by Rachel Paxton

1) Make a paste of baking soda and water and rub on insect bites to relieve itching.

2) Remove coffee and tea stains by scrubbing pots or cups with baking soda and a plastic scouring pad.

3) Add 1/3 cup baking soda to a wash cycle as a bleach booster or to the rinse cycle for cleaner smelling laundry.

4) To remove black scuff marks from floor, rub them with a paste of baking soda and water.

5) Clean fiberglass showers and tubs with baking soda sprinkled on a sponge. Sponge clean and wipe dry.

6) Soak sour smelling dishcloths and sponges in water and baking soda solution.

7) Use a solution of water and baking soda to clean and deodorize the inside of your microwave.

Put a few spoonfuls in a cup of water in the microwave, boil for two minutes, then wipe down the inside with a sponge.

9) Sprinkle a little baking soda into the laundry hamper to minimize odors.

10) Remove crayon marks from walls by scrubbing gently with an old toothbrush and a paste of baking soda and water.

Originally published at Suite 101. Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of What’s for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

by Lara Velez

I am by no means a neat person. This humorous list is from my own vast personal experience with the messes. You may have your own. However, if you are organizationally challenged, you WILL relate to this humorous top ten type list! I am an official wannabe neat freak. Unfortunately, all you will get from me is humor, support, and insights into the mind of an organizationally challenged work at home, homeschooling, overworked, and underpaid Mom of two.

OK…so when these things are goin’ on in el’ fridgeO…well, it may be time to…ya know…

* You have some old fruit that could be donated to science for a new type of penicillin.
* Your magnets have gone on strike.
* Your Baking Soda is fuzzy.
* There is something in there with a hairdo.
* Your milk is still in a glass container from the 50’s.
* There is a hardened mass at the bottom that may be used to cut diamonds.
* You would rather use the fast food ketchup packs than what’s in your ketchup bottle.
* You swear that something is living in the veggie bin.
* Your lunch meat has become jerky…and you didn’t plan it.
* You can smell the contents of your fridge from the living room.
* When there is a package in there that says cheddar, but you swear it’s limburger.
* And…when what you thought were brussel sprouts are actually icicles.

I hope this made you laugh and encourages you to clean your refrigerator! It can be quite a daunting task, however, once you get it clean, you will be happier! Plus, you will reduce the risk of getting any food born illnesses!

I would love for you to stop by ThouShaltClean.com and submit your own humorous tales. However, I must warn you, if you are naturally neat, you may not fit in to the chaos!

Copyright © Lara Velez, ThouShaltClean.com

Lara Velez is a Christian wife and homeschooling Mother of two. She is a published writer, successful web designer (http://designedbylara.com), and the owner of ThouShaltClean.com (http://thoushaltclean.com), a site for the organizationally challenged. She also enjoys cooking, writing, scrapbooking, and web design.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

by Marilyn Bohn

As I was walking this morning there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky. I started thinking how each color could represent some part of organization in our homes. (I can’t help it, as a professional organizer my mind works that way). The story I was told as a child about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow was fun and I always wanted to find that pot of gold. Now I am older I know real gold is found here in my own home with my family and friends.

But as a professional organizer as I organize for women I see how often clutter takes over lives; causing disharmony, contention, financial problems, stress and a myriad of other problems.

Here is a beautiful legend I found about the rainbow. It is based on a Native American Legend:

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel: all claimed that they were the best, the most important, the most useful, the favorite.

GREEN said: “Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. BLUE interrupted: “You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life.

YELLOW chuckled: “You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. Without me there would be no fun.” ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet: “I am the color of health and strength.

RED shouted: “I am the ruler of all of you - I am blood - life’s blood!

PURPLE spoke with great pomp: “I am the color of royalty and power.

Finally, INDIGO spoke, much more quietly but with just as much determination: “Think of me. I am the color of silence. You need me for balance and contrast.
And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Suddenly rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.

In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak: “You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? “From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace.

In our homes the things we chose to have around us can each have a special purpose, each unique and different. But when our possessions become clutter we no longer have peace and harmony. Just like the rainbow colors who worked together to bring peace we can have peace by reducing clutter in our homes.
Here are some tips on how to reduce clutter:

*Before buying something ask these questions: Do I have a place to put this? Do I have something like this at home? Will I miss this if I don’t buy it? What can I get rid of in my home if I buy this?

*In your clothes closet after you have worn something hang it with the hanger facing the opposite direction. This way you can see what clothes you really wear. Donate the clothes you aren’t wearing, those you avoid because you don’t like but are perfectly good.

*Make sure all the clothes in your closet are wearable. If there is a button missing or a seam that needs fixing, take it out of your closet and only return it after it is fixed. You will keep avoiding wearing it if it isn’t in wearable condition and it clutters your closet.

*In the kitchen donate the dishes you are keeping but never use. (I’m not talking about special occasion dishes). It’s those dishes “you might use someday”, but never do. The dishes you use weekly place in the most convenient area of your cupboards.

*Go through your pantry, check for expiration dates, and get rid of outdated food. If you have canned foods you have had for awhile plan a menu for that week to use it.

*Use containers to contain everything. This really helps to cut the clutter as it defines how much you can store. Label what is in the containers.

By reducing and eliminating clutter in our homes we will have finally found the pot of gold we searched for at the end of the rainbow when we were children.

Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors & their families to create space and end clutter in homes and offices by setting up custom made systems.
Visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com for free organizing tips.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

by Judy H. Wright

Running a household can be daunting, especially if you have children who are expected to help with the chores. It’s difficult getting them to do their work, and even more difficult to keep the house clean, uncluttered, and organized. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with it all, here are a few tips for keeping a clean, organized house.

- Promise each other that you won’t get sidetracked while cleaning. You won’t read the books that you find under your bed, or get distracted looking through old pictures you found in a box. Those can be set aside and saved for later, a reward for getting your work done.
- If you can’t be home when your kids arrive home from school, leave instructions for them on a tape recorder. For kids who are old enough to be home alone but are still young enough to get lonely, your voice will reassure them.
- Hire a professional house cleaner to handle really tough cleaning jobs. The family can watch and learn from their work as well.
- Have a brainstorm with your child about how to cut down on the quantity of items in his room, and how to arrange it so that everything has a place.
- Use comforters instead of bedspreads, so that bed-making will be that much quicker and easier.
- Instill the habit of one toy or game at a time. The first one must be put away before another can come out. This cuts down on the likelihood of game pieces being lost, and rooms being turned into disaster zones.
- Consider not using a toy box. Kids will dig through them and throw everything out of them, trying to find one particular toy at the bottom.
- Use the “one thing in, one thing out” rule. Whenever your child gets a new toy, tell him to pick an old one to get rid of. If it’s in good shape, give it to Goodwill.
- Teach basic cleaning skills and techniques. Remind kids that dust falls downward, so start dusting up high, and finish down low. Remind them to pick up boxes with their legs, to avoid straining backs.
- Keep it simple. Get rid of all the “stuff” you thought would make life better, but really just complicates it. For instance: the waffle iron or yogurt maker, the toys with missing parts and clothes that are never worn.

Hopefully, using these tips, you’ll find that your home life is at least a bit more organized, and a bit more fun.

To learn more about keeping a clean, organized and happy home while teaching your children to assume personal responsibility, visit http://www.KidsChoresAndMore.com, an eBook and other bonus items on teaching responsibility by Judy H. Wright aka Auntie Artichoke, family relationship coach and author.

You are also invited to attend free teleclasses each Thursday on various aspects of family relationships. Register at http://www.ArtichokePress.com You will be glad you did.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

By Wendy Stewart

I’ll bet you’re wondering what organization has to do with saving money.

Actually quite a bit!

Imagine that you’ve been looking all over your house for that book/DVD/sunglasses/whatever and you can’t find it. Or imagine that you’re at the store and can’t remember if you still have any bananas or jars of strawberry jam.

Simple things, right?

Well, when we can’t remember what we have and don’t know where to find what we have, we usually end up buying it again. And then, before you know it, you’re like my aunt with 17 umbrellas.

My mother always says that once you replace something you can’t find, you’ll find the original missing item. I’m sure many of you have heard that as well. But for as many times as we’ve heard this, we still do not take action and bring some organization into our lives to avoid spending money when did not need to spend in the first place.

So, what do we do about this? The answer to almost every organizing problem is to have a system. Why a system? Because we are creatures of habit and mostly prefer to do things the same way every time. Not only that but with a system you have less to remember. You just follow the system.

There are a couple of systems you can put in place to help you save money in various areas of your life. Here are 4 areas in which you will want to find a system that works for you to help save you tons of money in the end.

1. Grocery Shopping

How many times have you been at the grocery store, without your list, and wondered if you should be an item you’re not really sure if you have or need?

I’m willing to be it happens a lot. It happens more when you don’t have a list. It happens even more when you don’t know what you have in your kitchen.

Here’s what I suggest. Go through your cabinets and fridge before you attempt to make a shopping list. The list you’re about to make is what you can see that you’re missing or low on. Next, depending on how often you shop (I suggest no more than weekly) and plan your menus accordingly. So, plan menus weekly if you shop weekly, two weeks at a time if you shop bi-weekly, etc.

Once you know what you’re going to make, you can look at what you’re missing (from your first list), and make your shopping list accordingly.

When you get to the store, do not deviate from this list. Take appropriate coupons if you want to, but don’t go hungry and leave the kids at home.

2. Shoes

What woman doesn’t like to have a variety of shoes? Unlike men, we must have different shoes for different outfits, occasions, and seasons. However, this love of shoes can go overboard.

This has happened to me, I must admit. While shopping for something totally unrelated, I saw a great pair of gray houndstooth heels in Target. The only problem was the heel was a little too high and the size 11 was probably one size or so more than I needed.

I reasoned that my feet would swell and I wouldn’t be standing long anyway. Plus, the shoes weren’t expensive. Well, I stood for a long time on the day I wore them, it rained, and they were too big. They were worn once and are now on their way to charity. What a waste!

I should have taken stock of what I had and thought about what I was going to wear on that occasion. Had I done that, I would have saved my feet and my money.

So, take note: know what you have before you start adding to your collection.

3. Clothing

What goes for shoes also goes for clothing.

I used to get clothing as gifts from my parents and internally wondered where they thought a 14 year old was going to wear a white ruffled shirt in 1995. (I eventually found a use for that shirt in one of the plays I was in.)

The point is, even though they were trying to be nice about it, the clothing choices didn’t fit my existing lifestyle. We do that sometimes. Whether it’s a trend or something great we saw on someone else, we figure it’s just something we have to have. But, by thinking this way, we often ignore the fact that it’s not our style, it’s not flattering, or it’s out of our budget.

The organization here also revolves around knowing what you have. This will help you determine what you actually need and if there is room in your budget and your closet for the things you want.

4. Bills

The key to organization and paying bills is really simple. Pay your bills on time.

One more time: pay your bills on time.

This advice is most important when the bill is a credit card or loan. Late fees and over the limit fees (sometimes as a result of late fees) can seriously hinder your ability to eventually be debt free. (Who wants to stay in debt forever?)

There are a couple of ways you can do this. You can pay the bills as you receive them in the mail (if you still get paper bills) or as you receive notification by email for electronic bills. Or, to make this more automated and ensure the bills are paid on time, sign up for a 3rd party service, one at your bank, or one offered by your creditor where the payment is automatically debited from a designated checking account each month.

There are a number of ways to have as much or as little control over this process as possible, but the point is to set up a system and stick with it so that you don’t lose money to late fees and penalties.

5. Miscellaneous Items

This is the area where so many people get into trouble.

We find ourselves at the store and we see something we like. We think we have one at home, but we’re not sure. So, instead of waiting until we get home to verify (or call someone who is at home), we purchase the item anyway and end up with multiples. (Remember the 17 umbrellas?)

It’s good to wait to make some purchases anyway, but the more organized you become, the more aware you are of what you have. When you know what you have, then you also know what needs to be replaced or what you’re lacking.

Once you start organizing, you will find a surprising number of items you have bought and you can’t remember why or what it is even for. You will also find the things you thought were lost but were really just buried under foolishness and mayhem called clutter.

Do yourself and your family a favor and stop the foolishness. Get organized and save money. You’ll be glad you did.

How Organization Will Save You Money
Copyright 2008
Wendy Stewart
All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.

Wendy Stewart is your Go-to-girl for being in the know about small business, personal finance, personal style, and wellness. For more free tips on personal finance, visit her blog, Personal Finance Success, at http://personal-finance-manager.blogspot.com

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By D Ruplinger

I am one of those people who was under the false impression that I was doing a decent job of being environmentally conscious.

I recycle; donate usable items I no longer want rather than tossing them in the trash; have cut way back on my gasoline usage by planning my trips, walking, biking, or just staying home; cut back on my water usage; compost; grow my own vegetables; and have planted a couple of fruit trees this spring with the hope to have my own fruits to can within the next 5 years. And, even though I have air conditioning I use it as little as possible and instead open my windows to take advantage of Mother Natures air conditioning, the breeze.

I was feeling pretty smug and confident that I was doing my share.

Then I took an ecological footprint quiz at myfootprint.org and found that even with the efforts I have made, it would still take 7.46 planets to sustain life if everyone lives the way I do. It was a wake up call for me to do a lot more.

So I decided to focus on one area at a time with my electric usage being the first thing I am concentrating on because I know my household uses way too much.

My efforts are working. After one month, my electric bill has gone down by 40 percent even though I have had my air conditioning (which uses electricity) on part of the time.

Here is everything I did to slash my electrical usage. Check to see if there are things listed you are not doing. If not, then implement them to lower your electrical bill. It is good for your pocketbook and good for the environment.

LIGHTS OUT

I no longer leave the porch light on at night and I always turn off lights when I leave a room. I had thought I was pretty good at turning off lights but I really was not. It is easy to forget if a person is not diligent about it.

TURN OFF THE TELEVISION

I used to have the habit of leaving the television on even if I was not watching, for the noise. Now I am learning to enjoy the quiet. And, I am less likely to sit down and watch television now. I read more and spend more time outside.

UNPLUG THE CHARGERS

I did not realize that my cell phone and battery chargers were using electricity even when I was not charging my phones and recharging batteries. Now I unplug them when I am not using them.

NO MORE SLEEP MODE

I no longer put my home copier, laptop computer, printer or desktop computer and monitor on sleep or energy saving mode. When I am not using them I turn them off.

UNPLUG ALL AROUND THE HOUSE

Any plug that feels warm to the touch is drawing electricity even if the item is not being used, such as small appliances and space heaters. I now make liberal use of power strips for items I do not want to have to unplug all the time, like my blender, computer, and television since they still draw a small amount of electricity even when they are turned off. It is much easier to turn a power strip off and on than to walk around unplugging things and then plugging them back in later. Yeah, maybe it is laziness but I know that I will not crawl behind the television every day to unplug it or crawl under the computer desk to unplug the computer every day, but I will flip the switch on a conveniently placed power strip.

DITCH THE CLOTHES DRYER

Clothes will last longer if they are air dried, plus it is much easier to treat stains that regular washing may have missed on clothes that were air dried versus ones dried in a dryer. I am lucky enough to have an outdoor clothesline that I use in the summer, but I plan to air dry clothes inside during the winter too. My sister in law has been doing it for 20 years and she has 6 kids plus a full time job. As a bonus, the drying racks double as clothes hangers when there is not time to get the clothes folded and put away. That does not work with clothes left in the dryer. They quickly turn into a wrinkled mess if not folded or hung up.

UNPLUG THE EXTRA FRIDGE

We have always had a second refrigerator just to keep beverages cold, mostly beer. Now, instead of constantly keeping a whole case cold, which we only need once a year, we just keep a couple of cans cold in our regular fridge.

The things listed above are steps I have already taken, but I know I can do more and want to do more. I like having a small electric bill! Below is a list of more steps I plan to take.

CHANGE TO COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULBS

I currently only have a few compact fluorescent bulbs because of their large size, but manufacturers have been coming out with a bigger selection of sizes, so I no longer have any excuse to not swap out all my bulbs. But I am doing it slowly and only change them when the old bulbs burn out. I think it is wasteful to switch out perfectly good bulbs and to toss them in a landfill, no matter what kind of bulb it is.

BUY ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES

Do not toss perfectly good appliances though because that creates a landfill problem.

USE LOW FLOW SHOWER HEADS AND TOILETS

WASH CLOTHES IN COLD WATER

I already do this but I have a gas water heater and not an electric one so this does not save me any money on my electric bill but I have found my clothes come just as clean in cold water as in warm or hot. The only change I have made is to switch to a detergent formulated for cold water washing.

USE THE MICROWAVE INSTEAD OF THE OVEN OR STOVE

CLEAN AND REPLACE FILTERS REGULARLY

This includes filters humidifiers, vacuum cleaners, furnaces, air cleaners, dryers, and range exhaust hoods.

RUN THE CLOTHES WASHER AND DISHWASHER ONLY WHEN FULL

Dorrie Ruplinger is a featured writer for GoGreenForMotherEarth Visit the site for
more environmental news and tips.

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By Stephanie Herman

Most websites encouraging people to clean green at home focus on eco-friendly cleaners. These cleaners fall into two categories: homemade natural cleaners, and eco-friendly commercial cleaners. Websites encouraging eco-friendly and frugal cleaners will focus on the homemade natural cleaners that we already have in the pantry. But what all these websites forget is to encourage people to keep their cleaning tools clean - using green methods!

Why is this important?

Because if you keep your cleaning tools clean, you can use them longer. That translates into less waste; you throw away your cleaning tools more slowly, filling landfills at a slower rate. You’re also buying fewer cleaning tools over time, slowing your rate of consumption of natural resources.

Simple, right? But how can you keep your cleaning tools cleaner, longer, and do it in an eco-friendly and frugal way? It’s a no-brainer: use simple baking soda and vinegar.

Although it has literally thousands of cleaning uses, some people avoid using vinegar to clean the house because of the smell. But when you’re cleaning the cleaning tools, the smell of vinegar becomes much less important.

Take, for example, your toilet bowl brushes. Once weekly, try sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda into the container housing your toilet brush (with your brush in there). Then pour in enough vinegar to bubble up over the top of the brush. The smell of vinegar is probably going to be an odor improvement, in this case! Plus, there’s a great added benefit - there’s no need to rinse your toilet brush once you clean it. You can simply continue its use; the vinegar and baking soda will loosen from the brush the next time you clean your toilet, and will do nothing but add to your efforts!

Are your rags and sponges getting stained and smelly from use? Soak them overnight in vinegar and baking soda to prolong their use and eliminate those odors. You’ll throw sponges and rags away less often if they’re still looking and smelling nice. That means, again, that you’ll be buying fewer new ones. Overconsumption isn’t solved by consuming more eco-friendly products more often - it’s solved by consuming everything more slowly.

And here’s an ecologically unfriendly cleaning tool you can avoid: scouring pads. Instead, use baking soda and vinegar to loosen stuck-on or burnt-on food in your pots and pans. An overnight soak will allow you to easily wipe off the debris with little to no scrubbing.

Think green when you’re cleaning your home, and when cleaning your tools - it’ll save you money, time, elbow grease, and natural resources.

Stephanie Herman runs the Cleaning-Green website where she shares tips and recipes for natural homemade, eco-friendly cleaners.

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By Jill Russo Foster

We all have fixed expenses - mortgage / rent, insurance, taxes, utilities, - expenses that rarely change and are hard to miss because we write large monthly or quarterly checks. But, what about your other expenses? All your little trips to the store can sneak up on you, causing you to spend more than you planned. Variable expenses can take a surprisingly large chunk of your budget. Take a closer look at your spending habits. You’d be surprised how making even a few small changes will leave more in your pocket!

Some of these tips are common sense; some might seem to be a bit “frugal”. Just remember, if you’re working toward a goal, you’ve got nothing to lose by trying something new, frugal as it may be! Sometimes “baby steps” are the best way to start on the path to bigger and better ways to manage your expenses.

1. When you have multiple errands to run, do you have a game plan for accomplishing them efficiently? Take a few moments to check your driving route and plan the stops along the way. Save time and gas by not running all the errands separately.

2. What kind of grocery shopper are you? Whether you shop at discount stores, or by sales flier, remember to buy only what you need. Compare advertised sales prices with other brands (including generic). Remember to check sales sizes as well. What’s being offered on sale might be a smaller size than what you usually buy. Be informed and take a few seconds to consider your purchases - it will save you money in the long run.

3. Do you look at the directions for laundry and dishwashing detergent, or do you automatically fill the scoop and throw it in a load? Make sure to follow manufacturers’ recommendation for the correct load size usage. If you use too much per load, you can use up the product twice as fast.

4. How much does convenience cost you? Here’s a great example: a friend of mine buys pre-bagged salads. Not only is it more expensive than buying a head of lettuce, but she’ll admit that they hardly ever finish it off. Cutting a head of lettuce is an amazingly simple and quick task. When buying for convenience, ask yourself if the actual cost is really worth the time you think you save.

5. How many cleaning products do you have right now? When purchasing a power washer, I was told I should buy three bottles of cleaners - one for decks / fences, one for driveways and the other for home exteriors. Each bottle was $6.00 (a total of $18) vs. the generic bleach I purchased at the grocery store on sale for about $1 (savings of $17). Using bleach full strength or diluted does the trick for a variety of surfaces. Makes you think about how many different types of cleaners you really need to have.

6. Can you stretch an item? For example, will half of a dryer sheet do the same job as a full sheet? I’ve tried it and it works for me. This also works for scrub pads - cutting a regular size pad in half gives you at least several uses. You won’t have to throw away a half used pad because it’s rusty or gunky, and it’s cheaper than buying those “junior size” pads. There must be many more ways to stretch everyday items - what else can you think of?

7. How about reusing or recycling items vs. buying something new? A great example is sharing a magazine subscription with a friend - one issue you both read (works for books, too!). Or clean your used jelly jars and use them for leftovers instead of disposable baggies. Glass jars last, and if you take the lid off, they’re microwaveable. If doing either of these would make you feel unthinkably cheap, think about how much worse it is to be in debt or to not have savings.

8. Can you buy an item used at a fraction of the cost? Our patio furniture - table for six, chaise lounge, two chairs and coffee table - was purchased through the classified ads for $100. Purchased new, the same set would have cost at least 10 times as much. Check classified frequently, and if you’re internet-savvy, online auction sites such as eBay have a treasure trove of bargains both used and new.

9. What about buying off-season merchandise? Now is the perfect time to buy winter items. When the other seasons role around, wait a few months in before buying those “must haves”. This is not only a great way to stock up for next year, but for your vacation, decorating, and gift-giving needs as well.

10. Can you do it yourself? In the town where I live, the trash pickup is handled by private companies. When the bill hit almost $100 a month, we decided to handle it ourselves. My husband takes the trash to the dump (it’s on his way to work) about once a week. What things are you willing to do to save you some money?

The list could go on and on. It’s a matter of rethinking your priorities and taking a new view of your spending routine. Start small today, and you could really see a difference in your savings over the course of a year.

Jill Russo Foster provides practical tips for personal money management. Learn more about protecting your credit and living within your means with Jill’s popular free report, bi-monthly ezine, and credit report reminder program, available here ==> http://www.themortgagearrangers.com/resources.asp

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By Cathy Bendzunas

I know a lot of us moms who stay at home with our kids or are starting our own business at home, are on budgets (sometimes extreme budgets!) Been there, done that, got the T shirt.

I am here to tell you that I am a frugal work at home mom and as such, I have come up with my own frugal tips over the years.

Below are 10 of them. Please be nice if some of them seem weird or extreme. What can I say? I’m a weird mama.

10 Frugal Tips for the Work at Home Mom

1- I bought the large economy size bottles of shampoo and conditioner with pump tops. I pour half of the liquids into jars and store. Then I add warm water to almost the top and shake to mix. Hair products are often way too thick and you will use too much if you use a squirt bottle. Pump bottles give you more control of the amount and the thinner product that has been mixed with water is actually easier to use.

2-I love the Dawn Foam dish detergent but it’s a little on the expensive size. I found that when you are done with the detergent, you can take the cap off the bottle, refill about 1/3 full with regular dish detergent, mix with warm water, replace top and shake. It will pump out foam just like before for a fraction of the cost!

3-Same with laundry detergent. I have found that using half the detergent, works just as well.

4-If you like using fabric softener sheets, after they have been used; save them for dusting your furniture or wiping off the TV or computer screen.

5-To make liquid fabric softener last longer, you can also dilute this with half water. I also just pour a tiny amount of this diluted softener onto an old washcloth and throw this in the dryer. For a family of 5, I have had a small bottle last over 6 months this way.

6-When my kids were babies, I would save the long, clear bags that come off the newspapers (I also got my family to save theirs) and tucked them in my diaper bag. They make great bags for dirty diapers and are long enough, you can tie off the end to keep the diaper (and smell) in the bag. Now I use them when dog walking for doggy poops.

7-When my jewelry needs cleaning, I get an Efferdent denture tablet from my mom and put it in a bowl of water with the jewelry overnight. In the morning, the jewelry is clean and like new. (Don’t use on pearls)

8-Baby wash makes a great makeup remover and is much cheaper (I buy the generic in a pump bottle and do the half water trick here too).

9-Bar soap lasts longer if you let it dry outside of it’s package for a few weeks. You get a double benefit by putting the unwrapped bar in your linen closet, clothes closet and drawers to make them smell nice.

10-I save all my little slivers of soap in a jar. I do one of two things when I get a “bar of soap” worth of soap depending on my mood. Sometimes I will wrap a piece of netting & tie it off around the slivers to use in the shower. Sometimes I will put the slivers in a small flat microwave safe container & melt them in the microwave. When they cool, you have a new bar of soap.

And a bonus tip is to go around your house and get together all the products you love. Look on the back of the product and find an email addy or snail mail addy. Write and tell them how much you love their product and ask if they have any coupons available and to be put on their mailing list. You can get quite a few products this way. To keep track of who you contact and what they send, write the details in a small notebook and periodically repeat this process every 6 months or so with new companies.

Enjoy working from home and happy frugal living!

One of the things that makes the author happy is making her personalized ornaments, jewelry and gifts. You can check them out at http://www.cathyscreations.com
Cathy Bendzunas

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