Life before 2008 11 Dec 2006 12:58 pm
A caveat and doing more…
LOL…I wanted to clarify and say that the “answer” I feel I received, that I need to “do more, not less” occurred within a context. Not always do I think that is the answer for a given situation, for instance (to Andy) there are many times that one is simply over taxed and needs to cut back, or (to Laura), when one is hyper-focused on an event in their life, like final exams, the answer can be to streamline to the extreme in order to get the task done.
I also am not any kind of morning person and so wrestled greatly with the idea that I needed to start the day earlier. It means sacrifice and discipline at the end of the day, which was typically less productive anyway, to go to bed at an hour that can accommodate that early rise time.
So while I had myself tied up in angsty knots over how to relieve myself of responsibilities, and finding that there were none in my life that could really be cut, I prayed both to God and the Theotokos, the heavenly mother who must surely have some idea of my struggle, and that’s the answer I got. Seeing that lots of times I pray and receive nothing so clear, rather than debate it, I took it to heart and set out to see what I could do about it. 
So…moving on. Other ways I’m doing “more”. David has taken over the bill keeping organization (THANK YOU DEARUMS!) and we have been having a running conversation about household inventory. That got me looking at some of my bigger expenditures and wondering what, if anything, could be done about them. At different times in my life I’ve done all sorts of empowering experiments, such as going months without paper products (yes all paper products and how free that can be!), making my own stuff, learning to do without, etc. I don’t always do them; for instance, I would not have considered doing cloth diapers during my three moves this year, or making my own laundry detergent while teaching co-op classes. But life is slowing down now and so in my winter cocoon I find I can do a bit, well, yes the word of the day, “more”.
Currently spent:
- disposable diapers $40 per month
- laundry detergent for 13 loads per week, $17 per month
- whole grain bread, 3 loaves per week, $36 per month
I have a fabulous cloth diaper collection, bought nearly entirely online through the years. All the supplies needed. I don’t want to use cloth (though it’s really not that difficult at all) at night or when out for a whole day, so I’m still buying disposables for that. My cost drops to: $15 per month. I also add in 2 loads of laundry per week.
I already talked about bread making this morning. I’ll make approx. 6 loaves per week. That is using 12 packets of yeast, unless I figure out “cake yeast”, and probably 2 bags of flour per week. Here’s where I need to do some work. Because at that rate, I am also spending $36 per month. The savings will only come if the flour and yeast are in bulk sizes.
Laundry detergent! I find this one to be thrilling! Making my own gives me 3qts. for about 5 cents. My supplies last for years. It’s amazing.
My recipe:
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 of 1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated (or use Ivory. I love that math ‘eh? But that’s how I do it. I cut the bar in thirds, then each third in half).
melt on low heat. Stir in:
1/4 c. borax
1/4 c. washing soda
stir until dissolved and slightly thickened. From here I use a recycled 3 qt. All Free and Clear bottle. Pour the thickened soap into the jug and sprinkle in about 10 or so drops of your favorite essential oil. I use Lemongrass and will probably get Lavendar next time but the stuff lasts forever. I’ve been on this bottle for 3 years and still have half of it left. Fill the jug slowly (so no suds bubble up) with hot water.
When it’s cool, it should have thickened to a kind of gloppy liquid. I use about half a cup for each load. I could double the batch and make it less often but I like to work in smaller quantities. Have a special pot, spoon, and measuring cup for soap making so as not to mix in with food-grade stuff.
I know I used to hear jokes about people making fun of women who go to the lengths of making their own soap. If you think it’s hilarious and unnecessary, more power to ya. This little step gets me closer to my goals, which are more important to me than buying laundry soap from Walmart.
on 11 Dec 2006 at 11:45 pm 1.Barbara said …
To lower the price you pay for yeast per loaf (or ounce, etc.), buy a jar of bread machine yeast. That’s definitely cheaper than the packets.
Or, if you’re already sure you’re going to bake yeast bread frequently, buy a pound of yeast at Sam’s Club or from the Baker’s Catalogue / King Arthur Flour.
When I consistently bake bread weekly, a pound of yeast lasts me about nine months. It costs $4-6 for 16 ounces, plus shipping if you order from http://www.kingarthurflour.com — and you store it in the freezer. I usually buy the SAF Red Instant, and I measure out the yeast directly from the freezer container. To replace a packet of yeast, I use a scant tablespoon of the bulk yeast.
Much, much cheaper than buying packets or the little bread machine yeast jars; I highly recommend it!
on 12 Dec 2006 at 10:50 am 2.Sarah K. said …
Ditto what Barbara said. It is much cheaper to buy in bulk, and even if you don’t make bread weekly the yeast will keep for a looong time in the freezer. The yeast I am currently using is two years old. I proof it first just to be sure it still works.
Local honey is also expensive. Aside from buying a 5 gallon pail from a neighbor, I can’t think of any way to reduce costs aside from starting your own hives.
As for flour…a 50 lb bag of wheat is around $15. You can order it or I can probably procure some for you (mine wouldn’t be organic). You are always welcome to use my wheat grinder. Freshly ground is sooo much better than store bought whole wheat flour. Freshly ground flour stores for a little while in the freezer too.
on 12 Dec 2006 at 11:15 am 3.Tia said …
THANK YOU Barbara for the yeast tip! That will really, really help the savings!
And good flour tip too Sarah. I need to compare the price of organic/non-organic at 3 Rivers and other places because with a lot of the bulk items, the cost difference hasn’t been that great.
As for honey, commerical honey can be nearly half corn syrup and the FDA does not require they state it as anything other than “Honey”. Local honey in bulk is one of those things I won’t bend on; plus the local pollen benefits are worth it to us not have the sniffles :-). I am hoping to get my own hives though….
on 12 Dec 2006 at 4:29 pm 4.gina said …
You amaze me Tia. I think I’m a pretty thrifty girl, but then I read a post like this and realize I have a way to go. Did I read a post a while back that you said you were also bringing in your own garbage to the landfill?- that is a huge savings that most people don’t realize. We actually burn our garbage first and bring in the ash. Only costs about $5 every two months. While I know it’s not the best for the air, our town doesn’t have an incinerator, just a landfill so I feel worse putting that much in a landfill. You go girl!
on 12 Dec 2006 at 4:40 pm 5.Tia said …
Gina if it’s fine ash it’s great garden compost! There is no pick up here so taking it ourselves is a must. But it’s only about half a mile away.
on 12 Dec 2006 at 11:12 pm 6.gina said …
Really, no pickup- wow! Do they have a problem down there with people dumping garbage in the woods or along the roads? Your town must be really small eh? Our ash is only fine like in the first month or so- then it gets harder to burn. I thought of putting the ash in the garden though as I had thought you said it would be a good weed inhibitor. I’ll have to get abitious with that next year.
on 14 Dec 2006 at 6:55 pm 7.Nickey said …
Hi, I just found your blog from Bread and Money and am enjoying it.
I was just curious why you don’t like using cloth diapers overnight? Have you tried pocket diapers? They are a very nice choice for overnight and long trips because they keep the baby dry and don’t leak like some kinds.
on 15 Dec 2006 at 11:31 am 8.Tia said …
Hi Nickey~ nice to meet you! I’ve used cloth at night for most of my cloth experience and I love my pocket dipes! I have a few fuzzibuns that are excellent! This baby though already has a rather rounded “back” LOL and a night system is not trim enough to not stretch out all his pj’s. He also is extremely rash prone and does better with disposable at night; my dd was the opposite, quite allergic to disposables.
on 04 Feb 2007 at 9:40 am 9.Sarah said …
Tia,
Got a quick question for you. You mentioned in your laundry soap recipe that you can use Ivory in place of Fels Naptha. Well, considering I’ve misplaced my Fels Naptha (how does that happen??) I bought some Ivory the other day since it’s so much easier to find. I was wondering if you use the same amount or if I need to increase the amoutn since I am using Ivory.
Thanks!
Sarah
on 07 Sep 2007 at 11:02 am 10.Sixgunsue said …
I know by now your babe is probably out of dipes but for anyone else who drops by, G diapers are a neat combo of cloth or disposable.
http://www.gdiapers.com/ I used them 10 yrs ago when the were called weenies and the were based in AU. But they fasten in the back. Awesome for strippers!
GOOD ON YA Mate!