Some things I do to save a bit of money

     Growing up my grandpa Sonday always had a handkerchief in his pocket, and he used it.  I don't know how many he used in a day but I don't think there was even such a thing as disposable tissues.  And if there was I am sure he would think it a waste.  When he died my grandma gave me one of his  clean handkerchiefs as a memory of him.  I still have it in my childhood jewelry box.

       I don't know when disposable tissues came out but we got in the habit of using them instead of a handkerchief.  We also got used to using toilet paper and paper towels.  I think of the three disposable inventions that my favorite would be toilet paper.  I can go without the other two but I don't want to go back to what ever was used before that.

     That being said, I do think we use too many disposable items in our home.  Paper plates, tissues, paper towels.

     One day I decided to cut up some of Jeff's old t-shirts that he didn't want any more.  I cut them into nice squares.  About 12 to 14 inches.  I folded them up and put them in a nice basket on my bathroom counter.  I began to use them instead of toss away tissues.  Wow, these are so much softer on my nose.  I began to put a small stack by my computer and by my recliner I make sure to have one there too.  I use a square a few times until it seems icky to me then I toss it into the dirty clothes basket and grab a clean one.  No big deal.  Now when I have to use a toss away tissue it seems quite wasteful to me.  I do still keep them on my vanity because I don't think Jeff is ready to switch and also because there are times I don't want to have to clean a cloth tissue.  Like makeup removal, not often but occasionally worn.  Also if something gross is spilt I want to toss the tissue.  I don't need to go into further detail I am sure.

      Anyway, as I was cutting the t-shirts up I ended up with some smaller squares and rectangles.  These I doubled up and then took them to the serger machine.  I serged around the edges and folded them up nicely and put them on a basket on the back of my toilet.  Oh my you say, where is she going with this one.  Ha ha.  Just wait.  I ordered a bidet sprayer from Amazon and Hannah installed it on the water line going in to my toilet.  Its clean water, people.  I began using the sprayer for number one and then patting dry with the serged pieces of t-shirt fabric.  That way I know which goes for which end.  So, now I use a ton less toilet paper.  I still use it for number two of course.  I keep a bucket beside by toilet and toss the fabric there after I use it.  Then just toss into my wash when I do laundry.  Its no different than washing a towel after all.  I have rinsed off and patted dry.  There is no smell and I feel so much cleaner.

    For a couple of years we have been using fabric napkins so I almost forgot to mention them.  I just cut squares of pretty cotton, stitched, turned and top stitched them.  We have a small basket in the kitchen where we toss the dirty dish cloths, napkins and dish towels.  I toss them in when I am washing towels.

     A few weeks ago Hannah suggested we should try to cut down on our paper towel usage.  Yeah.  I am for that.  After all we have several dish towels.  I will continue to keep paper towels on the counter for times when disposable is better but we sure have cut down on using the paper towels. 

      Using less disposable items means less trash and less paper in the sewer.  All good things.  But most important may be the savings.  After all, they all cost money.  A penny saved is a penny earned.

     Here is a list of paper disposable a person can almost eliminate if they choose to do so.

1. paper towels
2. paper plates
3. paper napkins
4. disposable cups and glasses
5. disposable silverware
6. toilet paper (or most of it)
7. tissues
8. sanitary pads
9.  what else can be done away with????

     What kinds of things have you quit using or never started using that help your family save money?

Another small bag

I really like these smaller tote bags and will be adding them to the medium and large ones I already make.

Tool box upcycle

Pallet tool storage

35 uses for old pallets

For 34 more ideas click on this link: http://www.dumpaday.com/genius-ideas-2/35-amazing-uses-for-old-pallets/

DIY recycled watering can/jug

I bought a watering can last year and it already fell apart because of the hot sun. This is an excellent idea for making your own from something you might otherwise throw away.
Notice the hole cut in the handle so the water will flow freely. ITs kind of hard to see but its a triangular shape.

Tire Garden

This actually makes old tires look good.

Neat use for old pallets

I like the idea of the wheels and two levels, as I am looking at this I am thinking that you could just keep adding levels of pallets until it is work bench height and with the rollers it would be easy to take to the work area or move around the garage or work area.

Saving on kleenx

Our family goes through Kleenex like crazy. It is crazy to me to blow you nose on something and then toss it in the trash. It seems wasteful to me.
I asked one of my daughters for pretty bandannas for Christmas and she gave Jeff and I each about 6 each.
I have been using a bandanna for a hankie, the younger girls think its gross. But when I was a kid we all had little white hankies. When I think mine is too icky to use any more I just toss it in the laundry and get another one. I surely have saved at least one box of Kleenex doing this so far.
My step dad uses a bandanna for a hankie all the time. His are worn and soft. It makes sense to me to use something that can be washed and reuse instead of tossing it in the trash.
We try to use less paper towels, and we use cloth napkins, so whats the difference?
The girls say they will always have snot on them even after being washed. If we were hand washing that might be a possibility but for crying out loud we have a nice front loader.
If you use cloth diapers, they don't have poop on them after being washed so why would there be snot on the hankies.
I will continue to use my cloth hankies and I know they will get more worn and soft like my step dad's.

Making new candles from old candles

I made some new candles from used candles and wax today. I cleaned the old candle jars and saved the old wax. I discarded the metal tabs and any paper that was in them or on them.

Next I made my own wicks. To make my wicks I cut cotton string into about 12-15 inch pieces. I soaked them overnight in a solution made of
2 t. salt and 4 t. borax mixed in 2 c. water. This morning I took the strings out of the solution and laid them onto an old kitchen towel to dry. Next I melted some wax, dipped the string into the wax and laid them out straight on my cutting board.

Then I melted more wax and then poured it into jars straining it with a wire mesh strainer to remove any foreign particles. I then fixed the wicks to stay in them with what ever method worked for that jar. I then let the candles harden. As they cool and harden a valley forms on the top. I just poured more wax into the depression and let it harden again.

When they get completely cooled and hardened I will burn one and see what I think about my project. I figured it should smell good with all of those scented waxes I used. I will try to up date this post with my conclusion.

Edited to add: So far the candle seems to be burning fine. At first it lit and then went out, twice and I thought oh dear. But I re lit it and it has been burning for at least 10 min. just fine.