For the Thrifty Newbie--EASY ways to transition to a thrifty lifestyle!

[petuniajo]

I'm glad this thread is helpful! I just went up and added a few more odds and ends recipes that work well for breakfasts and/or snacks (granola bars and baked oatmeal).

Regarding mama cloth--ITA with the PP that as you make some changes, you will probably slowly make other changes you never thought you would! I thought the idea of mamacloth was disgusting when I first read about it . But after a couple of years of washing diapers and spit up rags and such, mama cloth didn't seem like such a big deal, lol!

[blueone]

The only reason I started mama cloth was because I hate tampons with a passion and regular pads made me itch. I'm so using them straight off after having a baby next time. I hate itching. They aren't all that gross either. I toss them in a wet bag and then put them through a rinse before washing with regular clothes. Same with family cloth, they all go through the initial rinse and then the wash.

However, my hubby doesn't know about either. He might suspect....but I have never told him.

[ArmyMommyTo3]

Great ideas, OP!

My DH was VERY against family cloth when I first brought it up to him, said he would never, ever use it and it was nasty. Then one day he ran out of TP and is okay with it now. I just have TP in the house for guests now, my cousin came over and FREAKED that I didn't have TP. I also use mama cloth, but DH never said anything about the switch, since he doesn't use it...

[Leanbh]

Such a helpful thread OP.

I'm all about the foam soap pumps too! With 5 and almost 6 in this house, we go through a ton of soap, so the foam pumpers make it last forever and kinda control the kids from using too much like in a regular pump. I use a big refill pouch/bottle and just fill about 1/8 of the foam bottle, rest water and that is MORE than enough.



Few things of my own:

Water bottles- spend the $ for decent water bottles(we love the thermos brand, keeps water cold for hours!) I don't leave the house without one, very rarely buy a cold drink out.

Don't flush every time - this I have my own method as kids bathroom seems to stink, so that I tell them to flush(not that they always do). Me, as pg I'm peeing practically water every hour so silly to flush everytime.

I've also put used plastic filled waterbottles in the cistern toilet tank.

Not sure if this really helps, but we'll see- I've just started to put wash on at night when I put kids to bed(8pm) and then put in dryer when I go to bed to avoid the high peak prices of electric. Obviously a clothes line would be better...... I do the diapers as you do.

Rewear some clothes- this is hard with kids esp as ODS will often have 2 outfits, if not 3 a day! But I really try to curtail him and get them to rewear pants at least and pj's. They have a habit of changing everynight(my bad).

Always, always look up a coupon code if you are ordering online.....and check if you can get cashback through ebates, esp with larger purchases or xmas.

Pack food if on an outing. I hate to spend $6 on a burget that taste's like cardboard at the zoo. DH not a fan of packed lunch, but kids and I don't mind a bit, I even pick up fun treats like ring pops at the store, instead of paying double or triple at a park, pool.



Looking forward to reading more tips!

[Leanbh]

Oh, I wash on coldwater too, unless it's main dipe wash or something nasty or sheets....

[ctj101502]

love this, especially the hair gel and a few of the recipes I am trying!

[purna079]

subbing..thanks mama!

[Bethany89]

Awesome thread!

[amcess721]

The cheer being discussed... is this powder or liquid that you're using for diapers? We use the tide powder ultra HE stuff and I'm not so impressed with it in our new (agitatorless) HE machine ... I miss the old clunker of a machine and the regular tide powder.

[Sweetpotatoesmom]

great tips, ty!