Cutting Eveyday Expenses - Make Your Own Laundry Soap

On occasion in the past I had heard about individuals who made their own laundry soap, but I had no information on how to do it until I watched a show on "The Duggars" on the Discovery channel. After watching the show and learning how they are raising a family of 18 through the pay-as-you-go method (no credit, no loans, etc.), I checked into their website and tried their recipe.

I have been using their recipe now for over three months and it has saved me a tremendous amount of money. Full credit for the following recipe goes completely to The Duggars (here is a link to their website: http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html) :

* 1 bar of Fels Naptha Soap (shredded)
* 1 cup of Washing Soda
* 1/2 cup of Borax

Mix and use 1 to 2 tablespoons of this laundry soap per load. I have a front loading washer which is newer, so I normally use only 1 tablespoon (2 when the clothes are extra soiled).

I made a triple batch of laundry soap and the total cost was only around $5. I got approximately 120 loads out of this batch. This was an incredible savings for me as I have been a die hard Tide user for years.

A few tips if you want to purchase the ingredients and try it yourself:

#1 - call around to make certain the store carries the ingredients
#2 - there is such a thing as washing soda (it is in the laundry aisle if the store has it) don't let anyone tell you it doesn't exist - it just is not as common as it was in years past - the box I purchased was Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not Baking Soda)
#3 - make sure your container is clean and dry before you put the ingredients in it and that it has a lid
#4- don't reuse old containers from other items as you don't want to mix chemicals (this can be fatal in some cases - I don't want to scare you, just to caution you not to mix chemicals accidentally)

Thanks again to The Duggars! You are my frugal heroes!

Until another frugal moment hits....

The Frugal Queen

Cheap books, videos and more!

Are you a card carrying member of your local public library? If so, good for you! Our local library has various programs which we can attend and they also feature a "Friends of the Library Bookstore". It is a great deal!

I purchased this week 20 books for only $3.29. How did I do it? I visited the Friends of the Library Bookstore where adult fiction paperbacks are only 25 cents and where they had teen fiction on sale this month - 10 for $1.00. (They also have books on tape, videos, DVDs, magazines, etc. very cheap!)

If you love to read, ask at the library next time you are there to see if they also sell their older books. If so, then you may be able to take advantage of some great savings!

Until another frugal moment hits....

The Frugal Queen

Prescription Pricing

Even if you have health insurance, don't discount the $4 prescription programs offered by many stores these days. A lot of the stores also offer a 90-day supply for $10 on prescriptions.

I found that we were being charged $25 for a 90 day supply on many of our prescriptions through the health insurance's mail order program. I have been able to save hundreds of dollars a year by switching our prescriptions over to the local store.

Added bonuses:

* pick them up on my schedule, don't have to wait for them to come in the mail

* help to support the local economy (keeping my friends and neighbors employed is very important!)

So don't wait! Check out your local grocery store's $4 prescription list or the 90-day supply for $10 program!

Until another frugal moment hits -

The Frugal Queen

Angel Food Ministries

Today I picked up our first box of "Angel Food". I found out about this through a flier at my local post office. The program has definitely made a believer out of me. I was able to purchase a box of food for $30. Here is what I received:

• 1.5 lb. Ribeye Steak (4 x 6 oz.)
• 4 lb. Leg Quarters
• 1.5 lb. Beef Patties (4 x 6 oz.)
• 18 oz. Cheese Filled Manicotti
• 2 lb. Pork Rib Strips
• 1 lb. Chicken Breast Fajita Strips
• 1 lb. Ground Turkey
• 1 lb. Broccoli
• 1 lb. Peas
• 6 ct. Oatmeal Variety Box
• 2 each-Regular, Maple Brown Sugar and Apple Cinnamon
• 32 oz. 2% Shelf Stable Milk
• 8 oz. Blueberry Muffin Mix
• 12 ct. White Corn Tortillas
• 1 lb. Pinto Beans
• 7 oz. Chicken Flavored Rice & Vermicelli
• One Dozen Eggs
• Dessert Item

I definitely feel that I received a value for my $30. We had Chicken Fajitas for dinner tonight, using some of the ingredients above, and it was great!



So how did they do it? They provided this through a "cooperative" food purchasing program. This means that the more of a item is purchased, the greater the discount; therefore, by the Angel Food Ministries purchasing in bulk and then distributing the food through a local church - they are helping me to save money.



What a great idea and what a great service! If you are interested in purchasing "Angel Food", check out their website to search for a local "Angel Food" distributor in your area. Here is the link:



http://www.angelfoodministries.com/



I was so excited about the program when I picked up my food today, that I have ordered already for next month. Here is what I am getting next month:



Regular Box:

• 1.5 lb. Sirloin Strip Steaks(4 x 6 oz.)
• 2 lb. Tray Pack Chicken Breast
• 1 lb. Boneless Pork Chops
• 2 lb. Breaded Chicken Nuggets
• 28 oz. Salisbury Steak Entrée
• 12 oz. Sliced Bacon
• 1 lb. All-Meat Hot Dog
• 1 lb. Stir Fry (Broccoli, Red Peppers & Onions)
• 1 lb. Carrots
• 10 oz. Peanut Butter
• 32 oz. 2% Shelf Stable Milk
• 35 oz. Crinkle-Cut Fries
• 7.25 oz. Mac ‘n Cheese
• 1 lb. Rice
• 1 lb. Bean Soup Mix
• Dozen Eggs
• Dessert

Price: $30.00

Special #5 - Fresh Fruit & Veggie Box:

• 3 lb. No. 1 Premium Idaho Baking Potatoes
• 3 lb. No. 1 Premium North Carolina Sweet Potatoes
• 2 lb. No. 1 Premium New Crop Western Grown Yellow Onions
• 9 oz. California Premium Raisins
• 1 lb. Premium California Grown Carrots
• 1 head Premium Fresh Green Cabbage
• 3 lb. New Crop Tree-Ripened Red Delicious Apples
• 2 each Premium Washington State Anjou Pears
• 1 each Premium Golden Sweet Pineapple
• 3 lb. New Crop Premium Florida Tree-Ripened Valencia Oranges

Price: $21.00

Special #6 - Tangerine Box:

• 2/5 Bushel New Crop Florida Tree-Ripened Honey Tangerines (approximately 20-21 pounds or 70-75 tangerines)

Price: $15.00

So for the month of February, I will have invested $66.00 for all of the items listed above. What a great deal & service!

Check this service out and let me know what you think.

Until another frugal moment hits...

The Frugal Queen

The Best Value for Your Money when Grocery Shopping

When shopping at the grocery store, don't just look at the big price on the shelf sticker - also check out the "unit" price or the "per ounce" price. I have found that this is really the best way to purchase the cost effective amount.

Let's take ketchup for example. (It is in it's own food group for my son, who puts it on everything!)

The cheapest big price on the store shelf is most probably the smallest size - say a 12 ounce bottle for $1.19. When you look at the per ounce price on this, it comes out to about 10 cents per ounce. But say there is a 36 ounce bottle on the shelf next to it - for $1.99. The bottle is bigger and costs 80 cents more, but the per ounce price for the larger size is now down to 6 cents per ounce.

That is savings! If you have the space and will be able to use it all before the expiration date, the larger sizes are almost always the best value. Also, check out the store brand versus the name brand. Using the same theory above, check out the name brand per ounce price versus the store brand per ounce price. You will see a tremendous amount of savings!

I have been teaching my kids this lesson as we go to the grocery store each week. I always have them look at the per ounce price on items instead of the "big" sticker price.

Want to learn more about being a savvy super market shopper? Check out this newsletter from the University of Kentucky school of Agriculture: click here. (It is a PDF document.)

Until another frugal moment hits!

The Frugal Queen

Free Online Training!

I know this will not be for everyone, but for those of you who are not afraid of trying new things...check out the State of Ohio Library's website for the Learning Express Library! The Learning Express Library is a website which allows you to take online courses in different subjects at no cost...and no this is not a gimick. It is a great resource offered by the State of Ohio's Library!

To check it out follow this link to the State Library's website:

http://winslo.state.oh.us/

Then scroll down the page and follow the link for Learning Express Library. (Or click this link:
http://www.learnatest.com/LearningExpressLibrary/Home.cfm?CFID=x&CFTOKEN=x&Refresh=1&sip=473908416&HR=http://www.library.ohio.gov/)

Either way, you will be taken to the Learning Express Library website. You can then register for a user account and follow the available links to courses on various Microsoft Softwares, including the new Office 2007 version!

You can also take practice tests for the SAT, GMAT, and many other areas like civil service exams and EMT/Paramedic certificaitons!

It is a fabulous resource made available through the State of Ohio Library - for all Ohio residents and everyone beyond our state. So either commit today to brush up on skills you have wanted to learn more about or pass the word along to someone who can use the Learning Express Library!

Until another frugal moment hits....

The Frugal Queen

Flower Exchange - Diversify your Flower Beds!

I received a great idea from a friend just north of where I live. She participates every Spring in a flower exchange. How it works is a group of neighbors or friends gets together each Spring and brings with them starts of flowers from their flower beds. For each start you bring with you, you are able to place a ticket with your name on it in the hat. Then one person takes turns pulling names out of the hat. As your name is pulled, you get to choose from among the flower starts. This goes on until everyone's tickets have been pulled.

At the end of the day, everyone goes home with a new variety of flower starts for their garden with no money spent!

Kudos to the ladies of Fallsburg for this great frugal idea!

Until another frugal moment hits -

The Frugal Queen