Frugal Tips and Tricks to save money
Surf online to get samples sent to you in the mail. Here are a few websites to get you started:
YDF - daily freebie samples
Lawn Care
Weeds - Sprinkle Vinegar on your weed and two days later your weeds are dead.
Kitchen
Use only 1/4-1/2 (depending on how many are eating) in things like Hamburger Helper or spaghetti when they call for a pound.
Add a 4th can of water to frozen juices-tastes fine.
Keep a container in the freezer and add leftovers, left over green beans, or corn or??? and when its full... make Vegetable soup..its virtually a FREE meal..different every time.
Laundry
Use half the detergent advised for a load (smells and looks as clean), and spray a rag with softener for homemade dryer sheets.
Cut Dryer sheets into thirds and stretch your dryer sheets.
Use a sponge and lightly coat with hair conditioner or fabric softner and use this as a dryer sheet
Hang dry clothes and flush in the dryer for 20 minutes to remove wringles and softener. (use half the electric)
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap-
4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to a pan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
- Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
- Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
- Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
Yields: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
Homemade Fabric Softener
2 cups regular vinegar
2 cups baking soda
4 cups water
Mix the vinegar and baking soda and mix, mix, mix.
Be careful to do this in a larger container as the mix will fizz up at first.
Add the water and mix, mix, mix.
When you go to use it , the mixture will seem seperated, but just shake it up and use as a regular softener.