A Cheaper Swiffer

I have one of those old "Swiffer" mops that I use too often. What can I say ... I'm weak! They are just so quick to rid up your floors. The only problem is the wipes you buy are expensive (even the generics), they aren't exactly environmentally friendly and I personally don't like the smell.

I had heard about doing something like this and finally tried it. Love it! I bought a bunch of really bright washcloths for (I think) $4.00. I bought them bright because I don't want to use the same washcloth on my face as on my floor. To use, you just put some water on them, I put a little splash of Pine Sol and attach them to the Swiffer mop the way you would the Swiffer sheet. They don't stay in quite as well as the Swiffer sheets, so you could use an office or some other type of clip at the top to keep the fabric together if it was really bothering you. To do my kitchen I go through about four washcloths and then just toss them in the laundry.

So happy I found this way of mopping. Much cheaper! Also, I like to actually use some water on my floor.

Dollar Store / Fresh & Easy

Went shopping today at the dollar store and a small grocery store called Fresh & Easy.

First the dollar store. Even though I'm a bargain shopper, until the past year I've pretty much stayed away from dollar stores. I had the impression everything in them is of poor quality. I recently changed my mind ... a little. While I still think most of the "stuff" is pretty cheap, I've found one by us that actually has some decent things to purchase from time-to-time.

Today I bought music CD 's for my "gift-stash." They are those "relaxation" type CD's. I had bought one for myself and liked it so much I went back to buy more for gifts. I've also bought gift bags there at a really good price. Our store has a school supplies section for teachers I love ... work books, flash cards, ABC & math posters. I've bought some fun books for myself. I buy cheap toys as a reward for finishing homework on time.

Next store was Fresh & Easy. If you have a chance to visit one, you should. They are small grocery stores I thought would be expensive, but are reasonable. They are in the southwest and great for a fast stop. You can get in and out very quickly. All of their house-brand products I've tried have been decent to really good. If you're in a hurry for lunch, you can pick up a good salad for $3.99. I can also find specialty-type products I can't find at my local grocery store, such as light cheeses, etc. ... for a reasonable price. Here's some of the things I like to buy there (all house-brand):

Milk $1.99
Honey Pretzels $1.59
Canned Beans (various prices, cheaper than my large grocery store)
Pizza Dough $1.29 (I like to make my own, but in a pinch it works.)
Pizza Sauce (Can't remember price, I think a little over $1.00)
Tofu $.99 (I think?)
Pita's (6) $1.58