Cheap Products I Love

I figured it was time to curl up with the laptop in my bed tonight since BJ is cozying up to Elementary Greek textbooks and homework right now. BJ and I have been looking for all sorts of ways to cut costs here and there. The cable went out the door first (well, technically we have cable channels 2-9 just because it's cheaper to do that and still get cable internet). Then it was our home phone. We now use Magic Jack and Google Voice, which is very cool by the way. We can give out one phone number and it will ring our land line at home, my cell phone, or BJ's cell phone. We never miss a call when we aren't at home. Unwanted callers can be blocked or directed directly (is that redundant?) to voicemail. Very cool!

And, BJ has me on a serious tight budget now. I'm not quite used to it yet. I've been a very lucky girl. I've pretty much purchased what I want when I want. I have the Sugar Daddy that I've always dreamed of. LOL. Honestly, though, I've always been a frugal gal and I enjoy the challenge of coming in under budget - sort of like one of those HGTV shows where they re-make an entire room for less than $1,000 (for me it's more like $20). We know we'll need to make some changes (more like a lot of them) on a preacher's salary so we are making preparations now.

I've been pleasantly surprised with some of the new products I've found that are quite a bit cheaper than what I had been using. I don't feel like I've sacrificed quality and that's always a nice perk when saving money. Without further ado, here's a list of my favorite "cheap" products:

Beauty Products:

1. Suave Rosemary Mint shampoo and conditioner. The scent has been perfect for the spring and summer months. It reminds me of a glass of iced mint tea. My hair is actually softer and more manageable after using these products than when I was using a more expensive brand ($2.87/ea at Walmart).

2. Softsoap Moisturizing Body Wash Juicy Pomegranate and Mango Infusions. I love the scent of this stuff! I seriously want to eat it when I use it in the shower. And it's very moisturizing. ($3 at Walmart).

3. St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Smells nice and makes my face shine! ($3.27 at Walmart).

4. Covergirl Clean Liquid Foundation. Perfect for summer. Light, but smooth, coverage. (Various prices but generally under $6).

5. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. This product works well, and even our dermatologist has recommended numerous Aveeno products for Griffin who has sensitive skin with eczema. (I think it was about $5.99 at Walmart).

Household Products:

1. Great Value Tranquil Lavender Laundry Detergent. This was quite a bit cheaper than Tide, I don't remember exactly how much but it was like $3-5 per box cheaper. I've used different things, such as All and Dreft, but I've always come back to Tide for it's cleaning performance. But this time I think I'll stick with Great Value since it seems to work just as well. The lavender scent is not too strong and does not linger - like Gain. (Price ?)

2. Clorox Clean-up with Bleach. I buy this stuff in the refill-sized jug to refill my spray bottle. I dilute it about 1 part Clorox Clean-up to 3-4 parts water. I like the smell of my bathrooms and kitchen when they've been cleaned with bleach. You can use this stuff on almost anything - a great one-size-fits-most cleaner. Nothing fresher or cleaner smelling! ($2.99 for 32 oz bottle; refill bottle cost more but a better value).

Now it's your turn to share with me your favorite "cheap" products. I'd love to hear!