What we don't buy anymore...

It is amazing what you realize you can very comfortably do without. I no longer buy paper towels, napkins, dryer sheets, store made cleaning products (see posted recipes under "penny pinching") or baby wipes. We aren't religious about it or anything... if we have a large get together I may buy napkins for that, but really, a cloth towel works just fine, or cloth napkin. Dryer sheets I have recently learned about how awful/toxic they are (you make them more toxic by heating them up!) and who knew that laundry isn't any different without it! (I sure didn't... I thought for sure everything would cling to me like glue... but alas, I can't even tell the difference...) It is amazing how much I save when going to the store to not be buying anything but food. (fancy that!) These things really do add up, especially with a toddler who would use nearly an entire roll of paper towels to clean up a small spill, or when we do about 10-15 loads of laundry a week. I also now delute hand soap. Truly, about 50/50 fifty percent water and fifty percent liquid soap... still get a good lather, lasts twice as long! I am still working at perfecting my shampoo and lotion/cream recipies... it is a lot of chemistry and I am awful at chemistry! I will post those recipes when I am happy with them!