Frugal living has always been part of my lifestyle. Mostly because of budgetary constraints, but also because it's foolish to waste money. By being careful, I've been able to provide for my three kids as a single mom and myself on a fixed income.
I thought I would share some of my knowledge and I hope that others find these things helpful.
The following are things that I did when my kids were young - I will try to remember to do more of these for each stage.
1. When using bar soap, keep 3 or 4 in rotation. Dry them out first, by taking them out of the wrapper and letting them sit for a while. This helps the soap last longer. Pull the bar after each kid has showered and allow it to dry, otherwise you waste a lot by it getting soggy.
2. For shampoo and liquid shower soap, dilute by half. Kids will over pour no matter how much you yell, just a fact of life.
3. Toilet paper - the bane of every mom's existence. Through careful observation, I found that Scott Toilet Paper, even though it is usually more expensive to purchase, really is more cost effective than other brands. It lasts almost twice as long as most other brands and three times longer than the "bargain" brands. This also means you don't have to change the roll as often because obviously, you are the only one that holds the secret formula for the roll holder.
4. Dish soap. Buy a good brand name. Unfortunately the "bargain" brands are very diluted. Dilute yours, 3/1 - kids will over pour every time.
5. Don't dilute milk. Even if you buy whole milk and dilute it, you are cutting down on the calcium kids need.
6. Buy frozen fruit juices and mix them in a pitcher in the refrigerator. If they want it to take with them, put it in a portable drinking cup.
7. Check everything in the refrigerator before you go to bed at night. Invariably you will find cheese or lunch meat unwrapped and half used vegetables unwrapped.
8. Freeze half of any lunch meat or cheese that you buy. If you put it in the bottom of the fridge they will eat it like it's free and pass up fruit.
9. Always have fruit in a bowl, in the open. Do not allow them to take a bite and put it back. That is a grounding offense.
10. Do not buy paper towels, they will use twelve for a job that takes one. Buy, or make dishtowels and use them instead.
11. Bath towels. Issue each one, one towel a week. You do not need to use a clean towel every time you take a shower. (Oh and always check the soap after young boys take a shower. It was just a fluke when my boys tooks a shower and the bar soap was dry. Was it a miracle or was it deceit, you tell me.)
This wraps up today's edition, the next one will appear when I'm inspired.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 58
Scott is great isn't it? I will pass on a tip. Go to their website and sign up for the newsletter. They let you print out coupons at least once a month for a dollar off. (My store doubles, so it is $2 off!) that brings the price down a lot.
We use the pick a size paper towels from Viva. That is a big help too!
And thanks Gwen.
Or when I feel like it - yep I'm that kind of gal.
I don't even want to discuss the magic toilet paper holder. I haven't any children so that just leaves one logical suspect. I'm not left high and dry as Cybergwen, it's usually lying on top but you'd think after 50 years one with an extremely high mechanical aptitude would figure it out.
Kimberly - You learn a lot, defensively, from kids.
See Steph - prepare now - try and catch them when you can and cut around the bite, rewrap.
Peter - Thanks.
Tinch - Good I hope it saves you a couple.
Trista - Yep waste didn't ever go over well with me.
I should try this. I did start buying Lexie's shampoo and conditioner in bottles that have a pump dispenser. She is to use one pump of shampoo and two pumps of conditioner. So far that's working for her but I can't find any shampoo for Eric with a pump.
They also ho through the liquid hand soap like mad. I buy refills instead of a new pump bottle, but yesterday Eric used half a pump bottle for one handwashing.
I wish. We go through six bath towels a day. At least.
Lexie and I each use two. One for our hair and one for our body. Eric and Shannon use one each. That isn't counting the towels that get thrown in the floor to be used for bath mats. Those are usually not freshly laundered towels but sometimes are.
I am considering purchasing cloth napkins since paper towels have gone up so much. I won't quit buying them around here though. I have to clean up cat hork too often to do without paper towels but I might quit using them for napkins.
The Dawn Direct Foam is wonderful stuff. It's like magic. It does a lot more than dishes. That stuff takes off black grease better than Goop does. It has yet to fail me at anything. It's worth every penny. And you can buy refills.
Just make sure you hide the paper towels Andrea.
I buy cloth napikins at garage sales. I'm going to pick up more this summer for my kids houses.
I love ya, Sharon, but I will never use Scott TP again. I grew up with it and don't argue the economy, but my butt shrinks up at the thought. Sorry.
We have room for six towels hanging in our bathroom. Whoever showers, uses a dry one, then hangs it over the shower door to dry. It gets cycled into a new place. I usually don't have to towels more than once every two weeks unless someone has an accident.
lynn - you'd be surprised how much longer it lasts.
Jean - isn't it amazing - they can fix brakes and can't get the toilet paper on the roll.
Oh and tell your other self Publius, check and mate.
Piss somebody off, Sharon?
That is just a great, common sense idea and one that would save me from dealing with plenty of dried out food. I bug my kids about storing food properly but sometimes it is easier to just deal with it myself, especially before bedtime.
Jo- I'm glad I could give you something helpful.
(On the other hand, the bar soap doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Could they be using the shampoo instead?)
I wondered how I got caught when I was little
you gotta check that toothbrush to
Baiden - Now you know the secret. SHHHHH don't tell anyone.
Yes, I am evil! Muhahahaha!
The entire family should be involved in saving money and saving supplies. That calls for a family meeting to discuss what can be done. Be careful, some may say the just won't take a bath and it will save on soap and water. You can give a little by saying they can take a bath every other night or perhaps 3 times a week, unless they are extremely dirty or smelly. I agree with the one towel a week rule. If you get a bath the all you wipe off is water. But I want a clean wash cloth 2 times per day.
Getting children to sleep between sheets is also a saver. We wash sheets once a week. It cost more to wash blankets and bedspreads, as well as being hard on them, so they should be able to go for a couple of months at least.
Sometimes you have no choice, but to live frugal. For a couple of years I had one roll of paper towels -for show- only when we had guests. I wasn't too keen on anyone knowing about my tough financial spot which I always considered only a temporary situation.
Don't tell her wade.
You seem to have it going on LaRue.
Rose - It's always been temporary for me - forever.
I have 10 (12) packs of coke - I drink one a day. So I have enough till whenever.
Dawn is the bomb - so is palmolive.
You're welcome WS.