Pinterest Project #4 - Cleaning

I made wool dryer balls!  They are supposed to fluff the clothes and reduce static cling in the dryer.  Apparently using dryer sheets can be bad for your dryer with the build up of film it leaves on everything, making the lint filter less functional over time.  Mostly I wanted to make these to save money, so I don't have to keep buying boxes of dryer sheets.  I plan on adding some drops of essential oil to them to give a scent to the clothes once they've been through the dryer.  And apparently you have to be careful when you go for the knock-off stuff of the oil...  Some are just for smelling and not for clothes or skin.  Could ruin the clothes.  Sooo I'll probably get the real stuff.  I hear you only need a couple drops for whatever you're using it on so the bottle, though pricey, lasts quite a while.

Here they are!

When I took the load of laundry out of the dryer just now I didn't notice any static coming from the clothes, and there usually is static.  So it seems like so far so good!

I used these two how-to blog posts for references on making these:

Imperfect Homemaking
How To Make Do

I used them both as my tutorial, pulling things from each that I liked or wanted to do:

- I DID NOT crochet the beginning of the balls, even though I do know how to crochet.  I DID wind it instead, and it was super simple.

- I DID NOT felt the balls in between stages (make a small ball and felt, then make it bigger and felt it again).  I DID just wind it all up to the size I wanted it to be and then felted them.

Thank you Pinterest!

Pinterest Project #3 - Cleaning

Cleaning the washing machine.

Boy what a task it was!

But so worth it.

We got our washer and dryer from a foreclosed house 2 and a half years ago, which had been sitting in Adam's parents' garage since then until we moved into our house recently.  The washer was a little yucky and smelled weird.  So after finding these pins and websites I set out to clean it:

Somewhat Simple - How to Clean Your Washing Machine
One Good Thing by Jillee - How to Clean Your (Top Loader) Washing Machine

I did kind of a mix between these two references.  I did 2 cups of each vinegar and bleach (separately!!) instead of 2 quarts or whatever crazy amount the other suggests, and did vinegar first and then bleach.  I used lots of q-tips for the nooks and crannies like one of them suggests but had to use some toothpicks as well (it was that bad).  I also did what one says about taking off the liquid bleach dispenser and also the "filter" or fabric softener thing on the top of the agitator and soaked them in half water, half vinegar.  It got them nice and clean!  I could only clean half of the top of the tub because there is a loose spring at the bottom of the washer we need to fix (next on the list) so the tub isn't centered but I did what I could and it is sooooooooooooo much better!  It doesn't stink a whole lot (there's probably more cleaning that needs to be done in other areas I can't get to yet... eek) and I just feel a lot better about washing my clothes in it now that I know it's clean.  Sorry, no pictures.  I wanted to spare you the nastiness.  And I was a little embarrassed.  Although it wasn't my mess.  Suffice it to say that it looks clean now and I am happy about it.  :)

Some Money Savin' Tips

I'm no expert, but I'm learning and so I wanted to share!

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Money Saving Tip #1 - Don't spend more than you earn.  This is a no-brainer but apparently lots of people have trouble with this concept.

Money Saving Tip #2 - Create a budget and STICK TO IT.  Make realistic and reasonable goals for how much you want to spend on certain things each month.

Money Saving Tip #3 - Coupons.  (This includes ad-matching.)  But don't buy things you don't normally buy just because you found a coupon for it.  I am a super beginner when it comes to coupons, but I'm trying to learn little by little!

Money Saving Tip #4 - Make a grocery shopping list before you go to the store.  Sounds too easy, right?  But it really does help!

Money Saving Tip #5 - Add up your groceries while you shop.  That way you can make sure to stay on track with your budget.

Money Saving Tip #6 - Keep a price log - of the things you buy and from what store.  This sounded hard and time-consuming when I first heard of it but Adam and I did it tonight and it is pretty simple!  Just write the current prices while you shop next to each item on your shopping list.  And then transfer it to an Excel spreadsheet when you get home.

Money Saving Tip #7 - Don't buy too many things you don't need.  I like to say we each can get one extra item, or maybe get as many extra items that doesn't exceed X amount each shopping trip.  We can live being frugle without living like we're poor!

Money Saving Tip #8 - CHECK THE RECIPT before you leave the store!  Silly?  Not so!  Just tonight Adam and I found we were charged double for something of which we only bought one.  Who knows how many other times that has happened!  Every dollar counts.

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And there you have it.

We are striving for better spending trends, and I feel like we're on a good track!

Do you have any tips of your own?