Homemade Laundry Detergent

In my quest to minimize expenses and find product that are less harsh on the environment, I found TipNut with great recipes for homemade laundry detergent.

I was already to make some today, but then found a new container of store bought soap. So not to waste, I am going to use that up first. Then I will let you know how it goes. If you try it, let me know. You will not only save money (they are all super cheap ingredients), you will help then environment by limiting the amount of chemical agents that go into the earth, and limiting the use of plastics for the containers of the products (reuse those ones you have as many times as you can or leave it in a covered bucket).

And I am still hanging clothes on the line, which is a challenge with daily rain showers, but I am trying my best. I still have not fixed the dryer.

Buy In Bulk, Save More than Money!

We were in another city yesterday that fortunately has a Sam's Club. While we do not always save great amounts of money on the products, we usually save some. But what is better is you save on packaging for the products (because you are not buying all those little packages all wrapped individually). We bought in bulk things like baking soda and crackers, that came in larger packages, but overall less waste. Not to mention Sam's does not bag your groceries and uses the cardboard boxes, all good for the environment too! And we do save some money on the purchases...

All around, a good deal!

Some Great Brownies

I made homemade brownies this weekend for a party- so great! And so easy!

Then I took it and made it a "deceptively delicious" recipe today...

1/2 salted butter, melted
1/2 cup pureed butternut squash or sweet potato
1 c white sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
3 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour (unbleached flour)
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tbsp wheat germ
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Melt the butter. Cream with the puree and sugars. Add the eggs, flours, wheat germ, vanilla, and cocoa powder and mix until combined. Add chips and gently combine. Using a 9x9 pan (I used a stone), cook in preheated 350 degree oven for 20-30 minutes.

Yummy and almost healthy! My kids and hubby love them. And you cannot taste the squash at all!

My Savings Inventory:
1 box that the brownie mix would have come in
1 plastic bag the mix would have come in

The cost was probably close to buying brownie mix in the store since I used higher priced products. But I had everything in the pantry, fridge, and freezer already, so that saved the gas of going to the store. :)