Comments on: Is a Frugality Tip That Saves You a Quarter a Waste of Time? Some Notes on Economies of Scale

By: TheEqualizer

TheEqualizer — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:23:29 +0000

Ummm, when can I learn to build my own car? Oh that’s right,cars are bad and I should be riding a bike or walking…why don’t we just elect representatives that don’t tax us to death (literally)! Then we can afford to buy things that EMPLOY other people. Sorry, but I don’t want to live in the Flintstone age. I love all of my conspicuous consumption!

By: mary

mary — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:41:45 +0000

how am I “quietly saving $1.30.” every time I eat a homemade breakfast burrito if I
1) now have to spend $26 on the ingredients
2) don’t eat take-out breakfast burritos ever?

I’ll keep my toast and peanut butter.

By: Carey

Carey — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:07:56 +0000

OMGosh!
For all the complaining about not saving enough money is ridiculous. Money is money. And all this talk that “well I only do 2 loads a month” is crazy. YOU STILL SAVE. Yes, I admit, it is not a lot, but if your doing several things to save money, it adds to the piggy bank. I made it in under 10 minutes tonight.

And if you don’t need that much laundry soap, sell it to your neighbors and make some money. Get off your couch and bike on down to a laundry matt and sell it there.

Find a way to make it work, and if you can’t, then mocve on, but please stop posting in here. We want to lift each other up, no push them next guy down.

By: Tina

Tina — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:23:11 +0000

I made my second batch of detergent today! I love it. It took possibly 10 minutes from start to finish. Well worth it for me! I found the washing soda and borax at Kroger.

By: PointSpecial

PointSpecial — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:10:51 +0000

I think I know what your answer will be before I ask the following question… but what about online surveys? I can earn $3 for 15 minutes of work (if I qualify after about 5 minutes of initial work…) or 30 mins of work… and this is money that I would not normally have as I do it while I would normally be doing some leisure activity. It comes out to roughly $12 an hour… not great, but certainly more than the $0 per hour (or worse, if I spend/consume).

By: Ilah

Ilah — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:58:09 +0000

Like Erin who posted earlier, I use Fels Naptha soap when making my laundry detergent. I also use a bar for stain removal-it works better than Shout, etc. I find that my home made detergent gets out stains and cleans better than Tide which I always used to use.
Also, the ingredients needed Borax and Washing Soda — the boxes you buy last through many, many batches, so you aren’t running out to the store every couple weeks. The ingredients to make it are also all powders (you add the water at home) so carrying it home on a bike is easier than carrying home a big jug of liquid detergent.

By: Me

Me — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 22:13:43 +0000

I love this site–thank you for all that you do!

We were already doing some things. But explaining it to some people, you’d think we had two heads!

Thank you for the break-down, but I think that it’s like everything else; if you ‘understand’ then you understand, if you don’t… well, you don’t. “Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it.”

The best way we have to explain it is this: We’ve found the secret to being poor AND happy; we’re not picky. Watching our loved ones scurry around, searching for peace, just like everyone else. But, if everyone had it, we wouldn’t be so chaotic, you know? Maybe peace is found NOT in the flock.

It’s amazing what you can do if you think you can.

Oh, and if you are a visual or hands-on person, put a cup by your washing machine, and put a dime in for every load. Then after 3 months, take the dimes and buy the stuff to make the next batch–then your laundry will pay for itself! :)

It’s all about perspective; “The laborer is worthy of his reward.” And who knows better what you need? :)

ps, my husband LOVES the burritos–we have a shelf dedicated to them in the freezer. :)

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:50:39 +0000

Apologies for posting twice. I got a message saying my comment was rejected the first time.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:48:32 +0000

Here is an easy money saving tip: Do NOT follow the manufacturer’s directions. I don’t mean ‘do anything crazy with your microwave’, but just don’t listen to the marketers and waste money. When I wash my hair, I lather and rinse, but I do not “repeat” (unless I have been camping, etc.). I use less laundry detergent than recommended if my laundry is not covered in dirt. Yes, I buy commercial detergent- usually Tide, in larger sizes, always on sale _and_ with a coupon. I do not use any fabric softener, and do not miss it. I always run my dishwasher when full. I only fill up the “main wash” detergent holder. The extra “prewash” cup is purely a waste, and so is heat drying- that is why I own a kitchen towel. I NEVER saw the need for ‘dish drying aid’ junk. I can live with the rare spot or two, and we do have hard water. Yes again, I buy Cascade powder, in larger sizes, always on sale _and_ with a coupon.
Most of these tips apply to make-your-own detergent, shampoo, etc. as well. Why do I call myself frugal but buy name brand detergents? Consumer Reports said these work the best for relatively low prices per wash. I stock up when they (repeat after me) go on sale _and_ buy with a coupon. I can often reach the same unit price ($/lb) of store brand this way. I do NOT buy name brand stuff if I can find a cheaper store brand item that is just as good or close. I have found that buying a small calculator is a great investment (or use the calculator function in a cellular telephone, if you have one).
I never buy _Anything_ with a coupon unless it is cheaper or much better (preferably both) AND I am going to use it anyway. My wife, who is saner than I :), does tell me to stop buying when I fill up the shelf. She does appreciate not having to worry about running out of detergent for a few months, and I make fewer trips to the store (saving gas or shoe leather).

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:44:35 +0000

Although, i don’t make my own detergent, I always stock up when I can get a great deal on it… same general theory, quanity of savings, makes it worth the extra effort of seeking out the deal. I am a SAHM so almost everything is made from scratch at our house. It saves so much money & now we don’t miss take out & restaurants, because the food I cook is better.

By: Allison

Allison — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:20:34 +0000

Torrilin, are you certain that you can’t buy the three ingredients required to make detergent even though you ride a bike? The ingredients are not liquid. Arm & Hammer washing powder, borax, and a bar of soap are all you need for the recipe featured. You don’t have to buy them in one trip, either; just buy one or two during your regular grocery trip.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:15:22 +0000

Here is an easy money saving tip: Do NOT follow the manufacturer’s directions. When I wash my hair, I lather and rinse, but I do not “repeat” (unless I have been camping, etc.). I use less laundry detergent than recommended if my laundry is not covered in dirt. Yes, I buy commercial detergent- usually Tide, in larger sizes, always on sale _and_ with a coupon. I do not use any fabric softener, and do not miss it. I always run my dishwasher when full. I only fill up the “main wash” detergent holder. The extra “prewash” cup is purely a waste, and so is heat drying- that is why I own a kitchen towel. I NEVER saw the need for ‘dish drying aid’ junk. I can live with the rare spot or two, and we do have hard water. Yes again, I buy Cascade powder, in larger sizes, always on sale _and_ with a coupon.
Most of these tips apply to make-your-own detergent, shampoo, etc. as well. Why do I call myself frugal but buy name brand detergents? Consumer Reports said these work the best for relatively low prices per wash. I stock up when they (repeat after me) go on sale _and_ buy with a coupon. I can often reach the same unit price ($/lb) of store brand this way. I do NOT buy name brand stuff if I can find a cheaper store brand item that is just as good or close. I have found that buying a small calculator is a great investment (or use the calculator function in a cellular telephone, if you have one).
I never buy _Anything_ with a coupon unless it is cheaper or much better (preferably both) AND I am going to use it anyway. My wife, who is saner than I :), does tell me to stop buying when I fill up the shelf. She does appreciate not having to worry about running out of detergent for a few months, and I make fewer trips to the store (saving gas or shoe leather).

By: AnnJo

AnnJo — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:25:26 +0000

I know my limits for household prep time, and find it a more productive use of that limited time to prepare things like homemade chicken stock (store bought: 80 cents to a dollar per use and not as good) than laundry detergent (store bought in bulk: 4 cents per use and better).

Generally, I think there are much higher savings to be found in food preparation (cutting up whole chickens, making your own soups, baked goods, granola bars, beverages, etc.) than in making laundry or dishwasher detergent assuming you’re already buying in bulk and using only what is really needed.

But the principle is the same – over time, especially over a lifetime, a dozen or two small economies, most of which take very little time or just involve a change in habits, add up to huge savings.

One thing about preparing your own cleaning supplies that is worth thinking about: The basic ingredients are things that are cheap, keep forever and have multiple uses – borax, baking soda, vinegar, etc. Even though I don’t usually make my own clothes- or dish-washing supplies, since I have the storage room it’s worth keeping that stuff as part of my general preparedness supplies and for the occasions when I run out of something and it’s not convenient to make a trip to the warehouse store. Recently, I found that what I thought was the “backup” pail of dishwasher detergent turned out to be an empty, and it was no trouble to mix up a two week supply of detergent to tide us over to our next regular trip to Costco, just from the supplies we had on hand.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:50:23 +0000

MELODY–
I agree with Alexandra. Would you please share your dishwasher detergent recipe? Many thanks!

By: Pattie, RN

Pattie, RN — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:14:58 +0000

I grate the bar of soap for laundry detergent on a cheese grater while the water boils, and the whole process of making up a batch takes me less than 10 minutes once a month or so. Well worth it to us, but likely not to everyone. What we do NOW as empty nesters looks a LOT different than a decade ago when we were feeding, clothing, and housing two large, hungry, messy teenaged boys!

By: KM

KM — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:44:11 +0000

This has nothing to do with the actual point of this entry, but the high amount of italics in many of your posts (such as this one) is really annoying to read. Most times, readers don’t need the writer to point out what to stress. The content does that on its own. Especially when you combine the bold with the italics, I feel like I’m reading a used copy of a college textbook. Great site otherwise.

By: Felipe

Felipe — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:36:01 +0000

I believe careful cost/savings evaluation is a must every time we consider a frugality tip, otherwise those savings could actually be costing more.

I can think of two anecdotes: My ex-boss telling me how his stay-at-home wife saved a few bucks every week by sending his chauffeur (she wouldn’t dare set foot on one of those ugly supermarkets) to do groceries instead of going to the usual market herself. And, my sister who used to drive 30 extra miles to save $1 on a package of paper towels. She would go there twice a month, spend 2 hours driving (and the gas it required to move her Grand Cherokee there), and save a total of $4 every month.

By: Norma

Norma — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:17:49 +0000

Does anyone know if this laundry detergent recipe is suitable for a front-load washing machine? My front-load machine’s instructions say to use HE products so I have tried to use only HE detergents.

By: PF

PF — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:16:10 +0000

Dryer sheets are toxic? Wow, I didn’t know that. I attached them to my clothes as mosquito repellent when I was pregnant to avoid using spray on repellents. (We have a lot of West Nile Virus here). Hmm, maybe not such a great idea. You learn something every day.

I rarely use them in the wash or fabric softener. I have never really seen the point.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:33:34 +0000

I recently stumbled across your website because I was looking for a recipe for laundry detergent. I used to make this years ago, but somehow, the process got away from me. Firstly, thank you for the recipe. Secondly, I am enjoying your website and find it refreshing.

After reading your breakdown of the detergent savings this morning, I do have a question concerning the savings of the detergent. I have used the detergent in the past and I have begun again but I do notice the quality of the detergent is not as great as I would like it to be. I know most people find it comparable to Tide, but maybe my kids are just dirtier than most other family’s and the homemade stuff leaves stains on heavily soiled clothing. This does not happen with good ol’ reliable Tide. However, for lighter washes that are not as dirty as my 15 month old’s food stained clothes and my 8 year old’s grass stained uniforms, I would definitely use the homemade stuff. Do you think that by using the homemade stuff on some loads of laundry and using Tide the remainder of the time (probably about 3 or 4 loads a week) it is worth the time and effort to make the homemade stuff, or is the time going to waste? It seems this would be logical, but Sometimes I am surprised when someone has a different take on things than I do. Thanks!