Easy way to save money online! Best Cashback sites!

Online shopping has become my favorite!! I can find the best deal, get what I want quickly delivered to my door, and I don't have to pack up all the kiddos to do it!

As a lot of us are doing some last minute Christmas shopping right now, I thought I'd share my favorite tip to save money when shopping online....cash back sites!  I shop at my favorite stores (like Kohl's, Home depot, Amazon...) as usual, but when I go through a site listed below, they give me a percentage back on my purchase!
It's SO simple to do:

• Go to the cashback site
• Click on the store of your choice (each store offers a different cash back percentage)
• Do your shopping and they'll credit you with the cash....nothing to redeem, no forms to mail!

It adds up in your online account, and when it reaches a certain point (varies by site), a check is in the mail (or another payment if you choose)!  To make it even better, it's free to sign up and many offer a $5-$10 bonus when you sign up and make your first purchase...and you can pass on a referral link to help your friends save money too!

Here are my favorite cash back sites that I check *every time* I make an online purchase (and some highlights of each site)...

Ebates: $10 new member bonus, over 1,800 stores

Mr. Rebates: $5 new member bonus, over 2,000 stores

Shop At Home: $10 new member bonus, up to 70% cash back, 110% cash back guarantee

TopCashback: no minimum payout threshold

I usually do a quick check to see who's offering the most cash back that day since it varies.  I've gotten hundreds back in just a couple years (on things we've needed anyway!) which has been a huge blessing to my family!  This is my favorite and easiest way to save online!








(photo credit)

Review: Entertainment Book (and a great deal today!)

I recently had the chance to review an Entertainment book - a book chock full of coupons!
(this post was actually delayed because I misplaced it, couldn't find it anywhere, and was so sad thinking that someone had maybe thrown it out by accident!  But I found it, so all is well...)

It's a very popular coupon book that's been around for 50+ years, so you've probably seen or used it yourself!  There are coupons to save money on restaurants, local attractions, hotels, travel, groceries and more -- you can also get access to online and mobile savings through the website and mobile app.  I think the book is organized well, making it easy to find what your looking for.

We don't go out a whole lot, so I wasn't sure how useful it would be for us, but I was happily surprised!  There are so many different categories the Entertainment book covers - lots of things that we definitely do use.....food (so much food!), movies, mini-golfing, renting cars, hotels, groceries....and the book doesn't expire until the end of the year so you have plenty of time to take advantage of the many offers.

They have 126 local Entertainment editions, covering every major city throughout North America.  The edition I have is for Grand Rapids (about 45 miles from here), but I was happy to find we can still use most of the coupons!  Many of them are for chain restaurants and stores that we have here, and the ones that are further away are perfect for when we travel or the hubzy and I have a date night.

They're good quality coupons too -- it includes hundreds of 50% off and two-for-one discounts!  


If you're interested in getting your own, right now there's a great deal available.  For a limited time, their website is offering them for 50% off....orig. $35, now $17 -- and you can add a second book for $13!  Also,  Ebates is offering 16% cashback (double cashback right now!) on top of that! 
So your first book is less than $14.50, and a 2nd book (for you or a friend) is not even $11.



Bottom Line: I think it's a great buy.  It would be easy to get your money's worth out of it if you *only* were to use 1-2 coupons!  But, with the huge selection I have no doubt you'd use more, for some super savings! 
(It could also be an awesome gift idea for a friend who's moved to a new area!)



*This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

5 Tips to Start Your Garden -- for Cheap!

It's been too long since I've had a chance to write something fun here on the blog! (of course I've shared quick great deals, but I have missed actually writing!)  Here in West Michigan we're getting really tired of the months of blizzards and we are itching to get our garden started!  The hubzy and I have been doing a lot of talking, dreaming, and planning about warmer weather and what our goals are this year.

Last year was our families first "real" garden and overall it was a great success!  We had a good harvest, a few problems to learn from, and the kids *loved* being part of it all.  I was thrilled with the extremely cheap, delicious, organic veggies! 

There's just nothing like walking out your door (front door in our case), and grabbing handfuls of fresh broccoli, peppers, and tomatoes off the vine...still warm from the afternoon sun. ::sigh::

Jacob and Lucas helping Papa fill the raised beds

Our backyard raised beds and the kids helping - especially baby Levi 
(It didn't get enough sun to be very successful back here, but it was pretty!)

I've missed it dearly this winter, but the growing season is right around the corner and we aim to be more prepared this year.  There are lots of products and things you can buy to get started, but there are also really cheap DIY ideas to keep your costs low.  I thought I'd share some ideas we've seen and things we've found helpful....

Our first peppers! (bell, jalapeno, and something else, lol)

1. Work With What You Have - for a long time we didn't even attempt a garden because our backyard is all shade, and we were quite sure our city would have a problem with front yard gardens.  We gave them a call though and found out that there was nothing prohibiting it!  And as a bonus of creating a front yard garden, we've also gotten a chance to meet and talk to a lot of new neighbors in the process - win win!  ;)

First we assessed what we already had on hand.  Randy had recently rebuilt a deck and was able to bring the old deck pieces home.  We re-purposed the stairs for a tiered herb garden, used the porch railings for trellises, and we also used pallets for our raised beds.  (Later he turned most of the deck boards into beautiful bookcases for our office!)

Obviously everyone won't have an old deck lying around, lol, but do think about what you already have.  Also, you can look around for free supplies on Craigslist, freecycle, Facebook, friends...

Our first harvest!

2. Build Your Own Raised Beds - As we looked around, I found a lot of premade raised beds online (that I gravitated toward for the convenience factor).  My husband made our beds and tomato cages though for much cheaper, very much like they did in this raised bed tutorial.  If you're handy, it can be much cheaper to go this route.

We used the same ideas to layer, starting with the cardboard....
"Lay down a thick layer of brown corrugated cardboard (the plain stuff), or newspaper. Either is perfectly safe to use in the garden and will fully decompose, but not before killing any grass below it. They’ll also provide compost and food for worms."

3. Free Seed Starters - We took too long building our beds last year to be able to start from seed, so we bought almost all of our plants inexpensively at our farmers market.  You can save a lot of money though by starting from seeds.  If you plan on starting your own vegetable and flowers indoors to get a head start on the growing season, here are a few ways to use recycled materials to start for free...

• Toilet paper rolls
• Brown paper bags
• Cardboard egg cartons
• Eggshells
• Newspaper (or use this origami style)
• A combination of whatever you've got

(*Here's a great "how-to" when starting your seeds indoors!)



4. Companion Planting - learning about companion planting can make your garden much more successful!  Something as simple as planting certain plants next to others can deter pests, make them more flavorful, and make the most of your space!  You can learn a lot just by searching online, find a great book at the library, or get a good ebook about companion planting with great reviews here!

My hubby tending our front yard garden

5. Just Go For It! - we were hesitant at first because it had been so long since we had been part of a "real" garden, but we found that we learned so much along the way!  There is tons of information available at your fingertips online, and family and friends are happy to share what they know to help you along! 

We found wonderful gardening Facebook pages designed specifically for helping each other with questions, another with great information about saving seeds (which we did successfully!), and......we found that really it's not as intimidating as we thought.  =)
So, get started and enjoy the beauty of your own garden!

Some of our homemade tomato cages, along with cabbage and marigolds

Price of US Postage Stamps Going Up! January 27th, 2013 the USPS will Raise the Rates

I was just thinking yesterday that it's about time to expect to see stamps going up....and then I saw this press release from the USPS.

On January 27th First-Class stamps will be going from .45¢ to .46¢.  If you need stamps, now may be a great time to stock up on Forever stamps....if you get them before the 27th, you'll be saving money since "...Forever stamps are always good for mailing a one-ounce letter anytime in the future regardless of price changes."


Highlights of the new single-piece First-Class Mail pricing, effective Jan. 27, 2013 include:

• Letters (1oz.) — 1-cent increase to 46 cents
• Letters additional ounces — unchanged at 20 cents
• Letters to all international destinations (1oz.) — $1.10
• Postcards — 1-cent increase to 33 cents

DIY Homemade Dishwasher Detergent - Easy, Cheap, Works Great!

I was recently running out of dishwasher detergent and hadn't come across any great deals lately.  Not too long ago I made some more of our DIY laundry detergent (which I love!), so I thought I'd check out some recipes on Pinterest and see what I came up with for the dishwasher......and success!!

I've used it for about a month now to be sure it worked well before recommending it to you lovely readers, and I am loving it!!  It was so easy to make, and cheaper than store-bought detergent.  I got most of my inspiration from here and this is the recipe I used....

DIY Homemade Dishwashing Detergent

• 1 c. Borax
• 1 c. Washing Soda (or baking soda)
• 1/4 c. Citric Acid (often found with canning supplies)
• 1/4 c. kosher salt (I'm not sure if kosher vs. table makes a difference)

Simply mix these 4 ingredients and store in a container with a lid - done and done!  =)
To run a load, put 2 Tablespoons in the detergent compartment and add 3 drops of dish soap (like Dawn).

Also, add vinegar to your rinse agent/Jet-Dry dispenser.  *If you don't have a "rinse agent" compartment, you can just put about a 1/2 c. of vinegar into a small glass cup/bowl on your top shelf.

If you have hard water, you can double the citric acid.  The citric acid will sometimes cause it to clump, but I just left the container open and checked it every few days, breaking it up with a butter knife. After a week or so, it was fine and didn't clump anymore - YMMV.  I just give it a little shake now when I use it.

*I found the ingredients in Wal-Mart without a problem, but I included the links above to be able to buy them on Amazon in case you're not near a store, or just prefer it to show up on your doorstep.  =)

Groupon: 2-Hour Canoe Rental for 54% off! (West Michigan)

This is a really fun outdoorsy deal!  I've been wanting to try out kayaking/canoeing with my hubzy for a fun date, and this will be perfect! 
(There are a few days left to get this deal, but a limited quantity available, so grab it if you want it!)

If you're in the West Michigan area, you can head over to Groupon and get over half off this outdoor activity!  It's only $20 for a Two-Hour Canoe Rental ($45 value)! (it's under Grand Rapids, MI as the "featured deal")
"Up to two adults and one child aged 12 or younger can embark on a canoe trip along the Grand River and its adjacent waterways."

The Fine Print:

• Expires Aug 31, 2012
• Limit 3 per person. Subject to availability and weather conditions. Must redeem in full by expiration date listed on your Groupon. Must sign waiver. Must be 18 or older or have guardian's signature. Valid only for Bayou wildlife trip.
• See the rules that apply to all deals.

Easy DIY Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe!

A big pile of laundry was waiting for me today, but when I went to start the first load I discovered that one of the kids had used the last of the laundry soap.  "Make laundry detergent" was on my to-do list for a few weeks, but I had been putting it off -- so now was as good a time as any!

I usually use All Free and Clear, but the first time I made this I was thoroughly impressed!  It's so easy to make and extremely cheap -- about 1¢ a load (from cost breakdowns I've seen on other websites) -- compared to Tide at about 19-20¢/load from what I see on the Walmart website!

My toddler "helped me" test out the first load by wetting the bed -- "pee sheets" are some of the worst laundry loads I think.  It took out the smell beautifully and they smelled fresh and clean with just one regular cycle - no soaking or anything!  I was instantly won over.  =)


So this morning I got my supplies and helper together and whipped up another batch! 

The basic recipe:

• 1 c. Borax
• 1 c. Washing Soda (not the same as baking soda!)
• 1 bar soap, shredded (many recipes use Fels Naptha, but I've heard that it really doesn't matter, so I picked one that smelled great and was on sale)

I also added these optional ingredients:

• 1 c. Baking Soda
• 1 1/2 c. Purex Crystals (they smell amazing and soften your laundry without oil - so it doesn't ruin the wicking ability of towels and exercise apparel)

I shredded the bar of soap into a bowl with a microplane, then Emma helped me add the rest of the ingredients.
(Since then, I've also shredded it in a food processor after drying the bar on the counter for a few days.  Or if you use Ivory, you can try this cool trick in the microwave instead of shredding!)

I stirred it all together and then put it into the now empty Purex Crystals container.

I was going to use a pretty glass jar, but I thought the plastic bottle might be safer for the kids to use.

• I use 1 Tablespoon per load -- but if you have a really grubby load, you could go crazy and use 2 Tbs. for only 2¢!  ;)  (it may seem strange at first to use so little, but it has no fillers - only what it needs to do the job)
• It's important to note that this does not get sudsy -- commercial detergents have things added to make them get bubbly and "look" like they're working, but it's not the bubbles that do the cleaning 
• From my research, I've found that this works great and safely in HE (high efficiency) machines because it doesn't suds up
• I found the ingredients in the laundry aisle at WalMart (but if you want them shipped to you, I've included links to the products above to be able to buy them online also)

Pin it, share it, and let me know how you like it!   =)

Save Money by Contacting Companies About Their Products!

A friend of mine just reminded me of a GREAT money-saving tip: Contact companies when a product does not meet your expectations!  They want to make customers happy and want to know that they're providing a good product.....if something's wrong they will often make it right with a free product coupon.  With a simple phone call or email you give them valuable feedback and are usually rewarded for it.  An 800 number is often printed on the package, but you could also easily look up contact info online.

Here are just a few examples of companies that I've contacted with good results:

• VanKamp's - there were only 9 fillets in a 10ct box, so I called and they sent a free product coupon
• Pampers and Huggies - I have gotten quite a few free diaper packages when diapers are defective (tabs that come off, too many that leak, hard and scratchy liners....etc.)
• Clairol and L'Oreal - when the hair dye hasn't covered well or the bottle cracked, I've called and they've been kind enough to send replacement coupons

A couple tips to get the best results:
~ Be friendly.....even if you're unhappy with a product, be kind and courteous.
~ Remember that they'll want to know some information (like the expiration date, numbers stamped on the package, etc.), so if possible, keep the package to be the most helpful. 
~ I think this goes without saying, but honesty is key - it's perfectly ok to expect companies to stand behind their products, but don't call or email just to get free stuff.

AND, don't just call to complain -- I've gotten good response from companies when I've emailed/called about how much I LIKE their product too - sometimes they'll send cents off coupons, sometimes free product coupons, and I love to just let them know when they're doing a good job too.

FREE eBook on Amazon: "Let's Get Real About Money"! A $17.99 value!

Amazon is offering the "Let's Get Real About Money!:  Profit from the Habits of the Best Personal Finance Managers" e-book for Kindle for FREE!   ($17.99 value!)

• If you don’t have a Kindle, you can just download a free reading app from Amazon which will allow you to read this on your PC, iPad, iPhone, blackberry, android, Mac and more!
• Prices change often.....if it's still FREE the price will be listed as $0.00

 
"Worried about money? Join the club. Now, do something about it! One of America’s best-selling personal finance authors offers real, practical solutions that work: steps you can take right now to start replacing money anxiety with financial fulfillment and happiness. Eric Tyson gets straight to the point, identifying the habits that put you at risk–and helping you replace them with the habits of financial success. Tyson offers plain-English, no-gimmick techniques you can really use: knowledge you’d have to pay a fortune for, if you could get it at all!"


(thanks Freebies4Mom!)


You might also be interested in:
"NOW That's What I Call Music - Vol. 41" for ONLY .25¢!!

2 Minutes to Extend the Life of Your Dryer -- and Save Money on Utility Bills Too!

{these are not mine.....but a girl can dream right?}

I recently found this great pin on Pinterest called "17 Tips to Make Your Life Easier".  I was immediately interested and pinned it to check it out another day.  I finally got around to reading it and there were some great money and time saving nuggets in there!!

One of them was to make sure your clean your dryer's lint filter because dryer sheets create a waxy build-up and prevent the lint screen from working as well.  It keeps the damp air from escaping the dryer so it's less efficient.....running longer and using more energy/gas....which means more money out of your pocket!  AND, it can cause the heating unit to burn out, sending your dryer to appliance heaven....or even worse -- cause a fire!

{before washing the screen}

I thought I'd check this out on my own lint screen and it worked great!  When I first ran water onto the screen, it pooled and drained slowly.  It only took a minute or so to put some hot soapy water in the sink and scrub it with a toothbrush I reserve for doing dishes.  Then I rinsed the suds off and the water ran right through!  I can only imagine how much easier the air will pass through!

This discovery was perfectly timed, because the kids had just been mentioning that their laundry was coming out a little damp even after running a complete cycle.  I hadn't noticed that myself......but maybe that's because my baskets of laundry often sit for a few days.....so maybe they dry out by then?  ;)

{after cleaning it....see how the water goes right through?}

I'm looking forward to seeing if we notice a difference.  But even if we don't see the change, my mind is at ease knowing that it's running safer than before.  I thought I should share the tip with you to help you save money and extend the life of your appliance -- and, it's really quick and easy to do!  My favorite kind of super savings!  ;)




You might also be interested in:

• FREE Lysol Dual Action Disinfecting Wipes!
• 2 FREE Renuzit Fresh Accent air fresheners + a Moneymaker!
  
  

Menards Wrap-Up (2/11/12) ~ Saved 90%!

The hubzy and I ran to Menards yesterday for a few great rebate items, and I had a happy surprise of finding out that it was the first day they were offering an extra 11% rebate off every thing you buy!  So the FREE items I went in for became money makers, and the cheap things were even cheaper!  =)

The 11% off rebate is valid from 2/11/12 - 2/26/12.  These sales that I got go through today (2/12/12)......I'm not sure yet what the deals are these next couple weeks, but this rebate will make each one just a bit better for you!

*If you're new to Menards rebates, read how Menards rebates work.  You can save tons there - and not just on tools or building supplies....like you'll see below you can save big on food, clothing, hair dryers.....all kinds of stuff!

I bought:

• (1) Conair Infiniti hair dryer ($19.99, -$10 rebate = $9.99)
• (7) Shirts ($58, -$58 rebate = FREE)
• (2) Interlocking storage units (reg. $59.98, on sale for $35.98 and -$30 rebate = $5.98 for 2)
• (6) boxes of Cascadian Farms and (big!) Malt-o-Meal cereal (11.52 = $1.92 ea.)
• (1) box of Cascadian Farms granola bars ($2)

My final price would have been $29.49, but with that bonus 11% back rebate, it took another $14.02 off! 

Retail price: $151.49 (or higher**)
Sale price: $127.49
- Mail-in rebates: $112.02
= $15.47 total or 90% savings!

Not too shabby huh??  =)

**I didn't think to write down the "regular" prices while I was in the store, and the storage cubes are the only thing that have stickers.....so the percentage of savings would be higher in my numbers if I could have gone off of that instead of the sale price for most of these things

FREE eBook on Amazon: "How to Save More: 349 Tips to Help You Keep Your Hard Earned Cash"!

Amazon is offering the "How to Save More: 349 Tips to Help You Keep Your Hard Earned Cash" e-book for Kindle for FREE! 
Who couldn't use this book?  The reviews are good and it's been said a few times that the tips are not the "same old, same old" ways to save money.  Looking forward to reading it and seeing what the author has to say!

• If you don’t have a Kindle, you can just download a free reading app from Amazon which will allow you to read this on your PC, iPad, iPhone, blackberry, android, Mac and more!
• Prices change often.....if it's still FREE the price will be listed as $0.00

 
"  In '349 Ways to Save' you’ll learn about money saving tips both big and small that won’t affect your lifestyle and, over time, will save you an incredible amount of money. "


(thanks Frugal Girls!)

FREE eBook on Amazon: "51 Ways to Save Money and Still Have a Chic and Fabulous Wedding"!

Amazon is offering the "51 Ways to Save Money and Still Have a Chic and Fabulous Wedding" e-book for Kindle for FREE!

• If you don’t have a Kindle, you can just download a free reading app from Amazon which will allow you to read this on your PC, iPad, iPhone, blackberry, android, Mac and more!
• Prices change often.....if it's still FREE the price will be listed as $0.00

Description:
There are plenty of ways to save money on your wedding day. But chic and tasteful ones? '51 Ways to Save Money and Still Have a Chic and Fabulous Wedding!' introduces these to you in this entertaining how-to guide.

There's nothing tacky or distasteful here: just good old fashioned money saving tricks that you might not have thought of before. You'll save the price of this book, plus much much more!

If you want a chic and fabulous wedding, and still enter marriage with enough money to enjoy newly wed life, then this guide is for you!

(thanks Money Saving Mom!)

Friday Feature: Budget Bytes - a great site for saving money and delicious recipes!

I know I haven't had a 'Friday Feature' in a while, but this delightful discovery was too good not to share!

We were going to have a Mexican Chicken soup for dinner this week, but last minute realized that the chicken had passed it's prime.  =(   It was so disappointing!

Once I found out I was "chicken-less", I scanned the fridge and saw a pound of sausage.....so I did what anyone does at 6pm......I hit Pinterest looking for a quick family friendly soup recipe -- and as usual it came through!

Tonight I came across a picture of this delicious Sausage and Kale soup and clicked over to discover it was from Budget Bytes....have you guys heard of this site??
I found Budget Bytes last week when I tried Beth's Chili-Lime Pork Loin......it was fantastic and the leftovers made a delicious stir-fry! 

Recipe #2 was even better!  My family *loved* this Sausage and Kale soup - it even won over my anti-soup hubby!!  And at only $1.05 a serving it was a cheap, easy, delicious, filling dinner! 
*I did make a couple changes, just because of what I had.....I used ground pork sausage instead of sweet, omitted celery because we were out, and I thought I had the can of white beans it called for, but did not.  Not wanting to leave them out completely, I subbed a can of black beans and I can't imagine it was any worse for it!

I asked the kids how they liked it and they all said "Make it again!!".....well, all that speak anyway....Lucas just gobbled it up.  My oldest daughter said it could be dinner almost every night..... = family approved.  =)  


Budget Bytes is going to be a go-to from now on for recipes!  Oh, and besides the tastiness, she also has each recipe and each ingredient broken down by price so you know how much each meal will cost (or an idea at least since grocery prices obviously vary).  And if you want to make a recipe cheaper, you can see which part of it is the most expensive and make sure you get that item on sale or sub it for something cheaper.
Now go on over and check it out!!  =)

FREE eBook on Amazon - "The Coupon Diet"!

Amazon is offering the "The Coupon Diet" e-book for Kindle for FREE!  I often have people ask me if you can actually save money couponing and eat in a healthy way....I've always told them yes, and am interested to see what this eBook has to say about it!

• If you don’t have a Kindle, you can just download a free reading app from Amazon which will allow you to read this on your PC, iPad, iPhone, blackberry, android, Mac and more! Perfect for all of you that got a Kindle for Christmas, but also great if you didn't!
• Prices change often.....if it's still FREE the price will be listed as $0.00

"If you want to shave 25-50% off your grocery and household bills but don't want to resort to eating junk food, The Coupon Diet shows you how in a practical step-by-step guide that is informative and easy to understand. The Coupon Diet doesn't weigh you down with jargon and extravagant coupon methods, but instead offers you a simple approach to healthier eating using coupons."

(thanks Thrifty Wifey!)

Save .10¢/gallon of Gas at Murphy USA stations!

I know we all would love to save money on gas (especially during Summer vacation and traveling for the holiday), and it can be a tough item to find a deal for, so here you go!!  If you have a Murphy USA gas station (often attached to WalMart) near you, this is a great deal.

Through September 30th, save .10¢ on every gallon of gas when you pay with a reloadable Walmart gift card, reloadable Walmart MoneyCard® or Walmart credit card.  It would be pretty easy to grab a Walmart gift card and load it up with funds before pumping your gas to save some moola.
*If you're buying a gift card right before fueling up, make sure to ask about a waiting period, as some gift cards take 15 minutes or so to 'show' the money on it.

Check this out for more details and a list of participating states.

(thanks Family Friendly Frugality!)

DIY: Homemade Foaming Hand Soap

Do you have the same problem we do with hand soap?  Our littles love to use gobs and gobs of it and it seems that as soon as you put a new bottle out, it's gone again! 

Last year I was able to stop by a Bath and Body Works outlet store and found a great deal on some foaming hand soaps.  I noticed that the kids used it like normal, but it didn't seem to run out nearly as fast.  I looked up a few "recipes" online and decided to try making it ourselves.  This can be a great easy way to stretch your soap and save your money, even if you don't have little ones racing through it!

Since I have a plethora of free dishsoap from all the recent deals (*see below), I decided to use that for my soap.  I've also used a hand soap and it works great.

I got out the supplies: 

• Gain dish soap
• empty foaming dispenser

{I think you could use any soap you'd like - but do avoid the ones with 'beads' in it so it won't clog the pump}

Then poured just about 1/2 inch of soap into the bottle.
{I read that many people like anywhere from a 1:4 ratio to a 1:10 ratio - just play with it to see what you prefer}

Next, I slowly added hot water to the soap until it was about half full.  I ran it down the side of the bottle so it wouldn't foam up.  I gently swirled it to mix the soap and water.  Then slowly filled it the rest of the way up, making sure to leave enough room for the bottom of the pump to fit, and put the lid back on.

{Don't shake or swirl too much, or you may have a foam overload!  You could put the water in first, then the soap, which may help it not suds up, but I thought this was easier to be able to see how much soap was going in.  Just be gentle with it and you shouldn't have a problem.}

*At this point you can add essential oils if you want a particular scent, or tea tree oil to make it naturally anti-bacterial (some people have a problem with mildew growing in the bottle and tea tree oil will stop that -- I'm guessing that it's from the bottle not being completely clean, or maybe grubbies in the water).

Then we tested it out.  My girls helped with this part.  =)

Now our crazy stockpile of soap will last even longer!   ;)
{and before anybody starts "turning me in" to the "Extreme Couponing" show on TLC, know that I do share with friends and family, ha ha!  AND we have a family of 7, so that means a lot of dirty dishes!}

I love how quick and easy it was to whip up, and overall I'm quite happy with the results.  The foam is a little more watery than I'd like this time, but I might add more soap and see it that helps to make it a little "firmer".  Even adding more soap, it's still saving a lot of soap and money - and makes use of the soap I have on hand and I'm able to reuse the dispenser without paying for the expensive refills!

**Edit: Now I do add a bit more soap and it's been working great for months - it's a Super Savings!  ;)   It also works great with hand soap, body wash, shampoo, baby wash.....etc.  I used this method to refill a baby wash foaming pump with Johnson's Head to Toe and it's been working perfectly!


Have you tried this?  How did it turn out?  How do you save money with kids, or health and beauty items?