I digress. We have a bill pay account, a spending account, and an online savings account that is not linked to any of our bank accounts. He puts money in the spending account for gas etc. and I now get cash for groceries, dining, and my personal "blow" money.
So today I attempted to keep track of all of this. I"m not gonna lie. For me it's stressful. I had four places to go today, with only one child, and at one point I couldn't find $100. Thankfully it was just stuck on the other side of my wallet behind a receipt so all is well. But I accomplished a lot with just one ragamuffin with me.
I went to Barnes and Noble, had lunch, got Reece's chore chart, new knitting magazine, and bible study book.
Walmart was next were I got a few groceries, jam making supplies, school supplies, paper products.
Next was Target for school supply buckets, baby wipes, and baby food.
Ended the day at Kroger for organic meet, dairy, and cereal.
At the end of the day I had $40 left. For TWO weeks! Yikes. I can see how we are always off budget now. I'm suddenly on the hunt for laundry detergent recipes, making my own baby wipes, and saving money in general.
Honestly, there is a tiny part of me that gets a high off of this. But a bigger part of me that finds this whole process overwhelming and stressful. Like I can barely keep up with things now and suddenly I am making all this stuff from scratch, keeping up with a wad of cash, and homeschooling soon. I'm a little stressed out by it. I am enjoying it. But I think when every thing is organized and in its place and we're on somewhat of a schedule I will feel a little more at peace about this.
The budget thing is really for Shane. My tactics stress him out and cause issues in our marriage and I am finally giving in and trying this. It's a lot more work for me that's for sure. But I am reading THE EXCELLENT WIFE and am convicted about it. I am sure once we've done this new budget thing for a couple of months I will be a "pro."
Anyone else doing this stuff? Leave me some comments of ways you save money or if you carry cash only.
Here's a new link I found:
http://diynatural.com/simple-easy-fast-effective-jabs-homemade-laundry-detergent/
3 comments:
I hate budgeting--so much...that's my comment. hahaha AND we need to start meeting for the Excellent Wife...i want to hear some of your convictions...talking will probably help us!
I started making detergent, it's easy. You make it once in awhile, buy a big jar from Ikea, set it on your dryer and it looks pretty. I started making it when I bought cloth diapers for Lil J's sensitive skin.
Borax
Washing Soda (not baking soda)
Fels Naptha Soap, grated
Essential Oils, (optional for aroma)
I just mix these dry ingredients together, I don't boil this stuff. Seems to work great, I've been doing this since the beginning of this year. And it is SOOOOOO cheap!
I had trouble finding the Fels Naptha Soap, I found it by the bar soap, not the laundry soap. Borax and Washing Soda are typically sold right by each other on the store shelf.
Don't be overwhelmed, James & I have made quite a few changes like this in the last year. Keep things on your calendar to remind you to make laundry soap or to remind you to spend a day making bread and store it in your freezer. Spend a day making a double batch of cookies, through some in freezer. If you spend your time doing something, double the recipe! That's my new thing!
Oh and here's a recipe for dishwasher detergent:
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/natural-dishwasher-powder
I've not done this but this seems to be the general recipe.
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