Two Toiletry Tips-Little Ways to Save

1. When I was growing up there were lots of toothpaste commercials out there showing a HUGE sparkly, shiny, nicely formed glob of toothpaste on a toothbrush. Something like this: Photo found at Clker.com

Well, until I married my business minded husband who has a keen eye for marketing techniques, it never occurred to me that you really didn't need that much toothpaste on your brush. I was the ideal consumer I guess, because I never thought about it. I just mindlessly loaded my little toothbrush with a nice big glob of paste every time! My husband still chuckles at me sometimes, because old habits die hard, especially ones that were done subconsciously! 'Nuf said about that one.

2. Next up: SOAP. Body wash became very popular in my college years, so much so that it was unusual to see classmates using bar soap for bathing.
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I used it too, again, without putting much thought into it. Eventually, however, I began to realize how much of that stuff I used at a time and how quickly I went through it. I don't know that it's strategic from a marketing stand point, but I do think that unless someone is consciously making an effort to use small amounts at a time, just by nature of it being liquid it is extremely easy to overuse. On the other hand, bar soap is very difficult to use wastefully!

Oh, and do I need to mention that it's a lot cheaper and cuts down on unnecessary packaging?

For more Frugal Friday posts, visit Life As Mom!

Menu Plan Monday

Don't forget to enter my More With Less cookbook giveaway HERE! EASY recipes that help you eat LESS PROCESSED FOODS. Our home has become at least 70% non-processed in just a matter of weeks thanks to this book! NOW OPEN TO CANADIAN READERS AS WELL!!!!

I'm trying to get settled back into a routine since my husband just returned from Haiti Saturday. There is MUCH to do this week, so I'm going to try to keep it simple. I had said that I would plan all three meals plus baby food this week, which I will do informally, but there is so much to do I cannot craft a post about it this week. So for now I'll just post dinner entrees that will not necessarily be in this order! Most entrees will be accompanied by spinach salad with our yummy homemade salad dressing!

Monday: Spaghetti

Tuesday: Soybean Casserole (More With Less, pg. 110) This will use homemade breadcrumbs which I have a good supply of.

Wednesday: Baked Lentils with Cheese (More with Less, pg. 106)

Thursday: Leftovers with Coconut Rice (More with Less, pg. 127)

Friday: Rice Guiso or Mandarin Rice Bake (More with Less, pg. 128 and 132)

Saturday: Crusty Mexican Bean Bake (More with Less, pg. 101)

I chose these recipes because we have the ingredients for all of them. This way all we need grocery wise is a little bit of produce for Lydia's baby food this week. I will post about that soon.