These Days....

I've been babysitting tripets! I usually have 2 of the group, but have had all three. It's nice to have the extra income, but hard on my home. The job should be ending in the next few weeks. :)

I will be making laundry soap soon. I've decided to use some other soap instead of making a trip to purchase the fels naptha. I have heard it will do as well.

Lowes has some free classes for kids and mine really enjoy them. We are cutting back on all outside activities with price of gas and economy. We'll have other errands to run while there.

My hubby's job is not secure. I've already been keeping extra staples, etc. on hand for such a time as this which really helps. I've been storing any extra staples (rice, flour, etc.) in the freezer so no critters decide to move into them. I also use the Clorox Anywhere spray on the doors of the pantry. It seems to keep the critters away also.

We have some mixed lettuce up. We still need to plant whatever else we want to plant to eat. :) I did find some bulbs and seeds for flowers at The Dollar Tree cheap. :)

I plan to have to have a garage sale after job ends and before school lets out. Whatever is left I will give to our local thrift store.

I did hatch a few chicks this year. We may have to relocate so I haven't started any more yet. My hens are laying well. I'm trying to keep the price on eggs down, but may not be able to for much longer. The price didn't go up on them, but the size of the bag got smaller. Isn't that happening with lots of things?

With the nicer weather I am trying to hang out laundry as possible. I'm also using a dryer ball in the dryer when I use it. It's supposed to dry faster and soften. I tear dryer sheets in half when I use them and dust the tv with the old ones.

Need to go so that's enough for today.

Laundry Soap Recipe

This came from http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/ . I use more borax and washing soda since we have very hard water here. It will not gel really, but have some white soap pieces in it. You may add scent, but I like the clean scent it has alone.

3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha Soap Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water

Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 Gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

Make Your Own Yogurt

This one is just about as simple as the buttermilk. Simply heat some milk in a pan until it is just hot. Remove from heat. Then add about 1/4 cup of plain yogurt. Again, you will need to hold some back for starter for the next batch every time. Cover your pan and wrap it in a towel or something that will help keep it warm. Let this set up at least overnight and you should have yogurt. You might like to add whatever you like to sweeten, but I like it plain, too. I've used jelly, jam, honey, sugar, applesauce or nuts. You can experiment and see what you like best. I think this yogurt has a richer flavor than store-bought and no high-fructose corn syrup. You may refrigerate at this point.

Make your Own Buttermilk

It's very simple and cheaper than purchasing it from the store. You will need to start with some buttermilk. I know, but you have to start somewhere.
You will need to always hold back 1/4 cup of buttermilk. I simply use the 1/2 gallon container it came in. Fill this with milk. Set this on your kitchen counter for 24 hours and you will have buttermilk. I usually shake it up at this point and return it to the fridge. I use 2 % milk usually so don't really know if 1% would even work.
Prices on just about all grocery items are increasing or the packages are getting smaller or both so I just thought I'd share one small thing we do to save. Will share more later.

More When Ends Don't Meet

1. Keep your bills organized so you do not have to pay late fees.

2. Cut your own and your families hair. I learned this by watching my dear mother-in-law, but you could check out a book from the library.

3. Use your library. It's free! Don't forget they also have movies and such. :)

4. Keep your pantry and refrigerator cleaned out. Once a week would be ideal, but that doesn't always happen around here. Make sure you use up what's in there. Letting it go to waste is a real food budget spoiler too!

5. Learn to darn socks. This is quite simple and will extend the life of your families socks! Mending in general will extend the life of clothing. So many women just replace things these days and wonder why they can't make ends meet or have to go to a job.

6. Shop the thrift stores and garage sales. You never know what you might find! I recent;y bought some flannel for .25 and will be able to make at least 2 rice bags out of each piece!

7. Teach yourself new skills using the internet. Use your internet time wisely and pick up a skill that will benefit your home. Some of my favs are www.hillbillyhousewife.com, www.lainesletters.com and www.recipegoldmine.com .

8. Enlist your children's help. You need your energy to run a household so let them help put away, feed pets, make beds, set table, help cook, fold laundry, etc. These will be valuable skills in their future. This may not sound frugal, but it will help you to utilize your time better to be more frugal.

9. Make your own laundry soap. Recipe coming soon. :)

10. Question each expense in your household and ask yourself,"Is there a way to do this more effectively and at lower cost?"

When Ends Don't Meet

I'm forever working on ways to save money while being here at home. Here are a few things I've learned:

1. Whenever you can find a low price on milk and there is no limit to how many you can buy, freeze it. You need to take some of the milk off the top because it will expand. I usually use the one in the fridge already. This will help if milk will be pricey for a while. When you thaw it, you will want to shake it so it goes back to it's regular consistency. I usually buy 2% and this works fine.
2. Make your own mixes. You can make pudding, cream of soup mix, corn bread mix and a number of others and still have the convenience. You just made it yourself. You will also enjoy the benefits of less salt and extra things you may not want in your family's diet.
3. Use coupons and refunding on any item you can use. I've been cutting my grocery bill in half with this one! What fun! This week I got a free Country Bob's steak sauce, Idahoan potatoes and Coffee Mate!
4. Try free samples. If you can test before you invest, you will know what to expect from the product if you choose to buy it. Hopeflly, you will receive a coupon with your sample!
5. Do as much of your shopping as you can in one day. I can't always do this, but it does save gas and time. Never waste a trip by only doing one thing!
6. Make your own yogurt and buttermilk. Simple to do and so good!
7. If you have them available to you, you may wish to participate in the Share Program and/or the Angel Tree Ministry food packs.
8. Plant a garden. We did not have a great deal of luck with this this year since it was so dry, but it is still producing some. Any bad produce goes to the chickens. :) We will be planting garlic soon.
9. Only run your dishwasher once per day. Do them in the sink when electricity is running too high. Don't use the drying function on dishwasher.
10. Hang clothes on the line. Do full loads. Make your own laundry detergent.

Well, that's a start. I may do this again soon.

This Day,,,,

I got up in the night with a sinus headache and nausea so I guess I'm not staying hydrated enough. In this heat, I guess I need much more water than usual. My hubby told me to take it easy today. I still need to do my dailies, but will probably organize my recipes in a new expandable file I got at the thrift store for a quarter. :) I will probably file and work on couponing stuff. I hope to feel stronger soon.

It's very hot and dry here. My husband hooked up a pump to draw water from our pond which is quite low now anyway. We have been on water restriction already once this summer and I expect it will happen again. The pump is a wonderful way of keeping the garden and animals watered. I will get boys to help me to bring some up to the house in their wagon for my flowers so I don't have to carry it. I watered some yesterday evening and the ground actually steamed!

I subscribed to Refund Cents and have started to do better on grocery budget. I saved $22.49 on my last trip to Kroger. I do go to SaveAlot also. They also take coupons on the brand name items they carry. :)

Here is my daily list:

Kitchen

1. Up and ready for day. Swish toilet after I flush.
2. Breakfast and clean up.
3. Dishes in dishwasher and sink/ washed and put away.
4. Vacuum. Needs done daily at least. I have carpet in kitchen which I hate and would not recommend.
5. 21 pickup 3 x. I simply put away 21 items three times. Helps in keeping counters clearer.

Laundry

1. 2 loads (usually)
2. 21 pickup
3. Sweep

Living room

1. 21 pickup
2. Straighten

Bedrooms

1. Beds made-boys do their own. :)
2. 21 pickup.

Bathroom

1. Sweep
2. Swish toilet
3. Sink and counter.
4. 21 pickup.

Other Daily Chores

1. Meals-sometimes boys help.
2. Table set and cloth-boys help.
3. Animal care-boys help.
4. Checkbook.
5. Mail.
6. Check pending things that need to be done today.

Every other day boys shake out rugs.

Will post weeklies later as I'm moving slow and need to get started. Maybe some music....