Attention all Penny Pinchers!

So the hubby has been back to work now going on his third week. After being off for a little over 14 months he is thrilled to be working and getting out of the house, let alone having a paycheck coming in. We have been pinching penny's for almost the last 2 years, since finding out we were having Emma, when he was laid off right after she was born, and then again when my pay was cut 20%. I love finding new ways to save money, and don't think we will ever go back to the way were living before, it seems we were throwing money out the window at times.

Most of this stuff is common sense, but the biggest savings I found yet I saw on the today show. I just made my 3rd batch of this yesterday, and have spent around $11 on laundry soap in the past 5 months! plus I have given 2 jugs to my Mom and Dad! Its very easy to whip up and smells great. I even made up a load of our regular soap and then the homemade stuff and had a "smell test" for Justin and Erica and neither one of them could say which was which!
Homemade Laundry soap:
4 cups of water.
• 1/3 bar of Fels Napda laundry BAR soap, grated, or chopped up into small pieces.
• 1/2 cup washing soda (not baking soda).
• 1/2 cup of Borax (20 Mule Team).
• 5-gallon bucket for mixing.
• 3 gallons of water

Put chopped up Fels Napda and 4 cups of water in pan on stove until melted (add old reg body soap slivers for extra scents )
Put 3 gallons of water in bucket
Add washing soda and Borax
Add bar soap once melted
Put lid on 5 gallon bucket and shake up a bit
Let sit for 12 hours to get GEL consistency

All of these supplies are found at Meijer
Fels Napda is with the bar body soap $1.39
Borax (in aisle with laundry soap) $2.99
Washing soda (with Laundry soap) $2.99
5 gallon bucket with lid $3.99

some easier every day ideas...
Shampoo and Conditioner pumps
buy pumps for your hair care (or just get the ones with pumps on them) so you don't waste any (especially useful with kids who dump a handful every time)
Tooth paste
buy those neat squeezing gadget to get every drop out of your toothpaste

Paper products
I have only bought paper plates for Emma's Birthday party and a pack to take when we are camping. We do dishes anyways...whats a couple plates matter? plus we have considerably lightened our garbage load:)

Not Eating out is always the easiest way to save a bunch of money. But that doesn't mean you have to give up going out for special occasions...a lot of places around us have birthday specials when you sign up for Email updates. So check your favorite places and see if they participate.
These are the ones I am signed up for:
Texas Roadhouse is good for free appetizers a couple times a year along with a Birthday entree when you sign up for their email club:)
Red Robin....Free Burger, fries and small dessert
Baily's...in Troy and Livonia Free Entree when you buy one
Bagger Dave's...in Berkley... Free Burger and fries
Fuddruckers...Free 1/3 lb Burger with fries
Buffalo Wings Wings...Free Dessert and they have FANTASTIC chocolate cake:)

I'm always on the lookout for more money saving ideas, so if you have any, let me know!
Have fun pinching those penny's!!