This weekend there will be lots of 4th of July celebrating going on and we're blessed to have access to so many frugal, fun things for the holiday! Our complex has a pool so swimming might be involved (: Who wouldn't feel pampered sipping mint tea while lounging by cool waters? We'll also be grilling burgers and then taking in the splendor of the evening fire flowers (fireworks) at the lake down the road. All free, so it fits within our No Spend Month, but packed with enjoyment!!Our No Spend Month has also inspired a new idea...Frugal Fridays! Each Friday's post will have frugal tips, design ideas, DIY tutorials, organization methods or anything creative that might help save money. This Friday I'll start with something simple to get things going (:
I'm always looking for ways to make things last longer in the kitchen. One thing I've found is that liquid soap does the exact same job when diluted. This includes liquid hand soap and liquid dishwashing soap. If you buy the generic liquid lemon soap for $1, then that dollar will last twice as long!
I prefer natural, organic products and make our dishwashing soap using half water, half organic liquid castile soap with a few drops of lemon essential oil. It's used for both dishes and hand washing since the castile soap is really easy on the hands. I'm able to get the gallon size for $26 (128 oz at $26 = $.20 per ounce ) and our soap pump holds 16 oz. which means that bottle costs $1.60. Not bad for an organic soap!
Do you use steel wool soap pads? Nothing seems to scrub a burned pot or pan better, huh? The only trouble is most of the time they rust before the life of the scrubs runs out, so you're throwing away a large portion of their usage. When you get them home from the store, cut them into halves or thirds (depending on the size of the pad). Not only will this increase the life of the box, but it will sharpen your scissors too!
For more frugal tips, check back each Friday! I'll be adding a Frugal Friday button on the blog which will keep all of the tips in one spot, making it easier to find the tips if you miss a post (:
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Very resourceful! Have a gorgeous weekend xx
ReplyDeleteGreat tips and easy one's too! I'm going to do them both!!:)
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting my blog because it has brought me to yours. What a wonderful and soulful blog you have. I could read it for hours. On another note....GO NRA! I too am a member!
ReplyDeleteOoh! I'm looking forward to Frugal Fridays! I'm a bargain shopper myself, so I can't wait to see what you come up with!
ReplyDeleteThe older I get, I find the less I need. Good luck on your no spend month. I am sure you will meet this challenge.
ReplyDeleteI love the picture you used at the beginning of this post. Did you take it? I love blue bottles!
Thanks for visiting and following Applejack Lane.
Hi Michele,
ReplyDeleteI'd like to thank you so very much for stopping by and becoming a Sweet Follwer of A Petite Cottage. To me, getting a new follower means two things...One, you liked my blog enough to follow it, yay! And two, it means I get to meet and make a new friend, double yay! Thank you again and I do hope you come and visit again soon. Oh and by the way....love your Frugal Friday ideas...I'll definitely have to come back to check out what other tips you have for us :-) Wishing you a wonderful 4th of July weekend.
Hugs and Smiles,
♥Ana
I love the photo of the flowers in the blue bottle! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteDonna
Hi! Just wanted to stop by, say hi, and say thanks for following Funky Vintage Kitchen! Happy Fourth Weekend. Love your Frugal Friday idea. Great tips.
ReplyDeleteI agree, nothing scrubs like steel wool, good idea cutting them up to prolong the useage
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteKisses
Hi Michele! Thanks for visiting and following my blog. I love your tip about the steel wool. That rusting business has always driven me crazy...why didn't I think to cut them before using them?! Great blog you have here.
ReplyDeleteCarrie
Howdy Michele. Thanks for dropping by my Peaceful Cottage! I love your blog. Its always exciting to find a kindred spirit in cyberspace! I look forward to visiting you here often.
ReplyDeleteBlessings.=^.^=
Awesome jars! Love the flowers in those.
ReplyDeletexx,
Autumn Clark
These are AWESOME!!! You are a woman after my own heart!! I love these money saving ideas!
ReplyDeleteBless you sister!!!
Hi!!! Thanks for visiting my blog!
ReplyDeleteKisses from Brazil!!!
Débora
Hey there, thanks for visiting and following the Scrubby Bush. Seems we have a few things in common so am following you back. Love the Frugal Friday's idea. Hope you had a great holiday weekend. Great to get to know you.
ReplyDeleteoooh lovely pic! your blog rocks!! mint tea by the pool - how refreshing. enjoy your summer. :)
ReplyDelete~ash's mum
I am definitely going to have to try the steel wool trick. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love the Frugal Friday idea. I am passing along the Sunshine Award to you and your wonderful blog! Please visit my blog at www.mommiesandbeyond.com to get your award and learn how to accept it! Congratulations!
ReplyDeletethank you for joining my humble little junk blog..love your blog ;)
ReplyDeleteHola Michele, so nice meeting you and your wonderful blog. And I feel so happy to know that you healed the relationship with your father and that you now are in peace... suffering affects us all and one healing process affects us all too.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your interest in my blog, you have a new fan now.
greetings from Chile,
maria cecilia
Michele - I came by to tell you thanks SO much for following my blog Budget Blonde!!! I am SO IMPRESSED and truly INSPIRED by your no spend month. I'm hopefully going to try this with my husband starting just a few days at a time and see how it goes!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Cat @ BudgetBlonde
I stumbled across your blog and wanted to say hi.
ReplyDeleteTake a minute an check my blog out if you haven't already.
I have lots of great giveaways going on.
Thanks :)
ethertonphotography.blogspot.com
thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog. I would like to invite you to come over to my blog and check it out. God's blessings too you. Lloyd
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for becoming a follower of my little blog! You have a new follower too! Love the frugal ideas! I have a bookmark folder of frugal and thrifty ideas that I have found on the web. I am trying so hard to make our money go further since I am no longer employed. I like the idea on the steel wool. I have made my own laundry soap before but with two teenage stinky boys, I found it doesn't clean as well so I had to go back to the regular kind. Have a great day!
ReplyDeletelovely blog here...nice to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog!!! Happy to find you!!!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea. I can't wait to learn how to save even more money!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful blog and fantastic pictures! Just fab! So glad I found you!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to have you as a new follower on
ReplyDeletehttp://www.justfollowingjesus.com
I love making new blog friends, and love your blog too! I'm a new follower!
I'm not sure how you found me, but I'm so happy to find you! I was scimming over your blog when I had to stop and really read about your father. Heartwarming. I'm so glad you had the opportunity to get close to him before the end. I had that opportunity as well and I thank God for it.
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day.
Karen
Ladybug Creek
What great tips! Who couldn't need to save a few dollars right now! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteSherry
Michele, thanks so much for stopping by my blog!!! What a great idea!! I really need to try this! Can't wait for more ideas!
ReplyDeleteLove that steel wool idea! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for following my blog, I'll be following back :)
Hi Michele! Thanks so much for visiting and following my blog! I love your frugal tips. It makes so much sense to cut steel wool pads in half! Thanks for sharing your tips. I am excited to read more.
ReplyDelete