Saving On The Essentials
When planning a family budget, one must take into account the “little things” that you are always going to need…and therefore always running out of. Things such as soap, shampoo, toilet paper, laundry detergent, dish soap, and the like are necessities that always have to be considered.
To avoid running out of these essentials, buy the items in bulk as you are able to. Be sure and check the unit price if you are buying a large container of something to make sure it is really the better deal. This will save you extra trips to the store, and as a general rule, the more you buy the more you save.
Rather than spending top dollar at a grocery or convenience store, go to a dollar store for these items. Often you can buy the dollar store brand of a certain item for much less than the name brand. If you do insist on using a name brand, many dollar stores offer these as well. They are more expensive than the dollar store brand, however they are cheaper than a grocery store.
You also might consider making your own soaps and detergents. A simple laundry soap can be made from sodium carbonate (not to be confused with sodium BIcarbonate, or baking soda) sodium borate, or Borax and a gentle soap. One third of a bar of soap to one half cup each of the other two will create a very inexpensive and effective laundry detergent that costs less than half of what you would pay in a store.
With a few steps and some planning, you can avoid spending more than you have to on those “little things”.
By Angela Sangster, SaveMoneySpot 2010
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Cutting Costs in Clothing
Budgets are tight these days, however some expenses are necessary for living. One thing everyone needs… clothing. Even with many discount stores and thrift shops to choose from, it is still an expense that can add up if not managed properly.
Buying items when they are “out of season”, such as winter coats in the spring, can save a lot of money… looking for styles that are timeless will keep unnecessary spending to a minimum.
It is tempting to use shopping as a form of therapy…but in the long run it can cost you more money than you need to spend. Going clothes shopping only when it’s needed will avoid a lot of “impulse” spending. Buy mix and match outfits where (for example) a pair of pants can match with five or six different shirts.
Save on Laundry
Taking good care of the clothes you have will make them last longer and go a long way in saving money. Back in older times, clothing was mended rather than thrown away…and it’s a practice we all could use today.
Washing clothes too often can cause more wear on them than necessary. Put clothing away (unless it is actually dirty) rather than tossing it in the hamper. Treat any stains right away rather than letting them set.
Don’t forget to check resale shops and thrift stores for great bargains. Outlet stores will often have name brand clothing at greatly reduced prices. Also have your own garage sale for clothes you no longer wear rather than just throwing them out.
You have to wear clothes…but you don’t have to spend a small fortune to do so.
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