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 to save money, instead of buying on the go.
In Proverbs 13:11, Solomon the wisest man whoever lived said, “Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” It’s oh-so-easy to think that our smallest behaviors don’t matter or that we can strike it rich over night. But let’s be honest, our actions do count and very few of us will find a diamond mine in our backyard. You can literally change your world one penny at a time with careful planning and forethought. Here are five spending categories where you should always make the item instead of purchasing items pre-made or out and about.
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. In our home, we eat oatmeal almost every day which clocks in at around $0.08 per serving. If you compare that to even a $1 or $2 breakfast item, you’re saving a bundle over time. Don’t fall into the drive thru trap. Make and eat your breakfast at home.
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. Not convinced that white vinegar is a good fit for your family? Check out this DIY for Never-Ending Fabric Softener.
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.
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 (Think Oxiclean). 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.
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.
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.
Being frugal does not mean you have to be miserable. In fact, the root word of frugal is frui – which means to enjoy! When you make the most of what God has given you, you can begin to enjoy all He has for you. Sure, it could mean sacrificing convenience now and then but when you begin to apply these methods to your daily life, you’ll feel the gain and will rarely return to purchasing these items again.
Our lives are made up of thousands of small decisions. Each seems like it will have little impact but the sum results just might amaze you.
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
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So, be honest….does the dishwashing detergent REALLY get your dishes clean? (I’m asking seriously.) I’ve been interested in making my own but don’t want to waste my time or money if it’s not going to get all the food off the way the stuff I’m currently using does.
Hi Karen, I’ve been using this recipe for over 3 years and not had any problems. I am a pretty serious pre-rinser though. So I’m not sure if you put caked on dirty dishes in there I’m not sure if it would work or not. I also don’t know anything about your dishwasher. My mom uses the same recipe as a scour in her bathroom (she doesn’t have have a dishwasher). I wouldn’t post anything I didn’t use myself.
Thanks! I do rinse the worst stuff off. We have a new dishwasher so I think that helps. I might try it and start out with a smaller batch…I can always use the ingredients for laundry detergent too. After I made the first comment I found your other posts about making it and read all those too. :^) Thanks for responding!
YES. A smaller batch to begin with is a great idea to make sure it works. Be sure you use it in conjunction with the Lemi-Shine in the bottom. When I run out, the dishes get cloudy. And it takes very little of it in my dishwasher. Like a 1 tsp which is crazy but it works. Good luck!
Coffee is definitely on of those things you should make yourself. I remember getting a fifty-cent cup of coffee at diners and now you pay about 3 times or more for a cup, depending on where you go. I’ve brewed my own for many years but even after investing in a Keurig and buying the cups in bulk. I’ve gotten it down to about twenty-five cents per cup. Savings are great!
Right on. I can’t even get myself to cough up the cash for Keurig so we’ve been humming along on our little $35 coffee pot and $3.99 fair trade coffee from ALDI. 🙂