Helpful readers: I am in desperate need of your help. I am looking for a dish soap recipe and dishwasher soap recipe. As you are probably aware, I love making my own cleaning products. I have tried and tried to make my own dish soap and dishwasher detergent, but every time it either doesn’t work, or turns out horrible. I want to “be green” and also be frugal at the same time. Here are a few things I have tried. Dishwasher detergent recipes: Mix and use per dishwasher load: 1 Tablespoon Borax 1 Tablespoon Baking soda and 1 Tablespoon Borax 1 Tablespoon Washing soda These recipes never seemed to get my dishes clean! Dish Soap Recipes: I’ve also tried melting soaps down to a liquid consistency and then using those as dish soap. I have a ton of bars of soap that I wanted to use up. I used Dr. Bronner’s bar soaps, melted them, and then used it as dish soap. The problem is that it doesn’t lather up very well. It works fine for hand soap, but when [...]

Yesterday after I got off work I was craving macaroni and cheese. I decided I was going to stop at CVS to pick up a box. As I got to where the food was, there was a great debate: Kraft macaroni and cheese ($1.59) versus Velveeta Shells and Cheese ($3.19). I decided on the Velveeta Shells and Cheese because it sounded better, picked up my box, and made my way to the cash register. On the way, I was kicking myself because: 1. I just bought the more expensive box of macaroni and cheese and didn’t feel like depriving myself, and 2. I should stock up on these types of things while I do my normal grocery shopping. I’d save time, money, and gas. When I got up to the register, the girl asked me if I had some type of card. I told her no, and she scanned one, rang up my box of macaroni and cheese, and sent me on my way. I was a little disturbed she didn’t offer me a card. Of course on the flip [...]

Have you noticed that when you go into your local grocery store the age of greeters and workers seems to be increasing? I know from working at the bank the number of our older customers that are now working after being retired is increasing. I know we’re all living through this economic turndown, but many of us don’t realize the effect it has on retirees and those that are close to retiring. Heck, what about those of us who would like to retire one day? We’re being affected too because we can’t save as much! The other day at lunch I read this article about how people who are retired are having to cut back on their traveling. That triggered a thought in my mind: how many people as they are planning for their retirement actually consider the fact that inflation can sometimes go haywire? If you stop and think about it, these people have saved and saved for so many years, and they probably figured in inflation as well, but how can they predict (and cope) with something close [...]