Building wealth starts with saving all the money you can. Saving money means not spending it. Persistent inflation and its filthy cousin shrinkflation have made saving money more difficult.
But perhaps we can make inflation our friend.
…In part one of this post, I presented a formula for a very nice soap, provided links to the ingredients, and explained just how making this soap at home could save you money. But I didn’t explain how to make the soap.
I’ve put that off long enough; it’s time to get our hands <ehem> clean.
…In part one of this post, I will reveal what I consider to be a very simple formula for a wonderfully balanced soap, and I will show you how you can save some money through an easily achieved economy of scale. If, that is, you’re willing to make it yourself. If you’re at all convinced or interested, then I encourage you to read part two. Part two will not be a thorough treatment on the process of making soap, or the chemistry behind it, but I will provide enough details of how to safely make a batch of soap.
For the love of God, please don’t attempt to make soap until you understand the risk involved.
Most of the ‘soap’ that we find on the shelves today is mass-produced detergent. Real soap has naturally occurring glycerin as a byproduct of the chemistry that goes into making it. Who cares about glycerin you ask? Well, British rock band Bush for starters. Glycerin is a humectant. It helps your skin retain its own moisture, making it feel soft. The point: there is a lot of garbage in cheap mass-produced soaps, and some don’t have glycerin. Real soap is a superior product and it is possible to make it at home.
I have made dozens of batches of premium quality soap for a fraction of what they’d cost at your local Whole Foods. How? Well, now that’s the first sensible question you’ve asked.
…
I am sure you’ve seen these in your local grocery store. It’s an Italian sweet bread. Quite often you’ll see towers of Panettone boxes during the holidays. In the states, I tend to see Bauducco brand panettone, either the mini boxes or the full-size boxes, in classic and chocolate chip flavors. In a few different grocery stores in Sicily, I recall seeing perhaps a dozen brands and an even greater variety of flavors. But they were only available around Christmas if memory serves me. In the states, I’m seeing a small offering year-round now.
Recently, a friend gave me a panettone because she had been given one by a person who didn’t know she avoids gluten. The 26.2 oz. Bauducco Classic Panettone. That’s your big boy.
And thus began my mission.
…You can save money by doing nothing. Or at least by doing less. When you commit to having a yard that looks like a putting green, you’re undoubtedly spending far more money and energy than you need to. I am not a lawn expert, but I do know that outside of preparation for sporting events, there is no call for short grass. Instead, try setting your lawnmower to cut grass at the highest level and bask in the ease of maintaining a healthy lawn in the cheapest way that still satisfies your sense of aesthetics, persnickety neighbors, and HOAs.
…Don’t go looking for a ticker symbol, that’s not the name of a company. On my About page, I mention three simple steps for sound investing:
I have been writing a lot about investing in the Dividend Kings, but I think a little variety is nice. I will periodically share my thoughts on saving money. After all, everything hinges on that.
…