Got No Dough - Saving Money in Slim Times

Previously I wrote about 9 Items That I Won’t Buy Generic and I wanted to look at the flip side of the coin and talk about some of my favorite generic items. No name brands here.

1. Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen - Nope, I don’t buy Tylenol or Motrin, it’s always the generic.  Same ingredients, same pretty little colorful pills, same pain relief.  The savings is wonderful.
2. Liquid hand soap - Although the name brands have such exciting scents, I’ve found some very lovely generic scents too.  Two of my favorites are the vanilla and watermelon soaps from Walmart.  No difference in how they work, but they are about 40 cents cheaper.
3. Dishwasher Detergent - I swear to you that there is absolutely no difference between the generic and name brand dishwasher soap, except a huge difference in price.  You can even make your own soap pretty easily, if you’re up for it.
4. Lobster - Yeah, go ahead and laugh.  I prefer imitation lobster to the real thing!  And the savings is astronomical!!!
5. Cereal - The only time I buy name brand is if it is somehow cheaper than the store brand.  I have to yet to find a store brand that didn’t taste just as good as the name brand.
6. Medicines - Whether it is for a cold, allergies or a stomach ache, generic is the way I go.
7. Milk - Unless you’ve been under a rock, you know that the price of milk has gone sky high.  I definitely buy the generic because not only is it cheaper, but you can get a two-for price on it.
8. Ear Swabs - I almost put Q-tips, but that would be the name brand version now wouldn’t it?  No, seriously, I can’t tell the difference between the walmart version and the real thing.  I don’t buy any of them with plastic in them though, because that’s just…well….generic.
9. Foil - Have you seen the price of foil?  It’s ridiculous considering it’s just aluminum.  Anyhow, again, love the generic, especially the price.
10. Sugar -Sugar is sugar is sugar, right?  There’s not some secret generic sugar cane plant that I don’t know about, is there?  Oh well, regardless, it tastes the same, costs less and works for me.

While making this list, I came up with some more ideas for items I don’t like generic, so I guess that will be another post.

Previously, I mentioned that I would rather use a more expensive laundry detergent and cut back on the amount of laundry I do instead of using cheaper detergents or making my own detergent.  Sounds great in theory, but just exactly how does a family reduce their dirty laundry?

1.  Wear jeans more than once.  Jeans are one of the heartiest pieces of clothing and can typically withstand more than one wearing.  You can also save a little on your gas (or electric) bill because jeans usually take longer to dry than regular laundry.
2. Don’t wash your towels after each use.  I already wash too many towels each week, I can’t imagine washing our personal towels every day too.  Remember, you use your towel to dry off your CLEAN body.  Instead, wash once a week or as often as they start to smell like mildew.
3. Reuse your pajamas.  Again, another item of clothing that doesn’t need to be washed everyday.  Put your pajamas on after you take a shower and keep them even cleaner.  Save even more by not wearing pajamas at all
4. Don’t wash clothes that have only been worn a couple of hours.  How often do we wear something for half a day and then throw it in the laundry?  Instead, take an extra minute to fold or hang up the item of clothing to be worn again another day.
5. Promptly remove items from the washer or dryer.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to rewash my clothes because I had mistakenly left them in the washer all day or overnight.  Just a rinse doesn’t get the terrible smell out, so I usually have to run the load with a little more detergent.  What a waste of detergent AND water.
6. Fold and hang up clothes when they are done drying.  If you’ve ever thrown a clean load of laundry on the bed I’m sure you know how easy it is for that load to magically wind up back into the hamper.  Nothing more wasteful than washing a clean load of clothes!

The key is really to figure out whether your clothes are truly dirty or just need to be freshened up a little.  For freshening, try spraying some Febreeze on the article and sticking it into the dryer for about 5 minutes rather than putting it through a whole wash cycle.  Not only do you cut back on the amount of laundry, but you also save wear and tear on your items.

What other tips do you know to cut back on your loads of laundry?  I’m curious as to how many loads of laundry other people do in comparison to the size of their family.

When saving money is one of your biggest goals, you have to beware of pitfalls that can cost you more money in the end. It’s not always best to buy something if it’s cheaper, because some cheaper items are much lower quality or just won’t suit your needs.

Here are nine items that I don’t buy the generic version of and why:

1. Laundry Detergent - I find that the generic detergents don’t clean as well and don’t smell as well. In order to get comparable results, I have to use more of the generic detergent which absolutely kills the savings.
2. Liquid Dish Soap - I’m actually very picky when it comes to my dish soap. It has to smell nice, have antibacterial properties and have really good lather. There is only one soap that measures up for me and that is the orange Palmolive. I’ve tried using cheaper orange dish soaps and I find that they are very thin and I have to constantly add more soap to get lather. Once again, I have to increase the quantity which eliminates the savings.
3. Paper Towels - Well, I suppose the paper towels I use are semi-generic, but I absolutely cannot stand the store brands. They are small, tear easily and are not very absorbent. By the time I use enough towels to soak up a spill, half the roll is gone.
4. Cheese Slices - Have you ever tried to make grilled cheese sandwiches with generic cheese slices? The cheese just sits there and doesn’t melt no matter how long you cook it. It eventually turns hard and disgusting and inedible. Instead, I wait for the name brand to go on sale and use a coupon. It costs the same and tastes a thousand times better.
5. Oreos - Ever been craving a nice cream filled Oreo? You go to the store and find a generic brand for a dollar less and rush home with your package. Then you take the first bite and it’s nothing like you dreamed. It’s downright horrible and you realize why the good stuff is a dollar more. You’re better off buying the real thing and just eating less of them.
6. Soda - Again, here is an area where you can have big savings by drinking the store brand. You can save even more if you don’t drink soda at all, but this is one of those things that I choose to buy so that I’m not absolutely miserable in my quest to save money. For those who love soda like I do will notice a very distinct difference in taste between name brands and generic. It completely defeats the purpose because you will likely throw away a complete bottle because you can’t stomach it. Instead, I stick to my Diet Pepsi and spend the extra 30 cents for a 2 liter.
7. Makeup - I have a confession - I’m a huge fan of a very expensive makeup. I rarely buy it though because obviously the price doesn’t fit in my budget. When I get money for Christmas or my birthday, I love to splurge on myself though. So, one time I ran out and I went and bought some cheaper makeup at Walmart. I used it the first day and the results were disastrous. It had very little coverage and didn’t blend well. I was so disheartened because not only did I not have my favorite makeup but now I had just spent $8 on this new makeup that was completely useless to me. I ended up spending the extra to go buy my favorite makeup. And you know what’s funny? It tends to last much longer, so it really doesn’t cost much more. I count it as a lesson learned and won’t do it again.
8. Diapers - Again, don’t get me wrong because the diapers I do buy are semi-generic, but I will never buy the actual store brands again. They make a terrible crinkle sound every time your child moves, they don’t absorb well and the inside completely falls apart, leaving cotton and the little absorbency balls everywhere. If it doesn’t work as intended, no amount of savings is worth it. I prefer the Kirkland Signature brand (Costco) or Luvs.
9. Feminine Products -This is similar to the diapers issue. Nobody wants to walk around feeling like they’ve got a piece of plastic between their legs. Even worse is the top layer that falls apart when you buy cheap. Spend a little more and get something that makes you comfortable. You’re worth it!

In a coming article, I’ll talk about the flip side and tell you some of my favorite generic items - the things will great quality and low prices!

If you were in a financial crunch and you had the option of working full-time or working part-time, which would you choose? The obvious answer would seem to be working full-time, but that may not always be the best answer.

This is a situation that I’ve had to mull over for the past couple of weeks. I’m currently working full-time and really want to work part-time for many reasons. Given our financial situation, it didn’t seem feasible until I considered these three things.

1. Distance to drive. This one factor weighs the heaviest because it has the biggest repercussions. A longer commute not only uses more gas, but it also puts more wear & tear on my car. I have more of a chance of getting stuck in traffic, which lengthens my drive time even more and causes me to lose valuable time that I could be spending with my family. In my situation, I’m currently driving 55 miles (2 hours with no traffic) round trip. The new job would only be 37 miles (1 hour 15 mins) round trip. My car gets approximately 30 mpg and the price of gas is around $3.15 a gallon. Savings per week: $9.45 (not including wear & tear which would make this figure much higher)
2. Childcare. I already get a very good deal on my childcare, but if I can cut my childcare expenses in half by going from an 8 hour day to a 4 hour day - I’m going to save a lot of money. Savings per week: $50.00
3. Benefits. At my current job, I have to pay 50% of my health insurance cost and still have a $50 copay. I have no vision and no dental insurance. The cost of this is $220 a month to cover just my husband and I. My children qualify for a state program, thank goodness! The part time job offers medical, dental, vision and life insurance. On top of that, it offers paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation. The health benefits should be around $100 a month saving me $120 a month. How nice to get more and pay less. Add in the paid holidays, sick leave and vacation and that’s worth about $75 a week. Savings: $105 a week

Next, I have to look at how much my income will change. I currently earn $400 a week and that will change to $185.20 a week, so I will lose $214.80 off the bat. However, if we add back in the money I’m going to save, I’m actually only going to lose $50.35 a week. In addition, each day I will gain back 45 minutes in commute time and 4 hours I would normally be working - which gives me 23 hours and 45 minutes a week to spend how I’d like. That’s almost an entire day!

Ok, so you don’t see how I’ve saved money yet, do you? The saved money is going to come with the extra 23 hours and 45 minutes I’m saving. That’s almost 24 hours I get to spend with my boys (goodbye mommy guilt). Almost 24 hours I can spend planning meals instead of eating out. Almost 24 hours to use my talents to earn money online (blogging, eBay, etc.). When all is said and done, I will probably be able to make MORE money this way than by working full time. Beyond that, I will have a new found sense of freedom and peace.

So - I took a leap of faith and accepted the new job. I’m starting in about two weeks and hopefully my theory is correct.

I’ve seen a few discussions regarding the difference between being frugal and being cheap. Just this morning I read Crossing the Line: When does frugal become cheap? and again it got me thinking about some of the crazy things people will do to save money. But, there is a bigger issue to think about. When does being frugal become illegal? Here are 5 ways:

1. Downloading software/music/movies for free. Yes, a lot of software, CDs and DVDs are outrageously priced, but that does not make it legal to obtain them for free through shady sources. And no, just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t make it legal either. That is, of course, unless the thought of the FBI knocking on your door excites you. INSTEAD: Obtain used software at yard sales, eBay or from friends. Music can be downloaded from iTunes for 99 cents a song. Or find a video store that will rent movies for a buck. Vongo might be another good choice for you if you rent a lot of movies each month.
2. Creative accounting on your income taxes. This is especially tempting for those of us who are considered independent contractors. The more deductions you have, the less tax you pay on your income. Weigh the options - save a little money and worry about Uncle Sam knocking on your door or pay the taxes you rightfully owe. INSTEAD: Know what you can and can’t deduct - there are probably many categories that you overlook. Save receipts and keep good records and hopefully Uncle Sam won’t bother you.
3. Getting a “special” cable box from a friend. A word of advice - cable boxes typically come from the cable company. If you’re buying one from a friend, chances are good that you’re doing something illegal. I’m sure you’re saving lots of money - but is it worth the risk of getting caught? INSTEAD: Look into lower priced alternatives to your local cable company. Satellite companies tend to cost less and their packages have the premium channels you want.
4. Knowing the cashier didn’t charge you for something. You’re watching the cashier scan your items and she accidentally skips one. SCORE! There’s $9.99 you just saved! Oh, but wait…what do you do when you walk out the door, the alarm goes off and the item is not on your receipt? I think they might use the word “shoplifting” a few times. “Prosecution” might even be mentioned. INSTEAD: Don’t buy what you can’t afford. If you really really want something, comparison shop and find it on sale. Then, when the cashier forgets to scan it, you can remind her. No police involvement, no embarrassment.
5. Borrowing supplies from work. I think people use the word borrow to help justify their actions. A ream of paper - $2.50, a pack of pens - $1.99, highlighters - $2.99. Bail because your employer turned you in for stealing - $1000. INSTEAD: If Walmart is too pricey for you, check our your local dollar store. They typically have these supplies for - you guessed it - A BUCK!

So, please, before you do something that may be considered unethical or illegal - think about it. Are the consequences worth what you might save?

For some reason, making your own laundry detergent seems to be a popular thing to search for and it’s a topic that people have lots of questions about. Let me tell you about both sides of this coin and you can make your own decision.
There are three main points to take into consideration when trying to decide if making your own laundry detergent is the right decision for you - cost, how well it works, and ease of making it.

Cost

As I’m sure anyone who does laundry knows, the price of good laundry detergents can be pretty outrageous. So, I guess this logically becomes one of the areas where people want to save money. According to Trent at The Simple Dollar, his recipe had a cost of about three cents per load opposed to the economy size of leading detergents costing about 30 cents per load. On the other hand, the startup cost can turn some people away. Be prepared to spend between $10 and $20 to get started. Remember, you save money because the price per use is lower and your ingredients will make several batches.

Jill Cooper writes a great article (Demystifying the Great Laundry Detergent Dilemma) which really makes us stop and analyze WHY people want to save money on something like laundry detergent. Is it really the cost of laundry detergent that we’re trying to cut back on - or have we overspent in so many other areas of our life that this is one of the only places where we still have control? Perhaps making your own detergent is not the answer to saving money, but rather cutting back on the amount of laundry that you do.

How Well Does it Work?

Here is a question that will definitely give you a variety of opinions. Some say it works wonderfully and easily replaces their more expensive brand. Some say that it doesn’t take out tough stains, especially those that children are prone to get on their clothing. And yet others say that it works well for awhile, but then later clothes start to look dingy and dirty. I think a lot of the responses are going to depend on the ingredients that were used to create the detergent and the laundry habits of the person using them.

Ease of Making It

All in all, the process of making laundry detergent is fairly simple whether you are making powder or liquid. Shave some Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Soap, mix some water, measure some washing soda. You would just have to be careful during the parts that involve heat and sharp objects. It doesn’t seem too terribly time consuming either, but for those of us with children, the time and energy may not offset the cost savings.

In Conclusion

The initial cost of buying supplies may be a little more than you are used to paying for your laundry detergent, but the cost per use is definitely lower. If you decide this is right for you, make sure you are buying quality ingredients so that you will not have any issues with your clothing not getting clean (and staying clean!). And lastly, and probably most importantly, do you have the time necessary to create the detergent?

For me personally, I choose to buy commercial detergent and would rather save money by doing less laundry.

Give It a Try!
Here are links to recipes for liquid detergent:
The Simple Dollar - How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
Inexpensive Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe
Brown-bag Blog: Make your own Laundry Detergent

Inspired by the article 25 Ways I Save Money by Dawn.

1. Keep the air conditioner/heater turned down.
2. Use less water by installing a low flow shower head.
3. Air dry clothes when I can (especially large blankets & jeans which take forever to dry).
4. Keep my dryer filter clean and my change my furnace filter regularly.
5. Turn off lights/appliances when I’m not using them (just today I had go around after my husband and kids and turn off SEVEN lights).
6. Keep the tires on my car inflated to the proper level.
7. Use the air conditioner in my car sparingly.
8. Keep my car tuned up.
9. Use the cruise control whenever possible.
10. Try not to let my car idle anymore than I have to.
11. Shop at the Dollar Store BEFORE I shop anywhere else.
12. Catch movies on video rather than in the theater.
13. Buy books from thrift stores for a buck.
14. Get magazines from retailers who give me an extra 10% off.
15. Order fast food off the dollar menu.
16. Make my grocery list based on which foods are on sale that week.
17. Make my own snack packs by putting cookies and chips into small snack bags.
18. Make lunches out of leftovers from the night before.
19. Drink water instead of soda (ok, I wish I could do this more, but I’m an ADDICT).
20. Eat fruits and veggies that are in season.
21. Save Starbucks for special occasions
22. Split a meal with my kids when we eat out.
23. Clean everything with vinegar and water (the stuff is amazing!).
24. Recycle all of our plastic, glass and aluminum.
25. Regift anything that I receive and don’t need.