Here are some money saving recipes for wipes I've collected over time. The directions are the same no matter what kind you make. Cut the roll of paper towels in half. Mix the ingredients well in the plastic container(I like to recycle emptied baby wipe boxes), soak the towels in the ingredients. When the towels are well saturated, the cardboard in the middle shoud come right out. Pull from the center so you can use the wipes from the center out. Pull your center wipe through the hole on the recycled wipe box.

Use a brand name towel because the cheap ones will fall apart on you as you try to take them out of the box.

Baby Wipes
1 roll bounty paper towels
2 tablespoons baby bath soap
1 tablespoon baby oil
2 cups water (you can use distilled or nursery water if you'd like. I just use it from the tap) Warm water will help the ingredients mix better

Multi-Purpose Wipes
1 roll bounty paper towels
1/4 cup multi-purpose cleaner
2 cups water
Car Cleaner Wipes
1 roll bounty paper towels
1/4 cup armour all cleaner
2 cups water

Window Wipes
1 roll bounty paper towels
1/2 cup vinegar
2 cups water


I'll add more of this type of thing as I find them.

FDA issues alert for recall on powdered infant formula
Springfield News Sun (subscription) - Springfield,OH,USA
... purchased the formula, has pulled the product from its shelves. The US Food and Drug Administration issued a public alert last week to a recall by Mead Johnson ...

The Job Jar
By Francine Larson

When my four daughters were young, Saturdays became unpleasant and I faced them with dread. Since I worked outside our home, on Saturday, each child would have an assigned job to do. All kind of groans and gripes would surface. “I’m tired of dusting” or “The bathroom tub is the hardest job of all” to “I have the hardest job.”

My friend, Nancy suggested the “job jar.” It had worked in her family when she was a child. I listened to her description of the “job jar” with my ears perked. I was willing to try something different.

Nancy said that on the designated work day, her mother had “jobs” written on little pieces of paper and folded up so that no one could peek. Each child would draw the little folded paper out of the jar and that was that. That was their job. If they wanted to trade with another, that was OK.

All kinds of thoughts ran through my mind: Maybe they are tired of just one particular job. Maybe one job really is harder than another. Maybe they think I am not being fair.

Saturday rolled around and I explained to my girls about the “job jar.” They thought it would be fun, so that’s what we did. I used a small fish bowl. They each drew a job. Sometimes they would trade with each other or sometimes they were satisfied with their job that they drew out of the fish bowl. They got their particular job done faster and with much more pride.

There was no more bickering or wondering if everything was fair. It was all up to fate and a little “job jar.” They still remember the “job jar.”

I would recommend this to parents of young children.

Francine Larson

Has an AA Degree From St Petersburg College.

Taught Nursery School, Children’s Choir,

Paraprofessional for First Grade

Co-Author of Character Keys to a Bright Future.

Writes poetry, short stories and articles.

Unlimited Minutes published by Taborri.Com

Zach and the Wishing Well by Just for Moms.com See Zach’s story at: http://www.justformom.com/articles_full_text_page.php?article_id=927

Personal: Married, four daughters

Her web site is: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso4qht (Three Teacher Press)

Are your teens being bullied? Have peer pressure? See our book at: http://www.pcpublications.org/products.php?cat=15

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Francine_Larson

I've looked and looked for good advice on working from home, and found an awesome site! I'd like to share with you an interview with the owner of this site!

Alyice Edrich is the author of several work-from-home e-books. She’s worked out of her home since 1991 and has dabbled in many different careers over the years. In 1999, she finally found a niche that kept her waking up excited about her business. Today, she’s an online editor of an award winning publication, the author of several e-books, and a ghost writer for small businesses.

Here are my questions for her and her answers:

1. What tips do you have for making ends meet while waiting for your home business to take off?

I always tell people that if they cannot afford to quit their day jobs while building their home businesses then they need to work their home businesses around their day jobs. It is unwise to quit your job before you have a stable income to replace it.

Quitting your job too soon could cause undue stress on your marriage, in your family, and with your business. Not to mention jeopardizing your health.

That being said, let’s say that your husband makes enough to pay the monthly bills but it leaves you very little for emergencies, to build your business, or pay for “extras.” After discussing the matter with your husband, he feels it’s worth the risk for you to quit working so that you can be readily available for the kids and he believes it will allow you to have more time to devote to your business.

There are things you can do to cut corners. Obvious things like:
getting rid of cable or dropping it down to the very basic,
firing the housekeeper or gardener and doing the work yourself,
using coupons when shopping,
buying large ticketed items when they’re on sale and always turning in those rebates,
consolidating your bills,
selling things you no longer use and using that money to either fund your business or pay off current debt,
eating out only once a week or once a month and sticking to low cost alternatives like eating out during lunch or at your favorite fast food restaurant, and
buying non-name brand items if they’re cheaper than the name-brand items when they’re on sale.
As for your business expenses, there are several ways you can make ends meet:

Barter your services for the services of another entrepreneur.
Hire an intern to learn the ropes and help you run the office. Interns do not cost you a dime, but you may be required to meet certain criteria developed by the high school or college you choose to hire an intern from.
Negotiate better deals when paying for advertising. Some publications offer deals if you buy so many spots in advance.

2. How do you keep on track getting business tasks done with kids under foot and children to take to activities?

The best way to stay on task is to write out a daily “To Do List” and crossing off things as you complete them. If you don’t finish a task, just move that task to tomorrow’s “To Do List.” Some people prepare their “To Do Lists” first thing in the morning. I prepare mine the night before, when I close my office for the evening, that way I know exactly what I am doing when I wake up.

Also keep an up-to-date calendar. When you make appointments, immediately input them into your calendar. That way, you don’t overbook yourself.

3. What are a few good ways to get the word out that you are in business with a minimal advertising budget?

Advertising is probably the most important aspect of your business. If people do not know you exist, you won’t be in business long. Here are a few ways to get your business out there:

Place a regular ad in your local paper. By doing so, you can usually negotiate a better deal.
Barter with other businesses. You agree to place one of their coupons in every outgoing package if they agree to do the same.
Send out press releases to publications that would be of interest in your product or service. Sometimes you’ll hear back right away, other times, they’ll hold onto your information until there is a spot to fill (one lady I wrote a press release for heard back from her local media a year after she delivered the release), and sometimes, they simply toss your press release.
Find publications willing to review your product. Many publications include “hot lists” about the latest products, trends, etc. Your product could be listed in those lists.
Donate your product or service to highly visible contests.
Write quality articles related to your business, but articles that match the needs of other publications. Distribute those articles through free content groups or submit them via writers guidelines and get paid for the article.
Make yourself known in your community by joining the local chamber of commerce.
You can visit Alyice Edrich at The Dabbling Mum Press to order a work-at-home e-book, or visit her online publication for BUSY parents at The Dabbling Mum.
Catch up with Alyice by making another stop on her blog tour…