Where are we going in the economy today?

      After working in many different fields, i find myself in the Stay at home mom role. Mind you I love it and wouldn't change it for the world but in the economy how many of us are looking to bring in extra cash to our home is some manner. Like Etsy, Ebay, blogging(haven't figured it out all the way yet), online businesses, working from home, etc are all great ways to go about it. What happened to when 1 income was good enough to live on? I mean really I don't want to go back to the 50's and be all oppressed...woman served her man thing but really what is happening in the world today?
      I find myself in the mist of major breakthrough...but what is it? I can't beleive that hard working people who pay all their bills on time, have a home, job, kids, the car are being forced to budget down to the last penny. I am a budget expert...I don't really want to look at how much more i could strip down our houshold budget anymore. Coupons are great but rather addicting and you have to remember not to buy it if you don't need it even if it is a quarter.
       I love that I use cloth diapers. My favorite thing about cloth diapering is that i don't have to scour the papers and deal sites for the best diaper deal anymore. I really love not having to buy disposable diapers anymore. I am sure i may add to the stock at some time but I love what i have for now. A $200 investment(with expert shopping) for my stash is great. I feel good about myself every time I wash a diaper off, lol. Even my husband doesn't mind anymore. Why did i not try this before?
       I have gone to making my own detergent...Yes, even that... I really don't mind it.
Here is the recpie if you dare to try:

The Duggar family Recpie:

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value




4 Cups - hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

½ Cup Borax



- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.



-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.



-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)



-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.



-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.



-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)



-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)



*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

It looks a little cottage cheesey but it costs only $10 to get the supplies and a couple bucks per batch which makes approx. 640 loads. Worth the time to me.


Lastly, a couple budget recpies for fabric softeners
Inexpensive Fabric Softener Recipes




Recipe #1

1 Cup White Vinegar

Add vinegar to rinse cycle. Works great. Removes residue and odors. Also helps to keep washing machine and hoses fresh and clean too.



Recipe #2



1 Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener

4 Inexpensive sponges, cut in half



Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet.



So now after my husbands 3rd paycut in 6 months where do you go from here... Any more cost cutting ideas you have to share??