Less than 10 days to go. I must say I am getting a little anxious for it to be over! For some reason this week was a little rough. I ran out of a few things at the end of last week and I have been trying to use substitutions but it is getting extremely frustrating.
For example, we ran out of dryer sheets. I have been using waded up balls of aluminum foil. That really didn't work so well. I posted suggestions on Facebook and got lots of responses to using vinegar in the rinse section. I did this too and am still having horrible static! It is so bad I can hardly stand to fold laundry. I finally went in to the store today and bought a bottle of generic liquid fabric softener. I am going to try using the spray bottle method. I'll let you know if that works!
Next we ran out of Pull-ups for my youngest boy. He only uses them at night because he has accidents. He has done really good for about a week. Now he has had 3 accidents in a row. Sigh....I am putting off buying any for now. We will try and work through this.
Warning this could be TMI, any man readers you may want to skip. I ran out of nursing pads. I decided instead of running to the store to buy any I would try and find a substitute. So, I started using pantyliners cut in half. Now these are pretty good when you are in a pinch. However for long term use, they just weren't working for me. After a week I caved and bought a box of nursing pads.
So today at Target we bought a box of nursing pads, liquid fabric softener, brown shoe laces for hubby's work shoes and a 2 liter of pop. Yes, I know, pop is not a necessity but my husband has made tremendous cut backs on his pop intake. I am so proud of him for this. He is used to drinking a 2 liter every couple days and he has only had about four 2 liters for the month! I keep thinking there could be worse things he could be addicted to. We spent $15.18. I am counting the pop toward our $30 allowed for groceries. So this leaves me with $7.92 for the month.
I am a little worried about getting through the remainder of the month with only $7.92. I am almost out of milk and have no fresh fruit left except for a few bananas and 2 oranges. This will be an interesting week.
i used to spray fabric softener on a washcloth reserved just for the dryer and it worked well.
ReplyDeleteJulie suggestion would work, or I dump some liquid fabric softener in an empty ice cream bucket, then add water to thin it out. I add at least one part water to one part fabric softener. Soak a sponge in this solution. I have a 3 pk of sponges I use, but washcloths will work too. Wring it out, but leave it damp and throw it in the dryer with a load of clothes. Good luck. You'll make it. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteProps to you for hanging in there. I have been using 2-3 tennis balls in the dryer in an effort to stop using fabric softener and dryer sheets. It's not great at stopping the static but it is not terrible either. The dry air doesn't help right now. I set a basket of clothes near the humidifier until I get around to folding them and fold near it too. It honestly seems to help. The tennis balls in the dryer also cut down on drying time.
ReplyDeleteGood suggestions everyone. I have just started using the liquid fabric softener diluted in the spray bottle. We will see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI made my own nursing pads out of 3 layers of white flannel and sewed them together. I used a purchased pad as a pattern. Then I would just wash them with the regular white laundry. A faint outline would only show when wearing tight shirts. Plus it was healthier for me since the fabric is more breathable than the purchased pads.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I hear you on the nursing pads, had to wear them constantly the entire time I nursed, which was about 4 years of my life. You are doing great! I am very impressed with how you have made do. We are hanging in there. The freezer is looking a little less full and I am mostly just buying the unbelievable sales and produce, dairy, bread, etc. Still within my budget goal ($200) though, so that is good.
ReplyDeleteI extend the life of my dryer sheets by ripping them in half, then using each half at least three times. I bought a 3 pack of dryer sheets from Sams club over 2 years ago and still have 2 left!
ReplyDeleteWaughs-I tear my dryer sheets in half also. The used ones I use for polishing the furniture!
ReplyDeleteYou should try making your own soda.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sustainableeats.com/2009/05/26/homemade-rhubarb-soda/
If you scroll down to the comments, you'll see that not only did they make rhubarb soda, they made other flavors as well. I've not tried this yet, but I intend to.
I breastfed for 8 consecutive years with 3 boys. Nursing pads were WAY too expensive. I bought a package or two of men's cotton handkerchiefs. Cut them in half. Folded them up. Soft and absorbent. Can wash out by hand. Worked quite well.
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