Make Stamps

I grew up recycling. My grandma did it and when i was a kid we always had our red bin out a the road. When we moved up to the country, i soon realized that they don't recycle. Everyone threw everything out.. Not only did this make me up set because i was thinking out about my grandchildren, what type of world will it be if everyone threw everything out knowing it would be there 2 million years later...Our country would turn into the movies WALL-E or Idiocracy But it had also made me think of more ways to spend money one it once. And reuse it 20 times, Thus completely getting my money back 

I had it all worked out that when i went down to my parents, an hour away, i would put all my stuff in their recycling bin. LOL Luckily! My grandma did some searching and found out that my city has a program that i just bring all my things and throw them in a big recycling container that they haled away once was full. I LOVE THIS! This is were i go to get all of my empty laundry detergent containers.

There are so many things in this world that we all use day to day that do not have to be thrown away. I here are some fun and creative new ways to use the empty containers for anything under the sun! Here are some ideas for you and your family!


Make it Yourself Stamps!

I have been saving almost all of my lids/caps from milk containers, juice containers, and many more for about 3 weeks. I had more but in all honestly i don't need that many stamps yet.

I went to Target and went to the $1 bin sale and they had foam stickers. I stuck them onto my cap. They come with many different kids. Stick them on an ink pad and then on some paper. Its a great thing for kids to play with! Each one probably cost me about $.03-$.05 since there are so many that are in the foam stickers.

Have fun and enjoy!
Use washable finger paints with the kids, this way you can wash your stamps off and reuse them! 


The Make it Yourself Break Down:
i got 50 sticker foam cut outs for $1.00 at target

$.02 (censt) per foam sticker

I used 4 = so my project to make my own stamps was a whopping $.08!
You can get many different kinds of foam stickers. Price also varies. from $1.00 to $5.00 for packages.

Note: I have no affiliation with any TM names, stores or websites listed above.

Make Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes

I started buying Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes once I started couponing. I do have to admit they are great! Seriously expensive considering what they actually are. I love making cookies from scratch! They are awesome! Since we have moved I love the convenience of MANY things. My sister came over one day and we were talking about cookies, and making some for her friend. I told her "lets whipp some up!" and she looked at me, went into my pantry, and said "Okay were is the box? If it doesn't come in a box, I have no idea what I am doing!" 

I thought this was kinda funny... I said "You buy those? They are super expensive, regular price is $2.50 or more!" and she laughed "Oh that's right, you use your 'coupons' and its cheaper, I'm not into all that, you know that." Well, I do know that but I wont accept it, i needed to find a way to Make Them Myself in a way that I can give them to others, Like "Cookies in a Jar" but without the $5.00 Jar... So i Googled it. I typed in "Make it Yourself Cookie Mixes Blog" and one thing came up Fake-It-Frugal

Here are some recipes off Fake-It-Frugal website:

Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookies:
1 Cup Flour
1/4 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1 Stick Softened Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix & Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes.

Betty Crocker Sugar Cookies:

1 1/2 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup White Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1 Stick Softened Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix & Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes. 

Betty Crocker Oatmeal Cookies:

1 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 1/2 Cup Rolled Oats
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Optional: 1/2 Cup Raisins and/or Nuts

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1 Stick Melted Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract.  Mix, Refrigerate for 30 Minutes & Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes. 

Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cookies:

1 3/4 Cup Flour

3/4 Cup Dark Brown Sugar

3/4 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1/2 Tablespoon Ground Ginger

1 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag.  Write instructions on the bag to add:  1/2 Stick Softened Butter, 1 Large Egg, 1/8 Cup Molasses.  Mix & Bake at 350°F for 9-11 minutes. 

Peanut Butter Cookies

Make a few extra sugar cookie mixes.

1 1/2 Cups Flour

3/4 Cup White Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Write on them "Peanut butter cookies" Add 1/2 Cup Butter, 1 large egg, 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract and 1/2 Cup Peanut butter.

Credit

Snicker Doodle Cookies

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 3/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar 

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 salt 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons cinnamon

Mix together and store in a quart size ziplock bag. Write instructions on the bag to add: 2 Large eggs and 1 cup Butter - Mix in this order: Sugar and Butter untill Fluffy, Eggs and Vanilla. On low speed, beat in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt until well combined, scraping bowl occasionally. In small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar-cinnamon mixture and place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Chill cookie mix for 15 minutes before putting on sheet. Bake at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, remove from pan immediately after baking. 

Okay, So is it really worth "Making It Yourself" and putting in a little effort now to save money later. Lets do the math!

The Make-It Yourself Breakdown: Make It Yourself Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes (Pantry Ingredients, Between $0.30-$0.40 each mix)

Total Fake-It Cost:  $3.20 (probably less) for 8 Cookie Mixes

Compare to Real Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes ($2.50+ each)

Total "Make It Yourself" Savings:  $16.80

Easy Cake Banana Bread

This morning i got a special request. More of a demand from my cousin-in-law Jim to make banana bread. Jokingly he says "In a hour please..." Well There were things that had to be done but i promised it to him. I used what i had. There is a simple recipe for cake flour Which is 1 cup Flour-2tbs .. then add 2 tbs corn starch. Simple but I wanted it to be even more easy.. So I grabbed some Yellow cake mix and threw something together. 

Note.. Try not to get the cake mix with pudding in it... it made it very thick.

Cake mix, 3 Eggs, 3 ripe bananas, Veg oil

Bowl With cake mix and add eggs and 1/3 cup oil

Mix it up... Excuse the monkey hands.

Mash your Three Bananas

Gently Fold in the bananas. 

Get some help Filling, We made them into cupcakes for easy portion control

350 F for 11-15 or untill golden brown

Here is what you need:

• 1  pkg cake mix (yellow, white, or I used butter pecan)
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup oil
• 1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl blend together the cake mix, eggs, oil, and bananas for 2 minutes.  Pour batter into a greased 5.25 x 9 x 2.75 loaf pan.
3. Bake for 40-50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
4. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and allow to cool completely.  Makes 1 large loaf.      

Total Cost for this: $.90 for the cake mix. $.25 for 3 eggs.  around $1.50 for everything!

Rachs Pasta Muffins

I always wait till the last minute to make dinner. That's because I don't know what I want that day. And I have a lot in my stock pile so I have a lot to chose from. I plan out meals during the week to go shopping but sometimes it takes me a week and a half to actually use that recipe. Tonight i asked my son what he wanted, we can always count oh him eating Angel Hair Pasta  with butter and Parmesan cheese with some carrots and fruit. I think he has become a vegetarian. For the past month he has not wanted to eat any meat what so ever. Back to the point of this entry. I am getting bored with everything I make, I feel like I eat the same thing all the time, but to night I wanted to make something different. I only used what I had on hand today...

I pulled this out of my fridge and pantry

What I had on hand were basic essentials that probably you have in your kitchen now. I was thinking "hrm... What can i make with Noodles, Pasta sauce, Brats, Cheese, and Grands Biscuits? Here is what I did...

Whisked My egg 

Add Pasta Sauce

Added Cheese

Kinda Looks like Jiffy

Cut my grands in 1/2

Placed Grands in Tins. Then Cooked Pasta On top

Add Your Pasta Sauce Creation. And Place Brats on Top

YUMMMY!!

It looks weird but it is actually good! It took 1 1/2 to fill me up! 

Rach's Pasta Muffins Break Down:

Grands- $.80 for 1 container(using coupons). I used 3 and cut them in 1/2  There are 8 in a package. That brings the price down to $.30

Pizza Sauce: $1.00 for a 24 oz jar. I used 4 oz brings my price to $.16

Noodles: $1.00 I used about $.15 worth

Brats: There are 6 brats in a package. I got the 6 for $1.65 (using coupons) 1.65/6=$.27 

Lets add this together: Dinner tonight cost me...

   .30+.16+.15+.27=  A whopping $.88!! For 6 servings! That is $.14 PER MUFFIN!!!!  Ill take it!

"Make it Yourself" Laundry Detergent

A friend of mine Melissa, has a family of 7. I went to her one day looking for some advice, how do i cut my monthly spending and bills? I knew if she could do it. I could to... So she told me she made he own laundry detergent. I kinda laughed in disbelief not really realizing you could do it yourself. So she sent me home with a bottle. Man was that stuff amazing! She told me " Go check it out on the Dugger Family Website" and get the recipe! 

Making your own laundry detergent has so many benefits! Some of those are; 

1.Its cheap! Each load can be about $.01 per load or less if you use sales and coupons! Compered to $.22 for the average name brand detergent. When you buy manufactured detergents you have no idea whats in there.

2.They put tons of complicated names and dyes which a lot of people are allergic to. Making your own laundry detergent can be like buying a container of DREFT for 3/4 the price. For all of those parents out there, we all know Dreft is awesome for your kids, but also very pricy.

3.You know what is in it!! It is natural!

4. I love the smell of Fels- Naphtha, It has a natural lemon clean smell to it. I have also tried Ivory and both work just the same! Actually, I find that home made laundry detergent makes my whites whiter and brighter!

5. These recipes are HE (high efficiency). Companies actually put in a chemical to make your cloths lather. And what they have on the shelf named "HE" actually all they are doing is taking that additive out.

To each is their own. Some people like the smell of tide, and if you are wanting to make your own, add a bottle of tide into your "Make it Yourself" Batch it will smell great but last you MONTHS! If you are really wanting to save your money making your own laundry detergent is the best way to go! You can make 10 Gallons of detergent for around $7.00 and most of that is a one time fee. I am going to add links to other recipes as well as post them. Some people don't need 10 gallons. 

Check them out below:

Here is the recipe:

• 1 Cup  Arm& hammer Washing Soda $3.49
• 1 Cup Borax (20 mule team) $3.59
• 1 Bar of Soap (ivory, Fels-Naptha, lever 2000)
•  5 Gal bucket w/ Lid
• Long Spoon

* Do not use a soap with lotions or heavy perfumes, The smell will become unbearable and to strong and the lotions wont set the detergent.*

1.Grate the bar of soap, Place it into a medium sauce pan with 6 cups of water, Bring to a boil and cook until there are no more Chunks.

2. Fill up your bucket 1/2 way with hot tap water.

3. Add your 1/2 cup of Borax and 1 cup washing soda

4. stir until it is dissolved.

5.When your soap is melted. Poor into the bucket. Stir.

6. Place lid on top and then let sit for 24 hours.

It should turn out like a gel. When you are ready to pour into your containers grab your hand held blender and blend and stir until it is even (you can even use a drill and stir attachment)

When filling up your container, Fill 1/2 way and add hot water to the rest.

Each load put in a 1/4 cup

Laundry Detergent Break Down: Do the math on your own laundry detergent. How much does it cost? How many loads per bottle? Is it HE? 

I did the math on our "HE" ALL we had been using for about 3 years. $11.39  a month (Sometimes more!) turns out to be $820.08 over 3 years. Okay to me that's pretty ridiculous! That is $273.36 A YEAR! WOW! I can think of so many things that are $270 a year! I could put that into my sons bank account, by the time he is 18 there would be $4920.48 ... Great to me so far! 

             Example:

All $11.29 – 96 loads per bottle, in one week if you end up doing 20 loads. $.11 x 20 = $2.35 x 4= $9.40 Compared to $.01 x 20= $.20 per week x 4 = $.80 a month!   

For Powdered Laundry Detergent 

Powdered Laundry Detergent 

•  1 ivory (fels-naptha) soap bar 
•  1 cup washing soda
•  ½ cup borax

Grate soap or microwave for 1 min or until powdered and gritty. Mix all ingredients together. Use a TBSP each load. Yield is 40 loads.

 *** pictures to be uploaded at a later date.***

Note: I have NO affiliation with any of the websites, TM names or stores listed above.

Make It Yourself Fabreze $0.15

I love febreze but i HATE the price (from $3.99-5.52 per bottle, Seriously?!) So I quit buying it about a year ago... I found this recipe at www.homemademamas.net and I had to add it... Changing the recipe a bit to fill the bottle I already had.

Frebreze bottle. (sorry about the dark picture)

To fill a 32 oz Febreze Spray Bottle:

• 1/8 Cup of Your Favorite Fabric Softener
• 2 Tablespoons Baking Soda

Baking Soda, Febreze Downy April Spring, Downy April Spring Fabric Softener

Hot Tap Water - To Fill the Bottle to the Top

Shake and then Spray!

It gets rid of the nasty smells on couches, carpet, sheets and more! The smell actually LASTS LONGER! Give it A try!!  

The Make it Your Self Febreze Breakdown:

fabric softener ( $.12-$.15 per 1 oz)

Baking soda- cant really count.



Note: I have no affiliation with any of the TM names, Websites, or Stores listed Above.

Make it Yourself Windex $.27

Once again i did not come up with this on my own. Fake- It Frugal has made my blog once again! This recipe is amazing! I cant wait to try it!!!

Here's what you need:

1 Empty Windex Spray Bottle

1/8 Cup (1oz) White Ammonia

1/4 Cup (4oz) Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol

1 Drop Laundry Detergent

Water - To Fill The Bottle 

Wow, its crazy that all you are paying for is water!

Use a 64 oz bottle of Ammonia and a 16 oz bottle of Rubbing Alcohol that you can pick up for $1.00 each at the Dollar Tree.  Wait till you see how cheap it is to make your own Windex:

Make-It Yourself Cost:
Ammonia $0.02
Alcohol $0.25

Total Cost For Windex: $0.27


This is what you are paying per bottle ....  $3.69
This is what you SHOULD be paying....   $0.25






Note: I have no affiliation with any of the TM names, Websites, or Stores listed Above.