Thrifty Thursday: Cost Effectiveness of Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Cost effectiveness of:  HOMEMADE DISHWASHER DETERGENT

I’ve seen various recipes for making your own dishwasher detergent.  All of them seem to have the same basic ingredients:

1 c Borax--$3.38 a box (75 oz), about 10.5 c/box=$0.32/cup

1 c Baking soda &/or Washing soda--baking soda 13.5 lb bag $5.62, about 25 c/bag ( 7oz/c),= $0.22/cup; washing soda 55 oz $3.24, about 6 c/box, =$0.54/c

1/4 to 1/2 c Epsom salt or kosher salt--epsom salt 10 lb $6.98, 1 c about 8 oz so about 20 c/box=$0.35/c

1/4 to 1/2 c citric acid, or fruit fresh or 2  .25 oz pk (.5 oz total) unsweetened lemonade kool-aid--lemi-shine 12 oz $3.66, about 1.75 c/container=$2.09/c; unsweetened kool-aid $0.20  for 2 pk or .5 oz (at 10 for $1)

and then using 1/2 to 1 c vinegar for rinsing--16 c/gallon $3.58 for 2 gallons=$0.11/cup

Use 2 T dry ingredients + 1/2 to 1 c vinegar  + 2 to 3 drops dawn per load 

Cheapest per load cost using homemade:  1 recipe makes about 35-40 T or 17-20 loads worth if using only 2 T per load.  This is using only baking soda, not washing soda in place of or in addition to the baking soda; also it uses epsom salt which was cheaper than kosher salt; and the cheapest kool-aid (generic brand):

1 c borax ($0.32)

1 c baking soda ($0.22)

1/4 c epsom salt ($0.35)

2 pk kool-aid ($0.20)

TOTAL to make:  $1.98;  

TOTAL cost per load (2 T/load):  about 10-12 cents without vinegar or liquid detergent drops

optional additions:  1/2 c vinegar ($0.06) per load, 2-3 drops liquid dish soap

Great Value Dishwasher Detergent, 75 oz $3.78 (if I remember right)-- 2 T/ load=about 5 cents a load.

SO....is it worth it to make your own dishwasher detergent?  Based on my calculations, it is actually cheaper to use Walmart's generic brand.  Is 2 T enough per load to get the dishes clean?  2 T fills up one dish detergent holder--not both the lidded and overflow holders.  So if you usually only fill up one detergent holder then 2 T will be enough, if you normally have to fill up both holders, then the pricer per load will be more.  You will have to determine if you are happy with one or both holders being filled, it will also depend on the type of dishes and the dirtiness of the dishes.

Other notes:

Each time I have tried making homemade dishwasher detergent, it does clump and harden together, so some scraping, banging, etc. is required to loosen it back up to actually use.  I've not had an issue with it actually cleaning the dishes though.

Vinegar and dawn are optional but do make a difference for glassware as shown on:  

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/homemade-dishwasher-detergent-revised.html)

Thrifty Thursday: Homemade Ricotta Cheese Cost Effectiveness

On Tuesday I shared a homemade ricotta recipe that uses dry milk.  So is it cost effective to make your own ricotta cheese?  Yes.  When I was at the store I priced 15 oz containers of ricotta to be around $1.80 on up in price.  According to my calculations, to make the equivalent amount at home costs around $1.25, give or take a few cents.  Using the current pricing of a can of dry milk from the LDS Home Storage Center ($8.60) the dry milk used in this recipe is about 67 cents according to my calculations, heavy cream is about 50 cents, salt 1 penny at most, vinegar about 6 cents.  So a total of:  $1.24.

Thrifty Thursday: Cheap Homemade Firestarters

I had some jar candles that I had used to the point where there was still wax in the jar but it was hard to light the wick anymore because it was near the bottom of the jar.  So.... I used a candle warmer to heat the wax to a liquid and dipped cotton rounds into them.  I then placed the rounds with the wet wax onto wax paper to dry and harden.  When I used them to start a fire while camping last year, they worked great.  I did crinkle them up a little, first, to make some cracks in the wax so the cotton could catch fire, but with the wax on them they didn't ignite and burn up right away, but rather did as they were supposed to and burned more slowly than simple newspaper or cotton without the wax would have.   I can't remember where I got the idea from--whether someone told me about it or read it, but after having tried it, I now have a way to use all my candle wax that is too low to enjoy as a candle.

Here are some pics of the process:

Thrifty Thursday: Ideas for Budgeting for Alternative Cooking

 Ideas for budgeting for cooking sources.  

--Watch for clearance, sales, used items.  I have seen sales on solar ovens almost every summer.  I’ve also seen camp stoves on clearance or at thrift stores.

--Ask for them for gifts when people ask about birthdays or Christmas gift ideas.

--Set aside money each month--however much you can handle per month, and plan 1-2 months beyond what you think you will need to buy whatever method you want--in case prices go up, so you can watch for sales and so if you need to buy fuel in addition to the stove/grill/oven, you have enough to buy some

--Make your own.  A simple stove can be made out of a #10 can, see this post for how I made mine.  A simple solar oven can be made using a car window reflector, see this post for how to make it.  Patterns and directions for making wonderbox ovens are available online, see this post for how I did it.

--Combine resources with neighbors and/or family that live close by.  See if you can get group rate pricing & shipping.  Or get together to combine skills & resources in making what each needs/wants.  Another option with this is to find others close by that might want to help chip in to buy or make a powerless cooking method that then can be shared amongst the families--just be sure to set up before hand who will store it, rules for use, etc. as you don’t want contention or grudges being held.

Thrifty Thursday: Using dry milk to make yogurt

Milky May...

What is the cost effectiveness of making homemade yogurt using dry milk?  One #10 can of dry milk can make about 48 c of yogurt ($0.18 per cup), about 21 c of greek yogurt ($0.41 per cup) or 15 c of yogurt cheese ($0.57 per cup).  What a savings!  Store bought yogurt can range from 40 cents (store brands) to 75 cents (name brands) regular price.  Greek yogurt is even costlier, coming on sale for $1 or regular price at Sams Club for about $0.81 and up per container.  And cream cheese regular price for store brand is about 1.30 up to about $2 for name brand cream cheese.  As far as sour cream, homemade yogurt or greek yogurt can be used in recipes calling for sour cream, thus saving money as sour cream can be anywhere from $1 on sale to $2 regular price.

The amounts listed above are based on my calculations when I made yogurt, greek yogurt and yogurt cheese using dry milk, using the recipe below & using the pricing for a can of dry milk from the LDS home storage centers March 2013 (about $8.60 a can).

Milky May Introduction

I've been slack on doing posts recently, but hopefully I'll be able to get back on track and post more often. I'll catch up a little today by sharing some cream soup recipes. This month, Milky May, I will focus on ideas, recipes, information, etc. that deals with dry milk.

So today, being Thrifty Thursday, I will share some costs associated with making homemade cream soups (like cream of chicken or cream of mushroom). I will share 3 cream soup recipes. Version 1 made from SOS Mix, version 2 from Magic Mix and version 3 made from white bean flour. All of these versions work great. The Magic Mix version is the more expensive option (because of the butter), and depending on sales and generic brands at the store you may be able to find a can of cream soup for cheaper at the store. With all of these versions it is great to know exactly what is going into your soup and to have a way to make cream soup quickly and easily at home if you don't have canned soup available. Have fun using your dry milk and food storage!

Now onto the recipes and costs:

Cream Soup using S.O.S Mix: costs about $0.31 to make the equivalent of 1 can of soup plus any meat or veggie addins. SOS Mix comes from the USU cooperative extension. Here is a link to a booklet containing recipes using it: http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/FNP_101.pdf

Soup or Sauce Mix (S.O.S) Mix

1 can of soup substitute recipe: 1/3 c SOS mix, 1/4 c cold water. 

Whisk until blended. Stir while cooking on the stovetop or microwave until thickens.

SOS Mix:
2 c dry milk powder, 3/4 c cornstarch, 1/4 c instant chicken bouillon, 2 T dried onion, 2 t Italian seasoning (optional)

Cream Soup using Magic Mix: costs about $1.15 to make the equivalent of 1 can of soup plus any meat or veggie addins. Magic Mix comes from the cooperative extension at USU, here is a handout that has it and recipes using it: http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/pub__3295363.pdf Another extension office at WSU has another handout: http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublications/em4693/em4693.pdf (this one doesn’t use butter in the mix, but in the recipes)

Magic Mix basic cream soup: 4 c water, 2 c magic mix, 1 cube or 1 t bouillon, chopped/mashed veggies or meat. Combine water and magic mix with bouillon in saucepan, heat over medium until slightly thick, add any veggies or meat.

Magic Mix:
2 1/3 c dry milk 1 c flour or 1/2 c cornstarch 1 c butter or marg softened

Combine until looks like coarse meal. Makes about 5 cups, keep in airtight container in fridge 6-8 months. If using instant dry milk use 4 cups. Using this magic mix, you can make white sauces, puddings, pudding pops, and more.

Cream Soup using White Bean Flour: costs about $0.24 to make the equivalent of 1 can of soup plus any meat or veggie addins. This cost is based on my calculations that 1/4 c of beans would be about 8 cents, and 1 t of bouillon would be about 4 cents. To see a video on how to make this, go to http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/2009/03/29/beans-the-magical-fruit/.

Cream of Chicken Soup
5 T ground white bean flour 1 3/4 c water 4 t chicken bouillon
Combine in saucepan and cook on medium about 3 min or more until thickened and heated through. Add any veggies or meat want and use in recipes calling for cream of chicken soup.

NOTES: set wheat grinder to course setting to grind beans. About 1/4 c of beans will grind into 5 T bean flour. This recipe originally came from Country Beans, a wonderful book about using beans.

Thrifty Thursday: Water Storage Container Comparison

April Showers:  Water Storage Container Comparisons

Below is a chart I originally put together back in 2011, but updated for this year.  Most things were either the same price or little change up or down.  There are many more water containers and such available than what is shown on the chart.  Simply search water on the Emergency Essentials website or Sams Club, etc. to find more information and products.

The cost per gallon listed is taking the initial cost of the item(s) and dividing it by the amount of gallons (128 oz) it holds or contains.  For instance the Emergency Essentials blue barrel cost of 75.95 divided by 55 gallons equals about $1.38 per gallon.  Another example:  The 40 pack of bottled water at Sams Club costs 3.98.  16.9 oz per bottle means there is 676 oz or about 5.28 gallons.  $3.98 divided by 5.28 is about $0.75 per gallon.  I set the price of the pop bottle being used for water as $0.00 because you are simply reusing a container that you bought for another purpose, the pop; but if you want to use the initial price of the pop--generic Kroger brands can cost around $0.69, then your cost per gallon is .69 divided by .53 (2 liters is about .53 of a gallon) which comes to about $1.30 per gallon (basically 2 2 liter bottles gives you one gallon of water).

These costs are based on regular prices.  If you can find a sale, the price will drop.

When considering what containers to use, initial cost is a factor.  But also consider how well it holds up--is it something that will have to be replaced within 1 to 2 years or something that will keep for 5, 10 or 20 years without a problem?  Also consider the space needed for the varying sizes of containers--some are really bulky others can be stored just about anywhere--under beds, closets, under couches that are raised by legs, etc.

conversions used:  128 oz in 1 gallon; about 3.79 liters in 1 gallon or about 33.8 oz in 1 liter

Thrifty Thursday: Shopping Tips for Health

Today I want to share some general ideas on shopping healthy.  These are ideas for anyone trying to be healthy but also ideas for someone who has specific health concerns like diabetes or heart health.  In all cases of health concerns, it is a great idea to talk to your doctor about a proper eating plan and lifestyle that will keep you living happier and healthier.

Make a list and stick to it.  Be sure to go shopping when you aren’t hungry.  Stock up on produce, and healthy dairy and lean meat items.  Read food labels--this helps you to compare items and know which one packs more nutritional punch.  One time when I did this I found the store brand cereal I was buying had better nutritional facts than the name brand cereal!  While looking at these labels look for high fiber, low sodium foods and the good kind of fats, go for more poly/mono unsaturated fats than saturated fats.  Think of the source of the carbs--are they highly processed/sugary carbs or whole grain carbs?  Choose lean proteins instead of high fat ones.  

When choosing food & drink items for a diabetic, whether yourself or another, it is important to learn what amounts of specific types of food/nutrients you should have, discuss this with the doctor.  The doctor or dietician can help you determine how much sodium, cholesterol, carbs, etc. you should have or shoot for.  When making changes, some you can immediately implement--like lower sodium/cholesterol foods, others you should make gradually--like if you need to increase fiber.  Be sure to shop for balance--you want a balance of fiber, protein and carbs.  Some foods & drinks will affect blood glucose more than others, so learn which are better to have and which to limit.  Nuts are an example of a high protein food that helps you feel full, but also doesn’t make your blood glucose go nuts.

General guidelines for fiber and sodium:  20-35 grams of fiber a day; less than 2,300 mg of sodium a day.  Talk to the doctor to find out what amounts to shoot for and follow that guideline.  Check your local hospital/doctor for more information and tips for maintaining control over diabetes (or other diseases), they may even have programs that would be helpful to attend like:  making low-sodium & low-cholesterol foods, or how to shop/cook for someone with diabetes.

Thrifty Thursday: Grocery Shopping with Kids Tips

Today I want to share ideas on how to still get the best deal when shopping with kids.  I say get the best deal and not just how to shop with kids because sometimes when shopping with antsy kids we too can get antsy and do more of a grab and go shopping trip and thus forget something or not get the best deals because we just grab not taking time to see if it is the lowest price per unit.

The first tip, whether shopping with kids or not, is to go with a list.  If possible, be as specific as possible--listing brands, prices, how much to get.  Example:  Kroger brand frozen corn .88/each (5).  The 5 in () indicates to get 5 packages of corn.  Why is this helpful?  Well, it allows you to do a quick shopping trip, but also if someone else in the family ends up being the one to do the shopping they know exactly what you were expecting/wanting.  Another thing that is helpful about being specific is you can know before hand what your total should be, and you have a ready made inventory of the items you are getting.  If you have older kids, have them help make the shopping list and be a part of budgeting the money for groceries.

Now on to specific things that might help when shopping with kids.

Give them a picture shopping list.  This gets them involved.  You can even make it a race to see who sees the items on their list first (give each kid a separate list if needed to keep contention at bay).  Here is an example using pictures of items in the sales flyer for Kroger this week (including the 3 day sale):

This type of shopping list can also be made into a bingo type game by rearranging the items for each kid, and then as items are added to the cart they can mark it off on their bingo card.  For little kids I would suggest connecting the crayon/pencil to the list.  Making a picture list:  If you get printed flyers, you can cut out the pictures of the things you want the kids to be in charge of; if you don't get printed flyers, you can copy and paste from online flyers and then print it out.

Another option for kids who can read is to scramble the items on your list or make other word games (crossword puzzles, wordsearches, etc)  See if they can beat you--you get the items while they figure out the word puzzles.  Or if they solve them in the car, then they can help get the items while in the store.  Or make their list of the snacky/treat items that can only be gotten if they figure out the word puzzles.  Here is an example:

(the answers are the same as the picture shopping list but with one more item added:  bread)

And if you are learning/teaching other languages, here is an example of a puzzle shopping list using ASL hand letters (answer key is first then the ASL shopping list).  This can also simply be used if you are learning/teaching ASL and they can practice the letters while you shop.

And a Spanish match shopping list:

Other games that can be played:  have your kids quiz you by asking you to figure out the cost per unit and which is cheaper, or how much something is when given only a % off, etc.; play the ABC or 123 game where you have to get the next letter or number before the other does (like the license plate game), see who can get to Z first or to 100.  Use terms/phrases in any foreign language that is being learned/taught.

Maps:  give or have the kids draw a map of the store and have them guide you to where you need to go.   Also, they can do this for the town--just be aware they may be telling you at every stop to turn or go straight...  But it is fun.

I hope these ideas are helpful in making shopping a better and funner experience for all.  Besides these hands on tips, it is very helpful to do the shopping when no one is hungry or tired.


NOTE 1:  The food images, as mentioned, are from the Kroger sales flyer for this week.  Here are the actual sale prices for these items:
Kroger bottled water 2.99; Kroger apple juice:  1.58; Kroger milk 3.69; Kroger cheese 1.99, 8 lb oranges 5.99; 8 lb russet potatoes 2.49;  Fuji or Braeburn apples 1.69/lb; Kroger frozen veggies .88; 1 dozen roses 18.99

NOTE 2: The ASL hand images are one of the fonts found on Fonts4Teachers by Educational Insights (ISBN: 1-56767-555-7).

Thrifty Thursday: Dining Out Tips

Thinking about dining out for Valentines day?  Here are some dining out tips to help the budget.

First, set a budget.  Determine what amount your budget for dining will be--whether it is $5 or $100 and stick to it!  You can stick to it by choosing restaurants and menu items based on the budget you have.  If you only have $5, then choose a place with menu items that are only $1 to $2 (remember to factor in any tax), most likely a fast food place.  If you have more to work with, again remember to factor in tax and tip.

Other tips:  lunch prices are generally cheaper than dinner prices, so go out for lunch instead of dinner.  Look for and use coupons.  Watch for deals like kids night where kids eat free, or buy one get one free deals, daily deals--by eating out on a different day and time than the actual Valentines Day holiday, you may save money.  Drink water and eat dessert at home.  Share the meal, order one entree and split it.

Happy Valentines Day!

Honeyvillegrain sale

If you sign up for Honeyvillegrain emails, you may already know that from Jan17-Jan22, you can get 15% off your entire order!   (that doesn't include the already awesomely low flat rate shipping).  But, if you haven't signed up to receive emails with deals and such,

Here are the details (from the email):

"We hope you're still holding true to those New Year's Resolutions. If building up your food storage pantry or a special new diet is part of your resolution, then we may be able to help. From now until Tuesday, January 22nd we're offering deep discounts (15% Off Your Entire Purchase*). Tell your friends and family!  Simply enter the coupon code "RESOLVE" during checkout. Shop online at store.honeyvillegrain.com  or visit a local Honeyville store near you for your 15% savings starting today."

Way cool!  Their prices are normally already great, but with these % off sales they periodically do, you get an even better deal.

So, as the email says:  "Tell your friends and family!"

Ok, so personally, in the past I have ordered and been amazed with their service and products.   I've tried both dried and freeze dried products--love the freeze dried blueberries!!!!--so yummy to add to yogurt with some cooked cracked or whole wheat berries and a few sunflower seeds for crunch.  The other products I have tried have been great too. I still always compare prices with other companies that sell food storage companies just to be sure before I buy anything, but for certain items, honeyville has often beat the other prices when shipping is included in the total cost.  There are certain items that are still a better deal at LDS home storage centers, or when Emergency Essentials does group specials on items (because group specials also qualify for free shipping); but honeyvillegrain's prices are pretty good, in general, for dried and freeze dried fruits and veggies.

Thrifty Thursday: Generic & Store Brands

Today I added to my low-country store deals tips & tricks.  I added a section about off-brand products because I was thinking about some of the name brand products on sale and how the prices compare to store brand or other brands.  I decided to add this section, because although many times getting a generic product will be cheaper than a name brand (at least at regular price); sometimes the generic product just doesn't perform as well or taste as well, so paying a little extra for something that will actually be used before it goes bad is worth it to me.  Many off brand products I have bought and used have performed/tasted as well or even better than the name brand, but occasionally I find an off brand that just doesn't hit the mark and therefore becomes a waste of money if not used-which if it doesn't do well I am less likely to use it.  So my suggestion is to always try the product before stocking up (at least a large amount).

Low-country store deals tip (any area shopping tip):

--Generic or store brands:  often generic and store brands are much cheaper than name brand products.  Depending on the type, the product can be almost the exact same as a name brand product, but it can also have a lot less likeness and quality.  Try the product before you stock up to be sure you will like it.  So, before stocking up on any product, name brand or generic, be sure you and your family will like it.  If your family can and will only eat a specific brand, then stock up on that kind--because let’s face it unless you are really in an emergency situation you probably won’t eat what you don’t like.

Thrifty Thursday: Hotel/Fun deals

Today I want to share some ideas on finding deals for hotels, attractions, and restaurants.

First off, there are many resources to find deals, online and otherwise.  Check local hotels and visitor centers for brochures for local attractions as these often have coupons.  The visitor center may be just a little desk/booth set inside or outside another building or store, or it may be a full-fledged visitor's center.  Check online for coupons or gift cards at discounted prices--simply put where you'd like to go and see if there are coupons available; many attractions/restaurants that have websites may have coupons available right on their own site.

If you live locally, you may have deals because of that:  some attractions have certain days or times that are discounted to locals, or discounted prices during the off-season.

Family Fare:  some attractions that allow you to purchase a family year pass can save you money if you plan to go more than once, plus many of these offer other discounts to other attractions or locations when you purchase a year pass.

Credit cards:  Some credit cards offer rewards, insurance and/or other incentives by reserving and using it to purchase airline tickets or for car rentals.  If your credit card offers insurance on a rental car, you won't have to add that onto the bill.  Also come credit cards offer cash or other rewards when you use it for eating out or other specific purchases.

Eating out:  many restaurants have kids eat free nights/times, find out when those are and plan your eating out for those nights.  Other restaurants offer specials during off-hours (not lunch or dinner rushes).  And if you have a favorite restaurant that is rather expensive, go during the usually less costly lunch time instead of dinner.  You may also find gift cards on-line or for a deal at the restaurant themselves--one instance I remember is a restaurant's Christmas deal that if you bought a $50 gift card you got a free $10 gift card--that's like being able to get 20% off a $50 meal--or free dessert:).

Be kind:  often you can ask for and receive a better price at hotels, car rentals, restaurants, etc. simply by asking for any specials or other discounts (perhaps you have a membership somewhere or insurances that offer discounts, sometimes hotels, stores, restaurants and other places also offer military, student, or elderly discounts).  Other times, simply by being kind, the manager or owner will reward you with a coupon for next time--it never hurts to be kind.

These are just a few ideas and examples that might help save some money when traveling and visiting attractions or eating out.

Thrifty Thursday: Alternative Cooking Fuel Costs

Today I want to share some costs per meal when it comes to alternative cooking fuels.  I hope these cost estimations help in planning what and how much of any kind of fuel you will use/store to cook without electricity (and thereby the methods you plan to use).  These are just estimations based on my own calculations, they aren’t fact.

I highly suggest using the sun as much as possible, and also making either a wonder box oven or an ice-chest insulating oven to conserve fuel--you’d only need to use enough fuel to bring the food to a boil, plus the time to bring the actual food to a boil temperature (example:  white rice 3-5 minutes, brown rice 10-15 minutes beyond the water boiling).  By using the sun and an insulating oven, you are able to cut down on the amount of fuel you will need--great for those with limited storage space!  Beyond these suggestions, I suggest a variety of methods--1 or 2 that can be used indoors, and 1 or 2 that can be used outdoors--because conditions and situations vary.  See Saturday's post for a handout on possible methods and fuels.

Cost effectiveness of some alternative cooking fuels:  solar energy (sunshine), charcoal, propane gas, butane gas, sterno fuel and Fired-Up (uses Insta-fire technology).  For these, I used prices obtained from Walmart (except the butane fuel &  Fired-Up).  If you find sales, go online, or go to Sam’s club you may find a better deal.

The SUN:  Solar ovens use energy from the sun to heat and cook food.  Beyond the initial cost of the solar oven, the fuel is free!  Each area has an average amount of sunny days.  In the coastal empire/low-country about 60-65% of the year is sunny on average.  Great odds for free cooking!  FUEL COST:  FREE!

CHARCOAL:  OUTDOOR use only.  Charcoal grills, dutch ovens, box ovens, can stoves and other grills can use charcoal.  FUEL COST:  Using Walmart’s price:  8.48 for 16.6 lbs--about 51 to 53 cents per meal-if using only about 18-20 charcoal per meal; if you are able to buy at Sam’s club or on sale this price will be less.  (Sam’s club sells 2-20 lb bags for 16.68--if each pound is about 1 meals worth than the cost per meal will be around 42 cents a meal)

  

Based on my own calculations, a 16.6 lb bag of Kingsford original charcoal has about 300-320 full briquettes  That makes for about 18-20 briquettes a pound--which is just right for 1 meal if just grilling, stick roasting or cooking.  So about 16 meals per 16.6 lb bag of charcoal or about a pound of charcoal per meal.

The amount of charcoal needed per meal varies on the type of cooking/baking you will be doing.  But in general plan for 15-50 charcoal per meal (more if dutch oven baking, less if just stick cooking, grilling or boiling water).  Depending on the brand and type of charcoal, each briquette can give off between 20-50*F (averaging around 35*F).

If using a 12” dutch oven, you will need 23-33 charcoal briquettes to cook/bake a dish(325-450* respectively).  If something needs to bake more than 1-2 hours you will need to add more charcoal.

Grills--depends on the size, but smaller portable/foldup grills need less charcoal.  Grills around and smaller than 14” use about 16-30 briquettes for direct grilling, larger grills (18-27”) can use upwards 40 to 80 briquettes at a time for direct grilling.

Box ovens:  to get a temperature of about 350* you will need 10-12 briquettes, adding more if baking long periods of time.

Can stoves:  10-12 briquettes for homemade ones, you can use more or less depending on how much heat you want and how long you want to cook.

PROPANE:  OUTDOOR use only.  Propane grills, camp stoves use propane.  1 lb of propane can give out about 22,000 BTUs (based on what I’ve read) or about 1-2 hours of burning on high or 4-6 hours of a simmer or burning on low.

Double burner campstove with 10000BTU per burner:  if burning on high on both burners, a small 1 lb propane canister will last about 1 hour, maybe a little more.  If burning on low on only one of the burners it could last up to 4 or 5 hours.  If 1 meal is 30 minutes worth of burning time (on high) on 1 burner, then about 4 meals worth out of one canister.  FUEL COST for those small green ~1 lb size tanks:  Walmart’s propane cost:  2 canisters for 5.37--about 2.69/tank.  About 67 cents per meal.  If both burners are needed on high for 30 minutes--only 2 meals per canister--or about $1.35/meal.

Gas grills:  each gas grill has a different BTU amount and a different amount of burners, so it will really vary how long a 15-20 lb propane tank will last.  But, from what I’ve read, a 20 lb propane tank can burn for around 366,000 to 430,000 BTUs.  If using only one burner at 15,000 BTUs, you could get about 20-28 meals out of a 20 lb tank.  FUEL COST for those white 15-20 lb tanks:   Walmart tank+gas:  43.92--about $2.20/meal (assuming you can get 20 meals out of the tank); Walmart exchange (you bring in your empty tank): 17.82-- about 89 cents per meal (again assuming 20 meals per tank).

PROPANE GAS/TANK NOTE:  These figures are based on what I have read, they aren’t fact, so just be aware, you may find you get more or less out of your tank.

BUTANE GAS:  WELL-VENTILATED areas use only.  Butane stoves use butane gas.  Locally, in the low-country, a butane stove can be bought for 33.75, and a fuel canister can be bought for 3.10.  One fuel canister can burn on high for 1-2 hours, or on simmer (low) for 4-5 hours.  FUEL COST:  If one meal is 30 minutes on high--cost per meal will be between $.78 and $1.55.  This is one of the more pricey fuels, but also one of the few that can be used indoors if it is well-ventilated.

STERNO GELLED FUEL:  WELL-VENTILATED areas use only.  Sterno fold up stoves, as well as other foldup stoves can use sterno canned fuel.  A 7 oz can of sterno fuel can burn for about 2 hours; a 2.6 oz can will burn for about 45 minutes (according to the sterno website:  http://www.sterno.com/pro/pages/faq.html  see for more information and FAQs)  Based on these figures, and my own timing that it takes a good 30 minutes just to bring a quart of water to boil, one sterno can of 7 oz will be enough for 2-3 meals.  FUEL COST:  Walmart sells 2 pack for 4.88--between about 81 cents and $1.22 per meal.  Online, they sell a 6 pack for 13.97 (.78 to $1.16 per meal).

FIRED UP:  OUTDOOR use, or if in fireplace or wood-burning stove--a well-ventilated area use.  Fold up stoves, and other small or portable grills/stoves work great for Fired Up, bigger stoves and grills will work, but more Fired Up will be required.  1-2 cups of Fired Up will burn for about 20-30 minutes--enough to bring water to a boil.   A #10 can of Fired Up at Emergency Essentials costs $11.95, there are about 12 cups in a can--so about 6 meals worth at 2 cups a meal. A four gallon bucket costs 47.95, which according to my calculations will have about 64 cups, or about 32 meals worth at 2 cups a meal.   FUEL COST for a #10 can of Fired Up:  $1.99/meal (when using 2 cups per meal); for a 4 gallon bucket of Fired Up:  $1.50/meal (when using 2 cups per meal).  These costs can be lessened if using only 1 cup (so to bring less water to a boil for less time, or to use as a starter for wood or charcoal).  I have found that 3 to 4 tablespoons works well in getting charcoal going in a charcoal chimney or homemade can stove, with periodic stirring.

Miscellaneous Monday: Coupon Courtesy

Today I wanted to share some thoughts that came to mind as I read an article from a savvy shopper about coupon lingo.  I wanted to share general coupon courtesy ideas.  I personally use some coupons but only occasionally on items that I know my family will use.  I combine the coupon with a sale price to save even more.  There have been times I've had more than one coupon that would've required more than one trip to the checkout lane, but the cashiers on hand simply let me ring up two transactions in one shot rather than having to wait in line multiple times, but this has only happened because I let them know before hand that I wanted to be able to use both coupons that day and was willing to go through twice to do so if they wanted me to, but since it wasn't too busy at the time, the cashier let me get the items and run two transactions without waiting in line twice.  It really does pay to be nice sometimes (in time anyway!).

Coupon Courtesy

Below are some ideas for those who choose to use coupons as a means to help save money. 

Alert customers behind you if you have a number of coupons so they can decide if they’d prefer to go to another checkout lane.

Know coupon lingo:  one per transaction, one per purchase, one per customer, one per day, etc. and abide by that, any size, excludes..., off two, off three, buy one get one free  (see here for the article that has the term descriptions of these terms and hints on each)

Have your coupons ready:  make sure you’ve checked any expiration dates, make sure the barcode is easily readable, make sure you’ve got the appropriate sizes/brands/amounts mentioned for each coupon, and have them out and ready once you are in the checkout lane

Know the store’s coupon policy.  Every store has their own policy and they can vary greatly from store to store.  This is the same for stores as far as price matching--some will price match sale prices from other stores while others won't; some will accept store coupons from other stores, some won't.  Some have limits to the amount of coupons that can be used per transaction, others don't.

If you will be buying a lot of an item (whether using coupons or not), it may be nicer to ask the department stocker/manager to bring some up from the back or otherwise ask for the quantity you desire to purchase so there is still some left for others and so that there don't become "holes" in the shelves where all of one type of item is completely out.  Once at Kroger the stocker who happened to be the one who ordered the cereal I wanted on sale, was more than happy to let me take off what they had in stock in back--the sale was because they were trying to get rid of some stock.  This allowed me to get the quantity I wanted while maintaining a few boxes on the shelf for others to enjoy the sale and keep a nice uniform appearance for the cereal aisle.  All it took was to ask!

Be kind.  Not all cashier's are familiar with coupons, or with their store's policy, not all customers behind you will want to wait for a load of coupons (patiently that is).  It is ok to ask for a manager who may know more, but be kind about it.  Also be kind by choosing shopping hours that may not be quite as busy or during times you know a cashier and manager on the job that do know the couponing ropes if you will be using a lot of coupons.  Be sure that other customers as well as the cashier recognize in a couponer someone who is smart with their money as well as their attitude.

Let the cashier know that you have coupons.  In some stores some cashiers are nice enough to bring coupons they won't personally use and will give them to customers to use or to alert customers about coupons in the flyers by the doors. (this has happened to me more than once at Publix.)

Side note:  Publix's motto/slogan is "where shopping is a pleasure", for me this has been totally true without exception when shopping at Publix.  I love the buy one get one free items, I don't think I've ever had an item ring up at the wrong price at Publix.  But beyond the sales, it is a pleasure to shop at Publix because employees from floor stockers to cashiers have always been happily helpful--they smile while helping and don't make me feel like I'm a bother by asking questions or taking time using coupons.

Thrifty Thursday: Homemade Laundry Detergent

There are many things that can be made at home to help save money.  One of those things is laundry detergent.  

I found an easy recipe for making some on www.howdoesshe.com, here.  I wanted to see if it really worked and how cost effective it was, here are my conclusions:

Yes, it does make the laundry smell good, no extra fabric softener needed (I did use the Purex crystals-but only half the amount, so it wasn’t overly strong, but still smelled good).  And it is much cheaper than using name brand powder laundry detergents.  Using a store or off brand detergent was comparable to this homemade version depending on the actual brand.  But once you add on buying fabric softener to make your laundry smell good, the homemade version becomes cheaper as it already helps laundry smell good.

Note:  The cost per load in () was calculated by taking the price of the product and dividing it by the advertised load amount on the box. If, using more detergent per load than the box indicates, price will be more per load.  The prices are from Walmart.

Tide 80 loads 17.97 (22 cents)

Gain 80 loads 15.47 (19 cents)

Sun 177 loads for 9.97 (6 cents)

Arm & hammer 185 loads 13.47 (7 cents)

Purex 30 loads 3.32 (11 cents)

Great Value 120 load 11.47 (10 cents)

As far as cost, when using 2 T  (~1 ounce) of the mixture per load, this is what I found:

The cheapest way I found was to buy the oxyclean (11 lbs for 14.98) and the baking soda at Sams (13.5 lbs for 6.68) then dividing it up to the appropriate weights mentioned in the recipe, and then buying the rest of the ingredients at Walmart (Borax for 3.38, A&H washing soda for 3.24, Fels-naptha soap for .97/ea (the stores around me don’t carry the Zote kind), Purex crystals 55 oz for 8.96)

without Purex crystals:  5 cents per load

with 28 oz of Purex crystals 6 cents per load

with 55 oz of Purex crystals 7 cents per load

If you buy all the ingredients at Walmart: (oxyclean--3 lbs for 7.52, baking soda--4 lbs for 2.12)

without Purex crystals:  7 cents per load

with 28 oz of Purex:  8 cents per load

with 55 oz of Purex: 8 cents per load (same as using 28 oz because of rounding)

These amounts are assuming that without Purex crystals this makes around 271 ounces of mixture and with 28 oz:  299 oz of mixture and with 55 oz:  326 oz of mixture (got these amounts simply by adding up the individual components weights).

Now, is 2 T enough for a large or super size load of laundry load?  I think yes, though if you want you could use 2 1/2 or 3 T for super size loads, but it isn’t necessary.  I used a washer that has a super setting and used both 2 and 3 T sizes for super loads, there didn’t seem to be much difference when I used the lower amount compared to the higher amount, both rendered the clothes looking and smelling just as clean as the other or compared to using store bought detergent (off-brand that is) combined with fabric softener.  And if using the small or medium load setting, you would of course decrease the amount of detergent.

The suggestion on howdoesshe to use the empty Purex container is a good one and the lines on the lid are as mentioned perfect for measuring your homemade laundry detergent.  Otherwise, I would suggest buying a 2 T measuring spoon (shown in picture above), they are very handy to have not only for homemade detergent but cooking as well (especially if you use powder eggs--as usually one egg worth of egg powder is 2 T).

Another suggestion, from the comments on that site is to dry out the soap shavings by letting them air dry over a few days, stirring them to make sure all shavings get dried and then pulse them into a powder in the blender before adding them to the mixture--I personally like that idea for mixing it into the rest of the powders better, but haven’t tried it, perhaps next time.