~ More Frugal Tips ~

I want to say a big "welcome" and thank you to my newest follower, Katie over at the blog, Gates Place.

This post is part of my short series on how I personally save money so that I can give to causes I support and also help myself get out of debt. If you are interested in other the other articles in the series you may read here and here.

1. I make my own laundry detergent and use vinegar and baking soda for household cleaning. Check out these uses for vinegar and baking soda here and a recipe for  making laundry detergent here.
2. A new tip I've learned from Ilona at Life After Money ~ use bubble bath to clean the toilet.  This is a great tip for using bubble bath someone gives you as a gift when you don't know what else to do with it.
3. I reuse plastic bags and various store containers where possible. The best repurposing I've seen for plastics came from a quilter who uses plastic take away food containers as storage for notions and fabric. Awesome!
4. I purchase inexpensive plastic bins from the dollar store to store my potatoes and onions as well as other dried goods. I prefer to use wood, glass or other natural materials where possible but the cost is quite prohibitive. I will use the plastic bins as long as possible instead of discarding them just because I get tired of them and want a change.
5. I also purchase inexpensive plastic bins to use in my bathroom and in storage areas like closets,
6. There are many containers that I need for storing other foods and making sure they don't go bad. I don't always use plastic especially if they are to be stored on my kitchen counter (noodles, rice, raisins, brown sugar etc.). I look for attractive containers from the variety store where the cost is 1/3 to 1/2 off of the regular prices.
   
   

   

   All these containers were purchased on discount. I don't need them to be "matchy matchy". In fact, I dislike things that are overly matched.

     
7. I purchase inexpensive white towels wherever I can find them. I like the thin, fluffy kind.  I bought my last ones at Field's and I think they cost me $2.00 each. Perfect for throwing in the wash with some disinfectant.
8. I do not buy furniture very often and I use most things until they are quite worn out. My home, though comfortable, does not look like a a feature in a decorating magazine. I sometimes wish it did but  having time to enjoy life, and giving to the Kenyan Missions of Hope  is more important to me.
9. To compensate for not buying furniture, I use slipcovers on my sofa and chairs.
10. I give “lost” furniture a home. For example, I have a dresser/desk and a chair in my bedroom that came from the garbage out back of my home. They are in fine condition.
11. I look for household items at the thrift store. I purchased a wing chair, lamp, and side table there in the past few years.
12. I try and buy direct from the manufacturer for items like mattresses.
13. I shop for appliances and large pieces of furniture when they are on sale. I also shop and wait around  if I am looking for something that costs more than I am willing to pay.  I ask stores to price match also if I find something close by for a higher price which is cheaper somewhere else. This saves on cost of delivery too.
14. I buy furniture that needs to be put together especially if it will save money (shelves,closets and a TV stand are recent examples).
15. I shop on Craigslist and am a member of my local Freecycle where I can list items I want to give away or look for items I want.  This doesn't always help me because I am limited in my ability to get around but it is an option, especially if you have wheels.
    
    

    I have plans for another two posts in this short series on saving pennies. Please check back again soon if you are reading/participating in this series. I'd also love to hear your ideas for saving money on household items.

    
    I want to add here that I have been challenged and inspired to make a change in terms of my habit of using plastics due to the efforts of one woman, Beth Terry, who has championed the cause of reducing plastic usage in her own life for the health of our bodies, our oceans and the planet.  Once you read this inspiring woman's blog you will see just how reliant on plastics we have become.  You can read more about the cause at Plastic Free Living. Before you go, please stop and leave a comment or your frugal tip for saving on household expenses.  Until next time, happy savings!

My Top 30 Ways for Saving Money on Food Costs

Thank you to my newest followers, Linnea, a talented photoblogger, Alexie who is a young blogger

and my Russian reader though I don't know your name.  Welcome to all.

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I mentioned in my post here, that I would begin a series on the steps I've been taking to save money. I'm not a financial expert or an advisor of any kind. I'm just a woman trying to be a good steward and use her money wisely so I can bless others as God has blessed me.

I will be presenting my strategies in different areas of expenditure starting with my strategies for saving on food costs.  Just this week, I read that the world's food costs are rising. Some countries have it worse than others. We in North America are still blessed that food costs do not yet eat up the entire monthly income.  Even so, our other costs of living are very high.  Saving on food costs is a great way to try and stretch the dollar.

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1. At home, I make my own coffee and never pay more than $10. for 975 grams of coffee. Folgers or Maxwell House blends are usually the ones on sale. In the past,  I bought the higher priced coffee and ground it myself because I can tell the difference between gourmet and regular coffee. What I have found though, is if you get just the right balance of regular coffee grounds and water and you drink the coffee hot and fresh, you can still get a good cup from Folgers or Maxwell House. I also don't drink as much coffee now so the taste differential is not so important.
2. I make my own muffins with lots of strawberries or blueberries. Buying store bought muffins is way too expensive and they are way too greasy.
3. I buy fresh berries and wash and freeze them for later use. Alternatively, I buy gourmet frozen berries when they on are on sale for at least $3.00 off per bag. These berries are good for making muffins and  smoothies.
4. I bake my own bread on a regular basis, both oven bread and machine bread.
5. I do buy bread from time to time. Sometimes I buy artisan breads but only when it is 50%. I can find marked down bread regularly at my local supermarket and it is fresh enough to use if you eat it within a day or two. I also buy sprouted grain bread on occasion when it is $2.00 or $3.00 a loaf. I freeze it for later use so I only buy 2 loaves at a time if there is room in the freezer.
6. I make a lot of my own treats like cookies and cinnamon rolls. More recently I've learned to make pizza dough and pie dough. Even though I don't make pizza or pie very often, I'm glad I can for those occasions when I want.
   
   

   
7. I buy popcorn kernels for those rare occasions I want to have popcorn. I don't buy the gourmet popcorn or microwave bags of popcorn because of the additives. I just buy regular kernels and pop them the old fashioned way in a pot on the stove top.  I can also use my air popper which has the added advantage of not needing any oil though I do add salt to taste.
8. I buy my own extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar and mix it for dipping artisan bread. Paired with a nice entree like baked salmon and salad, this is positively delicious and a fraction of the cost at a higher end restaurant.
9. I've learned to make some fabulous yet simple salads so I don't have to eat them at a restaurant, especially since I seldom go to restaurants now.  Here is my cantaloupe and shrimp salad.
   
   

   

   
   
10. I've learned to make hummus, salsa and guacamole. This is good for those times when you want a healthy snack with pita bread or nachos. I sometimes make nachos for dinner when I feel like a splurge. I use olives, onions, tomatoes, cooked ground burger and lots of cheese. This is spread over the nacho chips and baked in the oven until the cheese is nicely melted.
11. I buy bulk spices like peppercorns. garam masala and other spices to make my own curry seasonings, etc
12. I purchase bulk legumes (kidney beans, navy beans, garbanzo beans) and soak and cook them ahead of time when I know I want to use some beans. This is much cheaper than buying canned beans and is salt free or at least if you add salt you know what you've added and how much.
13. I do buy certain canned goods if they are in bulk packs, like baked beans, mushroom bits or tomatoes.
    
    

    
14. I make food ahead where possible. I have limits on what I can make ahead due to lack of freezer storage.
15. I use all my leftovers and seldom throw anything out. I sometimes make a new dish out of leftovers but I don't scour cookbooks to get ideas. I'm quite content to simply warm them up and eat.
16. I use all my vegetables before they go bad. I used to waste so much produce because I was never home to cook them and I'd overestimate what I needed.  Nowadays any wasting vegetables will go into the soup pot or juicer.
17. I purchase large packages of meat and fowl, sometimes big slabs of meat that can be cut up and repackaged in the right portions.  Yesterday I purchased a side of center pork loin for just under $31.00.  My educated guess is that I saved approximately the same amount of money I spent by buying this large piece of meat and cutting it up myself.
    
    

    

    

    
    
18. I do not buy organic produce unless it is leafy, like swiss chard or kale.
19. I buy vegetables in bulk and prepare and clean them myself.  I also freeze some for soups.  This makes a considerable savings and takes only a little time to clean and prepare them. All the scraps can be placed in your kitchen compost bin and added to your outdoor compost as needed.
20. If there are luxury food items I want like specialty teas, I will purchase several when they are on sale. This way I don't feel deprived and I won't need to buy any again for a very long time. For example, last week I bought three boxes of specialty tea. The regular price was $4.98 and I think one for $4.59. I got each box for $3.49. I had a savings of just over $4.00 overall. Even one box of these specialty teas cost me less than one fancy tea in the tea shop and I can enjoy tea for weeks and weeks.
    
    

    

    
    
21. I buy 20 kg. of brown rice at a time (we don't use white rice) and it lasts for quite awhile before I have to buy more.  I don't buy it in larger quantities because it would likely go rancid on me and I don't have enough space in the freezer to store it.
22. I only purchase smaller packages of meat when they are on sale so I watch the flyers for my local supermarkets.  One of them usually has a sale on something we can use for the week.
23. I purchase as many food items on sale as possible.  When there is a sale, I might buy 2 or more items at the same time depending on the item. This means I may have to forgo buying something else so I don't automatically purchase more of an item just because is on sale.
24. I make a lot of soups and stews with less expensive meat and fowl (hamburger, turkey and sometimes chicken). This stretches my meat and fowl provisions and also helps me cut back on the amount of meat and fowl I eat.
25. For an inexpensive yet tasty meal that is quick to throw together  I will make a bag of Japanese noodle soup to which I add chopped onions, chopped broccoli and perhaps some zucchini. Sometimes I add a few frozen shrimp or a half can of tuna.
26. Seafood is very expensive where I live.  I have found a place where I can purchase a bag of large, good quality shrimp, for under $5.00. I use these in the soups mentioned above, in a stir fry and in salads.
27. I purchase spices in bulk and refill my spice containers as needed.
28. I purchase nuts in bulk for snacks and for baking.
29. I always buy my eggs at the pharmacy where they are almost half the price of the grocery story.
30. I very seldom buy juice or soda. This is largely due to my diabetes so I try to eat fruit or make my own juice. If I buy a juice or soda drink it must be on sale and I will not drink the diet stuff. The diet stuff is junk and harmful to my body. If I'm going to have a soda it might as well be the real thing.  It has taken me awhile to get to the point of really limiting the soda intake. Now it isn't a problem.
    
    

    

    These two cards of 25 stamps each now entitle me to a $25. gift card which I can use to buy anything in the supermarket, whether it be food or household items, on sale or regular price.  I don't always get to benefit from these kinds of promotions since you have to spend a certain amount of money to get a stamp.  I will not spend for the sake of getting a stamp but if I need to buy something or stock up on something, I will gladly spend it.   This month's shopping has been more expensive than usual as I've had to replenish some things that run out every few months like: olive oil, a large bag of flour, baking powder and baking soda, various bags for wrapping food, large bags of rice and pasta and specialty teas.  I was able to benefit on this promotion since I filled two cards and now I will get $25 instead of  $10 for one card.  It will help with the next grocery bill.

    
    

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    Well there you have it. My list of top 30 strategies for saving money on my food costs. If you have more ideas to add to this list, please share them!

    
    

    Come back again soon for more of my top strategies for saving money and stretching my penny until it snaps :-)

Saving Money

I want to say a big "welcome" to my newest follower Jan. I hope you find something here of value. Please feel free to join in the conversations.  I am honoured you chose to join my blogging family.

Lately, I've been spending time thinking very specifically about the ways I've been learning to save money and stretch my dollar's spending power. I've made a list of the things I've been doing for the last few years and I hope to share them with you soon.  I'm doing this because it helps me to see how far I've come and how many changes I've made along the way.  The changes haven't been difficult.  In fact, many of them have been quite pleasurable. Now that I'm not working, I see saving money and running my household more efficiently as my job. I do it because I no longer have salary increases and my expenses are more or less the same except in a few areas. I do it because I have debt to pay down. I also do it because I want to minimize waste and have money to give to charity, particularly Missions of Hope in Kenya.  As a believer and follower of Christ, I take it as one of my joyful duties to give to my neighbour. Even if I wasn't a believer and follower of Christ, I still would want to help my neighbour.

I'm going to share the things that I've done and maybe it will inspire some of you who don't have a big income or who have gone from a large income to a smaller income, like I have now that I am retired. My hope is that in encouraging you to save money you can help others by giving them a hand up.  So with that little introduction, I will share something simple today and in pictorial format. 

One of the big changes I've made in the last year or so is to buy bulk beans instead of canned beans.  I've always loved beans but been intimidated by making them from scratch even though I knew they were much cheaper.  When I worked I was always super busy and when I had time off it was only enough time to try to clean, shop for food and personal needs and catch my breath.  Nowadays I purchase beans regularly in bulk and use them in a variety of ways.  This small step is not only good for the pocket book but also great for your health since beans are a wonderful source of protein and a great alternative to meat.

Here is a bowl of garbanzo beans I soaked.  I bought these close to where I live.  The unit price was 55 cents.  For cost comparison, it would cost me 75 cents per unit for dried and packaged garbanzo beans in the local grocery store which is actually a few steps further from where I live than the place where I bought these beans.  I can actually probably find these beans for less than 55 cents per unit but that would defeat the purpose since it would take more of time, energy and transport costs.

I am also soaking some kidney beans.  I bought these at the same place where I bought the garbanzo beans and the cost was 35 cents unit.  I forgot to price the packaged kidney beans at the grocery store tonight but am pretty sure these bulk beans are cheaper.

Here I have the kidney beans boiling on the stove. I hope they don't take too long since I have to get to sleep soon. I bought the beans late in the day and so their soaking time has been cut short.

Here are the boiling garbanzo beans. I have them on a gentle roll so they don't break apart. In a taste test they seem almost ready. Looking in on the beans later, I realized oops, I overcooked them a bit, lol.  They'll have to be used for hummus. Yummo1

The kidney beans will be rinsed with cold water after they cool and  be packed in containers and stored in the fridge for use during the week. We use them as an accompaniment to meals, in soups, chilies and salads.

The other thing I like to do to save money and which is also a form of entertainment, is to browse the thrift stores. I donate a fair bit to the thrift stores because I am undergoing a major decluttering effort at my home.  Sometimes though I am the customer and last week I was looking for a doll (more about this in a later post.).  While I was searching for the doll, I came across some brand new clay pots with clay tray bottoms.  I picked them up for $2.00 each which included the trays for catching the water when you water your plants.

At the same time, I found this fabulous clay, glazed garlic storage pot.

I say fabulous because it is in black and matches some of my canisters in the kitchen. Perfect!

And the best part is, it only cost $2.00 and it has never been used.  My guess is that it would cost at least $10.00 in the store.  The clay pots were $2.00 a piece and  I bought two.  The price is the same in the store but I would have to pay another $3.00 plus, for the trays.

Well there you have it.  Some of my small efforts at savings and they were such little steps, enjoyable steps and yet easy to do. I hope you will come again for many other savings strategies I've been using.  In closing, let me say that for years now I've read other people's strategies for saving money.  But I always found the ideas hard to implement.  The ideas always seemed daunting because they related to goals for substantial savings that seemed unreachable, for example: saving $50,000 or more for a down payment on a house or saving some exorbitant sum of money each year that perhaps I didn't have as disposable income.  In the end, I just had to learn that I can only do what I can do at any given time. I can try my best and I can take baby steps. I also had to have goals that were more meaningful to me which included ways to live and have shelter while at the same time, keep giving to missions.  While I was working I also made sure I had insurance and saved money each and every month.   What I was not good at was keeping the credit card balances paid off each month and so that is a key reason I am on restricted spending now.  I hope whatever I've learned might be useful to someone.  Until next time.

Frugal Friday

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenty; 

but the thoughts of everyone who is hasty only to poverty. 

Proverbs 21:5

Peering through the rushes. A metaphor for having peered through "cobwebs" and now having clearer vision in these past few years as to excess financial and other waste I engaged in for so many years.

As tax times approaches and efforts abound in this household to pay down debt, I continue to look for ways to squeeze a dollar. The more I save, and the faster I pay down debt, the more I can give to the mission field. In some ways, it seems to me I really overspent the budget this week but in other ways I saved a lot of money and I need to remember that the things I bought this week are not things that I would buy every week or even every month. I don't do these kind of posts very often but now and then I like to take stock of my week's spending and see what I've managed to accomplish. It's a way of holding myself accountable by posting it here.

Thursday at the grocery store I saved:

• $1.10 on a spinach brioche (paid $1.10)
• $. 94 on 2 boxes of baking soda (paid $3.56)
• $3.50 on ready made meatloaf (paid $3.50.  I had a meatloaf sandwich for dinner, an orange and a glass of milk and cup of tea.  I wasn't up to cooking).
• $.51 on a can of cranberry jelly (paid $1.78. I will be making roasted turkey thigh, stuffing and cranberry sauce for dinner tonight).
• $5.42 on 2 boxes of beer battered fillets (paid $11.98 for 12 pieces. Much cheaper than fresh fish or canned).
• $.65 on dry yeast (paid $1.64 as I will make some home made bread soon).
• $2.00 on pane toscano (paid $1.99)

Savings:  Total savings $14.12 Total spending: $38.64.  (after tax)  I earned 3 stamps (and got one bonus stamp from the clerk for a total of 4 stamps). I'm saving toward a book of 25 stamps which will earn me a  $10. gift card toward future food purchases.  I'm actually 6 stamps short of 25 stamps for my second card.  I have just over a week to collect them. I might make it but I won't buy stuff at that store just to get a stamp. If I save 50 stamps, I get $25 gift card toward food purchases and that will be a big help.  I didn't buy any toilet paper today as it is still too expensive. Fortunately, I have enough for awhile. Hopefully it will be on sale this weekend somewhere.  I purchased 10 kg of flour earlier this week for just under $9.00 which is a savings of about $5.00 given the exorbitant increase in flour costs. I haven't purchased a big bag of flour like this since last Fall but this will enable me to make fresh bread now and then.

I also spent just over $30.00 the day before yesterday on fruits (bananas & lemons) and mostly veggies (snow peas, broccoli, purple yams, sweet potatoes, zucchini, tomatoes, kale, baby bok choy and a few odds and ends.  No real savings here as I simply look for the produce that is less expensive and try to limit the higher cost items if I need any.

Sunday I went to the drug store and spent $86.54 (tax was almost $7.00) on the purchase of 22 items all of which were on sale. This is a very steep bill I know.  But as I said, all of the items were on sale and the savings was anywhere from 60 cents to $9.00 on each item so it was a hefty savings overall. Unfortunately, the way the bill is written, it doesn't help me reconstruct for you and list, the original prices and the savings on each item.

I probably won't need to get anything at the pharmacy again for quite some time except for maybe toilet paper if it goes on sale and my medications.  I did get a $20.00 gift card back for gas at ESSO. I gave the card to my nephew who is saving for a return to university studies.  My purchases at this store give me points toward future discounts on purchases. It will take me several more months by the look of things before I earn a $10.00 discount. Again, it doesn't pay to buy things just to earn the points, unless the store is holding a promotion to multiply your points. Sometimes they double points and once in a long while they give you 10x the points. This is a really great time to buy if you need the items because you quickly earn some money back on those things you need to buy.

Other frugal acts this week:

• bought the smallest popcorn and drink at the movie theatre and took my own orange and water in my handbag).
• saved energy (turned off computer each night, turned off all the lights when not in use, cut down on loads of laundry)
• cut up a natural coloured twill sofa cover. I'm going to repurpose it as cushion covers for a number of European pillows I have and use as cushions for the sofa.

The cotton twill sofa slipcover after it was cut into pieces and washed. Buying this as fabric to cover cushions would cost me $22.00 per meter up the street.  I've saved myself from having to buy any fabric and I have meters and meters of it now.

• did laundry with my home made laundry detergent.
• read a book I bought at the thrift store.
• worked on impulse control. It seems this week I've really had a lot of temptations for sweets and drinks.  Every time I went out to buy food and necessities, I had an urge to stop at Starbucks and get a coffee and usually that means a treat also (approximate cost $5.50), stop at a local diner for dinner ($10.00 for a cheap dinner) or stop somewhere for  a coke ($2.00) or a tea (anywhere from $2.50 -$5.00 depending on whether it was a regular tea or a fancy specialty tea).  I resisted each and every time. This is great progress for me and I figure I saved myself from spending about $25.00

I'm not sure what my total savings are for the week. However, I can see that the new habits I started trying to form some time back, are now becoming second nature to me. I'm learning new habits and it feels good. I think these habits will stand me in good stead because food and other costs are only expected to go higher.

Wishful thinking about spring flowers.

I wanted to make a mention of the late night news Thursday about the devastation in Japan as a result of a powerful Sendai earthquake  (and now today there is breaking news that a quake 6.6 hit Nagano, Japan). Many other countries along the Pacific Rim were on high tsunami alert and even the coastal regions where I live were on tsunami advisory. I've heard from one blogger friend in Japan (see comment section) and thank God she is fine. I've also just read on the internet that the tsunami once it reached Hawaii was small.  Thank you God!! Prayers and thoughts continue to be with all those affected.  Love and hugs. xx

Never a Dull Moment

After mostly two months of being away from home I've been madly scrambling to catch up to life. Unfortunately I first had to contend with a flu bug which made me more tired than usual, amongst other things. I think the bug is largely gone now though I am still tired. I am not complaining too loudly though. I am just glad to be home for awhile.  Before too long, I will be away again.

In addition to getting to the doctor and a diabetes workshop where we discussed the importance of sleep and the things we can do to try and achieve a sleepy state on a sleepless night, I have also been busy at the dentist. Unfortunately, I needed a tooth extracted. My poor tooth had been loose for some time and it takes the brunt of my chewing processes since I have a loose tooth on the opposite side of my mouth. The dentist informed me that it should be pulled and so I agreed. Yikes, I haven't had a tooth pulled since I don't know when. I had to have extra freezing due to my pain threshold. So now I am recovering from that. Next week, I have to get a root canal on the opposite side of my mouth. Thank goodness for dental insurance, although I hope I am not speaking too soon. When I got into the dentist's chair the receptionist informed me that my insurer had no record of me! One more thing to follow up on.

Now on to more interesting ways I've been filling my time.

I picked up these three books by Alexander McCall Smith; an author who hails from Zimbabwe but who spent much of his life in Scotland. These books are all part of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series.  I quickly read two of the books in the photo and am now reading the blue covered book "Blue Shoes and Happiness".  Reading these books is a satisfying past time. They are like spending time with a good friend and at the same time, learning about the customs and ways of Botswana where Mr. McCall Smith frequently spends time. If you haven't read any of these books, I invite you to pick one up but start with the first one, called "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency", before you commence reading the other 10 books in the series.

All of these books are wonderfully entertaining. Reading them gives me a sense of comfort and joy.

Next up are several books. The first one is The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. I won't begin to tell you about this sweeping book other than to say that I enjoyed it a lot and I recently discovered that it has been made into a television series, co-produced by Canada (click on the underlined title to find out more about the book itself). I haven't seen the mini-series but I have seen the trailers and I will for sure want to watch it if it comes back on my television listings. It looks like a superb cast and a thrilling tale.  The Shack is a book that seemed to have created a lot of controversy in Christian circles though having read it, I cannot fathom why. It is after all, just a novel. I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would though I would certainly recommend it to anyone as it does have a novel and profound way of explaining the trinity of Christ and the nature of Christ. For that reason alone I will probably read it again sometime though I'll have to buy my own copy as this one was loaned to me by a friend.

I've read the two books on either side of the photo.  The book on the left is almost a 1000 pages but I read it much more quickly than the relatively short book on the right. I have started the one in the  middle but haven't gotten too far yet.

The three books in the next photo were purchased at the goodwill today for 50 cents each. I've read a few of the late Frank McCourt's books though enjoyed his novel, Angela's Ashes most. This book entitled, Teacher Man is a memoir.  The other two books are classics and I try to ensure I am working my way through the classics whenever I can.

The goodwill is a wonderful place to purchase books. I hate to part with books and it is much easier if I've only paid 25 or 50 cents. I can still give them back to the goodwill after I've finished reading them or give them to a friend who'd like to read them too!

Besides going to appointments, libraries and the goodwill this week, I made some time for shopping for new towels and facecloths. Long ago, I'd mentioned in a blog post on decluttering that my towels were over 20+ years old. Some of them have been raggedy for a long time. I finally broke down and spent about $20.00 Canadian on 6 towels and 14 face cloths.  I thought that was an excellent buy. The towels are just great and not too thick. I got over my fondness for very thick, white towels quite some time ago and now look for thin, absorbent, white towels.

I love the texture and absorbency of all these towels and facecloths. Several of these new cloths are in the wash so didn't make it into the photo.

Last, but not least, my creative mood is still in swing. I made two more dishcloths. It seems I can't get enough of them. These are for my own use and are added to the four I'm already using. I can now get rid of my purchased cloths which have some kind of oily odor to them despite being washed and disinfected. Does anyone know what causes the odor and the oil stains?

I'm loving the colour of these cloths.

Now it is the weekend and I'm trying to catch up on household cleaning, laundry, post office errands and experimenting with a new dish today for dinner. I'll post about that tomorrow if it turns out. In the meantime, I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful weekend.