In Search of the Perfect Stockings

I have yet to find a pair of stockings that are both economical, long lasting, and comfortable. So far I have tried L'eggs Silken Mist Control Top, L'eggs Profiles High Waist Mid-Thigh (never again!), and something by Hanes which I will share with you once I find the receipt. All are uncomfortable and/or don't last past one or two washes. There has got to be something better. I'll keep looking, and post my findings here.

AN EDUCATION

This book is one of my favorite resources.  It really got me thinking about the money I spend on various products, especially household cleaners.  Just as an example, I learned that 1 teaspoon of ammonia in a spray bottle of water will clean my mirrors just as well as Windex. A gallon of ammonia costs a dollar at the 99 Cents Only Store.  I add a couple of drops of blue food coloring to remind my housekeeper what it's for.  If you can't find the book at Costco, you can buy it new or used from Amazon.  I will include my experiments with recipes from this book as I give them a try.

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT (POWDER)

As promised, a recipe for laundry detergent that I compiled from multiple online sources.  This detergent is powder; the liquid stuff seems too messy to make and is more time consuming.  I've used this recipe to wash linens, towels, and rags.  I still use Woolite for most of my clothes; I should figure out how to make that as well.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 bar (or 1 cup) of laundry soap 

1 cup washing soda 

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup borax

INSTRUCTIONS

Shave soap with cheese grater into a large bowl or tub.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.  Use 1 tablespoon for regular loads or 2 for That's it!  So easy and it works.  

NOTES

Bars of laundry soap can be purchased at your local dollar store.  I used a brand called Zote.  I don't really like the smell, so I'll be choosing a different brand next time.  You can also use Dr. Bronner's castile soap bars or something called Fels Naphtha which I think you can buy on Amazon.

The washing soda wasn't sold in any of my local grocery stores, CVS, or Target, but I did find it at WalMart.  My recommendation would be to start there. 

I'm going to add a cup of Biz laundry booster to my next batch.  After making batch #1, I read "10 Things You Should Know Before Making Homemade Laundry Detergent" by Little House in the Suburbs  and discovered that Biz has enzymes that eat away at protein stains.  Not sure what a protein stain is, but I'd like my detergent to be able to remove one if needed.  

Thoughts, comments, and questions welcome. :)

ADJUSTING TO MODERATE-INCOME LIVING

So now that you know my sob story, I can get to the point of this blog: to document my survival in the land of moderate-income living.

I should start by mentioning that I made a few mistakes shortly after joining the adult world.  Assuming I was on my way to bigger and better things, I got myself a one bedroom apartment, two cats, and a $325/month car lease, all in short order.  And I bought the best makeup and the best clothes, all on credit cards, the whole nine yards.  Needless to say, "bigger and better things" didn't happen, and my hand-to-mouth high-life living caught up to me fast.  

It took years to learn how to be more responsible with my modest income.  It started by downsizing from that one bedroom apartment to a studio, where I have lived for the last four plus years with two cats (take it from me: not ideal!).  Then I weaned myself off of credit cards and learned how to live on money I actually had.  Finally, I began the road to saving money whenever I could to buy out that car lease.  I have just finished saving enough money to buy out my car with enough left over for emergency savings.  

I've come to enjoy learning different ways to save money.  I use coupons whenever possible and try to match them with sale prices whenever possible with guidance from Money Saving Mom.  I am learning to create home and health solutions with inexpensive ingredients which are coincidentally less harmful than store-bought goods.  I made laundry detergent for the first time last week using recipes I saw on various blogs.  It actually works!  I will post the recipe in a future post.

So I hope you'll stick with me as I continue my journey.  Stay tuned!

LIFESTYLE OF THE NOT-SO-FAMOUS

I come from a pretty comfortable background.  Growing up, I didn't want for anything.  It didn't take long for me to develop a very strong sense of entitlement.  As a young adult, I expected everything to be handed to me, just as almost everything always had been.

At the end of my senior year at Loyola Marymount University, a professor warned me that I would have a difficult time in the real world.  He had seen my sense of entitlement in action, as well as my expectation that everyone be treated with equal respect, regardless of almost any circumstance.  I was headed for what my professor called a "rude awakening."  

Five years into that real world and my sense of entitlement has all but disappeared with my self confidence. My expectations for success increasingly lessen as I remain in the same position as I had been when I first began working. I now realize that I do not have what it takes to accomplish greatness or to make a great fortune, so I prepare myself to live the rest of my life making do with a lifestyle less comfortable.