Over five years using cloth

I realize it has been over five years that I have been using all cloth in my house. I have not bought tissues, paper towels, or disposable menstrual pads since 2007. I use cloth toilet paper, but do buy for my guests and boys. I have a few reasons why I started doing this:

-financial
-our earth
-my sensitive skin

Are these reasons still relevant to me? Yes, they all still are. In five years I haves saved about:

Product   Monthly Cost   Yearly Cost   Five Year Cost

Tissues    $5                      $60                $300
Toilet Paper $5                 $60                $300
Paper Towels $10             $120              $600
Paper Napkins $5             $60                $300
Menstrual Pads $10          $120              $600

                                               Total        $2100

So I think saving about $2,000, maybe $1,500 if you factor in extra laundry it has made sense financially.

I also think keeping those trees from being cut down and all the resources that goes into making these products has benefited the earth, especially since I wash the cloth in cold water and line dry to kill germs ( the sun is great at that.)

But still the number one reason for using all cloth is my skin. I have not be one rash from a disposable diaper ( I had many before.)

So even if fianances and our earth were not a factor I would still continue to use all cloth.

-Becky

Where have we been

We are home again after Sandy badly damaged our home. However we have been busy trying to get back to a normal routine. Also my laptop is terrible with connecting online and my iphone is so small to blog on. But it is my goal to get back to blogging.

After my haircut

I know it is a slight change, but for someone who has this odd aversion to getting a hair cut, it is dramatic enough for me.

Before my haircut this morning

This is me about to go to a salon for a haircut (with a gift certificate I got for Christmas.)

My last haircut was Nov. 2011 by a friend; and the haircut before that was Oct. 2002 (I am not kidding.)

Kaiden

My nephew Kaiden is now 33 months old (over 2 and a half.) He has gotten a bit fresh, but he still is cute as ever.

                             Kaiden eating peanut butter and homemade jam on whole wheat. YUM!

                                                     I see you (at Josh's basketball game)

Bill update

Despite paying all my normal house bills, plus added expenses to stay in my brother's apartment, all my bills are paid up through Feb. 1st (including my Feb. mortgage and $1,144 tax bill that was due on the 1st.) I also am current on all my credit card payments as well (but they are pretty much maxed out with house stuff.)

I also am on track to pay all Feb. bills in full by the end of the month as well.

Praise God as with all this being displaced from hurricane Sandy and house stress, it is nice not to be stressed about overdue bills.

~Becky

First real snow day

                                                                    Josh with his shovel

                                                                 Jason working hard

                                                                       Jason smiling

                                                                 watch out

                                                                     catch

                                                                    mischievous look

                                                                Don't worry, Josh is ok

We are not in our home yet, but on Sunday we went there to shovel the walk and driveway. This lead to an impromptu snowball fight. I can't wait to get home and make more fun memories like this.

~Becky