with a lid, I use the Scoop Away kitty litter buckets
**Arm & Hammer Washing Soda - this is different than Baking Soda, do not inter use the two! For those of you who are local folks, I have been able to find it at Reasor's in Langley, you might be able to find it at the Amish Stores in Chouteau, but I don't know for sure????
**Borax 20 Mule Team - easy to find at Wal-Mart, etc
**Bar Ivory soap
**Large pan for boiling - I use an old stock pan that I don't make use of otherwise.
**Funnel
**Wooden spoon, paint stir stick, something durable that you can stir with, plastic doesn't seem to do quite as well as wooden.
**Old laundry detergent bottle(s)
**Optional :
OxyClean powder, including the OxyClean does make the price a bit higher, but for badly grimy clothes it works great as a booster to the detergent itself.
Essential oils, scent of your choice
Directions :
1. Put pan on the stove, add a half gallon of water.
2. Grate the bar of Ivory soap, add it to the water, start it boiling.
3. Boil the water, with the soap, until the soap is completely liquefied - VERY important! You do not want to see any solid flakes, at all. I use an old wooden spoon to stir & check for
4. After the bar of soap is liquefied, add 1 cup of the washing soda, 1 cup of the Borax, & one scoop of the OxyClean, if using the OxyClean, and add in another half gallon of water, boil until all ingredients are dissolved.
5. In your bucket have 1 gallon of cold water waiting.
6. Add the boiling water to the cold water.
7. Mix well.
8. Add in another half gallon of water, mix.
9. Add in 10-15 (or so) drops of the essential oils - basically whatever your desire is on strength of scent.
10. Use the funnel to pour into old detergent bottles, but leave room to shake the bottle.
11. As the detergent cools it has a tendency to separate & thicken - shake well before each use to remix.
12. Store any left over detergent in the bucket with a lid, stir well before refilling your container.
Estimated initial start-up cost is less than $20. When making the detergent without the OxyClean the cost per 2 1/2 gallons of detergent is roughly $1.25. Two and a half gallons of Tide will run you an average of $60. Adding the OxyClean ups your start up cost to roughly $30, and the price per 2 1/2 gallons is about $2.50. This, in my person opinion & experience, out preforms Tide & similar products.
Enjoy!
You will need :
**1 good sized clean bucket, with a lid, I use the Scoop Away kitty litter buckets
**Arm & Hammer Washing Soda - this is different than Baking Soda, do not inter use the two! For those of you who are local folks, I have been able to find it at Reasor's in Langley, you might be able to find it at the Amish Stores in Chouteau, but I don't know for sure????
**Borax 20 Mule Team - easy to find at Wal-Mart, etc
**Bar Ivory soap
**Large pan for boiling - I use an old stock pan that I don't make use of otherwise.
**Funnel
**Wooden spoon, paint stir stick, something durable that you can stir with, plastic doesn't seem to do quite as well as wooden.
**Old laundry detergent bottle(s)
**Optional :
OxyClean powder, including the OxyClean does make the price a bit higher, but for badly grimy clothes it works great as a booster to the detergent itself.
Essential oils, scent of your choice
Directions :
1. Put pan on the stove, add a half gallon of water.
2. Grate the bar of Ivory soap, add it to the water, start it boiling.
3. Boil the water, with the soap, until the soap is completely liquefied - VERY important! You do not want to see any solid flakes, at all. I use an old wooden spoon to stir & check for
4. After the bar of soap is liquefied, add 1 cup of the washing soda, 1 cup of the Borax, & one scoop of the OxyClean, if using the OxyClean, and add in another half gallon of water, boil until all ingredients are dissolved.
5. In your bucket have 1 gallon of cold water waiting.
6. Add the boiling water to the cold water.
7. Mix well.
8. Add in another half gallon of water, mix.
9. Add in 10-15 (or so) drops of the essential oils - basically whatever your desire is on strength of scent.
10. Use the funnel to pour into old detergent bottles, but leave room to shake the bottle.
11. As the detergent cools it has a tendency to separate & thicken - shake well before each use to remix.
12. Store any left over detergent in the bucket with a lid, stir well before refilling your container.
Estimated initial start-up cost is less than $20. When making the detergent without the OxyClean the cost per 2 1/2 gallons of detergent is roughly $1.25. Two and a half gallons of Tide will run you an average of $60. Adding the OxyClean ups your start up cost to roughly $30, and the price per 2 1/2 gallons is about $2.50. This, in my person opinion & experience, out preforms Tide & similar products.
Enjoy!
Homemade Laundry Detergent vs Store Bought
At least in my home...
Back in February I started making my own laundry detergent, I've used it without fail until about 3 weeks ago...I'd ran out of washing soda & had not been able to find any anywhere in the last (almost) year. So I ended up having to buy laundry detergent.
Comparison #1: I spent $12 on this one bottle, a bottle that is quickly coming to an end. I only spent $12 on the last almost whole year's worth of homemade laundry detergent.
Comparison #2: The SMELL! Oh.my.word! I buy unscented, dye free laundry detergent, when I do buy it, because it'll break me out just to touch it otherwise, much less wear it. But after using homemade detergent, which just has a very light, plain clean smell to it, scented if I add some essential oils to it, but very neutral overall...then using this dye free, perfume free detergent -
I can honestly smell all the chemicals in it! FTR, I've been using the ALL Free & Clear.
Comparison #3: The FEEL of my clothes. I could actually tell that my cotton clothes were cotton, etc, they just felt like fresh crisp clothes with the homemade laundry soap. With store bought detergent - I can feel the detergent ON my clothes
I don't use much detergent either, mainly because of my skin problems, but also because it is so darn expensive!
Comparison #4: Did I mention the smell??!! I'm in the process of drying the last load of this week's laundry escapade and it just STINKS! Yes, it smells like laundry detergent, but it smells chemically!
I'd put a comparison #5 for how well they each clean, but they both do a decent job at getting out the dirt, grease, etc in the clothes, without a pretreatment.
SO! With that list I am so happy to of been able to find, quite by accident, that the grocery store down the way, opposite of the way I go, in the next county over, actually has washing soda in stock!!!
I can go back to washing my clothes in MY detergent!!!!
I really can't see myself going back to store bought detergents, it's just completely not worth it!
Back in February I started making my own laundry detergent, I've used it without fail until about 3 weeks ago...I'd ran out of washing soda & had not been able to find any anywhere in the last (almost) year. So I ended up having to buy laundry detergent.
Comparison #1: I spent $12 on this one bottle, a bottle that is quickly coming to an end. I only spent $12 on the last almost whole year's worth of homemade laundry detergent.
Comparison #2: The SMELL! Oh.my.word! I buy unscented, dye free laundry detergent, when I do buy it, because it'll break me out just to touch it otherwise, much less wear it. But after using homemade detergent, which just has a very light, plain clean smell to it, scented if I add some essential oils to it, but very neutral overall...then using this dye free, perfume free detergent -
I can honestly smell all the chemicals in it! FTR, I've been using the ALL Free & Clear.Comparison #3: The FEEL of my clothes. I could actually tell that my cotton clothes were cotton, etc, they just felt like fresh crisp clothes with the homemade laundry soap. With store bought detergent - I can feel the detergent ON my clothes
I don't use much detergent either, mainly because of my skin problems, but also because it is so darn expensive!Comparison #4: Did I mention the smell??!! I'm in the process of drying the last load of this week's laundry escapade and it just STINKS! Yes, it smells like laundry detergent, but it smells chemically!
I'd put a comparison #5 for how well they each clean, but they both do a decent job at getting out the dirt, grease, etc in the clothes, without a pretreatment.
SO! With that list I am so happy to of been able to find, quite by accident, that the grocery store down the way, opposite of the way I go, in the next county over, actually has washing soda in stock!!!
I can go back to washing my clothes in MY detergent!!!!I really can't see myself going back to store bought detergents, it's just completely not worth it!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Flame me now!
My daughter is having ...for dinner, mind you...ham slices, Velveeta cheese cubes, pumpkin bread, a banana, & ketchup. 
I did try to get her to eat the leftover ham & beans, but she wasn't interested.
Instead she took my by the hand to the fridge. She pointed out the ham, then the drawer I keep the cheese in (for some reason Velveeta is the only cheese I have in there, besides cream cheese
), pointed out the pumpkin bread, then grabbed the ketchup. And has proceeded to request refills on the ketchup, now 3 times. I threw a banana in there for a bit of "value" to her meal....a banana that she actually dipped in her ketchup and ate...after the 3rd ketchup refill.
BUT I can say this is the first time she's ever really "protested" against any food, period, and she did do decent at picking out a balanced meal...of sorts...granted you count ketchup as a vegetable.
I figure it won't hurt to let her pick a meal once in a while, regardless of the head shaking I do after the fact. She did eat it all...well, all that she didn't feed to the cat, after her belly was full.
I did try to get her to eat the leftover ham & beans, but she wasn't interested.
Instead she took my by the hand to the fridge. She pointed out the ham, then the drawer I keep the cheese in (for some reason Velveeta is the only cheese I have in there, besides cream cheese
), pointed out the pumpkin bread, then grabbed the ketchup. And has proceeded to request refills on the ketchup, now 3 times. I threw a banana in there for a bit of "value" to her meal....a banana that she actually dipped in her ketchup and ate...after the 3rd ketchup refill.BUT I can say this is the first time she's ever really "protested" against any food, period, and she did do decent at picking out a balanced meal...of sorts...granted you count ketchup as a vegetable.
I figure it won't hurt to let her pick a meal once in a while, regardless of the head shaking I do after the fact. She did eat it all...well, all that she didn't feed to the cat, after her belly was full.
Monday, November 30, 2009
I think I'm forgetting something
And I can't figure out what it is....
Today : Pay bills I wasn't able to last week because of the holiday & Mikeal had play practice - check
Tuesday (Dec 1) : Grocery shopping & then Mikeal has wrestling practice & I have a meeting with the wrestling parents, deadline for newspaper entries. Also deadline for fundraiser.
Wednesday (2nd): ??? & Mikeal has play practice..maybe the play practice is what I was forgetting??????until I typed it out anyways.
Thursday (3rd): 11am appt with my child support case worker; Mikaila has speech therapy at 2pm; Mikeal has wrestling practice from 6pm-8pm
Friday (4th): taking the van to the Ford dealership 1.5 hrs away, be there at 1pm, already made arrangements for Mikeal to be picked up from school. Hopefully we'll be able to get in to talk to the gal about the grant on the same day, since she's in the same town....
Monday (7th): Furnace went out on Saturday, hopefully the part needed is in stock, I have to stick around in the morning for it to be fixed...Play Practice
Tuesday (8th): Due date for paper entries; Wrestling Practice; guy coming out to look at our well and give me exact quotes on what work needs to be done to get it up to par or if a new well will need to be dug.
Wednesday (9th): Court hearing at 9:30am, again, against the ex; Play Practice
Thursday (10th): 10am WIC appointment; Pay bills- Phone, electric, insurance, stove, & 1/2 rent; Wrestling Practice
Saturday (12th): Mikeal has a wrestling tournament, this involves getting up at 4:30am, spending all day around screaming folks, and work in some Christmas shopping..???? Christmas Parade in Grove & Jay.
Sunday (13th): Mikaila turns 2
Monday (14th): Play Practice
Tuesday (15th): Due date for paper; Wrestling Practice
Wednesday (16th): Play at the school, during the day; child support court at 1pm, if they get the jerk served his papers.....he's in the jail, as of the 1st of the month, or so, known court dates are earlier in the month, hopefully the modification hearing will be held before he is released or bonded out. Court at 9:30am.
Thursday (17th): Mikaila has therapy at 2:30pm; Play in the evening for parents, etc, Mikeal unable to go to wrestling practice.
Monday (21st): Help out in Mikeal's classroom because his teacher will be gone
Tuesday (22nd): Due Date for paper; Wrestling Practice
Wednesday (23rd) thru Sunday (Jan 3rd): No School
Wednesday (30th) thru ???: Brian's dad and step mom will be here. Official Christmas dinner one of these days.
I'm hoping I am able to survive, outside of a straight jacket, by the time I start working on my New Year Resolutions......
I have other things to add to this month's list of "to-do" but I haven't gotten the exact details yet....
Today : Pay bills I wasn't able to last week because of the holiday & Mikeal had play practice - check
Tuesday (Dec 1) : Grocery shopping & then Mikeal has wrestling practice & I have a meeting with the wrestling parents, deadline for newspaper entries. Also deadline for fundraiser.
Wednesday (2nd): ??? & Mikeal has play practice..maybe the play practice is what I was forgetting??????until I typed it out anyways.
Thursday (3rd): 11am appt with my child support case worker; Mikaila has speech therapy at 2pm; Mikeal has wrestling practice from 6pm-8pm
Friday (4th): taking the van to the Ford dealership 1.5 hrs away, be there at 1pm, already made arrangements for Mikeal to be picked up from school. Hopefully we'll be able to get in to talk to the gal about the grant on the same day, since she's in the same town....
Monday (7th): Furnace went out on Saturday, hopefully the part needed is in stock, I have to stick around in the morning for it to be fixed...Play Practice
Tuesday (8th): Due date for paper entries; Wrestling Practice; guy coming out to look at our well and give me exact quotes on what work needs to be done to get it up to par or if a new well will need to be dug.
Wednesday (9th): Court hearing at 9:30am, again, against the ex; Play Practice
Thursday (10th): 10am WIC appointment; Pay bills- Phone, electric, insurance, stove, & 1/2 rent; Wrestling Practice
Saturday (12th): Mikeal has a wrestling tournament, this involves getting up at 4:30am, spending all day around screaming folks, and work in some Christmas shopping..???? Christmas Parade in Grove & Jay.
Sunday (13th): Mikaila turns 2
Monday (14th): Play Practice
Tuesday (15th): Due date for paper; Wrestling Practice
Wednesday (16th): Play at the school, during the day; child support court at 1pm, if they get the jerk served his papers.....he's in the jail, as of the 1st of the month, or so, known court dates are earlier in the month, hopefully the modification hearing will be held before he is released or bonded out. Court at 9:30am.
Thursday (17th): Mikaila has therapy at 2:30pm; Play in the evening for parents, etc, Mikeal unable to go to wrestling practice.
Monday (21st): Help out in Mikeal's classroom because his teacher will be gone
Tuesday (22nd): Due Date for paper; Wrestling Practice
Wednesday (23rd) thru Sunday (Jan 3rd): No School
Wednesday (30th) thru ???: Brian's dad and step mom will be here. Official Christmas dinner one of these days.
I'm hoping I am able to survive, outside of a straight jacket, by the time I start working on my New Year Resolutions......
I have other things to add to this month's list of "to-do" but I haven't gotten the exact details yet....
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Just a Quickie
Everyone is doing well here.
Mikaila has really taken to being potty trained, I've not bought diapers in nearly a month, probably should put her in one for back-up, but she has more not goings in the toilet with a diaper on than she does without, that includes bedtime. The only time she has peed in her bed has been when she's upset over having to go to bed, which of course gets her out of bed because then I have to change everything out, clean it up, etc etc. BUT with money being like it is it's better served that I just suck it up and clean up the occasional mess than try to keep a diaper on her.
I've completely pissed off my mother & step-father, what else is new there, I wasn't able to obviously do enough for them until it escalated to the point I just flat out told them I couldn't do anymore. It ended with me telling them they didn't have to worry about us taking advantage of them...yea, I'm confused too...anymore, and slamming the door on my way out, ignoring whatever it was my step-father was trying to lecture me about as I walked to my vehicle and drove off. They're both grown adults, they have no kids living at home, they can take care of themselves, neither one is disabled, so they can both go get a job that actually will work their employees (or in my step-dad's place, just get a real job & keep it).
I did get a lot of paperwork in the mail today for grants & loans & other local programs that might help us with getting the major work done on the house and with those things taken care of it will afford us the ability to do some other things - such as get us some decent health insurance, at least for Brian & I, the kids are both covered. So I've been busy trying not to screw all of that up completely.
Mikeal started little league wrestling a couple of weeks ago. He's really doing great at it, and really getting to be quite toned up! His first official tournament is this coming Saturday, the 28th. I was nominated & elected to be the Secretary & Reporter for the wrestling club, so that's proving to be keeping me busy as well. It's up to me to keep track of everything that goes on at the meetings, keep up with the wrestler's information on a few things, as well as make sure I get articles & pictures into the local paper for publishing.
Brian has had a few opportunities come his way lately, and maybe this spring/summer things will pan out so that he'd be able to pursue one of them.
And me...well, I'm keeping busy as mentioned previously. Grants & loans paperwork piled quite high on my desk right now. The Secretary/Reporter gig on the side. An almost 2-year-old that keeps me on my toes. I've also started up walking 2-3 miles around the high school running track during the times that Mikeal has wrestling practice and Mikaila isn't cooperating with sitting still watching the boys do their thing, for two hours. Now that I've started this Secretary thing I have to be present for each of the meetings, which I guess will be held each practice, so hopefully a friend of ours will come through with watching Mikaila for those two hours on Tuesday & Thursday evenings. I have a few health issues going on, but not sure exactly what is causing them or what it is, but I'll try to let you, my adoring public, know whenever I know. Then add that together with the stress that goes into telling someone that you can't be responsible for both your household and theirs, then they get pissed off at you over it, even though just the one makes a bit more than Brian, and Brian has two children & a wife (me) to support on his right at $23K a year (before taxes are taken out) and they both work, so I don't get it, honestly.
I'll also be typing up & posting some more recipes in the coming days, as I have the opportunity to do so. I have a whole range of yummies to get typed up.
Mikaila has really taken to being potty trained, I've not bought diapers in nearly a month, probably should put her in one for back-up, but she has more not goings in the toilet with a diaper on than she does without, that includes bedtime. The only time she has peed in her bed has been when she's upset over having to go to bed, which of course gets her out of bed because then I have to change everything out, clean it up, etc etc. BUT with money being like it is it's better served that I just suck it up and clean up the occasional mess than try to keep a diaper on her.
I've completely pissed off my mother & step-father, what else is new there, I wasn't able to obviously do enough for them until it escalated to the point I just flat out told them I couldn't do anymore. It ended with me telling them they didn't have to worry about us taking advantage of them...yea, I'm confused too...anymore, and slamming the door on my way out, ignoring whatever it was my step-father was trying to lecture me about as I walked to my vehicle and drove off. They're both grown adults, they have no kids living at home, they can take care of themselves, neither one is disabled, so they can both go get a job that actually will work their employees (or in my step-dad's place, just get a real job & keep it).
I did get a lot of paperwork in the mail today for grants & loans & other local programs that might help us with getting the major work done on the house and with those things taken care of it will afford us the ability to do some other things - such as get us some decent health insurance, at least for Brian & I, the kids are both covered. So I've been busy trying not to screw all of that up completely.
Mikeal started little league wrestling a couple of weeks ago. He's really doing great at it, and really getting to be quite toned up! His first official tournament is this coming Saturday, the 28th. I was nominated & elected to be the Secretary & Reporter for the wrestling club, so that's proving to be keeping me busy as well. It's up to me to keep track of everything that goes on at the meetings, keep up with the wrestler's information on a few things, as well as make sure I get articles & pictures into the local paper for publishing.
Brian has had a few opportunities come his way lately, and maybe this spring/summer things will pan out so that he'd be able to pursue one of them.
And me...well, I'm keeping busy as mentioned previously. Grants & loans paperwork piled quite high on my desk right now. The Secretary/Reporter gig on the side. An almost 2-year-old that keeps me on my toes. I've also started up walking 2-3 miles around the high school running track during the times that Mikeal has wrestling practice and Mikaila isn't cooperating with sitting still watching the boys do their thing, for two hours. Now that I've started this Secretary thing I have to be present for each of the meetings, which I guess will be held each practice, so hopefully a friend of ours will come through with watching Mikaila for those two hours on Tuesday & Thursday evenings. I have a few health issues going on, but not sure exactly what is causing them or what it is, but I'll try to let you, my adoring public, know whenever I know. Then add that together with the stress that goes into telling someone that you can't be responsible for both your household and theirs, then they get pissed off at you over it, even though just the one makes a bit more than Brian, and Brian has two children & a wife (me) to support on his right at $23K a year (before taxes are taken out) and they both work, so I don't get it, honestly.
I'll also be typing up & posting some more recipes in the coming days, as I have the opportunity to do so. I have a whole range of yummies to get typed up.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Money Saved
I am constantly on the look out for ways to save money or make our limited income stretch further. I have done very well, in my opinion, and am constantly getting better at it.
So far, since the begining of January, I have saved:
** $180 on laundry detergent, by making my own. I made the equivalency of $180 of laundry detergent by spending less than $10.
** Roughly $200 in cleaning chemicals by switching to baking soda, vinegar, water, & essential oils...I've spent roughly $30 on these products this year
** Not to mention my garden...I have spent roughly $50 in seeds & supplies. So far I have been able to harvest the grocery stores' equivalency of $30 in leaf lettuce, $20 in fresh spinach, $15 in radishes... and the "real" crops haven't even started yet!!!! I've even had enough spinach to start freezing it to use later in the year & during the winter when I don't have a fresh crop to pick from! I still have much to get planted, but so far it's been a GREAT payoff!
** I've also worked very diligently to combine my trips into town & don't do as much running around as I used to...so I have gone from 3-5 tanks of gas a month to just one, sometimes two! Creating a savings of (average $25 per tank) almost $500 just this year!!!
So, since I have saved my family almost $1000 in just the first 4 months of this year, do you think my husband will wake up and realize that the leak finances are not of *my* doing? Oh, and I'm not really one to spend that money on something else, except on new clothes for the kids here and there, but I'm always with at least one kid in tow when I do "go shopping" and 99% of my shopping trips are to buy groceries, so doing much browsing & other shopping just doesn't get done.
It took a little bit of getting used to and took some willpower & a lot of doubt on my part to actually start doing most of this...the garden has really been my only "easy" part...but its been awesome!
So far, since the begining of January, I have saved:
** $180 on laundry detergent, by making my own. I made the equivalency of $180 of laundry detergent by spending less than $10.
** Roughly $200 in cleaning chemicals by switching to baking soda, vinegar, water, & essential oils...I've spent roughly $30 on these products this year
** Not to mention my garden...I have spent roughly $50 in seeds & supplies. So far I have been able to harvest the grocery stores' equivalency of $30 in leaf lettuce, $20 in fresh spinach, $15 in radishes... and the "real" crops haven't even started yet!!!! I've even had enough spinach to start freezing it to use later in the year & during the winter when I don't have a fresh crop to pick from! I still have much to get planted, but so far it's been a GREAT payoff!
** I've also worked very diligently to combine my trips into town & don't do as much running around as I used to...so I have gone from 3-5 tanks of gas a month to just one, sometimes two! Creating a savings of (average $25 per tank) almost $500 just this year!!!
So, since I have saved my family almost $1000 in just the first 4 months of this year, do you think my husband will wake up and realize that the leak finances are not of *my* doing? Oh, and I'm not really one to spend that money on something else, except on new clothes for the kids here and there, but I'm always with at least one kid in tow when I do "go shopping" and 99% of my shopping trips are to buy groceries, so doing much browsing & other shopping just doesn't get done.
It took a little bit of getting used to and took some willpower & a lot of doubt on my part to actually start doing most of this...the garden has really been my only "easy" part...but its been awesome!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Score!!!!
I nearly forgot...with everything that went on today...everything I didn't get done today...yet... then getting caught up in that Twitter competition between CNN & Ashton Kutcher...Kutcher won, in case you were wondering.
I found an awesome little store today while I was out paying bills. Yea..Today was payday...that day that we pay everyone who requires money from us...
Anyways, I noticed a while back ago that a fruit & veggie stand had been enclosed, etc and turned into this cute little "mock" Farmer's Market type thing...and great thing is it's on the way to the grocery store that I shop at 99% of the time...the lovely Super Wal-Mart...if I had another decent choice for less than 50 miles I might incline myself to go there, but I don't, so it is good enough..
Anyways I went in there not really expecting much, after all there's a "real" Farmer's Market on the far other side of the lake, and it SUCKS...like I wouldn't even feed my dog the crap they sell in there as meat...EW!
So, yes, I'm a bit pessimistic about some things, especially places that I plan on maybe buying food for my family.
I was VERY pleasantly surprised!!!!
For just pennies over $10 I got :
8lbs of Strawberries ($5 for the flat) that were a bit "ripe"...by the time I got it all cut down and salvaged what I could I still had about 4lbs of good strawberries to freeze & use later....still a decent price as they sell for $2-$5 a pound at WM....other wise for non-"ripe" strawberries it's only $1 a lb.
4lbs of seed red potatoes ($0.33 a lb)
1 Head of cabbage ($0.37)
2lbs of bananas ($0.32 a lb)...$0.75 a lb at WM
Lrg red onion ($0.32 a lb)...$1something a lb at WM
2 med tomatoes ($0.20 a lb) ...$1something a lb at WM
I think that's all I bought, this time...
BUT
My luck did not end there! I asked him if he bought from individuals to sell in the store, he said that he has committed to one person, but was not comfortable with committing to too many people, as he doesn't want it to go to waste, etc, since it is a small store that a lot of people are likely to just overlook...BUT as I was "checking out" he did invite me to bring in some of my surplus...after feeding my family...and he'll work out something with me. I might even be able to "sell" him on buying some of the laundry soap I make, as well as fabric softener...woot!
Bad new though...the place I was getting one of the main ingredients for the laundry soap is no longer able to order the stuff, it's not in her book to re-order...but she did direct me to a couple of other stores that are also "Old Fashioned" stores in the general area that might carry it...I'll drive out there tomorrow, maybe to check it out...its across state lines... But I saw on one of her shelves that she had canning lids...12 came in a box... $3...score!
So then I stopped in at a couple of yard sales.... I'm really looking for some jars that I can use for canning...the first one I stop at I ask about canning jars, as it's a lady that owns a flower shop here in town...amazing thing about this town...WM in town closes at 9pm, but there are at least 3 flower & gift shops that do pretty well here, hmmm...So I ask about canning jars.. dude took and GAVE AWAY TWENTY (20) CASES of jars just that morning, to someone who was having a yard sale...60 miles away...lovely... BUT good news, wife pipes up, she still has more at home, she'll bring them up tomorrow for me to come collect. YAY!!! If I don't catch her up there, she knows where I live so might just deliver them...I found a couple of nice looking gasket jars that were cheap and snagged up all 4 that she had...
Then I stopped at a second yard sale...almost same type deal, except this lady has a building that she just seems to have a yard sale out of most of the summer, mainly a bunch of crappy crap... so I just ask her about canning jars... She has some too! Except not there, and she's not sure when she'll be having another sale up there, as the weather is likely to be bad tomorrow, so I'll just "have to catch her sometime"...I got a couple of toys for the kids since they were doing a great job of behaving...well Mikaila was...
We then went to WM to get some of the other stuff I needed...cat food, dog food, catnip toy for the cat...who ignores it...other crap...should of grabbed some of the eggs the guy had at the "market"...there's always next time....
I found an awesome little store today while I was out paying bills. Yea..Today was payday...that day that we pay everyone who requires money from us...
Anyways, I noticed a while back ago that a fruit & veggie stand had been enclosed, etc and turned into this cute little "mock" Farmer's Market type thing...and great thing is it's on the way to the grocery store that I shop at 99% of the time...the lovely Super Wal-Mart...if I had another decent choice for less than 50 miles I might incline myself to go there, but I don't, so it is good enough..
Anyways I went in there not really expecting much, after all there's a "real" Farmer's Market on the far other side of the lake, and it SUCKS...like I wouldn't even feed my dog the crap they sell in there as meat...EW!
So, yes, I'm a bit pessimistic about some things, especially places that I plan on maybe buying food for my family.
I was VERY pleasantly surprised!!!!
For just pennies over $10 I got :
8lbs of Strawberries ($5 for the flat) that were a bit "ripe"...by the time I got it all cut down and salvaged what I could I still had about 4lbs of good strawberries to freeze & use later....still a decent price as they sell for $2-$5 a pound at WM....other wise for non-"ripe" strawberries it's only $1 a lb.
4lbs of seed red potatoes ($0.33 a lb)
1 Head of cabbage ($0.37)
2lbs of bananas ($0.32 a lb)...$0.75 a lb at WM
Lrg red onion ($0.32 a lb)...$1something a lb at WM
2 med tomatoes ($0.20 a lb) ...$1something a lb at WM
I think that's all I bought, this time...
BUT
My luck did not end there! I asked him if he bought from individuals to sell in the store, he said that he has committed to one person, but was not comfortable with committing to too many people, as he doesn't want it to go to waste, etc, since it is a small store that a lot of people are likely to just overlook...BUT as I was "checking out" he did invite me to bring in some of my surplus...after feeding my family...and he'll work out something with me. I might even be able to "sell" him on buying some of the laundry soap I make, as well as fabric softener...woot!
Bad new though...the place I was getting one of the main ingredients for the laundry soap is no longer able to order the stuff, it's not in her book to re-order...but she did direct me to a couple of other stores that are also "Old Fashioned" stores in the general area that might carry it...I'll drive out there tomorrow, maybe to check it out...its across state lines... But I saw on one of her shelves that she had canning lids...12 came in a box... $3...score!
So then I stopped in at a couple of yard sales.... I'm really looking for some jars that I can use for canning...the first one I stop at I ask about canning jars, as it's a lady that owns a flower shop here in town...amazing thing about this town...WM in town closes at 9pm, but there are at least 3 flower & gift shops that do pretty well here, hmmm...So I ask about canning jars.. dude took and GAVE AWAY TWENTY (20) CASES of jars just that morning, to someone who was having a yard sale...60 miles away...lovely... BUT good news, wife pipes up, she still has more at home, she'll bring them up tomorrow for me to come collect. YAY!!! If I don't catch her up there, she knows where I live so might just deliver them...I found a couple of nice looking gasket jars that were cheap and snagged up all 4 that she had...
Then I stopped at a second yard sale...almost same type deal, except this lady has a building that she just seems to have a yard sale out of most of the summer, mainly a bunch of crappy crap... so I just ask her about canning jars... She has some too! Except not there, and she's not sure when she'll be having another sale up there, as the weather is likely to be bad tomorrow, so I'll just "have to catch her sometime"...I got a couple of toys for the kids since they were doing a great job of behaving...well Mikaila was...
We then went to WM to get some of the other stuff I needed...cat food, dog food, catnip toy for the cat...who ignores it...other crap...should of grabbed some of the eggs the guy had at the "market"...there's always next time....
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Organic Gardening
I'm HUGE into gardening. Number one reason is because its so completely rewarding to be able to grow your own fruits & veggies. Reason number two is it is soooooooooooooo much cheaper than buying veggies, even from a cheap roadside stand. For the $5 I spent on 4 packets of tomato seeds I was able to use less than half the seeds, and got 97 plants to sprout...now I'll never use that many, so have shared a great deal of them with family & friends...I have also killed 30 plants due to being overly anxious to get to planting, so I killed maybe 50 cents worth of crop...and still have many more to replace them with. Last year I spent $10 on three tomato plants and had MORE than enough tomatoes for my family & friends...this year with 10 plants I'm hoping to be able to do a lot of canning & freezing to last me until the next year's crop. I did not spend a dime on fertilizer this year...last year I bought one bag of Mircle Grow Garden Soil & just mixed it in with the ground dirt available in my yard. This year I have two large raised beds...getting dirt & horse manure from a friend's field, at no cost to me. Even the timbers I used to make my raised beds were free as I got them from a friend of mine moving out of her place, with no room for them at her new place.... I'll do further posts about my garden in the coming days, weeks, & months...
This post is about some companion gardening hints that I have been given from another friend of mine, as well as tidbits given to me by experienced persons....
Now, most veggies will do just fine, regardless of where they're placed in the garden, this is merely a list of different companion plants that seem to do best close to each other, as well as a list of other plants that will help repel insects & rodents. I got most of these things from a small book that was published in the late 70s ('78 I think) and it's titled The Best Gardening Ideas I Know written by the Editor of Organic Gardening and Farming Magazine, Robert Rodale.
Some is also from the word of my grandfather who has been gardening since the late 30s and my uncle who has not only been gardening for the last 50 years, but is also the supervisor of the city parks in Tulsa, OK, and has been with the parks department there for at least 20 years.
I'll list the plant & beside it I'll list the companion plants, avoidance plants, if there are any, and the effects of the companionship, if the book lists any, and any deterrent properties of the plants.
Asparagus - good with Tomatoes, Parsley, & Basil
Basil - Good with Tomatoes (improves growth & flavor); said to dislike Rue; repels flies and mosquitoes
Beans - Good with Potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, cabbage, summer savory, most other veggies and herbs; also great to start in house plant pots, then transplant later...improves the nitrogen in the soil
Bush Beans - Sunflowers (beans like partial shade, sunflowers also attract birds & bees which helps with pollenation), good also with Cucumbers (combination of light & heavy feeders) Potatoes, Corn, Celery & Summer Savory
Beets - Good with Onions and Kohlrabi
Borage - Good with Tomatoes (attracts bees, deters tomato worm, improves growth & flavor)also good with Squash & strawberries
Cabbage Family - Good with Potatoes, celery, dill, chamomile, sage, thyme, mint, pennyroyal, rosemary, lavender, beets, onions...aromatic plants deter cabbage worms
Carrots - Good with Peas, lettuce, chives, onions, leeks, rosemary, sage, & tomatoes
Catnip - plant in borders, protects against flea bettles
Celery - Good with Leeks, Tomatoes, Bush Beans, Cauliflower, Cabbage
Chamomile - good with cabbage & onions
Chervil - good with radishes (improves growth & flavor)
Chives - good with Carrots; plant around the base of fruit trees to discourage insects from climbing trunk
Corn - Potatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash
Cucumbers - good with Beans, corn, peas, radishes, sunflowers
Dill - good with Cabbage (improves growth & health), carrots
Eggplants - Beans
Fennel - most plants are said to dislike it, so plant alone & away from other plants
Flax - good with carrots & potatoes
Garlic - Good with Roses & Raspberries (deters Japanese beetles); plant with herbs to enhance their production of essential oils; plant liberally throughout garden to deter pests....although where I planted my garlic bulbs is exactly where my neighbor's cats like to dig for their own personal "litter box"...grrr
Horseradish - Good with potatoes (deters potato beetles); plant around plum trees to discourage curculios
Lamb-quarters - Nutritious edible weed; allow to grow in modest amounts in the corn
Leeks - good with onions, celery, carrots
Lettuce - makes a STRONG companion team with both carrots & radishes; also great with strawberries & cucumbers
Lovage - plant here and there in garden, not bad with anything
Marigolds - keeps soil free of memotodes to discourage many insects, plant freely throughout garden, one of the best pest deterrents.
Marjoram - good throughout the garden
Mint - good with Cabbage family, tomatoes...deters cabbage moths
Mole Plants - deters moles and mice if planted throughout the garden, as well as around property
Nasturtiums - good with Tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, plant under fruit trees; deters aphids & pests of cucurbits
Onions - good with beets, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce (protects against slugs) beans (protect against ants) summer savory; not good to plant with peppers, known to stunt growth & prevent fruitage of plant.
Parsley - good with Tomatoes & asparagus
Peas - Squash (when squash follow peas up trellis), plus grow well with almost any vegetable, add extra nitrogen to the soil
Petunias - attracts ants away from veggies, plant close to garden, you want some of the root/bulb area to be exposed to attract ants best
Pigweed - Brings nutrients to topsoil; beneficial growing with potatoes, onions & corn; keep well thinned
Potatoes - good wtih Horseradish, beans, corn, cabbage, marigolds, limas, eggplants (as trap crop for potato beetles)
Pot Marigolds - help tomatoes, but plant throughout garden as a deterrent to asparagus beetles, tomato worms, and many other garden pests
Pumpkins - Good with Corn
Radishes - good with peas, nasturtiums, lettuce, cucumbers; a general aid in repelling insects
Rosemary - Good with Carrots, beans, cabbage, sage; deters cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies
Rue - Good with Roses & Raspberries; deters Japanese beetles, do not plant near Basil
Sage - Good with Rosemary, carrots, cabbage, peas, beans; deters some insects
Southernwood - Good with cabbage; can plant here and there in garden
Soybeans - Good with everything, helps everything
Spinach - Good with Strawberries
Squash - good with Nasturtiums, corn
Strawberries - good with Bush beans, spinach, borage, lettuce (as a border)
Summer Savory - Good with Beans, onions; deters bean beetles
Sunflowers - good with cucumbers
Tansy - Plant under fruit trees; deters pests of roses and raspberries, flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, & ants
Tarragon - good throughout garden
Thyme - throughout garden, deters cabbage worms
Tomatoes - Good with chives, onions, prsley, asparagus, marigolds, nasturtiums, carrots, limas...also as they're growing if you pinch off the "suckers" you'll get better growth & production, the suckers are the parts of the plant that grow between a branch & the stalk, where they "Y" together, pick the middle "new branch"; also every once in a while purposely break a few leaves on the plant, tomatoes produce a hormone when they're bruised that causes fatal indigestion in some beetles & their hatchlings
Turnips - good with peas
Valerian - good anywhere in garden
Wormwood - As a border, keeps animals from the garden
Yarrow - Plant along borders, near paths, near aromatic herbs (enhances essential oil production of herbs)
If you set out a shallow dish, or even an old jar lid, & fill it with stale beer it will attract slugs away from your plants & they'll either drown in the beer, or become too drunk to escape the dish & end up drowning.
Aluminum "mulch" in strips placed along plant rows confuses aphids, they see the sky reflected & fly out of the garden.
Good bugs to have around, as they will both pollinate & eat bad bugs are : Lady bugs, praying mantis, lacewing larva, and Trichogramma wasps, but for a small home garden bringing in these bugs isn't necessary with some of the companion growing.
I'll be adding more tidbits as I come across them & have time to type them up. And don't hesitate to add your own findings, tips, etc.
This post is about some companion gardening hints that I have been given from another friend of mine, as well as tidbits given to me by experienced persons....
Now, most veggies will do just fine, regardless of where they're placed in the garden, this is merely a list of different companion plants that seem to do best close to each other, as well as a list of other plants that will help repel insects & rodents. I got most of these things from a small book that was published in the late 70s ('78 I think) and it's titled The Best Gardening Ideas I Know written by the Editor of Organic Gardening and Farming Magazine, Robert Rodale.
Some is also from the word of my grandfather who has been gardening since the late 30s and my uncle who has not only been gardening for the last 50 years, but is also the supervisor of the city parks in Tulsa, OK, and has been with the parks department there for at least 20 years.
I'll list the plant & beside it I'll list the companion plants, avoidance plants, if there are any, and the effects of the companionship, if the book lists any, and any deterrent properties of the plants.
Asparagus - good with Tomatoes, Parsley, & Basil
Basil - Good with Tomatoes (improves growth & flavor); said to dislike Rue; repels flies and mosquitoes
Beans - Good with Potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, cabbage, summer savory, most other veggies and herbs; also great to start in house plant pots, then transplant later...improves the nitrogen in the soil
Bush Beans - Sunflowers (beans like partial shade, sunflowers also attract birds & bees which helps with pollenation), good also with Cucumbers (combination of light & heavy feeders) Potatoes, Corn, Celery & Summer Savory
Beets - Good with Onions and Kohlrabi
Borage - Good with Tomatoes (attracts bees, deters tomato worm, improves growth & flavor)also good with Squash & strawberries
Cabbage Family - Good with Potatoes, celery, dill, chamomile, sage, thyme, mint, pennyroyal, rosemary, lavender, beets, onions...aromatic plants deter cabbage worms
Carrots - Good with Peas, lettuce, chives, onions, leeks, rosemary, sage, & tomatoes
Catnip - plant in borders, protects against flea bettles
Celery - Good with Leeks, Tomatoes, Bush Beans, Cauliflower, Cabbage
Chamomile - good with cabbage & onions
Chervil - good with radishes (improves growth & flavor)
Chives - good with Carrots; plant around the base of fruit trees to discourage insects from climbing trunk
Corn - Potatoes, peas, beans, cucumbers, pumpkins, squash
Cucumbers - good with Beans, corn, peas, radishes, sunflowers
Dill - good with Cabbage (improves growth & health), carrots
Eggplants - Beans
Fennel - most plants are said to dislike it, so plant alone & away from other plants
Flax - good with carrots & potatoes
Garlic - Good with Roses & Raspberries (deters Japanese beetles); plant with herbs to enhance their production of essential oils; plant liberally throughout garden to deter pests....although where I planted my garlic bulbs is exactly where my neighbor's cats like to dig for their own personal "litter box"...grrr
Horseradish - Good with potatoes (deters potato beetles); plant around plum trees to discourage curculios
Lamb-quarters - Nutritious edible weed; allow to grow in modest amounts in the corn
Leeks - good with onions, celery, carrots
Lettuce - makes a STRONG companion team with both carrots & radishes; also great with strawberries & cucumbers
Lovage - plant here and there in garden, not bad with anything
Marigolds - keeps soil free of memotodes to discourage many insects, plant freely throughout garden, one of the best pest deterrents.
Marjoram - good throughout the garden
Mint - good with Cabbage family, tomatoes...deters cabbage moths
Mole Plants - deters moles and mice if planted throughout the garden, as well as around property
Nasturtiums - good with Tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, cucumbers, plant under fruit trees; deters aphids & pests of cucurbits
Onions - good with beets, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce (protects against slugs) beans (protect against ants) summer savory; not good to plant with peppers, known to stunt growth & prevent fruitage of plant.
Parsley - good with Tomatoes & asparagus
Peas - Squash (when squash follow peas up trellis), plus grow well with almost any vegetable, add extra nitrogen to the soil
Petunias - attracts ants away from veggies, plant close to garden, you want some of the root/bulb area to be exposed to attract ants best
Pigweed - Brings nutrients to topsoil; beneficial growing with potatoes, onions & corn; keep well thinned
Potatoes - good wtih Horseradish, beans, corn, cabbage, marigolds, limas, eggplants (as trap crop for potato beetles)
Pot Marigolds - help tomatoes, but plant throughout garden as a deterrent to asparagus beetles, tomato worms, and many other garden pests
Pumpkins - Good with Corn
Radishes - good with peas, nasturtiums, lettuce, cucumbers; a general aid in repelling insects
Rosemary - Good with Carrots, beans, cabbage, sage; deters cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies
Rue - Good with Roses & Raspberries; deters Japanese beetles, do not plant near Basil
Sage - Good with Rosemary, carrots, cabbage, peas, beans; deters some insects
Southernwood - Good with cabbage; can plant here and there in garden
Soybeans - Good with everything, helps everything
Spinach - Good with Strawberries
Squash - good with Nasturtiums, corn
Strawberries - good with Bush beans, spinach, borage, lettuce (as a border)
Summer Savory - Good with Beans, onions; deters bean beetles
Sunflowers - good with cucumbers
Tansy - Plant under fruit trees; deters pests of roses and raspberries, flying insects, Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetles, squash bugs, & ants
Tarragon - good throughout garden
Thyme - throughout garden, deters cabbage worms
Tomatoes - Good with chives, onions, prsley, asparagus, marigolds, nasturtiums, carrots, limas...also as they're growing if you pinch off the "suckers" you'll get better growth & production, the suckers are the parts of the plant that grow between a branch & the stalk, where they "Y" together, pick the middle "new branch"; also every once in a while purposely break a few leaves on the plant, tomatoes produce a hormone when they're bruised that causes fatal indigestion in some beetles & their hatchlings
Turnips - good with peas
Valerian - good anywhere in garden
Wormwood - As a border, keeps animals from the garden
Yarrow - Plant along borders, near paths, near aromatic herbs (enhances essential oil production of herbs)
If you set out a shallow dish, or even an old jar lid, & fill it with stale beer it will attract slugs away from your plants & they'll either drown in the beer, or become too drunk to escape the dish & end up drowning.
Aluminum "mulch" in strips placed along plant rows confuses aphids, they see the sky reflected & fly out of the garden.
Good bugs to have around, as they will both pollinate & eat bad bugs are : Lady bugs, praying mantis, lacewing larva, and Trichogramma wasps, but for a small home garden bringing in these bugs isn't necessary with some of the companion growing.
I'll be adding more tidbits as I come across them & have time to type them up. And don't hesitate to add your own findings, tips, etc.
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