Ways to Save Money for Stay at Home Moms – And Everyone Else, Too!

Learn how to save money at home by making your own laundry soap, fire starters, and other neat ideas.

Here are some ways to save money at home by making your own products.

Save Money With Homemade Laundry Soap

Many household items have increased in price lately, and laundry soap is one of them. The detergent can be made at home very easily, and the final cost will be around 1 penny per load!

½ cup Borax
½ cup washing soda
1 bar soap
2 gallons water

The Borax and washing soda can be found at most grocery stores. Do not confuse washing soda with Arm and Hammer laundry detergent or baking soda. Shred the bar of soap into 8 cups of hot water, and melt, stirring occasionally. Add the Borax and the washing soda to 2 quarts of warm water in a five gallon bucket. When the borax and washing soda are dissolved, add the melted soap mixture. Add 1 gallon of water and stir thoroughly. Let it sit for 24 hours. The consistency will be that of chunky soup. Do not expect lots of suds when using this detergent; however, it works as well as commercial detergent, and ends up costing around 1 cent per load. Two batches fit into one five gallon bucket.

Save Money With Fire Starters

Many people are heating their homes with wood in order to save money on heating bills. To make starting those fires easier, make fire starters out of materials that would otherwise be thrown away.

dryer lint
paper egg cartons (not Styrofoam)
wax (paraffin) – found in ordinary grocery stores

Collect dryer lint and egg cartons over time. Stuff each section of the egg carton with lint. Melt the wax in a double boiler, using a large can or pot that will not be used for cooking. Pour the melted wax over the lint in the egg cartons. Store the new packages of fires starters near the fire place or wood stove, and start each fire with one section of the egg carton.

Save Money With All Purpose Cleansers

There are many recipes on the internet for homemade all purpose cleanser. It is easy, however, to make commercial cleanser inexpensive. Simple fill a spray bottle one fourth full of cleanser, and fill the rest with water. This dilutes the cleanser to make it last much longer, and is still effective enough for mostly cleansing jobs. Another option is using bleach rather than commercial cleanser. Use with caution, however, because whatever the bleach solution comes in contact with will develop bleach spots.

Save Money on Window Cleansers

The easiest and cheapest way to clean windows or mirrors is a 50/50 mixture of white, distilled vinegar and water. Obtain a cheap spray bottle at a local grocery store (consider checking the gardening center or house plant department) and fill with the mixture.

Save Money on Christmas Candy

It seems strange to begin a segment on Christmas candy with Halloween, but therein lays the secret. On Halloween night, when Trick or Treating is over, allow the children to eat all they want. After they have gone to bed for the night, collect the remaining candy and hide it in the freezer. Come Christmas time, ask Santa Claus to put it in the Christmas stockings on Christmas Eve! Get two holidays out of one bulk candy purchase!

Save Money on Soda Pop

Many fast food restaurants are starting to have “Happy Hours,” when they offer fountain drinks at half off. Plan errand-running trips around these “Happy Hours.” When the drink is consumed, do not throw away the cups. Even more gas stations are offering refills on fountain sodas if the cup is brought in. Often the costs are less than $1; some establishments offer refills for 50 cents.

The secret to most money-saving ideas is creativity. Think about what is being spent, and find a unique way to provide the same thing in a cheaper way. Just think outside the box . . . and never, ever pay for a box!

How do you save money in creative ways?

About Robin Egerton

Robin Egerton has written 39 posts in this blog.

She started her homeschooling blog in January of 2010, walking "Newbies" through the beginning process of the homeschool journey. She herself has been homeschooling her own five children for over fifteen years. Robin has raised 2 of her children from infancy, and was a licensed day-care home provider. During this period of time she was instrumental in bringing CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) to her area, using her clerical skills in the position of Acting Executive Director. Not only does she have parenting experience with young children, she is currently a stay-at-home mom for 4 teens! Besides general parenting, Robin has extensive experience in fostering and adopting. After several years as a foster parent, Robin and her husband adopted three children. A few years later, they went to Russia to bring home two more. Upon moving to the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas, Robin and her family began a homesteading project. She learned to raise chickens, sheep and dogs. After growing extensive gardens and planting an orchard, the produce is canned and added to the food storage pantry to this day. When life with teens became extraordinarily hectic, Robin began putting her canning energy into preparing her own convenience foods. In addition to all of her other activites as a homemaker and mother, she is active in her church, working with Boy Scouts and teaching the Scriptures to teenagers. In her spare time, Robin is a full-time college student, working on a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts. Robin's hobbies are knitting, crocheting, genealogy and she will soon be joining the world of amateur photography. She will be sharing a variety of knowledge and experience with Suite101 readers. Read more at Suite101: Robin Egerton http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/sadie_cope#ixzz0rjIVxQLE Other websites: Homesteading/canning/food: www.robinegerton.weebly.com Knitting: www.knittersnest.weebly.com

• View all posts by Robin Egerton →
• Blog
• Twitter
• Facebook