I had this thought running wild through my poor mind this morning - if I were to do ONE thing differently each week - some big, some tiny - we could accelerate our debt pay down (or, dare I say, pay off!) This week my one different thing is to wash clothes only in cold water. This is not as simple as it may seem because I have one sloppy child at home and a very messy dh who tend to drop towels and their clothes on the floor....which doesn't sound that bad unless you know we have a very old cat who loooves to p p on anything dropped on the floor and then these towels, etc. need to be soaked. So along with washing in cold I will be policing the other members of the family and their messy habits. And once I start a new habit, i will promise to continue it and just keep adding more different things to do. Anyone else have ideas for the next few weeks for me? Or want to share your ideas that you use. peace.

This is a great idea! Can I join you on the cold water wash this week? This would make a great challenge each week. How about not using the dryer at all next week?

Pamelaw:

So along with washing in cold I will be policing the other members of the family and their messy habits.

Twenty plus years ago I was in that same Catch 22. I wanted a pleasant "laid-back" household and still maintain a clean, well run environment. The problem at first was that no one took me seriously, and I became a shrew over certain things because other peoples habits were causing me a lot of unnecessary work. All I can add is that you can expect a lot of resistance at first but eventually it will become a habit. My 2 sons are on their own and although they won't get jobs as housekeepers, they do okay for themselves.

Hi ladies,

I'm right there with you.  I do 90% of my laundry in cold water however, I do wash sheets in hot water because DS brought staph home from the high school locker rooms last fall during football season.  Doctor told us one of the preventative measures for keeping staph under control was washing sheets in hot water. 

We normally order pizza on Friday nights but have cut that back to every other Friday night.  Haven't had any complaints about it because I substituted it for "fun food." Last Friday instead of take out pizza I fixed a big plate of beef/bean nachos.  Saved $25.00 because that's what pizza normally costs to feed my group. 

Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  I'm still pretty new at this.

I like the not using the dryer idea! Right now I hang the towels on a drying rack in the family room and they dry over night. I don't know if I could cut out all dryer use though, but it would be a great challenge. First I have to get through the rest of this week, ha.

What about reusing ziploc bags and aluminum foil? My family resisted the idea at first, because it was too easy just to throw them away. But now it's not as bad. We just have overturned baggies sitting on our countertops when they're drying out after they've been washed!

I should hang clothes more but with my shoulder being buggered, I can't lift my right arm higher then my shoulder.   will have to think about how to do it.

my goal is to cut back the amount of eating out and takeout.   also limiting the amount of kid stuff coming in the house!!  I am tired of the constant flow..I know endless crafts won't stop but the thrift store finds etc will. 

I am already training the kids to pick up after theirselves.   my mom always made us go pick up plates etc not bought to the kitchen, go turn off lights etc instead of her doing it so we got trained to put things away!   dh is good at picking up after himself.

New Week - New Different Thing! This week I am going to bake bread and freeze at least three loaves. I already have the flour, yeast, and eggs I use to make the bread, so there is no cost associated with this additional different thing. Plus, we were so good about picking up or hanging up our towels after bathing/showering last week to avoid them being pp'd on by the cat, that we were able to reuse them, saving on laundry costs and on wear and tear on the towels themselves.

 I am doing something similair to this.  I let everything in the house go last semester because I was so busy.  The goal for fall semester is all laid out in my planner.  I have made a schedule for all the cleaning and yard work tasks that I need to do every week.  It is really basic, and does not include any deep cleaning, but it will keep the house company worthy!  I plan on sticking to it for a month to make it a habit, and then add to it!

Lee:

Hi ladies,

I'm right there with you.  I do 90% of my laundry in cold water however, I do wash sheets in hot water because DS brought staph home from the high school locker rooms last fall during football season.  Doctor told us one of the preventative measures for keeping staph under control was washing sheets in hot water. 

We normally order pizza on Friday nights but have cut that back to every other Friday night.  Haven't had any complaints about it because I substituted it for "fun food." Last Friday instead of take out pizza I fixed a big plate of beef/bean nachos.  Saved $25.00 because that's what pizza normally costs to feed my group. 

Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  I'm still pretty new at this.

Sheets are washed in hot water at my house. Staph is frightful and more prevalent than ever.