Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
We live in an easy fix and quick society. We can swing through the drive thru and pick what we need. We can buy pre-packaged, pre-portioned sizes of snacks. From TV dinners to extra large lattes, convenience is the name of the game. But there are five things you should always make yourself instead of buying on the go.
Laundry Detergent
I began making our own laundry detergent out of necessity because of allergies but it has saved me hundreds of dollars over the years. Our basic recipe is 1 c. of borax, 1 cup of washing soda, and 1/2 cup of an oxygen cleaning product. Get this: you only use 1 T of the mix per load. It amounts to a huge savings in the long run. Plus, your supply should last for months, keeping you out of the store and away from impulse purchases.
Breakfast
Breakfast is arguably the most important meal of the day and guess what? It’s the most affordable to make at home, too. Swinging through the drive thru will bust your budget and your pants. From oatmeal to fresh fruit, from eggs to cereal, there are plenty of options to keep your costs under control and fill your belly, too.
Dishwashing Detergent
I’m not evening kidding when I say it costs me less than $10 to make enough dishwashing detergent to last an entire year. The full recipe and complete tips can be found here. The basic recipe includes a box of Borax, a box of Washing Soda, three cups of epsom salts, and twenty packets of lemonade drink mix. I only use about a teaspoon of the dry mix per load of dishes.
Coffee
Coffee is one of the most overpriced items to order at any restaurant. Even if you’re not ordering a fancy lady drink, you’re still grossly overpaying for your cup of joe. You can even afford to purchase pricier beans and your own syrups if you commit to brewing your coffee at home. Check out these tips for maximizing your savings when it comes to coffee and keeping your pot in tip top brewing shape.
Household Cleaners
What if I told you that you don’t need the majority of the cleaners in your cabinets and under the bathroom sink? You can make almost everything you need from white vinegar and baking soda. Check out 10 Frugal Household Cleaning Recipes. You’ll find my favorite ways to clean jewelry, furniture, and even your shower head. Expert tip: the best place to purchase white vinegar is Sam’s Club. I stock up every 3 months or so and use it for everything from the rinse aid in my dishwasher to fabric softener to glass cleaner and more.
DIYing doesn’t take that much more time, I promise. And the dollars you save can be put toward things you’re much more passionate about – like paying off debt, saving for retirement, or planning a great vacation – all of which you’ll enjoy more than the ease of the moment.
Gain inspiration to pay off debt! Check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
Tread lightly with cereal if you really want to cut the cost on breakfast. Oatmeal is WAY cheaper, way heartier, lasts way longer in the belly! 😊
TOTALLY with you! At least two of us have oatmeal every single morning – we add peanut butter to it YUM. 🙂 Always looking to give folks multiple options though.