Teach Soap

We all know that soapmaking can get expensive quickly. But let's look at it from the other side---does anyone have examples of soapmaking saving you a few bucks? Apart from sales or making your own soap/toiletries and therefore getting them at wholesale cost, of course. Here are some of mine:

- tax write-offs. I frequently donate our safe-but-unusable surplus soaps (out of season, coloring came out wrong) to local organizations that take donations in-kind, like homeless youth or women's shelters.

- gifting. It's not just inexpensive, but incredibly handy to always have product at hand that can be given as a last-minute gift.

- clean-up. Since I make soap almost every day, I'm cleaning up almost every day. Once I'm done washing my equipment, I use the sink full of hot soapy water for dishes or laundry instead of draining it.

- research leading to replacing brand name products with common household ingredients. I've learned so much about common ingredients since I began soaping. I never realized how simplistic some products were! For instance, in my house: plain corn starch has replaced baby powder, a 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water solution has replaced multi-surface cleaner.

Hope this helps everyone! I look forward to hearing some of your ideas

Those are all good points. I hardly ever buy any cleaning fluids/liquids/powders from the grocery store any more. I can make my own and usually for less. The exception is store bought laundry detergent. My bathroom hasn't seen store bought soap in years.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I have made laundry soap for my dtr... soon I am going to do so for myself. And I have switched to vinegar for the softner.
I was at a H2O at home party last night... wow the prices! A bottle of all floor cleanser is 18.00 and a 3.5oz bar of soap is on special for 11.00! I am aware that they have quality ingrediants but I am now determined to make my own!

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!

In addition to making soap and not having to buy soap or shampoo, I make my own laundry soap (about $3 for a 5 gallon bucket of liquid soap), and all my household cleaners. I make my own baking mix, cake mix base, "instant" oatmeal (like in the individual packets but MUCH better!), pumpkin pie spice, taco seasoning, etc. I also have a garden and either can, freeze or dehydrate just about everything while it's in season. That saves a huge amount on groceries. I think I spend more on my pets than I do my family when it comes time to check out at the store!

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

I have a friend recently who was telling me about how her skin is so sensitive that she can't handle any fragrances or dyes at all. She's been buying fragrance/dye free hand soap at Trader Joe's for $3 per tiny container. I hooked her up with a gallon of it from a local soap supplies distributor for $12/gallon.

I have not spent one dime in almost three years on soap, moisterizer or perfume. Due to shoplifting in my home, I think each of my adult children have reduced their cost by at least 50%.

I also have decreased my gift giving cost by about 75%, yes everyone gets soaps, and lotions as gifts.

I buy almost everything at flea markets since I vend so...I got two sets of king sized sheets for $15 a set, the outfit for my son's wedding incl shoes, dress and luggage $30...

Soaping has both saved and made me money.

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

Soaping has saved us money by:
~We haven't bought soap in years
~It's cut down on our need for lotion.
~We have less soap scum in our showers, so less cleaning.
~I give soap and my crocheting out as gifts .
~I make my own laundry soap, which led us to cloth diapering our 2 youngest kids. Which has saved us thousands so far. It also led us to line dring our clothes more, which has cut down on energy costs & wear and tear on our clothes.
~I trade soap with people in our little farm-like neighborhood. With one family we trade 1 bar for 2 dozen fresh eggs, every week. With another we trade a few bars for goat milk. With another, we trade a few bars for fresh vegetables in the summer & canned preserves the rest of the year. Plus, all of us with kids pass clothes and toys around, that our kids have grown out of.
~Sometimes at markets I trade with other vendors and get some really nice gifts that I put away for Christmas or Birthdays.

I do donate soap, crocheted hats and my daughter's fingerknitted scarves to shelters in our town 3 times a year.

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Genny

Oh I forgot the single most $ saving item for me is "it keeps me off the streets and out of Nordie's, Crate and Barrel and well J. Penne too"!

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂

I think one of the big ways that it has saved me money is that it has given me a new mindset. Instead of thinking, "Maybe I should buy that." when I see something at the store I think, "Maybe I could make that."

I love Mella's answer! It keeps me off the streets! LOL

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

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~bytheSEAsoap~ Mella bythesea, bythesea, bythebeautiful sea

海の皂