\n Are you looking for ways to save money? You’re not alone! It can be tough to
\n keep up with when you have surprise expenses.\n<\/p>\n
\n \u00a0By changing some of our daily habits, my family started to make some of
\n our household items instead of buy them to help use reduce waste, save money,
\n and frankly because it can be more convenient.\n<\/p>\n
\n I added the items on this list bit by bit over the years. Please do not think \n \u00a0In other words, this is a list of money saving ideas and options, not <\/p>\n \n \u00a0Growing up I was a Kool Aid kid. I didn\u2019t drink a lot of pop then and \n I insulated the reusable water bottles I already had with<\/i> \n Instead of buying taco seasoning, I make my own using my \u00a0 \u00a0Instead of paper towels all the time, I use old bath towels I cut down and ran \n I make my own laundry HE detergent because I couldn’t find one I liked in a \n \u00a0I make a 1 part vinegar 3 parts water kitchen counter cleaner that won\u2019t \n I also can jam and make liquid and bar soap as hobbies. Depending upon the \n \u00a0If I\u2019m going to go to the trouble of making jam, it\u2019s going to be \n \u00a0I mend our clothes and make alterations when needed. I\u2019m short and \n I even do some home renovations, like installing new toilets, light fixtures, \u00a0 \u00a0I grow some of my own herbs, use \n I made cloth face cleaning pads for home use (you can read \n \u00a0I make my own season salt and infused sugar for baking. You can \u00a0I even make emergency candles by pouring the last burn of my purchased jar After getting stuck in a multi day blackout with a ton of spent candles I swore I was going to melt into new candles and not having any candles to burn for \u00a0I make garden fertilizer by composting.\u00a0<\/p>\n Instead of buying \u00a0I make my own trail mix (read my Allergy Free Trail Mix Recipe here<\/a> ), I use vinegar as fabric softener and use washed tennis balls as dryer I make my own oatmeal packets and \u00a0It is more convenient to make
\n you have to make everything all at once! Sometimes I don\u2019t have to make more
\n of something because I made a bit too much the first time and we are still
\n going through it (looking at you Must Can All the Jam! <\/i>bender a few
\n years ago.) Other times, it\u2019s a one and done kind of thing like sewing on a
\n button, and sometimes I buy the item instead of making it (like yogurt)
\n because I\u2019m too busy with other life things to keep up with the supply and
\n demand.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n![\"27](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEixiLja-G7jyumbHCC1bv2cTmBx6oA39vUYd0gv7gYpG5YW2aeYPKy0SWi-WpjflWLe6WU9uuat-eysuI_IY7KJHbUc5OKxUQgtP7vvBtuv3m0K2VLJ-A95rZyuh5Vr3OGPDvc2GWQLU0XD9kbww3imoXuYW11frTRoAU8h4SgQewJOBk5xzz9x08pVYqjw\/s1500\/27%20things%20I%20make%20instead%20of%20buy%20to%20save%20money.png\" "\\"27")
<\/a><\/div>\n
\n absolutes.\u00a0
\n
\n now even less since I found most of it contains my food allergen. Ice water
\n became my drink of choice. Instead of buying bottled water, I have a water
\n filter under the sink
\n similar to this water filtration system<\/span><\/b><\/a>
\n . I use it to refill reusable water bottles and put them in the fridge for
\n convenience. (Disclosure: I am including affiliate links for your convenience<\/i>.) <\/p>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\n insulating reusable bottle covers you can buy here<\/span><\/b><\/a>
\n .
\n They have a bunch of cute covers to fit many sizes, shapes, and brands of
\n reusable water bottles.\u00a0<\/i> <\/p>\n
\n Best Taco Seasoning in the World Recipe here<\/a>. It tastes so much better because you can adjust the ingredient amounts to
\n your taste.\n<\/p>\n<\/a>\n<\/p>\n
\n a simple stitch around the edges to keep them from fraying. The towels are
\n more absorbent for mopping up counter top spills than paper towels.
\n Truthfully, I still keep paper towels on hand to clean pet messes and really
\n icky stuff but a roll lasts a long time.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n store. It takes 15 minutes to make enough to last 4-6 months and works great
\n for washing all types of clothes. You can
\n read my Make DIY Laundry Detergent for Cheap! recipe here.<\/a>\u00a0 Your mileage may vary on this one depending up the type of water and
\n washing machine you have. <\/p>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n Some of the photos in this post are courtesy of my
\n DIY blog Condo Blues<\/a>.<\/i>
\n<\/center><\/p>\n
\n damage my counters because they are laminate. Vinegar will <\/b> damage
\n natural stone and tile grout so once we replace the counter tops like have in
\n the bathrooms, I\u2019ll be buying all purpose kitchen cleaner again.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n ingredients you use to make these items vs sales\/coupons\/Ibotta rebates for
\n ready made (you can
\n learn more about Ibotta here<\/a>
\n <\/span><\/b>) this tip may not save you as much money making it as buying it on sale.\u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\n something fancier than I can buy. My
\n Cranberry Pineapple Jam Recipe here<\/a>
\n is one example.\u00a0<\/i>\n<\/p>\n
\n almost never in my life bought a pair of pants, skirt, or dress I didn\u2019t have
\n hem. Fortunately this is a one and done item that doesn\u2019t make very long to
\n do.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n insulating the garage, etc. The secret to my success is knowing what I can and
\n cannot safely fix which I learned at my father\u2019s knee, the school of
\n Hand Me That, Hold This<\/i>.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/a>\n<\/p>\n
\n Replacing a ripped window screen is fiddly but still simple, and much
\n cheaper than hiring someone to do the exact same thing! You can learn
\n How to Fix a Ripped Screen in a Door or Window the Quick and Easy Way
\n here<\/a>.<\/i> <\/center><\/p>\n
\n this exact Nesco dehydrator<\/span><\/b><\/a>
\n to dry them for winter. I use them make my own mint tea mixes but when it
\n comes to any other type of tea, I buy it. <\/p>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n I also like to use fresh herbs to flavor my tea like
\n my Lavender Iced Tea recipe here<\/a>.<\/i><\/center><\/p>\n
\n my How to Make Removable Makeup Remover Pads tutorial on my DIY blog Condo
\n Blues here<\/a>.)\u00a0 When I\u2019m traveling or in a show and don’t have access to a real
\n sink, I
\n use these makeup eraser towels\u00a0
\n <\/span><\/b><\/a>and follow that up by with
\n these makeup remover towelettes
\n <\/span><\/b><\/a>. <\/p>\n
\n read my Infused Lavender Sugar recipe here.<\/a>\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n candles into an old candle jar with a wick. (You can
\n buy candle wicks here <\/span><\/b><\/a>) If it\u2019s a scented candle, I\u2019ll often time the last burn to when I have time
\n to pour the leftover candle wax into my wax warmer to enjoy the scent a little
\n bit longer. Once the wax in the warmer loses its scent, it adds a layer to the blackout candle.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n light, I\u00a0 started making what we call Ugly Candles. They are not pretty. They
\n sometimes burn weird because they have layers of different wax types but are
\n nice to have on hand when the lights go out.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
\n expensive eyeglass cleaning spray, I make my own. You can learn How to Make Eyeglass cleaning spray here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n hummus (give my Best Ever Black Bean Hummus recipe a try here<\/a>),
\n and dog treats (read Lacey\u2019s favorite Dried Carrot Dog Treat Recipe here.<\/a> )\u00a0 <\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n
\n balls to replace fabric softener.\u00a0 <\/p>\n
\n cold brew coffee for travel. Traveling with my food allergy makes breakfast
\n sometimes hard to buy when I travel out of my bubble.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n moisturizing makeup brush cleaner to treat my brush bristles right
\nbecause I usually already have on hand everything I need to make it. You
\n can read on my DIY blog Condo Blues How to Clean Makeup Brushes and Sponges Naturally here<\/a> . <\/p>\n