maryavan's comments

New Uses for Washcloths - Blog Entry

18 Apr 2008 01:41 PM

We use a ton of washcloths and kitchen dishrags. We have ever since ds was a newborn and we were using cloth dipes. It seemed silly to use cloth diapers and have use a ton of paper towels just to dry my hands. Mainly we use them to dry hands in bathroom or in kitchen instead of paper towels. Washcloths can be used as pantyliners without being sewn. Just fold them in thirds or fourths one direction. When washing the load I'd add a few drops of tea tree oil to wash to help kill germs.

It doesn't even really add much work to our wash loads. It does save money over buying paper towels.

Family Entertainment Ideas that Will Not Break the Bank - Article

24 Jul 2007 12:54 PM

If you do have a membership in a local museum or zoo, check to see if it has reciprocal free admissions w/ other facilities. This can be a GREAT money saver when on vacation. Indy museums and zoo do not participate in the reciprocal programs (where we live). But in the past, when we knew we'd be in Florida multiple times where there were 4 participating zoos, we bought a family membership at a zoo 3hrs from our house. For only $55, we got into 4 zoos! Very good value! There is a large group of museums that also have a similar program. There are a lot of kid based museums around the country that belong--just not my museum.

Also, just a thought for anyone who has family memberships plus one or two free guests to a zoo or museum. We have a family plus 2 guests children's museum membership. For only $20 more a year than the reg. family membership, we can bring anyone in w/ us. Since the adult admission is 12.50 (no kidding), just one trip w/ the grandparents justifies the extra money.

Soooo....since we can bring ANY two people, a right we've paid for...plus the fact I think our adult rates are simply ridiculous... I sometimes "pick up" 2 adults in the ticket line when we don't have guests. We did this last Sunday. I am very shy, but find some nerve at the museum. I just approach strangers, explain we have the bonus membership, and offer to bring 2 adults in for free w/ us. All they have to do is walk through the checkin person w/ us. they buy the tickets for the kids. Then they are off their merry way. $25 savings can do a lot for a young family even if they just spend it on something else frivolous that day. $25 is lunch for the whole family,4 movie matinees, or $25 can buy the largest Carnegie dino in the gift shop.

Frugal Baby Care - Blog Entry

29 Nov 2006 11:18 PM

I can't wait to get my cloth diapers, cloth wipes, and covers out for the lil bug I'm expecting now!! Talk about saving money--I'm basically all set to diaper baby #2 from birth til potty training for under $30 (if covers elastics are okay)!! We will need to buy some dsq prefolds ONLY b/c a recommended detergent changed their formula and damaged the chinese prefolds from first baby. Otherwise, it would've been nearly nothing for diapering #2.

Cloth should also greatly reduce diaper rash--even more $$ saved by not needing diaper creams. We used what was supposed to be "disposable" Gerber diaper liners--they were reusable if washed w/ dipes but pulled out before the dryer. 1 1/2 boxes of liners lasted us 3 1/2 years! Another money saving tip for using cloth is to look at online auctions. There are great deals on used dipes and also on factory seconds on covers/wraps.

I'm not sure about using bleach on cloth rags or reusing them w/o washing in the machine. If you have lots (20-30) you can just use them once and put them to be laundered. You only need them for poopy dipes usually. Don't use bleach on cloth dipes. If you are using cloth diapers, you just throw the rags w/ the diapers and wash/dry together. The only extra work is folding them. Once I found the washing combination that worked for ds, using cloth was a breeze. DH even liked it. It is simple and saves so much money when it all is added up. Plus the waste won't sit in the ground for centuries.