Savings electricity when cooking pasta

I didn't make our dinner on time one day and I started preparing pasta. I brought it to boil and it probably was boiling for about 5 min when we had to leave. I had to choice, but turn off the stove, close the lead, and leave. We came back an hour later and pasta was ready! So, instead of boiling it and using the stove for 30 min, I only did it for about 5 min :) That was a nice discovery!

Nursing Covers

I was surprised that it took me only 30 min to make a nursing cover! I found some beautiful pattern at Walmart on sale, then bought all the rest of the supplies at Joan's. This simple and useful present was about $5! And I still had some bonning and two rings left to make another cover for myself.
Check out this blog for simple instruction on how to make a nursing cover.

Budgeting is easy

The golden rule for having a fatty savings account is to keep a budget. I started budgeting once I realized that all I earned would disappear within a month and there was nothing left. I started keeping track of my expenses, analyzed which ones were unnecessary ones, adjusted them, and there was some money left every month available for savings.

My first budget tools were a pen and a paper. Then I used an Excel file (if you are interested in having one, email me and I will send you a great Excel budgeting file with detailed and categorized expenses, balance sheet and income statement calculations). Now I use Quicken and I am really enjoying it. This program is simple and saves you a lot of time. If you are a college student, you can purchase Quicken from your university for a much better deal than buying it online.

Home-Made Laundry Soap

One of my friends sent out this email once with a home-made laundry soap. I've never made it myself, but it seems to be much cheaper than buying $15+ Tide! here is the recipe:

1 bar Fels-Naptha soap (in laundry isle) ( we got ours online)
1 cup borax
1 cup arm & hammer washing soda

Grate soap and add to 5 cups water in pot on stove.
Cook over medium heat until melted;
Add borax and washing soda.
Boil for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and add to 5 gallon bucket that is ½ full of hot water, stir and fill the bucket up to make 5 gallons;
Let the detergent sit for 24 to 36 hours, soap will gel.

I fill my laundry soap bottle half full and then add water to the top.
Shake before each use, top loading washers ¾ cup per load and front loading washers ¼ cup per load. Use a big pot too because it gets foamy and will boil over the top if your pot is not big enoughI found all three ingredients at Reams after looking at Macey's, Walmart and Albertsons.

The bar soap was $1. The borax was $4 and the washing soda was $3. You also will need a five gallon bucket. I am planning on refilling the laundry containers I already have since it is not practical to carry a five gallon bucket to the laundry.

Hooded towel

A new mother's got so much on her hands. Preparation for the new arrival into the family is busy enough to spend time on sewing and finishing up projects. That's where the hand-made gifts become so appreciated!
One of favorite gifts that I received on my baby shower was a hooded towel. Once my baby grew out of it, I went to Walmart and got bigger sized towels and made her a new hooded towel myself. I wanted to get the softest towel there was and got one that was on an expensive side. Well, the needle on my sewing machine broke three times before I was even done. And then, the towel wouldn't dry very fast since I wash Allie twice a day. So, for a friend of mine I made another towel and used thinner towels. My present was about $5! It was a great towel and she was very happy to get it.
Here is a link to the pattern how to make your own hooded towel.

Easy on the budget cooking

I was preparing lunch today, making Russian pelmeni, and was inspired to start this blog. Pelmeni is such an easy, inexpensive, and delicious meal. Using just a pound of ground beef I could make 2 meals for two and even had leftovers!
It's a very hard economy right now and we live on a part time income. On our budget monthly groceries is one of the few expense items that is flexible. Well, let's stretch that dollar! This blog is to help others save money. If you feel like you've got something you can share, please post a comment or send me an email and I will post it for you. Please, share how you are able to stretch your dollar!