Homemade Laundry "Soap Box"

There was a little debate going on today over the most economical way to have laundry soap for doing clothes.  Apparently the Duggar Family have put on their website the "recipe" for homemade laundry soap that I've seen around for several years, and even seen some YouTube demos on how to make it...guess she's economizing too~which is GREAT!

Well, the questions were something like "did it really work" and "how many loads?"  I have never made this stuff. I have seen the demos like I said from YouTube, but it looks like "goop" to me, and well, up until recently I had my favorite 'brand' and was unwilling to part with it...but then the economic crunch came, and I got on the band wagon to economizing~hence my 200 loads for $15 at Sam's Club which I use 1/2 the amounts so I am getting 400 loads for the same price equalling 4 CENTS a load!!!!!!!!!! and IF I were to use the full amount, just double it to 8 cents a load! This is amazing...and I don't have to cook and gloop and glop...and slop....sorry folks, but SisterT while she is thrifty, and Oh soooo frugal...has a few limits...ever found some of those supplies the recipe calls for? Fels Naptha soap??? PLEEEEEEZE! OK...so IF you think it's GREAT~leave me a shout...otherwise, I am NOT going to try this one...sorry folks... not me.
You can read all my laundry tips  HERE !
Counting my time as money too,

Using It UP Ideas~Bath Products

Do you love good smelling bath products? I enjoy them myself, but they can be costly if we don't be sure we are using them up before discarding the containers. It seems like there is always some product left in the bottom when it's no longer easy to get it out...I want to see an empty container~no product when it no longer pumps or is easy to get out! But as we all know, the container is not empty~there's always a little bit more in there~so here's what I do...actually depending on how the container is made.

For the pour type bottle, I will set or lean it so the product will flow through gravity to the bottom. Sometimes if the top won't allow for this, I prop it against something so it will have the gravity to flow toward the lid so I can get it out. I have wedged bottles upside down in between the towel bar in the bathroom too if it will fit~get creative so gravity will help get the last little bit where it's accessible!

For the tube type containers, I practice rolling up the bottom towards the opening. This is a method that works well with toothpaste too, but the different type of material for the kind of tube will hold the rolled shape with toothpaste, but not with most generally bath body wash tubes~so each time after you have found it near impossible to get any out, just start rolling. You can shake it down with the lid on and towards the ground a few brisk shakes. If this fails to produce results, then try rolling the end. Now if this fails, get your handy-dandy scissors and cut it open. This is not a container you can reuse and there isn't a good way to add water into it to "rinse out" any unused product...so cut the sucker open ;-)) Cut at the end so you can add water for one last bath with it~GET IT ALL OUT~use it up!

For the pump~I actually like these as I recycle the pump containers by purchasing new product to add into them. Since I add more product into them, there is not waste, but IF I were going to throw one away, I would "rinse it out" using water by unscrewing the top and then either pouring or using the pumper. Dilution doesn't have to be so thin that the effectiveness of the product is lost. Just dilute enough to cleanse out the container so nothing is wasted at you're using it up!

Bar Soaps~REALLY these are still sold and we use them! If you do too, they can be a great money saver~here's a tip: open the wrappers and let them set on the shelf to air dry before you put it out for use. I have read before that this doesn't work to make a bar last longer, but I have found that info to be false! It will last longer if the bar is air dried first. The other secret is to keep it in a place as it is used where it can stay air dried or drying. If it's left in a tub of water or on a pool of water beside the sink it will soften and melt...this isn't making it last for sure~so be sure it gets and stays dry after each use! NOW what can we do with those soap slivers? I have used my grater to shave them into small pieces; I have even used an old leg of panty hose...yeah, some still use these too, to put a collected handful of slivers and tied it to the tub for kiddo baths...this way the soap all stays together and the kids can have fun with a stretchy funny looking bath soap "thingy!" ;-)) Also I have tied this panty hose leg with soap onto the outside hose faucet for outside clean ups before kids come in the house after playing! Oh yeah...it's got some pretty practical uses to it because it you but the hosery leg with just enough length to tie a knot (if you aren't going to tie it TO SOMETHING) you can carry it to wherever you need soap just like a bar soap. It works well in camping and loads of messy outside clean ups! The hosery also acts like a scrubbie! For the flakes, I disolved them and put them into water for a hand soap. I have never cooked them on the stove to disolve them, but I have heard of it...I did use in my laundry once, but didn't like the results~could have been the brand of soap because some soaps have moisturizers that will not work well in clothing. You decide about using soap shavings in your washer~ok? But use it all up~don't waste a bit...find a way...AND if tell me too~ I am ALWAYS looking for ways to do more with what I have or with the less I have~ ;-))

Using it up~all of it~prevents waste, which, in the long and short run, is a money saver! The less I have to purchase as a result of the product lasting longer is GOOD for the ole pocketbook!

Let's keep at it~saving that is!
Don't forget to share your bath product saving secrets with me ;-))

Using It UP Ideas~Dryer Sheets

Beginning here, I will post what I am going to call: Using It Up Ideas on items that we either throw away or could have another use other than the advertised or intended ones so that we can get as much utility as possible for our items~and save the landfills a bit! So while I was in the laundry "palace" today, I realized that using all those dryer sheets and then throwing them away needs to come to some "greater good" for a second go around of use! I examined those white thin "airy" looking rectangles and gave it some thought. I came up with a few ideas, but I want to thank my mother, Betty for her ideas too! Mamas know best~this is undisputed!

Here's the ideas~

1. Dryer lint remover
2. Sachet craft idea or perfumed for a dresser drawer or suit cases
3. Static remover
4. Dust rag
5. Doll clothes pattern material
6. Stuffing for crafts
7. Material for scrapbooking/card cutouts


Dryer Lint Remover

The lint filter of an electric or gas dryer if not properly cleaned can make the machine operate so poorly! I use my dryer sheet from the load I am taking care of to wipe the lint out of the mesh screen. This really does a nice job, and reduces any static that might accumulate in the area. With one easy swipe, I have all the lint and into the trash it goes! Easy!!


Sachet or scented "cloth" for dresser drawers/suit cases

I knew a lady once who made the cutest sachets for her dressers~she utilized the used dryer sheets which have a thin and airy look to them~almost like homemade paper to put popourri into and tied them with a pretty ribbon. Now the trick was to cut the rectangle into a circle with some sharp scissors that can have a decorative edge or straight. The idea though is a nice neat edge. After tying in a pretty bow, then silk flowers were added. The scent was very nice. These made nice little favors or gifts for "Just Because!"

Put used dryer sheets into your luggage to keep it smelling fresh between uses. You can also save them and layer them into your clothing being packed. Smells good!


Static Remover

Carry one in your purse during the windy seasons in your area to use to rub on your clothing if you find yourself with static cling. For those who wear nylon hosery or unmentionables, this use can really help if you find you are clinging in unbecoming ways~always rub the undersides of the cothing next to your skin as that's the direction of the charge pulling the fabrics toward you...or rub it in between your layers if that's where the problem is occurring. You don't want to be clingy!



Dust Rag

I'd make sure my dryer sheet had gone twice in the dryer before rubbing it on my monitors and TV screens...you don't want to smear the softner there~what a mess that could be! But after using all the softening agent, then the tiny bit left will draw the dust and make cleaning easier! I know what to call this~Magnetic Cleaning with DRYER SHEETS!!


Doll Clothes Pattern

Granted dryer sheets won't make a pattern for large items, but for some doll clothes they will make nice permanent patterns. Just trace the original onto the dryer sheet and cut it out. Be sure to mark which piece that it is and what the pattern is so that if a single piece gets seperated, it can be easily found and placed with its coordinating items. This is a great idea to piece together!



Stuffing for Cloth Crafts

If you save enough you can use them to stuff things with instead of purchasing additional materials. This definitely saves on the overall cost of the project~whoohoo more savings!

Material for Scrapbooking and Cardmaking Cut Outs

I love making my own cards. In recent years I've not made very many, but I even like to handmake the embellishments for my cards and scrapbook pages. The almost lacy or handmade paper look makes dryer sheets a unique material to make objects~snowflakes, snowmen, hearts, candles...anything you could use white: wedding motiffs and more! Use good sharp scissors and go to town! With some good craft glue, these will adorn anything you are doing in the paper craft world!

This is the Using it UP Ideas~Dryer Sheets post. If you have an idea to share I'd love to hear from you! Look for more Using It Up Ideas!

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SisterTipster

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Cheap is wonderful~FREE is AwEsomE!
SisterTipster<3

Pedicure Pampering~Simply!

There's nothing better than getting a pedicure for beautiful feet in swanky open toe shoes! I LOVE this kind of pampering~have had my share of "pro" done~but hey, in this economy, WHY deny myself such lux if I can do it in a budget boosting manner? Here's how:

The thought is that showering is less costly in time and money than tub bathing right?
PLUG the tub while you shower~it's an instant foot soak SAVING you money and time! Then right out of the bath, use your handy-dandy foot scrubber or even if you don't own one~here's an idea: get a kitchen plastic scrubbie~you know, the rolled round plastic mesh circle kind that comes in colors! It's about the same thing as an expensive foot scrubber and will cost less! Use this to go over your heels and any rough spots; then because you were thinking a head, rub your feet with baby oil. If you don't have baby oil, you can use olive or veggie oil~AND HERE'S THE BOMB...a doctor once told my brother to use veg shortening for his very very dry cracked heels...Of course IF you already have any of the expensive stuff, use it up...but otherwise...go for less~it really is MORE! Be sure to use an old towel to wipe off the excess and to wear a "designated" old pair of socks to keep the oils/grease (I know it sounds awful! ) on your feet for a luxurious moisturizing treatment ;-)) THAT saved money and time!

Supplies:

• Something to moisturize with: baby oil, cooking oil, olive oil, veg shortening, (or WHATEVER you already own!)
• Scrubber: IF you already own it, use it! If not, get a plastic veggie scrubbie (firmer and smaller than shower variety (costs less too!)
• Old "designated" socks just for foot care~they will be stained, so a pair of cotton socks will work best to give the "treatment" a chance to soak in.
• Warm water from your shower~just plug and let your feet naturally soak while you shower!
• Towel for drying!

OK..off to work on the garden produce~MORE later!
SisterTipster<3

Saving in the Bath Area~

After the post http://sistertipstersthriving.blogspot.com/2009/08/ways-to-leave-your-debts-behind.html I am thinking about other rooms that are money suckers from my budget. The bathroom is another room in our home without some tight controls and ideas could be an expensive adventure each week to replenish and care for.

1. Take an inventory of EVERYTHING stored in the bathroom. Look at it all from the medicine cabinet, toiletries, towels/washcloths, cleaning supplies~make up~anything and everything in that room. What's the condition of the shower curtain? Make notes in your Budget Boosting notebook!

2. Weed out what has expired or is worn out. Right now, I am not saying to throw away old worn towels and cloths, but separate them from the rest of the good ones, and be sure you have at least two per family member. You may even want to color code to family members if this would work for you. Some like to do this, and when my kids were little, I did it this way to teach them about caring for their own towel wash cloth, and they even had their very own PLACE to hang it so it was less in the wash and used several times with good drying time in between. I love those over-the-door drying racks for this with multiple levels you can hang. This is good storage space to use, and it can be attractive, that might not be utilized~AND it will dry those towels well! Many homes don't have enough drying space in the bath with wall hanging towel bars. If you don't have this option, then teach the kids to hang towels on hangers behind their own bedroom doors or even OVER the door. The idea is to air dry them so that they are less likely thrown down and heading into the wash with just one use. Towels can be used several times before laundering them is necessary. I want to note too, that money saving in this area extends to washing practices. Towels are heavy and require long automatic dryer drying time. I like to hang them to air dry almost totally, then toss in for a softening and sterilization with the heat of the dryer and freshening with my dryer sheets. I confess that good quality dryer sheets are used in my home. We own a historic home that will have static cling because of the dryness, and while there are all kinds of ideas from fabric softner on a wash cloth tossed into the dryer, to cutting into 1/2s or 1/3s, to buying discount types, I have never found any that performed as nicely as the good quality that I purchase. I just make sure that I don't waste them by not taking care that they go into the dryer and are used properly. (LOOKS like my next post should be Laundry room, huh?) OK~back to the bathroom!

2. Set aside those worn our towels and cloths. YOU decide what level of wear this is. For me, it has to have holes and be almost unusable. My motto: use it up! But you decide. This is a personal choice, but if you don't like frayed edges or thin, then maybe it's time in your home. Since I don't advocate throwing them out, there are other uses for them that make your choice IF we can afford new towels at this time and have the actual time to shop for them. (Another post idea, huh?)

3. The medicine cabinet usually stored in most bathrooms is a story in and unto itself. HOW OLD is that stuff? Is it stored in a way that is safe for your children (up and away) and usable? Bandage supplies handy? Cleansing supplies for wounds? Inventory this area, discard outdated items. List essentials to your family. In ours, we needed when our kids were little, band aids by the box. So I kept many out and available for easy reach along with peroxide and triple antibiotic cream. I actually had a place that the children as they got into elementary school could access the materials themselves: after a quick "check" from mom, they went and washed and bandaged themselves. This way with the check, there were no limbs falling off that they did not show me for more extensive care than what they could do on their own. But getting rid of the expired and restocking if you are out of items your family uses. We are huge peroxide users. Each person has their own bottle. We use it for oral care, wound care, ear care. . . If you have allergies, obviously this is not a choice for your family, but it's inexpensive, versatile and does the trick for many things! We each have our own shelf in the cabinet (just four of us) but also the vanity is divided too. I definitely recommend color coding in the towel area if you can, if not, then you could mark names or just GIVE each person their own towels to keep up with each week. TALK about a laundry saver! (I am back in that laundry room again! Gotta do a post...) If you have medications, they should not be stored in the bath where humidity can deteriorate them. I like a locking small tool box for these. When my children were small, we actually had a lock on it. Today, it's not locked nor for the most part are the meds in this box. But with this storage way, I never worried if they were eating the meds ;-)) I knew they couldn't get into them!

4. Assess the cleaning supplies. I am so totally frugal that I don't purchase all the bells and whistle cleaners for my bathrooms. I basically use a couple of things that I already have on hand to cleanse with. I use bleach to sanitize. As a former nurse, bleach has been used to clean and kill loads of bacteria for as long as I have known it, and if it kills what floats in public pools, then it should be good for my bath. It whitens grout well too. Now I have a trick for mold. Bleach will not kill it. I know this sounds silly, but it only takes the color out. WHAT kills it is household ammonia. CAUTION: Do not mix these in any way~so this is what I do: Use a scrub brush on the grout. Clean off as much soap scum, molds or whatever as you can with hot water first. Then either spray or pour on the ammonia and allow it to set. Over several hours, repeat this process a couple of times. If you can, open a window and shut the bath door. If not, use an exhaust fan and shut the door, and if these are not available, just shut the door. Let it work for at least an hour for two separate applications. When timed, go rinse, and RINSE WELL! Rinse and rinse and rinse and rinse some more...rinse until you are fully satisfied all the ammonia is gone. If you are in doubt, rinse again. Then after you have rinsed the tub area, to remove it ALL apply the grout whitening bleach full strength to the area. I like to pour, but if doing the walls, you can put into a sprayer and spritz down the walls. This is a fantastic whitening agent, and while bleach doesn't kill it, the ammonia does. You just can't mix them, but you can use both very carefully! AND this is inexpensive to use verses those products that claim to kill and remove. I already use bleach in my laundry room so I own it, and ammonia is inexpensive. I like to use a few products for a lot of purposes. I use one of those stiff bristled kitchen scrubber brushes to scrup the tub up~I STORE ALL BATH CLEANING ITEMS such as this brush, toilet bowl brush (separate kind) and cleaning rags for the bath in the bathroom in a small cleaning bucket. I like either an icecream bucket or a cookie bucket that keeps stuff together and useful. Now obviously if your children are small, be sure these items, especially the chemicals such as the bleach and ammonia are out of reach. But stored together makes putting a quick shine in the bath pretty quick! I purchase small headed inexpensive dollar store mops for my baths. These mops are small and can fit easily behind toillete next to the wall for easy cleaning. I use one seperately from the kitchen/household mop for sanitary purposes. I also have upstairs and down stairs bath mops/brooms. My time and effort is worth something!

5. Assess the shower curtain. Is it coming down, worn out, molded, dirty? I have a few thoughts and suggestions for this. Years ago, I used to purchase heavy vinyl good "quality" shower curtains to end up washing them in the washer, hanging them outside and the like. My shower curtain was lasting way too long! Now this may sound silly, but hear me out. If it lasts and lasts and lasts, and requires so much to clean it~taking it down, then up. . .is the cost worth this effort when you can purchase a nicely functioning curtain for a dollar and throw the thing away once a year! Now the $30 I paid for the heavier gaged plastic~and the work of cleaning and removing/reinstalling I now can take this on for the price of ONE dollar and SAVE on the cleaning efforts!! Not only is it my personal exertion I am saving, but money as washers cost to operate! AND it's 30 YEARS to recoup that investment on that heavy gage curtain~ha! Who WANTS to live with the peach colored or floral colored or stripes or whatever for THAT long??? Can you see why it's a better deal to spend more frequently on a less expensive/quality gaged plastic curtain ~30 years is a long long time! I am likely to either not want it that long for many possible reasons, or just flat out get tired of cleaning it! THROW the thing out and use the disposable ones~this is a switch isn't it! But you can find good uses for the old curtain each year you switch out. Drop cloths are a wonderful use. Let the kids play on it with the water hose outside too~
There is an issue with these less expensive shower curtains. The holes will often tear out. Here's a trick: Do you have masking or packing or duct tape? Run a strip across the top of it on each side. If you have a hole punch, make holes; if no hole punch, cut "x" shapes inside each hole area so the hangers will go into the slots! This will reinforce for much longer wear. I actually use a cloth curtain with these as liners. They work well, and like I said, 30 years is a long time. . .

6. To prevent mirrors from fogging up, use this trick: clean with shaving cream. Now don't ask me HOW this works, but it does. Something in the residue will prevent the condensation from forming. I clean the walls and window sills with hot to touch water with a splash of bleach.

7. Conquering the toilette bowl is easy with a brush that you frequently use to scour out the bowl. I use bleach to whiten the area and it provides a clean smell that will dissipate soon after it's flushed. Use only a small amount. Let set then flush. I wipe down the outside with a bleach solution too.

8. Utilizing the worn out towels can take on a couple of options. You can either re-purpose them by using them for cleaning rags, tareing them into small rags and storing them in the bucket, or you could take out the worn hole and make new smaller or cloths for continued service or a hand towel or even a bath mat for the floor. Now you will need a sewing machine and a zig-zag stitch, but it's do~able and can be a great use for that bath towel that is still good except for the hole it developed. I generally make cleaning rags because I make them small and we use a lot of them. I also use other materials for cleaning rags, but since I refinish furniture and paint too, rags are great to have!

9. Tackling toiletries means evaluating the use of them and purchasing accordingly. If you are convinced that your particular brand is the one you can't live without, then I will ask you to think about your budget for such items. Can you use a less branded item or costly one? Can you make it go further or can you catch a seasonal sale or even use another money saving system such as a coupon or buy one get one 1/2 ESPECIALLY if you know the price during the off sales. IF you can save money on this, this is a good place. I was thinking while washing my shoulder length hair about saving money on this just yesterday morning. I use a inexpensive shampoo that I buy is a big a container as possible for my family. I also use two small amounts to shampoo my hair rinsing in between well. But I have to say that I generally only shampoo twice a week. If my hair is color treated, I can wash once a week as it tends to have less oils. But I do definitely condition well. I use a very small amount of a good conditioner, one that I use just on the ends of my hair~we are advised by hairdressers not to use it on the scalp as it can clog up the pores. This works well for my hair as I don't blow dry it either, but let it air dry. I save on a couple of fronts. First as silly as it sounds, time and money are saved without using the blow dryer. Now I have some natural curl which responds well to the "wet head" look until it dries and then I brush it out. I considered cutting my hair so it would take less products, but then realized that actually shorter styles are more costly to maintain shape and then styling is necessary. I am working at living with about 2-3 cuts a year for myself. I go from a chin length bob to something touching my shoulders before I head to my beautician. To save on cuts, you can use beauty schools which I have done in the past. They generally do a good job wanting to please the patron so it's a good deal. I've had an occasional mishap too, but the instructors want the patron satisfied too, so I have also had correction which is a wonderful learning situation for the student. My philosophy is that nothing is un-fixable~hair included. IT WILL GROW! So with all said, hair care products can be made more economical.
Soaps and skin care is another area to consider. I enjoy shower gels and find that some have a more lasting quailty with their scent, which allows me to save on perfumes. But then there are other times I don't want this benefit, so I use economical hand soap for shower gel and even still use the old fashioned bar soap. For the hand soap, I buy in volume and pour into old recepticles for easy use. The bar soap I open and store unwrapped so the bar will harden and last longer. It really does! I know there was a debate about this some time ago~but you will see if you practice this. And hey, bar soap is a good deal and our men have to bathe with something! NO flowery men for me!

Tackling the bath with Budget Boosters! What are you doing to save in the bathroom? Any making it last ideas? Share them with me for an entry into the Debt Busting Hop Contest for a $10 Walmart card!

Budget Boosting/Debt Busting Mama!
SisterTipster <3

The Fried Egg Told It All~

In http://sistertipstersthriving.blogspot.com/2009/08/ways-to-leave-your-debts-behind.html#links I suggested for easy cleaning which saves TIME and money, not to mention ELBOW grease, that either you rinse dishes as they are dirtied OR you soak them or wash them right up. Now I have to tell you that today was a perfect example of just this kind of thing I am talking about. I got up this morning and hubby had fried himself some eggs~now I have no problem with this. But I share this so you can see the REAL LIFE example of what can happen if someone does NOT take care of the plates, utensils and fry pan. I found these little goodies about four hours later, and you can imagine what it was like, right? So I thought that in order to save on my time, effort and money, I'd soak them all in the hottest water I have out of the tap for about an hour. THIS SHOULD DO THE TRICK I was thinking. NOT! I got over to my sink and had to really really REALLY hunker down on that fried egg all stuck to the skillet. It was obviously not a nonstick, but a stainless steel fry pan (Revere Ware) which are great pots and pans. This fried egg mess took not only an hour of soaking, but also took about 30 minutes of my scrubbing with a green Scotch Bright pad for non stick and no scratching. I was just about ready to get out my fine steel wool which I do hold out for messes that won't release, when it all came off. But whew! THAT fried egg almost had me~So remember to rinse, soak or wash right away to save your last nerve, your efforts, and your money. That pan took way too much effort and hot water/soap not to mention the use of my scrubby.

LESSON LEARNED~now can I convince. . .
Taking Care of my money so it won't leave me!
SisterTipster <3

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50 Ways to Leave Your Debt~

I hope these ideas are helpful in your pursuits to make it in this crazy economy! It hasn't been since my great grandmother's lifetime that times have been this tough. Even the recession of the 1970's when I was a child and gas prices where at an all time high have we been so barraged with financial woes! Many of us are carrying debt around like a huge ton of weight on our backs. With job instability and other financial uncertainty, it's SMART to begin a process of MAKING lifestyle changes that even if you find you don't become one of the many who struggle, you will have made some lasting changes that can increase your savings and person wealth for your future. This lifestyle change is a WIN~WIN for anyone! Since I am attacking DEBT in a huge way, join me for FREE money saving tips and strategies. Leave me a comment too to share what you are doing~I am learning too!

I have begun a list that I want to ad to, creating a vast resource for BUDGET BOOSTING Ideas!
Beginning with the mindset and discussing in detail the kitchen, here is the first of many ideas to come~

1. Make a plan to make a change in your thinking first. Think: "I can conquer my debt and live on less!"

2. Prioritize your goals. What do you need and want to accomplish? Debt reduction, freedom from debt, or saving money or what? Where CAN you start. List them out and number them.

3. Take number one and create that plan. What strategy can you begin today that will make a difference in the overall situation? Can you make ONE change today? Do it!

4. Keep your notes of your work on your "financial house" in a notebook or file box or on the computer~just keep them.

5. Make a list of all you owe.

6. Make a list of all your resources: ones that are "available" such as cash, money in an account you can access or in savings without penalty. List those like stock, 401K or other accounts that you can't touch (whole life insurance policies, Roth IRA, bonds, certificates of deposit), real estate, current home, rental property, vehicles, recreation vehicles: boats, campers and other high end resources, land, gold, other. LIST it all.

7. For number 5~find out and list not just how much, but at what interest rate, due date, and late fees. Get all the info, even get payoff amounts. GET the total picture of your debt. This is not easy, but knowledge is power!

8. Use a calendar and write every due date on each day of the month with name of the creditor and amount (minimum) due address and phone number. Write a reminder 7 days before so you can get it safely in the mail without penalty. Late fees are awfully expensive and unnecessary when they can be avoided!

9. Add up the creditor amounts. Add up the resource amounts that are liquidable. Can you pay anything off? If you can, plan to do so AFTER putting aside enough for two months rent/mortgage. Then pay what you can with the excess, paying the lower amount off first. This is one bill you can put to rest.

10. After saving and paying, what is left? Can you pay the essentials? Rent, food, utilities, medicines, and others? These are first pay priorities each month. Pay them on time and allot enough to cover them each time.

11. If you find that you don't have enough to pay all the bills at least the minimum payments, after you have payed for essentials, then call your creditors. Negotiate a new payment or date or a grace period. If you find that they will not work with you, contact a local non profit consumer credit counseling agency to advocate on your behalf. Understand that you are now on a cash only basis. You may continue to have checking and savings accounts, but you will no longer use credit for any purchase other than something major like medical fees where lifee or death are involved or if you must purchase a home. Otherwise, cash only! Don't buy new cars either. . .

12. Work with the counselor from consumer credit to negotiate your bills. Take everything with you so they can see the total picture. Enroll and complete any courses they offer on debt management.

13. Unless you just have NO resources, pay your bills on time. Establish a good history with your creditors. You may need them to work with you and a good relationship will help this. Be polite and friendly when you deal with them. Relationship matters!

14. Practice frugal living. Beginning with the frame of mine to change thinking, change behaviors that led to this issue in the first place.

15. Begin thinking of all the things to be thankful for, and remember that thankfulness makes what we have, enough!

16. Make signs and post them around, put it on your computer monitor, fridge, mirrors to be thankful~begin prayers of thankfulness to God. THINK of all the wonderful blessings in your life.

17. Act out being thankful. Tell someone, call someone, show someone! Give out of love and thankfulness!! Volunteer your time to help others. Do something to give back out of all God has done in your life! This is transforming to our hearts and minds!

18. Inventory groceries in your pantry. Make a list by category. List it all. Then menu plan. Purchase only what you need to USE UP what is already present. Do this at least twice a year to keep good rotation of foods. This prevents spoilage and unnecessary waste.

19. Plan menus based on health, and what is available in the pantry adding what is on sale and in season. Sales are generally based on season and shelf life. I like to scope out my grocery store to see when they place the "rack" items that are marked down in abundance. Figure out which store has which items consistently for less. KNOW your prices and shop accordingly.

20. Find day old bread outlets, dent can stores and other deep discounted stores for food and household items. Many communities have them, but you have to look~they aren't always in the posh areas either as the store's overhead has to kept minimally. KEEP looking til you find one.

21. Buy in bulk if it will be used or can be restored. Huge cans of ketchup are worthless to buy if you throw 1/3 away. Figure out your usage and buy accordingly.

22. Store food properly to enhance shelf life. Lettuces, and other leafy greens are best stored in containers that breathe, but keep out moisture. I wrap my lettuce in paper towel and then bag it. It stores a whole lot longer! Keep canned goods in a cool dry area. BE sure and wash can lids before opening to prevent germ contamination. Being sick isn't thrifty! Potatoes, onions, gords and other foods, like apples and bananas~keep dry and cool. Hang bananas! Store food in the appropriate areas according to temperature in the fridge. Frozen eggs are unusable!

23. Organize the pantry and freezer. KNOW what is there and what needs to go first!

24. Date foods in the freezer if you have a deep freeze so they won't get old. Use a permanent marker to mark name and date of each item. Keep freezer at temps that keeps things solidly frozen.

25. Dry goods must be in air tight/bug proof containers. NO ONE wants wevils in their flour!

26. Rotate and use up condiments too. Old salad dressing and others are ick!

27. Use clips to seal bags and other foods. I use wooden clothespins with the spring hinge. They work well!

28. Pay attention to the sale papers and know that the cheaper items are on the front and back of the ads! The other is filler usually! Always read, but be sure you KNOW the prices so you can compare!

29. Use 1/2 or less of what you might normally use of things like paper towels, dishwasher powder, dish soap, cleaning solutions, and more! Use newspaper and vinegar or alcohol to clean windows. Soap and water works well as a cleaner with a splash (about 2 tbs) of bleach. This is one fluid ounce. NOT a whole lot for a ton of cleaning!

30. Soak dishes or wash right after a meal or rinse and load the dishwasher. Hardened foods are harder to clean. Who WANTS the dirty fork at dinner? NOT!

31. Keep the dishwasher clean on the inside. If it does not have a filter, you clean out the trap at the bottom so when it rinses, the water remains clean and your dishes are not covered with food particles that float around as the water washes over the dishes. If anyone in the household is sick, use the hot dry. If all are well, use the air method of opening the door to air dry them without the expense of the heated dry cycle or use a dish towel and dry them by hand.

32. Put dishes away and keep all areas clean and neat. If there is not clutter or items whether it's your treasured kitchen aide mixer however beautiful, it will make it harder to wipe those surfaces! Less is more! Wipe out the pantry area of dish storage too. Wipe cabinet doors with vinegar removing fingerprints and kitchen grime. Vinegar is a wonderful antiseptic and all natural. You may want gloves as it's very acidic.

33. Washing windows with vinegar or alcohol can be done very well with newspaper. If you don't subscribe, save those newspapers or sale newspapers that are often dropped at the door. Save up if you know you are doing windows in the near future~this way you have no need to purchase paper towels for other than a clean use such as a picnic or such other food uses.

34. Use grocery plastic sacks as much as possible for dirty trash and small can liners. WHAT did we ever do without these? You can even make use of them like carrying a wet bathing suit from the pool in them or packing a lunch for a throwaway sack! Use them and reuse them and get rid of them!

35. Use off brand dishwasher and dish washing soaps. They work equally as well, if you use a little care. I like to presoak or wash the dishes without rinsing by filling about 1/2 of the sink with hot water and put the dish soap on my rag. Then I wash and put into the dishwasher without rinsing. I then use about 1/3 of the recommended amount of dishwasher powder in the machine because technically I have cleaned them and all they really need is rinsing. My good clean dishwasher does the trick!

36. Use vinegar for cleaning the floors. For about eighty cents a quart, you have wonderful cleansing power. A good healthy splash into the mop bucket~AND I don't care if it smells like pickes! ;-)) off I go mopping and rinsing the mop frequently. I don't purchase an expensive mop, but a dollar store small headed mop for "back ease" and rinse and mop~rinse and mop! My motto: you can't clean with dirty. I have no guilt when I change the mop water frequently. I use old tees and socks cut into rags for cleaning baseboards and room floor edges and thresholds. Vinegar works very well and is easy on the chemical allergies and will not lower immunity like strong chemicals can. Health is important too!

37. Keep the microwave turned off in between uses. No flashing lights or dinging going on to eat up the power at however a slow rate!

39. Keep the light bulbs clean and dusted as this will dim the light and reduce efficiency! Use as much natural sunlight as possible in rooms. Open windows instead of turning on lights. If it's very hot like FL~use sun blocking shades to keep the rooms cool. If cold, insulated curtains. Storm windows are wonderfully effecient. Be sure they operate properly!

40. Turn it off when you aren't using it. This goes for everything from lights to computers, to everything that can just sit and run without YOU. Now the fridge/freezer, clocks and such must stay on, but look for places to shut down that power.

41. Purchase florescent light bulbs as much as possible. Get good quality lights that are rated for the power coming into the home. Blown lights can be a problem with wiring and electrical services.

42. Store bread closed tightly in a closed in place to reduce spoilage and animal "help." Our cat likes bread!

43. Meal plan so you are cooking once a day in the cool of the day in summer or cold of the day in winter. The help will be in the reduction of the utility bills!

44. Drink water as much as possible. This is healthy and economical. Keep cold and put a drop or two of lemon if you dislike the taste. Remember though, taste is acquired!

45. Keep the coils or back of the fridge clean. Under pan or bottom of the fridge on the floor need cleaning too. Odors can accumulate there. Also the effectiveness can be altered with the dirt!

46. Whole foods such as dry beans, rice, pasta, fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, grits, couscous, corn meal, flour, eggs, milk, butter, veggie oils or olive oils, fresh meats and more may require more prep time, but they cost less and are healthier. Notice I did not mention commercially produced foods such as canned soups, stews, meats or other preseasoned, preserved types of foods. CHECK IT OUT~you can save buying, preparing and eating this way~and again: health is sooo worth it not only financially but personally!

47. Start a recipe file for completely home cooked~great tasting dishes for your family. I am so taken back with the promises of the $__ (you name the "nominal price" meals ads! to sell me the book or ebook!) There are thousands of recipes online for FREE all over the web~why pay someone to give you what others will share? But yes, collect up recipes for your family that they will enjoy and are cost saving health boosters! AND do it for as little as possible. USE it all up! Don't waste anything.

48. Speaking of waste: When you use it up, you find a way~new or tried and true to eat it all or use it all so that NOTHING is left behind. Examples include: rinsing bottles and cans of items to add into homemade soups and stews. Storing left overs in what I call my "soup bowl" in the freezer with a nice tight lid where I put all small quantity left overs of veggie variety or noodle/pasta/rice for a soup base after I accumulate enough for the family. Save and freeze small piece of meats to add into a meat loaf for a tasty addition~TRUST me, it's good! Some may feed their dog the left overs, but I don't recommend this for two reasons. One is that your family can eat the food and second is that human food is not nutricious for your dog creating what could be costly vet bills for conscientious pet owners. I do not advocate neglecting pets or other responsibilities to save a buck today that will bite in the end! We've never fed our dog "scraps," but we use them up ourselves. Good for man and beast alike!

49. Speaking of pets. I love animals and children. LOVE them both! But I could allow my love to carry me away so far that I could become the "crazy cat lady" with so many furry friends that I could not afford resposible pet ownership. I define this as being able to pay vet bills, purchase pet foods and pet care and items as well as spay and neuter. I can't tell you the times I have seen folks who can't afford to feed animals take on more because there was a need~but what about vet time? Often these animals suffer without care due to lack of resources. I do NOT take in animals I can't care for properly. I know this sounds hard, but what is worse, if I take them and neglect or leave them to the possibility someone else may step up to the plate to help? I view adoption of children in much the same way. I would LOVE to have more children, but even this area of life has to have resources. I remember the Bible verses, "a righteous man regards the life of his beast" and "lo children are a heritage of the Lord. . .blessed. . ." I will be a good steward or caretaker of who and what God has given me to the best of my ability. ATTAKCING debt and living within our means is a great part of this for our family!

50. If you are able to enlarge your "tent" to accomodate more children or pets, you can approach these in ways that you may feel are Scriptural. I won't delve into the fertility rights and responsibilities here or even offer an opinion. I will say that whatever you chose in life has consequences that must be accounted in the positive and in toughness too. Just be sure God is at the helm of any of your decisions, and His blessings will flow. I believe in a divine God who does do so much for His children that often as undeserving, we benefit from His good pleasure! This is 'interest" unlike any out of the bank. God's interest! In just human earthly terms, it's wise to consider all the effects of our decisions.

Whew! I have chased some debt out of the house and looked at details for operating a budget boosting kitchen! Oh! It's all work, even just keeping up with the STUFF we all accumulate, but with forethought and planning, the debt will decrease and the savings will be on the rise. Next I will look at other budget boosting ideas for the rest of the home and living. This is ONE area I am studying and will share with you~for free!

Follow me in this adventure and sign up with me to earn swagbucks too! There are many many items you can redeem with swagbucks! Be sure to open a seperate email just for them and as your do normal internet searching, you win these!

BEATING the heck out of debt today!
SisterTipster<3

It's ALL About Living and Loving on LESS!

I promised to share my story of why I am SisterTipster and how I see the world where homeschooling and finances are concerned.

First I am a daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, fellow homeschooler and thrifty-wise being who long before blogging became popular thought up the idea that as hard and as joyful as life can be sometimes, that somebody ought to offer tips on what is helpful, useful and good to make the journey a little easier. Well, when I was selected to join up with the TOS Crew for 08-09 Maiden Voyage, I needed a name~and SisterTipster was born. She was born out of a desire to help others along the way and continues in this mission offering what I find all around me to help with all areas of life. Sometimes I will discuss current trends from a distinctly Christian and Biblical worldview or offer up free or really good deals that I have found to be of use in our lives whether it's homeschooling or just being a family.

Living and loving on less is really my personal mission and sharing these secrets is my global mission. I want to share with you wonderful resources that you can use to make your life better. I have considered monetizing my blogs, but at this time, have decided that I prefer the ministry aspect of sharing with friends~blogger to blogger, friend to friend, homeschooler to homeschooler. You will see reviews where I've received products from vendors for my thoughts and insights and then you will see reviews on things that I have come across in my everyday life too that I belive could be helpful.

I invite you to join me, you can sign up to follow me on this journey of Thriving With No Green$! In these economic times I hope it's fresh and appealing to know that SisterTipster cares about saving money~not just MINE~but yours too and will look to help in any way I can.

You will see old posts that offer some wonderful insights, go ck out the archives. They are relevant and timely too~I just wanted to find a new site to offer a different format for my blog~

Thanks for stopping by and VERY SOON I will announce a new contest~
Congratulations Tina for winning the $25 Gift Card of YOUR CHOICE !!!
blessings
SisterTipster<3