Frugal Living Ideas

I love a good penny-pinching deal! DIY Jewelry Cleaner, I buy as much as I can in bulk, I follow my own Money Saving Tips advice, I hand-wash my bra's and nylons to retain longer life, and I continue to search for more tips. Today's search:

• Make Homemade Laundry Detergent - See Blog Here

I didn't think of this one. A friend of mine is pregnant and, her words, her baby is turning her into a green hippie. She made both liquid and powdered detergent this weekend and said she's never going back now. She says it's cheaper, you use less, and more environmentally friendly.

Note: This requires use of Borax, which I've found a vast array of opinions on the internet that say Borax is bad for you. I only stand by opinions with independent study research backing it up. The closest I can find is LiveStrong here, which references Borax is not to be taken internally (so don't drink your laundry detergent) and for those with sensitive skin it can cause irritation. Unless you plan on soaking your clothes in this teaspoon cocktail, then failing to run a rinse cycle, my best educated guess is you're probably OK. 

Sadly, I will not be joining this thrifty club because of my husband's sensitive skin; Tide - of all things!- is the only thing that doesn't seem to make him break out.

• Make Homemade Dish Detergent - See how here

This is another one I'm personally passing on, but I love the idea! 

• DIY Gift Making- See... well, just search it on pinterest!

Easter (and my birthday) is right around the corner. This means to me Mother's day is next, and also my Mom's birthday; they're a few days apart. Here's the fun thing with my mom: she wants gifts AND cash! She likes having things to open- fun little surprises- but she also wants to get a gift she really wants. Problem is we can N-E-V-E-R buy the gift she really wants, hence my mother wants cash. Instead of going broke, I've learned to play smart and do a lot of homemade gifts. I gave her a knitted blanket a few years back- still a big favorite of hers. This year I've chosen 50 reason why I love you jar and this really cute money book idea. For christmas for my niece last year I did this bag of 'christmas dough'; the 12 year old LOVED taking it apart & counting all her molah- $40 in dollar bills. Get creative and do your own spin on ideas too! My mother-in-law gave me her Delicious Cinnamon bread for Christmas last year. It survived the shipping from IL to CA just fine! And every year my mom makes her own version of chex mix for christmas. The last few years I've been in CA she ships it in a Christmas tin to me. This year I may get a little further creative with mom's birthday: I'm going to send her back all of her darn tins (I need shelf space; those things are space eaters!!) and put little gifts in each one. I'm not sure whats going in each of them yet- maybe cookies, maybe I'll go really silly/ hokey and do a finger-paint drawing for her, with a note that says 'in mom's eyes, you're always her little baby'. I also check out Etsy.com for some creative craft ideas.

Moral of story: DIY gifts are great, just give yourself PLENTY of time to prepare and think it through.