Homemade Laundry Detergent

So, another thing I thought would help my budget would be making my own detergents.  I saw a bunch of friends posting pictures of their 5 gallon buckets full of detergent that they made for next to nothing.  Last night, I made 5 gallons of laundry detergent based on the Duggar family's recipe.  SUPER easy, smells like heaven & did I mention CHEAP??

First you start out with your ingredients:

 5 gallon bucket with lid (obviously) ($5.00)
4 cups hot tap water
1 bar Fels-Naptha Soap ($1.25)
1/4 cup Borax ($5.00 for the box)
25 drops Lavender Essential oil (optional) ($11.00)
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda** ($1.00 for box)

**If you can't find Washing Soda, I found a way to convert baking soda into washing soda.  You measure out your Baking Soda, pour it into a glass dish & bake for 30 minutes on 400 degrees. It crystalizes & works every bit as well.

Grate Fels-Naptha & add to saucepan with water. Constantly stir over medium low heat until soap dissolves & melts.

Fill 5 gallon bucket halfway full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda & borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top, stir, cover & let sit overnight to thicken.

Stir & fill a used, clean laundry soap dispenser half full with soap & rest of the way with water.  Shake before each use (will gel).

Yields 5 gallons. 
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The bottle I'm going to use to fill with detergent is a 1.75 gallon bottle.  I'm estimating it's gonna save me somewhere in the neighborhood of $100+ because I buy detergent in the large bottles at Sam's and i'll only have to fill it halfway each time.

By the way, I used the Lavender and it smells like heaven.  I loved making this detergent & am looking forward to putting it to use shortly ;)

Success

Today I went to the grocery store to buy up stuff for a few meals this week.  I went with $50 cash in hand, rather than relying on my debit card like I normally do.  Usually, I get way too many groceries and spend way too much.  I had NO coupons (out of ink, story of my life). But I told my kids "No" several times & got out without going over =)  All this with meat, vegetables, cat and dog food.  I'm proud of myself.  Major accomplishment, maybe budgeting won't be a punishment after all ;)

Just wanted to give a mini update!

Resolutions.

So, I know just off the title alone, that the post is probably expected to be something I won't live up to.  I have made lists of resolutions year after year & given them up within the first week of the year.  This year is different, I have several reasons for wanting to stick to these.  I'll list them with the resolution.  And of course, I plan to blog on it ALL year.  

1) I plan to blog WAY more.  

Maybe daily.  I love interacting with mommies and getting and giving advice.  SO nice to see how we do things alike, and how we do them differently as well.  Also, I HOPE to eventually turn my blogging into writing & hopefully into an income.  My hopes are high but I have faith in myself.

2) I plan to stick to a strict budget.  

My hubby & I are trying to sell our current home & build our dream home.  I hope to be able to make these numbers work and make my Pinterest board for my home a reality!

3) I plan to coupon WAY MORE.  

As in, I hope to blog shortly with a grocery trip that I've saved 75% or more on.  Eventually I would love to ONLY be buying meat and things coupons aren't available on for my household.  Wiping that bill out of our budget or slashing it will make a tremendous difference for this household of 4.

4) I AM getting in shape.

Like right now.  I had surgery, as you know, December 2nd.  I go back to the doctor about my hernia January 7th.  I'm hoping that IF I need surgery, I can bounce back quickly.  I'm ready to be lifting weights and squatting with weight again.  

5) I plan to run my first 5K.

Today, I decided I felt well enough to add the C25K app on my iPhone again.  I started it and my legs feel just a tad like Jell-O.  Taking time off from running was silly, but necessary with all of my health issues.  As soon as I have a release from my doctors, I plan to train & make this a reality before the year is through.

6) I will attend my first (and hopefully not last) home school convention.

It's in March & it's right here at home.  I'm SO excited.  We have made HUGE progress since August and I'm hoping to continue homeschooling my babies until they reach college.  This year we picked from a few simple curriculums, but i'm hoping to find one I'd like to commit to =) Any suggestions ARE welcome ladies ;)

7) I Plan to be more organized.

Seriously, this is starting with my kids' room.  My cabinet for the kids' school is a mess however.  January 1st is a great time to start.

8) I want to stop hoarding stuff I don't use or won't need.

Craigslist, eBay, FB, yard sales.  It's going down.

These are just a few.  I have a few I'd like to keep to myself and work on without a soul knowing.  I'm just hoping I will stick to a few of these and be able to have something to show for it when December 31st 2014 rolls around ;)