Switched Over

I came across a list I had made several months ago of goals for being healthier (which cost more) and ways to be frugal (to off set the cost of being healthier). Here is my list. My reason for each goal is included and my progress with each one is included as well. Some are things just to save money that don't really involve cooking, like my hair color for example.

Stop using paper plates on a regular basis -
Goal=To save money. I thought this would be hard for me but it surprisingly wasn't. My kids are old enough to help do dishes so I haven't felt the pain of change as much as I thought I would.
Verdict= I've completely stopped buying paper plates!

Switch to cloth napkins instead of paper-
Goal= To save money. I was worried this would be hard too and that I'd have a hard time keeping up with washing them all. Surprisingly my whole family welcomed the change and it's been super easy. I don't iron them unless company is coming over! I stock pile them so that I don't get too behind on washing them. I use neutral colors so that they can go in just about any load of wash I'm doing. To make the change swiftly, I actually bought dish cloths at first that we use for just our own family...it was cheaper to make the change this way. Cutting old dish towels in half and sewing the edge works well too. I haven't bought paper napkins in 5 months!
Verdict= We are completely switched over.

Make my own laundry detergent-
Goal= To save money and stay natural. I was concerned this would be labor intensive but it's proved to be pretty darn simple considering I can make a lot at once and have it on hand.
Verdict= I've been using it for a couple of months and am completely satisfied with it and completely switched over.

Make my own dryer sheet that is reusable-
Goal= To save money and stay natural.
Verdict= Completely switched over to spraying a wash cloth with natural biodegradable fabric softener. No more dryer sheets getting lost in folded laundry....

Make my own pancake mix-
Goal= To save money and stay healthy.
Verdict= Accomplished this and you can read about it here.

Buy dry beans instead of canned-
Goal= To save money and be healthier (less sodium). This is new to me but I've done it. Not that hard to make the change, just takes extra planning.
Verdict= Accomplished this.

Make my own noodles from scratch-
Goal= To save money and be healthier. Fun and easy. I can use fresh ingredients and organic ingredients. They taste better too!
Verdict= Completely switched over. To see how click here but you can also make them very quickly in a food processor (see the bottom of the linked post for processor directions).

Make healthier butter-
Goal= To be healthier and save money. I started out with one experiment with this but am in the process of revamping it. I will actually be trying out the process of churning my own butter because I want to use organic butter which is expensive. By making it myself, I will save money. Meantime, I'm also revamping my earlier posts about mixing oil with butter...more to come.
Verdict= In process.

Switch to ammonia free hair color-
Goal= Health. Hair color with ammonia causes hair to become brittle and ends to break off. I know the totally healthy thing would be to not color my hair at all but I'm not there yet.
Verdict= I'm much happier with the ammonia free hair color and you can see which one I use here. I'm completely switched over.

Stop buying books and get them from the library instead-
Goal= Save money. I love books! I can't get enough of them but they are expensive and take up a lot of room in the house. With homeschooling my kids, and a pastor husband who is addicted to books, books could easily take over our entire home. We utilize our library and inner-library loans now.
Verdict= Almost completely switched over. If we do buy books we try to use our change that we've turned into the Albertson's change machine and it gives you the amount in credit on Amazon.com.

Stop renting movies and get them from the library instead (or free from Redbox using promotion codes)-
Goal= To save money.
Verdict= Completely switched over other than a dollar here and there for a Redbox movie. Haven't paid for a movie rental in about 4 months!

Stop buying store bought snacks foods and make homemade ones instead-
Goal= To save money and to be healthier. Store bought snack foods almost all contain hydrogenated oils. I'm making large batches of granola, granola bars, healthy muffins, healthy cookies, etc. and freezing them in batches.
Verdict= Family is much happier with this because it all taste so much better. Almost completely switched over. When I do buy them, I try to buy organic ones that are free of hydrogenated oils. Still experimenting with more recipes for snack foods.

Make my own boxed cake mixes-
Goal= To save money and for health.
Verdict= Have recipes and getting ready to do this.

Make my own taco seasoning packets-
Goal= To save money and be healthier.
Verdict= Easy and completely switched over. Recipe here.

Make homemade dressings-
Goal= To save money and be healthier.
Verdict= have made some but have several recipes to try. In progress.

Stop buying canned soups and make my own from scratch at least once a week-
Goal= To save money and be healthier.
Verdict= Making soup homemade 90% of the time. Almost completely switched over. I still love that Campbell's tomato soup.

Stop buying cream of soups for cooking and make my own from scratch.
Goal= Totally for the sake of health.
Verdict= have recipes to try. In progress.

Make freezer meals for days I don't feel like cooking so that we aren't tempted to eat out-
Goal= To save money.
Verdict= Completely switched over.

Stop eating out other than about one meal a month!-
Goal= To save money.
Verdict= Completely switched over. I thought this would be harder than it was. I'm actually really surprised. Actually, some months we haven't eaten out at all...not even one meal! Sometimes we do eat out more than one meal a month if we have a gift card or can take advantage of some other promotion or coupon but it's rare.

Get back to thrift store shopping for clothes-
Goal= To save money.
Verdict= out of my comfort zone but have had success. I have found two women's high end consignment stores and 2 children's high end consignment stores. Still shopping clearance racks from time to time in regular clothing stores.

Make homemade bread once a week-
Goal= To save money and be healthier.
Verdict= striving for this goal every week.

Don't buy cereal and make homemade breakfast from scratch instead-
Goal= To eat healthier.
Verdict= Completely switched over. I haven't bought a box of cereal in about 5 months!

Make and freeze pasta sauce from scratch.
Goal= Save money. Organic pasta sauce is expensive and we go through it fast.
Verdict= Success! See recipe here.

Use my crock-pot as often as possible.
Goal= keep my sanity.
Verdict= not hard to do and it does indeed help keep my sanity!