Homemaking Organized Blog

Posts Tagged ‘frugal’

Tesco and Sainsburys own dishwashing liquid (Photo credit: Kai Hendry)

All these years I’ve been a dish soap hog.

I admit it.

I wash with wild abandon.

A dish doesn’t feel clean unless it’s been bathed in luxurious soapy hot water. Ten squirts at least. Sometimes needing a fresh squirt all it’s own.

I’m shameless.

Until I forgot to buy dish soap last week.  I was perilously on the edge. Only enough for, in my past washing excess, 2 days at most.

I decided to quickly mend my ways rather than make a run to the store. Or better yet beg my husband to pick up some on his way home.

I was determined to squeeze it out.

I thought about making some. And while that is a good idea I don’t have any castille soap on hand.   And since, remember, we’re not running to the store just yet I had to make do.

So three times a day I fill the sink with hot water and a few squirts of dish soap. Much less than my usual ten (I know I’m shameless). I start with cups first per vintage instructions, then move on to plates, cutlery (that’s what I call it) and finish off with pots.

OHMYGOODNESS! With this way of washing I still have enough dish soap for several days. I’m going shopping tomorrow so I will pick up some just to be on the safe side but I rather pleased with this new revelation that I CAN wash dishes without half a bottle of dish soap!

Achieve some of your New Year’s goals with help from Living On A Dime!

Many people make a New Year goal of getting out of debt, getting organized,
and/or making healthier meals for the family?

In an effort to give you a jump start on these goals and help you stay on course,
our friends at Living On A Dime have offered 18 of their most popular e-books to our
readers at a ridiculously low price until January 9th only!

This set includes e-books that show how to save money in the
kitchen, put together delicious and easy dinners, get and keep your
home organized, save money on kids activities, move on a budget,
save money on creative gifts and much more!

The Living On A Dime New Year’s e-book package will help you learn
new strategies to stretch your paycheck and fight high prices! The
great news is that Tawra is offering this package of 18 e-books to
our readers at $20, a discount of over 80% off of the value of
these e-books. With the rising price of gas and groceries, it’s
good to know that some prices are actually going down!

This is the lowest price Tawra has ever offered for these e-books,
but it’s only good until Monday, January 9th, so don’t delay!

Check it out at: Living on a Dime

We love salad but the lettuce always wilts too soon. I try to only shop once a week so this has been a bit of a bother. But! Alas! Working from a tip in one of Emilie Barnes’ books.
I now have been able to save my lettuce a full week (we eat it by then) without the inevitable wilt.

So here is my method…

You will need a plastic food bag. I use freezer bags because they are so much sturdier and I can wash and re-use them. Some paper towels and your preferred lettuce! Oh and water. Yes! To wash your lettuce in. Let us begin…

First wash and dry your lettuce. I actually fill my sink (after cleaning it) and dump all the lettuce in there. Swishing heavily. I then drain it on paper towels or the less wasteful me lays it out on waffle weave kitchen cloths (as above). I do have one of those windy things but it’s put away so far I want to get rid of it. Emily Barnes says put it in the spin cycle in your washing machine. I can’t do that. I have a front loader and if I did that my lettuce would be smoosh!

Next get your paper towels ready. These will be at the bottom of your bag.

I use about 2 nice thick ones from Costco.

Fold your paper towels in half and place them at the bottom of your bag.

Mine has been through a few washing as you can see.

Now place your semi dry leaves in the bag. Mine always have a few droplets of water still on them.

The paper towels serve to soak up that excess liquid.

The lettuce bagged and ready to go.

• Place two more folded paper towels on top and voila! Place the closed bag in your fridge and enjoy lettuce a wee bit longer.

Depending on how much lettuce I’ve worked with sometimes I’ll replace the paper towels mid week.

Enjoy!