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Articles dedicated to providing help for families on a budget, whether you live with children both young and old.

How Long Does A Razor Last?

How Long Does A Razor Last?

I guess that all depends on how you take care of your razor. Recently I learned a little secret about “How to make your razor last longer” The tip is making sure the razor blades are dry after each use. Water seems to damage the blades, therefore causing rust and the rust leading to corrosion, thus causing the blades to be dull.

Usually a three blade disposable razor will last me about one week with everyday shaving. I have been drying my blade after each use on a towel-This is week four of using the same blade without any nicks,cuts or dullness of the blade.
In doing this research on “How long a razor can last” I also found out that some people put a little petroleum jelly or baby oil on their blades to extend its life.
Some people also will let the disposable razor rest in alcohol after each use. Although I personally have not tried the baby oil or petroleum jelly technique, I think I will try it after the one I am using now gets discarded.

Of course the razor companies do not endorse or verify any of these razor blade saving tips- Why? Because they are in the business of making money. They don’t want consumers extending the life of their blades, they want us to go out and buy more!

I heard that famous frugal guru Clark Howard used the same .17 cent razor for close to one year! Wow that is really extending the life of your razor! I wonder if if mine will last almost a year? Remember that if someone has a full beard they might have to change the razor more often, but with average daily shaving the razor should last awhile, as long as you dry it after each use, I usually dry mine on my towel after showering. I will add to this post when my razor finally becomes dull and I will have to toss it- lets hope it be in a year!
If you have done this experiment with your razor please leave a comment below and let us know how long your razor lasted or any other tips on making them last longer.

How To Share The Joys Of Being Frugal With Your Family



If you feel like you’re the only one trying to pinch pennies in your household, this article will help you to share the joys of your frugal ways through teaching and enjoying the frugal lifestyle with your family.

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6 Homemade DIY Spa Treatments You Can Enjoy At Home

Going to a spa can be a very pricey experience, but with these 6 Homemade DIY treatments, you can easily bring the spa into your home. For more great ideas on DIY and homemade spa treatments, please visit Spa Index – Spa Treatments at Home.


Homemade Coffee Body Scrub

  • 2 cups of coarsely ground coffee
  • 1/2 cup raw sugar or sea salt
  • 2-3 T massage oil

Mix all ingredients together. Take a hot shower to moisten your skin and open your pores. Using wide, circular motions, rub the coffee exfoliant onto your skin with strong, even pressure. Shower off, pat skin dry, and apply a thin layer of your favorite body lotion.


End Of Summer – Almond Body Scrub Recipe

As the end of the summer season approaches, many of us are dealing with Peeling skin. Body scrubs feel wonderful and relieve the itch of flaking skin.

  • 2/3 cup ground almonds
  • 1/3 cup oatmeal
  • 1/2 teaspoon of herbs (lavender, chamomile, etc) (optional)
  • Plain yogurt, milk, or buttermilk, sufficient to make a paste
  • Essential Oils for scent (optional)

Homemade DIY Body ScrubCombine the dry ingredients in a blender or food processor until they are reduced to a coarse meal. Keep this “scrub base” in a glass jar with a screw top in your refrigerator until ready to use. When you want to use the scrub base, scoop out 1/4 cup into a small bowl, and stir in enough of the liquid ingredients (vary it by what you have on hand — yogurt and milk are best, but water works) to make a paste. Yogurt and milk are natural exfoliates known as alpha hydroxy acids, and they will slough off dead skin cells even without the scrub. Scoop up the paste with your hands or a washcloth, and rub over your body to exfoliate peeling skin.  Rinse thoroughly.




Fruit Salad Body Mask

This may sound as if you’re pouring a smoothie for the skin — and you are  — but for good reason. Pineapple contains bromeliad, a protein-digestive enzyme which helps rid the skin of dead cells and dirt. It also counteracts histamines, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is a mild astringent.  Grapes are rich in PCOs which provide protection against harmful UV rays, and, are anti-oxidents. Bananas have loads of vitamins, calcium and essential nutrients which keep the skin smooth and soft.   Kiwi is high in vitamin C and has enzymatic properties.  Honeydew is both soothing and hydrating.

  • 2 slices pineapple – rind removed
  • 1/2 med. honeydew melon – rind removed
  • 1 doz. green grapes
  • 1 med. banana – peeled
  • 1 med. kiwi fruit – peeled

Puree all ingredients in food processor. Mixture will be slightly lumpy. Refrigerate for 1 hour.  Smooth onto body and/or face, leaving on for half an hour.  This is an ideal treatment to use poolside, where lounging is assuring. Rinse off with tepid water, or an outdoor shower.


Beach Sand Foot Scrub Recipe

  • 2 Tablespoons Canola oil
  • 2 Tablespoons dry beach sand
  • 3-5 drops rosemary oil

Home Made Beach Sand Foot ScrubThe next time you decide to spend the day at the beach, take advantage of the “on location foot treatment.”  Brazilians, particularly, are known for scrubbing their entire bodies, particularly the feet, deep into the sand while they relax on the beach.

When going to the beach, take a small vial of ingredients with you:  2 tablespoons of canola oil (or use your suntan oil!), and, a small vial of rosemary oil — or premix and take one vial.

Once at the beach, use an empty container (a soda cup is fine) to mix the ingredients together. Mix into a paste.  Massage sand scrub onto feet (and elbows), concentrating especially on problem areas.  Rinse off in the foamy waves, pat dry with your beach towel.


Homemade Rosemary Herbal Bath

  • 1/4 cup dried, crumbled sage
  • 1/4 cup dried, crumbled rosemary
  • 2 tablespoons of oatmeal
  • 2 tablespoons of dried parsley
  • 2 tablespoons of coarse bath crystals

Grind or thoroughly mix the ingredients together and secure in a muslin or cheesecloth bag, and tie so that your “tea bag” hangs directly beneath your flowing bath tap. Fill your bath with warm water that steeps these herbs designed to relieve mental fatigue (rosemary), treat loss of concentration (sage), soften water (oatmeal), stimulate the body (parsley), and alleviate light-headedness (salt).


Rosemary Honey Olive Oil Hair Conditioner

This nourishing conditioner blends two ingredients from nature — honey for shine and olive oil for moisture — and is enhanced with essential oil of rosemary to stimulate hair growth.

  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup warmed olive oil (2 tablespoons for normal to oily hair)
  • 4 drops essential oil of rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon of xanthan gum (available in health food stores)

Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour into a clean plastic bottle with a snug-fitting cap.

home-made-diy-hair-conditionerTo use, apply a small amount to your slightly dampened hair. Massage your scalp and work the conditioner through your hair until it is completely and evenly distributed. Next, cover your hair with a warm towel (your microwave or dryer can heat it up) or shower cap; leave the conditioner in place on to nourish and condition for 30 minutes. Remove the towel or shower cap; shampoo lightly and rinse with cool water. Dry as normal and enjoy shinier, softer and healthier hair the natural way.


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Name Brand vs Generic Baby Wipes: A Helpful Comparison Chart

Here is a Baby Wipe Comparison chart to help you find the best deal on baby wipes. Listed are 10 brands ranging from generic to name-brand. To find out what other people have said about a particular brand of baby wipes, just click on any of the reviews on the right column for more info.


Baby Wipe Brand

Est Unit Price

Best Price Found

Reviews

Baby Basics Baby Wipes™

baby-basics-baby-wipes

0.017¢ albertsons.com

140 Count for
($2.39)

No Reviews Available

Member’s Mark Baby Wipes™

Baby Wipes from Members Mark

0.018¢ samsclub.com

720 Count for
($13.28)

samsclub.com

(4 reviews)

Luv’s Ultra Clean Baby Wipes™

Luvs Ultra Clean Baby Wipes

0.023¢ target.com

616 Count for
($13.99)

diapers.com

(34 Reviews)

Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes™

Baby Wipes by Huggies Snug and Dry

0.025¢ target.com

360 Count for
($8.99)

diapers.com

(10 reviews)

Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes™

Baby Wipes by Krikland Signature

0.031¢ costco.com

900 Count for
($27.99)

viewpoints.com

(8 Reviews)

CVS Soft Cloths™

Soft Cloths Baby Wipes from CVS

0.042¢ cvs.com

72 Count for
($2.99)

softprice.com

(2 reviews)

Pampers All Natural Baby Wipes™

Pampers All Natural Baby Wipes

0.049¢ albertsons.com

77 Count for
($3.79)

diapers.com

(42 Reviews)

Nature Babycare Baby Wipes™

Nature Babycare Baby Wipes

0.057¢ diapers.com

700 Count for
($39.99)

diapers.com

(20 Reviews)

Seventh Generation Baby Wipes™

Baby Wipes by Seventh Generation

0.064¢ target.com

70 Count for
($4.69)

diapers.com

(14 reviews)

Bum Boosa Bamboo Baby Wipes™

Bum Boosa Bamboo Baby Wipes

0.083¢ amazon.com

480 Count for
($39.99)

viewpoints.com

(2 Reviews)

All prices and reviews are subject to change.




Comment below so we can hear some of your reviews or experiences you’ve had with your favorite brand of baby wipes.


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Homemade Dog Food Recipes: 5 Treats Your Dog Will Love



Try out these great recipes for homemade dog food, biscuits and even frozen treats. Your dog will love these tasty snacks!

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1. Homemade Dog Food

This delicious dog food recipe is sure to make your dog happy and fill its belly! Feed your dog knowing what goes into their dog food.

  • 1- 2 lb. of roast beef or a whole chicken
  • 6 cups of cooked white or brown rice
  • 1 can of peas (drained)
  • 1 can of carrots (drained)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
  1. Cook the meat in a crock pot for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Add about 2 cups of water to the meat. After meat has cooked and cooled shred or cut up into small 1/4″- 1/2″ chunks. Save the juices from the meat mixture in the crockpot.
  2. In a very large bowl mix rice, peas, carrots and garlic powder. Then add meat and juices from crockpot. Mix with large spoon. I usually freeze the dog food in muffin tins sprayed with Pam. Then transfer them into a ziplock bag to freeze, then freeze the next batch in the muffin tin.
  3. We take one frozen dogfood muffin out a day and microwave for about 1 min. add a little water and pour it over the hard food that we serve our dogs every morning.

2. Bad Breath Banishers

Everybody knows about bad breath and dogs, so here is an all natural delicious treat that will freshen your dog’s breath.

  • 2 cups brown of rice flour
  • 1 Tablespoon of activated charcoal (find this at drugstores, not briquets)
  • 3 Tablespoons of canola oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup of chopped fresh mint
  • 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley
  • 2/3 cup of low fat milk

Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Combine flour and charcoal. Add all the other ingredients. Drop teaspoonfulls on oiled sheet, about 1 inch apart. Bake 15-20 minutes. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.




3. Frozen Doggie Treats

Your dog will love this Popsicle-like treat on a hot day!

  • 1 Tablespoons of honey
  • 3 Tablespoons of peanut butter
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 16 ounces of plain yogurt

Mix the peanut butter, honey, and fruit together until well blended—mash with a fork or use the blender. Add the fruit mixture to the yogurt and mix well. Freeze in ice cube trays. Crack trays and release treats as needed!


4. Baggins’ Dog Biscuits

Fresh homemade dog biscuits. Your dog will love you for these homemade treats!

  • 1 cup of Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1 cup of Regular Flour
  • 1/2 cup of Powdered milk
  • 1/2 cup of Wheat germ
  • 1 Egg slightly beaten
  • 1 Teaspoon of Molasses
  • 6 Tablespoon of Shortening
  • 1/2 Cup Water

Preheat oven to 325. Mix dry ingredients and cut in the shortening. Add egg, molasses and water. Knead lightly on a floured surface. Roll dough out to 1/2 inch and cut into fun shapes using cookie cutters. Bake for 30 minutes.


5. Veggie Doggie Bagels

A healthy vegetarian treat for your dog. A great diet food.

  • 1 Teaspoon of Vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup of Wheat Flour
  • 2½ cups of White Flour
  • 1/4 Teaspoon of Baking soda
  • 1/4 Teaspoon of Baking powder
  • 1/2 cup of Chopped spinach
  • 1/2 cup of Chopped carrots
  • 1 Egg
  • 3/4 Cup of Water

Preheat to 350 degrees. Combine wet and dry ingredients separately. Then mix together. Knead by hand. Form into ball shaped pieces. Depending on your dog’s size, golf or tennis ball. Flatten and poke a hole in the center and shape into a bagel. Bake for 45-50 minutes. You can garnish cooled bagels with poppyseeds or sesame seeds by spraying lightly with water and then sprinkling with seeds.

Let us know about some of your favorite treats that you like to share with your dog.


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