Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

I'm finally reporting back on my money-slaving experiments!

First, home made shampoo is not my friend. As much as I want it to be, we just don't get along. I'm really not sure if it's just my fine, wavy, color-treated hair or simply my preference. In any event, I tried it and I didn't like it.  We will call that money-slaver an epic fail and move on to homemade makeup remover wipes.

Now, have you ever tried to cut a roll of paper towels in half? My photo above shows my personal challenge and the outcome. This is after using a high quality bread knife (not so sure of it's quality after this experiment). Please don't tell my husband, he's kind of a cooking knife freak, for lack of a better term.  Any-who, I completed that portion of the challenge and realized I couldn't turn back now. I placed one of the halves of paper towel in a rectangular container and added 4 cups of warm water mixed with some coconut oil, tea tree oil (to prevent mold), a small amount of facial cleanser, and a couple drops of essential oils that I had on hand.  My only complaint right now is that 4 cups of water is too much for the roll I'm using. Other than that, my face feels GREAT after I use them!

Finally, since my shampoo idea didn't work out for me, I decided to make my own toothpaste.  You can search 'home made toothpaste recipes' and find the one you like the most. I used baking powder, coconut oil, peppermint oil, and some vegetable glycerin.  Honestly, I love the way my teeth feel after using this stuff, so I will continue to make it.  I just store it in a tiny plastic container (shown in photo).

If you knew me, you would know that this was quite the effort on my part :)  Meaning, I'm kinda proud of myself LOL!

Have you ever tried any home made money slaving ideas?  I'd love to hear about it!

Money Slaver

In an effort to make money my slave (or stick to a budget) I've been looking for ways to simplify some everyday routines at home. For instance, I love the convenience of using makeup remover wipes to wash my face before bed, however the cost does not justify the convenience. Enter One Good Thing. This is a wonderful blog where I found a homemade recipe for makeup removing wipes. I plan to make these tonight and report back with the results.
Next question: Does my hair really need all of those products and that shampoo with so many ingredients that I can't pronounce? According to The Paleo Mom I just may need a little baking soda and some lemon juice instead of shampoo & conditioner. Will I try it? Why not? Talk about items that I can use elsewhere if I'm not happy with my locks. Not only that, The Paleo Mom says that she uses just plain water on most days to 'wash' her hair and that this routine isn't recommended for anyone who uses gels or mousse or other products. Cha-ching! That's even more money saved.
So, since it is Spring Break this week (meaning I probably won't run into very many people that I know - suddenly I can hear the song "Your So Vain" playing in the background) I'm going to give this healthy shampoo a try. Again, with the intent to report the results right here.
Will you join me?