Cheap Pool Supplies (Chemicals) From The Grocery Store!
Can You Use Grocery Store Pool Supplies?
I purchased a good quality above ground pool because it seemed like the sensible and affordable solution. While I admit I went for quality, I also opted out of digging a giant hole in my backyard. Living where I do, in the sunbelt, a private pool is a great luxury, but I took the frugal approach. Note that a very cheap above ground pool may not be worth the headache, but a good quality above ground pool, pump, and filter can give you decades of pleasure for a fraction of the cost of an inground pool!
Now in my quest to save money I have found that many orginary grocery store staples can replace expensive pool store chemicals to keep water balanced. If your pool has gotten very bad, it may be in your best interest to visit a pool store because they can give you expert recomendations. But if you just want to maintain your water balance, you have no reason to overpay for pool supplies!
Do Balance Your Water PH with Test Strips - A bottle of test strips or a pool testing kit is one investment you probably need to make. I have found that water balance is key to having sparkling clear and safe pool water. Most of the time, a pool should test with a PH between 7.2 and 7.8. Follow the directions on your pool test kit to determine what your pool lacks.
How Many Gallons of Water Does Your Pool Have? - It is also important to know how much water your pool has. Simply google a formula for this, or even an online form that can tell you. For instance, I have a rectangular pool that is 17′ by 9′. It is 4′ deep. By searching for a ’swimming pool volume in gallons calculator’, I found a simple formula to tell me I have a little about 4,600 gallons of water. This number isn’t exact but it will be close enough. You can find similar calculators or formulas if you have a round pool too!
Err On The Side of Caution - You are, of course, using your own judgement here. Add a bit time and wait. Then test. Then add a bit more. The most common problem people have is adding too much. Besides you never want to directly mix chemicals. Most chemicals should be added while your pump is circulating the water too.
Common Grocery Store Items to Replace Pool Chemicals
Chlorine Bleach is Cholrine. Baking soda can work like ‘Alkalinity Increaser’. Borax is a PH increaser.
Now be sure to only use the supplies mentioned above, AND NOT any detergent with those ingredients. Imagine the mess if you add sudsy soap to your pool.
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Home Renting vs. Buying
Is The American Dream A Good Idea Right Now?
I guess almost everybody thinks about the day when they can buy their first home, or if a family already owns a home, they think about upgrading to a different home. But right now many people are looking at the realities of home ownership and asking themselves if it is really a good idea. Sure, people will argue that paying rent is just like throwing away money. You pay, get a place to live, and then next month, you pay again. But I would argue that people always pay rent, even when they own a home.
How Do Homeowners Pay Rent?
- Taxes - If you own a home, you probably pay a couple of percentage points, or more, of your home value in taxes every year.
- Repairs - When you rent, you call the landlord to fix most things. When you own a home, you have to fix things yourself.
- Interest on A Mortgage - Talk about money down the drain! If you carry a home mortgage, and most homeowners do, a large chunk of your payment goes for interest.
- Home Value - Traditionally, homeowners could count on an increase in the value of their home. These days, that home value could decrease. If a home has to be sold, unhappy homeowners may actually have to write a check in order to close a deal.
- Homeowner’s Insurance Premiums - Sure, renters buy renters insurance, but it is really cheap! Homeowners insurance costs more.
Do I Own or Rent My Home?
Now let me be honest. There are also advantages to owning a home, and I must tell you that I did purchase a modest home after renting for a while. I got tired of waiting for the landlord to do a mediocre job of fixing things, and not being able to tile or paint the way I wanted to. But sometimes, especially after paying for large repair bills, I long for the days when I could just call the landlord or move when things were not right with my home!
And I did buy a modest home because I wanted to make sure I had money left over to pay for things like taxes and repairs. But believe me, I often succumb to the American dream of moving up!
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ShamWow! Green & Clean! As Seen on TV.
It’s a Towel. It’s a Sponge. It’s ShamWow!
Do you know how many trees get cut down every year to provide Americans with paper towels? Well, honestly, neither do I, but I’ll bet it is alot. Beyond the loss of trees, we spend a lot of money on throwaways like paper towels, but going back to rags doesn’t seem like a good solution either.
If you’ve seen the ShamWow on TV, you already know that it works like a chamois, towel, or a sponge. Plus, you can throw it in the washing machine and dryer. You can use it around the house, and outside on the car. They can even be bleached! Plus, they come with a 10 year warranty.
BUY SHAMWOW ONLINE FOR THE BEST OFFER
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Getting Organized — When Less Is More
3 Jars Of Pickles and No Mayo?
Have you ever made a trip to the grocery store, blown your budget, and then come home to realize that you had purchased an item you already had in your pantry but forgot a staple you really needed? I certainly have. My kids love pickles. They eat them as snacks, and of course, use them to dress up almost any sandwhich with the possible exception of peanut butter. So of course, I buy them by habit almost any time I go grocery shopping.
Last time I came home and made room for my groceries, I saw that I already had 3 jars of dill pickles and one bottle of pickle relish. OK, I added the 4th jar of pickles, and then I made a mental note to stop buying pickles for awhile.
Then I got around to making lunch and saw that I had no mayo for the tuna. Being a frugal cook, I improvised, and decided that tuna croquettes were on the menu! Lucky for me, I did have eggs and crackers!
The moral of this story is that you can be more frugal if you keep your pantry organized. This is also true for cleaning supplies and even, sock drawers. I cannot tell you how many times I purchased an item I already had, but found that I lacked another item I needed. I promise that if you spend a couple of hours cleaning out your closets, drawers, and pantry, you will find some gold. Clutter control is a key to saving money. That is, unless you are already a super neat person. I am not.
And of course, when you find some good clothes that do not fit anybody, or a barely used appliance you really did not want, you can go make some extra money on EBay or a garage sale!
organization, clutter, home
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