I did it yesterday...made my own laundry detergent. I spent 12.00 on ingredients for 400 loads of laundry. I usually spend 45.00 for 450 loads, so this is a huge savings. I think DH suspected I'd lost my mind as I stood there and grated 20 bars of soap, but after I explained to him that the price difference is about 3 hours of my take home pay and that will pay for a Chinese Food meal ordered in, well, the little lightbulb went on and he told me he was very proud of me...anything for an egg roll, I guess!

Anyways, I split all the money into envelopes (actually ziploc bags--no name ones, of course--because I don't want the money falling out and getting mixed up!) and took my treasure grocery shopping. We spent 215.00 which is huge BUT I now have dinners for the month and will only need to stock up on eggs, bread, milk and produce! Yay--I'm sure we can keep under 375 for the month, plus I have an extra 18.00 from last month to use.

DH happily took his 200 bucks and promptly went out and spent 80 at the bar and on Keno--spent the day with his Dad and siblings. I reminded him he was on his own after the 200 was gone...I am very curious to see the outcome of this. I suspect it won't be pretty. After he came home and complained because I didn't buy cans of beef barley soup (because I bought the ingredients to make it), I offered to let him be in charge of the grocery shopping and menu planning. He politely declined. This month is going to be fun, I can tell!

Today was 1 out of 14 no spend days...