My husband and I started a Total Money Makeover this month.
First we opened an additional account at the bank to make deposits for what is called our emergency fund. Boy! Does it feel good to stick money in there to build up so that when "life happens" it is there for us to use and not going on to a credit card!
It's amazing when you begin to watch your money how aware you become of the needless spending we can sometimes do.
Take a ride with me to see how easy that happens..........
You pick up your son/daughter from school and they tell you that they need a notebook and some highlighters for school.
So, off you go to Wally World to get what they need. You walk into the store and get the supplies and out of no where Oreo Cookies are 2 for $3.50. Well, what a deal and you grab the cookies. Heading to the check out line and waiting your turn, your eyes are checking over the new magazines on the stand. Well by gosh Better Homes and Garden has 221 ways to reorganize your home and you sure could use that. (3.50). Almost up to the register and your son/daugher is thirsty and you realize you are too. Okay, lets grab a soda for each of us at 1.28 each. And so you leave.
Heading out and driving along you see the Farmers Market and think..."Oh, lets stop there for a minute to see if they have any good ol homemade applebutter. You stop and are so delighted about the lady that is selling those adorable handmade kitchen towels that hang on the fridge handle and they are only 3 for 6.00! You justify how cute 2 of them would look in your kitchen and you'll also give one to mom for her kitchen.
You forgot about the applebutter because you just realized you forgot that you need milk. So, you go to the little corner store on your way home, run in, get milk and your in line once again waiting. So, you grab the Sunday paper and wait your turn. (1.50 for paper) Your now ready to check out and you see a new scratch lottery ticket that looks "fun" and you figure what the heck, I need fun. (2.00)
So, there is your quick trip to the store for notebook and highlighters and you did need milk, however, you also spent roughly $20.00 on things that you did not 'need'.
Does this happen once a week to you? Four times a month? Or more?
If so, that could be at least a 100.00 that could of went into your emergency fund OR paying extra on a debt that you have.
Start telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.
It really adds up!
~Dawn
www.dawnsvision.fourpointmoms.com
You also need to realize the your skin is the largest organ of your body. So, besides household cleaners, personal care items can be just as bad. Baby Shampoo is just one of the MANY examples of a product with a preservative in it that you do NOT want to use !!!
Manufacturers here in the United States are NOT required to put what is exactly in their products. They get to use "trade names" so chances are, your not going to be able to recognize the chemicals for what they "truly" are.
The chemicals in your fabric softner take just 10 minutes to go from your clothes to your bloodstream. (yuk)
Do you know your make-up? Laundry detergents, shampoos, cleaning products, lotions, ?????
Think your safe?
Think again!!!
AIR FRESHENERS: Most air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by coating your nasal passages with an oil film, or by releasing a nerve deadening agent. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener: Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Phenol: When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives. Can cause cold sweats,convulsions, circulatory collapse, coma and even death.
AMMONIA: It is a very volatile chemical, it is very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin.
BLEACH: It is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia it may cause fumes which can be DEADLY. (Do you really know which comercial products contain bleach or ammonia?)
CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO: Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself, they accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include: Perchlorethylene: Known carcinogen damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Ammonium Hydroxide: Corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.
DISHWASHER DETERGENTS: Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated. # 1 cause of child poisonings, according to poison control centers.
DRAIN CLEANER: Most drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane. Lye: Caustic, burns skin and eyes, if ingested will damage esophagus and stomach. Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive, eye and skin irritant, damages kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Trichloroethane: Eye and skin irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver and kidneys.
FURNITURE POLISH: Petroleum Distillates: Highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer. Phenol: (see Air fresheners, Phenol.) Nitrobenzene: Easily absorbed through the skin, extremely toxic.
MOLD AND MILDEW CLEANERS: Chemicals contained are: Sodium hypochlorite: Corrosive, irritates or burns skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or death. Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin. May cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.
OVEN CLEANER: Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns to both skin and eyes. Inhibits reflexes, will cause severe tissue damage if swallowed.
ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS: may contain: Triclosan: Absorption through the skin can be tied to liver damage.
LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS: Sodium or calcium hypocrite: Highly corrosive, irritates or burns skin, eyes or respiratory tract. Linear alkylate sulfonate: Absorbed through the skin. Known liver damaging agent. Sodium Tripolyphosphate: Irritates skin and mucous membranes, causes vomiting. Easily absorbed through the skin from clothes.
TOILET BOWL CLEANERS: Hydrochloric acid: Highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes. Damages kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite Bleach: Corrosive, irritates or burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract. May cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal.
OTHER NASTY THINGS THAT ARE AROUND YOUR HOME
PESTICIDES: Most pesticides have ingredients that affect the nervous system of insects. Dimpylate: Better known as Diazinon, extremely toxic. Impairs the central nervous system. Chlorinate Hydrocarbons: Suspected carcinogen and mutantagen. Accumulates in food and in fatty tissue. Will attack the nervous system. Organophosphates: Toxic and poisonous. If you can smell it, your lungs are absorbing it.
FLEA POWDERS: Carbaryl: Very toxic, causes skin, respiratory and cardiovascular system damage. Chlordane: Accumulates in the food chain, may damage eyes, lungs, liver, kidney and skin. Dichlorophene: Skin irritation: May damage liver, kidney, spleen and central nervous system.
LICE SHAMPOO: Especially vulnerable are children. Lindane: Inhalation, ingestion, or ABSORPTION through the SKIN causes vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and circulatory collapse. May cause liver damage, stillbirths, birth defects and cancer.
CAR WASH AND POLISH: Petroleum Distillates: Associated with skin and lung cancer, irritant to skin, eyes, nose and lungs. Entry into the lungs may cause fatal pulmonary edema, most marked Danger, Harmful or Fatal.
TAR AND BUG REMOVER: Contains XYLENE and PETROLEUM DISTILLATES.
Warning terms used are significant:
DANGER - Harmful or fatal if swallowed A taste to a teaspoonful taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult.
WARNING - Harmful if swallowed A teaspoonful to an ounce taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult.
CAUTION - Harmful if swallowed An ounce to over a pint taken by mouth could kill an average sized adult.
