Family Chow Hall

Money-Saving Tips

January 12th, 2009

Jumping on the bandwagon here with ways to save money around the house. Usually this is a cooking blog, but I’m expanding for the next several posts to include all the small ways I pinch pennies at home and while shopping.

Right now, we are all recession-minded and many of us are even bracing for a depression. Even if you never lose your income, a recession or depression can halt pay raises, make you hesitant to change jobs, and can just make you more conservative in your spending. Remember, also, that during hard times, charity is even more necessary than during good times and if you are fortunate enough to have a good income, you should consider being extra-charitable during hard economic times.

So, folks, starting today, I will challenge you to reduce your spending, consumption, and usage in small ways. Every little bit counts! A penny saved is a penny earned, and all that jazz…

We’ll start in the laundry room…

First off, reduce the amount of laundry soap you use. A dermatologist told me a long time ago that we don’t need to use the recommended amount of soap, you know… the amount that All or Tide suggests you use. When measuring laundry soap, cut it with a little water, even up to 50/50 water and soap. Keep your eyes on the sales and try your darndest to only buy laundry soap when it is on sale. Soon I am planning to try making my own laundry soap, check out the Duggar’s website for the recipe.

This just in from my sister Sue: “if you have a Sears hardware around, buy their laundry soap in the eight million ton bucket. If you get it on sale it is $20, and it lasts forever…I bet the Duggar’s isn’t even cheaper to make.”

Secondly, if you use dryer sheets, try tearing them in half or even into thirds. You might be surprised that they are just as effective this way. In the summertime, when the air is more humid, you can skip the dryer sheet altogether. Towels never need dryer sheets - in fact I have read that fabric softeners make towels less absorbent.

Thirdly, and you may have some trouble with this one…. wash your clothes less often. Seriously, jeans do not need to be washed after every single wearing. Nor do your shirts, much of the time. Try wearing them a couple of days before tossing clothes into the laundry, and train your family to do the same thing.

In addition, don’t forget that clothes can be dried in the sunshine and fresh air. Hang a clothesline if space and conditions allow. You’ll save on your electric bill and save wear and tear on your dryer. Besides, nothing smells so good as sheets that have been dried in the sun!

Now for a couple of don’ts:

Don’t use the dry cleaner for every day washable items. Dry cleaners are just for things you actually cannot clean at home, like leather and suede. A few extra minutes of pressing may save only pennies, but a penny is still a penny.

Don’t go buy a front-loading washing machine because it saves water. I’ve done the research - If there is a front-loader on the market that will last long enough to save enough on your water bill to pay for itself, I am not aware of it. Stick with the top-loaders, they are effective and ever-so-much less expensive.

In my next post, I will try to help you spot ways in which you can save money at the grocery.

Entry Filed under: Mixed bag, Philosophy, Recipes, Table talk