Great Deal on Diapers!

Just got an amazing deal on diapers on Amazon. I got 100 size 4 pampers cruisers for 16.99 shipped!!

I signed up for the subscribe and save plan (which saves you 15% and you get free shipping-you choose how often things come and can cancel each item ANYTIME) then there is another special right now for an additional 15% off diapers and supplies THEN there is a on time only use coupon in this month's parenting magazine for 20% off diapers......


diapers

SOOO loving amazon right now:)

laundry soap

It seems that everyone is making their own laundry soap. I researched it. I saved up for a food processor. I did price comparisons and figured out cost per load (that is approximate because I don't pay full price if I can help it)

I considered our needs: hard water, allergies to everything, not too much time to devote to this.
I researched many many different recipes:
this one looked good

I bought some "homemade" laundry soap from a neat lady on Etsy.

I beat myself up over and over for all the money I was "wasting" by not being cool enough to make my own laundry soap.

I have five children. I have three in different stages of puberty and two in toddler hood. Two in cloth diapers. We do ALOT of laundry. We make most of our food from scratch. I home school. Our laundry used to be done down our driveway in our garage in a anot so nice neighborhood, only during the day and not in the rain. We moved. We moved into a huge house. Not the problems I ahd beofre, but yet new things taking up all my time:) I'm trying to impress upon you that my time is limited. but really. Im just really not that person.

I looked into trying Charlies Soap. It sounded just about right. but there was a big investment. My husband was ordering some vitamins on Amazon and needed $9.99 more to qualify for Super Saver Shipping. I found this "trial of Charlies Soap:

So far it is working really really well.


Who knows. Maybe someday I'll have an empty house and make loads and loads of soap to deliver to my childrens' homes.OOH and design cute little labels for the cool unbreakable jars I put it in...but, at least for now, Charlies is a good fit for us.

Got Diapers? Great Deal

Yes. I use cloth but not ALL the time. I was sick last week and in bed. I didnt wash diapers like I meant to and then it rained. BUT I had disposables on hand for just such an occasion:)

I came across this deal today on a great blog and hoped it could bless someone...

Amazon has a great deal right now for Seventh generation diapers using subscribe and save (you can get 4 packs for $23.00)

Go here:

and click on the link to to “Your Coupon Book” (just under the product description). That will take you to some coupons, including one for $4 off. Once you click on that coupon, you’ll be back to choose your size. Pick your size, then select purchase via Subscribe & Save, which will give you free shipping and another 15% off. Then at checkout, apply coupon code 7GENIOO9 for another 15% off.

The end result is diapers to your door for about 40% off (15% coupon + 15% Subscribe & Save + about 10% from your coupon book). Good time to stock up for your little one and rainy days:)

Earth Day Post-Frugal Living

I have whined about money. I have praised God for His amazing provisions to our family. I have shared the dramas that have brought us to living on very little money...That is out there. You know that. Through this blog, I have shown you a glimpse into our lives in hopes that it will be an encouragement to others.

I am often asked, "How do you do it?" I KNOW that it's not me. Although, I have always been very cheap. I come from cheap blood and then was raised by a couple who grew up in the depression (and thought they were still in it :) Recently I was asked, on two different occasions, for some tips. I came up totally blank...I don't "do" anything MAJOR. We do try to always, as a family, consider each need and pray. Here are a few of the little things that work for us (they are little but add up)

Buy in Bulk. Buy when it's on sale, and you have a coupon, and you get cents off of gas for purchases. Seriously. Don't ever pay full price. Figure out how often chicken goes on sale and how often you eat it. When it goes on sale, buy enough to last until it is on sale again. This will only take a chunk of money up front. Once you are eating out of your freezer and pantry, it will be cheaper in the long run. Think too about the gas savings of less trips to the grocery store. Keep a price book so you know how much you "should" pay. Sometimes warehouse stores are a good savings. Sometimes not. I buy our olives on sale at Longs Drugs store a lot cheaper than by the case at Costco. Buying in bulk also saves you the expense of going to the grocery store EVERY day. You can only go past the Starbucks kios soo many times, then there are the doughnuts, and the cost of your time and the expense of gas involved.

Has been a big help for us in several ways. No gas money. Over $25.00 ships free. There is the benefit of buying in bulk AND when they have sale codes it gets even sweeter.

Keep your freezer full. Don't pay to keep air cold. If you don't have enough money to keep food in there for a time: either completely empty it or freeze water in empty juice and milk containers.

Don't buy paper towels or paper napkins. Use washcloths, shop cloths, rags, cotton material cut into squares...It costs a lot less to run a washer and dryer full of rags and towels than it would to fill it with paper towels and napkins. I suppose it would be cheaper to use a clothes line but we haven't graduated to that yet.

I also don't use paper plates. BUT I have three chidlren over 8 who can help and a portable dishwasher. Dishes were my nemesis when my husband worked long hours, and I had three children under four years old. I would have gladly used paper plates then.



Use cloth diapers and cloth baby wipes. I acquired our diapers by finding great deals online, buying used, testing out diapers for Work At Home Moms and doing reviews. I was able to "borrow" some from here to ge started:

Pay Bills online. Pay bills on time. I barely have enough money for my bills. I don't have an "extra" 45 cents to mail them, or money for interest and late fees. I either pay through the site of the bill, through my bank or over the phone.
Don't pay for anything "unnecessary" I don't buy trash bags for bedroom or bathroom waste baskets. I use plastic grocery bags (from the places that don't accept my cloth bags or the times that I forget to bring them) I use reusable Tupperware containers to freeze food rather than pay for freezer bags. I dont reuse cheap plastic however.

Don't buy bottled water. We fill our own water bottles from our reverse osmosis system ($15.00/month) This could be purchased and not rented but we also rent our home.
We also don't buy drinks when we are out. We get cups of water at fast food places and try REALLY REALLY hard to support our coffee addiction at home. Or carry a ceramic mug around.
These are just a few suggestions that you may want to slowly work into your home, IF they work for you.

I also reccomend this book:

Miserly Moms, Living on One Income in a Two-Income Economy by Jonni McCoy.

I learned a lot from her first book. Like how to make baby wipe solution or your own Taco Seasoning or keep a price book. Her philosophy is to get the most out of YOUR life with what money you have. If it takes a ton of your time and saves only a few pennies than it probably doesn't work for you. She has a very good balance and her books read well.

Here are some blog meme's for inspiration:

THRIFTY THURSDAYS



<">FRUGAL FRIDAY

7 Quick Takes

-1-
In my last blog, I lusted over the Fuzzi Bunz giveaway. A friend who I havent spoken to in forever, and isnt excited about my blog (read: doesnt read it) gave me 14 Fuzzi Bunz diapers today. 14. God is good.

-2-
I am selling this. I loved this. Still do. My church family all chipped in and bought it for me when my two year old was born.

-3-
My baby will be 7 months old this week. He crawls. I put him somewhere safe to leave the room. An older child frees him and he finds me. It's scary.

-4-
I joined facebook. enough said

-5-
We have been sick. Miserably sick. BUT it's just a headcold so we shouldn't complain, right? But my babies are sick and coughing and hacking and have chapped little faces and noses. And my bigger boys are gross and snotty. And I am so tired and cranky.
We didnt go to the homeschool co-op yesterday. A new friend brought by lunch, juice, bread, oranges, apples, tea.....WOW.

-6-
We have a snake! My dear friend knitted my two year old a scarf in the shape of a snake! It is theee cutest thing!

-7-
It is Raining! It is beautiful and needed.
Remember me saying that I was all caught up on laundry and using cloth diapers?
Remember this post about the downside of this house is not being able to do laundry in the rain?

MMHMM....

FuzziBunz Giveaway

OOH I want to win these!



My second choice would be for you to win :)


Head on over to:
http://makingmyamericandream.blogspot.com/2009/01/fuzzi-bunz-giveaway.html

and leave a comment to enter. Be forewarned, it is a great site and you may want to peruse a while :)

Week In Review

Anne Kimmel teaches that life is made up of ordinary days. I need to hear that. I am not sure if I crave excitement. I am content to be at home with my family. I guess that is not without it's excitement....I feel guilty about parenting and homemaking and my Christian walk and living. It feels like Idon't get enough done...

This week?

My oldest boys made paper mache' "gourds" in honor of South America.

My 10 year old went on his first fishing trip..

I carpooled to a Homeschool support meeting. I ate way more than my share of treats there :)

I stared using cloth diapers again.

I stressed out over the cloth diapers from Miracle Diapers being too big for my 6 month old. I freeted. A friend brought me the disposable diapers that her son had outrgown. the PERFECT size. I now have time to think this through without spending money.

While I was in the bathroom, a child asked me if they could have lemonade. I answered "in just a second." Before I made it out of the bathroom. They had made lemonade, fought over who had more lemonade and spilled lemonade (64 oz) on our dining room carpet and my purse. All through my purse. I cleaned and mopped and soaked. I finally laid down baking soda and waited for it to dry and soak up the moisture from the carpet pad. I got out our honking shop vac to clean up baking soda. I turned it on "blow" by mistake and shot baking soda/lemonade paste all through our kithcen and office.

I dreamed of a new purse. My son asked over and over and over if his $4.00 could buy me a purse. Of course not. DUH!! ANd felt guilty becasue I REALLY want a few hundred dollars for a purse. Really really.

I bought a purse for $4.00. Can you believe that? Exactly $4.00. Son took back his offer.

A friend and I went through all the laundry baskets in my entry way and folded and foleded and paired socks. This was such a blessing. I read recently a blog where a mom had visited and fodled all the family's laundry. I was jealous. A freind an hour away heard we were sick, drove up to make chicken soup, and asked if she could fold clothes. God is so god to us and we are so blessed with good friends.

I was given a high chair (we already have one) and moved book cases and armoire to fit one in for 6 onth old to sit and play safely while toddler is still confined to learn to eat neatly.

"We" took a door off the hinges for a young boy who says his door needs to shut and baracaded himself in "his" room.


I talked to a friend whose husband is out of work and whose house is being foreclosed on and felt helpless.

I posted about our "shoogah" fiasco. and night in the ER.

I won a contest at www.lifeingrace.blogspot.com.

I bought a baby carrying wrap that is too small for me.

We had colds this week and it was a stay at home and rest kind of week.

I am soo excited

Well. Our van is inoperable. Will be a big expense. My husband is working on Christmas day. (I should have defrosted a turkey to cook for him on Christmas Eve) Christmas presents are not bought or wrapped (hard to do with no vehicle)......Am I busy working on these things? NO. Am I stressed out about them? NO. All I can think about is cloth diapers!! Timing is very off, I know...

Then, this morning I got a package from Miracle Diapers:




They are much nicer than I expected....very nice. I paid $25.00 shipping (that is to get them here and then back when I am done with this size, and that is for two children) The idea is just to get me started and then I slowly build up my stash.....

My little one is LOOOOVING his first Christmas tree :)

Diapers?

>
Diapers have been a big concern on my mind lately.

Our cost of living is going up. Not because of having a baby. The cost to heat our home, heat our water, have water, food in the grcoery store...all those things have gone up. We were barely scraping by before the increase, now we are running out of money every two weeks. We have so many phone calls about over due bills and I am so embarassed.

At one point in our lives, we had three little ones in cloth diapers. A good friend of mine set me up with her old ones and many that she had made. She also showed me how to contact WAHM to try out tehir diapers and write reviews. (Man, I miss Kellie, she really knows her stuff.) Then we made a move accross the state and everything changed and cloth diapers no longer worked for us. I ended up selling our cloth diapers and I cried. I dont know exactly what those diapers represented to me, maybe it was saying to me that I coudln't have any more babies?

Here I am just a few years later with two in diapers. My youngest is almost 4 months old and I have JUST used up the stock pile I was given when he was born. It's coming down to, do I buy food for dinner or do I buy diapers....What I am thinking through is wether or not cloth diapers are the "solution" for us right now. I applied at www.miraclediapers.com and was accepted BUT I didnt have the $15.00 shipping per child to order the free cloth diapers, and we were dealing with Gabriel's birth surprises and Drs. visits. As usual, I am beating myself up because I didnt buy enough diapers when they were on sale at Walgreens and I didnt stretch the money enough....my husband is beating himself up that he doesn't have a better job.....this is getting us nowhere...Incidentally, my husband just found chlorine free diapers for 16 cents each and Walgreens is having another big sale. He is also getting a raise at work due to a union strike, we don't know how much or how much the retroactive check will be or when.....
Does anyone have an opinion on our diaper "situation?" Looking at the cost of cloth diapers Im not sure how much it would really help. I need t know before I make the monetary investment...I also need diapers now....

Advie for Laundry Woes?

I think this may be an ongoing battle and dont know why I am thinking of this now....At one time I had three in cloth diapers and it worked just fine. Now I have two in diapers and am wondering if cloth would be a good way to cut back financially but I need to get some order here first.

My obstacles are:

Our washer and dryer are in our garage. There is no door to the garage, so you go out the front door, down the walkway and up the driveway to the back of the garage. We live on a busy street with no fence and I dont feel comfortable with my children out there. SOOO I am one person doing the laundry for 7. Since being pregnant and having my last little one I ahve been having my 12 yo son go out with me and carry. I tried having the younger ones but it ws such a production and they couldnt carry much. I used to do all the laundry one day and then stay up late sorting and folding. I have since developed a laundry schedule and Each peron has a day then there is no sorting :)

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We have a very small narrow hallow that holds all of our laundry baskets. They fill up quickly and are unsightly to trip over. I also have no where to hang things to dry--as of now, they hang in our "office" doorway and drive my husband bonkers:

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I have thought about sorting them outside but how would I do that? I pictured trash cans. (atleast one for towels, sheets, etc.) I have a front loading machine on the ground. SO would I dump out the heavy trash can., then sit on the ground and put it all in? Just trying to picture.

Any nuggets of wisdom?