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Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap -- So Easy and Thrifty!
Ever since I started making my own laundry detergent, I've been experimenting with other DIY cleaning and soap recipes.
The foaming hand soap recipe I'm sharing with you today is so simple, and it saves tons of money. I encourage you to give it a try. I know I won't go back to buying foaming hand soap again.
You'll need:
- an empty foaming hand soap container
- regular (not foaming) hand soap of your choice
- water
That's it!
When you've used up the soap in a foaming hand soap container, fill the bottle about 1/8 full with your favorite "regular" hand soap. Then fill the bottle the rest of the way with water (leaving enough room for the pump to go on).
Finally, just shake the bottle to mix the soap and water together, and that's it. You have your foaming hand soap!
You can add the water first, then the soap, if you find the soap is sudsing when you add the water. Or, you can just add the water more slowly.
You can experiment with adding a little more or less soap to the mixture depending on the consistency of your foaming soap. It will depend on your preference and the hand soap you're starting with.
You can also use this recipe to make foaming body wash or dish soap. It's a great way to make your expensive liquid soaps last a long time too.
Moms especially love this because it keeps little ones from wasting soap.
Do you make your own foaming hand soap? Feel free to leave a comment below.
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You may also like this post Easy, DIY Laundry Detergent -- It's Simple to Make, So Inexpensive, & It Works!
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Free Compact Fluorescents From Your Power Company
We know that compact fluorescent bulbs save money over time, but they can be expensive initially.
My electric company, Duke Energy, offers free compact fluorescent bulbs to its customers. You just have to request them here. I was very surprised when I received mine to see how many they sent!
Your energy company may have something similar, so check online or make a phone call to find out.
You could save a lot of money both up front on the light bulbs and in energy savings down the road.
If you have specific links to these programs for your area, feel free to leave a comment.
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Black Friday and Holiday Shopping Tips
Are you heading out bright and early on the morning of Black Friday (or waiting in line before the sun comes up)? Actually, with some stores starting their sales on Thanksgiving, may-be you'll be shopping right after you've had your pumpkin pie.
Either way, check out these tips for a successful and safe shopping trip. And if you have any other tips that have worked for you, feel free to leave them in the comments.
Do your homework
Go through the Thanksgiving Day ads, compare prices, and make your list. Don't forget to check prices online. If you're comfortable shopping on the internet, you'll want to see how the Black Friday prices compare to the deals offered online.
Don't limit yourself only to the big-box and department stores. You'll often find great deals at smaller stores, like craft stores, office supply stores, and clothing stores. The lines will be shorter too.
Plan, prioritize, and make a list
Decide which items to include on your shopping list, prioritize your list according to what time the stores open and which items are most important to you to try to get.Don't shop alone. You may be waiting in line for hours for those early morning sales. That's never fun, but it's even worse when you're by yourself. Bring one or more family members or friends, and you can keep each other company while you wait for the stores to open.
Practically speaking, more shoppers in your group means you can split up your shopping list to have a better chance of getting everything you're shopping for.
Bring snacks and coffee Some sales start at midnight the night before Black Friday. If you're shopping that early, you probably will be up all night. Other stores are opening at 4 or 5 a.m., so pack a few snacks and grab some coffee and may-be a water bottle. Black Friday shopping is exhausting enough without being hungry and thirsty too.
Dress to stand in line and for the weather Wear comfortable shoes. If you live in a cold climate, wear several layers instead of a big, bulky coat you'll have to carry around the stores.
Be safe
Every year you hear about people getting trampled or fighting over merchandise, so be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.Keep your purchases in the trunk of your car, not the inside of your car where they can be seen by potential thieves.
Reward yourself
When you've finished your shopping, unwind with a brunch or lunch. Then go home and take a nice afternoon nap!Don’t stress
If you didn’t get everything on your list, don’t stress out! Stores are offering deals just as good (or almost as good) right up until Christmas day. And don’t forget to check online for the items on your list, especially on Cyber Monday and “Free Shipping Day” in December.A few extra tips...
Don't forget to ask for gift receipts.Take your store ads along. If a store is out of an advertised item, another store may match their price, but you will have to show the ad.
Make sure everyone in your group has their cell phones charged, so you can keep in touch about when and where to meet if you split up. Keep your phone in your pocket on vibrate, since you may not hear it ring in the loud environment of the store.
Don't overspend. Stick to your list.
Leave the kids at home. Children will be miserable if you take them shopping during the chaos of Black Friday (and so will you).
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For holiday deals and coupons, check out my main deals page at MomsWhoSave.com
You can also find me on Facebook and join me on Twitter, along with more than 110,000 other bargain hunters for daily deal updates!
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Easy, Inexpensive DIY Frosted Glass Windows
My windows had plain white pull-down shades that were getting tattered. I bought some frosted glass spray paint for under $5 and painted the outside of the windows.
I cleaned the windows first and thoroughly dried them. I didn't tape anything off or cover anything since the window frames on the outside are white, and any overspray didn't show. I used the entire can of paint, because at the point I felt I had pretty good coverage, there was just a little paint left.
In case you're wondering, I did this a couple of years ago, and it has held up extremely well. There is no porch or any kind of covering over this door, and this area's exposed to all kinds of weather. I haven't touched it up at all, but it would be easy to do if needed.When I first painted the sidelights, I checked that night to see if you would be able to see through the windows when the lights are on inside. You can't really make out anything except the fact that there is a light on. I probably would not use this alone on a bathroom window with no other window covering, however.
A few tips if you decide to paint your windows: I recommend standing back from your work often to see if there are places where more coverage is needed. Also, if you haven't spray-painted before, read the instructions on the can. You need to keep the can a proper distance from what you're painting and keep it moving to avoid drips and running paint.
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Browse or search thousands of deals at MomsWhoSave.com
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A Simple Tip to Save Money Every Time You Make Coffee
Here's an easy way to save money every time you make a pot of coffee--buy a reusable coffee filter.
Reusable
filters are used just like regular coffee filters, are rinsed off
between uses, and at least with mine, are dishwasher safe (top rack) if
you'd like to wash them.
If you use a Keurig or single-serve coffee maker, you can also get refillable cups to fill with your own coffee, and you'll really see big savings!
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For great bargains every day, including freebies and printable grocery coupons, check out my main deals page at MomsWhoSave.com
You can also find me on Facebook and on join me on Twitter, along with over 120,000 other bargain hunters for daily deal updates!
Disclosure: MomsWhoSave posts may contain affiliate links that help to support this site. See full disclosure policy here.
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MomsWhoSave's Favorite Dollar Store Finds
Almost everyone has a dollar store in their neighborhood, and if you've shopped in one, you've probably noticed that the quality of the products they stock can vary. If you know what to look for though, you can get good quality items (and often the same brands you normally buy) at a tremendous savings!
Here are some my favorite things to buy at the dollar store:
Cleaning supplies, like window cleaner, sponges, scrub brushes, mops, brooms, "Swiffer" cloths,etc.
Drugstore items - I often find name brand deodorant, kids' shampoos, toothpaste, and more. It's very hit and miss as to what you'll find, but always worth a look.
Party supplies like gift bags, wrapping paper, tissue paper, paper plates and utensils, and related supplies.
Greeting cards, note cards, thank-you notes, etc.
Kids' party supplies, favors, and decorations
Umbrellas -- I don't know if the umbrellas sold at the dollar stores are very high-quality, but I seem to break or lose them no matter how much they cost.
Office and school supplies, like paper clips, sticky notes, legal pads, tape, rulers, and more.
Seasonal items like Christmas wrapping paper, ribbons and bows, stockings, Easter baskets, Halloween decorations, etc.
Is your list different? Leave a comment below, and let me know what you like to buy at the dollar store.
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Find deals and coupon on my main deals page at MomsWhoSave.com.
You can also find me on Facebook and on join me on Twitter, along with 105,000 other bargain hunters for daily deal updates!
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Easy, DIY Laundry Detergent -- It's Simple to Make, So Inexpensive, & It Works!
I recently took the plunge and tried a frugal experiment I'd been thinking about for awhile. Some of you may want to try this one yourself.
I'm talking about making my own laundry detergent! It was incredibly easy and very inexpensive. I'm wondering now what took me so long to try it.
I'm talking about making my own laundry detergent! It was incredibly easy and very inexpensive. I'm wondering now what took me so long to try it.
I used a simple three-ingredient recipe I found online for a powdered detergent. The liquid ones seemed like too much work, but this recipe is as easy as mixing together dry ingredients in any baking recipe. If you can mix flour and sugar, you can do this!All of my ingredients cost about the same as just one bottle of good quality liquid detergent, but should last for several months, may-be longer. The recipe I used only requires two tablespoons of detergent per large load, since it's so concentrated. By the way, all the ingredients were available at my local grocery store. (I'll give you the recipe below.)
So far, after many loads of laundry, this detergent's doing a great job for me. It smells like "soap" but the clothes come out of the washer with almost no scent.
If you'd like to add scent, you can use dryer sheets or liquid fabric softener. Many people with sensitive skin like this detergent because it is free of artificial dyes and fragrances. And, I should mention my family's clothes are coming out clean--may-be even a little brighter than before.
If you want to save money--and you can save quite a bit--don't be afraid to trying making your own laundry detergent. It is so easy!
Here's the recipe I'm using--
If you want to save money--and you can save quite a bit--don't be afraid to trying making your own laundry detergent. It is so easy!
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Here's the recipe I'm using--
Mix together:
Use 2 tablespoons for a large load (adjust for smaller or less soiled loads of clothes)
I found all these products at the end of the laundry area up on the top shelf in the grocery store. They are also available in Walmart. My parents are giving this a try too, and they found these products at Ace Hardware.
Update: I have been using this detergent for over three years, which tells you I'm very pleased with it. I use dryer sheets in the winter to cut down on static cling and to add fragrance. By the way, I cut them in half, and they work just as well.
I hope you'll consider giving this recipe a try. It's so easy to make a part of your routine, and you'll feel great when you get to walk past those expensive laundry detergents.
For deals and coupons, check out my homepage at MomsWhoSave.com.
You can also find me on Facebook and join me on Twitter, along with more than 119,000 other bargain hunters for daily deal updates!
Don't miss a freebie, deal, or giveaway! Subscribe to MomsWhoSave's blog posts below! Then be sure to confirm your subscription when you get the confirmation email.
- 1 cup Arm & Hammer (or other brand) Washing Soda --not baking soda
- 1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax (note the look of the box has changed since I took this photo)
- 2 cups (or approximately 1 bar) very finely grated Fels Naptha laundry bar -- some people use Zote brand soap
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I found all these products at the end of the laundry area up on the top shelf in the grocery store. They are also available in Walmart. My parents are giving this a try too, and they found these products at Ace Hardware.
Update: I have been using this detergent for over three years, which tells you I'm very pleased with it. I use dryer sheets in the winter to cut down on static cling and to add fragrance. By the way, I cut them in half, and they work just as well.
I hope you'll consider giving this recipe a try. It's so easy to make a part of your routine, and you'll feel great when you get to walk past those expensive laundry detergents.
_______________________________________________________
You can also find me on Facebook and join me on Twitter, along with more than 119,000 other bargain hunters for daily deal updates!
Don't miss a freebie, deal, or giveaway! Subscribe to MomsWhoSave's blog posts below! Then be sure to confirm your subscription when you get the confirmation email.
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