Why You Should Use Less Laundry Detergent

Manufacturers' scoops are bigger than you need! As a matter of fact, most laundry will come clean with about half the recommended amount of detergent. Try it yourself and see. Be aware, though, that your washing machine probably holds enough detergent to wash a load without adding any.

As a matter of fact, it's a good idea to run a load of laundry through your machine without adding detergent now and then, especially if you've been using the recommended amount, but even if you haven't.

Why should you use less?

Make a Penny, Save a Penny?

Benjamin Franklin said "A penny saved is a penny earned," and that's a fact, even these days.  Depending on your tax rate and other circumstances, you could "earn" more than a penny if you saved it instead of making another one. If you invest a penny, it will earn on its own with very little further input from you. If, however, you earn another penny, by the time you pay taxes on two pennies, how much difference is there going to be in how much money you actually have?

What If You Missed a Paycheck?

Would you have enough money in savings to tide you over until you could get something else going? Unemployment helps, but not everyone is eligible for it... and if you're not? Then what?

According to the Springleaf Financial Strength Survey of 2014, almost half of Americans have nothing to fall back on if they lose their job or source of income or if it's simply delayed. How about you?

Do you think it's time to start sticking a little back into savings, just in case?

You may not think you have enough income to put any in savings, but you may be surprised at how quickly five or ten dollars adds up. Set a minimum that you will save each payday, and just do it. Sure, it takes some self discipline, but probably not nearly as much as the discipline it will take to go to the food bank, beg the electric company for a little more time to pay the bill or have to park the car because you don't have money for gas or insurance.

Here are some more statistics:

• Almost a quarter of adults have less than $250 in their checking accounts on the day before payday, meaning that if they don't get their money, they are in trouble quickly.
• Almost 20% of adults don't have enough of a savings cushion to make it two weeks without a paycheck.
• Almost one in five would rather go to the dentist than spend a half hour learning how to manage their own money!

So what if you missed a paycheck? What would you do? Would you try to sell something to get you through? Would you borrow money from family or friends? Would you draw what you need from your savings?

The choice is up to you. And yes, you can do it. Read, study and save. Anyone can save a little, and I mean anyone. I know. I've been there.

Pick up aluminum cans, use coupons, turn out the lights... there are hundreds of ways to save. When you do, put that money into a savings account. You can do it.