Ways To SAVE

As a family of five, surviving on a graduate student stipend is not easy.  We do our best to be wise with our money. At the same time, we don't let saving money prevent us from being "crunchy"!

Here are lists of ways you can save and be more eco/health conscious in different parts of your life, 

along with links to various sites that have 

helped me along the way!  

*This list is a work in progress*

ALWAYS SHOP SALES!  NEVER BUY FULL PRICE!

For the home:

• Homemade cleaning products

     Laundry Detergent  -  Laundry Detergent Recipes
     Stain Remover  -  Homemade Miracle Cleaner
     Whitener/Brightener (Eco Friendly Bleach Alternative)  -  Bleach Alternative Recipe
     Dishwasher Detergent  - Dishwasher Detergent Recipe
     Window/Glass Cleaner - Window Glass Cleaner Recipe
     Toilet Bowl Cleaner  -  Toilet Bowl Cleaner Recipe
     Clorox Wipes - Homemade Clorox Wipes

     Shower/Tub Cleaner - Tub and Shower Magic Recipe

• Cloth Re-usable Sandwich Bags sack lunches and snacks - Planet Wise Snack Line
• Washable Paper towel to replace disposable - Etsy Listing For Reuseable Papertowels
• Pick out recipes for meals each week and make a grocery list accordingly.  This will prevent you from dragging down each isle and throwing random stuff into the cart.  You will eat healthier and lower your grocery bill.  You will also not have cabinets and a refrigerator full of random food that can't be combined to make a meal.  LESS CLUTTER! :) 
• Don't replace things that aren't broken
• Learn basic car maintenance and do it yourself.  Ex. Change your own oil
• When landscaping, plant perennials and not annuals
• Instead of satellite or cable T.V., use a Roku or other streaming device - Roku
• Grow your own herbs

Personal Care Items: 

• Coconut Oil Moisturizer/Eye Cream
• Teeth Whitening
• Momma Cloth (I do not use, but would be an additional way to save)
• Diva Cup

Infants:

• Cloth Diapering - Nicki's Diapers, Ecological Babies, Cottonbabies
• Cloth Wipes & Wipe Solution - Cloth Wipes, Cloth Wipe Solution Recipes
• Coconut Oil Diaper Cream - Coconut Oil Diaper Cream Recipe
• Coconut Oil as Baby Cream 
• Breastfeeding - La Leche League
• Hand me downs/Consignment shop/Good Will clothing
• Homemade Baby Food = better nutrition for baby & less waste from baby food jars

Children:

• Hand me downs/Consignment shop/Good Will clothing & toys
• Provide timeless toys that can be passed down for generations and be used by kids of many age groups, ex: wooden blocks, tinker toys, Lincoln logs, legos, wooden trains, children's instruments, etc.